Nice food court right off national mall. Not overcrowded because it's inside the USDA. Many choices and fair prices for quality. Plenty of outlets and WiFi for recharging stomachs and phones read more

The entrance is at Wing 3 on Independence Ave. At the entrance security checks your ID and you go through a metal detector. The cafeteria is huge with plenty of seating space. The food is great and cafeteria is very clean, definitely recommend. read more

What a little hidden gem. We saw a little sign on a trash bin after touring the print & engraving museum. We figured they should have good food. You do have to get a visitor pass - but that is easy with state ID.....and then pass through a metal detector. The cafeteria had many styles of food - sushi, italian, mexican, etc. They had a hot and cold food bar also. Lots and lots of choices. All food was very good....and best thing is that it was very reasonably priced. The two of us ate lunch for like $15.00....not bad for DC. I would highly recommend this for a good economical lunch in the DC area!! read more

Selection is what makes this place, the food is priced by the pound, the re is a hot bar, cold bar, several other stations. Korean, salad, sandwiches, coffee etc.... lots of room not overly loud. I don't find the food to be spectacular but okay- cool to eat at an institution but that's all. read more

Went here for breakfast while in town on the day after Thanksgiving. Good variety of hot breakfast foods for a reasonable price. Most food is by the pound but some things are a la carte like drinks and muffins. It was quite good and I definitely recommend it for other tourists and travelers. As other reviewers said, enter through Wing 3 entrance (near the middle) on the Independence Ave side of the building. Be prepared to show photo ID and go through a metal detector to get a visitor pass. The security guards are very nice though. read more

USDA Whitten Cafe - Scrambled eggs with cheese, sausage, two kinds of hash browns, pumpkin muffin, fresh fruit with yogurt on top. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We were looking for a spot to have a quick/non expensive lunch around the mall and happy to stumble upon the USDA cafeteria. It is only open Mon-Fri so plan accordingly. The security and the staff are very friendly and helpful (you have to go through a quick security scan and get a visitors pass). Once inside, the cafeteria is huge and have lots of selections from pizza, sushi, Korean BBQ, Mexican etc. I thought that the salad bar had the best options. The veggies and greens were really fresh and taste and they had a lot of great options like couscous with cranberries and zucchini ribbons - tons of vegetarian options They have old USDA ads and marketing materials hung around the room - very cute It's a great place to come with a large group since they have ample seating and people can get whatever type of food they are in the mood for. read more

Great place to eat for people who like different things! We stumbled upon this place after touring the National Mall. Everyone in our group likes different things and this place didn't disappoint. We all were able to get what we wanted and for a great price. Because it is a Federal building be prepared to go through security. read more

So five stars for what it is--a government cafeteria. Food was very good, location was great if touring the mall and price was excellent. We spent $33 for three people. Choose what you like, lots of variety (heavy on Asian dishes at least the day I was there, but plenty of other options too) and freshly made. Dining room is open and airy but still institutional. Recommend for lunch. read more

USDA Whitten Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The best cafeteria food you will find in all the land. There is something here to satisfy everyone's tastebuds. Very clean facility, friendly atmosphere. High quality ingredients that are super fresh-- even their CANTALOUPE was tasty. We got in at 11:15 and had no lines. Now, at 11:45, it is a bit more crowded with employees. Still seems to move fast. It's not the hippest joint, but was so satisfying and surprisingly delightful. Cost about $9-11 per person. read more

Good food and reasonably priced! Diverse types of food for people with different preferences. Very convenient to the monuments and museums.

Surprising find along the Mall. If you don't mind security check to get in the building, it's a very good value and a place to sit and chill a bit while touring. Lots of options but avoid the egg rolls! read more

Definitely hidden, but worth it. Security was quick at peak lunch time and there was barely a line at check out. I would recommend to anyone in the area who wants a place with lots of options to choose from. I got sushi and my father got a salad. read more

I didn't realize it was a cafeteria but it was amazing. The food option was perfect. All the food was great. The experience was great.

Buffet style food. Had a little Asian, Mexican and American food. Fried chicken was fantastic. Hard to find though. Had it not been for Yelp I would have missed out oon a good low cost meal. Seating is nice too. Would come again. read more

USDA Whitten Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a hidden gem next to national mall. The food it good and the price is good and in the summertime the AC is good.

This is Food. A government cafeteria at its best. Good service and lots of options. But definitely just a run of the mill cafeteria (you have to go through security to get in) read more

Really good food for a cafeteria. Lots of options. Food was good quality. We went for breakfast with the family and everyone found something. Not really cheap but we needed something quick in the area and don't want to walk too far. All adults have to show ID to get into the building. Enter through Wing 3. read more

You are charged by the pound. The food was just not even Luke warm and for the most part, not tasty. You're better off getting a hot dog and pretzel from the vendor down the road. read more

Terrible food; greasy, tasteless; staff is unfriendly and management is falling in the same bucket. There are plenty of other places around to go to and enjoy food. McDonald's is better. read more

It was a cool experience to come here for lunch, but the food was not great unfortunately. The ingredients were good quality but they were just standard cafeteria food. For me, the only saving grace was the tempura udon from the noodles section, delicious broth and yummy noodles, surprisingly good for cafeteria food. For the effort of finding the entrance to this place and getting yelled at by the security guards, it wasn't worth the trouble. read more

This is a great place to get a bite to eat! My family and I were famished after visiting a nearby museum so I quickly searched up a place to eat. We were more than surprised to see the selection, variety, and the price of the cafeteria! We weren't expecting much, but this was truly a treat. As for the system to get food, you would put the food on your plate, then at the checkout counter, they would weigh your food. A mere 6.99 for a whole pound of delicious food... What a steal! They also have a nice selection of sushi, burritos, and desert, which were all enjoyed by my family! This was truly a delicious and fun experience for us! A Kid Yelper, Nathan W. read more

This was a pleasant surprise. There was a big variety of different foods and it is sold by the pound. Clean, open and comfortable, a great place for groups, families, or even a couple of old codgers. And it's right off the mall. read more

Food is pretty good and you'll have a ton of options. It gets pretty crowded though so consider having an early lunch. Lots of seating so you'll always find a place to sit. So close to Washington monument so I visit here Everytime I come to the monument. read more

Don't believe the hype! This food was horrible. Maybe it was due to my timing- around 2:30, but the food was lackluster. Tasted just like the food at your local public school cafeteria. Bland, cold, and over cooked. Should not have expected more but I was swayed by yelp reviews. Never again. read more

I had a meeting near the USDA building studio grabbed a quick lunch here. I was surprised at how good the food was - I had fish curry and chicken swarma from the hot bar and both were flavorful and fresh. And it was only $4! If you don't mind going through security to get in, try it! It's much better than the hot dog stand outside. read more

Food by the pound. Great selection for breakfast. Take what you want and pay accordingl

Most of food from this buffet was cold. Some inedible. For drinks and bagels it is a good please to go. Note you have to go thru security to get to this cafe. read more

This is a hidden gem! My husband and I stumbled upon it via Yelp when we were visiting the Holocaust Museum. It's open to the public and is a wonderfully varied cafeteria with many delicious selections from a full salad bar to sushi, Mexican, Chinese, and more. With it's reasonable prices and extensive, something-for-everyone selection, its a must for anyone near the Mall! read more

This is a really good cafeteria for a reasonable price. Two of us ate lunch for $17. We did have to go thru screening though. I'd recommend it if your looking for a decent meal for a reasonable price. read more

Hidden gem in Washington DC. Little confusing on where lines were etc...but food was great and not crowded at all.

I don't see what people like about this place. Maybe it's the fact that there are no great breakfast places south of the Mall and this is the least of the evils? I am not fond of food by the pound but yelp reviews convinced me to try it. It's a typical cafeteria. I could not bring myself to try anything from the unappetizing steam tables of dried out meats and soggy baked goods. I opted for a coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. I must say the Kona Macadamia coffee was the best cup of coffee I had in DC. My family ate from the steam table and reacted with an "Eh...". They are all still alive. read more

They had a large selection, good food, and reasonable prices. It is a bit of a security gauntlet to get in. As a newbie, there are a lot of regularly trying to get by you. The posters in the seating area were interesting. read more

Many thanks to intrepid Yelpers who recommended this cafeteria. After an emotional visit the Holocaust museum, It was an adventure to figure out which entrance of the large forbidding USDA building to enter, then go through security, and look like I knew where I was going. The reward was an incredible array of food options, all at a very reasonable price. Everything was tasty and it was also fun to eat in the place where so many decisions are made about food. Go- you won't be sorry. read more

We stopped in for a quick breakfast after an early tour at the bureau of engraving and printing. It was pretty much a standard breakfast buffet, it did include scrapple and sausage and peppers. Everything was find nothing to get too excited about. I think it would be a good option if you have a group to feed since there is a nice variety. read more

In Washington, there's no better value. Just a block off the Plaza, the USDA food was great. It's buffet style, and there's a wide variety for most tastes. I had a curry fish and veggies. Delicious! read more

Come early if you want fresh selections. We made it here by 2 and scraps were all that remained... but we are them! Roasted chicken good and so is the red velvet cake. Accidentally payed for 3 plates which added to my weight (you pay by the pound). Check the plate stack before loading it with food. Overall satisfied... think we can continue touring the city now! read more

Worked at the Smithsonian today. So crew and I asked Smithsonian staff were a good place was to grab a bite. They stated the USDA cafeteria. They ate lunch with us and escorted us using their government badges. We were considered guest. I was totally impressed. For a "cafeteria"... this place deserves 5 stars. I stuck with as much different greens that I could fit on my plate. Asian kale, steamed veggies, collard greens, string beans... I even tried some BBQ meatballs and rice. I was impressed with my whole dish. Crew were happy with there choices too, but I think I enjoyed lunch the most. They picked mostly hot items. I didn't even make it to the bar along the wall and plan to return to the cafeteria our next work trip to the Smithsonian. read more

Excellent value for great food. The only downside to this place was finding it, USDA building is quite big to have to walk around the outside. Great variety and the "home"style cooking was the best imo read more

Value. It's not a Michelin restaurant, but when you're staying at a hotel nearby where you'd rather not spend $35 for a breakfast entree for your 5 year old, this place is perfect. Variety, clean, safe. (Gotta check in, IDs, and metal detectors) read more

This is a breakfast review...I don't know who these 5 star reviews are from, but they must not eat out...ever! I can't come up with the proper adjective, however for USDA food, I can't believe this stuff passed inspection. Since there is nothing else to eat around here for at least 2-3 miles, its definitely a 5 star out of desperation. Eat at your own risk read more