Your Guide to Penn Quarter / Chinatown

Never Been to the Neighborhood? The Going Out Gurus Show You The Way

Since you're going to be spending the day ofthe Post Hunt in the Chinatown area, let the Going Out Gurus of washingtonpost.com's City Guide steer you to their favorite restaurants, bars and cultural sites. They also offer suggestions that will be fun for the whole family.

Casual Restaurants

These restaurants are good for a quick lunch or a no-reservations-required dinner:

Austin Grill
More than basic taco and enchilada platters, this is better-than-ordinary Tex-Mex.

Bistro D'Oc
This southern French restaurant is like a solid B student, likable and reliable and good to know about if you are in the neighborhood or in need of pre-theater sustenance.

Chinatown Express
Don't let the name fool you: Chinatown Express may be quick, but it serves some of the neighborhood's best food.

Eat First
What this Chinese restaurant's dining room lacks in flair is more than made up for by much of what you get from the kitchen.

Elephant and Castle
Traditional English ales and food (fish & chips, shepherd's pie) balance out the drab decor at this downtown pub, part of a Canadian chain.

Ella's
Ella's styles itself as a pizza parlor for today.

Greene Turtle
The Maryland sports bar chain opens its first D.C. location right next door to the Verizon Center. Good for families before a game.

Jaleo
Tapas (50 plus) and several main dishes fit all appetites and price ranges; the wine list is friendly and the wait staff is helpful.

Les Halles
French-style steakhouse offers bistro classics but specializes in steak and fries. The patio is worth a visit on warm days.

Matchbox
No longer as tiny as a namesake matchbox, the restaurant uses the revered John's Pizzeria in the Big Apple as the benchmark for the thin, crisp pies.