Jaleo is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

1. Jaleo

8.6
480 7th St NW (at E St NW), Washington, D.C.
Tapas Restaurant · Penn Quarter · 256 tips and reviews

Pedro Ivo S.Pedro Ivo Salomao: Tasting traditional tapas menu (50usd) is a great option. Different tapas to try (all of them tasted really good) out and a fantastic service. You cant go wrong - one of the best tapas restaurants

Patricia V.Patricia Vittorazzi: Amazing!! I had lunch yesterday and the DC Restaurant Week menu was fantastic. Tapas and the best fries with blue cheese I ever had. TJ Neville told me about this place and he is right: amazing!

Vasuki N.Vasuki Narasimha Swamy: Tapas are awesome and so is the sangria. Plenty vegetarian options.

Zaytinya is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

2. Zaytinya

9.0
701 9th St NW (at G St. NW), Washington, D.C.
Mediterranean Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 413 tips and reviews

michael s.michael sola: awesome food, ate at the bar / lounge. It was quick, liked how they brought out the tapas in waves, great idea - Mike Isabella is head chef, he was on Top Chef Read more.

MariaMaria: Great tapas selection. Yummy drinks.

IS K.IS KLE: One of the best restaurants in DC. Consistently great food - Mediterranean tapas style. Excellent hummus, tzatziki, salads, falafel sandwich, salmon, Brussels. Cannot make a bad choice on this menu.

Oyamel Cocina Mexicana is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

3. Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

8.7
401 7th St NW (at D St NW), Washington, D.C.
Mexican Restaurant · Penn Quarter · 324 tips and reviews

Patrick M.Patrick McDermott: The guacamole is superb, with I believe green bell pepper and quest fresco cheese on top. The mezcal and other tapas are very good too, including the chalupas with duck… (3 of 4 petals via Fondu) Read more.

Jane B.Jane Browne: Very popular an for good reason, fantastic tapas style Mexican. If going after six suggest you book . Staff are great an food amazing best Mexican in DC area.

Nisha D.Nisha Desai: Awesome food tapas style that will still leave you full. A little salty but still delicious.

Boqueria is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

4. Boqueria

8.8
777 9th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Tapas Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 4 tips and reviews

Joaco M.Joaco M: Service and their tapas are awesome!

Elizabeth B.Elizabeth Burstein: Loved the bfast paella, the meat and cheese plate, cherry lime sangria, shishito peppers

D F.D F: Take green beans and meatballs for kids. Consider patatas brevas as filler but since portions so big- no need

Cuba Libre is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

5. Cuba Libre

7.6
801 9th St NW, Suite A (at H St NW), Washington, D.C.
Cuban Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 154 tips and reviews

KitchenboyKitchenboy: Went with wife and a friend. We had drinks and many small plates. There is much diversity in drinks and food. The decor is really cool, like a small Cuban village street. We enjoyed ourselves.

Step A.Step Armah: All u can eat tapas on Tuesdays. Well worth it.

Yuri B.Yuri B: Must have meatballs tapas!

Lincoln is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

6. Lincoln

8.0
1110 Vermont Ave NW (btwn L St and Thomas Circle NW), Washington, D.C.
New American Restaurant · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 149 tips and reviews

M Squared Real EstateM Squared Real Estate: Great small tapas style plates and signature drinks. Try the poached arctic char, beef carpaccio & fried oysters and hierloom tomato risotto. Wash it down with a Moscow Mule.

Morgan T.Morgan Thomas: Tapas style American food is the concept of this restaurant. The interior is beautiful and the drinks are tasty. Everything is seasonal so the menu changes often.

Stephanie D.Stephanie DeDecker: Check out the penny floor, great tapas style American food. Perfect for large groups and sharing

Cranes is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

7. Cranes

8.1
724 9th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Spanish Restaurant · 11 tips and reviews

Hamid A.Hamid Alan9ary: Great ambiance, unique tapas, and super staff 👍🏼 worth coming back. My fav was: Shrimp and Squid Tempura

Monica J.Monica Jazmin: We celebrated my hubbys Birthday here. Service was great. Loved desserts!

Nikhil V.Nikhil Varty: Biggest waste of money and time- we left the meal halfway through- stale oil - awful food - soulless decor - decent Server

Daikaya is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

8. Daikaya

8.6
705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Ramen Restaurant · Chinatown · 284 tips and reviews

Faith C.Faith Cabico-Arshon: Apparently, we just found out that there's a bar upstairs that serves cocktails and small plates. And, the first floor is just ramen and gyoza.

Washington PostWashington Post: There are two ways to experience this restaurant: Stay on the ground floor to sip the broth and slurp the noodles of Sapporo-style ramen or go upstairs to order from a menu small plates.

Gozde H.Gozde Hosten: Small plates but delicious food

Izakaya is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

9. Izakaya

8.0
705 6th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Japanese Restaurant · Chinatown · 13 tips and reviews

Pat R.Pat Russo: Great small plates, I'd recommend grabbing a bunch to share. The grilled avocado and pork belly were among the top hits

KarenKaren: Absolutely delicious food. Recommended: chicken karaage, poutine, and yakiniku donburi.

Miley L.Miley Lee: The onigiri is very tasty and the grilled scallop is also good. THE AVOCADO IS AMAZING!

Cedar is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

10. Cedar

7.9
822 E St NW (at 8th St NW), Washington, D.C.
New American Restaurant · Penn Quarter · 46 tips and reviews

JLJL: This place is a gem! Great happy hour selections for both drinks and small plates!

RickyRicky: Very friendly staff, decent upscale setting. Crabs benedict w/bearnaise is a must!

Tammy G.Tammy Gordon: Ask your server what's fresh & local! The chef is great about sourcing from nearby farms and fishermen.

Ella's Wood-Fired Pizza is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

11. Ella's Wood-Fired Pizza

8.0
610 9th St NW (btwn F & G St NW), Washington, D.C.
Pizzeria · Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown · 71 tips and reviews

Karen L.Karen L.: Ditto on the happy hour $5.00 pizza, great deal! Not spectacular, but very good eats. Tasty, casual, enjoyable, Saturday afternoon lunch spot with excellent service.

Detroit On TapDetroit On Tap: $5 pizzas at the bar m-f 5 to 7 pm and dollar off drafts. Dcafterfive.com.

JB- K.JB- Kang: Amazing service with incredible happy hour deals. Despite arriving past the happy hour cutoff, we were able to take advantage of the great pizza prices, and oh yeah their sangria is spectacular!!

The Cheesecake Factory is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

12. The Cheesecake Factory

6.7
1426 H St NW, Washington, D.C.
American Restaurant · 6 tips and reviews

William S.William Studart: I guess you can’t go wrong with Cheesecake Factory.

Rodrigo F.Rodrigo Falcão: Always a bad service experience. All employees in a bad mood.

Jan m.Jan manos: Cheese edged and salad was great

Dirty Habit is one of The 13 Best Places for Small Plates in Downtown-Penn Quarter-Chinatown, Washington.

13. Dirty Habit

7.3
555 8th St NW, Washington, D.C.
Cocktail Bar · Penn Quarter · 23 tips and reviews

Matthew T.Matthew Taub: Great outdoor area and happy hour. Solid cocktails and decent beer list.

Ilona d.Ilona de Heusch: Great for drinks and socializing not so much for the food

Jen M.Jen Martin: Indoor bar comes with a side of fruit flies. 🤢