José Andrés Says Everyone Should Visit These 7 Immigrant-Owned Restaurants in D.C.

From a barbecue spot to a Lebanese institution that’s been open for decades, all of these restaurants have had an impact on the Spanish chef.

By Kristy Alpert

Published on July 27, 2026

You might be familiar with the six degrees of separation theory, the notion that any two people around the globe are connected by a chain of no more than six acquaintances. I have a similar hypothesis about Washington, D.C.: Just about every person who touches the culinary industry in the greater D.M.V. — District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia — area can claim some connection to chef José Andrés.

The Spanish restaurateur agrees. “I know everybody; it is unfair,” he laughs when I sat down with him for a pre-service drink at Barmini in D.C. and tell him about my “one degree of José Andrés” theory. Andrés and chef Aitor Zabala of Somni are teaming up at the former’s two Michelin-starred restaurant Minibar for a special collaboration with Capital One and the Michelin Guide. The evening is a celebration of Andrés’ recently winning the Michelin Guide Mentor Award for his work influencing the next generation of chefs — many of whom, like the World Central Kitchenfounder, are immigrants. 

Andrés points out that immigrants “made America one of the most fascinating countries in the world when we talk about food, and that is something that should be celebrated, because, when you talk about food, all are welcome.”

To say immigrants have played a large role in developing D.C.’s thriving food scene — which Andrés has been part of for more than 30 years after moving here in 1993 — would be an understatement. The chef notes that “the restaurant community of Washington, D.C., is what makes this city one of the best cities in America to dine out.” As someone with connections throughout the food scene in the capital of the United States, Andrés is well-suited to recommend where to eat in the city, and the culinary icon shares some of his favorite immigrant-owned or -operated restaurants to add to seek out next time you’re in Washington, D.C.

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Casa Teresa 

Andrés feels right at home inside Casa Teresa, a live-fire-fueled spot that’s owned by one of his former chefs and good friend, Rubén García, who also immigrated to the U.S. from Spain. “He’s making some of the most classic, beautiful Catalan food anywhere,” Andrés says. Cheeky as always, García’s friend and mentor notes that “he makes croquettes that are second best only to mine. We are lucky to have him in D.C.”

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Amazonia and Causa 

Chef Carlos Delgado grew up in the port city of Callao in Peru and immigrated to the U.S. with his mother when he was 12. Just four years later, he started learning to cook. Andrés loves the storytelling you’ll observe on the plates at Delgado’s Michelin-starred, dual-concept restaurant, Amazonia and Causa. “Carlos Delgado used to be one of my chefs, and he is one of the most talented Peruvian chefs ever,” Andrés says. “[He] is doing amazing things at Causa and Amazonia, as well as at his new hand roll restaurant Maru San.”

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2Fifty Texas BBQ 

Pitmaster Fernando González and his wife Debby Portillo were born and raised in El Salvador, which is where Gonzàlez started perfecting his Texas-style barbecue techniques at home. The couple moved to the D.C. area in 2018, introducing their brisket to the D.M.V. region with barbecue hot spot 2Fifty, which now has two locations. Andrés was one of the first in line to try the duo’s acclaimed smoked meats. “Don’t forget to try the sides,” he recommends, “which have a bit of Fernando and Debby’s Latin influence in them.”

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Busboys and Poets 

Iraqi-American artist and activist Andy Shallal moved to the U.S. as a child and opened Busboys and Poets in 2005 with a vision of creating a community-focused establishment — part bookstore, restaurant, bar, and gathering space — that was welcoming to everyone. Shallal’s multifunctional business model was a hit, and there are now eight Busboys and Poets locations in the D.M.V. area, each with a packed social calendar featuring discussions, author events, performances, and poetry slams.

“Andy Shallal is a community hero,” Andrés says. “An icon and leader for Washingtonians, immigrants, and business owners everywhere.” The harira soup, a Moroccan dish starring garbanzo beans and lentils, is one of the menu’s standout items, and Busboys and Poets serves a wide variety of items — from smoked brisket hash to vegan paninis — to make sure there’s an option for every customer.

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Lebanese Taverna 

Open since 1979, Lebanese Taverna is a family affair. The restaurant was founded by the late patriarch of the Abi-Najm family, Tanios “Tony” Abi-Najm, who fled Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War and moved his family to Virginia, where they opened Lebanese Taverna just a few years later. Tony’s five children — Dany, Dory, David, Gladys, and Grace Abi-Najm — now run Lebanese Taverna’s 12 full-service and fast-casual locations throughout the D.M.V. 

Lebanese Taverna has been part of the D.C. restaurant scene since well before Andrés arrived. “I’ve learned so much of what I know about Lebanese food from the Abi-Najm family,” he says. “They were so welcoming to me and my team when we first opened Zaytinya, teaching me so much and being so generous with their knowledge, recipes, and kitchens to help us understand the food of the region… I always love visiting the restaurant and seeing what they’ve got cooking.” If you’re a fan of Andrés’ Mediterranean spot Zaytinya, then dining at the restaurant that taught him about Lebanese cuisine is a must.

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Arepa Zone 

Gabriela Febres and Ali Arellano first met at a bar in Washington, D.C., while watching the Venezuela soccer team play Chile in a Copa América match. They shared a birth country, Venezuela, and a craving for the food of their childhoods. “A decade ago, they were having trouble finding good Venezuelan food in the area, so they decided to do it themselves,” Andrés says. The duo initially opened Arepa Zone as a food truck and now operate seven brick-and-mortar locations of the casual eatery throughout the city. According to Andrés, “Gabriela and Ali make some of the best arepas around.”

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Bombay Bistro 

Although you’ll have to travel a little bit outside of D.C. to get to this cozy Indian restaurant, Andrés says it’s worth it. In Rockville, Maryland, Bombay Bistro has been open since 1992. The restaurant was first opened by chef K.N. Vinod and his business partner Surfy Rahman, and its new owners detail that they’re committed to keeping the founders’ original vision alive on Bombay Bistro’s website. “The food is incredible,” Andrés says. “K.N. and Surfy have set the table for so many others in the city, including their own sons, Sahil and Rahul of RASA. And they are all huge supporters of World Central Kitchen. I am forever grateful to them.”