Prices are per person for a main course at dinner, excluding sales tax (10% in D.C., 7.5% in VA, 5% in MD).

Enjoy pop music while you sample such delicacies as moi-moi (black-eyed peas, tomatoes, and corned beef) and nklakla (tomato soup with goat). Feast on feijoada, a rich Brazilian stew of black beans, pork, and smoked meats. Sample the delicious French fish stew called bouillabaisse, Italian favorites such as fusilli with broccoli and whole cloves of roasted garlic, succulent lamb kabobs or crisp falafel (vegetable fritters) from the Middle East.

As the nation's capital, Washington plays host to international visitors and new residents. This infusion of cultures means that, despite the dearth of ethnic neighborhoods and the kinds of restaurant districts found in many other cities, you can find almost any type of food here, from Burmese to Ethiopian.

In Chinatown (centered on G and H streets NW between 6th and 8th), Burmese, Thai, and other Asian cuisines add variety to the many traditional Chinese restaurants. The latter entice you with huge, brightly lit signs and offer such staples as beef with broccoli or kung pao chicken in a spicy sauce with roasted peanuts. But discriminating diners will find far better food at the smaller, less obvious restaurants.

For fine dining, don't overlook restaurants in the city's luxury hotels. The formal dining room at the Willard Inter-Continental, Seasons at the Four Seasons, Citronelle at the Latham, and the dining room at the Morrison-Clark Inn are noteworthy. Of course, such attention to detail comes at a price. One less expensive way to experience these restaurants is a weekday lunch.