Founding Farmers
A farm-to-table, all-day American restaurant downtown near Foggy Bottom, known for big portions and a sprawling menu.
The call
Worth it for the right traveler.
Why
- 01
Bustling, family-friendly, and crowd-pleasing — a deep menu of comfort food that works for almost anyone, from breakfast to late dinner.
Our read - 02
Wildly popular, so expect a wait.
Our read
Is it a fit?
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
On a budget, skip Founding Farmers — the spend outweighs the payoff.
You only have one day
Short on time? Founding Farmers can wait.
You are traveling with kids
With kids, it depends on the day.
You are traveling as a couple
As a couple, it depends on the day.
What to order
The plates that decide it
- Chicken fried steak and waffle — the dish the kitchen is best known for — breaded sirloin, white gravy, a waffle and maple syrup; the genuine signature
- Skillet cornbread with honey — buttery, sweet-corn-studded and the one starter regulars insist on
- Overambitious specials — stick to the comfort classics the kitchen does best
Plan it well
- Cost
- Moderate per head
- Allow
- 1–1.5 hours
Ready to plan it?
Booking may earn us a commission. It never changes the verdict.
Sources and method (3)
- Opened 2008 near the White House in Foggy Bottom; owned by 50,000+ family farmers of the North Dakota Farmers Union. wearefoundingfarmers.com ↗
- Has ranked among OpenTable's most-booked restaurants in the entire US for multiple consecutive years. wearefoundingfarmers.com ↗
- washingtonian.com ↗