Purple Patch

"The Washington Post called Purple Patch the 2023 Restaurant of the Year eight years after the Mount Pleasant spot debuted as one of D.C.’s first upscale local Filipino restaurants. The sizzling, spicy pork belly and pork shoulder sisig remains a favorite dish, along with such staples as longanisa (sweet garlic sausage) and tocino (sweet grilled pork). You also can’t leave without trying an ube-flavored dessert or the ube waffle with fried chicken marinated in soy sauce and vinegar at brunch. Owner Patrice Cleary, who was born in the Philippines, also opened casual Joia Burger a block away earlier this year, serving up wagyu beef smash burgers with chopped toppings and ube soft serve." - Tierney Plumb, Emily Venezky