Washington DC’s dining scene earned national recognition this week as Dōgon, the Afro-Caribbean restaurant led by acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi, was named the #1 restaurant on Yelp’s “Best New Restaurants of 2025” list.
Located inside the Salamander Washington DC hotel at The Wharf, Dōgon opened in 2024 and quickly became one of the region’s most talked-about dining destinations. Yelp’s annual list highlights full-service restaurants that opened after January 1, 2024, based on factors such as review volume and star ratings through mid-2025.
Dōgon draws inspiration from Onwuachi’s Nigerian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, and Creole heritage, presenting a vibrant and refined take on Afro-Caribbean cuisine. The restaurant’s name pays tribute to the Dogon people of West Africa, known for their deep astronomical and cultural traditions, themes that also influence the restaurant’s celestial-inspired décor.
Diners have praised dishes such as the berbere-roasted chicken with jollof rice, the “crispy and fluffy” hoe crab, and a rich rum cake that has become a crowd favorite. The menu’s bold flavors are matched by its striking design, a collaboration with New York-based studio Modellus Novus, which has been noted for seamlessly merging art, culture, and storytelling.
Since its opening, Dōgon has earned acclaim from both critics and diners, solidifying Onwuachi’s place as one of the country’s leading culinary voices. A Bronx native who rose to national prominence with restaurants like Kith/Kin and Tatiana, Onwuachi continues to expand his creative vision through food that celebrates identity and heritage.
