A Dozen Cool Destinations for Ceviche in D.C.

Not a raw deal.

by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Jan 15, 2016, 3:12pm EST

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Ceviche at Nazca Mochica

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by Travis Mitchell@travisjmitchell Jan 15, 2016, 3:12pm EST

Cold temperatures call for food that invokes warm, sunny days and coastal vibes. Ceviche — a popular Latin American seafood dish — achieves exactly that.

Ceviche takes many forms, but most involve a marriage of raw, fresh fish, a spicy citrus-forward "tigre de leche" (tiger's milk) marinade, and South American vegetables like sweet potatoes, onions, and corn. Some variations also add poached or fried seafood like shrimp, octopus, squid, or scallops.

Many Latin American countries specialize in the dish. It's especially common and popular in Peru. Here are a dozen of the area's best restaurants to find a plate of ceviche, ranging from new-to-the-scene Peruvian restaurants to oyster bars and chicken spots.

China Chilcano

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The menu at chef José Andrés' Asian-Peruvian restaurant has a classic ceviche made with fresh fish, leche de tigre, sweet potato, red onion, and toasted corn. There's also a Japanese-inspired Nikkei version made with ingredients including bigeye tuna, soy-cured egg, ponzu, and puffed quinoa.

418 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 783-0941

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El Camino

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This Mexican hangout in Bloomingdale serves up tuna ceviche with mango-avocado salsa, red onion, and serrano chile.

108 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

202-847-0419

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Hank's Oyster Bar

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Travel down to Old Town Alexandria for a meal at the seafood-focused Hanks. The raw bar includes a fish ceviche with lime and jalapenos.

1026 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 739-4265

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La Casita Pupuseria

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In addition to pupusas, this market and restaurant serves an affordable ceviche mixto with tilapia, diced shrimp, and a fresh lime marinade.

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8214 Piney Branch Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

(301) 588-6656

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La Limeña

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Lines can get long at this Rockville Peruvian spot, known for its home-style cooking. Start out with one of many ceviches made with either fresh or fried fish. The restaurant recently announced a second location in town.

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765 Rockville Pike Ste B, Rockville, MD 20852

(301) 424-8066

Las Canteras

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Head to Adams Morgan for a Peruvian meal from Las Canteras, which makes a half-dozen types of ceviche. It also gets high-quality corvina fish when available. Indecisive diners can opt for a sample of two or three different types. Groups may consider splitting the combination of all four.

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2307 18th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

(202) 265-1780

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Nazca Mochica

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New to Dupont Circle, Nazca Mochica is a two-level Peruvian operation. The lower-level sports an "open" ceviche bar with several varities that is perfect for watching the action. The menu includes a flight of three different leche de tigres. The upstairs restaurant also serves ceviche, although the options are more limited, and it's prepared before reaching the table.

1633 P St NW, Washington, D.C. 20036

(202) 733-3170

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Ocopa

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Ocopa is making waves on H Street with its Peruvian cooking and three types of ceviche. There's classico, Nikkei, and mixto – a combination of flounder, octopus, fried calamari and scallops.

1324 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

(202) 396-1814

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Oyamel Cocina Mexicana

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The antojitos section of this Mexican restaurant has several ceviches. Choices range from a version with Japanese hamachi to one using poached squid and striped bass.

401 7th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

(202) 628-1005

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Super Chicken

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The Super Chicken chain of restaurants is mostly known for succulent rotisserie meats, but stop by on the weekend when fresh ceviche is on special at some locations.

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8357 Leesburg Pike, Vienna, VA 22182

(703) 288-1666

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Tico DC

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The South American influences at Tico have yielded a menu with five types of ceviche that highlight seafood like tuna, salmon, yellowtail, scallops and black bass.

1926 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

(202) 319-1400

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Toro Toro

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The seared seafood ceviche at this Latin American restaurant is loaded with prawns, calamari, and scallops. There's a Nikkei variation as well, with ahi tuna, ponzu, cucumber, avocado, quinoa, and sweet potato.