Title: Dine in DC with 366 Beli Bookmarks as a Georgetown Student

Bennie Chang (SFS’26) is a Georgetown Storyteller from San Jose, California, and studies regional & comparative studies, art and international business diplomacy.

Some of my clearest childhood memories revolved around the dinner table. From elementary through high school, my family ate dinners together every night, no matter how busy we were. My parents, dog and I would sit together to share a meal and call my grandparents in Taiwan.

I didn’t realize how important food was for me until college. While I enjoyed hanging out with others in different contexts, I valued food the most. From cooking for others to trying out spots on our “Want to Go” list, meals with friends reminded me of the family dinners we shared.

For the past three years, I have connected with friends and family through the food rating and social app Beli. I enjoy seeing others’ favorite spots and bookmarking them (and vice versa for them), something especially useful when traveling. I love seeing what spots friends want to try and plan meals around our shared tastes.

As my senior year winds down, I have been trying to make a dent in my 366 bookmarked spots, and DC’s food scene has made that easy. Below are my reviews of five spots that I had bookmarked and tried out with friends.

You ranked Sampannee: 6.8/10

Cuisine: Thai

Location: Dupont Circle

Thai food is one of my favorites, so I was super excited to try this spot in Dupont Circle. Many of my friends had visited before and had great things to say about it, so I decided to go with two friends from my high school journalism class.

The interior was decorated with string lights and antique picture frames, and we got a window seat in the brownstone townhouse conversion. The hardwood seating was built into the wall and, while not the most comfortable, was complemented by colorful cushions, providing an imperfect but welcoming atmosphere.

When my chicken krapow was placed, I was doubtful. The white meat seemed to wade in a puddle of water-down sauce. However, the crunch of the bell pepper and drizzling of sauce on jasmine rice satisfied my taste buds. I ultimately gave Sampannee a green rating (I liked it), but lower than Mai Thai and spots from back home in California. I would have liked the presentation to be more considered and the flavor more robust, factors important to me when eating Thai food.

You ranked Alara: 7.0/10

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Location: Wisconsin Ave

Whenever I walked down Wisconsin, I caught a glimpse of Alara with its floor-to-ceiling glass windows and curved ceilings. Walking into the restaurant, I was not disappointed by its tiled stairs, carefully placed candles and intricate wallpapers.

My housemates and I were celebrating my roommate Pujan’s birthday, and Alara happened to be serving its Restaurant Week menu. While the six dips and entrees we tried were all well-made, dessert was my highlight.

I’m not usually a dessert person, so I was surprised to find myself eating my roommates’ leftover baklava and tiramisu. However, my absolute favorite was the tahini crème brûlée, for which I am always a sucker. The torched sugar and light cream were the perfect ending to a night of taste testing.

So why only the 7.0 rating if I enjoyed the meal? DC has many wonderful Mediterranean spots whose dips and kebabs are seasoned better. If you are seeking an elevated meal in Georgetown and are in need of Mediterranean food, you cannot go wrong with Alara.

You ranked Boqueria: 7.6/10

Cuisine: Spanish

Location: Dupont Circle

Freshman year, a group of friends from my home in the Bay Area would meet up for meals and hangouts. After a restaurant hiatus, we decided to bring the crowd before graduation to Boqueria for brunch.

The windy, below-freezing weather shooed us excitedly to the restaurant. Out of the array of brunch tapas we ordered, my favorite dishes were the mushroom croquettes and shakshuka. The golden brown croquettes shatter-crisp outside and molten inside, and their flavor was soft yet surprisingly complex, tasting almost of truffles. The shakshuka came in a skillet, and I appreciated the kick from the spice and peppers.

However, my highlight was the conversations. I learned about backpacking on Catalina Island and Samoan culture, stories collected from travel adventures. We reflected on where we saw ourselves settling and celebrated post-graduation employment. The conversations on high tops made the meal feel like a homecoming.

You ranked ilili Restaurant: 9.0/10

Cuisine: Lebanese

Location: Wharf

My friend Emily and I had decided last-minute to go to ilili after another spot we wanted didn’t work out. However, I am so glad we went. In the morning sun and snow, the Wharf was tranquil, and we got a window table under the ultra-high ceilings looking out onto the waters.

The interior was incredible, an amalgamation of metallic details, reflecting surfaces and colorful chairs (minus purple, for some reason). Somehow, it blended perfectly in harmony, something I struggle with while painting. While I could have spent the whole time admiring the interior design, the food demanded my attention.

We each got a full set to share, getting four appetizers, two entrees, and four baklavas. The baba ganoush was the surprise favorite appetizer, rich and bold. After our shish taouk and stuffed grape leaves entrees, we quickly devoured the baklavas. They were the most buttery ones I have ever tasted, smelling like theater popcorn. Just delicious.

We chatted long after our plates were emptied, and throughout the time, the servers indulged my constant requests for hot water. A part of the 9.0 rating was the exacting dishes, but what made it memorable was how the space allowed us to be fully present for the slow, intentional meal, the kind I value most.

You ranked Hokkaido Ramen Santouka: 7.4/10

Cuisine: Japanese

Location: Tysons Corner

Santouka in the Bay Area is my favorite ramen spot, so I wanted to try out this location around DC. My friend Dhurv had also been craving ramen, so we journeyed to Northern Virginia on the Silver Line in the cold.

What I love most about Santouka is the rich tonkotsu broth, savory and rich. I especially enjoy watching the oil dance on the broth and around the chashu. The ramen bowl was probably identical to the one I had back home, but it felt different somehow. Perhaps it was the sit-down atmosphere, a surprise from the counter-order booth in the supermarket at home. Or maybe the broth wasn’t as thick as I remembered.

I think the 7.4 score has to do with a mismatch between expectations and reality. While the flavors could be replicated, the memories could not; hence the disappointment. Despite my lukewarm endorsement of this shop specifically, I stand by the broth as perhaps the best out there, so be sure to check it out. It is worth the trek into Virginia, especially on a cold day when ramen is almost necessary.

I love eating with friends, whether that be cooking for each other or exploring new restaurants. Beli has pushed me to try more spots, and these sweet memories from those meals will be preserved on the app, hopefully helping inform my friends’ dining decisions.

More importantly, through these meals, I have been able to feel more grounded and connected with those in my life. In college, these meals remind me of my family dinners, and in a way, I have built a family through meals with friends.