La' Shukran

Had an amazing first meal of 2026 at La’Shukran. We greatly enjoyed our entire experience. The escargot’s were a must try and they didn’t disappoint. We also loved the Madeline’s for dessert and the lamb. Every course was special and the menu + wine list is very thoughtfully curated. Loved this place and will definitely return. Be prepared for your wallet to hurt after lol

This was restaurant was great - the cocktails were delicious, the food was tasty, and the service was unmatched! I had a 7:45pm reservation & I would highly recommend you make one because of how popular this place is. They have creative Middle Eastern dishes & everything is shareable (although portions were on the smaller size so we ordered everything twice). We ordered the Crispy Sweetbreads, Whole Fried Quail, and Batata Frites - along with the Sorbet & Tea/Coffee for desert. The space was decorated well, but a little tight, so I would recommend keeping your party size to a minimum (4 or less). Overall, I would recommend!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at La’ Shukran at Union Market and can confidently say it was one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had in a long time. My mom was visiting from out of town, and I wanted to take her somewhere special that that would show off just how vibrant and delicious DC dining can be. La’ Shukran delivered that and more. From the moment we arrived, the service was exceptional. Maxwell greeted us with such warmth and genuine hospitality that we immediately felt like regulars, even though it was our first visit. Throughout the night, both Alona and Alex checked in without feeling overwhelming. They were friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and cocktails. Speaking of food… wow! Every dish we ordered was an absolute standout. The escargot was tender and rich, each bite felt indulgent without being heavy. The falafel was perfectly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and bursting with fresh herb flavor. The salad Shukran was bright and refreshing and the batatas were crispy, savory, and downright addictive. We could have easily ordered a second round. You can’t leave without trying the coulotte, cooked to perfection and unbelievably flavorful. My mom is pretty picky when it comes to steak, and she was absolutely blown away. We also tried a couple of the cocktails, both with and without alcohol. Creative, balanced, and beautifully presented. La’ Shukran gave us the exact kind of special night I was hoping for. My mom is already asking when we can go back on her next visit! Fantastic food, incredible service, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. A true gem at Union Market. Highly recommended!

My friend was visiting for the holidays, and we were lucky to snag a last minute reservation from some same-day cancellations. We liked everything we tried, but my favorite was the falafel. We got the last duck of the night. The quail and pistachio dessert were sold out so we’ll be back to try those. The ambiance was also incredibly nice on a Sunday night, and the service was really friendly.

Walked in just to check out the space and ended up having one of the best dining experiences ever. Huge thanks to the host, for honoring his word and for finding us a spot when they were fully booked (I believe his name was David), Junior, for the incredible cocktails- the Mish Mish, margarita and the pink tequila drink were perfection and the manager for her warmth and care all night. We had the escargot, falafel, dumplings, and beef heart shawarma- every dish was creative, flavorful and beautifully presented. The beef heart shawarma and the hummus combo was my favorite. Ended with the knafeh with raspberry ice cream, which was the perfect sweet finish. My friend and I felt so seen and taken care of! We literally talked about it the next day. When I left, I felt as though I’d been part magically experience- a restaurant that doesn’t just serve food, but spirit. The ambience, the aesthetics, the service, the flavors: all deserving of the highest praise. ✨

After multiple days of searching for dinner reservations at La' Shukran (there were plenty of 9:00pm and later available), I was finally able to secure a 5:30pm two days before my desired date. The time and the day were not ideal, but I took what I could get. I had read a very complementary snippet about the restaurant in the NYT and decided to surprise my husband by taking him here for our anniversary. Here are our big takeaways from our dinner: - The food we had was amazing, especially the dumplings. Flavor combinations were creative, interesting, and delicious. - Prices are high for the portion sizes, and it is clear the servers have been trained in sale, but as long as you are aware of that going in and plan accordingly, it shouldn't be a problem. - We don't drink alcohol at restaurants because we rather spend our money on food, so we typically order club soda. It was shocking La' Shukran charges $6 for one skinny glass of club soda and this does NOT include refills. Unfortunately, we found this out when we received the bill. We were charged over $30 for club soda, which felt a lot like we were being punished for not ordering alcohol. My advice...DO NOT ORDER CLUB SODA. - Despite some ridiculousness, we would still recommend eating at La' Shukran because the food is just that good.

You enter through a green door on a side street and climb stairs to a lounge-meets-dining-room hideaway where the lighting, color, and music are all dialed in. The ambiance feels exclusive. Everyone is happy to be present, absorbing the cool energy. This exceptional vibe is matched by first-class service. The bbq’d maitake is brushed with date molasses piled over silky hummus, though the mushrooms outnumber the chickpeas. Maryland crab on whipped labne is well balanced with green harissa giving the whole dish a vibrant flavor. The cabbage arrives like a small sculpture, soft at heart, charred at the edges, glazed in mish mish, and anchored by whipped tahini. Hashwei fried rice nails comfort, consisting of soft lamb, fragrant rice, garlic yogurt to bind it all. The whole fried hot quail is crisp skin, juicy meat, chili oil heat, calmed by tahini ranch. Bite after bite, it doesn’t slow down. The steak kebab brings smoky tenderness, though the soggy onions could disappear and nothing would be lost. Soujek dumplings are soft little pockets carrying subtle spice, urfa chili crunch. Desserts go hard: knafeh topped with raspberry labne ice cream, crackling baklava with rose petals, elegant macarons, and a blackberry sorbet that’s quietly excellent. As for the cocktails every drink, alcoholic or zero-proof, is creative, aromatic, balanced. La’ Shukran feels like a place built by people who love hosting, and it shows. You leave warmer, happier, and definitively feeling cooler.

This hotspot is well deserving of its popularity. Tucked in an alleyway of Union market, this sumptuously designed, meticulously branded gem delivers on flavors and vibes. The cocktails are perfectly balanced showcasing levant flavors in creative ways. I recommend visiting with a group, because no item on the menu should be skipped. Smoky flavors on salads, escargot on hummus, and savory donuts, the flavors will leave you inspired and satisfied! I appreciated the attentive service that helped us select drinks (don’t sleep on the natural wine list!!) and kept a steady pacing of our many small plates! The decor is gorgeous, I only wish the music was a tiny bit quieter for better conversation, and the menu print was a bit larger for those of us with tired eyes in dim lighting!