As D.C. officials scramble to rebrand downtown after the Wizards and Capitals announced plans to depart Capital One Arena — prompting questions about the future business climate in the neighborhood — several local chefs have actually opened new restaurants in the city’s epicenter over the last several weeks.

You can now find legit Texas-style barbecue and scrumptious vegan New Orleans soul food in downtown D.C., plus a lot more. These new restaurants, helmed by both established chefs and emerging ones, hope their food brings life back to city’s center. Downtown could use it, with foot traffic still below pre-pandemic levels — though it’s improving. Despite downtown’s many struggles, the chefs have hope.

“We are a destination place, and that’s a blessing,” 2Fifty co-owner Debby Portillo González told DCist/WAMU ahead of its downtown opening. “We understand the foot traffic and the Capital One Arena and all that, but we also have been getting all these years, so many requests from people that don’t have transportation and are not going to Riverdale [Park] because it’s not in the city.”

Downtown D.C. is not the only neighborhood seeing new spots pop up this month. Maryland’s Takoma Park has seen a string of openings in January, as have other parts of the region.

2Fifty, 414 K St. NW

For the uninitiated, Maryland’s 2Fifty is arguably the best barbecue joint in the region. The Washington Post named it the best barbecue in 2020 and again in 2022, Texas Monthly counted it among the best (non-Texas) barbecue restaurants in the nation, and 2Fifty just landed in Washingtonian’s top ten best restaurants. Now, the renowned prime and wagyu brisket (among other mouthwatering smoked meat) is available within city limits. Owners Fernando González and Debby Portillo González opened a second location inside a glossy mixed-use development in Mount Vernon Triangle. People can purchase meat by weight, or go for chopped beef or chopped whole hog sandwiches for $13 or $16, respectively.  Patrons can take their order to-go or eat at the 85-seat restaurant.

73 Farm, 918 F St. NW

Houston native Chel’se Williams, grew her successful catering business Smoky Mmm Eats into a food pop-up at the National Union Building called 73 Farm. Williams will be cooking up the food of her roots, New Orleans soul food, with a twist: Every dish is vegan, and mushrooms are the star of the show. For roughly $16, get dark-roux cajun gumbo, with organic pea protein “sausage” and king trumpet mushrooms, or creole jambalaya, with smoked pea protein andouille “sausage” and seitan “chicken” along with roasted oyster mushrooms. There’s also po’boys (prepared with oyster mushrooms) for $14.50 and “crab” cakes (made with lion’s mane mushroom) for $16. Patrons can get a side of cajun fries, red beans and wild rice, or something sweet, like beignets. The Black-owned pop-up is only open for lunch, Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to  3 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Moon Rabbit, 927 F St. NW

The acclaimed contemporary Vietnamese restaurant is back. James Beard nominated chefs Kevin Tien and Susan Bae just re-opened Moon Rabbit with a revamped menu that draws on the ingredients and flavors of different parts of Vietnam. Moon Rabbit experiments with classic Vietnamese dishes by, for example, reimagining bánh canh (a thick noodle soup) as gnocchi pasta that’s tomato based and crab fat-filled. Plates vary in size and cost from $8 to $32. The opening has delighted Moon Rabbit fans, who were sad to see the Wharf location suddenly close last year. Tien wanted to reopen it in downtown in part for sentimental reasons — the chef hosted his first food pop up at the National Union Building back in 2016, he told DCist/WAMU. Plus, Tien sees big things for the Chinatown/Penn Quarter area, perhaps including a revitalization of Asian American/Pacific Islander-owned businesses.

KIYOMI Sushi by Uchi, 1850 K St. NW

Former Sushi Nakazawa chef Masaaki “Uchi” Uchino will soon open a sushi stall at one of D.C.’s newest food halls, The Square. Until then, the chef is hosting a regular lunch pop-up there on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Uchino’s “quick omakase” features seven pieces of nigiri, a spicy tuna hand roll, and miso soup — all for $40. Nigiri options include sea bass, king salmon, spanish mackerel, yellowtail, smoked salmon, medium and extra fatty tuna, and customers can expect surprises like caviar, truffles, and wagyu. The Square opened late last year, featuring popular eateries like Taqueria Xochi. The Square co-founder and chef Richie Brandenburg tells DCist/WAMU he is working to make The Square a downtown destination, but is currently only seeing enough foot traffic Tuesday through Thursday. Uchino’s pop-up will be located at the stall recently vacated by Cashion’s Rendezvous.

Here are more January restaurant openings and new food happenings to check out: 

• Cielo Rojo: Takoma Park’s beloved Mexican restaurant reopened in a much larger space just a 5-minute walk away from the original. The new location will serve the hits it’s known for from executive chef David Perez, plus new dishes. The restaurant also added to its team Rachel Bindel, of Michelin-starred Gravitas, who is now Cielo Rojo’s chef de cuisine.
• Greco Truly Greek: This Boston-based fast-casual Greek restaurant launched this month in Georgetown. If shoppers or students are in need of a quick bite, its portable fries-stuffed pita sandwiches are a great option.
• I Am a Sandwich: Chef Armani Johnson of shuttered Navy Yard restaurant ABC Pony brings back his crowd-favorite crab dip burger, among other bites, at a Monday pop-up at Mattie & Eddie’s in Pentagon City.
• Hiraya tasting menu: The Filipino cafe on H Street NE now has an upstairs fine dining restaurant. Get a 5- or 7- course meal prepared by Pogiboy co-founder Paolo Dungca.
• Mita: The chefs behind Michelin-starred El Cielo and La Cosecha’s Serenata opened a vegetarian-heavy Latin American restaurant off U Street NW.
• Muối Tiêu: The beloved Vietnamese food truck replaced Mark’s Kitchen in Takoma Park. Devour pho and banh xeo (crispy stuffed rice pancake) at the new restaurant.
• Pastis: Stephen Starr and Keith McNally have recreated this adored New York City bistro inside Union Market. Staples include French onion soup, spaghetti limone, and duck confit.
• Raising Cane’s: In case you haven’t heard (which seems impossible, based on social media), the wildly popular Louisiana-born chicken finger chain opened inside Union Station with great fanfare.
• Sticky Fingers: The bakery closed its Columbia Heights location but shortly after opened a spot in Takoma Park. There will be baked goods, plus vegetarian sandwiches and house-made vegan charcuterie.
• Shababi pop up at Hill East Burger: The Capitol Hill burger joint is hosting the Palestinian pop-up from Chef Marcelle Afram for brunch the next few weekends.
• The Heights: Chevy Chase now has a food hall where patrons can get Cuban sandwiches, sushi, and crispy dosas, plus a lot more. It also houses a “speakeasy” called Turncoat.
• The Urban Grape: This Boston-based Black-owned wine retailer was named one of the best shops in the U.S. by Wine Enthusiasts and now has a location in Shaw.
• Your Only Friend: Columbia Room alums Paul Taylor and Sherra Kurtz are pairing cocktails with sandwiches at this newly opened Shaw bar.

This post has been updated to clarify that David Perez is the executive chef of Cielo Rojo.