Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending right this minute?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which restaurants have been on the tips of diners' tongues this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Washington businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are extra cool this autumn.
Léziz Cafe & Restaurant
Open since July, this Turkish spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp.
Citywide, breakfast and brunch spots saw review counts increase by a median of 1.9 percent over the past month, but Léziz Cafe & Restaurant saw a 51.6 percent increase, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located at 2016 P St. NW (between North 21st and North Hopkins streets) in Dupont Circle, Léziz Cafe & Restaurant offers traditional Turkish delicacies ranging from fresh baked pastries and Mediterranean dishes to savory soups and salads.
Magnolia Kitchen & Bar
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Dupont Circle's Magnolia Kitchen & Bar, the bar and New American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "bars" on Yelp increased their review counts by a median of 1.9 percent over the past month, Magnolia Kitchen & Bar bagged a 35.3 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, with a slight upward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to its current four stars. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.5 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
Open at 1601 Connecticut Ave. NW since April, Magnolia Kitchen & Bar offers creative fruit-based cocktails, wine and a mix of mass market and craft beer.
There's more that's trending on Washington's bar scene: Yard House has seen a 12.5 percent increase in reviews.
Toryumon Japanese House
Foggy Bottom's Toryumon Japanese House is the city's buzziest ramen spot by the numbers.
The sushi bar and Asian fusion spot opened in June at 1901 Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 0001 (between North H and North 19th streets). It increased its review count by 14.5 percent over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median review increase of 2.5 percent for the Yelp category "ramen."
Toryumon Japanese House offers Tokyo-style ramen, plus sashimi, specialty sushi rolls and hibachi entrees.
O-Ku DC
O-Ku DC is currently on the upswing in the sushi bar category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "sushi bars" on Yelp increased review counts by a median of 3.2 percent over the past month, this sushi bar and Japanese spot increased its count by 25 percent — and kept its rating consistent at four stars.
Open for business since June at 1274 Fifth St. NE in the Capital City Market, the eatery offers nigiri, sushi and maki rolls, plus charcoal-grilled meat skewers. It has sister restaurants in Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte.
Chloe
Finally, open since January, this New American and modern European spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp. Located at 1331 Fourth St. SE in Capitol Hill, Chloe offers a globally inspired menu of seafood, grilled vegetable and meat dishes.
Citywide, businesses tagged "American (New)" saw review counts increase by a median of 2.1 percent over the past month, but Chloe saw a 10.9 percent increase, with a slight upward trend from a four-star rating a month ago to 4.5 stars today. It gained 1.5 times more reviews than expected based on past performance, significantly outperforming the previous month.
There's more than one place trending in Washington's New American category: The Big Stick has seen a 6.3 percent increase in reviews.
