“Cheap” has a different definition in DC than the rest of the country, but there are still some budget-friendly eateries that don’t have a drive-thru in the nation’s capital. From falafel to NY-style pizza, with breakfast and burgers in between, we’ve rounded up the best budget-friendly eats in DC.

Good Stuff Eatery

DC-based Chef Spike Mendelsohn gained fame on ‘Top Chef’ back in 2008, the same year he and his family opened the original Good Stuff Eatery on Pennsylvania Ave. They’ve been serving up American favorites including award-winning handcrafted burgers, hand-cut fries, handspun shakes, and farm fresh salads ever since. All the flavored mayos, sauces, and foods are made in-house with the highest quality ingredients. Dishes are made with farm-raised beef and other seasonal products sourced from the local farming community. You can get “The Lunch Bag”, a cheeseburger with fries and a fountain drink, for just $13.25—a pretty good price considering its proximity to the US Capitol Building. But you don’t have to go to the Hill to get the “good stuff”—there are now locations at the airport, in the Georgetown neighborhood, in Arlington, VA, and even in Egypt!

Ben’s Chili Bowl

The Ali family started serving their fresh homemade chili and mouth-watering half-smokes over six decades ago. Since then, the original U Street location next to Lincoln Theatre has become a DC landmark—it says so right on the iconic storefront. Voted Washington’s signature dish, Ben’s Famous Chili Half Smoke has attracted the likes of Obama and Anthony Bourdain, but you can still get one for just $5.95. That’ll leave you enough dough for fries and a shake! Ben’s chili (still made with the original, secret recipe) is available at six convenient locations, including Reagan National Airport, Nats Park, FedEx Field, and in Arlington, VA.

Amsterdam Falafelshop

Vegans, vegetarians, and bar-goers alike love this Middle Eastern homegrown fast-casual chain for its freshly fried falafels. Say that ten times fast. Choose between three or five golden-fried falafel balls in a pita (or bowl if you’re gluten-free) for under 10 bucks. Knock yourself out with free unlimited toppings—there are over 22—including baba ganoush, Turkish salad, and house-pickled beets. Don’t skip out on the twice-fried Dutch-style fries for under five dollars. This late-night DC institution started as a shop in Adams Morgan and now has three Amsterdam-inspired area locations you can wander into after a night of drinking since they’re open until 4am on Friday and Saturdays. Suffice to say, there’s a good reason we named it one of the best Cheap Restaurants in DC.

Wiseguy Pizza

Wiseguys is hands down the best pizza in DC. The local order-at-the-counter chain is known for its old-world, authentic pies made with quality, carefully sourced, all-natural ingredients. It starts with freshly-made dough, which is stretched and hand-tossed then baked in an old-school, stone deck oven, resulting in a chewy yet puffy crust. Add tomato sauce, whole milk mozzarella from Wisconsin, imported extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano from Italy, and inventive toppings and you’ve got the perfect pie. The menu at this cheap restaurant rotates, but it always features housemade meatballs, sauces, and dressings. A full pie is around $25, but you can get an oversized slice and a soda for under $5 at lunch. Get the garlic knots and some Junior’s cheesecake if you’ve got the extra dough. Opened in 2012, Wiseguy Pizza now has three area locations in Chinatown, Navy Yard, and Foggy Bottom.

The Market Lunch

Another DC institution, The Market Lunch has been dishing out hearty comfort food since 1978 inside Capitol Hil’s Historic Eastern Market. Although the name implies a midday meal, breakfast is just as popular, if not more. Get the famous “Brick” breakfast sandwich, made with two eggs, fried potatoes, sausages, and cheddar cheese on a house-made toasted roll for just $6.50. Or see what all the fuss is about with a short or full stack of Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes with real maple syrup (also available gluten-free), both under eight bucks. For lunch, the crab cakes are the star of the show. A platter comes with two sides and fresh bread for $16.95. They only take cash, so hit the ATM before you go. 

Lucky Buns

It’s pretty funny when a place serving $15 burgers wins Washington Magazine’s “Best Place to Eat Cheap,” but that’s 2019 for you. Food Network Star alum Alex McCoy of Alfie’s & Tchoups Market opened this pub a few years ago in Adams Morgan, offering globally-inspired versions of the American classic. The late-night joint has been considered a hot spot ever since thanks to its juicy, hand-formed award-winning burgers. (The well-curated bar doesn’t hurt either.) Plus, all of the pickles, sauces, and spreads are made in small batches in-house; the bread is baked fresh daily, and produce is sourced locally when in season. A single patty Bogan Burger topped with gouda, bacon XO jam, pickles, and arugula will cost you just $11.

RASA

Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod may be first-time restaurateurs, but they were raised in the industry. Their immigrant fathers ran Bombay Bistro + Indique when the two were growing up in the ‘90s. Now Rahman and Vinod are bringing the vibrant colors and authentic flavors of their youth to the DMV community. Located in the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood, you can find this fast-casual Indian joint right by Nationals Park. Build your own bowl of locally sourced ingredients, or choose one of the cleverly named signature creations. The Tikka Chance on Me is loaded with chicken tikka, tomato-garlic sauce, and mint-cilantro chutney, and it costs under $10. Vegetarians will love the sweet potato Tikki dish dubbed Aloo Need is Love. Wash it down with a homemade juice for $2.50. 

If the food at these cheap restaurants immediately made you want to pack your bags and move to DC, find your next apartment on Zumper and get ready to enjoy some budget-friendly eats.

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