Affordable Places To Eat In DC

Updated: June, 14th, 2017

Like any big city, living in Washington, DC can be expensive.  There’s always an exciting event to attend or a new restaurant to check out that bites at the pocket.  Also, let’s not forget all the travel that can easily be done from the city that snips at my paycheck.  That being said, I am always looking for affordable places to eat in DC.   When I talk “affordable” I don’t mean junk food but delicious fast casual places that will cost less than $20 for a meal and a drink.  So when Expedia.com asked me to share my top picks for cheap eats in the district I knew exactly what to recommend. From Mediterranean to hoagies, these are my favorite places for a cheap bite in the city:

Cava Grill:   I am biased, Cava Mezze is one of my favorite affordable places to eat in DC.  The concept is similar to Chipotle in which you make your own dish starting greens, rice, or even lentils and your choice of proteins, toppings, and veggies.  My favorite bowl is the savory braised lamb with the spicy harissa and crazy feta toppings.  This is also a place that I like to take my vegetarian friends as you build your own meal and the falafel bowl is just as delicious.

& Pizza:  This other locally-owned establishment has quickly grown in the district.  You can even find their locations at Reagan National and Dulles Airports. (Read about their airport locations here).   You can have your pizza customized with a selection of fresh ingredients or if you’re not feeling creative, there is a selection of “signature pizzas” that do the thinking for you.  You can wash your pizza down with local beer and wine.  Dining Traveler Pick: the Moonstruck with truffle mushrooms, goat cheese, and fig marsala.

Taylor Gourmet:  There are days that you just want a big ‘ol hoagie.  That is what Taylor Gourmet does best.  Big, think sandwiches and they do not skimp on the meat.  If you find yourself on an early flight from Reagan National, make sure to have their breakfast sandwich.  On a carb free kick?  They also offer delicious salads.  Dining Traveler Pick:  The Callowhill with spicy hand rolled meatballs. It’s glorious to bite into!

Mitsitam Café at the National Museum of the American Indian:  When exploring the Washington, DC, you must check out Mitsitam Café (a more detailed review here).  The culinary team has created seasonal menus based on recipes from the indigenous populations of the Americas. You can try everything from Peruvian “causa” (mashed potato cake) to a juicy Elk Burger.

Shake Shack:  This is the only non-local that I am adding to the list but I can’t help it, Shake Shack is one of my favorites!  Although there’s a bit of a wait for the burgers, it is well worth it when you bite into the smokeshack burger with its spicy sauce and crispy bacon.  Traveling by train or bus from DC any time soon?  Have breakfast at its Union Station location. It is one of the few Shake Shacks currently serving a breakfast menu.  Think juicy sausage patties with the classic Shake Shack bun.

Big Bear Café:  Want to eat like the locals in DC do, head to Bloomingdale for lunch at Big Bear Café.  If the weather is nice, take advantage of their beautiful outdoor seating and take in the unique architecture of the neighborhood.  I used to live right around the corner and became obsessed with the pastrami sandwich, washed down with a Stiegl Radler, an orange Austrian beer.  Dining Traveler Tip:  if you love farm to table, check out Big Bear Café’s dinner menu.

Amsterdam Falafel:  You know that moment when you have something so good, you actually remember the exact date and time you had it for the first time?  That’s me with Amsterdam Falafel, one of the most beloved affordable places to eat in DC by locals.  It was 4^th of July, 2012.  I was in DC on business travel.  My best friend K took me here for lunch.  When I bit into the crispy falafel smothered in tzatziki, I was sold.  I actually moved to DC three months later.  Perhaps the falafel had something to do with it.  Dining Traveler Tip:  Order the fries…. Dip them in peanut sauce. Trust me on this one!

El Camino:  Another one of my picks in the Bloomingdale neighborhood is El Camino.  This is also a place where I take my visiting friends for a local vibe, great happy hour, and tacos for $2.50.  My favorite:  the chorizo taco, lightly spicy on a soft tortilla.  I truly appreciate how they don’t skip on the meat given the low price.  Late night hunger?  The restaurant is open until 11:30pm on weekdays and 12:30am on Friday and Saturday.

Takorean:  Two of my favorite cuisines, Mexican and Korean come together at Takorean with several locations throughout the district at the Navy Yard, Union Market, and Metro Center.  This concept began in a food truck and it morphed into a local favorite.  The food truck scene in DC has taken off in recent years with many favorites establishing brick and mortar sites.  Try the bulgogi tacos topped with spicy kimchi and washed down with tamarind soda.  Dining Traveler Tip:  head to Union Market for spacious free parking.

The city’s culinary scene continues to evolve and thankfully there are plenty of affordable places to eat in DC.  From falafel to Korean tacos, there’s plenty of delicious choices to choose from.  What’s your favorite budget place in the city?

Disclaimer:  This post is a sponsored post from Expedia.com.  Opinions and story are my own.