LAC Budget Dining Guide
Here is an A to Z list of D.C. restaurants for thre budget traveler. Add your own bookmarks with the
del.icio.us tag NMRTdiningguide. Thanks To Carrie Ansell for bringing it all together!
Amsterdam Falafel Shop
2425 18th St., NW
Washington, DC
202-234-1969
(Adams Morgan/Woodley Park)
Middle Eastern/Vegetarian/Vegan
http://www.falafelshop.com/menu_new.html
Sunday/Monday 11 AM -12 Midnight
Tuesday/Wednesday 11 AM - 2:30 AM
Thursday 11 AM - 3:00 AM
Friday/Saturday 11 AM - 4:00 AM
This restaurant only serves top-it-yourself falafel, french fries, and brownies. Delicious and one of the cheapest eats in DC. This is little bit of a hike from the Metro, but within walking distance of the Washington Hilton, if you are staying there.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U St., NW
Washington, DC
202-667-0909
(U St/Cardozo/African-American Civil War Memorial)
Chili/Burgers
http://www.benschilibowl.com
Monday - Thursday 11 AM - 2 AM
Friday/Saturday 11 AM - 4 AM
Sunday Noon - 8 PM
A Washington Institution. In addition to chili and burgers, Ben's also serves breakfast.
Busboys and Poets
2021 14th St., NW
Washington, DC
202-387-7638
(U St/Cardozo/African-American Civil War Memorial)
American (Pizza/Burgers/Salads)
http://www.busboysandpoets.com/menu_.html
Sunday - Thursday 10 AM - 12 Midnight
Friday/Saturday 10 AM - 2 AM
Beyond food, Busboys and Poets is also home to a great progressive bookstore and offers free Wi-Fi.
Capital Q
707 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-347-8396
(Gallery Place/Chinatown/Verizon Center)
BBQ
http://www.capitalqbbq.com/menu.html
Monday - Wednesday 11 AM - 9 PM
Thursday - Saturday 11 AM - 12 Midnight
Sunday Closed
Sandwiches can be had for under $10. Platters (with two sides) will likely put you in the $15 range.
Dukem
1114–18 U St., NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-667-8735
(U St/Cardozo/African-American Civil War Memorial)
Ethiopian
http://www.dukemrestaurant.com/menus.htm
Sunday - Thursday 11 AM - 2 AM
Friday - Saturday 11 AM - 3 AM
If DC were to be known for any type of ethnic food, it would be Ethiopian. Dukem is the elder statesman of the "Little Ethiopia" neighborhood, around 11th & U Streets NW.
East Street Café
Union Station, Mezzanine level
50 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington, DC 20002
202-371-6788
(Union Station)
Pan-Asian
http://www.eaststreetcafe.com/menu.htm
Monday – Saturday 11 AM - 8 PM
Sunday 12 Noon - 5 PM
In addition to this yummy sit-down restaurant, Union Station also has a food court with budget-friendly vendors.
Eastern Market *
7th Street & North Carolina Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-544-0083
(Eastern Market)
Farmer’s Market
http://www.easternmarketdc.com/south_hall.php
Tuesday - Saturday 7 AM - 6 PM
Sunday 9 AM - 4 PM
The South Hall of Eastern Market contains vendors offering everything from fresh produce and flowers, to deli, bakery, meat, poultry, cheese and dairy products. The South Hall also has a lunch counter restaurant - Market Lunch. On the weekend there are also local farmers outside the hall, as well as a flea market across the street.
*Due to a fire at Eastern Market on April 30th, the South Hall which
contains the Market Lunch and other food vendors is now closed. It is not
yet certain when it will be able to reopen. The open air farmer's market
continues every weekend.
Eli’s Restaurant
1253 20
th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-785-4314
(Dupont Circle)
Kosher/Deli
http://www.elis-dc.com/menus/index.html
Sunday - Thursday 11 AM - 9 PM
Friday 11 AM - 2:30 PM
While Eli’s is barely within the cheap eats confines of this guide (sandwich prices can rise over the $10 mark), it is the cheaper of the only two kosher restaurants in DC.
Five Guys Famous Burgers & Fries
808 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-393-2900
(Gallery Place/Chinatown/Verizon Center)
Burgers
http://www.fiveguys.com/menu.html
Sunday - Thursday 11 AM - 10 PM
Friday/Saturday 11 AM - 11 PM
Five Guys is now a chain of burger restaurants all over the East Coast – but they got their start in Northern Virginia in 1986 and are locals!
Giffords
Corner of E. & 10th St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
202-347-7755
(Metro Center or Gallery Place/Chinatown/Verizon Center)
Ice Cream
http://www.giffords.com/
Sunday - Thursday 10 AM - 10 PM
Friday - Saturday 10 AM - 11 PM
Giffords has been making homemade ice cream and candy locally since 1938. They have interesting and yummy "Flavors of the Month".
Java Green
1020 19th St., N.W.
Washington, D.C.
202-775-8899
(Farragut West or Farragut North)
Vegetarian/Vegan
http://www.javagreen.net/
Monday – Friday 7 AM - 8 PM
Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday Closed
All vegetarian menu, with many, many vegan options. Sandwiches, salads and Asian-inspired entrees.
Julia’s Empanadas
1221 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-861-8828
(Dupont Circle)
Latin American
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=798084
Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 2:30 AM
Sunday 11 am-7 pm
Julia’s empanadas may just be the cheapest eats in DC (outside of McDonald’s). There is a daily vegan empanada selection. Storefront location – no seating – close to Circle.
Moby Dick House of Kabob
1300 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-833-9788
(Dupont Circle)
Middle Eastern
http://www.mobysonline.com/Menu.htm
Monday – Thursday 11 AM – 10 PM
Friday 11 AM – 11 PM
Saturday 12 PM – 11 PM
Sunday Closed
Named after the owner's favorite restaurant in Tehran, Moby Dick's serves kabobs and fresh baked pita bread. The lamb is Hallal. There are daily lunch specials on weekdays.
Mocha Hut
1301 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-667-0616
(U St/Cardozo/African-America Civil War Memorial)
Coffee Shop/Sandwiches/Breakfast
http://www.mochahut.com/menu.html
Daily 7 AM - 9 PM
Mocha Hut is neighborhood coffee shop (with free wi-fi) that also serves yummy food. Try the fried chicken and waffles!
Nirvana
1810 K St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
202-223-5043
(Farragut West or Farragut North)
Indian/Vegetarian/Vegan
http://www.dcnirvana.com/
Monday – Thursday 11:30 AM - 3 PM; 5 PM - 9 PM
Friday 11:30 AM - 3 PM; 5 PM - 10 PM
Saturday 12:00 Noon - 3 PM; 5 PM - 10 PM
Sunday Closed
Daily lunch buffet for $9.95, highlighting a different region of India every day. All food is vegetarian, most is also vegan – just ask your server when you are seated.
Reeves Restaurant and Bakery
1306 G St., NW
Washington, DC 20005
202-628-6350
(Metro Center)
American/Bakery
http://www.reevesbakery.com/index.html
Monday - Friday 7 AM - 6 PM
Saturday/Sunday Closed
Reeves Bakery has been around (in various locations) since 1886. Famous for their strawberry pie, Reeves also serves a full lunch menu in their restaurant downstairs.
Saint's Paradise Cafeteria
601-A M St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-789-2289.
(Mount Vernon Square/Convention Center)
Soul Food
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/09/AR2006050900350_pf.html
Monday - Friday, 7 AM to 7 PM
Saturday/Sunday, 8 AM to 6 PM
This church cafeteria serves up delicious soul food 7 days a week. With its location in the basement of the United House of Prayer, you will definitely be eating like a local! Breakfast is served until 11 AM.
Sala Thai
1301 U Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
(U Street/Cardozo/African American Civil War Memorial)
Thai
http://www.salathaidc.com/
Monday - Thursday 11:30 AM - 10:30 PM
Friday 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Saturday 12 Noon - 11 PM
Sunday 12 Noon - 10:30 PM
Although not a vegetarian restaurant, Sala Thai is very vegan-friendly! The restaurant also features live jazz on weekends.
Sticky Fingers Bakery
1370 Park Rd NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-299-27000
(Columbia Heights)
Vegan/Bakery
http://www.stickyfingersbakery.com
Monday - Friday 7 AM - 7 PM
Saturday 8 AM - 7 PM
Sunday 9 AM - 5 PM
This vegan bakery has been a favorite of locals (and they ship!) since 2001. They recently moved to a new location and have now added vegan cafe fare (soups/salads/sandwiches).
Taqueria Distrito Federal
3463 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-276-7331
(Columbia Heights)
Mexican
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1123007&categories=Restaurants
Monday - Wednesday 7 AM - 10 PM
Thursday - Saturday 6 AM - 12 Midnight
This storefront taco joint is your best bet for Mexican food in the District.
Zorba’s Café
1612 20th St., NW
Washington, DC
202-387-8555
(Dupont Circle)
Greek
http://www.zorbascafe.com/?page_id=65
Monday - Saturday 11 AM - 11:30 PM
Sunday: 12 PM - 10:30 PM
Zorba's serves tradition Greek food - and has a sidewalk patio if the weather is nice.
