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Where to Eat Like the Bidens in D.C.

Where to Eat, Drink, and Party for Halloween Around D.C.

The 38 Essential Restaurants Around D.C.

Photo: R. Lopez

25 Dishes Under $5 That Eater Readers Love

by Missy Frederick
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by Missy Frederick
Photo: R. Lopez

These aren't just affordable dishes; they're dirt cheap eats. For those who only want to spend $5 or less on bar bites, lunch or even a full meal, Eater readers have obliged. In response to our Open Thread, this list includes the city's best in cheap tacos, banh mi, appetizers, sliders and more. Feel free to keep the conversation going in the comments section.


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Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.

1. Green Pig Bistro

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1025 N Fillmore St.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 888-1920
(703) 888-1920
Visit Website
Fried pimento cheese at Green Pig Bistro is $5.

2. Ravi Kabob House

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305 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 522-6666
(703) 522-6666
Visit Website
Samosas at Ravi Kabob are $1.50 for vegetable, or $2.99 for special with chana.

3. Ben's Chili Bowl

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1213 U St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-0909
(202) 667-0909
Visit Website
A half-smoke at Ben's will take you out of the $5 range, but get a regular chili dog and only pay $4.20.

4. DGS Delicatessen

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1317 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 293-4400
(202) 293-4400
Visit Website
Head to DGS during its new happy hour, and the chopped liver is only $5.

5. Estadio

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1520 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 319-1404
(202) 319-1404
Visit Website
Estadio in DC sells spicy Marcona almonds for $4.

6. Pho 14

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1769 Columbia Road NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-2288
(202) 986-2288
Visit Website
The banh mi with pork skin at Pho 14 is $4.49.

7. The Pretzel Bakery

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340 15th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 251-0953
(202) 251-0953
Visit Website
Spend $2 and get a pretzel at Capitol Hill's Pretzel Bakery.

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8. Cava Mezze

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2940 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 276-9090
(703) 276-9090
Visit Website
Lamb sliders are only $3 at happy hour over at Cava.

9. Carmine's

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425 7th St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 737-7770
(202) 737-7770
Visit Website
Cheap $4 bites at Carmine's during happy hour include fried zucchini and meatball sliders.

10. Pizzeria Orso

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400 South Maple Ave.
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 226-3460
(703) 226-3460
Visit Website
Head to Pizzeria Orso and try a lamb slider for $3.50.

11. 2 Amys

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3715 Macomb St NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-5700
(202) 885-5700
Visit Website
2 Amys has several affordable bites, from $3.95 deviled eggs to $4.95 cannoli.

12. Vidalia

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1990 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 659-1990
(202) 659-1990
Visit Website
Vidalia is known for its happy hour, where items under $5 include fried pickles and quail nuggets.

13. The Big Greek Cafe

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8223 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-4733
(301) 587-4733
Visit Website
At both locations of the Big Greek Cafe, get a gyro for $5 all day Wednesday.

14. Pica Taco

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1629 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 518-0076
(202) 518-0076
Visit Website
You can get two tacos for $5 at both Pica Taco locations.

15. Tippy's Taco House

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8632 Lee Hwy
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 560-0511
(703) 560-0511
Visit Website
At Tippy's Taco House (multiple locations), 4 tacos are $4.50.

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16. Greek Deli & Catering

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1120 19th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 296-2111
(202) 296-2111
Visit Website
The widely praised avgolemono soup at Greek Deli is only $3.50.

17. Radius Pizza

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3155 Mt Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 234-0202
(202) 234-0202
Visit Website
Meatball sliders and mussels are priced at $5 at Radius Pizza.

18. Alegria

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111 Church Street NW
Vienna, VA 22180
Visit Website
Sample the mushroom taco at Alegria for $3.

19. Julia's Empanadas

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2452 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-6232
(202) 328-6232
Visit Website
Any Julia's Empanada variety is priced at $3.59 each (multiple locations).

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20. Taylor Gourmet

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1116 H St NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 684-7001
(202) 684-7001
Visit Website
The arancini at Taylor Gourmet are priced at $4.50 (multiple locations).

21. Levi's Port Cafe

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1102 8th Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 547-6500
(202) 547-6500
For $4.59, get a pork chop sandwich at Levi's Port Cafe.

22. MGM Roast Beef

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905 Brentwood Road NE
Washington, DC 20018
(202) 248-0389
(202) 248-0389
Visit Website
The breakfast sandwich at MGM Roast is $3.49.

23. Tortilla Cafe

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210 7th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547-5700
(202) 547-5700
Visit Website
The Yuca y Chicharrones at Tortilla Cafe runs customers $3.49.

24. Ambar Balkan Cuisine

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523 8th St, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Visit Website
The Balkan kabob at the new Ambar on Capitol Hill is $4 during Happy Hour.

25. Boqueria

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1837 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 558-9545
(202) 558-9545
Visit Website
Cojonundo, a quail tapas dish at Boqueria, costs $4.

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1. Green Pig Bistro

1025 N Fillmore St., Arlington, VA 22201
Fried pimento cheese at Green Pig Bistro is $5.
1025 N Fillmore St.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 888-1920
Visit Website

2. Ravi Kabob House

305 N Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22203
Samosas at Ravi Kabob are $1.50 for vegetable, or $2.99 for special with chana.
305 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22203
(703) 522-6666
Visit Website

3. Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
A half-smoke at Ben's will take you out of the $5 range, but get a regular chili dog and only pay $4.20.
1213 U St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 667-0909
Visit Website

4. DGS Delicatessen

1317 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036
Head to DGS during its new happy hour, and the chopped liver is only $5.
1317 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 293-4400
Visit Website

5. Estadio

1520 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Estadio in DC sells spicy Marcona almonds for $4.
1520 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 319-1404
Visit Website

6. Pho 14

1769 Columbia Road NW, Washington, DC 20009
The banh mi with pork skin at Pho 14 is $4.49.
1769 Columbia Road NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 986-2288
Visit Website

7. The Pretzel Bakery

340 15th St., SE, Washington, DC 20003
Spend $2 and get a pretzel at Capitol Hill's Pretzel Bakery.
340 15th St., SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 251-0953
Visit Website

8. Cava Mezze

2940 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201
Lamb sliders are only $3 at happy hour over at Cava.
2940 Clarendon Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 276-9090
Visit Website

9. Carmine's

425 7th St. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Cheap $4 bites at Carmine's during happy hour include fried zucchini and meatball sliders.
425 7th St. NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 737-7770
Visit Website

10. Pizzeria Orso

400 South Maple Ave., Falls Church, VA 22046
Head to Pizzeria Orso and try a lamb slider for $3.50.
400 South Maple Ave.
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 226-3460
Visit Website

11. 2 Amys

3715 Macomb St NW, Washington, DC 20016
2 Amys has several affordable bites, from $3.95 deviled eggs to $4.95 cannoli.
3715 Macomb St NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 885-5700
Visit Website

12. Vidalia

1990 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036
Vidalia is known for its happy hour, where items under $5 include fried pickles and quail nuggets.
1990 M St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 659-1990
Visit Website

13. The Big Greek Cafe

8223 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910
At both locations of the Big Greek Cafe, get a gyro for $5 all day Wednesday.
8223 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-4733
Visit Website

14. Pica Taco

1629 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, DC 20009
You can get two tacos for $5 at both Pica Taco locations.
1629 Columbia Rd NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 518-0076
Visit Website

15. Tippy's Taco House

8632 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22031
At Tippy's Taco House (multiple locations), 4 tacos are $4.50.
8632 Lee Hwy
Fairfax, VA 22031
(703) 560-0511
Visit Website

Related Maps

16. Greek Deli & Catering

1120 19th St NW, Washington, DC 20036
The widely praised avgolemono soup at Greek Deli is only $3.50.
1120 19th St NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 296-2111
Visit Website

17. Radius Pizza

3155 Mt Pleasant St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Meatball sliders and mussels are priced at $5 at Radius Pizza.
3155 Mt Pleasant St NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 234-0202
Visit Website

18. Alegria

111 Church Street NW, Vienna, VA 22180
Sample the mushroom taco at Alegria for $3.
111 Church Street NW
Vienna, VA 22180
Visit Website

19. Julia's Empanadas

2452 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Any Julia's Empanada variety is priced at $3.59 each (multiple locations).
2452 18th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 328-6232
Visit Website

20. Taylor Gourmet

1116 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002
The arancini at Taylor Gourmet are priced at $4.50 (multiple locations).
1116 H St NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 684-7001
Visit Website

21. Levi's Port Cafe

1102 8th Street Northeast, Washington, DC 20002
For $4.59, get a pork chop sandwich at Levi's Port Cafe.
1102 8th Street Northeast
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 547-6500

22. MGM Roast Beef

905 Brentwood Road NE, Washington, DC 20018
The breakfast sandwich at MGM Roast is $3.49.
905 Brentwood Road NE
Washington, DC 20018
(202) 248-0389
Visit Website

23. Tortilla Cafe

210 7th St SE, Washington, DC 20003
The Yuca y Chicharrones at Tortilla Cafe runs customers $3.49.
210 7th St SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547-5700
Visit Website

24. Ambar Balkan Cuisine

523 8th St, SE, Washington, DC 20003