clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Copycat Co.
Copycat Co.
Facebook

Chefs' Favorite Cheap Eats: 25 Picks from D.C.'s Cooks

Eat cheap where the chefs go.

View as Map
Copycat Co.
| Facebook

Chefs always have the best intelligence on great places to eat, whether they specialize in specific cuisines, after hours eats, or in this case, cheap eats.

Of course, there are the usual suspects: tacos, Chinese food, sandwiches, pizza, ramen and pho. But they have also found some undiscovered grocery store finds and Indian food.

One chef, Josu Zubikarai of SER, even treks out to Hooters, his personal favorite cheap spot, on his Harley mounted with a set of horns from a buffalo he hunted 15 years ago. He's a sucker for the Daytona buffalo wings.

Eat like a chef and save at these 25 favorites.

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

A. Litteri, Inc.

Copy Link

Recommended by: Brad Deboy, Blue Duck Tavern, Chef de Cuisine
[Photo: Facebook]

Ba Le Bakery & Deli

Copy Link

Recommended by: Tim Ma, Water & Wall, Chef and owner
[Photo: Yelp]

Bangkok Golden

Copy Link

Recommended by: Garret Fleming, Barrel, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Cho Eden Supermarket

Copy Link

Recommended by: Tim Ma, Water & Wall, Chef and owner
[Photo: Yelp]

Copycat Co.

Copy Link

Recommended by: Shannan Troncoso, Brookland's Finest, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Daikaya

Copy Link

Recommended by: Douglas Alexander, Art and Soul, Executive Chef; Garret Fleming, Executive Chef, Barrel
[Photo: Facebook]

Donburi

Copy Link

Recommended by: Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman, Dolcezza, Owners
[Photo: Facebook]

Il Canale

Copy Link

Recommended by: Garret Fleming, Barrel, Executive Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Recommended by: Shannan Troncoso, Brookland's Finest, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Jam Doung Style

Copy Link

Recommend by: Anthony Lombardo, The Hamilton, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

La Chocita

Copy Link

Recommended by: Josu Zubikarai, SER, Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Market 2 Market

Copy Link

Recommended by: Caitlin Dysart, 2941, Pastry Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Meat In A Box (Two Locations)

Copy Link

Recommended by: Travis Weiss, Mad Fox Brewing, Executive Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Mr. Henry's Restaurant

Copy Link

Recommended by: Ivan Zivkovic, Ambar, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Panda Gourmet

Copy Link

Recommended by: Katsuya Fukushima, Daikaya, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Pho 75

Copy Link

[Photo: Yelp]

Why: The obvious.

Pho Viet

Copy Link

Recommended by: Jenna Pool, Pool, Macon Bistro & Larder, Chef de Cuisine
[Photo: Yelp]

Piola (Two Locations)

Copy Link

Recommended by: Joel Hatton, 1905 Restaurant, Executive Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Shake Shack

Copy Link

Recommended by: Garret Fleming, Barrel, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Surfside Taco Stand

Copy Link

Recommended by: Travis Weiss, Mad Fox Brewing, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Taqueria El Sol

Copy Link

Recommended by: Brad Deboy, Blue Duck Tavern, Chef de Cuisine
[Photo: Yelp]

Taqueria Habanero

Copy Link

[Photo: Yelp]

Why: Stellar tacos.

Thai Square

Copy Link

[Photo: Yelp]

Why: Authentic Thai food.

Toki Underground

Copy Link

Recommended by: Brad Deboy, Blue Duck Tavern, Chef de Cuisine
[Photo: Facebook]

[Photo: Yelp]

Yekta Kabobi & Market

Copy Link

[Photo: Facebook]

Why

A. Litteri, Inc.

Recommended by: Brad Deboy, Blue Duck Tavern, Chef de Cuisine
[Photo: Facebook]

Ba Le Bakery & Deli

Recommended by: Tim Ma, Water & Wall, Chef and owner
[Photo: Yelp]

Bangkok Golden

Recommended by: Garret Fleming, Barrel, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Cho Eden Supermarket

Recommended by: Tim Ma, Water & Wall, Chef and owner
[Photo: Yelp]

Copycat Co.

Recommended by: Shannan Troncoso, Brookland's Finest, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Daikaya

Recommended by: Douglas Alexander, Art and Soul, Executive Chef; Garret Fleming, Executive Chef, Barrel
[Photo: Facebook]

Donburi

Recommended by: Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman, Dolcezza, Owners
[Photo: Facebook]

Il Canale

Recommended by: Garret Fleming, Barrel, Executive Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Indigo

Recommended by: Shannan Troncoso, Brookland's Finest, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Jam Doung Style

Recommend by: Anthony Lombardo, The Hamilton, Executive Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

La Chocita

Recommended by: Josu Zubikarai, SER, Chef
[Photo: Yelp]

Market 2 Market

Recommended by: Caitlin Dysart, 2941, Pastry Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Meat In A Box (Two Locations)

Recommended by: Travis Weiss, Mad Fox Brewing, Executive Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Mr. Henry's Restaurant

Recommended by: Ivan Zivkovic, Ambar, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]

Panda Gourmet

Recommended by: Katsuya Fukushima, Daikaya, Chef
[Photo: Facebook]