Highest-rated cheap eats in Washington, D.C. by diners

Americans spend a lot of money on eating out鈥攊n 2024, that totaled, or nearly 59% of all food spending. So, it's only natural to want the best bang for your restaurant dollar.

Value has become a key component of what diners look for when they eat out, with eyeing menus for value meals. At the same time, many diners also look for something new and exciting, hoping to sample new flavors or food with ingredients that are too expensive to make at home.

Many ethnic cuisines also provide a lot of value because they aren't as expensive to produce. Many Mexican dishes fall into this category because. Many Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Filipino, and Cambodian food, also rely on low-cost ingredients and simple food preparation techniques.

Food trucks and street food vendors also offer cheaper food, thanks to lower overhead costs. Their limited menus typically focus on one type of food, allowing them to simplify purchasing and pass the savings on in the form of lower prices.

compiled a list of the highest-rated cheap eats restaurants within 10 kilometers of the Washington, D.C. area using data from . Data is as of Aug. 8, 2025. Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews were considered, and a cost of "$" (out of 4) were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than five locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.

Caf茅 con Bagel

1 / 30

#30. Caf茅 con Bagel

- Rating: 4.4/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1332 Wisconsin Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
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Mother Rucker's Subs

2 / 30

#29. Mother Rucker's Subs

- Rating: 4.4/5 (239 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1101 Bladensburg Road Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches
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S&G Seafood House

3 / 30

#28. S&G Seafood House

- Rating: 4.4/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2721 7th St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Seafood
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DC-Donuts

4 / 30

#27. DC-Donuts

- Rating: 4.4/5 (83 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 225 7th St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Food Stands
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Subbs by Carl

5 / 30

#26. Subbs by Carl

- Rating: 4.4/5 (175 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2208 Rhode Island Ave. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches
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The Corn Factory

6 / 30

#25. The Corn Factory

- Rating: 4.4/5 (82 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Venezuelan, Mexican, Gluten-Free
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Crepes At The Market, Eastern Market

7 / 30

#24. Crepes At The Market, Eastern Market

- Rating: 4.4/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 634 North Carolina Ave. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Creperies, Food Stands
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Meats & Foods

8 / 30

#23. Meats & Foods

- Rating: 4.5/5 (120 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 247 Florida Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches, Meat Shops
-

Old City Market and Oven

9 / 30

#22. Old City Market and Oven

- Rating: 4.5/5 (125 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 522 K St. Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Pizza, Beer, Wine & Spirits, Vinyl Records
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PhoWheels Food Truck

10 / 30

#21. PhoWheels Food Truck

- Rating: 4.5/5 (421 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Vietnamese, Food Trucks
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Doubles

11 / 30

#20. Doubles

- Rating: 4.5/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3118 Georgia Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Bars
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Deli City Restaurant

12 / 30

#19. Deli City Restaurant

- Rating: 4.5/5 (88 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2200 Bladensburg Road Northeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches
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Lot 38 Espresso Bar

13 / 30

#18. Lot 38 Espresso Bar

- Rating: 4.5/5 (309 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1001 2nd St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
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Crepes Parfait

14 / 30

#17. Crepes Parfait

- Rating: 4.5/5 (108 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Creperies, Food Trucks
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Soup Up

15 / 30

#16. Soup Up

- Rating: 4.5/5 (131 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 709 Kennedy St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Soup
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Basil Thyme

16 / 30

#15. Basil Thyme

- Rating: 4.5/5 (324 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, Food Trucks
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Un Je Ne Sais Quoi

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#14. Un Je Ne Sais Quoi

- Rating: 4.5/5 (1087 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1361 Connecticut Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Desserts, Cafes, Bakeries
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Cornercopia

18 / 30

#13. Cornercopia

- Rating: 4.5/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1000 3rd St. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Delis, Convenience Stores, Beer, Wine & Spirits
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Ball or Nothing

19 / 30

#12. Ball or Nothing

- Rating: 4.5/5 (107 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Italian, American, Food Trucks
-

Mangialardo

20 / 30

#11. Mangialardo

- Rating: 4.5/5 (389 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1317 Pennsylvania Ave. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Sandwiches, Italian, Breakfast & Brunch
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Moh Moh Licious

21 / 30

#10. Moh Moh Licious

- Rating: 4.6/5 (141 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 7414 Georgia Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Himalayan/Nepalese, Asian Fusion
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Sankofa Video Books & Cafe

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#9. Sankofa Video Books & Cafe

- Rating: 4.6/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2714 Georgia Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Bookstores, Cafes
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Falafel Inc

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#8. Falafel Inc

- Rating: 4.6/5 (214 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1140 Maine Ave. Southwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Falafel, Vegetarian, Caterers
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Jackie Lee's

24 / 30

#7. Jackie Lee's

- Rating: 4.6/5 (75 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 116 Kennedy St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Bars, American
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Harrar Coffee & Roastery

25 / 30

#6. Harrar Coffee & Roastery

- Rating: 4.6/5 (126 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2904 Georgia Ave. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Ethiopian, Coffee Roasteries
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Yerevan

26 / 30

#5. Yerevan

- Rating: 4.7/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2204 18th St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Desserts, Coffee & Tea, Tapas/Small Plates
-

Fajitas Factory

27 / 30

#4. Fajitas Factory

- Rating: 4.7/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Food Trucks, Latin American
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Falafel Inc

28 / 30

#3. Falafel Inc

- Rating: 4.7/5 (872 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1210 Potomac St. Northwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Falafel, Middle Eastern, Sandwiches
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Grounded

29 / 30

#2. Grounded

- Rating: 4.8/5 (85 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1913 Martin Luther King Jr Ave. Southeast Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Cafes, Yoga, Nurseries & Gardening
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Sami's Hot Dog Cart

30 / 30

#1. Sami's Hot Dog Cart

- Rating: 4.9/5 (96 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 800 Independence Ave. Southwest Washington, Washington, D.C.
- Categories: Food Stands
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 388 metros.

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