As the United States' capital city, Washington, D.C. is well known the world over. The city is a popular tourist destination due to landmarks and cultural attractions such as the White House, the Smithsonian Institution, the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. Although many people might not necessarily associate Washington with great dining (and instead just associate it with politics), it also offers a large array of restaurants, including affordable ones.
If you are craving foods from the Far East but do not have a big budget, Washington, D.C. offers a handful of inexpensive Asian eateries. Some popular restaurant choices include Full Kee Restaurant, which serves classic Chinese cuisine such as Szechuan chicken, Peking duck and fried wontons; Singapore Bistro, a pan-Asian establishment with foods from Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan and China; and Kotobuki, a traditional Japanese sushi spot with everything from sashimi to spicy tuna rolls.
If you want a classic slice of piping-hot pizza, Washington, D.C. is also home to a variety of inexpensive and popular pizzerias. These choices include Radius Restaurant, which has an elegant atmosphere and pies with toppings such as Italian sausage, ricotta cheese, kalamata olives and mozzarella; Matchbox: Chinatown, a chic pizzeria and bistro with veggie, chicken pesto and spicy meatball pizzas on the menu; and 2 Amys, a restaurant that specializes in Neapolitan pizzas made with sea salt and soft-grain flour.
If you're craving spicy and savory dishes from South of the Border, consider some of D.C.'s several inexpensive Mexican stops. These casual and laid-back culinary options include Surfside Glover Park, with a menu of burritos, quesadillas, tacos and mixed salads; California Tortilla, which serves everything from blackened chicken fajitas to bean and vegetable tacos; and Tortilla Coast, a Capitol Hill establishment that features chicken and sour cream enchiladas, beef tamales and steak fajitas.
If you are in Washington, D.C. and are looking for a good, old-fashioned and hearty All-American meal for a low price, you are also in luck. Some of the city's best-known American eateries include the popular Ben's Chili Bowl, which is famous for chili dogs, turkey burgers, vegetarian chili and turkey sub sandwiches; the Good Stuff Eatery, which has a vibrant ambiance and diverse hamburgers including everything from turkey and bacon; and the American City Diner, which has a classic atmosphere and cheap bites including pork chops, hickory smoked burgers and country fried chicken.
