DC · Cheap eats
The 10 best cheap eats in Washington.
Cheap, and over the odds on quality. Harry's list is ranked by Worth It score: how much quality you get for what you spend, not just how little you spend.
How Harry ranks cheap eats
Value is not just price.| Cheapest tier | The cheapest price tier, or the second tier when a real source confirms it and Harry rates the place Great Value or Cheap but Cheerful. |
|---|---|
| Worth It score | The ranking. It measures quality against price, so a high number means the place punches above its price class. Not just cheap; cheap for what you get. |
| Harry Score 70+ | Cheap eats still have to be good eats. Nothing under seventy, and nothing Harry rates a tourist tax, a false economy or paying for the scene. |
Harry's ten — Washington
Ranked by Worth It score.- 01Heat Da Spot Café
cafe · breakfast — 3213 Georgia Ave NW, Washington
4.9 across 830 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; mellow cafe offering cozy sofas, breakfast & sandwiches, plus American & Ethiopian meals.
Great ValueWorth It
83
Harry
91
- 02Mita Ethio-Japanese Cafe
sushi · ethiopian — 703 Kennedy St NW, Washington
5.0 across 701 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; more than you'd expect at this price.
Caveat: A flawless score with barely anything to check it against. Harry's cautious of 5.0s that haven't been tested yet.
Great ValueWorth It
82
Harry
89
- 03Old City Market and Oven
deli · cafe — 522 K St NE, Washington
4.9 across 462 Google reviews; salads & wood-fired pizzas served in a laid-back outpost stocking wine, beer & food items.
Great ValueWorth It
82
Harry
89
- 04Keren Cafe & Restaurant
ethiopian · cafe — 1780 Florida Ave NW, Washington
4.8 across 1.3k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; ranked #13 of 3,269 locally on Tripadvisor.
Great ValueWorth It
81
Harry
87
- 05CHAR'D
burgers — 1409 T St NW, Washington
4.7 across 537 Yelp reviews, and Google lands in the same place; punches well above its price point.
Worth It
80
Harry
86
- 06Chilito Shack at Meats and Foods
247 Florida Ave NW, Washington
4.8 across 218 Google reviews; grilled sausage sandwiches & chili served in a small storefront with a retail market….
Caveat: Only Google has weighed in so far — a single source, so read the score as provisional.
Worth It
80
Harry
86
- 07TEASHI
chinese — 1234 19th St NW #100, Washington
4.8 across 232 Google reviews; more than you'd expect at this price.
Worth It
80
Harry
85
- 08DC Pizza
pizza · pizza-delivery — 1103 19th St NW, Washington
4.7 across 1.1k Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; praised by James Beard Foundation (JBF Semifinalist — Emerging Chef (2026)).
Worth It
79
Harry
84
- 09Dos Toros - Burritos, Bowls, and Tacos
mexican — 700 7th St NW, Washington
4.8 across 1.3k Google reviews; unusually good for what you'll pay.
Worth It
79
Harry
84
- 10Eden's Kitchen
2910 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington
4.7 across 127 Google reviews, and Yelp lands in the same place; punches well above its price point.
Worth It
79
Harry
84
How this list is built Places across Washington with a Harry Score of 70 or more in the cheapest price tier, or a confirmed second tier that Harry rates Great Value or Cheap but Cheerful. Nothing Harry rates a tourist tax, a false economy or paying for the scene. Chains with several branches get one entry. Ranked by Worth It score. No restaurant pays to appear. Scores last recomputed .