Shouk Mount Vernon in Washington DC is the K Street plant-based Middle Eastern counter, with mushroom-chickpea shouk burgers under $13 and tahini-heavy bowls under $14 a head.
Tip: The bowl format is the most filling per dollar; double the falafel for $4 to push it to a full evening meal.
Address: 655 K St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Washington DC
Dukem in Washington DC runs a $16 vegetarian combination platter at the U Street Ethiopian dining room, a round of injera with misir, shiro, gomen and beet that feeds two with extra naan.
Try: Vegetarian combination ($16)
Tip: The veg combo for two with extra injera at $4 is the city's best Ethiopian value at under $25 for the table.
Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington DC is the U Street half-smoke counter since 1958, the city's defining cheap-eat with the chili half-smoke at $7.95 and a fountain drink for $4 more.
Try: Chili half-smoke ($7.95)
Tip: Pair a chili half-smoke with the chili cheese fries to share; $20 covers two people including drinks.
Pho 14 Columbia Heights in Washington DC is the Park Road Vietnamese counter with pho served from a 14-hour broth, a six-item menu and bowls under $16 across the board.
Try: Pho bowl ($12-16)
Tip: The pho dac biet (special) at $14 feeds two if you order extra noodles; the spring rolls are the value side.
Amsterdam Falafelshop in Washington DC is the Adams Morgan 18th Street falafel counter with the self-serve topping bar that brings every sandwich to under $9 including 21 toppings.
Try: Falafel sandwich with toppings ($9)
Tip: Sandwich plus a side of frites stays under $13; pile the toppings and the sandwich becomes a full meal.
Tortilla Cafe Eastern Market in Washington DC is the Capitol Hill 7th Street Salvadoran-Mexican counter with three-pupusa plates under $12 and Salvadoran tamales served from a tight kitchen.
Try: Three pupusas plate ($11)
Tip: The combo platter of three pupusas with rice and beans is $11 and feeds one large appetite; share for $7 each.
Toki Underground in Washington DC is the H Street NE upstairs ramen and dumpling room from Erik Bruner-Yang, the city's anchor ramen shop with bowls under $18 and a tight 30-seat dining room.
Try: Ramen bowl ($14-17)
Tip: Lunch on weekdays is the quickest seat; the dumpling combo with a half-bowl of ramen is the value play.
