Noodle dish that’s not Italian: Pad Thai at Nava Thai
Way to quiet a New Yorker: Nova lox with cream cheese on a freshly made bialy at Bagels and . . .
Light meal: Shanghai-style shrimp-dumpling soup at Full Key
Use of tomato: Chicken tikka masala at Bombay
Grilled cheese: Grilled white cheddar with chilies at Domku
Fish dish for less than $20: Steamed ling fish with ginger at Hollywood East Cafe on the Boulevard
Tofu dish: Tofu in chili-basil sauce at Bangkok 54 or soondubu at Vit Goel ToFu
Unconventional wings: Jerk-style wings with horseradish sauce at Comet Ping Pong
Pie: Cinnamon-laced blueberry at Tackle Box
Reason not to overload on pizza at 2 Amys: The caramel gelato (a special)
Worth-the-mess appetizer: Steamed, juicy pork buns at Bob’s 88 Shabu Shabu
Dessert masquerading as an appetizer: Butter-poached figs wrapped in bacon with mascarpone at EatBar
Cake you never thought you’d like: ShweJi, a Cream of Wheat cake with coconut and white poppyseeds at Mandalay Restaurant & Café
Use of offal: Marinated, skewered beef hearts, called anticuchos, at La Limena
For carb addicts: Breadstuffs at A&J Restaurant
Adventure dish: Karahi-style lamb brains at Ravi Kabob I or II
Deviled eggs: With smoked paprika at Food Matters
For big appetites: Plate-size Big Fat Gyro at Athens Grill
For cocktail drinkers: Tuesday “cocktail sessions” at Bar Pilar
For after a DC pub crawl: Late-night fried chicken and waffles at Oohhs and Aahhs
For wine lovers: The wine dispenser at Evo Bistro
Related:
Cheap Eats Slideshow
Cheap Eats guide to gourmet dining on a budget
This article appeared as part of the 100 Best Bargain Restaurants section in the June, 2008 issue of The Washingtonian.
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Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
