Juice Joint (1025 Vermont Ave., NW; 202-347-6783). Finding cheap and healthy meals can be tough, so it’s no wonder that lines here wind through the door during the lunch rush. Showing up early is a good idea—a late visit had us scrambling for plan B when nearly all of the day’s specials were sold out. Still, we found consolation in the Mardi Gras mahi-mahi wrap ($8.25), which bundled spicy nuggets of fish with cheddar, guacamole, lettuce, and tomato.
Another hit is a meal-size salad that pairs smoked chicken, greens, honey-glazed pecans, and mild bleu-cheese crumbles with a balsamic vinaigrette ($8.25). Add a smoothie ($4.50 to $5.25) such as the Mango Madness or the Chocolate Dream, and you can still slide in under budget. Open Monday through Friday for breakfast and lunch.
>> See all Dirt Cheap Eats Restaurants
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.
