61 Best Dining Deals Around the DC Area

Here are our favorite new—and classic—spots for food that’s both delicious and budget-friendly. Plus, the area’s best happy hours, lunch specials, and more.

Written by Ann Limpert , Jessica Sidman and Cynthia Hacinli | Published on August 17, 2023

DONSAK0623_0001-scaled-down - Washingtonian

$20 Seafood curry at Donsak, one of the best new restaurants that won’t break the bank. Photograph by Scott Suchman .

61 Best Dining Deals Around the DC Area

Here are our favorite new—and classic—spots for food that’s both delicious and budget-friendly. Plus, the area’s best happy hours, lunch specials, and more.

Written by Ann Limpert , Jessica Sidman and Cynthia Hacinli | Published on August 17, 2023

Contents

11 Best New Affordable Restaurants Around the DC-Area
17 Classic DC-Area Restaurants Serving Up Cheap and Delicious Dishes
5 Best Lunch Deals at Upscale Restaurants Around DC
Upgrade Your Lunch with These Affordable Bento Boxes Around DC
Want A Shareable Cheap Eat? 7 DC-Area Restaurants That Offer Family-Style Deals
6 Great Sandwiches Around DC That Won’t Cost You $17
5 Fancy and Fabulous Happy Hour Deals Around the DC-Area
Monday Is a Prime Time to Score a Dining Deal—Check Out These Affordable Specials

11 Best New Affordable Restaurants Around the DC-Area

These upstarts offer delicious bang for your buck

Sari-cropped-2 - Washingtonian — A feast of Filipino barbecue, including sausage, pork skewers, and brisket. Photograph by Andrew Banez.

17 Classic DC-Area Restaurants Serving Up Cheap and Delicious Dishes

Long-running favorites that are easy on the wallet—and as strong as ever

BOBSSHANGAI66_0007-scaled-down - Washingtonian — Bring a crowd and sample widely at Bob’s Shanghai 66. Photograph by Scott Suchman .

5 Best Lunch Deals at Upscale Restaurants Around DC

You’ll find plenty of bargains during the day

OpalDC_036_photo-by-Deb-Lindsey-scaled-down - Washingtonian — Rainbow carrots with pickled shallots at Opal. Photograph by Deb Lindsey.

Upgrade Your Lunch with These Affordable Bento Boxes Around DC

Out: The sad desk salad. In: the bento box, a lunchtime feast.

IMG_2582-scaled-down - Washingtonian — Graze on California rolls, steak teriyaki, and shrimp dumplings at Raku. Photograph by Evy Mages .

Want A Shareable Cheap Eat? 7 DC-Area Restaurants That Offer Family-Style Deals

Fried chicken, kebab platters, and other family-style meals to go

unnamed-copy-scaled-down-2 - Washingtonian — Malaysian-style chicken with sides like turmeric cabbage and fried rice. Photograph courtesy of Spicebird.

6 Great Sandwiches Around DC That Won’t Cost You $17

Fried chicken, kebab platters, and other family-style meals to go

FB_IMG_1648003141171 - Washingtonian — “The Sando” and waffle fries. Photograph courtesy of Wooboi.

5 Fancy and Fabulous Happy Hour Deals Around the DC-Area

Some of the best deals in town happen around 5 o’clock

Joe's-Seafood_Oysters-scaled-down - Washingtonian — The best afternoon snack: half-price oysters at Joe’s. Photograph courtesy of Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab.

Monday Is a Prime Time to Score a Dining Deal—Check Out These Affordable Specials

THOMPSONITALIAN_0021-scaled-down - Washingtonian — Gemelli with smoked-lamb ragu at Thompson Italian. Photograph by Scott Suchman .

More: Features Cheap Eats Dining Deals 2023

Executive Food Editor/Critic

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.

Food Editor

Jessica Sidman covers the people and trends behind D.C.’s food and drink scene. Before joining Washingtonian in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper. She is a Colorado native and University of Pennsylvania grad.

Cynthia Hacinli