22 Best Cheap Eats in Washington, D.C.

You could drive yourself crazy trying to find the area’s perfect bowl of pho, but the lines at this longtime Arlington favorite are an easy way to tell that the cash-only old-timer still holds sway. It’s tempting to stick with what you know and opt for something like brisket or paper-thin slices of rare steak for your steaming bowl of broth and noodles, but the addition of tripe and tendon undoubtedly adds richness to the broth — even if you have no intention of eating tripe or tendon. The hefty regular-sized bowl costs $7.95, but you might as well go for the large for a dollar more and take some home. And don’t worry, those lines go super fast. With only one thing on the menu, these expert pho slingers know what they’re doing.