🇺🇸 DC Affordable Eats｜Top Picks for Broke Students 🧑‍🎓🍽️

$21 Meal – Chef Edward Lee’s Restaurant with Metro Access! As a budget-conscious international student, I usually cook at home 🍳—but sometimes I just want to eat out. Nice restaurants in DC can easily cost $70-80 per person… 💸 So I’ve been hunting for tasty, affordable, and metro-accessible spots around the DMV that still satisfy my Chinese taste buds! After a year of exploring, I’ve built a solid list 🗒️. These places are perfect for hanging out with friends or even for casual dates. Time to share the love! 🔅 Name: Succotash 🔅 Address: 915 F St NW, Washington, DC (5-min walk from Metro Center Station 🚇) 🔅 Highlights: Owned by Edward Lee—runner-up on Netflix’s The Final Table! His other restaurant costs $100+ per person. Here, my friend and I ordered TWO dishes and paid only ❗$43 including tip. Super affordable! 🔅 Vibes: Housed in a historic building with high ceilings and a huge skylight ☀️. I went at noon on a sunny day—natural light poured in, giving the French-inspired decor a warm and elegant feel. Very cozy! As someone who struggles taking photos, I can say—this place is Instagram gold. Your camera roll will thank you 📸! 🍴 Cuisine: Korean-American Southern fusion. Perfect if you like Asian flavors but prefer something adapted to local tastes (like me—traditional American food can be too heavy). 🥦 Must-try: Crispy Cauliflower with pickled radish – a signature dish! 🥚 Deviled Eggs – two flavors, only $1.5 each. Can’t go wrong! 🥘 Special Hangover – recommended by the waiter. A bit salty, but the mashed potatoes were yummy (wasn’t a fan of the muffin-like bread though—too crumbly). ⚠️ Heads-up: Portions are decent. My friend and I have average appetites, so two dishes were just right. If you’re extra hungry, maybe order another small plate! #DMVEats #BudgetEats #DCFood #StudentLife #MetroAccess #HiddenGems #FoodieFinds #ChefSpotlight 🥢💰