3 best cheap eats in DC

Washington, D.C. is home to different cuisines, ranging from the infamous Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, seafood at the wharf, brunch/day parties on Sundays, and grabbing wings with Mumbo sauce and fries from fries at your local carryout. 

While it is easy to spend a top-notch dollar for good food in D.C., it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to break the bank. According to educationdata.org, college students spend, on average, $342 a month eating off-campus. Data also shows that college students pay $19 on average a week by eating off-campus. Therefore, D.C.-based college students can learn to make intelligent decisions about saving money while still indulging in many restaurants that the District has to offer. Here are three D.C.-based restaurants and their inexpensive dishes which we have rated for the amount of food, taste, and price. 

Turning Natural is a juice bar founded by Annette Turner, who started the business after being diagnosed with Stage II Breast Cancer. Juicing was a significant factor that helped Turner remain cancer-free for nearly ten years. Unfortunately, the disease returned, leaving Turner to fight her final fight in 2010. Her daughter, Jerri Evans, quit her career as an aeronautical engineer to continue her mom's legacy. Evans' mission is to help "provide a valuable service to underserved communities that would otherwise lack "better choice" options by making healthy foods affordable, cool, and ultimately taste like magic!" Turning Natural has six locations, five in Washington, D.C., and one in District Heights, Md.

Turning Natural offers various options for your juice and smoothie needs. They have a total of 11 juices that you can try and juice cleanses that range between three to seven days to help flush your body. A 16 oz juice is $7.25, while the cleanses range between $149 to $250. In addition to the juices, it also has10 smoothie options that you can choose from, and you're able to get different sizes, which are 12 oz, 16 oz, or 20 oz for different prices. "I love to go to Turning Natural because of their smoothies," says Michelle Edmonds, a D.C. native, and Turning Natural customer for two years. "Not only because they taste good and they're healthy, but because of the names. It adds so much character!" When you first walk in and look at the menu, you'll notice names such as "MIKAELLE JACKSON" "SWIZZ BEETZ" or the "GREEN LATIFAH," inspired by famous entertainers. While Turning Natural is a juice bar, it also sells black bean burgers, acai bowls, spinach and/or veggie patties, and more! The price for food ranges between $2.50 and $10. Of course, you can't go wrong with a 12 oz smoothie and a spinach patty at Turning Natural that will cost you just $8.25 before taxes.

For more information visit https://www.turningnatural.com/

The Well Dressed Burrito is a family-owned restaurant that opened its doors in 1986 and is known for being one of the first southwestern carries-outs in DuPont Circle. The restaurant has one location: a five-minute walk from DuPont Circle station; however, if you don't pay attention, you will walk past it. "It's [the Well Dressed Burrito] literally a hole in the wall," says Brian Simpkins, a D.C. local who discovered the restaurant a year ago. "It's located in the alley off 19th street between M and N street. So I like to call it "the Burrito place in the alley." 

The eatery offers a variety of Tex Mex foods such as tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more! The full-price items range between $6.45 to $10.95 for a base entree, with prices adding up depending on if you want to add any other ingredients, sides, desserts, or drinks. The Well Dressed Burrito offers daily specials on certain items. For college students on a budget, it's recommended to take advantage of the daily deals. The special includes a seasoned ground beef burrito, Cabo salmon, and Baja salmon salad on Tuesdays. If you order the seasoned ground beef burrito ($6.25) and a bottle of water ($1.50), the total comes up to $9.16 with tax.

For more information visit https://thewelldressedburrito.com/

Mother Ruckers

Mother Ruckers first opened its doors in early 2013 with the mission to "provide customers with top quality food and friendly customer service." The restaurant offers a healthier alternative to the usual greasy fast-food restaurants using freshly sliced meats and cheeses on fresh-baked bread, customized by the customer. "I've been coming to Mother Ruckers for years," says Jessica Swann, whose father suggested the eatery to her one day and has been a consistent customer ever since. "You can't beat cheap fresh sandwiches, and they're black-owned too?! I've always had a great experience."

Mother Ruckers is quite affordable, especially compared to similar fast-food chains. Sandwiches range between $5.25 and $8.49 for an eight-inch sub sandwich with a $2 up-charge if you would like a twelve-inch sub instead. It also offers bottled drinks, a variety of chips, and cookies. If you get a side of chips and a water bottle to go with your sandwich, the total comes up to $8.75, including tax.

For more information visit http://www.motherruckerssubs.com/