

The avgolemono soup at Greek Deli is made with chicken, vegetables, orzo, eggs and lemon juice. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post)

Short for time and cash? These downtown spots will fill you up with a tasty lunch for $6 or less (before tax and tip).

Avgolemono soup at Greek Deli and Catering

Frequently thin and unsatisfying, soup is the pauper’s meal that people order for lunch when they’re saving calories for dinner, or they’re on a cleanse diet. The chicken avgolemono at the Greek Deli — the tiny Old World takeout that continues to thrive despite the influx of downtown chains — is sort of the anti-soup. A generous container almost overflows with a thick, sunny stew packed with chicken, vegetables, orzo, eggs, lemon juice and more. Owner and chef Kostas Fostieris squeezes lemons more gingerly than many of his peers, adding the juice to his creamy soup until the citrus assumes an almost candied quality. You won’t leave a drop. $5.25. 1120 19th St. NW. 202-296-2111. — Tim Carman

Veggie burrito at Pedro & Vinny’s

First-time visitors to the downtown cart Pedro & Vinny’s might be surprised by how quickly chef-owner John Rider peppers them with questions, asking for their choice of tortilla, filling, beans, rice, toppings (pico de gallo, guacamole, corn, cucumber, lettuce, cilantro) and hot sauce level, from one to 10. (Get the fruity house blend, the Goose.) While steaming tortillas and melting cheese, Rider cracks jokes and keeps running commentary about the weather. He’s been in charge of the place since 2002, but every customer is guaranteed to have the best lunch he’s ever rolled: “Oh man, this is the best burrito I’ve made all day,” Rider enthused as he recently rolled a loaded veggie burrito the size of a puppy into multiple sheets of foil. “Look at that.” One visit, and you’ll understand it’s not hyperbole. $6. 15th and K streets NW. Usually open 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Fritz Hahn



The eponymous pizza at Veloce proves that simple can be wonderful, with its flavorful crust and herby marinara. (Becky Krystal/The Washington Post)

The Veloce pizza at Veloce

This fast-casual spot from Pizzeria Paradiso founder Ruth Gresser makes the argument that simple can be wonderful — not to mention cheap. The eponymous Veloce pie is as basic in concept as it gets: white-flour crust, marinara sauce and mozzarella. But the flavorful crust is crispy in the middle and chewy on the edge, and the marinara has a nice herby kick. The 10-inch pizza is a perfect size, too — generous and filling but not as gargantuan as others. At $6, it’s an ideal bargain. $6. 1828 L St. NW. — Becky Krystal

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The chicken burrito at the Well-Dressed Burrito is a hefty lunch, weighing in at one pound, six ounces. (Maura Judkis/The Washington Post)

Marinated chicken burrito at the Well-Dressed Burrito

It’s a windowless spot, tucked away in an alley and decorated incongruously with a mural of penguins in Dupont Circle and a poster of Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase.” The burritos are a bargain — cheaper than Chipotle at only $5.50 for a marinated chicken version with cheese and choice of beans (spice lovers, take note: The flavors are mild, so you’ll want a heavy pour with the hot sauce). They’re also hefty: Mine weighed in at one pound, six ounces. If you want it to be truly well-dressed, though, you’ll have to shell out an extra $1.95 for guacamole. $5.50. 1220 19th St. NW, in the alley. 202-293-0515. — Maura Judkis

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Chickpeas and jasmine rice at Naan & Beyond

Two glowing tandoors fuel the lunch crowd at this unpretentious downtown standby, but the most affordable option isn’t wrapped in warm flatbread. A side of vegetables ($6) — think stewed chickpeas in a rich brown sauce — is served in a substantial portion over jasmine rice. Four chutneys (mango, tamarind, cilantro and spicy) are available for free in pour-it-yourself pitchers. Another cheap and delicious option: Pair a veggie samosa ($1.90), big enough to hold with two hands, with a not-too-sweet mango lassi ($3) that won’t weigh you down all day. $6. 1710 L St. NW. 202-466-6404. — Gabe Hiatt



Sushi chef Greg Ryu positions three flavors of Cup of Rice, served at Soho Cafe. (John Kelly/The Washington Post)

Cup of rice at Soho Cafe

The Soho Cafe’s cup of rice is one of the best lunch deals around. For $6, you get layers of flavor, from bottom to top: rice, lettuce, noodles, your choice of meat, two crispy-fried gyoza dumplings, pickled vegetables and a house-made spicy sauce. The meat — whether it’s chicken, spicy minced pork, or beef — is blowtorched until it’s sizzling, a theatrical touch. And before you order, you’ll have to choose your spice level on a scale of one to five. A three, for me, is enough heat to moisten my brow but not overpower the flavor. $6. 1301 K Street NW. 202-842-2400. — M.J.

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The Original at Korean Signature Bibimbap

In the food court beneath the 1825 K Street building, where the space smells like a “new car” air freshener, two employees at Korean Signature have their bibimbap routine down pat. One assembles the bowls while the other cracks eggs onto a sizzling griddle, adding the fried specimens to the bibimbap at the last second. They crank out a dizzying number of orders during lunch. Their ground beef bowls may edge closer to Hamburger Helper than the bulgogi-based bibimbap you’ve seen in restaurants. But with a healthy dose of fiery gochujang sauce, the Korean flavors align just fine. Besides, I’ve always really liked Hamburger Helper, especially at this price. $5.50. Enter at 1825 I St. NW and take escalators to the basement food court. — T.C.

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