(This is the first article in the DC Food Guide series. Click through for A Food Lover’s Guide to DC: Mid-Priced Restaurants. And click here for A Food Lover’s Guide to DC: Fine Dining.)

Washington, DC isn’t exactly known for its cuisine.  I spent five years in the District, half of them not knowing where in the world to eat a decent meal. But, there are hidden gems tucked into its brick alleyways and indoor markets. If you’re willing to stray from Downtown and Penn Quarter, that is.

Here are my picks for cheap eats in our nation’s capital.

1. Market Lunch at the Eastern Market — Capitol Hill

Tucked into a corner of the Eastern Market, across from the seafood stands, is one of the best, inexpensive lunches in DC. Especially if, like me, you love seafood shacks. My go-to is the Oyster Po’ Boy, which you’ll want to get with cole slaw. The oysters are fresh, the bread is spongy and soft, and the cole slaw tangy and sweet. The fries are thick cut and piping hot. There’s only one large communal table indoors, but we always opt to take our sandwiches outside and eat on a stoop, looking out on centuries old brick homes and the crowds at the weekend farmer’s market.

2. SUNdeVICH — Mt Vernon Square

Such a charming sandwich spot, tucked halfway down a cobblestone alleyway, with rows of items being pickled in an antique china cabinet. The menu offers a weirdo selection of unique, quasi-Mediterranean sandwiches (and you know there’s nothing I like more than weirdo food). I opted for the “Istafan” – a spinach, mushroom, walnut, and barberry soufflé tucked into a thin hoagie roll with feta cheese. It was tangy and earthy, like nothing I’ve ever eaten before. The sandwiches are kind of expensive, but they are 2 feet long – you’ll want to share.

3. Taylor Gourmet — Multiple Locations: Mt Vernon Square, U Street Corridor, and H Street Corridor

If SUNdeVICH sounds a bit too cheeky for you, then you’ll have to check out Philadelphia-themed Taylor Gourmet. The shop is perfectly industrial-rustic-modern: tin drum light fixtures, a wall made of wood shipping crates, a massive glass garage door, and salvaged wood picnic tables outside. The Italian sandwiches (re: hoagies) are extraordinary. My “Tasker Street” hoagie came with fresh Mozzarella, sharp Provolone, and arugula. Each element was so fresh (the Mozzarella fell apart like it was burrata or something), so sharp (the provolone and parmasen pierced through everything else in the sandwich), and with a spicy afterburn (that arugula stands down to no one.) Absolutely delicious.

4. TaKorean — Mobile Food Truck

Food trucks have taken DC by storm. Not surprising for a city with few tasty, quick lunch options that aren’t Potbelly’s or Chipotle. I recommend using Food Truck Fiesta to track down their locations on any given day. My favorite was TaKorean, a Korean BBQ Taco Truck. (The Korean taco truck is definitely more of a LA thing, than a SF thing, so grains of salt and all that.)

My taco was wonderful. Spicy sriracha, tangy rice vinegar, sweet carmelized tofu (or sweet Korean bbq’d meats), crunchy and powerful Kimchi (or Napa cabbage), all wrapped up in a tortilla. Each bite was a surprise of pungent, complex flavors. Delicious.

5. DC’s Pubs, specifically Tunnicliff’s Tavern — Capitol Hill

If you’re visiting DC, you owe it to yourself to experience the DC pub culture for at least one night. It took me three years to figure out that the DC pubs are the diners of DC, where you can show up at any time of day or night and get a good meal at a good price. I recommend Tunnicliff’s for its cozy neighborhood feel and sandwich menu.

The DC caricature of men and women in grey suits, hobnobbing in wood paneled bars, extolling the day’s events with world-weary belly laughs is absolutely true. The pubs are all comfortable — you are meant to sit, not stand. Rows of plasma TV’s are set to C-Span, CNN, and Fox News. The bar actually goes quiet to listen in on a Congressman being interviewed.  Shushing might be involved.

Seemingly overnight, the DC pubs figured out that people wanted bar food with a little bit of sophistication. Enter the seared ahi tuna and wasabi mayo sandwich, mac and cheese with gouda, and fish tacos with Napa cabbage. The food isn’t earth shattering, but it’s comfortable and good. Especially recommended if there’s a Presidential debate or speech on TV that night.

6. Busboys and Poets — Multiple Locations: Mt Vernon Square and U Street Corridor

Similar to the DC pubs, Busboys and Poets is good and comfortable and does a surprisingly good job of catering to vegans and vegetarians. The loft space is full of overstuffed couches and small bistro tables. The clientele all look like they’ve been there for hours, tapping away on their MacBooks.

7. Good Stuff Eatery — Multiple Locations: Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and Crystal City

We affectionately call this place “Spike’s” after Spike Mendellsohn, its perpetual fedora wearing and Top Chef alumnus owner. This place was an overnight success in Capitol Hill, and deservedly so. It borrows heavily from the Shake Shack model (milk shakes and cheeseburgers), but I’m going to go out on a limb and say Good Stuff one-upped its inspiration.

The cheeseburgers are juicy and delicious. The ‘Shroom Burger – two portabella mushrooms, stuffed with Muenster and Cheddar cheese, and fried (basically Shake Shacks’s ‘Shroom Burger) – somehow manages to be tastier and more heart-clogging than its bovine colleagues. The wall of mayo options is brilliant, a perfect excuse to dunk French fries into mayonnaise without feeling like a total glutton (I mean, you need to taste them all, right?).  Once you’ve tasted the Toasted Marshmallow milkshake, which tastes like an icy creme brulee, you’ll never want another milk shake again.

Honorable Mention

The Sweet Lobby — Capitol Hill A pocket sized bakery serving chewy, soft macarons in wild flavor combinations. Definitely stop in after dinner along Capitol Hill’s Restaurant Row.

Luna Grill — Dupont Circle A diner on Connecticut Ave with a far from typical menu. Good for vegetarians.

Zorba’s Cafe — Downtown Take-out only Mediterranean and Greek wraps, a must for any nearby office dwellers.