Bob’s Noodle (Rockville, MD)

We’ll let you in on a secret: even we measure a restaurant’s authenticity by how many Asians are eating there. At Bob’s Noodle, lots of ‘em. It’s always crowded because owner Bob Liu offers his guests authentic Taiwanese cuisine at a bargain price. Don’t let the fare like Spicy Pig Ear and Intestine Pig Blood with Sour Mustard scare you off, it’s really good! Not convinced? No worries because there are plenty of more Westernized dishes available. Come for lunch and order the Manila Clams with Basil, Squid with Chinese Celery, Spinach with Garlic, or countless other entrees, and your choice of a soup, all for less than twenty dollars.

Minh’s (Arlington, VA)

Craving for a home cooked meal for a bargain price? This restaurant keeps making our list for one simple reason – it’s our favorite Vietnamese restaurant in town! Each dish is cooked with just the right amount of seasoning and with the best ingredients, hand picked daily by the owner and head chef, Chi. Located on the ground floor of an office building on Wilson Blvd, it’s easy to mistake Minh’s for a small Pho restaurant. If you take the time to go inside, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by its cozy décor. Our absolute favorites dishes: Sizzling Catfish (served with vermicelli noodles, greens, and dipping sauce), Five Spice Chicken (marinated in exotic spices and lemon grass), and any of their Pho noodles served in the best beef broth in town. If you are craving Pho, but also want an entrée, consider ordering Pho in a cup size. The portion is generous, but not overwhelming.