Cheap Eats Ben's Chili Bowl 202-667-0909

Ben's may be off the beaten path, but the restaurant is a D.C. landmark nonetheless. This seventy-year-old establishment was made famous on The Cosby Show in the late 1980s, and people have been lining up for Ben's delicious and ample chili dogs (with or without cheese and onions) for years. There are chili burgers, and just plain chili as well; vegetarian chili is also available. Almost everything is $5 to $12 tops. Only cash is accepted.

Love Cafe www.cakelove.com

Owner Warren Brown told his story of making cakes from scratch and selling them in a tiny U Street storefront on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and before you know it, everyone in Washington D.C. was going to the Love Cafe for these delicious cakes. Then he gets his own TV show on the Food Network. Has success spoiled a good thing? The original storefront is closed now, but there is a sit-down café serving breakfast and lunch seven days a week. Available are soups, salads, sandwiches, and, of course, baked goods. (The famous cupcake combinations are still available, but for $3, they're no longer the bargain they used to be.) Breakfast fare goes from $1 (dry bagel) to $7.95(french toast); lunch $4.50 to $6.95. Not bad. There is a live DJ on Tuesday and Wednesday nights from 5 P.M. to 11 P.M.; on Wednesday evening, all chocolate goods are 30 percent off. Brunch is served on the weekends. If you buy any baked goods on your way out of town, they'll pack them for you. Amex, Visa, and MasterCard are accepted.