Alexandria Restaurant Claims Best Cheap Meal Of 2017 (ICYMI)

ALEXANDRIA, VA—As we look back on 2017, Alexandria foodies will be happy to learn the best cheap eat of the year is right in town.

That's according to Washington Post's "$20 Diner" food critic Tim Carman, who ranked Royal Nepal first among 10 Baltimore-Washington region restaurants. The restaurant at at 3807 Mt Vernon Avenue serves up Indian and Nepalese favorites.

Royal Nepal opened in March 2017 at the former location of Shakthi South Asian Cuisine, and it's already made quite the impression among diners. It was among four from Northern Virginia, three from Maryland and three from DC. Carman determined the top cheap eats for his $20 Diner column after visiting 100 restaurants over the past year.

Carman describes Royal Nepal as a "exhilarating ride across the Nepalese landscape," offering a worldly fine dining experience while remaining authentic. Executive chef Subash Rai serves up staple dishes from curry to Himalayan Butter chicken, but Carman's favorite dish was a "crusty, yogurt-marinated lamb chops served atop a slab of pink Himalayan salt."

Here are the top 10 cheap eats:

1. Royal Nepal: 3807 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria

2. Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana: 12207 Darnestown Rd., Darnestown, Md.

3. Mezcalero Cocina Mexicana: 3714 14th St. NW, Washington, DC

4. Federalist Pig: 1654 Columbia Rd. NW, Washington, DC

5. Big Wang's Cuisine: 16051 Frederick Rd., Derwood, Md.

6. Salumeria 2703: 2703 12th St. NE, Washington, DC

7. Dera Restaurant: 7030 Spring Garden Dr., Springfield

8. LoKL Gourmet: 8100 Old Dominion Dr., Suite E, McLean

9. Melt Gourmet Cheeseburgers: 525 East Market St., Leesburg

10. Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken: 5810 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt, Md.

See the full list of best $20 Diner restaurants here.

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