Springfield Claims One Of Best Cheap Meals Of 2017 (ICYMI)

SPRINGFIELD, VA—As we look back on 2017, Springfield area foodies will be happy to learn one of the best cheap eats of the year is right in town.

That's according to Washington Post's "$20 Diner" food critic Tim Carman, who ranked Dera Restaurant seventh among 10 Baltimore-Washington region restaurants. The restaurant offers Pakistani favorites at 7030 Spring Garden Drive.

Dera Restaurant made the list along with three others 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.

The restaurant is known for its Pakistani lunch buffet, which Carman describes as "a generous spread of Pakistani stews, salads, curries and tandoori meats." If you have room after the buffet, he recommends the Frenched lamb chops and variety of desserts.

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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