$6 Chicken or Pasta Meal at Whole Foods

Whole Foods isn’t exactly known for their cheap eats. The upscale supermarket has developed a reputation for having quality food but at prices that aren’t reallywallet-friendly. This can be particularly true for their prepared foods, especially the pay-by-weight buffet: I’ve grabbed a couple of roasted potatoes, some pasta salad, and a few brussels sprouts and found myself paying over $10. But lately when I’ve been in a rush and looking for some tasty food at reasonable prices, I’ve been heading over to the Whole Foods in Tenleytown . The reason? Their $6 chicken or pasta deal.

Available every day at the deli counter, this Whole Food offers a main dish of either chicken or pasta, along with two sides, for only $6. (They also offer beef, pork, or lamb for $8 or seafood for $10, but this isn’t quite the same value.) They always offer a plain grilled chicken breast and often have fried chicken as well, and the last time I went I was able to try a delicious lemongrass grilled chicken. The pasta dishes are varied and typically include a vegetarian lasagna, along with an Asian-themed pasta with vegetables. As for the sides? Let’s just say there are so many options, you’d be hard-pressed to try them all. I’ve had the roasted potatoes, green beans with shallots, a couple of different pasta salads, vegetable couscous, and – my favorite – grilled red and yellow peppers, all of which were quite good. I’d recommend staying away from the asparagus, which was bland and overcooked.

So if you’re looking for a decent, fairly healthy, well-balanced meal at a reasonable price, this deal is worth checking out for lunch or dinner. Unfortunately, I’m unsure if it’s offered at the other Whole Foods locations in DC; any answers from our readers would be greatly appreciated!