RESTAURANTS
$5 and underIf you know exactly what you want to eat, Real Cheap Eats website lets you search by the form or flavor of food. Craving something spicy, but don’t care what country it’s from? Love noodles, be they ramen, spaghetti, japchae or chow fun? Only have $5 in your pocket but don’t want McDonald’s? This website is perfect for you.
$10 and under
If you are feeling overwhelmed by so many options, let The Gothamist, a New York City-savvy website, narrow the playing field. Its 12 best cheap eats and 10 best cheap eats lists include meals from Puerto Rico, Mexico, China, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Vietnam, Greece and the Ukraine. Free Tours By Foot also recommend Big Appled’s 10 Places to Get a Meal for Under $10.
$20 and under
If your goal is to have incredible and affordable food, regardless of what kind of cuisine or ambiance, take a look at New York Magazine’s 101 Best Eats under $20.
$40 and under
You know you can rely on Michelin, the renown food reviewers to steer you to great food and this year they published a list that is actually affordable! See their 126 restaurants for less than $40 list.
By neighborhood
When you know what neighborhood you’ll be in when your stomach starts to grumble, check out Time Out’s best restaurants by neighborhood guide or a comprehensive list of New York City’s neighborhoods across the 5 boroughs at Eater NY.
Vegans
A great source for vegans and vegetarians is Happy Cow’s website. This site is hardcore vegan, and the reviews are from people who know the difference between merely edible vegan and incredible vegan.
Food trucks
Just as there are dozens of food trucks roaming the city daily, there are dozens of “Best Food Trucks” lists. Here are a few we rely on: Village Voice,USA Today, The Gothamist 2013 and 2014. Since food trucks are by nature mobile, they move to different locations daily. The Food Trucks website helps you track down where food trucks are parked for the day.
Pre or Post your Broadway show
You’ve already spent a fortune on your ticket. For a list of reasonably priced Theater district restaurants, check out Serious Eats Pre and Post-Theater Dinner.
For Foodies
You may have heard this term before, perhaps you already are a foodie (a person who has an ardent or refined interest in food). Many New Yorkers are willing to dish out a lot of money in rent just to be able to live in a city that will satisfy the foodie in them. These folks follow the latest trends via Serious Eats, whose writers must eat enormous amounts of food in order to bring you such specialized lists like The Best Chinese Egg Custard Tarts, The Best Food in Grand Central Terminal, and who serves New York’s best Egg Cream.
Desserts
What meal is complete without something sweet? Hey, why even bother with a main course, make dessert your meal. Head straight for these specialty shops for a scrumptious dessert.
Check your receipt to make sure a tip hasn't already been added, even if there is a spot on the receipt for you to add a tip.
BEST RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK CITY, NY
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g60763-New_York_City_New_York.html
Can sort by price, cuisine, dining options and neighborhoods
The top 100 in order of popularity on Trip Advisor:
53rd & 6th Halal (The Halal Guys) - Food Cart
ABC Kitchen - $$$
Almanac - 3-Course Tasting Menu $75, Reservations
Aquagrill - $$$
Basso56 - $$ (Italian)
Battersby - $$$
Beauty & Essex - $$, Dress Code
Bemelmans Bar - $$, Limited Menu
Beyond Sushi - $
Bleeker St Pizza - $$
Bond Street - $$$
Bouley - $$$$
Candle 79 - $$
Capital Grille - New York City Chrysler Center
Carmine's Midtown
Chalk Point Kitchen - $$$
Colicchio & Sons - $$$
Colicchio & Sons Tap Room - $$
Dead Rabbit, The - $$$, Limited Menu
Dicksons Farmstand Meats - $
Don Antonio - Pizza
Eataly
Ed's Lobster Bar - $$
Faicco's Pork Store - $, Sandwiches
Forlini's Restaurant - $$
Gato - $$$
Gramercy Tavern - $$
Grey Dog - $, Sandwiches and Salads and Breakfast
Il Punto Ristorante - $$
Ippudo - $$, Japanese
Izakaya Mew - $, Sushi
Jungsik - $$, Japanese
Juni - $$$
Keste Pizzeria - $$
Kristalbelli - $$, Korean
Lincoln Square Steak - $$$, PreFixe: 5:00PM-6:30PM Daily, $39
Little Owl - $$
Lobster Place
Los Tacos No. 1
Marea
MasalaWala
McSorleys Old Ale House
Mighty Quinn's
Modern, The
Molyvos
Momofuku Ko
Murray's Cheese Bar
Musket Room
Nerai
NoMad Bar
Paris Cafe
Patsy's Italian Restaurant
Patzeria Family & Friends
Pearl Oyster Bar
Per Se
Perry St
Piccola Cucina
Pisillo Italian Panini
PRINT Restaurant
Pure Food and Wine
Pure Thai Cookhouse
Quality Meats
Rafele
Robert Restaurant
Rubirosa
Russ & Daughters
Scalini Fedeli
Sea Fire Grill
Shake Shack
Spice Symphony
Taim
Times Square Diner
Tony's Di Napoli - Midtown
Top Hops
Tree Bistro
Uma Temakeria
Upstate
V-Note Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro
Whole Foods Market Columbus Circle
Recommended Restaurants by Various Sources
’inoteca
21 CLUB
7th Avenue Donuts Luncheonette
99 Miles To Philly
A Salt & Battery
Agave
Alidoro
Amsterdam Restaurant
Amy’s Bread *
An Choi
Aquagrill
Arepa Lady, The
Aria Wine Bar
Artichoke Basille's Pizza & Brewery *
Asiadog
Astor Bake Shop
Astoria (Queens)
B & H Dairy
Bacaro
Bagel Hole, The
Balthazar
Bantum Bagels *
Bar Chuko
Berg'n
Beyond Sushi
Biang!
Bill's Bar & Burger
Black Seed *
Bleecker Street Pizza *
Blossom du Jour
Blue Bottle Coffee
Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter *
Bouley
Breads Bakery
Brennan & Carr
BrisketTown
Bunker
Bunna Cafe
Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien
Café El Presidente
Café Gitane
Cafe Nadery
Café Reggio
Cafe Wha? *
Caffe Falai
Cain’s Tavern
Caracas Arepa Bar *
Carlo's Bakery
Carmine's Midtown *
Cascabel Taqueria — East
Chalk Point Kitchen
City Bakery
City Sandwich
Cocoron
Commodore, The
Congee Village
Corner Bistro *
Crif Dogs *
Dead Rabbit, The
Deluxe
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Dojo
Donna Bell's Bake Shop
Doughnut Plant
Dos Toros
DuMont Burger
Dumpling Man
Ear Inn, The
Earl's Beer and Cheese
Eataly
Economy Candy
Edi & the Wolf *
Egg Shop *
El Olomega
El Rey Luncheonette
Empanadas Cafe
Est. 1986
Eva's
Faicco's Rice Balls *
Famous Joe's Pizza - 7 Carmine St.
Fanelli’s Cafe
Fatty’s Café
Gazala Place
Girello
Glady's
Gotham West Market *
Grey Dog, The
Grimaldi's Pizza
Hamilton's Soda Fountain & Luncheonette *
Hampton Chutney Co.
Han Dynasty *
Harlem’s Restaurant Row
Hinomaru Ramen
Honeychiles'
Hotel Saravana Bhavan - Upper West Side
Huertas *
Hummus Place
Indian Taj - Greenwich Village
Ivan Ramen
J.J.’s Asian Fusion
Jekyll & Hyde Club
Joe the Art of Coffee
Kashkaval Garden
Katz's Delicatessen *
Kossar's Bialy and Bagels *
Kuma Inn *
Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen
La Carbonara
La Piccola Cucina
La Superior
Lee's Tavern
Lenox Coffee
Les Halles - Park Avenue
Little Purity
Lombardi's Pizza - 1st pizzeria in the United States *
Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant
Los Tacos No.1 *
Lumpia Shack Snackbar
Mamoums Falafel *
Marea *
Marlton Espresso Bar
Mars 2112
MASA
Max Bratwurst und Bier
McSorley's Old Ale House
Meat Hook Sandwich Shop
Meatball Shop, The *
Mei Li Wah Bakery
Mermaid Oyster Bar
Mighty Quinn's
Mile End Deli *
Mimi Cheng's Dumplings *
Minca
Mission Cantina
Mission Chinese Food
Momokawa
Monikas Cafe Bar
Mooncake Foods
Morimoto
Motorino *
Murray's Bagels - Chelsea
Murray's Cheese - Greenwich Village
Nan Xiang Dumpling House
New Green Bo
New Malaysia Restaurant
Nha Trang
Nom Wah Tea Parlor *
Noodle Bar
Noodles 28
Num Pang Sandwich Shop
ODEON, The
Okonomi
Otto's Tacos *
Papaya King
Parm
Pasar Malam
Pasticceria Rocco - desserts & coffee
Peanut Butter & Co.
Peter Luger's
Peter McManus Cafe
Peter Pan Bakery
Peter's Since 1969
Petey’s Burger
Piccolo Cafe
Pickle Guys, The
Pies ’n’ Thighs
Pinche Taqueria
Pio Pio - Hell's Kitchen
Pongsri Thai - Chelsea
Porchetta *
C & C Prosperity Dumpling *
Red Hook Lobster Pound
Rice to Riches
Rickshaw Dumpling Bar
Robataya NY
Roberto’s Pizza
Roll-N-Roaster
Rubirosa
Russ & Daughters *
Sakagura * (reservations necessary)
Saltie
Sergimmo Salumeria
Shake Shack — Theatre District *
Shake Shack — Upper West Side *
Shopsin’s
Sigmund Bar
Smith, The
Sofrito
Somtum Der *
St. Anselm
Sugar & Plumm *
Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery *
Sunny and Annie's Gourmet Deli
Super Taste
Sushi Yu 2
Sweet Revenge
Taim Nolita and Taim Falafel - rated Best Falafel in NYC *
Tao Restaurant
Taquitoria
Tehuitzingo Deli and Grocery
This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef
Tia Pol
Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop
Tortilleria Nixtamal
Totto Ramen —Midtown West *
Tulcingo Del Valle Restaurant & Deli
Vanessa’s Dumpling House *
Veselka *
Viva el Mariachi
Walker's
Wangs
Waverly Restaurant
Westville East
Whitmans
Wilfie & Nell
Wilma Jean
Wondee Siam II
Xi'an Famous Foods (6 locations in Manhattan, 1 in Brooklyn)
Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery *
Yunnan Kitchen
Zabb Elee
Zeppelin Hall
* Recommended by multiple sources
Classic Pizza Joints
Nothing divides New Yorkers like bragging rights to the city’s best pizza (okay, so maybe the Mets vs. Yankees rivalry). So we’ll let you be the judge and sample four of Gotham’s most notable pies: Lombardi’s on Spring St for its coal-oven-crispness and fresh mozzarella; John's of Bleecker St for its made-to-order, brick-oven authenticity; Patsy’s Pizzeria on First Ave in East Harlem for its prized sauce and crispy-edges; and Sal & Carmine on Broadway at 102nd St for its cheesy, slightly chewy slices.
53rd & 6th Halal - Food Cart
For years, masses of people have been flocking to the corner of 53rd street & 6th avenue to satisfy their hunger with simply the best meal in the City. Some people call it the ‘Platter’ while others know it as ‘Chicken & Rice’, the ‘Chicken Guy’ or the ‘Gyro Spot.’ Part of the secret to this delicious meal is in the white sauce. Nobody knows what it is, but everybody knows to ask for lots of it!
The Meatball Shop
Lower East Side
84 Stanton St New York, NY 10002
http://www.themeatballshop.com/
For my first visit I decided to go classic all the way, with classic beef and a classic tomato sauce all accompanied by spaghetti. You get four meatballs for $7 dollars, so its really cheap too. My meatballs were delivered sitting atop of a pile of spaghetti and then covered in slowly melting cheese. The star of the show was the meatballs, which were lovely and moist and full of beefy goodness but even the star needs a sidekick and the tomato sauce was rich and slightly sweet and matched perfectly with the meat. For me, the spaghetti was just average and there really wasn't too much of it, but I quickly forgot about the spaghetti every time I took a mouthful of the wonderful beefy meatballs. The Meatball Shop is one of those places that is really cool without trying too hard to be. We visited the Lower East Side and Chelsea Meatball Shops and both had great vibes with friendly and hip wait staff. We found the service at the Lower East Side shop much better than Chelsea, which seemed to take quite a while for us to be served and get our drinks. http://www.foodmeupscotty.com/2013/08/new-york-series-meatballs.html
Agave
This popular West Village eatery serves a two-hour bottomless brunch until 4pm. The $28 brunch menu gets you an entrée and your choice of all-you-can-drink margaritas, Bloody Marys, mimosas or sangria. Although they take reservations, be sure to book at least a week in advance as tables fill up quickly. Tables sitting down after 2pm will have their drinks cut off promptly at 4pm, unfortunately for New Yorkers who like to get their money's worth.
Agave has taken only a couple of years to make a sophisticated name for itself. The dining room’s hombre theme is refreshingly understated, and the menu travels the authentic Southwestern route with a few creative detours. Swordfish tacos are wonderful, with moist, flavorful fish; spareribs, bathed in a bitter mole and tender beyond expectation, are nicely matched with chili-corn mashed potatoes.
Aria Wine Bar
We spent quite a bit of time in Chelsea while we were in New York and much of that time was taken up with exploring the streets around Chelsea, the Meatpacking District and Greenwich Village. There are lots of hidden delights and shops and restaurants in the streets in these areas and it was always great to come across something unexpected. On a day where we had planned to go to The Spotted Pig, we came across a little wine bar that was packed and buzzing and made a mental note to head back and try it out. The restaurant was the Aria Wine Bar and looked to have the cheapest food menu we had seen for some time. Little did I know at the time that I would have the best meatballs and spaghetti of my life in this quaint little wine bar.
The night we went to the Aria Wine Bar was a stinking hot night and by the time we arrived at the restaurant, we were both hot and sweaty. We were welcomed with somewhat "open arms" by the owner when we went into the restaurant, but I couldn't tell if he was friendly or rude with his grunts of greeting. In any event, we were seated and had some cold water delivered quickly. The inside of Aria was really cool, with an open bar that wrapped around one wall and where customers seemed to sit on both sides of the bar. It was a little dark, a little edgy and a really comfortable place to hang out.
The menu was exclusively Italian cuisine and was fairly extensive, with
lots of interesting looking morsels to try. The best thing about the
menu was the prices, nothing was over $12 dollars!
Carmine's
http://www.carminesnyc.com/
There are so many restaurants in New York it's staggering. One of the most popular spots in New York for tourists is Times Square and as you would imagine, there are a heap of restaurants around Times Square to capitalise on all those tourists. We wanted to get along to one of these restaurants to get a feel for a rushed and touristy meal and Carmine's was a name that kept coming up in the tourist books as a must visit restaurant. We hadn't really seen the fabled American sized meals in our travels, so thought that it would be interesting to see if a touristy place like Carmine's would deliver on the promise.
Carmine's prides itself as a family restaurant that offers exceptional value to its guests with dishes from Southern Italy. The whole idea of Carmine's is to provide huge meals at a reasonable price that have the 'wow' factor of a southern Italian wedding feast. The few times we had walked past Carmine's it was ridiculously busy with huge queues but we did manage to get in one evening without any wait at all, score! Carmine's on W44th street is massive, it's one of the biggest restaurants I have come across and we were seated upstairs at a window with a great view of the street below.
The menu at Carmine's is huge with so many options that you get a sense of analysis paralysis just trying to narrow down the options. Once I saw the option of meatballs, I was convinced we needed to try them. I had a little convincing to do with SC as she really didn't want the meatballs, but we compromised on the pasta that accompanied them with angel hair pasta (one of about 5 pasta options). The really friendly waiter advised us that one dish would easily be enough for the two of us, so we took him at his word and just ordered the meatballs (no entree either).
When the dish was delivered we were both speechless. In front of us was
the biggest plate of food we had ever seen, there was enough pasta and
meatballs on the dish to serve a family of eight.
http://www.foodmeupscotty.com/2013/08/new-york-series-meatballs.html
Sunny and Annie's Gourmet Deli
No matter what your sammie cravings are or when they hit, this 24-hour, no-nonsense joint in Alphabet City should do the trick. The menu has all the usual suspects (Italian sub, turkey club, Reuben) and an assortment of signature specials (the Mr. Bloomburger, the 2009 Obama). But the P.H.O. Real remains its real claim to fame, a roast beef, bean sprout, avocado and sriracha sandwich that, priced at a measly $6.99, keeps us coming back for more.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House
We can’t confirm for sure that the piping-hot, juicy and crazy-cheap (a measly buck for four) chive-and-pork dumplings at Vanessa’s Dumpling House on the LES are more enjoyable to humans than bananas are to chimpanzees. But the freshly made, savory gems always bring us back.
Sunny and Annie's Gourmet Deli
No matter what your sammie cravings are or when they hit, this 24-hour, no-nonsense joint in Alphabet City should do the trick. The menu has all the usual suspects (Italian sub, turkey club, Reuben) and an assortment of signature specials (the Mr. Bloomburger, the 2009 Obama). But the P.H.O. Real remains its real claim to fame, a roast beef, bean sprout, avocado and sriracha sandwich that, priced at a measly $6.99, keeps us coming back for more.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House
We can’t confirm for sure that the piping-hot, juicy and crazy-cheap (a measly buck for four) chive-and-pork dumplings at Vanessa’s Dumpling House on the LES are more enjoyable to humans than bananas are to chimpanzees. But the freshly made, savory gems always bring us back.
The Grey Dog
A little bit of Cheers ambiance where amazing people make your experience one that makes you glad you chose to eat/drink there. Two local brothers own/choose the staff and maybe THAT''s why it works so well. We loved the Grey Dog on Mulberry Street, so much so we checked out the one on Carmine Street too. Always pretty busy but they have a clever little trick with bandanas to guarantee you a table whilst you're getting served. Food is nice and staff are good too. A real slice of New York. Highly recommend checking it out, even if you just have a drink. If you don't mind crowds, this place has great food for a terrific price.
Rice to Riches
The food: great!
The place: fun!
The variety: unbelievable!
Date night: definitely!
Family: kids will love it!
The price: very reasonable!
And they're willing to ship nation wide using dry ice in their packaging. This restaurant looks like a Baskin Robbins of rice pudding. If you love
rice pudding this is the place for you. They must have 20-30 different
flavors and toppings.
Chalk Point Kitchen
You'll love the feeling this place has as soon as you step foot. If your table isn't ready, you can hang out downstairs in front of a cozy fire place. Everything on the menu looked scrumptious. Try the avocado toast as an appetizer; it's amazing how four ingredients make a delicious appetizer. The roasted cauliflower is very unforgettable! And what great great salads. If you come early you won't have there will be no crowds. This is an absolutely-not-to-be-missed spot which is so almost-secretly sophisticated you don't even realize it until your meal is over. Definitely come here if you are a foodie or even if you want an out of the ordinary brunch. The drinks are good too!
Piccolo Cafe
Hidden Italian gem for Starbucks lovers who want to discover how coffee should taste. Hidden gem Italian place. Try favorite dishes like Parma Prosciutto Panini or something new like the pear and mascarpone salad. Not sure what you’re in the mood for? Try the popular Salame & Pecorino Panini. Their experienced chefs and accommodating staff are some of the best in Union Square and sure to provide you with a memorable dining experience.
Chalk Point Kitchen
You'll love the feeling this place has as soon as you step foot. If your table isn't ready, you can hang out downstairs in front of a cozy fire place. Everything on the menu looked scrumptious. Try the avocado toast as an appetizer; it's amazing how four ingredients make a delicious appetizer. The roasted cauliflower is very unforgettable! And what great great salads. If you come early you won't have there will be no crowds. This is an absolutely-not-to-be-missed spot which is so almost-secretly sophisticated you don't even realize it until your meal is over. Definitely come here if you are a foodie or even if you want an out of the ordinary brunch. The drinks are good too!
Piccolo Cafe
Hidden Italian gem for Starbucks lovers who want to discover how coffee should taste. Hidden gem Italian place. Try favorite dishes like Parma Prosciutto Panini or something new like the pear and mascarpone salad. Not sure what you’re in the mood for? Try the popular Salame & Pecorino Panini. Their experienced chefs and accommodating staff are some of the best in Union Square and sure to provide you with a memorable dining experience.
136 Division St (at Ludlow St.)
If you're looking for great food at a great price, this is the hidden gem. The reviews will attest to this. Pop in after gallery hopping.The most amazing service Regis Rocks, entrees are exquisite~prepared delicately w excellent combinations. The ambiance is Cozy and Romantic. A true hidden gem, we intend to return for years to come.
211 E 43rd St. Lowr Level (at 3rd Ave.)
This
hidden restaurant is one of the most authentic Japanese food in the
city! The lunch menu is reasonably priced.
Est. 1986
Best happy hour wine spot in midtown. This place is a hidden gem, tucked away on the second floor of the Stanford hotel in K-town. It is a legitimately good wine bar. Walking up the narrow staircase to get here will level expectations, but it was a 'wow' for me once I walked in. Dim, reddish lighting, lots of plush seating, and classy decor. This included a few large globes surrounding the lighting hanging from the ceiling, which my friend said looked like boobs (like I said, classy!). My friend and I grabbed a seat right in front of the fireplace and were happy. Service was friendly and helpful without being too "loomy"; that last part is critical as I've found with wine bars. The wine list was pretty exhaustive without being overwhelming, which is perfect for me.
Est. 1986
Best happy hour wine spot in midtown. This place is a hidden gem, tucked away on the second floor of the Stanford hotel in K-town. It is a legitimately good wine bar. Walking up the narrow staircase to get here will level expectations, but it was a 'wow' for me once I walked in. Dim, reddish lighting, lots of plush seating, and classy decor. This included a few large globes surrounding the lighting hanging from the ceiling, which my friend said looked like boobs (like I said, classy!). My friend and I grabbed a seat right in front of the fireplace and were happy. Service was friendly and helpful without being too "loomy"; that last part is critical as I've found with wine bars. The wine list was pretty exhaustive without being overwhelming, which is perfect for me.
Bouley
The 5 course lunch is still only $55. And of course you really get about 8 courses with the amuse bouche, sorbet and petit fours included. It is a beautiful dining room, the staff are very good, and the food delicious. I have never been for dinner, but the lunch fixed price menu is an amazing bargain.
Jackets are required for men. They have several order options in terms of pricing and the number of dishes served. It is costly but every bit worth it for that unique experience. However, if you are looking for large portions, that is not the "French" way. The chef offers additional sides that certainly are filling, and there is an amazing bread cart to select from There is a lunch menu that is supposed to be a wonderful deal. If you can get a reservation, go for it. You won't regret it.
Aquagrill
This destination is a favorite among those who work and live in the neighborhood. Atop most tables I noticed an abundance of fresh oysters and seemingly exotic caviar. The staff navigated the rather small dining room with exactness, tending to every white linen tabletop without being obtrusive. Do try the delicious cod cakes as well as the refreshing lobster salad trimmed with grapefruit and avocado. My 11 other dining companions enjoyed a variety of sandwiches and had a particular fondness for the salmon-there was not a clean plate to be found. Coffee and cappuccino was just average, however, they are an adequate accompaniment to the black pepper pear tatin and plate of assorted biscuits. Good for a dress casual or business lunch free of Soho tourists. Close to the 'C' line or cab it.
Piccola Cucina
We stumbled upon this place while looking for a quick lunch with our three boys. Not knowing anything of its reputation we were amazed at the freshness and top quality of the ingredients, the perfect execution of each dish and the warm and friendly staff. We tried and loved the bruschetta (traditional style), bruschetta with shrimp, arancina, meatballs, spinach and beet salad and penne with tomato sauce. The price was much lower than we expected and probably half what they could charge if they moved to a bigger space and tried to look more posh with linen tablecloths, snooty waiters, etc. We will go out of our way to go back for lunch or dinner next time we are in NY. It is also a welcome respite to eat lunch in a quieter restaurant on a more peaceful street after spending a few days in the city. Save this spot for when you want a break from the crowds and have time to savour each bite.
The Dead Rabbit
30 Water St
New York, NY 10004
11:00 am – 4:00 am
A great little Pub with great atmosphere, great beer and good bar food. While there, we noticed a letter on the wall from the Mayor of Belfast congratulating the Dead Rabbit for winning "Best Bar In The World" honors. Whilst the ground floor 'tap room' is good fun, although extremely busy, the upstairs 'Parlour' bar is a gem. The oyster happy hour special is only for the second floor, which has a different menu from upstairs, but if you ask them, you can get the full upstairs menu. The third floor is a lot more relaxed but not as "vintage" looking as the second floor.
Don't confuse the pub on the ground floor (which is a perfectly respectable Irish bar) with the cocktail bar on the floor above. The former is open all day, and doesn't require allocated seating. The latter opens at 5pm; we arrived at 4.55pm and were glad that we had done so, since very quickly there was a queue to get in, and I suspect that - by mid-evening - the wait would be longer still. It's worth it, though. Live music on Sunday.
The best chicken pot pie ever. There is no container, the whole pie in baked in this amazing crust and the chicken is shredded inside with an incredible sauce… so good!
PARLOR ROOM
Sunday Prime Rib Roast - $27
Brussels sprouts, potatoes, jus, yorkshire pudding
Chicken Pot Pie - $17
Braised chicken, peas and carrots, mashed potatoes and gravy
Rubirosa
Walking through its doors transports you to, well, little Italy. The place feels very intimate, with its tin ceilings and warren of connected rooms. The aromas of good tomato sauce waft through the air. It looks like it’s been there for 100 years. The pizzas are delicious and consisting of a wonderful thin crust. If you're looking for elegant dining this is not the place. But if you want some delicious food in a casual environment this is it.
Their arugula salad was super fresh and flavorful. Their meat balls and rice balls were fantatstico! The lasagna was very good with great sauce and the perfect blend of sauce and cheese. The pasta was also excellent. The pizza however was perhaps the best thin crust pizza I have ever had. Super thin and crispy with amazing flavors. The classic is what you would expect, the vodka sauce pizza is a must try and then we also had a meat pie. I have eaten pizza at many places, but for this style is was the best by far.
Eataly
One half gourmet market and the other Italian food court, Eataly (at Fifth Ave. and 23rd St.) is the brainchild of celebrity chef Mario Batali. Arrive hungry—and thirsty since there’s wine by the glass on the main level and beer on tap in the rooftop Birreria. Take your pick of handmade pasta, seasonal fish, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, and all the other good things Italy is known for—including molto delizioso gelato.
Shake Shack vs. Burger Joint
Shake Shack began in 2004 as a shack in Madison Square Park, but has grown into a sizzling mini empire with six NYC locations and Shacks as far-flung as London and Istanbul. Credit restaurateur Danny Meyer, who delivers a delicious burger, fries and shake (albeit after a bit of a wait) at affordable prices. To really feed your beef addiction, try Burger Joint, tucked behind a wall of curtains in Le Parker Meridien—a bit pricier but a cool spot to scarf a burger.
http://theunitedstatesofk.com/2013/04/24/restaurant-review-shake-shack-vs-burger-joint/
Harlem’s Restaurant Row
Over the past few years, a culinary surge has taken place on lower Frederick Douglas Blvd in Harlem. From W 110th St to W 120th St you’ll now find a melting pot of eateries, among them: Bier International for German sausages, pretzels and pilsner; Lido for modern Italian a la gnocchi with truffle butter and pecorino; Melba’s for American comfort food such as BBQ turkey meatloaf; Zoma for savory African/Moroccan; and Vinateria for tapas-style Italian and a nice wine selection.
McSorley's Old Ale House
As at Campbell Apartment, you feel like you're stepping back in time. McSorley’s, however, is the sort of place that would welcome those traveling steerage as warmly as those in first class. Rough-hewn wood floors, workmanlike bartenders and assorted memorabilia said to have been in the building since 1910 make you feel like you're in a simpler age. There are only two options for sale here: dark beer and light beer, the latter being called “light” not for its caloric value, but because it’s not the former. Since beers here must be ordered in pairs, try one of each.
McSorley's Old Ale House | 15 E 7th Street, New York City, NY 10003 | +1 212 473 9148; Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Sunday: 1
Marea
It’s virtually impossible in New York, a city that’s home to hundreds of amazing chefs, to choose the ultimate restaurant for a special meal, but if you love seafood you can’t go wrong with Marea. It has an award-winning chef (Michael White), a sleek ambience, an iconic location on Central Park South, and sublimely prepared Italian-style seafood. Enjoy dishes such as bigeye tuna with crispy artichoke, fusilli with red-wine-braised octopus and bone marrow, and salt-baked branzino.
Edi & the Wolf
Brunch spots are as common as potholes in NYC, so if you want uncommon head to the East Village to Edi & the Wolf (named for Austrian chefs Eduard Frauneder and Wolfgang Ban). A departure from their high-end Seasonal restaurant, this $16 brunch menu starts with an impossible-to-resist bread basket (chocolate cherry, challah and pumpernickel) and forces you to choose between scrambled eggs with crispy onions, walnuts and gruyere; a schnitzel burger on brioche roll with pickled peppers and avocado cream; and other unconventional delights.
The Following are Recommended by Free Tours by Foot in Greenwich Village:
Mamoums Falafel
Great little falafel place tucked into St. Mark Street in the East Village. Quick service and lots of value, especially with the sandwiches. Fantastic takeout lunch place for people working in the area. They have one of the hottest hot sauces I've ever tried. This stuff will test your limits, so test a little sample before dousing your food with it. Not an ideal location to sit down for lunch, as it can get a little crowded, but great for takeout and late nights.
Artichoke Basille's Pizza
This is not a sit down pizza joint. You order. You pay. You leave. Washington Square Park is a hop and skip away, and now that it's warmer it means you can take your cheesy goodies (pizza) over there. I tried the artichoke, vodka, margherita, and some cheese thing...artichoke was great but I'd probably die of a clogged artery if I had the entire slice. My favorite was the vodka, but it's a smidgen smaller than the other pizzas. If you're looking for best $ to pizza ratio, the artichoke pizza wins out. Anyways. Under $5 for a slice of pizza, you can't really go wrong!
Bantum Bagels
Really liked this place! I was tempted to buy one of each flavor, but realized that would be way too much so settled for two bagel bites: One sweet and one savory. Bleecker Street was a delicious mouthwatering little ball of cheddar cheese with a pepperoni on the outside and marinara mozzarella cream sauce on the inside. The French Toast flavor is made out of a cinnamon nutmeg egg bagel and filled with buttery maple syrupy cream cheese. It was delightful, tasting of sweet toast, cinnamon and sugar.
Faiccos Rice Balls
260 Bleecker St. (at Cornelia St.), New York, NY
Alidoro
Sandwich Place and Italian Restaurant
105 Sullivan St (btwn Spring & Prince St), New York, NY 10012, United States
The most amazing Italian deli sandwiches! Every sandwich is fantastic with their fresh meats and cheeses. And the bread! Watch out though: when they run out of bread early afternoon, they close! Really great Italian sandwich take out spot. Cash only. Pay the extra $1 for focaccia.
Bleecker Street Pizza
I ordered a Nonna Maria and a Mushroom. I got a free soda using my Yelp check-in. First bite into the Nonna Maria I fell in love. The tomato sauce is indescribably fresh and unique. Tasted like seafood-ish to me. The thin crust is crisp full with flavors. Yummmm~~~ My man had a Pepperoni-Sausage and a Grilled Chicken. Both are meaty, soft, tender and juicy. How heavenly tasty :) We're extremely pleased with the food quality and service. The Albanian man who reheated my pizza were happy to serve us (cause he was smiling) and he wouldn't mind our questions regarding the restaurant history. We left the place smiling as well. Couldn't be happier to discover this amazing place. Plus, you can't go wrong with a restaurant which has been voted by Food Network as best pizza in NYC for 3 years!
Sugar & Plumm
Great family friendly gem on the upper west side. Amazing desserts. Would recommend the Exotic Panna Cotta or the funky monkey. Besides the sweets, the restaurant offers a great selection of typical American fare with a twist which is a great thing. Had the Steak Fritters and was impressed since the place definitely caters to sweets. Definitely check out the drinks menu as they offer a variety of unique cocktails, try the mango colada which comes with an actual price of mango.
Real Cheap Eats - Guide by Borough & Type
http://www.realcheapeats.com/guides
Best Cheap Eats in New York
http://www.nyc.com/best-of-new-york/best_cheap_eats_in_new_york.s6228/
#1. Famous Joe's Pizza
EDITORS CHOICE
Like the debate over which Ray's is the original, the fight over who has New York City's best slice will likely never end. But a good chunk of people—from celebrities to tourists to dyed-in-the-wool New Yorkers—would bestow that honor on Famous Joe's. Those people are 100% correc...
7 Carmine Street (bet. Bleecker St. & 6th Ave.)
For a best of New York City experience, there’s no more quintessential fast food than a slice of pizza.
Joe’s modest storefront unloads exceptional slices to an uninterrupted queue of patrons nearly 20 hours of every day. Stand in line, point, pay, apply Parmesan and chili flakes from the public shakers, fold, eat and hustle back to work. Hey, now you’re practically a local.
Joe's Pizza - Carmine St | 7 Carmine St Frnt 1, New York City, NY 10014-4441 | +1 212 366 1182; Monday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-4:30 a.m
#2. Girello
Mediterranean style joint specializing in thin-crust pizza with fresh natural ingredients. Excellent salads, sandwiches and pastas as well. Comfortable relaxed atmosphere has made Girello a neighborhood favorite for both the mid-day work crowd and dinner with friends and family.
16 N Moore St (at Varick Street)
#3. Sakagura
Established in 1996, Sakagura has been a pioneer in introducing New Yorkers to the world of sak and continues to be one of the top sake bars in the United States. Their one-of-a-kind menu consists of over 200 kinds of carefully selected sakes, authentic tapas-style Japanese dishe...
211 E 43rd St Ph (Bet. 2nd and 3rd Avenues)
#4. Dumpling Man
It is a hard claim to make in Asian restaurant rich New York but Dumpling Man on St. Mark's makes dumplings better than anyone else. They range from traditional to exotic flavors. Dumpling places used to be the domain of Chinatown eateries, but not anymore. The North Asian style ...
100 St. Marks Place
#5. Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien
An unlikely venue considering its Le Parker Meridien Hotel location (French Fries notwithstanding), but some of the best burgers in America can be found in this faux-tacky joint. Burger Joint consistently ranks among the best restaurants in the city for the classic American burge...
118 W 57th St
#6. Caracas Arepa Bar
Superb Venezuelan-style dishes, now with a takeout location at its original digs at #91 East Seventh St.
91 E 7th St (First Avenue)
#7. La Carbonara
Great ambiance, service, and wine distinguish this Italian eatery from the rest.
202 W 14th St
#8. Bobwhite Counter
"Seasonable, responsible food" in the Southern style of cooking, including chicken suppers and sandwiches, with high-quality ingredients. Excellent fried chicken and amazing collard greens. Small space, a few tables and seats at bar. Very friendly staff add to intimacy of the ...
94 Avenue C (bet. 6th and 7th Streets)
#9. Noodle Bar
The Noodle Bar is easily what it says it is: aside from the few tables (slightly more during the warmer seasons, although one table is always precariously positioned near the cellar door), most of the seating is set around a long bar that wraps around the speedy noodle cooks. Off...
26 Carmine Street (Bleecker)
#10. The Smith
The purveyors of fine restaurants like Jane and the Neptune Room bring us the Smith's American cuisine and atmosphere.
55 3rd Avenue
#11. A Salt & Battery
Standing tall alongside Greenwich Avenue's Tea & Sympathy empire, this chippie has a fine selection of fried fishes and other choices.
112 Greenwich Ave
#12. 99 Miles To Philly
It's a long-held belief among Philadelphians that no one anywhere else can make a cheesesteak the right way. That's exactly what they aim to do at 99 Miles To Philly's East Village location, which takes its name from the distance to the famous Pat's Steaks. Owner Brad Kranz takes...
94 3rd Ave (bet. 12th & 13th Streets)
#13. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
We were thrilled when Dinosaur first opened, expecting everyone from Syracuse to ride down on their Harley-Davidsons. The restaurant imported some local flavor from Upstate, and the result has been a remakable success in west Harlem. With juicy ribs, terrific sandwiches, great si...
700 W 125th St
#14. Murray's Bagels - Chelsea
You know how in The Godfather (book or movie) there are several families that control New York? Well, Mario Puzo must've based his classic story on the bagel industry because if anyone has a stranglehold on the lives and wallets of New Yorkers, it's them. At the head of one of th...
242 8th Ave (West 22nd Street)
#15. Amsterdam Restaurant
Amsterdam Restaurant & Tapas Lounge, a New American fusion restaurant and lounge located on the Upper West Side across from Columbia University, reopened to the public in November 2004 with an all new modern and warm decor. Executive Chef Michael Kalajian offers an inventive and ...
1207 Amsterdam Avenue
#16. Indian Taj - Greenwich Village
A great restaurant for traditional Indian cuisine, it's also one of the few places you can secure a pudina paratha, or layered bread with mint, among other classic Indian specialties.
181 Bleecker St (Park and Lexington Ave.)
#17. Corner Bistro
Perennially-popular Corner Bistro is a great hangout in the Village, a beloved institution for its burgers served on flimsy paper plates as well as good draft beer. The ambiance is somewhere between dive and university Bohemian.
331 W 4th St (Jane St.)
#18. Les Halles - Park Avenue
Home base of Chef-at-large Anthony Bourdain of Kitchen Confidential and TV Food Network’s “Cook’s World Tour" fame, Les Halles is named after the old market district of Paris, where the cream of society, stopping for a bite after a night on the town, would sit next to workmen hav...
411 Park Ave (bet. 28th & 29th Sts.)
#19. Eva's
NYU-area restaurant with healthy options for a conscientious crowd.
11 W 8th St
#20. Defonte's - Manhattan
The long-standing Brooklyn favorite finally opens the doors of a Manhattan location.
261 3rd Ave
#21. Wilfie & Nell
Another gastropub in the millennial ocean of such eateries, Wilfie & Nell's offers the usual fare of the British and Irish islands, as well as some traditional American cuisine, all in a subdued and rather enchanting space in the West Village.
228 W 4th Street
#22. 7th Avenue Donuts Luncheonette
One of Park Slope's few 24-hour diners, Donuts has become a literary haunt for local writers and the insomniacs of Seventh Avenue. The food is always good, especially late at night, and the service is legendary.
324 7th Ave
#23. La Superior
A slightly chaotic Mexican joint with great, cheap food in the hipster Mecca of Williamsburg, now featuring a full liquor license.
295 Berry St
#24. St. Anselm
From the proprietor of (and right next to) Spuyten Devil and (across from) Fette Sau, St. Anselm bills itself as a "haute snack bar" focused more heavily on wine than it's cocktail-loving older brother and offering a menu of what we'll call "Midwestern tapas" that includes slider...
355 Metropolitan Ave
#25. Bill's Bar & Burger
Bill's has quickly become a place of much contention in the burgeoning New York burger scene, pitting factions against each other who either want to dethrone or crown them forever. The jury is still out, but in the meantime, they definitely serve burgers.
22 9th Ave
#26. Walker's
A friendly pub with long history and great burgers, have your whiskey, beer on tap or cocktail and enjoy the atmosphere. Friendly staff.
16 N. Moore Street (Varick St.)
#27. Peter McManus Cafe
For over 70 years, Peter McManus Cafe has been serving up brews in a throwback—albeit authentic—setting.
152 7th Ave
#28. Katz's Delicatessen
Born on the Lower East Side in 1888, with its famous decades-old signs such as "Send a salami to your boy in the army" and window display of thank-you letters from former U.S. presidents, Katz's has repeatedly earned the moniker of most authentic New York deli. Generation after g...
205 E Houston St (Ludlow St.)
#29. Veselka
For more than fifty years, customers have crowded into Veselka, a cozy Ukrainian coffee shop in New York City's East Village, to enjoy pierogi, borscht, goulash, and many other unpretentious favorites. Veselka (rainbow in Ukrainian) has grown up from a simple newsstand serving so...
144 2nd Ave (9th St.)
#30. Shake Shack — Upper West Side
Shake Shack, a modern day "roadside" burger stand acclaimed for its delicious burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, beer, wine and more, has debuted its second location on the Upper West Side. The new Shake Shack enjoys a sweet location - across from the American Museum of Natural H...
366 Columbus Ave
#31. Cascabel Taqueria — East
Casual Mexican joint on the Upper East Side with a stunningly deep menu full of innovative-yet-authentic cuisine inspired by the markets of Mexico. Sample - carefully - the wide selection of tequilas and when the time comes to slow down switch to microbrews on tap.
1538 2nd Ave
#32. Minca
Minca aptly bills itself as "Ramen Factory," for other than a few standard appetizers, ramen is the only item on the menu. But so many kinds of ramen, served with a really impressive variety of fresh ingredients. Think flavorful mushrooms, great broth, tender pork, and noodles wi...
536 E 5th St (Avenues A & B)
#33. Shake Shack
Famed restaurateur Danny Meyer opened the Shake Shack as a novel way to bring high quality summer food (burgers, fries, hot dogs, shakes) to the masses. The burgers are juicy and come on a great bun; the fries are crisp and tasty; and the caramel shakes and coffee shakes are espe...
Madison Square Park (West 23rd Street & Madison Ave.)
#34. The Bagel Hole
It should probably be called Bagel Hole In The Wall, given its Manhattanesque slim margins, but the kitchen that stretches back from the front counter delivers some of Brooklyn's tastiest bagels, with a selection of cream cheese spreads you will marvel at. Not ones to give in to ...
400 7th Ave
#35. Tortilleria Nixtamal
Coronoa's best little Mexican joint, serving up decidedly healthy and satisfying fare, putting them ahead of most of their contemporaries, who generally just want to jam as many ingredients into your burrito as the limits of physics will allow. Portion sensibility is observed rel...
104-05 47th Ave
#36. Momokawa
Japanese food in Murray Hill.
157 E 28th St (bet. Lexington & 3rd Aves.)
#37. Little Purity
The former Katina's, now run by the folks from the further north Purity Diner.
390 7th Ave
#38. Shake Shack — Theatre District
Danny Meyer continues to expand the Shake Shack empire with this location in the much-traveled Theatre District. Meyer opened the original Shake Shack as a novel way to bring high quality summer food (burgers, fries, hot dogs, shakes) to the masses. The burgers are juicy and come...
691 8th Ave
#39. Mermaid Oyster Bar
The third and most oysteriented location of the Mermaid Inn chain, offering delicious food in a welcoming atmosphere that combines a laid-back fish shack mentality with a menu from Executive Chef Laurence Edelman that reads like an oyster bar’s greatest hits: an extensive raw bar...
79 MacDougal St
#40. An Choi
A strikingly authentic Vietnamese restaurant with a decor that's as accurate as the cuisine itself.
85 Orchard St. (Grand Street)
#41. Mile End
Montreal-style delicatessen.
97A Hoyt St, Brooklyn
#42. Totto Ramen —Midtown West
Authentic Ramen served up in cramped quarters. The city's ramen lovers know this spot so be prepared for long lines, but the wait is well worth it.
366 West 52nd Street
#43. B & H Dairy
Travel back in time when you enter this tiny sliver of a restaurant on lower Second Avenue. Back when the good old Lower East Side was populated with appetizing stores (like M Schacht diagonally across Second) and delicatessens, B & H vied for your borscht shekels. Times have cha...
127 2nd Ave
#44. Pongsri Thai - Chelsea
At this latest outpost of the Pongsri Thai chain in Manhattan, you might wonder how a brand-new restaurant competing in an increasingly crowded Thai field could be so... nondescript. But in fact, this place has got menu items you might not find at other locales, including a nice ...
165 West 23 Street (Seventh Avenue)
#45. Dojo
The former Dojo West was a college-kid infested, rather bland affair with a far more tasteful interior than its menu. After a six-month renovation, Dojo now operates as an izakaya, which is far more in line with the clientele and the spirit of the neighborhood—if the izakaya craz...
14 West 4th Street
#46. Westville East
Jay Strauss's attempt to alleviate the packed popularity of the West Village location yielded this perfectly wonderful 40-seat restaurant with traditional American cuisine.
173 Avenue A
#47. Hotel Saravana Bhavan - Upper West Side
Indian Cuisine is as diverse as its culture, languages, regions and its climate. Every major region of India brings its own unique dishes and subtle variations to popular dishes. Aromatic Spices are the essence of Indian cuisine. This is the unique formula followed by the Hotel S...
413 Amsterdam Ave (79th and 80th Streets)
#48. Deluxe
Columbia students love this diner, making for a congenial atmosphere to sample their traditional American fare.
The 50 best cheap eats in NYC
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/the-50-best-cheap-eats-in-nyc
The best cheap Asian food
Bar Chuko
The team behind beloved ramen joint Chuko go a boozier route with this sibling izakaya a block over. Shareable snacks are mostly under $15, which means you can afford more than one order of the airy fried sweetbreads ($8), succulent clams spiked with X.O. sauce ($14), and grilled skate wings ($6). There’s also an extensive skewers menu—we’re particularly smitten with the smoky octopus served with a bright kewpie-yuzu mayo ($5).
Prospect Heights (Brooklyn)
Beyond Sushi
Former caterer Guy Vaknin doles out vegan sushi at this diminutive Gramercy spot. At three wood tables, diners choose from colorful rolls packed with fruits and vegetables from nearby Union Square Greenmarket. Combos include the Crunch N’ Munch (alfalfa, baked tofu, English cucumber and kiwi) and La Fiesta (avocado, pickled jalapeño, chayote and cilantro), or nigiri topped with slivers of carrot, mango and snow pea. Vaknin also crafts a line of vegan pastries, such as black-sesame avocado cookies, sweet-potato black-bean brownies and a date-and-nut bar.
Gramercy & Flatiron
Biang!
For his first sit-down restaurant, Xi’an Famous Foods owner Jason Wang returned to where it all began: Flushing. Along with XFF mainstays—like the cumin lamb burger ($7) and liang pi noodles ($6)—this brick-lined eatery serves several exclusives, including juicy, charcoal-grilled skewers ($3-$5.25), a spicy fiddlehead fern salad ($6.50) and sauteed chicken with springy, udon-like noodles ($10).
Flushing (Queens)
Bunker
Tucked away on a gritty, warehouse stretch of Ridgewood Queens hides this slapdash shack from skater-bros Jimmy and Jacky Tu, dishing out some of the finest Vietnamese food this side of Hanoi. Build a meal out of the restaurant’s namesake bún, soft tangles of vermicelli noodles that pop up in dishes like shrimp-and-pork–crammed summer rolls ($8) and slips of charred eggplant and zucchini ($13), boosted with dill and fried shallots. Pair ‘em with a house-made limeade ($4), laced with shiso and basil sides.
Ridgewood (Brooklyn)
Cocoron
Soba is the star of this diminutive Lower East Side shop, where you’ll find diners eagerly dipping chewy buckwheat noodles into bubbling crocks of chicken-and-bonito broth. Opt for pairings like the ginger-flecked chicken meatballs ($12.80) or yuba, silky ribbons of tofu skin ($13). Once the soba is gone, dilute the leftover liquid with noodle-cooking water to form a soul-soothing soup.
Lower East Side
Ivan Ramen
Ivan Orkin’s double-soup ramen bowls are the stuff of food-world legend, but with his bright, muraled LES restaurant, the New York noodle master proves he’s about more than just exceptional rye-flour strands. His Japanese small plates wittily riff on all-American budget classics: fried tofu shellacked Coney-style in chili-dog trappings ($11), panko-crusted chicken katsu with a lemon-zested green cabbage salad ($13) and Hawaiian convenience-store staple spam musubi, upgraded with roasted pork and salted-plum wasabi ($6).
Han Dynasty
You’ll get three meals out of a night at this sizzling Philadelphia import—the one you ordered and enough leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. The only thing bigger than the portions is the sheer spice; the menu is scrupulously ranked on a heat scale, from tolerably tingly to five-alarm mouth fire. Offset fierce, springy dan dan noodles tangled around nubs of minced pork ($7.95) and batter-fried dry-pepper chicken wings ($9.95) with cooling reprieves like scallion pancakes ($3.55) or pork-charged pickled vegetables ($6.95).
Hell's Kitchen
Mimi Cheng's Dumplings
Dumpling houses are a typical go-to when pinching pennies, but this East Village den, run by sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng, employs a generation of recipes passed down from their mother, Mimi. The handmade ginger-and-scallion pockets (six for $8, eight for $10) are made fresh daily, filled with pork and bok choy, chicken and zucchini or kale, egg and mushroom. The little wonders are either pan-fried or steamed and then served with a side of Mimi’s secret sauce. Dessert dumplings are even cheaper at $5 for 4 and include a mash fresh banana in sweet dough sprinkled with powdered sugar.
East Village
Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen
Despite its name, the specialty at this midtown hole-in-the-wall isn’t Japanese ramen. Instead, you’ll find bowls brimming with pliant Chinese la mian ($9.75) served by actor-turned-noodle-twirler Peter Song. Buns are equally top-notch, especially the juicy, thin-skinned soup dumplings ($9.95) and pleated, brown-bottomed baos swaddling orbs of gelatinous pork ($8.25).
Nom Wah Tea Parlor
The O.G. of New York dim sum, this Chinatown legend has been rolling out first-rate dumplings and buns since 1920. Beneath the faded red-and-yellow awning, past the porcelain lucky cats waving in the window, fluffy, oversize char siu bao (roast-pork bun, $1.95) are steamed on command, as are pleated, pop-in-your-mouth har gow (shrimp dumplings, $4). Must-haves from the fryer include the “The Original” egg roll ($5.95), a takeout upgrade comprised of chicken and veggies wrapped in a paper-thin egg crepe, lightly battered and fried until supremely flaky.
Okonomi
There are only 12 seats at this pint-size noodle shop, but the jump-starting ichiju-sansai meals ($12–$15) well warrant the elbow bumping. The handsome set-price combos, served from 9am to 2pm and chosen by chefs Tara Norvell and noodle whiz Yuji Haraguchi, employ one soup and three dishes—think broccoli rabe dressed in tofu-sesame shira-ae sauce, roasted Spanish mackerel and miso soup with radish and kale.
Wangs
The Korean-style wings at this adorable streetside window are just as killer as the prices (three pieces for $6, six for $10), but if you’re really hankering for some fresh-from-the-fryer bird, pick up an organic half fried chicken, brined for a whole day in Southeast Asian spices, for just $13. Sides like house-made kimchee top out at $4.75.
Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
Pasar Malam
Get a grand tour of Malay classics for less than 20 bones at Salil Mehta’s Laut follow-up. Whisper-thin street-stall classic roti canai ($6) makes for a good opening salvo, served with aromatic coconut-milk curry. A scrum of satays, such as Hainanese pork-belly skewers slathered in peanut-pineapple sauce ($7), and fried fish balls with hoisin and sriracha ($6) are well suited to a group, but you’ll want to bogart mains like a heaping bowl of spicy-sour asam laksa ($15), brimming with Vietnamese mint, pink ginger flowers and fun noodles.
Chinatown & Little Italy
Prosperity Dumpling
The dumpling rivalry between Chinatown’s Prosperity and one-street-over Vanessa’s has been at a Yankees–Red Sox pitch for years, but there’s one clear department where Prosperity rules: price. While Vanessa’s has inflated to $1.25 for four dumplings, good ol’ Prosperity has kept its reliably plump, pan-fried pouches set at a measly dollar. Beyond those pork-and-chive–filled wrappers, find other for-a-buck bites including light, spongy sesame pancakes and fried pork buns. Feeling flush? Spring for beef noodle soup for a whopping $3.
Somtum Der
This Bangkok transplant, a sanctuary of northern Thai cuisine, serves the papaya salads of its namesake with grilled pork neck or fermented fish sauce and miniature crabs ($10). Those in search of Isan-style deep-fried chicken will pay $8; but for lunch you can have that and a whole somtum, with rice, for $12.
The best cheap American food
West Village
Corner Bistro
This dimly-lit lounge’s fat, broiled beef burgers, hooded in American cheese and crispy bacon ($9.75), are legendary and New Yorkers are known to wait in line for one. Though it make take a while to get your hands on the patties, dirt cheap drafts like McSorley’s Ale ($3) and Stella Artois ($4.25), and a heaping plate of shoestring fries ($2.75) should help pass the time.
Earl's Beer and Cheese
This pint-sized Upper East Side hang pairs your childhood favorite—grilled cheese—with the apple of your adult eye, beer. Soak up daily-changing $6 suds (recent tap additions include Founders Black IPA and SingleCut John Michael Dark Lyric Lagrrr) with curd-focused sandwich combos like blue-cheese-and-fig-preserve ($8) and one with NY State cheddar, pork belly, kimchi and a fried egg on sourdough ($8). Drool.
Mighty Quinn's
In just a few short years, the popular Smorgasburg stand has transformed into a formidable barbecue empire, even expanding into the depths of New Jersey. Pit master Hugh Mangum sates carne lovers with his Texas-meets-Carolina–style meats, like slow-cooked, paprika-rubbed brisket ($9.25) and hulking spare ribs ($8.95). But sides are no afterthought. One bite of the exceptional baked beans fortified with burnt ends ($3) or the maple-drizzle sweet-potato casserole ($3) will prove that.
Hamilton's Soda Fountain & Luncheonette
On a cramped West Village corner sits this ode to 1940s New York, a white-walled luncheonette where cloth-capped soda jerks dole out milkshakes, lime rickeys and phosphates alongside greasy-good double-decker burgers ($7.50) and crispy salt-and-pepper fries ($3). The retro-style minidiner also serves a slew of hearty meat-and-potato platters so you can gorge on turkey and gravy, corned beef and cabbage, or fish and chips for dinner under $12. Generously scooped sundaes ($8) are decked out with Georgia peaches, caramel and bananas, splitting easily among a small group of friends—and their wallet.
Upper East Side
Shake Shack
Perennial burger mecca Shake Shack continues to be one of the most coveted postmuseum pit stops for its nostalgic beef patties, crinkle fries and frozen custard. Thankfully, the usually long queue moves fairly fast.
East Village
Papaya King
Tubesteaks-and tropical-quaff purveyors are aplenty in this city, but the King is the original, an Upper East Side mainstay since the 1930s. Amidst the multicolored tiles and neon signs, find hickory-smoked hot dogs and milky papaya juice in a variety of combinations: The $5 “original” consists of two franks crowned with kraut, onions or relish alongside a 16oz sipper; or double down for a “Grand Slam,” which gets you two specialty dogs (chili-and-cheddar, coleslaw-and-pickle), a papaya drink and curly fries for $9.99.
Upper West Side
Wilma Jean
Arkansas native Rob Newton taps into the South’s penchant for both skyrocketing cholesterol and super-casual eats with this fried-chicken–focused canteen. That fowl, marked by a high-decibel crunch and juicy, flavorful meat, is sold by the piece—breast ($6), thigh ($4) or drumstick ($3)—or gas-station–style on a skewer for a fiver. But the best bang for your buck is the old-school chicken dinner ($14), a stick-to-your-ribs plate featuring half a bird, coleslaw, a Martin’s potato roll, buttermilk dressing and one side, such as braised collards dotted with country ham and smashed-and-fried Red Bliss potatoes.
The best cheap sandwiches
Nolita (Little Italy)
Black Seed
Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman gave the authentic New York bagel—that hand-rolled, boiled-and-baked throwback— new life with their fledgling Nolita bakery. The small, crusty Montreal-meets-Manhattan rounds ($1.50) are excellent with just a thick schmear of house-made cream cheese, but the real fun comes in inspired combinations like lox-and-dill spread with radish and sprouts ($7), ricotta with apple and honey ($6.50), and egg salad with butter lettuce, red onions and cracked pepper ($6).
Breads Bakery
Uri Scheft’s Union Square oven-fired operation isn’t your garden-variety bakery—not surprising given that Scheft isn’t your garden-variety baker. The Danish-Israeli dough pounder, renowned for his delicate, modern hamantaschen at Tel Aviv’s Lehamim Bakery, expands beyond bubbe-baiting here, serving irresistibly snacky cheese straws (five for $9) and upmarket sandwiches, like Brie-and-walnut spread on his exceptional Jerusalem baguette ($5.50), for the lunchtime crowd. Weary office drones should pick up a package of heavenly, hand-rolled chocolate rugalach (two for $3.50) for a midday refresher.
Meat Hook Sandwich Shop
At first glance, a $13 sandwich could seem like a rip-off. At this hole-in-the-wall counter, a spin-off of the Brooklyn butcher shop from renegade meat man Tom Mylan, it’s worth every penny. The bigger-than-your-head heroes come crammed with thoughtful, outré trappings: roasted pork doused in tuna mayo with fennel, escarole and raisins or crispy pig face with vodka sauce, mozzarella and broccoli rabe. Two-buck sides include queso with chips plus potato salad, but it’s doubtful you’ll have room for those without busting a seam.
Gramercy & Flatiron
Egg Shop
At Sarah Schneider and Demetri Makoulis’s cheery egg-head hang, a.m. bodega standards like the bacon-egg-and-cheese get a serious upgrade: The house B.E.C. ($10) is built with Black Forest bacon, Shelburne cheddar, tomato jam and runny yolks dripping sensuously over a bouncy panino roll. Or you can build your own breakfast sandwich ($7) with fixins like egg whites with feta and caramelized-onion aioli on a buttermilk biscuit. Still hungry? Slap a helping of fried chicken—yes, you read that right—on that sammie for $7.
Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
Num Pang Sandwich Shop
At this chainlet of graffiti-emblazoned sandwich shops, college pals Ratha Chaupoly (Blue Water Grill) and Ben Daitz (Bouley, Daniel) apply fine-dining finesse to humble num pang, the Cambodian cousin to Vietnamese banh mi. Airy baguettes act as vessels for tender, coconut-flecked shrimp ($10.50) and spicy honey-glazed pulled pork ($8.50), each crowned with cilantro, thinly-sliced cucumbers, pickled carrots and a smear of housemade chili-mayo.
Midtown East
Porchetta
While the menu at this East Village pork shop relies heavily on its namesake—central Italy’s stuffed pork roast—the porchetta does anything but fall flat. Find succulent cubed meat stuffed into a crusty loaf ($7) with sides like crispy potatoes ($6) and kale and broccoli rabe topped with roasted garlic cloves ($6).
East Village
Red Hook Lobster Pound
Husband-and-wife team Ralph Gorham and Susan Povich opened up their first lobster snack in Red Hook in 2009 serving up the finest crustaceans they could find. Fast forward five years, and getting your hands on their chipotle-mayo–slathered Lobster BLT ($10) or a bowl of lobster-and-mussels Downeast Bisque ($7) couldn’t be easier with locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Montauk (along with their ever-roaming food truck).
Red Hook (Brooklyn)
Roll-N-Roaster
For four decades, this Sheepshead Bay fast-food fixture has been satisfying hankerings for all things cheez, as the neon sign screams in its window. The menu hasn’t changed much over the years, and neither have the prices, with no item costing more than $7.45. Roll-up-your-sleeves roast-beef sandwiches dripping with gravy ($5.45) pair amicably with crisp-edged cottage fries bathed in melted cheese ($2.95) and golden-fried nuggets filled with creamy corn ($3.95). Here’s to another 40 years.
The best cheap tacos
Chelsea North
Los Tacos No.1
New York’s taco naysayers will have to find something else to complain about. At this perpetually-packed counter, a trio of West Coast transplants sling superlative bundles inspired by California street carts. Hand-pressed corn tortillas arrive piping hot, dressed with spit-roasted adobada pork and sweet pineapple batons ($4.50) or succulent, charred carne asada and creamy guacamole ($4.75). Beyond tacos, find nopal plates (cactus, beans and cheese for $5) and thirst-quenching agua frescas ($3.50).
Mission Cantina
Danny Bowien changed the cheap-eats game with his Szechuan supernova Mission Chinese Food, but he rose above the sophomore curse with this Mexican-minded effort a block down. And like MCF, Cantina’s menu offsets its considerate pricing with full-blown ballsiness. Just look at shareable plates like a trio of cheese tacos heaped with provolone, cotija and monterey jack, and toasted in—seriously—pastrami fat ($10), or a mountain of smoky, mole-spiced chicken wings ($13), drenched in crema, cotija and jalapeño vinegar.
Lower East Side
Otto's Tacos
Dirt-cheap taco shops are nearly as ubiquitous in this city as dollar-slice dens, but California native Otto Cedeno sets his taqueria apart with supple house-made tortillas topped with shrimp and serrano crema ($3.50), beer-braised carnitas ($3) and gaarlic-compound-butter–sautéed cremini mushrooms ($3). A trio of these mighty masas is more than enough for one meal, but aggressive appetites can bolster their plate with a side of refried pinto beans and chile-garlic rice ($2.75 each). And no one should miss the sweet, spiced horchata ($2.75).
East Village
Taquitoria
Our favorite of the single-subject wave (see Empire Biscuit, Nugget Shop, et al) is this LES shrine to the rolled taco. Matthew Conway, Barry Frish and Brad Holtzman—all Restaurant Marc Forgione vets—upgrade the tortilla tubes from their 7-Eleven warmer dwelling with upmarket fillings (Creekstone Farms beef, Berkshire pork), without jacking up the price. At only $5 for three, or $8 for five, you have enough moolah to try both versions of the crunchy, salthy flutes: “Classic” with guacamole sauce, shredded lettuce and cotija, or“cheesy” with nacho cheese, sour cream and zingy pickled-jalapeño relish.
The best cheap pizza
Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
Best Pizza
If you’re going to pay for artisanal pizza, it’s best served fresh: Here, slices of piping hot cheese ‘za will set you back $3.25, a whole dollar cheaper than Artichoke. Drop down another $3.75 to try a leopard-spotted white slice jazzed up with caramelized onions and sesame seeds, and wash it down with a Mexican Coke ($2.75).
Motorino
Mathieu Palombino’s international pizza joint is but one of many that extol the virtues of the Neapolitan pie, but it’s stellar prix fixe distinguishes it from the pizza-slinging masses. The set menu includes a mixed green salad and choice of the margherita, Brussels sprout, soppressata or marinara pie for $12 on weekdays from 11am–4pm. Non-pizza crowd pleasers include jumbo chicken wings hit with chili flakes, mint and lemon ($11) and belly-warming meatballs topped with pecorino and fresh basil ($9).
East Village
Lee's Tavern
Hop the ferry to Staten Island and get transported back to the good ol’ days at Dongan Hills staple, serving up a renowned bar pizza that rivals the city’s crispiest brick-oven pies. Head to the back dining room and order an individual-sized round with sausage and zesty red sauce ($7.25), or get it plain Jane for a solid $5.25.
The best cheap handheld snacks
Jackson Heights
The Arepa Lady
Roosevelt Avenue is dotted with plenty of women hawking arepas, but only one is dubbed the official Arepa Lady. Colombia-born Maria Cano has amassed a devoted following from her sizzling, buttery corn cakes cakes—with a crunchy top yielding to an oozing queso center—and recently expanded her 79th St sidewalk cart into a brick-and-mortar. Though there’s an obvious draw with the late-night munchies crowd, her sweet-and-savory pockets of cheese, along with chorizo drizzled in garlic sauce and shish kabobs with grilled potatoes, are ideal for any affordable meal on the go.
El Olomega
There’s no shortage of first-rate eats at the legendary Red Hook Ball Fields, but this seasonal truck, which runs from April through the end of October, draws the longest lines and with good reason: The freshly griddled pupusas ($6) are some of the best in town. Using a recipe handed down from Mom, siblings Marcos and Janet Lainez serve more than a dozen varieties of the crispy Salvadoran corn cakes—ground pork is a favorite filling—along with a gloriously cheesy disk cloaked in sweet plantains.
Red Hook (Brooklyn)
Empanadas Cafe
With nearly 30 fillings and three types of shells (corn, white flour and organic whole-grain), this pint-sized spot truly has a combo for every palate. Standouts include shredded beef ($1.50) wrapped in a corn casing and the Hawaiian ($1.75), a white flour crust swaddling chunks of ham, pineapple and gooey cheese. Whether you stay purist or go the creative route, be sure to load on the addictive, cilantro-spiked hot sauce.
Corona
Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery
Born from the namesake rabbi’s pushcart in 1910, the soft, house-made knishes at this shabby LES warhorse, baked in a basement brick oven and hoisted upstairs via dumbwaiter, are a taste of bygone New York. The old-world nosh, a thin dough shell filled with potato, comes savory (kasha, red cabbage) and primed for spicy brown mustard ($3.50) or sweet (blueberry, chocolate) and filled with cheese ($4). Make it a meal with a platter pickle and coleslaw ($1.50), and wash it all down with a fizzy cherry-lime rickey ($2.50).
Lumpia Shack Snackbar
Joining the ranks of Smorgasburg vets gone brick-and-mortar, the first full-fledged storefront from this lumpia specialist goes beyond its namesake Filipino spring rolls. The menu revolves around snacks—puffy garlic chips ($4–$6) are a good starter—and mix-and-match rice bowls ($11.50), with toppings such as fatty pork belly and sauces like the Bicol Express, a fragrant, curry-like mix of jalapeño-coconut cream, milk and yogurt.
The best of the rest
Crown Heights
Berg'n
At this boozy Smorgasburg brother, graze on a day’s worth of grub for just a few bucks: brunch-style bacon-and-egg sandwiches ($7) on salty noodle buns from Ramen Burger; lighter, lunch-friendly Thai mango-salsa–topped franks ($5) at Asia Dog; and smoky, melt-in-your-mouth brisket sammies ($9.25) slathered with pickled onions and peppers from Mighty Quinn’s for dinner. Get there early, stay all day, and put what you saved on food to good use at the bar, where a dozen taps pour local crafts like Other Half Veldrijden Love Saison ($8) and Sixpoint Sweet Action Cream Ale ($6).
Bunna Cafe
There are few word combinations more delightfully Brooklyn than “pop up-gone-permanent vegan Ethiopian restaurant,” which, naturally, is located in Bushwick. Extra injera (the sourdough bread that doubles as plate and utensils) are only $1 apiece; a combo plate with five veggie dishes like gomen (greens cooked with carrots and ginger) or savory chickpea shiro is but $11.
Bushwick
Café El Presidente
Bifurcated into multiple areas—a made-to-order juice bar, a taqueria rigged with a tortilla-making annex and an open kitchen centered on hulking spits of al pastor pork—this colorful Mexican joint doles out more than just a mean taco. Along with achiote-braised chicken ($3.50) and slow-roasted Berkshire pork ($3.95), curled in soft corn tortillas with housemade escabeche, there are sides such as chipotle-mayo–licked grilled corn ($3.95) and refreshing pineapple-ginger elixirs ($4.95) to round out dinner.
Gramercy & Flatiron
Cafe Nadery
Named after a legendary café in Tehran, Iran, this neighborhood refuge is the only place in the West Village where you can get Ghormeh Sabzi (beef stew with herbs, saffron rice and candied lemons) for a very reasonable $14.50. For the veggies, a gorgeous mint salad with feta, pistachios and pumpkin seeds sets you back a mere $11.
Greenwich Village
El Rey Luncheonette
Nicholas Morgenstern (Goat Town, the General Greene) transformed the former El Rey café-bar into this modern lunch counter, where he serves California coast-inspired bites like avocado del sur with chimichurri sauce ($4) and falafel made of minted cauliflower and picked red cabbage ($6). Graze on a small cucumber-peanut jicama salad ($6) or a “lost bread” frittata ($7), studded with shaved fennel and crushed avocado, while you wait for the barista to prepare your Mexican iced coffee ($4), spiced with chili flakes and capped with sweetened condensed milk.
Lower East Side
Glady's
After shifting gears from deli sandwiches to rum-soaked Caribbean fare, this canteen piles your plate with hot jerk-rubbed half-chickens ($9) and pulled pork ($8.50), plus sides like bok choy ($3) and jerk-fried wings ($7). The crowning deal of the menu, however, is the lunch special, which includes a quarter pound of jerk chicken or pork with rice and peas, spicy slaw and fried plantains for $9. If you’re there for dinner, ask for a pour (or three) of the rum punch on tap—it’s only $4 from 5:30-7pm every day.
Hell's Kitchen
Gotham West Market
The building that houses this ground-floor food hall may be of the luxury variety, but the all-star eats inside are pleasantly wallet-friendly. Ease into the meal with Seamus Mullen’s shareable tapas, including deviled eggs zipped with smoked bacalao ($2), then make your way over to Court Street Grocers for hefty hoagies like the coppa-and-salami Italian combo ($10). End on a sweet note at the extended-through-winter Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams pop-up for double scoops of buttercup pumpkin or black-currant sorbet ($6).
Huertas
The $55 tasting menu at this Basque-inspired restaurant is reasonable for a wild night on the AmEx, but it’s really all about the $8 tortilla española, or their $8 version of patates bravas (dubbed “bravioli” for its aioli garnish). Also, where else can you find mussels escabeche (that is, marinated in an lemon and herbs) for $10? Probably in some tiny tapacieria in the Basque country.
The best cheap eats in NYC by location
http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/cheap-eats
East Village
Artichoke Basille's Pizza & Brewery
Early hype has led to long lines at this East Village pizzeria named after its specialty, a slice covered in a creamy artichoke-and-spinach spread.
This perpetually packed East Village shop peddles one signature slice that makes it a favorite of pizza obsessives: The namesake puffy-crusted creation, overloaded with artichoke-spinach dip, plus 16-ounce waxed-paper cups brimming with Bud.
Bobwhite Lunch and Supper Counter
Blue Smoke alum Amanda Beame dishes out at Southern classics updated with sustainable ingredients at this homestyle eatery. On the menu: fried free-range chicken, Hudson Valley collard greens and pimento cheese sandwiches. The simple 17-seat space features an L-shaped reclaimed-wood bar and exposed brick.
Caracas Arepa Bar
Surely, there’s no more cultured a substitute for a grilled cheese sandwich than a piping-hot arepa filled with juayanes, a handmade cheese. This endearing spot, with flower-patterned, vinyl-covered tables, zaps you straight to Caracas. The secret is in the arepas themselves: Each patty is made from scratch daily. The pitalike pockets are stuffed with a choice of 18 fillings, like chicken and avocado or mushrooms with tofu. Top off your snack with a cocada, a thick and creamy milk shake made with freshly grated coconut and cinnamon.
Crif Dogs
Relive your high-school stoner days, when you were broke and bored and nothing could satisfy those wicked 2am munchies like a hot dog wrapped in bacon and topped with cheese and a fried egg. Crif’s snappy deep-fried or grilled dogs have a cult following among tube-steak aficionados who swarm the joint at all hours for combos like the Spicy Redneck (bacon-wrapped and covered in chili, coleslaw and jalapeños) and the Chihuahua (bacon-wrapped with sour cream and avocado). You’ll also get gooey waffle fries and excellent root-beer floats, and for girls there are Crif-Dog souvenir thong panties, with a giant hot dog on the front that reads “Eat Me.”
Han Dynasty
You’ll get three meals out of a night at this sizzling Philadelphia import—the one you ordered and enough leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day. The only thing bigger than the portions is the sheer spice; the menu is scrupulously ranked on a heat scale, from tolerably tingly to five-alarm mouth fire. Offset fierce, springy dan dan noodles tangled around nubs of minced pork ($7.95) and batter-fried dry-pepper chicken wings ($9.95) with cooling reprieves like scallion pancakes ($3.55) or pork-charged pickled vegetables ($6.95).
Huertas
The $55 tasting menu at this Basque-inspired restaurant is reasonable for a wild night on the AmEx, but it’s really all about the $8 tortilla española, or their $8 version of patates bravas (dubbed “bravioli” for its aioli garnish). Also, where else can you find mussels escabeche (that is, marinated in an lemon and herbs) for $10? Probably in some tiny tapacieria in the Basque country.
Hummus Place
If you want to know how good hummus should taste, check out this slender East Village restaurant (there are two more locations, one in the West Village and one on the Upper West Side). We’re particularly fond of the supersmooth traditional hummus. It’s rich enough to be called “vegetarian chopped liver” and comes with a smart selection of condiments including pickles, olives, raw onion and chewy, bubbly pita for scooping.
Mile End Deli
The sandwich shop has never had it quite so good in New York. The field is crowded with purists and renegades, with star chefs and career-changing amateurs, all devoting themselves to making food fast, cheap and, most importantly, portable—so many new hoagies, cheese steaks, tortas, banh mi and stuffed Chinese buns. Mile End Sandwich, which opened recently near the Bowery on Bond Street, follows the same lofty path paved by ’wichcraft, Saltie and No. 7 Sub, to name just a few of its epicurean forebears. The neon-bright quick-serve operation expands a sandwich program that’s already among the city’s most cultish, building on the opening menu from the first Mile End, across the river on Hoyt Street. The place launched in 2009 as a Montreal-style deli serving smoked-meat sandwiches and Canadian bagels, before adding more ambitious haute juif cuisine. At their new sandwich-centric spin-off, Noah Bernamoff and wife-partner Rae Cohen offer the classics still served at the original restaurant—the same succulent hand-cut Montreal smoked meat on Orwasher’s rye, the same malty bagels (once trucked in from up north, now baked in-house) piled high with glistening lox. But that’s just where it starts. The repertoire here, not constrained by geographic allegiance, looks way past Quebec. There’s a fine turkey sandwich—the Grandpa—featuring French and Yiddish accents, with turkey rillettes, smoked white meat, brown mustard and rye. A Middle Eastern number combines fried eggplant, grilled hal
Mimi Cheng's Dumplings
Dumpling houses are a typical go-to when pinching pennies, but this East Village den, run by sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng, employs a generation of recipes passed down from their mother, Mimi. The handmade ginger-and-scallion pockets (six for $8, eight for $10) are made fresh daily, filled with pork and bok choy, chicken and zucchini or kale, egg and mushroom. The little wonders are either pan-fried or steamed and then served with a side of Mimi’s secret sauce. Dessert dumplings are even cheaper at $5 for 4 and include a mash fresh banana in sweet dough sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Motorino
Mathieu Palombino’s international pizza joint is but one of many that extol the virtues of the Neapolitan pie, but it’s stellar prix fixe distinguishes it from the pizza-slinging masses. The set menu includes a mixed green salad and choice of the margherita, Brussels sprout, soppressata or marinara pie for $12 on weekdays from 11am–4pm. Non-pizza crowd pleasers include jumbo chicken wings hit with chili flakes, mint and lemon ($11) and belly-warming meatballs topped with pecorino and fresh basil ($9).
Otto's Tacos
Dirt-cheap taco shops are nearly as ubiquitous in this city as dollar-slice dens, but California native Otto Cedeno sets his taqueria apart with supple house-made tortillas topped with shrimp and serrano crema ($3.50), beer-braised carnitas ($3) and gaarlic-compound-butter–sautéed cremini mushrooms ($3). A trio of these mighty masas is more than enough for one meal, but aggressive appetites can bolster their plate with a side of refried pinto beans and chile-garlic rice ($2.75 each). And no one should miss the sweet, spiced horchata ($2.75).
Porchetta
While the menu at this East Village pork shop relies heavily on its namesake—central Italy’s stuffed pork roast—theporchetta does anything but fall flat. Find succulent cubed meat stuffed into a crusty loaf ($7) with sides like crispy potatoes ($6) and kale and broccoli rabe topped with roasted garlic cloves ($6).
Robataya NY
When we visited the latest restaurant to hit East 9th Street, a.k.a. Little Japan, we were reminded of why we dine out—for entertainment, for thoughtful service and of course, for good food. Though there were flaws in our meal, Robataya NY (from the owners of Sakagura) is an example of a rare place where atmosphere and an attentive staff can augment an imperfect dinner. We arrived on a recent Friday evening, starving and with a reservation, and were informed that there would be a significant wait. A potentially irritating situation was finessed by a server who presented us with hot hand towels and snacks of freshly pounded mochi, while we watched the theatrics of the nimble, slipper-clad servers working the robata grill—climbing on the counter to reach raw ingredients, extending a paddle toward diners seated at the bar to hand off the finished dish. Once a table freed up—in a cozy room with faux windows, bamboo curtains and leafy murals—the solicitous waitress brought us a menu, which offered a range of small plates, in addition to the proteins and vegetables prepared simply on the grill. Satisfying selections included chawanmushi (savory egg custard), a silky treat hiding bits of shrimp, chicken meatballs and shiitake mushrooms. Another winner was an unusually gelatinous agedashi tofu, buoyant cubes presented in a thick soy-dashi broth. The best dish we tried was among the simplest—kamameshi, a pot of slow-cooked seasoned white rice topped with buttery salmon and salmon roe. The foods that emerged from the robata, however, were hit-and-miss. Shishito peppers were mushy, and cubes of tough Australian Kobe beef had the opposite problem. A better choice were the smoky enoki mushrooms, anointed with soy sauce. Dessert, meanwhile, featured uniquely Japanese creations that might not suit every taste—a potent matcha soup floating chestnuts and mochi, an overly firm hojicha-tea pudding. If you order carefully—and pair your meal with one of many premium sakes or shochus—Robataya offers the opportunity for a reasonably priced, memorable meal, snafus and all.—TONY
Sigmund Bar
Pretzels in sundry forms are the specialty at this East Village shop. The doughy twists come in flavors like salted, caraway, and cinnamon-raisin, while free dips include Nutella, and honey-mustard. The store also sells sandwiches with spilt pretzels acting as bread, along with coffees and teas.
Somtum Der
This Bangkok transplant, a sanctuary of northern Thai cuisine, serves the papaya salads of its namesake with grilled pork neck or fermented fish sauce and miniature crabs ($10). Those in search of Isan-style deep-fried chicken will pay $8; but for lunch you can have that and a whole somtum, with rice, for $12.
This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef
This dingy nook from the team behind Artichoke serves a limited roster of messy sandwiches and trashy sides (mayo-sopped potato salad, fat boardwalk fries). “Yo, I’ll have a This Way” yields the best thing in the joint, a squishy sesame-seed bun soaked in meat drippings and filled with thinly-sliced roast beef slathered in Cheez Whiz. If you prefer your roast beef thick-cut and drowning in insipid brown gravy, you’ll order it That Way. And if you’re not in the mood for roast beef (and not up for a trek to Katz’s) you might try the Other Thing, perfectly delicious fatty pastrami that, in an almost criminal act of deli defilement, comes heaped in creamy coleslaw.
Veselka
When you need food to soak up the mess of drinks you’ve consumed in the East Village, Veselka is a dream come true: a relatively inexpensive Eastern European restaurant with plenty of seats and loads of options, open 24 hours a day. Hearty appetites can get a platter of classic Ukrainian grub: goulash, kielbasa, beef Stroganoff or bigos stew. If you just want a nosh, try the sweet stuff: They’ve got many pies, cakes, egg creams and milk shakes—plus Ukrainian poppy seed cake and kutya (traditional Ukrainian pudding made with berries, raisins, walnuts, poppy seeds and honey).
Whitmans
This burger shop features a takeout counter upstairs and a casual dining room on the lower level. Our favorite of the speciality sandwiches is a locavore spin on the Juicy Lucy—a Minneapolis burger variant cooked with cheese inside the patty rather than on top. The handsome one-hander boasts prime ingredients, like a proprietary Pat LaFrieda rib blend, a seeded Blue Ribbon bun and crunchy McClure’s pickles, along with an added Southern twang: a gooey pocket of pimento cheese bubbling away in the medium-rare center.
Zabb Elee
Manhattan’s Thai restaurants are a pretty sad bunch, their goopy noodle dishes and wan Massaman curries mostly indistinguishable from one another. Gussied-up venues, like the clubby Spice chain—with dated, mood-lit branches all over the borough—only make matters worse, serving wontons with cream cheese and coconut shrimp, along with the usual Westernized standards. In this context, the new Zabb Elee, the latest addition to the Spice family of restaurants, might be taken as an attempt to make amends. Although Thai menus in America can seem homogeneous, the country’s cuisine is rather diverse. Which is why there’s a good chance you won’t recognize much of the fare at Zabb Elee. The low-key basement spot focuses on the fiery, funky foods of northern Thailand, and the roster is a challenging one, with categories like tod (fried meats), som tum (papaya salads) and yang (grilled meats) making up the more than five dozen choices. You wanted real Thai food, it taunts, let’s see what you’ve got. How about a tiny skewer of blackened gizzards? The $2 snack features chicken parts obliterated over an open flame. Are they supposed to be this burnt and chewy? And should the sour fermented pork sausage, served cold in a salad with ginger and peanuts, really come larded with all that gristle and fat? At a street stall in Chiang Mai, you might be politely steered in another direction. At Zabb Elee, the servers simply nod and smile, and bring out the food. The kitchen works at a ferocious pace,
Hell's Kitchen
Amy's Bread
250 Bleecker St
The hookup was bound to happen eventually: Beloved baker Amy Scherber has set up shop downtown right near Murray’s Cheese. It’s a dynamic duo if there ever was one. Scherber will offer her famous loaves—including that addictive raisin semolina—along with a full spread of breakfast pastries; grilled sandwiches, salads and soups for the lunch crowd, plus giant cookies and old-fashioned layer cakes.
Blossom du Jour
The 12-seat location of this café proves that vegan cuisine and comfort food aren't paradoxical terms. Look into the open kitchen, where chefs cook up meatless dishes, like the Midtown Melt (Cajun-spiced seitan, agave guacamole, vegan cheddar and chipotle aioli on rosemary focaccia) and a vegan burger with soy bacon and onion rings. Healthy organic fruit and vegetable juices are blended on site, including the Field of Green, which combines spinach, kale, ginger, lemon, apple, cucumber and parsley.
City Sandwich
Portuguese sandwiches are the specialty of this casual Hell's Kitchen restaurant.
Donna Bell's Bake Shop
Actor Pauley Perrette, best known as Abigail Sciuto on TV's NCIS, opened this Southern-style bakery as an homage to her late mother, Donna Bell. The Alabama housewife's visage is found in old framed photos hung throughout the quaint café, also outfitted with vintage wallpaper, gaslight lanterns and a wrought-iron chandelier. Sweet tooths can dig into homespun goodies, including red velvet cake and Mississippi mud pudding, while those craving a savory snack can opt for deviled-egg sandwiches, mac and cheese, and pimento-cheddar-chive biscuits.
Gazala Place
Israeli chef-owner Gazala Halabi brings a novelty to midtown: Druze cuisine.
Peter's Since 1969
The Williamsburg rotisserie chicken specialist brings its basted birds to a new outpost in Hell's Kitchen. Comfort foods round out the simple menu: house-made Polish sausage, along with desserts, including apple, cherry and chocolate-pecan pies.
Pio Pio - Hell's Kitchen
Pio Pio Hell’s Kitchen offers inventive fusion ceviches as well as traditional Peruvian fare.
Sergimmo Salumeria
Imported and house-made salumi, including sopressata and cacciatore, are the specialties of this Italian deli and café. Mozzarella, ricotta and the dried mozzarella scamorza are also made fresh daily, and the spot stocks pedigreed provisions, like Delverde pasta and San Marzano tomatoes. Hell's Kitchen lunchers can snag one of the Carrera-marble tables for a quick salad, pasta or panino on Pain d'Avignon bread. Look for the VIP (Very Italian Panini), which layers prosciutto di Parma, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, fig spread and arugula on ciabatta.
Tehuitzingo Deli and Grocery
You won't need Spanish skills to gobble down $2.50 carnitas (pork seasoned with garlic, thyme and oregano) and garlicky, lime-marinated beef tacos at this tiny, fast-paced Mexican bodega. The two-layer tacos are easy for little ones to handle, as are the sopes (thick cornmeal tortillas) topped with cheese, beans and whatever meat you fancy. Work your way to the back of the store to find a handful of stools to eat at or, if weather permits, enjoy your feast at the Hell's Kitchen Playground right across the street.
Totto Ramen
Like a traditional Japanese ramen-ya, this narrow, below-street-level noodle joint is designed for quick meals. Most seats are along a counter, behind which the chefs crisp pork slices with a propane torch and tend to bubbling stockpots. The specialty here is paitan ramen, a creamy soup that’s a chicken-based variation on Hakata, Japan’s famous tonkotsu (pork) broth. The most basic version, the Totto chicken, is a flavorful, opaque soup bobbing with thin, straight noodles and slow-cooked pork ridged with satiny fat. The real winner, however, is the miso ramen, enriched with a scoop of nutty fermented soybean paste and wavy egg noodles. Ramen is generally a feast unto itself, but you can bulk up a meal with sides like char siu mayo don—a mound of rice heaped with more unctuous pork, yuzu-accented mayonnaise and raw sliced scallions.
Tulcingo Del Valle Restaurant & Deli
The staffers behind the little counter are mole artists, rewarding devotees with authentic, complex versions of the sauce, and other rich offerings from the southern Mexican state of Puebla. You can order take-out or sit down in the no-frills seating area next door. Either way, there’s room to gather a group of friends, bring a few beers in brown bags, and eat yourselves silly on some of the city’s best Pueblan food. Even standbys like pork al pastor are rendered with love, marinated in smoky chilies, cumin and cinnamon: Served on warm, soft tortillas, the roasted meat is accented by flecks of cilantro and onion and a generous dollop of creamy guacamole.
Chelsea
Artichoke Basille's Pizza and Bar
The owners of the perpetually packed East Village slice shop have expanded to Chelsea.
City Bakery
Pastry genius Maury Rubin’s loft-size City Bakery is jammed with Chelsea shoppers loading up on unusual salad-bar choices (grilled pineapple with ancho chili, bean sprouts with smoked tofu, excellent salmon salad). There’s also a small selection of soups, pizzas and hot dishes. But to heck with all that: The thick, incredibly rich hot chocolate with fat house-made marshmallows is heaven in a cup (replaced by fruit-infused lemonade in the summer), and the moist “melted” chocolate-chip cookies are better than a marked-down pair of Prada pumps.
Gotham West Market
The building that houses this ground-floor food hall may be of the luxury variety, but the all-star eats inside are pleasantly wallet-friendly. Ease into the meal with Seamus Mullen’s shareable tapas, including deviled eggs zipped with smokedbacalao ($2), then make your way over to Court Street Grocers for hefty hoagies like the coppa-and-salami Italian combo ($10). End on a sweet note at the extended-through-winter Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams pop-up for double scoops of buttercup pumpkin or black-currant sorbet ($6).
Joe the Art of Coffee
West Siders have experienced a restaurant revolution, and now they can boast grade-A espresso too, thanks to the most recent location of the boutique-coffee chain. In addition to espresso-based drinks, a single-cup, drip-coffee bar dispenses a rotating selection of brews, while baked goods from companies like Ceci-Cela and Donut Plant provide just the kind of snacks a coffee drinker needs.
Los Tacos No.1
New York’s taco naysayers will have to find something else to complain about. At this perpetually-packed counter, a trio of West Coast transplants sling superlative bundles inspired by California street carts. Hand-pressed corn tortillas arrive piping hot, dressed with spit-roasted adobada pork and sweet pineapple batons ($4.50) or succulent, charred carne asada and creamy guacamole ($4.75). Beyond tacos, find nopal plates (cactus, beans and cheese for $5) and thirst-quenching agua frescas ($3.50).
Rickshaw Dumpling Bar
Kenny Lao’s concept for a dumpling bar was a winner in a business-plan contest at NYU’s Stern School of Business, so he’s put it to the test at Rickshaw Dumpling Bar. Annisa chef Anita Lo developed the menu, which includes six different dumplings, each inspired by an Asian cuisine and matched with its own dipping sauce: classic Chinese pork and chive with a soy vinegar, for instance, or Thai chicken with peanut satay. If you want a full meal, pair your dumplings with a big bowl of noodle soup, then top it all off with a green-tea milk shake or a dessert dumpling of molten chocolate in a mochi wrapper.
Tia Pol
In Spain, grazing on tapas is as much a social celebration as a culinary one, and leisurely Tia Pol embraces this tradition con gusto. Seating is on high stools, with spill-over at the bustling bar, where handsome diners stand cheek-by-jowl while guzzling fruity sangria. Reaching crowd capacity at Tia Pol isn’t tough: It’s as slender as the white asparagus that garnishes some of its dishes. The memorable menu is one part classical, two parts wholly original: Munch on superb renditions from the tapas canon – springy squid “en su tinta” (in its own ink); patatas bravas topped with spicy aioli – and then delve into eclectic treats that are eyebrow-raising on paper and delicious on the tongue, like chorizo with bittersweet chocolate, or crunchy fried chickpeas.
Chinatown & Little Italy
Mei Li Wah Bakery
This tried-and-true mainstay continues to offer some of the freshest steamed buns in the city, each less than $1.64. If you only have a buck to your name, you can’t do much better than the classic pork bun (80¢), still one of the best deals in town.
New Green Bo
Since the windows to this tiny, cramped dining room have been plastered over with accolades from English-language press, it’s impossible to gauge the wait-time for this popular Shanghai restaurant unless the line snakes onto the sidewalk. Once inside, beware: the clunky oversized soup dumplings are strictly overrated, as are regional specialties such as suspiciously meatless “lion’s head” pork meatballs and greasy stir-fried rice cakes. Go esoteric instead with lip-smacking bamboo shoots, chunks of meat-like vegetarian kao fu and the juicy ginger crab.
New Malaysia Restaurant
The menu at New Malaysia Restaurant resembles those found in many Indian, Thai, Chinese and other Asian eateries—and with good reason: Malaysian cuisine comes from an amalgam of those cultures. So you’ll have your pick of chicken curry, pad thai, beef satay, sweet-and-sour pork and kung pao squid, along with specific Malaysian specialties like roti canai—a flat, fluffy tortilla-meets-matzo appetizer served with chicken curry. The location of the restaurant might be the most exotic thing about it: in a minimall just off Bowery. There’s certainly a sense that you’ve found a locals-only eatery.
Nha Trang
The decor is nonexistent at this Vietnamese staple, but the diners who regularly pack the place are quite happy to trade in ambience for top-notch grub. The long menu includes traditional Southeast Asian dishes like sticky barbecued beef and pho noodle soup—a steamy bowl made all the more restorative with toppings like fish balls or tender brisket. Close with a sweet Vietnamese drink like the sua hot ga, a creamy soda made with condensed milk and egg yolks.
Prosperity Dumpling
This Chinatown dumpling shop offers an amazing deal on panfried, pork-and-chive-filled dumplings.
Super Taste
A standout among the Eldridge Street noodle shops, Steve Yan’s popular eatery also serves steamed Mantou buns and other Northern Chinese specialties.
Xi'an Famous Foods
This Chinese chainlet highlights the mouth-tingling cuisine of Xi'an, an ancient capital along China's Silk Road. The fifth location offers the same short menu of spicy noodles and cumin-spiced burgers in roomier digs. Unlike its sparely appointed siblings, a mix of antique touches (porcelain figurines from the Ming dynasty) and modern effects (framed photos of frequent customer Anthony Bourdain) decorates the 40-seat restaurant.
Soho
The Ear Inn
When it opened in 1830, the historic Ear Inn was popular with colorful characters ambling in from the docks of the Hudson. The basic decor (dark-wood bar, wobbly tables and chairs, lots of retro ephemera) hasn’t changed much since, but locals continue to pack the place thanks to its relaxed vibe and historical charm. Free snacks such as fried chicken and sausages can be had weeknights from 4 to 7pm, mitigating any wallet damage wreaked by a few $6 pints of Guinness.
Fanelli’s Cafe
Fanelli’s has stood at this cobblestoned Soho intersection since 1847. The long bar (which dates to that time), framed prints of boxing legends and checkered tablecloths add to its effortless charm. You can polish the bar with your elbow as countless poets and artists have done before, and as lots of tourists now do. The kitchen is known for perfectly charred beef patties on toasted onion rolls. Chalkboard specials, such as pumpkin ravioli and grilled mahimahi with lime and coriander, are tasty gourmet offerings in a sea of pub grub. Gobble up the atmosphere along with your food.
Hampton Chutney Co.
Delicate dosas are stuffed with traditional or Western combinations—such as spiced potatoes and curried chicken or grilled asparagus with roasted pepper and goat cheese—and paired with freshly made chutney. The vegetarian thali plate features a daily curry, dal, chutney and yogurt (skip the bland, leathery nan). Some folks may think the burbling chants piped into the simple room are soothing; if you find them annoying, just get your eats to go. And the name? Oddly enough, this upscale quickie-food joint originated in Amagansett.
Mooncake Foods
Fusion fare that’s light on the wallet—what a concept! Waitresses squeeze past each other in the tightly packed diner, dropping off starters of crisp grilled squid with curry-lime sauce and light Vietnamese summer rolls with lightning speed. The open kitchen, which occupies most of the room, sends delicious smells into the dining area, making it tough to choose among the many appetizing options. Try the fragrant lemongrass shrimp, grilled, flattened pork chops or rich miso-glazed salmon—when everything’s nine bucks or less, you can’t go wrong.
Pinche Taqueria
This taqueria mini-chain, which originated in Tijuana, serves fresh tacos with fillings that include chicken, braised and spit-grilled pork, fish and shrimp.
Astoria (Queens)
Astor Bake Shop
Pastry chef George McKirdy (Tribeca Grill) is serving breakfast pastries and sweets such as eclairs and carrot cakes, along with a Pat LaFrieda burger, at this Astoria café and bakery.
Fatty’s Café
Fernando Peña knows the way to a woman’s heart; his family’s Dominican cuisine won over girlfriend Suzanne Furboter, who then persuaded him to start a Latin-inspired restaurant with her. The result is hip Fatty’s Café, serving jalapeño turkey burgers, grilled cheese, creative takes on pressed Cuban sandwiches and one of the best mojitos around. Furboter and Peña serve as waitress and bartender, respectively, and treat each customer like family. On weekends, they offer a stellar brunch. Stick around after the kitchen closes; Fatty’s becomes a relaxed neighborhood bar.
Hinomaru Ramen
Slurp noodles at this Astoria ramen house, from the Chace Restaurant Group (Ember Room, Spot Dessert Bar). Japanese native Koji Miyamoto dishes out steaming bowls from an open kitchen. The 60-seat space also features high ceilings, a dining-room skylight, and an abstract sculpture made of steel and Japanese paper mounted on one wall. Choose from eight soups, including the Hakata-style tonkotsu (pork bone), Hakodate-style (chicken bone) and vegetable broths, along with add-on toppings like chashu (barbecued) pork, onsen tamago (boiled egg) and menma (bamboo shoots). Gyoza, meat-stuffed buns and the rice-bowl dish donburi round out the simple menu.
J.J.’s Asian Fusion
This seductively low-lit Astoria spot is not your average neighborhood sushi bar. The owner, who’s Indonesian and New Zealander, and her Shanghai-born husband, chef Richard Lin, have opened this eatery fusing familiar Japanese dishes with elements from the tropics. Shredded duck salad pairs well with jicama and citrusy yuzu sauce; sushi gets unexpected hits of mango and jalapeño. Richard’s “white pepper tuna” sushi, a smoky yellowtail, is not to be missed.
Los Amigos Mexican Restaurant
Cheap Mexican cuisine has always been a starving-artist staple, and boho Astorians flock here well into the night. Inside the unprepossessing storefront—owned by folks from Puebla—is a menu of carefully made, nongreasy chow. The nachos could be the best you’ve ever chased with an icy Corona. They’re piled high with savory toppings like cinnamon-spiced chorizo, marinated beef, chicken, beans, Monterey Jack and top-notch guacamole. The tacos and burritos are excellent, especially the sublime chorizo versions. For dessert, a fruit batido is as thick and satisfying as an ice-cream shake.
Max Bratwurst und Bier
Swig from steins and feast on brats at this 40-seat German beer hall in Astoria. Six taps dispense Deutschland brews, including Radeberger Pilsner, Hofbräu Lager and Spaten Oktoberfest. Soccer fans can catch games from Germany's Bundesliga league while chowing down on currywurst, riesen bouletten (pork and beef hamburgers) or schnitzel.
Monikas Cafe Bar
Everything about this sincere, unpretentious, I'm-over-Starbucks hangout bespeaks comfort. An expansion in 2010 added a colorful window mural, but the same welcoming vibe remains intact, abetted by mix-and-match furniture, sweet service and earnest acoustic musicians. The seasonal menu is filled with finger food, desserts and brunch options, many with Mediterranean touches like a pork-loin sandwich with grilled halloumi and pickled red onions. Drinks come in fruity, caffeinated or alcoholic forms, all with a healthy twist, and tea drinkers can choose from nearly two dozen organic varieties.
Petey’s Burger
West Coasters love to tout the burger-building prowess of California drive-ins, but this Astoria fast-food spot gives them a run for their money. The addictive “double cheese”—a squishy toasted bun sandwiching two juicy patties cloaked in melted American cheese and brightened by raw onion, iceberg lettuce and tomato—is a gloriously greasy retort to Golden State smugness. A Thousand Island–like special sauce, slightly acidic, with a hint of ketchupy sweetness, drips through the whole messy package.
Viva el Mariachi
Don’t let the name fool you: There’s no mariachi band at this unusual Mexican haunt. But there is plenty of ambience. Maybe too much. Grab a seat inside the storefront cantina and you can experience the joys of blinding lighting, blaring Spanish soap operas, and a phone that rings constantly for take-out and delivery. The food is kinder and gentler: Dishes are enormous and prepared with care and flair. Pierna adobada, marinated pork, is layered with spicy, smoky flavor. A plump half-chicken swims in a mole sauce whose rich, dark taste approaches bittersweet chocolate. Burritos are entire meals neatly wrapped in a tortilla; we like the chorizo version best.
Williamsburg (Brooklyn)
Pies ’n’ Thighs
Deprivation is the mother of New York restaurant hype. Pies ’n’ Thighs, the city’s most eagerly awaited Southern-fried grease trap, has kept Williamsburg in Pavlovian limbo since the start of 2008, when its first incarnation—a drunk-food closet at the back of a bar—was shut down to prep for a more spacious and permanent home. Last month, after endless delays, it finally debuted in a former bodega near the Williamsburg Bridge.
Saltie
This tiny, low-key sandwich shop comes to us from owners Caroline Fidanza (Marlow & Sons), Rebecca Collerton (Diner) and Elizabeth Schula (Il Buco). Together, they create simple yet remarkable sandwiches that rely on pedigreed produce. Most are served on house-baked sea-salt-speckled focaccia, a versatile vehicle that encases sardines, capers and house-pickled eggs in the Captain’s Daughter, a delicious riff on a pan bagnat. Mortadella, pecorino and green-olive spread combine in the Little Chef, an exceptional spin on the New Orleans muffuletta, and the Spanish Armada features a potato tortilla slathered in pimentón-spiked aioli. Saltie is also a great spot for sweets, like buttery apple galettes.
BrisketTown
'Cue savant Daniel Delaney—who gained a cultish following with his online venture, Brisketlab—serves Central Texas-style smoked meat at this roadhouse joint. Inspired by Southern grocery shops, Delaney outfitted the counter-service spot with handmade benches and a glowing neon sign. The toque pulls pork and beef ribs, brisket and sausage from an ancient wood-fired smoker, which burns timber shipped in from the Lone Star State. Stuff your meat in a soft slice of homemade white bread, and get a salad or coleslaw on the side. Local and rare bottled beers are on offer, as well as Blue Bottle drip coffee. Finish your meal with homemade pie: Flavors—including seasonal varieties such as pumpkin, pecan and blueberry—rotate each week.
Best Pizza
If you’re going to pay for artisanal pizza, it’s best served fresh: Here, slices of piping hot cheese ‘za will set you back $3.25, a whole dollar cheaper than Artichoke. Drop down another $3.75 to try a leopard-spotted white slice jazzed up with caramelized onions and sesame seeds, and wash it down with a Mexican Coke ($2.75).
Blue Bottle Coffee
Before this Williamsburg coffee bar and roastery came along, the only place in New York where you could find San Francisco’s famed Blue Bottle Coffee was at Gramercy Tavern. Now caffeine fanatics can sample the company’s shots of espresso and cups of joe—made to order from freshly roasted, mostly organic beans—without dropping a wad of cash on a dinner. Iced-coffee fans in particular should take note: Five contraptions from Japan will slowly cold-drip Kyoto-style brew, while those who like to add milk should consider the stronger New Orleans-style preparation, fortified with chicory. Pastries, meanwhile, will come from Park Slope’s Colson Patisserie until Blue Bottle gets its own in-house baking operation up and running later in the year.
The Commodore
First came the gastropub, an import from Britain featuring upmarket pub grub in an ale-drinking setting. Now, welcome the gastrodive, which further blurs the lines between restaurant and bar. The Commodore in Williamsburg, with its old arcade games, Schlitz in a can and stereo pumping out the Knight Rider theme song, offers the city’s best cheap-ass bar eats, served in a seedy venue where folks come to get blotto. The short menu—with descriptions as curt as the service you’ll encounter while ordering your food from the bartender—reads like a classic collection of fryolator junk.
Crif Dogs
New Jersey native Brian Shebairo expands his popular East Village hot-dog mecca to Williamsburg. True to its casual roots, the small Brooklyn outpost will be outfitted with old-school video games, steel floors and a vintage skateboard collection. You'll find the same late-night munchies on offer: Tater-Tots, chili cheese fries, milk shakes and snappy, deep-fried dogs in creative combinations, like the Tsunami (bacon-wrapped with teriyaki sauce, pineapple and green onions) and the John-John Deragon (cream cheese, scallions and a sprinkling of everything-bagel seeds). But this location will also appeal to the early-morning set with a takeout window serving Intelligentsia coffee and breakfast sandwiches a few steps from the Bedford L stop.
DuMont Burger
From the folks who brought you DuMont, this quintessential Williamsburg burgers-and-beer joint could get away with cooking just two things well: burgers, thick and bulging with juice to spare, and fries, browned and pleasantly mealy. Most of the 30 seats in this unfinished wood, counter-seating-only space tend to be occupied by worshipful patty lovers. Surprisingly, the Bibb salad and bacon-studded mac and cheese were our favorite items on the short menu.
Egg
This Southern-accented breakfast-only abode has no parallel in Billyburg or beyond. Perch on mismatched chairs at a paper-covered table, wake up at a leisurely speed to the old-time folk music on the sound system, and tuck into a cheap meal that may include eggs Rothko (a slice of brioche with a hole in the middle that accommodates a sunny-side-up egg, all of which is covered with sharp cheddar) or a terrific country-ham biscuit sandwich. If you must have dessert at breakfast, finish with a bowl of caramelized grapefruit and mint.
Honeychiles'
The Charleston—a dimly lit Williamsburg dive—offers some of the city’s best drunk food via this Cajun-themed takeout window. Order from a short menu and snag a pitcher of Abita from the bar while you wait. The “O.G.” po’ boy is the most joyously junky offering: The humongous two-hander resembles a poutine sandwich, with a mound of salt-and-pepper fries smothered in shredded-beef gravy and stuffed inside a mayo-slathered hero. Prices fit the setting: A $5 heap of andouille-and-chicken jambalaya, served on white rice to offset the heat, is a deal too good to pass up.
Harlem
Lenox Coffee
Former symphony orchestra musicians Aaron Baird and Jeffrey Green—who met at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston—are behind this café, serving java made with Forty Ninth Parallel Coffee Roasters beans. The spot is outfitted with exposed brick, wood floors and tufted leather couches.
Little Italy & Nolita
Asiadog
The Brooklyn Flea favorite has set up permanent digs for its beloved East-meets-West hot dogs. As at their pop-up stalls, owners Melanie Campbell and Stephen Porto give classic American junk food an artisanal Asian spin at this tiny takeout shop. Toppings like kimchi, Japanese curry and Asian sesame slaw finish off beef, chicken and veggie dogs tucked into soft buns. This location's expanded menu also includes a deep-fried Korean pancake corn dog, salads and yam fries.
Black Seed
Noah Bernamoff and Matt Kliegman gave the authentic New York bagel—that hand-rolled, boiled-and-baked throwback— new life with their fledgling Nolita bakery. The small, crusty Montreal-meets-Manhattan rounds ($1.50) are excellent with just a thick schmear of house-made cream cheese, but the real fun comes in inspired combinations like lox-and-dill spread with radish and sprouts ($7), ricotta with apple and honey ($6.50), and egg salad with butter lettuce, red onions and cracked pepper ($6).
Café Gitane
Lingerers are welcome at this Parisian-style café, whether they’re outside smoking and sipping lattes or inside gossiping over salmon tartare in the cool blue- and orange-painted space. The clientele is almost too hip for an activity as mundane as eating. Too bad for them. The menu is full of appealing bites, such as merguez with raisin-and-pine-nut couscous, plus affordable beer and wine.
Egg Shop
At Sarah Schneider and Demetri Makoulis’s cheery egg-head hang, a.m. bodega standards like the bacon-egg-and-cheese get a serious upgrade: The house B.E.C. ($10) is built with Black Forest bacon, Shelburne cheddar, tomato jam and runny yolks dripping sensuously over a bouncy panino roll. Or you can build your own breakfast sandwich ($7) with fixins like egg whites with feta and caramelized-onion aioli on a buttermilk biscuit. Still hungry? Slap a helping of fried chicken—yes, you read that right—on that sammie for $7.
Parm
Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone started small with their first project together, a sandwich shop that opened in 2009, serving hoagies by day and tasting menus by night. But Torrisi Italian Specialties, that low-key debut, blew up in a flash, its inventive riffs on Italian-American classics catapulting the young chefs onto the national stage. Soon there were glossy magazine profiles, restaurant awards and long lines out the door. It wasn’t long before they outgrew their very small space. When your first restaurant goes platinum, all eyes are trained on your next project. Torrisi and Carbone unspooled theirs in two parts, turning their original venue into a serious restaurant (all tasting menus, all the time) and moving its casual half into the vacant spot next door. Parm, that new cozy annex, is the Italian-American deli the daytime Torrisi strived to be, with more sandwiches and sides, new starters and mains, and a full-service bar with house wines and cocktails. The decor pays kitschy homage to the old-school venues that inspired this cooking, with wallpaper from the 1950s, neon, Formica and red swivel barstools. But while the menu reads as well-worn as the space, the food is new and exciting, prepared by grease-spattered cooks in white paper caps who happen to have high-end restaurant résumés. (Torrisi and Carbone worked together at Café Boulud.) As at Torrisi, the co-owner chefs offer dramatic improvements on the food they grew up on, without sacrificing the integrity of th
Prosperity Dumpling
The dumpling rivalry between Chinatown’s Prosperity and one-street-over Vanessa’s has been at a Yankees–Red Sox pitch for years, but there’s one clear department where Prosperity rules: price. While Vanessa’s has inflated to $1.25 for four dumplings, good ol’ Prosperity has kept its reliably plump, pan-fried pouches set at a measly dollar. Beyond those pork-and-chive–filled wrappers, find other for-a-buck bites including light, spongy sesame pancakes and fried pork buns. Feeling flush? Spring for beef noodle soup for a whopping $3.
Taïm Nolita
Chef Einat Admony and her husband, Stefan Nafziger, bring their wildly popular falafel to Nolita with this 17-seat outpost. The chickpea fritters come in three flavors: green (parsley and cilantro), red (roasted red peppers) and spicy harissa. New plates include a seasonally changing salad (such as chopped kale mixed with crispy shallots, pears and roasted almonds), plus fruit smoothies with dates, ginger and coconut milk. Pick up one of the house-made products, like spicy harissa and preserved lemons, which line the shelves of this location.
West Village
Amy’s Bread
The hookup was bound to happen eventually: Beloved baker Amy Scherber has set up shop downtown right near Murray’s Cheese. It’s a dynamic duo if there ever was one. Scherber will offer her famous loaves—including that addictive raisin semolina—along with a full spread of breakfast pastries; grilled sandwiches, salads and soups for the lunch crowd, plus giant cookies and old-fashioned layer cakes. It’s open until midnight on weekends for a late-night sugar fix.
Corner Bistro
This dimly-lit lounge’s fat, broiled beef burgers, hooded in American cheese and crispy bacon ($9.75), are legendary and New Yorkers are known to wait in line for one. Though it make take a while to get your hands on the patties, dirt cheap drafts like McSorley’s Ale ($3) and Stella Artois ($4.25), and a heaping plate of shoestring fries ($2.75) should help pass the time.
Dos Toros
Brothers Leo and Oliver Kremer bring their Food & Drink Award–winning take on Cal-Mex grub to the West Village with this spin-off of their East Side taqueria. You'll find the same short menu of simple bites made with primo ingredients, like local, antibiotic-free chicken and Cayuga Pure Organics pinto beans. Plug your protein of choice (carnitas, pollo asado, carne asada, or rice and beans) into a taco, quesadilla, "platos"or the joint's crown jewel: an overstuffed San Francisco–style burrito oozing pico de gallo. Kicking back with a Negro Modelo, Tecate or glass of sangria should be easier here: This location, outfitted with reclaimed-wood walls and a pressed-tin ceiling, is larger and will have outdoor seating.
Hamilton's Soda Fountain & Luncheonette
On a cramped West Village corner sits this ode to 1940s New York, a white-walled luncheonette where cloth-capped soda jerks dole out milkshakes, lime rickeys and phosphates alongside greasy-good double-decker burgers ($7.50) and crispy salt-and-pepper fries ($3). The retro-style minidiner also serves a slew of hearty meat-and-potato platters so you can gorge on turkey and gravy, corned beef and cabbage, or fish and chips for dinner under $12. Generously scooped sundaes ($8) are decked out with Georgia peaches, caramel and bananas, splitting easily among a small group of friends—and their wallet.
Sweet Revenge
This cupcake shop also sells savory cakes and sandwiches.
Taïm
Falafel doesn’t usually come in different flavors—unless it’s made by an Israel-born chef who’s worked under Bobby Flay. At her falafel and smoothie bar, Taïm, Ludo chef Einat Admony seasons chickpea batter three ways: traditional (with parsley and cilantro), sweet (with roasted red pepper) and spicy (with Tunisian spices and garlic). She pairs the terrific falafel with tasty salads like marinated beets, spicy Moroccan carrot salad or baba ghanoush, and three dipping sauces. The smoothies are exotic too—date-lime-banana, pineapple–coconut milk and a refreshing cantaloupe-ginger—and can be made with whole, skim or soy milk.
Lower East Side
Congee Village
There is comfort (and folk-medicinal healing properties) in congee, the Cantonese rice porridge that is the focus at this multilevel, always-packed LES standby. Choose among 29 versions—like the sliced pork with preserved egg, or chicken with black mushrooms, cooked over a low fire until bubbling. The rest of the expansive menu yields such finds as tender razor clams in black-bean sauce and impeccably fresh crabs.
’inoteca
Friends gather at this LES haven and its sister spots, always abuzz with chatter, to share great food and affordable wine. The truffled-egg toast is the signature dish, but salads and antipasti (tender grilled calamari with borlotti beans and fennel; dense, delicious meatballs) are equally compelling when paired with a bottle from the list of small-producer Italian wines. The tables are tightly packed—diners seeking privacy can gather six or more friends and reserve a seat in the downstairs wine cellar. At the Flatiron location, in addition to the usual panini, there are top-notch pastas (al dente calamari-like loops tossed with mussels, tomato and fennel), skewered meats and hearty mains (juicy chicken with chunky panzanella salad).
Kuma Inn
A clandestine second-floor location makes this dinner-only spot feel like a true find. Chef King Phojanakong channels his culinary pedigree (including stints at Daniel and Danube), along with his Thai and Filipino heritage, into elegantly presented small plates, such as an omelette studded with plump Washington Bay oysters, and hunks of seared ahi tuna luxuriating in a spicy miso vinaigrette. Desserts like the coconut ginger rice pudding, and a custardy twist on key lime pie made with kalamansi, might inspire you to keep your discovery close to your vest.
Mission Chinese Food
Some of the hottest restaurants in the country these days came from the most humble beginnings, sprung from trucks, carts and fleeting pop-ups. San Francisco’s Mission Chinese Food, for example, can trace its roots to a different concept called Mission Street Food. That venture started on four wheels before occupying a cheap Chinese restaurant—a temporary shell that eventually became a permanent home for Mission Chinese Food in 2010. There, behind a run-down facade, head chef Danny Bowien served some of the most interesting food in that restaurant-mad city, blending artisanal ingredients and a nose-to-tail sensibility into a fiery brand of affordable, auteur Chinese cuisine. Even before he touched down in New York, Bowien had blown up as a national star, his West Coast restaurant breathlessly documented in glossy magazines, travel shows and Twitter feeds. So it follows that when he brought a version of Mission Chinese to New York’s Lower East Side last month, the food cognoscenti were quick to flood the place. To visit the restaurant right now is to witness a cross section of food-world first responders crowding the sidewalk out front—bloggers, editors and off-duty chefs enduring two-hour waits for a table along with everyone else, fueled by the complimentary keg of cheap beer just inside the door. In fact, the crowd is the only sign that there’s something stirring on this stretch of Orchard Street. The stealthy exterior looks for the world like a tumbledown Chinese takeout j
Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters has been serving lox, herring and other specialty foods since 1914.
Shopsin’s
The legendary eatery has relocated from the West Village to the LES, but still churns out kitchen-sink dishes for a 12-year-old’s palate, such as pumpkin-pistachio–peanut-butter–cinnamon pancakes and chicken-burrito soup. Diners marvel at the wacky fare on a 200-item menu and then bide their time; many sit on the floor while waiting for one of 20 seats. Bizarro brilliance can be found in salty, toothsome macaroni-and-cheese pancakes and habanero-spiced fried chicken, but some offerings (like the Che—poached eggs over a quesadilla) should be avoided at all costs.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House
As diminutive as its namesake nibbles, this pot-sticker pit stop with just a few seats serves five chive-and-pork dumplings, fried or steamed, for a buck. If you want them vegetarian, you’ll have to splurge and spend $2, but then you get eight of the tasty morsels. Fifty cents buys a sesame pancake the size of a pizza wedge. Even on rainy nights, a motley throng of Lower East Siders and Chinatown moms overflows onto the street, congregating below the cupola-shaped awning to order from the street-side window.
Tiny’s Giant Sandwich Shop
A veggie cheesesteak? It does exist, and you can find it at this laid-back LES joint. Their Silly Philly piles sliced Portobello mushrooms, sautéed onions and melted provolone atop a toasted sesame semolina roll.
Yunnan Kitchen
The quaint era when Americanized Indian and Thai food passed for exotic gave way long ago to more authentic regionalization. Oaxacan, Isaan Thai and South Indian spots are the new norm in New York, featuring flavors that tend to rock our perceptions of their countries’ cuisines. Chinese food, too, has made a specialized shift to tongue-numbing Szechuan, lamb-centric Xian and snacky Shanghai cuisine.
NEW YORK CITY RESTAURANTS: ENJOY THEM FOR LESS!
http://www.nyc-visitor-discounts.com/new-york-city-restaurants.html
http://www.nyc-visitor-discounts.com/restaurant-discounts.html
http://www.nyc-visitor-discounts.com/Entertainment-Book-Coupons.html
http://www.nyc-visitor-discounts.com/NYC-blog.html
Excellent tips and suggestions at the links above!
DINE TONITE (link below) allows you to save up to 30% off your restaurant bill at selected New York City restaurants with no coupons. Here's how it works. Go to the site, select a restaurant (each restaurant features its discount), make a reservation, and enjoy. The discount automatically comes off your bill. The only fee is a $5 booking fee. There is an impressive list of restaurants including some top ones.
http://www.dinetonite.com/restaurants/restaurants-search-result.php?city=178&location=Location
The 101 Best (New) Cheap Eats Under $20, Ranked
http://www.grubstreet.com/2014/07/101-best-new-cheap-eats-ranked.html
Neerob
Gaia Italian Cafe
El Rey Coffee Bar and Luncheonette
El Quinto Pino
Saltie
Black Seed Bagels
Little Pepper
Xi’an Famous Foods
Porchetta
Ivan Ramen
Taste of Persia NYC
Pok Pok NY
Parm
Okonomi
Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen
Meat Hook Sandwich
Somtum Der
Ippudo
Bar Primi
Otto’s Tacos
Han Dynasty
Roberta’s
Sullivan St Bakery
Spicy Village
Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles
Sao Mai
St. Anselm
Wheated
Saiguette
Breads Bakery
Mission Cantina
Cafe Nadery
The Commodore
Dimes
Cocoron
Best Pizza
Francela
Boubouki
Chuko
Lumpia Shack Snackbar
Curry-Ya
Thelewala
Cafe Hong Kong
Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter
BrisketTown
Earl’s Beer & Cheese
Gotham West Market
10 Places to Get a Meal for Under $10.
http://bigappled.com/2014/10/22/10-places-get-meal-10-nyc/
1. Prosperity Dumpling
Of all the restaurants on this list, Prosperity Dumpling has got to give you the most bang for your buck. Who wouldn’t want four fried dumplings for 1 dollar, and ten steamed dumplings for 2.75?
They also serve up delicious sesame pancakes and noodles, all for less than 3 dollars each. Now that’s a cheap meal if I’ve ever seen one.
2. Gaia Italian Cafe
Gaia’s is known for its amazing Italian dishes at crazy-low prices. This small home-style cafe is as tasty as it is affordable.
Try the pesto lasagne, spinach gnocchi, or any panini for 7 dollars and under.
Best of all, it’s BYOB, so bring along a bottle of wine for a cheap Italian dinner!
3. Go! Go! Curry
Craving Japanese, but don’t want to spend a fortune on sushi? Try Japanese curry.
This tiny restaurant chain makes delicious curry, served with rice and your choice of protein. They have a variety of styles, and they all come in sizes from small to extra large, all for under 10 dollars! Add bonus toppings for 2 dollars and under.
4. Saigon Shack
In the evenings, this well-known Greenwich Village Vietnamese restaurant gathers lines for its amazing pho, vermicelli, rice and banh mi. This has got to be one of the most accessible Vietnamese places in the city, with options for everyone.
Get the classic beef pho and spring rolls, or go for a twist with the sweet potato fries and vegetarian banh mi, all for under 10 dollars.
5. Xi’an Famous Foods
This place beats all others in terms of authentic, hand-ripped noodles made fresh each day. Customer favorites include the burgers, hand-ripped noodles in soup, and dumplings.
Best of all, a big plate of noodles will cost you under 8 dollars!
Get there early if you can, because the line goes out the door during peak hours.
6. Mamoun’s Falafel
Mamoun’s is a small restaurant in New York City where you can get delicious falafel sandwiches, shawarmas and more with fast service and cheap prices!
This MacDougal Street icon has been around since the 70’s, and it’s not hard to see why people keep coming back year after year.
Try their classic falafel sandwich, or indulge your sweet tooth with some baklava, all for under 10 dollars.
7. Wah Fung #1 Fast Food
Speaking of authentic Asian food… Wah Fun #1 Fast Food delivers on its name, with affordable prices and fast service (if you can avoid the line)!
This place has enormous portions of roast pork, duck, and char siu over rice, all for less than 5 dollars.
8. The Halal Guys
This restaurant started out as a wildly successful food truck that still runs today. These guys serve true Halal food in portions big enough to feed a family, all for under 10 dollars.
Make sure to try each of their special sauces, like their red sauce that packs a spicy punch, or their famous white sauce, as these are what really make the meal unique.
9. Mark
This place is known by locals for its great sliders at crazy low prices. Not only can you get four sliders for 10 dollars, but they also have some of the best chili cheese fries in the city.
Craving a true diner experience? Pair your sliders with a Guinness shake!
10. Los Tacos No. 1
This place is rumored to have the best tacos in the city, and you definitely can’t beat their prices. This Chelsea Market joint serves up flavorful tacos for less than 4 dollars!
They’ve also got delicious quesadillas and guacamole, but their best has got to be the tacos with corn tortillas. Don’t forget to try their Horchata!
The 12 Best Cheap Eats In NYC
http://gothamist.com/2014/05/21/best_cheap_eats_nyc.php
NAM NAM: For the best (and most affordable) banh mi in Brooklyn, look no further than this East Williamsburg eatery, which whips up stuffed Vietnamese sandwiches for under six bucks. Vegetarian, grilled chicken, pork and classic banh mi range from $5.20 to $5.75, and they come thick with meat and vegetables tightly packed in a gently-toasted baguette. Wash the whole shebang down with a bubble tea ($2.95 small/$3.75 large) and let the tapioca-sourced satisfaction flow through you.
Nam Nam is located at 109 Montrose Ave between Manhattan Ave and Leonard Street in East Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-302-9200, namnamcafe.weebly.com).
SPICY VILLAGE: This is the cleanest, tastiest cheap noodle in Chinatown. $5.50 buys you a formidable bowl (Spicy Vegetable Hui Mei) of noodles, bok choi, seaweed, and other miscellaneous veggies topped with fresh cilantro and friendly hunks of tofu. Mix everything thoroughly with the quarter-inch of broth on the bottom and feel your eyes sink sensuously into your skull. Thanks to Mark Bittman, who had to blow up the spot for its Spicy Big Tray Chicken, you're better off getting there before 6 or after 9. Pick up an oil can of Sapporo around the corner (Spicy Village is BYOB), get the Veggie Hui Mei and your total is less than $10 with tip and tax. If it's pay day splurge on a pork pancake ($2.50). Cash only. (Christopher Robbins)
Spicy Village is located at 68 Forsyth Street between Canal and Hester Streets on the Lower East Side (212-625-8299).
TACO MIX: The tacos al pastor at this East Harlem taqueria run a smooth $3-a-piece, and you'll never need more than three to fill up (two if you pair your meal with a bubbly can of soda), keeping the dinner tab down to a manageable $9. Topped with a slice of pineapple upon request, the thinly-sliced grilled pork taco is impeccably piquant, tasty and authentic; you can also add some of their housemade sauces if you're looking to amp up the heat.
Taco Mix is located at 234 East 116th Street between 2nd and 3rd Aves in East Harlem (212-831-8147).
OASIS: With Mamoun's bumping up the price of its legendary falafel sandwich to a rough $3.50, we feared the days of super-cheap fried chickpea delights were soon to be behind us. Thankfully, this Bedford L standby is still hocking its famed wares at $3-a-pop—a few dollar bills will score you a pita stocked with falafel, pickled carrots and radishes, hummus, tahini, Israeli salad and hot sauce if you so desire.
Oasis is located at 161 North 7th Street between Bedford and Driggs Aves in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-218-7607).
HALAL GUYS: Our love for the Halal Guys will never die, no matter how long it takes them to open that brick-and-mortar East Village location they keep tempting us with. They've got a bunch of scattered carts around the city, but our taste buds are happiest with the old standby located a block from MoMa, where a spectacular $6 platter gets you tons of rice, chicken and/or lamb, lettuce and pita, all doused in a hearty helping of their mysterious, spectacular white Valhalla sauce. You will digest it for a day or two. WORTH IT.
The Halal Guys' trucks are parked on opposite corners of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue.
LOUIE & ERNIE'S: Louie & Ernie's is one of the best pizza joints in the city, and though any hearty slice is usually an economical meal, few hit the same satisfying notes as the ones here do. A sausage slice runs $3.75, and it comes so packed with vibrant pork, gooey cheese and fresh tomato sauce, you'll be full after one helping. If not, a cheese slice runs $3, but you can't really put a price on perfection anyway.
Louie and Ernie's is located at 1300 Crosby Avenue in the Bronx (718-829-6230).
BZ GRILL: If a gyro's what you're after (pronounced "yee-ro" according to my Greek friends, and "anyone who corrects it with a different pronunciation isn't Greek"), your dining destination of choice should be this Astoria restaurant. BZ Grill's gyros run $6.89 for pork, $6.89 for chicken, and they come in a toasty pita packed, PACKED I SAY, with scrumptious grilled meat and veggies, all appropriately soaked with tzatziki sauce. If the gyro doesn't fill you up somehow, split a side of feta-doused Greek fries ($6)—even a half-portion'll do the trick for sure.
BZ Grill is located at 2702 Astoria Boulevard in Astoria, Queens (718-932-7858, bzgrill.com).
GLENDA'S: Glenda's serves the best roti in town, stuffing the thin West Indian wraps full of flavorful stewed meats, vegetables and potatoes. Roti here run $8-and-under, with offerings including chicken, goat, beef, channa (chickpea) and mixed vegetable—Glenda, who hails from Trinidad, may be in the eatery herself to take your order. Note that Glenda's is closed on Sundays and Mondays, and watch out for chicken bones if you opt for the poultry.
Glenda's is located at 854 St. John's Place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn (718-778-1997).
TIANJIN DUMPLING HOUSE: Tianjin Dumpling House isn't much more than a stand located inside Flushing's Golden Shopping Mall, but its simple space holds some treasures. A piping hot plate of a dozen dumplings runs you about $5, and you can opt for fillings like shrimp, poultry, pork and cabbage (only $3-a-dozen!) and even lamb. You can also customize your dumplings to combine any three fillings in one plump little dough-wrapped package, with those offerings running $5-for-12,, $6 for fish or shrimp.
Tianjin Dumpling House is located at 41-18 Main Street in Flushing, Queens. No phone.
SOUK EL SHATER: Sunnyside is known for its thriving Middle Eastern community, so it's no surprise that the shawarma at this local Lebanese deli puts all other shawarma in the city to shame. $4.00 here gets you a pita filled with grilled chicken or beef, along with the requisite tomatoes, lettuce, hot sauces, tahini and pickled veggies. If you're particularly hungry, a large shawarma platter runs upwards of $9, and comes with a hefty serving of pita, meat, vegetables, rice and sauce.
Souk El Shater is located at 43-03 Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside, Queens (718- 392-2702).
VESELKA: Two Eggs Over Easy + Wheat Toast + Potato Pancake + Corned Beef Hash + Cup Of Coffee + Shot Of Orange Juice: $10. This is an insane deal, not only because the quality of this food is vastly superior to other diners (sorry, Cup & Saucer, but your butter substitute hand is too heavy on the flat top) but because this is easily more than 16 ounces (1 pound) of food to put in your gut and eat with silverware like a real human and not the starving, feral, Hobbesian shell you have become. Be sure to tip $3, because $2 just isn't enough. The shot of OJ is literally a shot. Take it with the last of your eggs. (Christopher Robbins)
Veselka is located at 144 Second Ave between St. Marks Place and 9th Street in the East Village (212-228-9682, veselka.com).
CASA ADELA: Half chicken + beans + rice: $9.50. When you're sick of all your usual cheap eats options, a Puerto Rican diner is a superb Third Way. The chicken is always juicy and delightfully spicy, the dining room is always packed and friendly, and you will leave full. Cash only. (Christopher Robbins)
Casa Adela is located at 66 Avenue C between East 4th and 5th Streets in the East Village (212-473-1882).
The 10 Best Cheap Eats In NYC
http://gothamist.com/2013/05/29/the_10_best_cheap_eats_in_nyc.php
HANCO'S: For affordable banh mi, look no further than this Vietnamese mini-chain, which serves the cheap traditional sandwiches at all three of its Brooklyn locations. $6.50 will get you a classic banh mi—pork, ham, pate, mayonnaise, cucumber, pickled carrots, daikon radish and cilantro rolled compactly in a toasted french baguette. They've also got chicken, pork-chop, sardine and veggie banh mi, each for $6.50 as well, and you can wash your meal down with a milky, tapioca ball-filled bubble tea; they come in flavors like almond, coconut, strawberry and mango, and cost $4 for a small each.
Hanco's has three locations in Brooklyn: 350 Seventh Avenue at 10th Street in Park Slope (718-499-8081); 147 Montague Street between Henry and Clinton Streets in Brooklyn Heights (347-529-5054); 85 Bergen Street between Smith and Hoyt Streets in Boerum Hill (718-858-6818), hancosny.com.
C&C PROSPERITY DUMPLING: This hole-in-the-wall dumpling spot is pretty easy to miss if you're just strolling drunk-crawling down Clinton Street, but if you make it inside, you'll find a treasure trove of fluffy, fried, boiled and super-cheap dumplings. A buck will get you four crispy pork-and-chive dumplings straight out of the vat, and $2.50 warrants eight boiled vegetable dumplings wrapped in whole-wheat dough. Plus, they make a killer vegetable sesame pancake for $1.50, a fried triangle of sesame bread stuffed with carrots and cilantro that pairs well with any dumpling order. And if you're looking to get even more bang for your buck, C&C's flagship is in Chinatown, where the standard dollar exchange gets you an extra dumpling.
C&C Prosperity is located at 69 Clinton Street between Stanton and Rivington Streets on the Lower East Side (212-343-0683).
NY DOSA CART: This Washington Square Park food cart whips some of the best dosas (lentil crepes) in the city, and they only clock in at about $3-$5 each. The cart is run by Thiru Kumar, a Sri Lankan native, and offers a variety of dosas including sadha (plain), rava (semolina), masala (mixed spices), and Pondicherry, which is filled with slow-simmered mixed veggies and potatoes. The dosas are served with chutney and samba, an Indian vegetable stew; Kumar will make them hot or mild to taste, so you don't have to avoid the cart if you're sensitive to spice.
NY Dosa Cart is located at 50 Washington Square South between West 4th and Sullivan Streets in Greenwich Village. Follow them on Facebook.
CIBAO: This LES Cuban-meets-Dominican spot is just a few doors down from previously-lauded C&C, and it's a hard choice between the two for the neighborhood's best cheap bite. For $3.50-$7, you can get filling roast pork, beef, chorizo, and cubano sandwiches, which we've been informed MUST be serviced with hot sauce for the full experience. And if you're into leftovers, try something off their $10 fried/boiled/quartered chicken menu; you'll get at least three days' worth of food, along with sides of rice and beans.
Cibao is located at 72 Clinton Street between Stanton and Rivington Street on the Lower East Side (212-228-0703, cibaorestaurant.com). Follow them on Facebook.
OASIS: The Bedford Ave L stop might be a beacon for some of Williamsburg's more touristy attractions these days, but this Middle Eastern dive just outside the station still makes tasty, inexpensive falafel sandwiches fit for a late-night crowd. For $3, you get a plump, fresh-tasting pita packed with the works—falafel, pickled carrots and radishes, hummus, tahini and Israeli salad. If a sandwich isn't your thing, they also serve vegetarian and meat plates; a $6 veggie platter comes with warm rice, pita, and ample servings of any three salads, like hummus, tabouli and babaganoush. Oh, and they make their own hot sauce. Eat here, embrace life and make a food baby.
Oasis is located at 161 North 7th Street between Bedford and Driggs Aves in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-218-7607).
LAM ZHOU: We've praised Lam Zhou's hand-pulled noodle soups and dumplings before, and now we're going to do it some more, because for the paltry sum of $5 (cash only!), you get a giant bowl filled with beef broth, fresh noodles, bok choi and a choice of meats, all topped with a fried egg. And $3 warrants you a plate of 12 steaming-hot dumplings. Run there. Run there now.
Lam Zhou is located at 144 East Broadway between Pike Street and East Broadway in Chinatown (212-566-6933).
PAKISTAN TEA HOUSE: The authentic, affordable cuisine whipped up at this Tribeca takeout joint appeals to Pakistani natives and newcomers alike, and for under $8, you'll end up with a heaping hot plate of halal and vegetarian dishes. The eatery is open 24 hours, but try to come earlier in the day, when the food is fresher, and dig into entrees like $8 Daal Saag (a pea dish with spinach), served with rice and salad, chicken curry ($6.99) and saag paneer (spinach and cheese) for $5.99. And definitely go for the fluffy, buttery naan ($1.49) to help you mop up the extra sauce.
Pakistani Tea House is located at 176 Church Street between Duane and Reade Streets in Tribeca (212-240-9800, pakteahouse.zoomshare.com).
TAQUERIA COATZINGO: Filling up on tacos won't be a problem at this Jackson Heights staple, where tender tortillas stuffed to the brim set you back just $2.50 each. If the enormous, rotating slab of meat sizzling in the window doesn't convince you to order the al pastor, opt for the tripe or just a simple vegetarian filling. Regardless of what you order, expect the meat, onion and guacamole fillings to be barely contained in their corn tortilla shells. If you have a few extra bucks to spend, try out one of the gut-busting cemitas ($7) piled high with meat, Oaxaca cheese, beans, avocado and peppers. (Nell Casey)
Taqueria Coatzingo is located at 7605 Roosevelt Ave in Jackson Heights, Queens; 718-424-1977
ISLAND ROTI SHOP & BAKERY: We gave you 35 reasons to visit Staten Island but here's one more for the list, in the form of delicious roti from this tiny, no-frills Trinidadian spot. The enormous Beef Roti—think of it like a really flavorful wrap—with house-made hot sauce sets you back just $5, with guaranteed leftovers for a snack later in the day. We promise it's better than a chain burger (Nell Casey)
Island Roti Shop & Bakery is located at 65 Victory Boulevard on Staten Island; 718-815-7001
THE HALAL GUYS: Before the haute food truck scene became the norm, this midtown institution served mobile street meats to the hungry office drones on the corner of 6th Avenue and 53rd Street. Since their inception they've now expanded to two trucks, which set up on opposite corners of 6th Avenue, operating nearly 24 hours a day. The perpetual lines outside the carts might look intimidating, but the experienced pros at the flat top keep it moving quickly so you won't spend your entire lunch break in the queue.
$4 buys you a hefty stuffed pita filled with chicken and/or lamb plus salad, with generous squirts of incendiary red sauce and addictive white "Valhalla Sauce." You can upgrade to the gut-busting platter for another $1 or $2 if you want the whole shebang over rice. Vegetarians can opt for crispy fried falafel balls for an extra $2. (Nell Casey)
The Halal Guys trucks are parked on opposite corners of 53rd Street and 6th Avenue.
10 Great Meals for Under $15 in the Lower East Side, Sept. 2011
Kuma Inn
Address: 113 Ludlow St. (between Delancey & Rivington St.)
Website: kumainn.com
Best Bet: Arroz Valenciana ($12.50)
(212) 353-8866
Opens at 6 PM
Kuma Inn is one of those uniquely New York joints that you have to hear about to find. Its non-existent storefront is just a narrow doorway sandwiched between two shops, and the only indication of an entrance is the red spray paint on the doorway's trim. But beyond the doorway, at the top of a (slightly sketchy) stairwell, is the home of an amazing Flilipino tapas spot that is as cozy as it is delicious.
Don't be fooled by the tapas title Kuma Inn deceptively claims. The rations they serve up are far from meager, with "small plates" like their Arroz Valenciana ($12.50) heaping with moist, slightly sweet saffron rice and gluttonous amounts of chicken, sausage, shrimp, and mussels, or their hefty plate of signature sautéed Chinese sausage ($11.50) swimming in an aggressively zesty Thai chili.
Also a solid choice are Kuma's combos, which come with a mountain of white or garlic fried rice and your choice of creative proteins, like deep fried pork belly lechon or drunken shrimp, and flavors as big as their portions, all for under $12.
To add to this awesomeness, Kuma Inn is a BYOB spot, which means you can also drink for just as cheap as you can eat, if that's what your thirsty little heart desires. And just a heads up, cash is king at Kuma, so hit up the ATM in advance.
Frankie's 17 Sputino
Address: 17 Clinton St. (Between Houston & Stanton St.)
Website: frankiesspuntino.com
Best Bet: Sweet Potato & Sage Ravioli in Parmesan Broth ($15)
How can you go wrong with a restaurant run by two Franks? The answer is, you can't, especially when the Franks in question are putting out deliciously simple and fresh eats with minimal damage on your wallet.
Frankie's atmosphere sets the stage for your appetite: the narrow, dark brick walls are lined with bottles of inexpensive Italian wines and enough flickering candles to earn the "cozy ambiance" label. But it's what's on the plates, not what's on the walls, that keeps us coming back. We're talking super fresh pastas with full flavored sauces like the sweet potato ravioli swimming in a sea of parmesan broth ($15) and pillow-soft gnocci in a zesty tomato sauce and fresh ricotta, which are both home runs.
Need some more carbs in your life? The prosciutto and pecorino sandwich ($12) is also a good way to go, and is a great way to hit your meat and cheese quota using fresh rosemary bread as the conduit. Just don't blame us for the carb-induced coma you fall into. At least you can sleep easy knowing you got a killer deal!
Mikey's Burgers
Address: 134 Ludlow St. (at Rivington St.)
Website: ordermikeys.com
Best Bet: BLT burger ($6.50)
Mikey is doing creative things between the bun on the LES. His quality, subtly inventive spins on the classics have inspired late night, crosstown quests and we know why. His burgers and dogs have a sought-after breed of tender, quality beef that comes so cheap you don't mind tacking on the extra $2.50 for the subway trip.
Mikey's self-named burger ($5.50) is a good place to start: a heavenly mound of corned beef and hash elevated by a perky Chinese mustard and a mess of sautéed onions on a Martin's potato roll. But the real scene stealer is the BLT burger ($6.50), a juicy burger with crispy Chinese bacon and a sizeable splat of kewpie mayo that takes the entire thing to another level.
Thinly cut, skin-on fries ($3) can be topped with unreasonable amount of cheese or some spicy chili if you're in the mood to get messy. But the burgers here meet their true match with the thickly churned shakes ($5.50) that offer the ideal end to your full-on beef indulgence. The avocado shake puts a slighty sweet spin on our favorite superfood, and the Asian-inspired sesame shake, a blend of vanilla ice cream perfected by a flurry of crushed bits of pistachio, will have you begging for more.
El Castillo de Jagua
Address: 113 Rivington St. (at Essex St.)
Website: elgrancastillo.com
Best Bet: Mofongo ($7)
El Castillo de Jagua serves the kind of stick-to-your ribs staples that feel like they were whipped up by Mom just for you, if your mother was a Dominican Martha Stewart who spent hours slaving over the stove. Unfortunately for you, she probably wasn't, so you'll have to rely on El Castillo to provide you with the kind of soul-satisfying Latino grub you're looking for.
El Castillo is an every meal type of spot, with solid breakfast options like a legit mangu ($5.50) with fried cheese and salami, and what might just be the best cuban sandwich in the city ($5) as an awesome lunch option. But the real standouts don't appear till after dark.
Any night of the week, walk up to the counter, settle your culo onto one of the worn stools, and order the daily special: whether it be a perfectly seasoned pernil asado or the super-moist Pollo al Horno, it will somehow be exactly what you're in the mood for. Even the basics here shine, from the unreasonably huge portions of yellow rice and red beans that come with every dish to mountains of authentic mofongo—a fried plantain dish—($7.00) that have rich, decadent flavors with price tags fit for the poor.
Castillo's low key digs are not quite date-night worthy, but it's down home, dirt cheap dishes are enough to impress even the most high maintenance of taste buds. Even skeptics will turn believers when the bill comes, trust us.
Pho Grand
Address: 277C Grand St. (At Forsyth St.)
Website: phograndny.com
Best Bet: Pho #9 Tai Gau ($4.95)
Pho Grand can be found off the beaten LES path, in bustling, borderline-Chinatown surroundings, on a street cramped with strange smells and sidewalks cluttered with forgotten produce. But somewhere amongst the madness is Pho Grand, whose clean, quiet, and cozy log-cabin interior contains full scale Vietnamese indulgences at prices that barely register with your billfold.
The rice and vermecelli plates (all well under $10) read like a choose your own adventure: most of the spice is self-administered by way of the fully-stocked lazy susan, with condiments as basic as sriracha, to unlabeled spices that pack an unidentifiable punch that are better left for the brave. Your best bet is basically anything with pork (and we're not just saying that because we're pork fanatics): it has a full-on sweet and savory flavor that hits the spot, every time.
And what of the pho? It comes in every option imaginable, each drowning in the PG's bangin' signature broth. But the brisket and beef, loaded with thinly sliced cuts of meat and floating atop a swell of tender noodles, are a standout. The spring rolls ($3.75) are also a score: an airy and weightless wonder that comes heavy with the flavor, especially if you soak them in the homemade fish broth it's served with.
Pho Grand is the stuff of hangover-curing proportions, with never-ending piles of noodles that force us to rely on our (non-existant) self-control to stop, because they never end on their own. But if you're the type of guy that thinks moderation is overrated, you've found heaven in Pho, pho sho.
C&C Prosperity Dumpling
Address: 69 Clinton St. (between Stanton & Rivington St.)
Website: n/a
Best Bet: Chive Pork Dumplings ($1)
Prosperity Dumpling, your business model is baffling. You turn out the kind of super-moist-on-the-inside, thick-n-crispy-on-the-outside pork dumplings that inspire serious cravings by the quad, all for a single dollar. You can even cop a bag of 50 frozen dumplings, ready to be thawed when the craving strikes, for just $10 (that's 20 freaking cents a dumpling!) How do you profit from this, C&C, let alone prosper?
We may never understand the logistics of your dumpling game, but honestly, we don't care, just as long as you don't stop anytime soon. Your dumplings are the ideal drunken snack (although, just as fine an option if you're stone cold sober), and your pork buns ($1) and sesame pancakes, sandwich-like and stuffed with beef ($1.75) are pure, slightly greasy satisfaction.
Our advice for first time C & C-ers? Don't be put off by the line, it'll move fast, and any waiting will be well worth it when you leave with a full stomach (and wallet). And if you can't snag one of the half dozen stools inside, don't sweat it: Use it as an excuse to do some impromptu al fresco noshing and take your snack to the streets.
Barrio Chino
Address: 253 Broome St. (between Ludlow & Orchard St.)
Website: barriochinonyc.com
Best Bet: Enchiladas Verdes ($13)
Barrio Chino literally translates to "Chinese hood," which explains why this close-to-Chinatown Mexican joint is decked out in Asian decor. Identity crisis aside, Barrio Chino's unique space is small, but their narrow kitchen turns out some of the most awesomely authentic eats at prices that won't set you back, which is why there's crowd of people waiting to eat here almost every night of the week.
Barrio sets itself apart from first bite, with three ultra fresh, zesty salsas and thick, homemade tortilla chips, but resist taking back the entire basket. Save room for the Tacos al Pastor ($9): juicy, full-flavored pork with a citrusy pineapple cilantro salsa. If you're looking to put down, Enchiladas Verdes ($13) do tomatillo right, and are topped with enough fresh black beans and queso fresco to leave even the most epic appetite fulfilled.
Barrio packs a lot of bodies in between their exposed brick walls, but eat here once and you'll know exactly why. If you're deterred by the wait, use it as an excuse to come back for brunch and take down some of the best Chilaquiles ($12) in the city.
The Meatball Shop
Address: 84 Stanton St. (Between Orchard & Allen St.)
Website: themeatballshop.com
Best Bet: Meatball Smash ($8)
Some people might think that devoting an entire restaurant to a ball of ground beef is a little excessive, but those people have never experienced the ecstacy that is The Meatball Shop. Also, those people are dumb.
The Meatball Shop is a lively, well-appointed shrine to the simplest staple of Italian food, and we couldn't be happier such a place exists. Why? Because not only does TMS turn out the tastiest balls of meat imaginable, they do it at a price that not only has us wishing, but able, to eat here every night of the week.
The best ways to ball out here is hand down, with the Meatball Smash ($8) Not to be confused with a Snookie's smush, the smash is just what it advertises: a juicy meatball, smashed between soft brioche bread toppped with your choice of meat, cheese, and sauce, served with a light and tasty argula salad. Naked balls ($7) are also a good way to go: the sauce and meat are cusomizable, but go for the spicy pork topped with the family jewels ($1), a fried, over-easy egg that elevates any ball exponentially.
There is a drawback: the secret has slipped about this place, so waits can sometimes be hours deep. Our advice? Use the time to put a few brews back and work up a fierce appetite for meatball destruction.
Cheeky's Sandwiches
Address: 35 Orchard St. (between Hester & Canal St.)
Website: cheekysandwiches.com
Best Bet: Braised Short Rib Sandwich ($8)
Cheeky's is not a sandwich spot you stumble upon, it's one you seek. Being unlabeled and unnumbered, it's hard to find unless you know what you're looking for, and what you're looking for is a bright blue door and white-washed picket fence.
No, you are not entering a suburban fairy tale. Instead, Cheeky's channels New Orleans, offering up lovely and legit NOLA sandwiches and muchables, all for under $10. Don't be thrown by the shabby (not so much chic) interior, Cheeky's is doing beautiful things on soft, billowy bread. Take the braised short rib ($8), a tide of tender beef and a horesradish zing all encompassed in a fresh, challah carb-pillow. The half shrimp, half oyster Po Boy ($8.50) is a unique eat too: its auntheticly awesome bread is imported straight from New Orleans and comes packed with heavily-dressed, freshly-fried sea fare.
Being relatively new to the streets of the LES, Cheeky's is lacking some things, most notably sufficient seating (there is one lonely bench), the inability to take plastic (cash only, kids) and a lack of adult beverages (a liquor license is on the way). For now you'll have to come equipped with cash and settle for a chicory coffee to wash it all down. The buzz that comes from knowing that you're dining in a relatively undiscovered den of New Orleans-inspired bliss, is enough, isn't it?
Georgia's Eastside BBQ
Address: 192 Orchard St. (Between Houston & Stanton St.)
Website: georgiaseastsidebbq.com
Best Bet: BBQ Ribs ($11)
Georgia is on our mind, and we're not talkin' the Dirty South that Luda crooned about. We're talking about the damn-good, dirt-cheap Southern specialities that Georgia's Eastside BBQ churns out.
Even in a city where you have over a dozen quality BBQ options, Georgia easily climbs to the top of the fried chicken and cornbread heap. And it's not just because it's dumb cheap, it's because it's dumb delicious.
Georgia's makes the best case known to man for the existance of cole slaw. After taking down the most ungodly amount of the moist, BBQ laden pulled pork that can fit on a bun ($8) or a wide platter of heavily shellacked, succulent ribs (and two sides, $11) the tangy, cool mayo goodness of Georgia's slaw was the ideal offset to the savory overload going down on your taste-buds.
And Georgia's accompaniments? Far from a mere side-piece, these gems are lust-worthy all on their own. Can't misses include the perfectly charred cornbread, with just enough butter to make your stomach sing but your arteries not cry out in fear, and their crispy homemade fries. Also, classy beers like PBR and Miller High Life are only $3 (those count as sides, right?)
Georgia's digs are a little cozy (read: small and narrow) and there may not be a credit card machine or a bathroom on premise (the spot across the street, The Sixth Ward, is cool with you using theirs), but her shortcomings will fade away when the first drop of her famous BBQ sauce touches your tongue. Believe that.
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