Venerated late night Chinatown spot. Roast pork (and skin-on roast pig), noodles, fried soft shell crabs, and stir fried garlic chives are smart orders here.
A cheffy, well-done take on Chinese-American classics; don't miss the dumplings, particularly the excellent xiao long bao.
Best Oatmeal Doughnut: Toasted oatmeal and tiny flecks of cashews, plus sunflower seeds, cranberries, and apricot mix—it's a glorious sight. Read more.
The classic burger is chef Harold Dieterle's favorite, combining good ingredients and quality meat in an unfussy way.
The tender crepes are packaged in handy containers that allow you to eat them one-handed, but do so quickly. The crepes do not improve with age.
For a more quiet respite in the Chelsea Market, head to Friedman's for sandwiches and more. Those with gluten sensitivities take note: many of these options are gluten free.
The cuisine is largely American but, true to American form, shows influences from all over the world. The grilled cheese is all U.S.A., with a slightly tangy filling and a burnished crispy crust.
The best/worst kept secret of the market is this sandwich shop hidden in plain sight within Bowery Kitchen Supplies. Expect deli sandwiches done right here.
Milkshakes, yes. Ice cream, of course. But Ronnybrook's straightforward savory options are just as good, including a solid Pressed Mozzarella.
Eat what we had for a brunch for the ages: a German pancake, cooked to order in a blaring-hot cast-iron oval; and house-smoked salmon, served with jars of crème fraîche and house-pickled baby beets: Read more.
What to get: adjaruli khachapuri, stuffed with feta and mozzarella, topped with a poached egg; Georgian wins served in traditional clay cups.
What to get: frittata sandwich, with the works, $14.95. Herby Italian omelette on foot-long baguette, with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mild Gouda, cream cheese, smoked salmon, chives.
What to get: breakfast torta, $10. Fried egg, bacon, melted Cheddar, avocado, miso mayo, jalapeño relish, black-bean puree, hash-brown patty.
What to get: frogs' legs, $7 per quarter-pound. Seasoned with amla powder and garam masala, brushed with goie gras and Founders' Breakfast Stout.
What to get: roasted portobello banh mi; banh xeo (shrimp-and-bacon-studded crepe); suon nuong xa (char-grilled lemongrass pork tenderloin, fried egg and rice); ca ri ga (chicken curry, flaky roti).
Flavors change daily, but some favorites include olive oil, honey lavender, and Earl Grey.
NYC’s best cheap falafel costs $2.50. Also try the pita with baba ganouj or the shawarma sandwich. Careful with the spicy sauce!
Home of NYC's most popular cheap burger. Get a Shack Burger single ($4.25) or double ($7.25) & fries ($2.75). Wait on line – it’s worth it! Read more.
cheap, excellent dumplings. lots of choices for non-meat eaters. also- great scallion pancakes.
Go here for fresh, flavorful & low-cost Cuban fare. Get a meat-packed Cubano sandwich w/ rice & beans ($9) & try the octopus salad ($6.75). Read more.
Go here for super affordable gourmet grilled cheese. Pick one of 10 Murray's Melts for <$6 or build one from 14 cheeses & 9 meat options. Read more.
Stop in for cheap, on-the-go Chinese fare – Shanghai style. Scallion pancakes ($1.50 per) and vegetable dumplings ($4.25 for 8) are a must. Read more.
Go here on weekends for the tastiest brunch bargain in the Meatpacking District. Entrée & unlimited champagne for $29. Order Ouefs Paradou. Read more.
Come by for cheap Cambodian sandwiches to go. Try hoisin veal meatball ($6.75) or spiced pork belly ($7.50) - both include pickled veggies. Read more.
Come here for a cheap, satisfying French brunch. Order the Monsier Croque from the $14.95 prix fixe menu. BYOB – no corkage fee. Tres bien! Read more.
Come over for cheap, top quality coffee and Italian sandwiches. Get the caffe macchiato for $1.50 & prosciutto panini w/ mixed greens for $8. Read more.
Go here for highly affordable & highly addictive mac & cheese. Try the 4 Cheese in “Nosh” size for $5.75 or “Major Munch” size for $8. Read more.
Descend underground to find this hidden treasure serving cheap, authentic Japanese fare. Choose from 20+ lip-smacking small plates for <$10. Read more.
Come here for ultra-cheap Chinese cuisine. Huge portions of hand-pulled noodle soups range from $4 - $6.50. Try fish ball or beef for $5. Read more.
Come try cheap fish tacos voted #1 on the east coast. Get a Taco de Pescado & a Taco de Camaron ($3.95 each) or Pinche Taco Salad ($7.50). Read more.
Green-minded, hungry & on a budget? Go here for cheap, tasty, locally-grown American food. Leave room for Pumpkin Marscapone Mousse ($7). Read more.
Come here for tantalizingly cheap Mexican cuisine. Go for the chorizo tacos - $8.50 for two – or the Cemita Poblano for $9.50. Read more.
Come here for NYC's best bargain on cheap, flavorful Vietnamese sandwiches. Get the Banh Mi Saigon (pork) sandwich - $3.57 for a foot-long. Read more.
Choose from over 100 menu options at one of NYC's best spots for cheap Chinese cuisine. Try duck congee for 4.50 & wonton soup for $3.75. Read more.
Go to this San Fran-style taqueria for yummy and cheap steak, chicken or pork tacos for $3.67 per. Also try the carne asado burrito for $8. Read more.
Stop in for tasty, cheap Japanese fast-food and pastries. Bento boxes include free miso soup after 12pm.Try the green tea cake for $1.95. Read more.
Looking for the best cheap watering hole and a piece of history? Come to the oldest bar on Manhattan; $5 gets you two beers – light or dark. Read more.
Go here for Manhattan’s best budget Asian noodles. Slurp up Savory Cumin Lamb Hand-Pulled Noodles for $5 or Liang Pi Noodles for $4. Read more.
Fill up on cheap, top-notch empanadas like the Philly Cheesesteak, Brasil (ground beef) or Viagra (seafood). Prices vary from $2 - $3 each. Read more.
Our favorites: Spicy pork meatballs & mozz on brioche, bratwurst balls topped w/ beer-infused mustard sauce, & Underballs' Whiskey Float w/ citrus liqueur, root beer, & house-made vanilla ice cream. Read more.
Pancakes that are worth the five-hour wait on a Saturday, but if you go during the week you just might beat the crowd...
They serve cheap, tasty tacos and the like out of their tiny cantina, which opens up to a bigger eatery in the warehouse where they regularly roll out fresh tortillas. It's also BYOB and cash only. Read more.
The tacos served at the little Kenmare Street Corner Deli shack that "hides" the "underground" restaurant are so damn good we're almost ready to absolve the rest of the establishment's tiresome scene. Read more.
This spot serves up mind-blowing tacos and other Mexican delicacies, though note their prices hedge closer to those in Manhattan. If you eat in, though, expect at least a half-hour wait for food. Read more.
One of the best crispy fish tacos we've ever tasted. At $5 each, they're admittedly a little steep, even for SoHo. But they're light, fried, and crunchy without being greasy. Read more.
Try the marinated pork or the super flavorful spicy pork, or if you're really adventurous and/or hungry get the whole gamut of beef/chicken/pork in taquito form. Few-to-no veggie options, cash only. Read more.
This upscale chainlet has three locations, where you can feast on braised-brisket suadero tacos, spicy lobster langosta tacos and chapulines, made with dried grasshopper. Read more.
Tacos run $2.50 each, and run the gamut from pollo to lengua to carnitas to suadero (brisket); there's also a full bar, but the whole joint is cash only, so bring cash. Read more.
One of their two locations, the daily menu rotates and is announced via Twitter, but the avocado and raw sweet corn Guaco Taco is a favorite. Tacos are all $4 each, and two should fill you up. Read more.
This tortilleria makes its own soft-shell tacos, and ships them out around the city. Their tacos they deserve plenty of praise too. Of note: the juicy pastor taco, the bistek taco and cameron taco. Read more.
This tiny Williamsburg newbie serves a righteous breakfast burrito—yes, that's not a taco, but it's so damn good and cheap we're sneaking it in here as a bonus 10th entry. Read more.
