Eating Cheap in NYC

This might be a place to start. Just use the search function liberally. I think the link goes to the Manhattan boards, but other boards exist for the boroughs.

http://www.chowhound.com/boards/18

Where you gonna be, when, how long? How'll you be getting around? How adventurous an eater are you?

Chinatown can be pretty cheap, with more authentic cuisine than you'd find just about anywhere in the USA except San Francisco. There are also a string of very good and inexpensive Indian places around East 6th and umm...I think 2nd Avenue.

There are so many inexpensive great restaurants. I would purchase a Zagats -- it's worth the investment and read the Voice or Time Out for reviews. Some places to start are Noche Mexicana at Amsterdam and 102 (order Camarones Ala Diabla), Corner Bistro in the West Village (hip), and Moustache (Middle Eastern) in the West and East Village. Brooklyn is a bit less expensive generally. Or just get a slice at Joe's Pizza (7 Carmine in West Village) or somewhere else and sit out on Hudson River Park. Even mediocre NYC pizza is better than most pizza elsewhere.

almost any NYC deli or diner...good food, low prices...pizza places at lunch, Gray's Papaya, look at the A-Frames for bars/restaurants and there specials..always good deals

Indian Restaurant Row down in the East Village--5th Street, I think, between First and Second Avenue--was definitely the best deal in town back in the 80's and 90's.

Look for "The Pump" Great stuff and reasonably priced. Not a lot of seating available but delivery is an option.

Try Nick's Pizza on the Upper East Side. Not that expensive (it's family stle - so tons of food) and everything is great (especially the plain pizza).

Start spreading the word wrote:Corner Bistro in the West Village (hip)

The Corner Bistro is NOT a great restaurant by any stretch of the imagination, it's a dive bar that serves cheap, greasy burgers, fries and chile. That's it. The dubious distinction of one of NYCs best burgers, but the reality is that it's just a very greasy chunk of broiled meat.

If you insist, and want to avoid the crush of the mindless lemmings that feed there at night, do lunch; absolutely no one there, grab a table, open the newspaper, relax and enjoy the grease.

I second malmo on Corner Bistro. Apparently they were better, or standards laxer, once upon a time.

If you happened to find yourself in Queens (Woodside neighborhood) and needed a burger, Donovan's on Roosevelt serves a really good one and a fine Guinness. They're one of about half a zillion Irish pubs in that stretch. But certainly no reason to rush out there.

And in fact if you did find yourself at that location, you'd have many, many more interesting cheap options within a few miles, especially heavy in Chinese, Korean, Mexican, and Latin American places.

please dont squeeze the garmin wrote:

I second malmo on Corner Bistro. Apparently they were better, or standards laxer, once upon a time.

Did I mention being packed elbow-to-elbow like a frat party and the subtle scent of urinal cake wafting from the ceramic defecatorium?

Better burger and menu at Old Town Bar and Restaurant (a classic "real bar"), a couple of short blocks north of Union Square.

Or you could just do Katz's Deli, a NYC institution. The price is right, the food is great, and you can have "what she's having."

damn that makes me miss Jackson Heights, Queens. I hate Lancaster PA...

If it makes you feel any better, it's damn hard to find authentic Amish chow anywhere along the 7 line.

Hey there.....glad that you're coming to the culinary epicenter of the country.

Try:

Nyonya (Malaysian) - Grand between Mott and Mulberry

Al Di La (Northern Italian) - 5th Avenue and Carroll St. (Brooklyn - definitely worth the trip)

Grimaldi's Pizza - Front St. in Brooklyn - voted by some as the best Pizza in NYC

Saigon Grill - multiple locations - slightly better than average Pan asian/Vietnamese/and sushi

If you are in the Washington Square Park area on a weekday, I heartily recommend the Dosa Cart on the southern edge of the park. The vendor is a Tamil man from Sri Lanka and has one of the most unbelievable deals for lunch - he was recently written up as the best street food in all of NYC.

Most if not all of these places that I listed require cash - best of luck, and let us know if you want more suggestions!

hahah , I've been going to school here for 3 years now and I still can't say that I've had authentic Amish chow. I suppose I should find a place to get the real experience. Can't wait to go back to Queens for a weekend though, nothing beats the stretch of area from Flushing to Astoria as far as original authentic cuisine though.

au contraire wrote: Indian Restaurant Row down in the East Village--5th Street, I think, between First and Second Avenue--was definitely the best deal in town back in the 80's and 90's.

Much better bet these days is Murray (Curry) Hill, stretch of Lexington Ave in the high 20s. Sounds like the dosa cart guy in Washington Square Park ought to be better yet for south Indian. Thanks dosa cart poster; I'll have to check him out.

An anti-recommendation: do not do not DO NOT eat in Manhattan's Little Italy, on and near Mulberry Street. I don't think a good meal's been served in any of those places for at least a decade, maybe more. Espresso and a canoli, OK, but no actual food.