Eating well in New York doesn’t have to drain your bank account. I know because I spent my first year here surviving on dollar slices and halal carts. and honestly, some of the best food I’ve had in this city cost me less than a subway ride. After years of tracking down the most satisfying cheap eats in New York City, I’ve put together the spots that keep me coming back, all under $15.
Authors Note — If you feel like one of the best cheap eats in NYC is missing from this list please drop me a comment below and I’ll check it out ASAP!
Best Cheap Eats in New York City
(Click here for the table of contents)
Table of Contents. Cheap Food in NYC
- Best Cheap Eats in New York City
- Los Tacos No. 1
- Xi’an Famous Foods
- Birria Landia
- Grandma Slice at Scarr’s Pizza ($6)
- Smash Burgers at 7th Street Burger ($7)
- Breakfast Sandwiches at Daily Provisions ($10)
- Mamoun’s Falafel ($7)
- Peanut Noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou ($4)
- Trapizzino ($10)
- Banh Mi Saigon ($10)
- Joe’s Steam Rice Roll ($10)
- Customized Corn Dogs at Two Hands ($5)
- Halal Guys
- Veselka
- Cheeky Sandwiches (Under Renovation)
- Mei Lai Wah ($2)
- Best Cheap Eats New York City (Post Summary)
- Best Cheap Eats NYC Map
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out my helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +3 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
My Personal Food Guide for NYC
Back by popular demand for 2024— My personal list of the 15 BEST restaurants in New York City (where you’re guaranteed to have a memorable meal) is back for 2024 and five of the cheap eats from this list made the cut! See more information here.
Los Tacos No. 1
Xi’an Famous Foods started as a tiny stall in a Flushing food court, and now they have locations all over the city for good reason. Their hand-pulled noodles in spicy cumin lamb sauce are aggressively flavorful in the best way, the kind of dish that makes you sweat and immediately order another bowl.
Los Tacos No. 1 dishes out the best tacos in New York City. The simple menu pays homage to authentic Mexican street food, with a focus on tacos, quesadillas & mulas.
The tacos steal the show. homemade tortillas (choose between flour and corn) topped with onion, cilantro, salsa and guacamole, these bad boys have no business being this good.
My favorite taco is the adobada (marinated pork), an order of 2-3 tacos serves as a meal. The guacamole and chips is a great companion, but at $5.50 for small servings, don’t feel guilty if you skip it.
We always prioritize at visit here with out-of-town guests and everyone raves about the meal months after. In fact, it’s the place most. So if you’re looking for the best cheap eats in New York City, Los Tacos gets my vote.
Xi’an Famous Foods
Website. Xi’an Famous Foods
Xi’an Famous Foods is named after the easternmost city in China (and the last stop on the Silk Road). The restaurant specializes in traditional Xi’an street foods like hand-pulled noodles and large dumplings swimming in glorious spicy-sour sauce.
Full of fiery spices and aromatic seasonings, the menu doesn’t pander to amateur palates (the motto says it all “not spicy = not as good”). Surprisingly, most dishes are less than $10, earning this no-frills establishment a spot on our list of the best cheap eats in New York City.
My husband I visit Xi’an’s often and our order is almost always the same. spicy hot-oil seared hand-ripped noodles and spicy & sour lamb dumplings. This restaurant is a personal favorite, I’m not saying I’m on a first-name basis with the staff, but they’re on my Christmas card list.
Birria Landia
Birria Landia started as a late-night street cart in Queens and blew up because the birria tacos are genuinely that good. The consomme they give you for dipping is rich and deeply spiced, and when you dunk that crispy cheese-crusted tortilla into it, something magical happens.
Birria is a tender slow-roasted meat stew made with braising liquid. Since opening in 2019, Birria Landia has been churning out thousands of birria tacos a night, making it clear locals can’t get enough.
The popular food cart sells tacos, consomé (richly-flavored broth, great for dipping), tostadas and mulita (stuffed tortilla sandwiches) for less than $5. And since a full meal will only set you back $15-20 (depending on hunger levels) long lines are all but guaranteed.
Grandma Slice at Scarr’s Pizza ($6)
Website. Scarr’s Pizza
Address. 22 Orchard St, New York, NY
Scarr’s has been milling flour on-site (an unusual practice) since opening in 2016. Offering traditional NYC slices (they’re huge, folding required) alongside Sicilian slices (focaccia-like crust), the handmade dough serves as the ideal canvas for high-quality toppings and velvety sauces.
In a city where good food sometimes comes at the expense of good service, Scarr’s stands a mile above the rest (the staff are consistently awesome). Also, the retro ’80s-inspired decor definitely evokes old school charm that’s hard to beat.
My go-to slice is a toss-up between the classic cheese ($4) and pepperoni grandma slice ($6), one of the most iconic NYC cheap eats. And before you protest the $6 slices at Scarr’s, know this. Scarr’s dishes out some of the best pizza in New York City, rivaling far more expensive joints.
Smash Burgers at 7th Street Burger ($7)
Website— 7th Street Burger
The signature flavor of smash burgers is achieved by smashing the patty as soon as it hits the grill to ensure optimal searing. This gives the burger a crispy, caramelized flavor, starkly contrasting the thick and meaty patties most burger joints serve.
At 7th Street Burger, the menu couldn’t be simpler. choose between cheeseburgers, double cheeseburgers, impossible burger sand fries. Each burger comes with the restaurant’s signature sauce, grilled onions, pickles and cheese.
You Might Enjoy Reading. 15 Prime New York City Burgers You Won’t Soon Forget
Unpopular opinion. I’ll die on this hill. you haven’t really experienced NYC food culture until you’ve tried Table of Contents. Cheap Food in NYC.
Breakfast Sandwiches at Daily Provisions ($10)
Website. Daily Provisions
Daily Provisions was opened by Danny Meyer, the mastermind behind Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and so many other iconic NYC restaurants. Most folks trek to this charming for crullers and find themselves returning for everything else on the menu.
I’m partial to the all day breakfast menu, home to some of New York City’s best cheap eats. The breakfast sandwiches are less than $10. The BEC (bacon, egg and cheese) is on constant rotation in my weekend plans, although my husband swears by the smoked salmon croissant. Both are outstanding.
Local tip. Insider move. ask for the off-menu special.
Mamoun’s Falafel ($7)
Website. Mamoun’s Falafel
Established in 1972, Mamoun’s Falafel predates the proliferation of Middle Eastern food carts in Manhattan. A pioneer of sorts, this establishment played a crucial role introducing falafel sandwiches to the city. Priced at $6.50, the signature sandwich (falafel, hummus, lettuce, tomato, onions, and tahini) is among the most popular cheap eats in New York City. You’ll understand why after one visit.
Peanut Noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou ($4)
Website— Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
Neighborhood. Chinatown
Address. 295 Grand St, New York, NY
Known for creamy peanut noodles and tender dumplings, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou (cash-only establishment) earns a well-deserved spot on our roundup of best cheap eats in NYC. Located in Chinatown, this the spot to go if you’re trying to save a buck. A serving of peanut noodles is less than $4 and an order of the pork and chive dumplings will cost you less than $3 (for 6) or $4 (for 10).
You Might Enjoy Reading. 20 Chinatown Restaurants You Can’t Afford to Miss (The Hungry Foodie)
Trapizzino ($10)
Website. Trapizzino
Neighborhood. Lower East Side
Address. 144 Orchard Street, New York, NY
Trapizzino is a popular Italian chain that recently expanded to New York City. Specializing in the popular Roman street food by the same name, trappizzini is sourdough pizza crust gorged with various fillings.
Choose from 9-hour braised oxtail, beef meatballs and (my personal favorite) stracciatella and cantabrian anchovy, among other options.
Sometimes referred to as an step up version of a hot pocket, this one of my favorite NYC cheap eats in a pinch. Don’t sleep on the supplì (fried risotto balls) either!
Banh Mi Saigon ($10)
Neighborhood. Chinatown
Address. 198 Grand St New York, NY
If there’s anything you take away from this roundup of NYC cheap eats, let it be this. Chinatown is a goldmine of options. One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood is Banh Mi Saigon, famous for (you guessed it) banh mi.
A tour de force, the popular Vietnamese sandwich is made with crisp baguette-style bread, pickled carrots, daikon, chiles, cucumber slices, cilantro, mayo, and a protein (typically marinated pork). The best part? It’s a mere $10 at Banh Mi Saigon.
Local’s Recommendation. If you don’t plan on eating the sandwich right away then ask for it to be prepared “for tomorrow.” The veggies will be set aside so the sandwich doesn’t get soggy.
Joe’s Steam Rice Roll ($10)
Instagram. Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
Neighborhood. Upper West Side & Chinatown
Hailing from southern China, steamed rice rolls have gained traction in the Big Apple thanks to Joe’s Steam Rice Roll. A popular Cantonese street food, steamed rice rolls consist of thinly-steamed rice batter filled with pork, shrimp, beef and vegetables.
True to tradition, Joe’s steam rice rolls are made by hand, a tedious process that results in a delicate chewy texture. Dressed with soy sauce and/or chili oil, it’s a great light lunch option for $10.
Customized Corn Dogs at Two Hands ($5)
Website. Two Hands Corn Dogs
Neighborhood. SoHo & West Village
Battered, fried and seasoned to perfection, Two Hands specializes in made-to-order Korean corn dogs, a fun twist on the American classic. Getting your hands on these bad boys is a two step process. First, choose a coating from the seven options offered (I like the fried potato cubes with Cheetos powder).
Second, pick a filling (spicy sausage, beef sausage, cheese, etc.). Priced around $5 per corn dog, Two Hands is one of the most affordable places to eat in New York City.
Halal Guys
Website. Halal Guys
Address. Multiple locations in NYC
What started as a humble food cart in 1990 has now expanded to several outposts across town and a restaurant on the Upper West Side. Under Islamic law, Halal food must be prepared with minimal animal suffering, viewing the slaughter as a sacrifice to God (a requirement of the Quran).
Today, folks of all stripes line up to get filling $15 platters (choose from beef, chicken or falafel) and $9 gyros. Seriously, you couldn’t miss this place if you tried, the lines are always so long, especially in the evenings.
Veselka
Website— Veselka
Neighborhood. East Village
Address. 144 Second Ave, New York, NY
Opened in 1954, Veselka has been a steadfast East Village institution in the ever-changing neighborhood. A byproduct of the thriving Ukrainian community, the restaurant introduced generations of New Yorkers to Eastern European cuisine.
With a handful of affordable dishes, Veselka has become a go-to destination for budget-friendly eats in New York City. The Ukrainian borscht (traditional beet soup) seems to be a huge hit at $6 per cup or $11 for a bowl.
Likewise, the pierogis (dumplings served boiled or fried, topped with sautéed onions and sour cream), priced at $9 for four, are another easy crowd-pleaser.
Cheeky Sandwiches (Under Renovation)
Instagram— Cheeky Sandwiches
Neighborhood. Lower East Side
Address. 35 Orchard St, New York, NY
Shelling out for a sandwich has never been my idea of a good time. The ingredients are seldom pricey on their own, so paying a premium for someone to assemble a sandwich doesn’t feel like a smart move on my part. However, Cheeky Sandwiches has managed to change my perspective.
None of the sandwiches surpass the $10 mark and they’re some of the best in town. The braised short rib sandwich in particular deserves shout-out, topped with horseradish, arugula and cherry tomatoes, it’s an uncomplicated masterpiece.
Mei Lai Wah ($2)
Website. Mei Lai Wah
Neighborhood. Chinatown
Address. 64 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Mei Lai Wah is an established Chinese bakery known for stuffed steamed buns. Serving tons of exciting flavors, the. The tender meat complements the slight sweetness of the dough harmoniously. This one of the best cheap eats in New York City because the generously-sized buns start at $1.50 a piece. Cash only at this spot, so hit an ATM beforehand. learned that one the hard way.
Best Cheap Eats New York City (Post Summary)
- Xi’an Famous Foods
- 7th St Burger
- Scarr’s Pizza
- Los Tacos No. 1
- Tiki Chick
- Mamoun’s Falafel
- Two Hands
- Halal Guys
- Veselka
- Ess-A-Bagel
- Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
- Cheeky Sandwiches
- Wonton Noodle Garden
- Evelia’s Tamales
- Birria-Landia
- Banh mi Saigon
- Trapizzino
- Mei Lai Wah
- Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
- Daily provisions
Best Cheap Eats NYC Map
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And there you have it, folks! Our list of the best cheap eats in New York City. We’re always looking for a way to stretch a dollar, so let us know your suggestions.
Cheers!
Looking for more? My 17 Best New York City Cafes (Serving Great Coffee in NYC). another essential NYC guide.
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