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Best New York Cheap Eats


As the world economy slows down, we may want to tighten our belts, but we still need to fill our stomachs. Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in New York.

Chelsea
Chinatown

East Village
Flatiron District

Gramercy Park
Greenwich Village
Lower East Side

Midtown West
SoHo
Upper West Side
West Village
Brooklyn
Queens

Check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.


CHELSEA

Co Ba Vietnamese
13/20
110 Ninth Ave.
New York, NY 10011
212-414-270
Simple but well executed Vietnamese fare in Chelsea. More...

Qi Pan-Asian
13/20
31 W. 14th St.
New York, NY 10011
212-929-9917
Not your typical pan-Asian eatery. More...

CHINATOWN

New York Noodletown Chinese
12/20
28 1/2 Bowery St.
New York, NY 10013
212-349-0923
Patrons stoically brave the briskness of this Hong Kong-style noodle shop. More...

Xi'an Famous Foods Chinese
Quick Bite
67 Bayard St.
New York, NY 10013
phone not available
Intriguing, different Chinese food in the center of Chinatown. More...

EAST VILLAGE

Awash Ethiopian
12/20
338 E. Sixth St.
New York, NY 10003
212-982-9589
Ethiopian meets Curry Row. More...

Chikalicious Desserts
14/20
Dining Room at Chikalicious, New York, NY 203 E. Tenth St.
New York, NY 10003
212-995-9511
Just desserts served in style. More...

Mark Burgers
13/20
33 St. Marks Pl.
New York, NY 10003
212-677-3132
Sliders and Guinness-infused milk shakes hit the spot at this East Village burger bar. More...

FLATIRON DISTRICT

Shake Shack Burgers
Quick Bite
Dining Room at Shake Shack, New York, NY Madison Square Park
New York, NY 10010
212-889-6600
Danny Meyer's Madison Square Park snack center serves up arguably the best low-brow haute cuisine any kiosk could muster. More...

GRAMERCY PARK

Bhojan Vegetarian Indian Restaurant Indian
13/20
Dining Room at Bhojan Vegetarian Indian Restaurant, New York, NY 102 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-213-9615
Vegetarian fare from the North and West regions of India. More...

GREENWICH VILLAGE

Cafe Espanol Spanish
12/20
Dining Room at Cafe Espanol, New York, NY 172 Bleecker St.
New York, NY 10012
212-505-0657
Old-world atmosphere for delightful Spanish specialties. More...

Cafetasia Pan-Asian
13/20
38 E. Eighth St.
New York, NY 10003
212-529-2363
Deceptively inexpensive Greenwich Village pan-Asian noodle house. More...

LOWER EAST SIDE

Festival Mexicano Mexican
13/20
120 Rivington St.
New York, NY 10002
212-995-0154
A Mexican treasure on the Lower East Side. More...

Remedy Diner Diner
11/20
245 E. Houston St.
New York, NY 10003
212-677-5110
This clean, affordable 24/7 diner is a throw-back, irony not included. More...

MIDTOWN WEST

Bouchon Bakery Sandwiches
13/20
Dining Room at Bouchon Bakery, New York, NY Time Warner Center
10 Columbus Cir., Third Floor
New York, NY 10019
212-823-9366
Thomas Keller's casual "bakery" serves superlative sandwiches and salads that are good enough for the Time Warner Center. More...

Burger Joint Burgers
Quick Bite
Dining Room at Burger Joint, New York, NY Le Parker Meridien New York
119 W. 56th St.
New York, NY 10019
212-245-5000
One of the best (and most clandestine) burger spots in the city. More...

SOHO

Ivo & Lulu French
13/20
558 Broome St.
New York, NY 10013
212-226-4399
Cheap and chic French-Caribbean and no corkage fee. More...

UPPER WEST SIDE

Shake Shack Burgers
Quick Bite
366 Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10024

Danny Meyer's Shake Shack takes on the Upper West Side. More...

WEST VILLAGE

Baoguette/Pho Sure Vietnamese
13/20
120 Christopher St.
New York, NY 10014
212-929-0877
With pho and banh mi sandwiches this good, decisions don't come easy at this West Village restaurant. More...

Cafe Asean Pan-Asian
13/20
Dining Room at Cafe Asean, New York, NY 117 W. Tenth St.
New York, NY 10011
212-633-0348
A West Village mélange of Vietnamese and Malaysian cuisines. More...

Rusty Knot American
12/20
424 West St.
New York, NY 10014
212-645-5668
Nautical-themed restaurant and bar for The Spotted Pig overflow. More...

BROOKLYN

An Nhau Vietnamese
13/20
172 Bedford St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-384-0001
Comforting Vietnamese food in Williamsburg. More...

Joya Thai
13/20
215 Court St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
718-222-3484
Refreshing Thai cuisine attracts a hip crowd of Cobble Hill locals. More...

Lomzynianka Eastern European
12/20
646 Manhattan Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11222
718-389-9439
BYOB Polish joint is affordable and hearty enough to make you scream "Solidarnost!" More...

Mile End Deli
13/20
97 Hoyt St.
Brooklyn, NY 11217
718-852-7510
A Montreal Jewish deli in Brooklyn---craft beer and wine too. More...

Planet Thailand Thai
12/20
133 N. Seventh St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-599-5758
A neighborhood Thai-style diner serving sushi, pad thai and other favorites. More...

Tom's Restaurant Contemporary
12/20
782 Washington Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718-636-9738
Go back to an easier era at this beloved Brooklyn eatery. More...

QUEENS

Jackson Diner Indian
12/20
37-47 74th St.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718-672-1232
Friendly staff and delicious, all-you-can-eat Indian in Jackson Heights. More...

Zabb Queens Restaurant Thai
13/20
7128 Roosevelt Ave.
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
718-426-7992
Queens Thai BYOB eatery with a diverse menu. More...


Check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.

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DINING ON A BUDGET

Best Cheap EatsSplurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.