Monday, October 29, 2018

How to Eat in New York City on a Budget

How to eat on a budget in NYC
Posted: 10/29/2018 | October 29th, 2018

New York City has a reputation for being one of the most expensive dining destinations in the world. It’s easy to wander into high-end restaurants without realizing it and walk away with the idea that dining out in NYC is wallet busting.

And while it is true that New York is home to a lot of $500 set-menu restaurants and restaurants where a “nice” “simple” dinner with wine can top $100, the city is also home to starving artists, working-class folks, and un(der)paid interns trying to make it in the big city — and they can’t afford any of those fancy meals.

Heck, not many people can.

I mean who can drop $100 on dinner all the time? Not me! Not you! Not the majority of these people!

Because of that, New York City also has a variety of cheap eats, happy hours, and food deals that make it easy to eat in NYC on a budget. However, as a visitor, it’s often hard to know where to find those holes-in-the-wall and markets. This is definitely a place where you need to be in the know for a lot of this deals. There are thousands of restaurants in the city. How do you navigate them all?

You need someone on the inside. (That person is me!)

So, today, I am going to share my tips on how you can eat out in NYC on a budget and give you some of the knowledge I’ve accumulated by always eating out in the city:

Eating in NYC Tip #1: Hit the Oyster Happy Hours

oysters being served to a table
During the week, you can find countless oyster happy hours, which are one of the most popular things to do (especially in the summer when you can sit outside). They start around 4pm and go until 6 or 7pm, and the oysters range from $1 to $1.50. Arrive early, as most restaurants fill up quickly and build up impossible wait times. My favorite (and the best) oyster happy hours in NYC are:

Eating in NYC Tip #2: Bottomless Brunch

Bottomless brunch at Agave, NYC
New York City runs on the bottomless brunch, where for around $35 you get unlimited drinks with your food. This is a weekend-only thing and a staple of the city’s social scene. There are countless bottomless brunches, so it would be impossible to include them all here, but below are some of the most affordable and best value bunches in the city:

  • Agave (140 Seventh Ave S, +1 212-989-2100) – A two-hour bottomless brunch for $33.
  • The Flying Cock (497 Third Ave, +1 212-689-6900) – Pay $19 for bottomless Bloody Marys, mimosas, or Bellinis for 90 minutes.
  • Poco NYC (33 Avenue B at Third St, +1 212-228-4461) – Pay $35 for an entrée and 1.5 hours of bottomless mimosas, sangria, or Bloody Marys. Cash only.
  • Pardon My French (103 Avenue B, +1 212-358-9683) – For $29.95, you get a meal and bottomless Bloody Marys or mimosas for 90 minutes.
  • Mezetto (161 East Houston St, +1 212-933-4587) – It’s just $20 for 90 minutes of unlimited mimosas.
  • Cuba (222 Thompson St, +1 212-420-7878) – For $18, you’ll get bottomless cocktails (including mojitos) for 90 minutes.
  • Harry’s Italian Pizza Bar (2 Gold St, +1 212-747-0797) – For $28.95, get a meal and unlimited Bloody Marys and mimosas for two whole hours.
  • Tio Pepe (168 West 4th St, +1 212-242-6480) – From from 12pm to 4pm, get 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas (including flavored ones), Bloody Marys, and margaritas for $14 (when you get a meal).
  • The Malt House (206 Thompson St, +1 212-228-7713) – Spend $20 for two hours of unlimited cocktails.
  • Blind Pig (233 East 14th St, +1 212-209-1573) – Spend $30 for two hours of mimosas or Bloody Marys.
  • La Flaca (384 Grand St, +1 646-692-9259) – For $29, you get any menu item along with bottomless margaritas, sangrias, Bloody Marys, and more, for 90 minutes.

Eating in NYC Tip #3: Grab a Pizza Slice

a slice of pizza
NYC and pizza go together like white on rice. You can’t separate the two, and in my opinion, the New York slice is probably one of the best pizzas in the country (sorry, Chicago)! If you’re looking to eat on a budget, grabbing a slice is one of the best ways to save money in New York. Slices range from $1 to $4, though $2 is the max I’ll pay (unless it’s really good). Below is a list of my favorite dollar-slice joints (and a couple non-dollar slices just because they are that good):

  • Percy’s Pizza (190 Bleecker St)
  • Joe’s Pizza (150 East 14th St and other locations)
  • 2 Bros (601 Sixth Ave)
  • Ivana’s Pizzeria (2373 Arthur Ave, Bronx, +1 718-365-4322)
  • 99 Cents Fresh Pizza (151 East 43rd St; 473 Lexington Ave; 201 East 34th St B)
  • 9th Ave the Best Pizza (748 Ninth Ave)
  • NY Fresh Pizza (787 Ninth Ave)
  • Joey Pepperoni’s Pizza (381 Broadway; 493 Second Ave; 114 East Fordham Rd, Bronx)
  • One Dollar Pizza (578 Ninth Ave, +1 212-967-3310)
  • Vinny Vincenz Pizza (231 1st Ave, 212-674-0707)

Eating in NYC Tip #4: Munch on Dumplings

dumplings from Tim Ho Wan
Chinese dumplings are also one of the best value meals in the city because you can get huge plates of dumplings for literally just a few dollars (and if you get them frozen for later, they are even cheaper). They’ll fill you up for lunch and you’ll still have leftovers for dinner. And, thanks to the city’s large Chinese immigrant population, the dumplings are incredibly authentic. This is the real deal here. Here’s a list of the best spots to get dumplings in NYC:

  • Lan Zhou Handmade Noodle (40 Bowery St, +1 646-683-0939) – 9-11 dumplings for $3.
  • Vanessa’s Dumpling House (220 East 14th St, Union Square, +1 212-529-1328) – 5-10 for just $2 or less.
  • Noodle Q (2 East Broadway, +1 212-219-8223) – A big plate for $6.
  • Tasty Dumpling (42 Mulberry St, +1 212-349-007, visit the website for other locations) – Five for $1.25.
  • East Dumpling (46 Eldridge St, +1 212-219-2268) – 10 for $3.
  • Tim Ho Wan (85 Fourth Ave, +1 212-228-2800) – $5 dishes.
  • Shu Jiao Fu Zhou (118 Eldridge St, +1 212-625-2532) – 6 for $2.50.
  • Jin Mei Dumpling (25B Henry St, +1 212-608-8962) – $2 for a big plate.
  • Fried Dumpling (106 Mosco St, +1 212-693-1060) – Five for $1.25.
  • New Sheng Wang Inc. (27 Eldridge St, +1 212-925-0805) – Large plate for $3.
  • Spicy Village (68B Forsyth St) – 12 for about $6.
  • Kai Feng Fu Dumpling House (4801 Eighth Ave, +1 718-437-3542) – 5 dumplings for $1.50.
  • North Dumpling (27A Essex St, +1 646-421-8823) – 12 for $3.
  • YOZ Shanghai (4128 Main St, +1 718-321-2663) – 12 for $4.50.

Eating in NYC Tip #5: Grab a Dog

Nathan's hot dogs, NYC
Hot dog shops litter the street corners of New York. They might not be the healthiest meal but they are super cheap and make for a quick lunch. Though the hot dog has been around for centuries, the modern dog was popularized by Nathan Handwerker, a Jewish immigrant from Poland, living in NYC. In 1915, he worked at a hot dog stand at Coney Island. He started his own stand (Nathan’s Famous) and undercut his former boss to sell his own dogs and the rest is hot dog history. You can get a big, juicy dog with lots of fixings for between $2 and $5. Here are the best hot dog shops in New York City:

Eating in NYC Tip #6: Food Trucks

El Toro Rojo food truck in NYC
If you’re looking for cheap eats, check out the food trucks around town that are a staple for the office workers. You’ll find shawarma, hot dogs, gyros, halal items, and lots more grab-and-go food. They tend to be located near big parks like Central Park or Union Square, Midtown, or the big squares in the financial district. Their cheap, quick eats are what we have for breakfast and lunch (though many are around during the evening too). Most meals costs $5-7 USD.

Eating in NYC Tip #7: Make Your Own Food

making breakfast at home
Sure, New York City has tons of delicious and expensive restaurants, but go to the supermarket, grab either a premade meal or ingredients to make your own, and head to one of the parks and eat outside. Or back to your Airbnb to make your meal. Most supermarkets also have areas where you can eat inside too. My favorite grocery stores in the city are:

  • Whole Foods – Whole Foods has affordable natural and organic foods primarily from local vendors.
  • Trader Joe’s – A grocery store chain with super low prices all the time.
  • Food Emporium – Another supermarket chain that also has lots of imported food options.

Eating in NYC Tip #8: Try Meal Pal (for the extended traveler)

Meal Pal
If you’re looking to be in town for a while, consider signing up for the service MealPal. It’s $120 USD for a month ($6 a meal), which works out to be a super cheap way to eat. Monday through Friday at lunch you get to choose a preset meal from thousands of restaurants. Think of it like a lunch menu at your fingertips. It’s a good way to try new restaurants as well as eat cheap.

Eating in NYC Tip #9: Eat Outside Manhattan
SriPraPhai Restaurant in Queens
I love Manhattan. It’s my favorite borough in the city, but whenever I leave it, I’m always reminded of how expensive it is. The other boroughs are like half the price of Manhattan. In Queens, for example, you’ll find a ton of great and cheap ethnic food.

Eating in NYC Tip #10: Use the Apps

Yelp
Looking for cheap eats? Crowdsource. Use apps to search for people’s favorite restaurants or what is affordable near you. My suggested apps are:

  • Yelp – Yelp lets you find places to eat and drink in your area, and there are usually tons of reviews left by patrons.
  • Foursquare – Find out where the locals are eating and unlock special deals when you check into a place.
  • OpenTable – Check local restaurant reviews, and then reserve your table.
  • Roaming Hunger – Find out which food trucks are in your area!

Eating in NYC Tip #11: Eat Bagels

Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company, NYC
The NYC bagel is as famous as the NYC slice. We take our bagels seriously here (Just ask all the ex-NYers living in LA if they can find a good bagel there! They’ll say no and lament that’s one thing they miss the most). Most bagels will cost $3-4 with cream cheese, more if you want lox (which you should). A bagel sandwich will cost around $5-6. Here’s a list of my favorite bagel spots:

Eating in NYC Tip #12: Do Restaurant Week

fine dining restaurant
If you’re here during July or October (the exact dates change each year), New York City’s Restaurant Week has some amazing deals, as over 380 of New York’s best restaurants offer $26 lunch menus and $42 three-course dinners. This gives you a chance to sample the best restaurants in town at a fraction of the regular price. Visit the official page for all the details and to book your table. You’ll also be able to browse restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine, lunch or dinner options, and more: nycgo.com/restaurant-week.

BONUS: 13 Affordable Restaurants in NYC

table spread at Kopitiam, NYC
Want some specific restaurants? Here are some of my favorite cheap restaurants to eat at when you visit:

  • The Bao (13 St Mark’s Pl, East Village, +1 212 388 9238) – With its sleek, modern decor, this restaurant is a wonderful spot for Chinese food. Its dumplings, fried rice, and pork buns are delicious. There’s always a wait on the weekends, so try to get there on the early side.
  • Bennie’s Thai Café (88 Fulton St, Financial District, +1 212 587 8930) – As someone who has lived in Thailand, I’m quite picky about my Thai, but this restaurant is legit. It’s a popular lunch spot with the working crowd and serves incredible curry. It’s one of the few locations where I can get an authentic Thai iced tea too! Service is a little too fast and abrupt, but who cares? The food is incredible.
  • Corner Bistro (331 West 4th St, West Village, +1 212 242 9502) – This place has world-famous thick and greasy hamburgers, some of the best in NYC. It’s sort of an institution, and if you love burgers as much as I do, I would highly recommend coming here. Cash only.
  • Masala Times (194 Bleecker St, Greenwich Village, +1 212 995 5100) – Serving Bombay-style street food, this spot has some of the best Indian cuisine I’ve found. I can’t get enough of it. The plates are shareable, and you get rice and bread too. Try the fish tikka — it’s delicious!
  • Panna II Garden (93 First Ave, 2nd floor, East Village, +1 212 598 4610) – Christmas lights cover the ceiling and walls of this festive Indian restaurant (and the neighboring restaurants too, so if Panna II is packed, walk next door). It’s cramped, but a unique experience. The food is delicious! Cash only.
  • S’MAC (197 First Ave, East Village, +1 212 358 7917) – A mac-and-cheese shop that takes this traditional dish and makes it even better. It’s heavenly, cheesy goodness. The four-cheese mac and cheeseburger mac are my favorites.
  • Sao Mai (203 First Ave, East Village, +1 212 358 8880) – This traditional Vietnamese spot is located near my old apartment. The pho rocks! The portions are huge, and prices are not. It offers $10 lunch specials.
  • SriPraPhai Thai Restaurant (64–13 39th Ave, Flushing, Queens, +1 718 899 9599) – This is my favorite Thai restaurant in New York. I have very high standards for Thai food, and this exceeds them all. If you only eat at one Thai restaurant, make it this one.
  • Xi’an Famous Foods (313 Sixth Ave) – New Yorkers love this small chain of Chinese restaurants, with 12 locations around town. Grab some hand-ripped noodles with beef to go, and it’ll only cost you about $8.
  • Mamoun’s Falafel (119 MacDougal St) – You will find inexpensive falafel and gyro stands all over Manhattan, but the best one is Mamoun’s. You can pick up a classic falafel with tahini and salad for less than $5, but all the options here are tasty and affordable.
  • Little Saigon Pearl (9 Bay 35th St, Brooklyn, +1 718-996-8808) – Little Saigon is another great Vietnamese eatery to pick up lunch, as most of its menu items are under $8. Try the chicken lemongrass.
  • Kopitiam (151 East Broadway, +1 646-609-3785) – If you want affordable Malaysian food, you have to go to Kopitiam, especially for breakfast. Most menu items are around $8, including nasi lemak (the national dish of Malaysia).
  • Mama’s Empanadas (3241 Steinway St) – Mama’s Empanadas is one of the best spots for a bite of Colombian food in Queens. You can get some really cheap empanadas here, including a spinach and cheese for just $2.
***

New York City may be one of the most of the expensive cities in the world, but it doesn’t have to break your bank. Remember, this is a city of eight million people, and if you break away from the tourists and into the fabric of the city, you’re going to unearth a plethora of restaurants and bars to eat and drink at on a budget.

NEXT STEP —> Get My Guide and See More of NYC for Less!

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Get Your Guide
Check out my detailed guide to planning a visit to NYC with suggested itineraries, places to stay, things to do, where to eat, and how to get around. Just click here to get the guide and continue planning today!

Book Your Flight
Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time. My favorite places to stay in New York City are:

  • HI NYC Hostel – One of the biggest and most popular hostels in the city with a ton of space, an outdoor patio, free Wi-Fi, events, activities, and a huge kitchen.
  • Jazz on Columbus Circle – My favorite hostel in NYC, with comfy dorms and a friendly environment.
  • Pod Times Square – Incredibly tiny private rooms, but with an excellent quiet location near Times Square.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

Looking for the best companies to save money with?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Photo credits: 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14

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