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Cheap Eats in NYC

Published by Caroline Morse, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Exploring one of the world's most walkable cities can be tough on the appetite, but it doesn't have to be tough on your wallet. Avoiding the overpriced, touristy restaurants that populate Manhattan and checking out some of NYC's cheap eats instead can be a great excuse to see parts of the city that aren't on your sightseeing map.

Got a dollar? You can get a slice of pizza (with one cent left over) at 2 Bros. Pizza in Greenwich Village. (601 Sixth Avenue, New York NY 10011) The line can look dauntingly long at times, but the experienced staff keep it moving, and you're never waiting long before you've got a piping hot slice in your hand.

Although New York City is known for it's classic New York pizza, the melting pot of cultures makes all kinds of authentic cuisine easy to find. In the mood for falafels, but short on cash? Check out Sam's Falafel cart, located on Cedar St - between Trinity Pl and Broadway. Any true New Yorker will tell you that the best (and cheapest) food in the city can be found on street carts, and Sam's Falafel is no exception. Prices for a sandwich have recently gone up to a whopping $4 (from $3), but it's still a great deal. Giant platters with falafel, salad, vegetables, and more are only $5, and either option will keep you full for hours. The line can get long, especially in nice weather when nearby office workers flock for a cheap lunch, but the wait is worth it. There's lots of benches and tables nearby to eat at - you'll need to sit down to tackle the heavy-duty sandwich.

Chinatown is another great go to location for cheap New York City eats. You can usually get a complete and tasty meal for under $5. Make sure to try Prosperity Dumpling, at 46 Eldridge St between Canal and Hester Sts, where a mere $2 will get you eight tasty dumplings.

Of course, no visit to New York would be complete without a classic New York hot dog. Locals know to go to Gray's Papaya (multiple locations throughout the city) for the "Recession Special" - two hot dogs and a drink for under $5.

No matter what kind of cuisine you're in the mood for, you can usually find an amazing version of it in New York City, for not a lot of dough. When in doubt during your quest for cheap eats in NYC, look for the street food cart that has the longest line - people are lining up for a reason!

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Cheap Eats Nyc

Spring, Summer and Fall are the best times to visit if you're planning on visiting New York City for cheap eats. That's because most of the best and cheapest places are located outside (street food) or have very limited seating inside. Besides, what could be nicer than lounging in the sun with a 99 cent slice of pizza?

Odds n' Ends

Be sure to know what you want before you reach the front of the line. Some of the cheap eats in New York City have very Soup Nazi-esque rules about ordering!

More Experiences Nearby

Free Museums in NYC
Sometimes it seems that seeing all of the famous museums of New York City will cause the average tourist to declare bankruptcy, when faced with admission prices of $20 or higher. But don't let your lack of funds stop you from seeing once in a lifetime exhibits - there are many free museums in New York City or chances to see expensive museums for free or reduced admission. Let’s start with the free museums – many great New York museums are always $0 to get in, including: Carnegie Hall/Rose Museum, Dahesh Museum, the FIT Museum (Fashion Institute of Technology), the ...0 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

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The New York Pass
Choose from 40 unique attractions, then let the New York Pass do the rest. You'll receive discounts and special offers on shopping, dining and activities, ...
Starting from $67.49 per person.

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Books and DVDs

ZAGAT 2010 New York City Restaurants
New York Cooks: 100 Recipes from the City's Best Chefs
Mike Colameco's Food Lover's Guide to New York City

Elsewhere on the Web

ZAGAT NYC Restaurant Guide - Zagat.com

Media References

Street Food in New York - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
NYC Ice Cream Guide - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
$25 AND UNDER The Vanderbilt and Kaz an Nou - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.

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