Go here for Manhattan’s best budget Asian noodles. Slurp up Savory Cumin Lamb Hand-Pulled Noodles for $5 or Liang Pi Noodles for $4. Read more.
One of Robert Sietsema's top cheap eats: "the falafel sandwich ($3.50) is as good & inexpensive ever, especially with za'atar-dusted shoestring fries ($2). The baba is also better than average." Read more.
Def try the pork cutlet curry, recommended for a reason. Also they have japanese marble soda (if you don't know you'll have to try it).
Wow. Made from scratch tortillas, perfectly cooked meat, and fresh salsas. My new favorite tacos in the East Village.
A strong choice is deconstructed falafel with chickpeas and avocado, raw cauliflower, shaved fennel, mint, watercress, rice vinegar-pickled peaches, pickled red cabbage & sesame served on pita. Read more.
Befriend Gaia and this will become your fav spot. $5 paninis, good coffee, wifi. Food is outstanding. Order diff everytime and it's all great!
Get the #3. Tobiko spread, salmon and lettuce on a poppy bagel. It's small and expensive. Like a Porsche.
Reliably delicious Vietnamese in the East Village. The lunch-only banh mi are winners, too.
One of the only sources for Georgian good in Manhattan, now something of a hub for Georgian expats. Though some dishes come underseasoned, the khachapuri (cheese bread) is great.
Best fried chicken in the Alphabet City. I hear the porkchop is off the chain too.
The street food-style Indian food here is different from most in New York. We love the kati rolls and chaat.
A Robert Sietsema Top Cheap Eat: This place dished out delicious pastas that run as low as $7.99, served with bread, olive oil, and as much ROmano as you'd care to sprinkle on. Read more.
Actual, proper Chicago-style deep dish and a good beer selection (including several Goose Island beers). Definitely recommended.
"For a more refined experience, ask for the off-menu 5 Spice Duck Burger, a subtler but exceptional composition of ground breast and leg topped with chutney and roasted fennel." Read more.
Come here for ultra-cheap Chinese cuisine. Huge portions of hand-pulled noodle soups range from $4 - $6.50. Try fish ball or beef for $5. Read more.
Uni spaghetti is indeed delicious but the fries sucked! Prices on these dishes are not that bad either.
This scene-y, California-style spot in Chinatown serves a killer brunch. Options range from acai bowls, to a breakfast sandwich with scrambled eggs, cheddar, & pickled jalapenos. Read more.
The best deal on premises is the Chengdu standard dan dan noodles. Normally $7.50, during lunch the house throws in a bonus app,which can be Japanese seaweed salad, edamame, or Chinese dumplings. Read more.
This Filipino fast food shop is serving up incredibly delicious spring rolls and meaty rice bowls. Don't miss the lumpia or pork belly adobo rice bowl and read about my visit on WinstonWanders below!! Read more.
Lodged inside a pizzeria is a small steam table showcasing authentic Persian home cooking, all done very well.
As far as filled donuts are concerned, we're hard-pressed to find a finer specimen than the bomboloni. Treat yourself to the vanilla custard one; a delight you won't forget!
Diners have great things to say about the noodles and rice bowls at the Ivan Ramen Slurp Shop, the tapas from Mullen's El Colmado, and the terrines and sausages from The Cannibal.
Amazing scallion pancake with beef. Think pork buns, but sub scallion pancakes and beef! So tasty!
The pitas at Gazala's Place are cooked on a domed contraption, and they're larger and thinner than what you'll find at most other Middle Eastern restaurants. Watch how this delicious bread is made: Read more.
Robert Sietsema: bulgogi and galbi come in in outfitted box meals including pajeon, sprout salad, corn, slice of futomaki, and a generous, sesame-dotted serving of meat in sweet/salty sauce over rice. Read more.
A Robert Sietsema's top cheap eat: ask for your falafel "all the way" and Casablanca throws carrots, cucumbers, and beet-dyed radishes in the sandwich, doubling the volume and tripling the flavor. Read more.
