It can be difficult to plan a trip. You have limited time and money, and there are many things that you would like to see and do. How can you fit it all in and not go broke? Let’s begin with food!
Chad Gayle, a NYC native, suggests the best budget restaurants in NYC. He even organized it by neighborhood. Thanks, Chad!
Little Italy
It’s hard to find a Little Italy restaurant that offers a good deal, but there are some family style restaurants in the area. The portions are large enough to serve the whole table. La Mela, located at 167 Mulberry Street (between Grand and Broome Streets), and Paesanos in Little Italy, located at 136 Mulberry Street (between Grand and Hester Streets) are two of the restaurants that have received good reviews. If you are able to arrange your schedule, lunch is cheaper than dinner.
You can find authentic Italian desserts at Ferrara’s on 195 Grand Street. However, there will be a long line. You can also take the 6 Train from Astor Place to 342 E. 11th Street, between 2nd Avenue and 1st Avenue. Veniero’s Pastry has the best cannoli and prices are reasonable.
Chinatown
Chinatown has many places that are affordable to eat. Big Wong King Da Wang at 67 Mott Street is one of my favorite restaurants. It offers authentic Chinese cuisine for rock-bottom prices. I would recommend the spare ribs or duck. So delicious. Plan ahead if you plan to pay in cash at the restaurant.
You have many dessert choices after dinner. Try the Chinese bakeries on Mott Street or Canal if it is cold. You can buy a pineapple roll or bubble tea at a very low price. Dragon Land Bakery at 125 Walker Street, in my opinion, is the best.
Coming in the summertime? The Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is located at 65 Bayard Street. It’s just a block-and-a-half southeast of Big Wong. There are ice creams that you won’t find anywhere.
Lower East Side
You’ll eventually find yourself in the Lower East Side. This area is awash with chic bars and restaurants. You can save some money by going to Katz’s Delicatessen on East Houston Street. They have the best pastrami you’ll find in New York. Russ and Daughters is located at 179 East Houston Street and sells the best bagels and sandwiches in NYC.
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village is divided into two parts, the West Village and the East Village. There are many different types of cuisines to choose from. For a Vietnamese meal, I recommend Saigon Shack at 114 Macdougal Street in the West Village. Mamoun’s is the place to go for Meditteranian.
You can’t miss Veselka at 144 2nd Avenue in the East Village. They have some of the best blintzes you’ll find anywhere in Manhattan, and they are available all day. The menu is varied and offers great value.
Upper West Side
Artie’s Delicatessen is located at 2290 Broadway, at 83rd Street, in the Upper West Side. Stop by for the sandwich of dreams after you’ve walked through Central Park and visited the American Museum of Natural History. Artie’s, a traditional Jewish delicatessen, makes a delicious Reuben. This is a wonderful place for dinner or lunch. Travel tip: The beautiful Riverside Park and Hudson River Greenway are just a few streets away.
Upper East Side
You’ll find a variety of food carts and trucks that cover a whole city block on the East side of Central Park. The majority of these food carts are good for lunch, and they won’t cost you much. Try something new instead of hot dogs and pretzels.
You can get a taste of old New York at the 90-year-old Lexington Candy Shop (locals call it the Luncheonette) located on “83rd Street and Lex” or 1226 Lexington Avenue. Visit the 90-year-old Lexington Candy Shop, or Luncheonette as it is known locally, at “83rd Street & Lex” or 1226 Lexington Avenue. You can enjoy an ice cream sandwich, milkshake, or egg cream with your club or burger. The prices at the Luncheonette may be a little high, but they are not bad for the Upper East Side.
New York Pizza
Let’s finish with a topic that is both sensitive and controversial: New York pizza. Our pizza may not be like your pizza. It has a thin crust. Try the brick oven pizza at Patsy’s Pizzeria (two locations). You’ll thank your stomach.
These recommendations are only a small part of what you can expect to see in NYC. But hopefully they will allow you to eat well and not spend a fortune. Do not be afraid to experiment with new foods.
Don’t forget the tip.