They say it costs $20 to walk around the block in NYC. Honestly, they are not wrong. I don’t usually Google “Cheap Eats in City X” when I travel (probably because I often travel to countries like Sri Lanka and Poland where eating out even at great restaurants is affordable), but I did Google “Cheap Eats in NYC” because yikes! Getting the bill at a restaurant is not for the faint of heart, especially if you travel as a family of four.
The good news is New York has amazing food for every budget, you just need to know where to find it. And I am here to share my favorite finds with you. Just so we are on the same page, by “cheap eats” I mean a meal that would cost about $15 or preferably less.
This list is, by no means, complete, so if you have recommendations for cheap places to eat in NYC, leave a comment!
A few notes on finding cheap eats in New York!
- Some foods are inherently cheap. A pizza slice would usually cost around $3-4. A few slices — and your dinner is sorted. A bagel stuffed with smoked salmon or egg and cheese would cost you around $10-15. Cheaper if you go for a simple toasted cream cheese bagel. Pair it with a cup of coffee and your breakfast is golden. Tacos and burritos are usually quite affordable too.
- There are many market halls all around NYC, starting from the ultra-famous Chelsey Market to Essex Market to Eataly and beyond. They are often crowded and hectic and it is sometimes hard to find a table during lunch and dinner hours, but they offer a lot of affordable options.
- I always find it difficult to go through lists of the best places to eat and then figure out how to include those spots into my busy day of exploring the city. It always requires lots of cross-referencing and double-checking Google Maps. So I did the work for you. Under every restaurant description, you’ll find a note on which major attractions are located nearby so you know exactly where to eat when you visit Grand Central Terminal or Empire State Building.
Now let’s dive in! Here are 15 affordable meals you can have in New York!
Joe’s Pizza
The first tip to find cheap eats in New York is to have pizza. The average price for a slice is around $3, even at the most popular spots with a line of hungry New Yorkers and tourists outside. Joe’s Pizza is one of the most popular pizza restaurants in Manhattan, frequented by celebrities. Most recently Dua Lipa and Rihanna visited the place, and Scarlett Johansson named it her favorite slice in the city on Jimmy Fallon.
The restaurant was founded by Joe Pozzuoli, an immigrant from Naples, Italy, where pizza was born, back in 1975. In the past decades, it has become a true New York institution while maintaining high quality and staying down-to-earth. The space is quite small and simple, with limited seating, so you will see lots of people enjoying their pizza right outside. Expect to stay in a line, but it moves quickly. And have cash ready, as they do not accept credit cards.
Oh, and if you are into visiting filming locations, a scene from Spiderman 2 was shot here! You can check more NYC cafes and restaurants that were used as filming locations in this blog post of mine.
Tourist attractions nearby: Washington Square Park (and the historic Washington Square Arch), the Friends apartment building at the corner of Bedford Street and Grove Street, Bleecker Street (one of the most popular streets in Greenwich Village with plenty of shops and restaurants), the building where Carrie Bradshaw lived in Sex and the City.
John’s of Bleecker Street
John’s of Bleecker Street is another legendary NYC pizza restaurant that has been around since the beginning of the 20th century. It was originally opened by Giovanni “John” Sasso, an Italian immigrant, on Sullivan Street, but moved to 278 Bleecker Street later. So that’s where the name comes from.
Apart from being around for over a hundred years, this spot is known for using a traditional coal-fired brick oven. Unfortunately, they don’t sell pizza by slice, but you can buy a whole one for $21, which is enough for two.
You can pay by cash or card (it’s a bit more expensive to use a card). Expect lines around lunch and dinner time, but maybe if you are lucky you can meet a celebrity while waiting. John Stewart, Emma Stone, and Jimmy Kimmel among many other celebrities are patrons of this place.
Tourist attractions nearby: Washington Square Park (and the historic Washington Square Arch), the Friends apartment building at the corner of Bedford Street and Grove Street, Bleecker Street (one of the most popular streets in Greenwich Village with plenty of shops and restaurants), the building where Carrie Bradshaw lived in Sex and the City.
Essex Market
If you find yourself in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, check out Essex Market. It has a history that stretches back as far as 1818 when dozens of independent pushcart peddlers sold all kinds of foods under the open sky in LES. The actual indoor market was first opened in 1940. It has gone through many perturbations, including financial troubles, relocation, and renovations.
Today, Essex Market is located in a newly renovated building at the intersection of Essex and Delancey Streets. It’s modern and spacious, with a sun-lit mezzanine. Even around lunch and dinner time it doesn’t feel too crowded and you can always find a table to sit down at on the mezzanine.
I’ve tried Unregular Pizza and Zerza Moroccan at the market both of which were great. Unregular Pizza sells slices that vary in price from $4 to $7. Zerza Moroccan has a falafel sandwich for $10, a lamb burger for $11.50, their signature beef stew sandwich for $15, and other delicious Mediterranean specialties.
A few other shops and restaurants that were on my radar but I didn’t have the time to try: Sugar Sweet Sunshine bakery (try their banana pudding), Kotti Berliner Döner Kebab (döner is always an affordable option), and Nordic Preserves.
Tourist attractions nearby: the Tenement Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Chinatown (granted, there are plenty of cheap places to eat in Chinatown, too, but it’s not a long walk to Essex Market), Museum at Eldridge Street.
Urbanspace Vanderbilt
Another popular indoor market with plenty of options is Urbanspace Vanderbilt. We visited during lunchtime and it was extremely crowded. We managed to find a table, but the mealtime definitely felt a bit rushed and hectic. However, they offer a great variety of affordable meals.
My favorite was Mysttik Masaala which specializes in Indian food — try their naan wraps! I had one with chicken tikka masala ($15.99) and it tasted fresh and flavorful. The kids had oatmeal with berries from Playa Bowls ($10). They also offer acai bowls and smoothies — a perfect spot for breakfast. Kuro-Obi makes delicious ramen and Pita Yeero offers Greek gyros.
Tourist attractions nearby: Bryant Park, New York Public Library, Summit One Vanderbilt, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building, Empire State Building (17 min walk).
Eataly
The popular Italian marketplace has 3 locations in NYC which are tourist destinations on their own. I visited the one in Flatiron neighborhood. Eataly is an enormous space where you can easily spend an hour or two, checking out traditional Italian groceries, and having a cup of coffee or a meal at one of its many restaurants.
I have to say, however, that the restaurants are pricey. But on the ground floor, there is a counter that sells panini. And that’s where you need to head for a delicious, yet affordable lunch. At 12.99, a panini makes for a filling meal. Fresh bread is cut in half and stuffed with all kinds of Italian cold cuts, cheeses, and pesto. There’s no sitting right at the counter, but you can find a table a little closer to the exit or take your panini and enjoy it on a bench in Madison Square Park, just across the road from Eataly Flatiron.
Flatiron location: nearby you’ll find Flatiron building, Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park, The Friends Experience.
Downtown location: nearby you’ll find 9/11 Memorial Museum, One World Trade Center, New York Stock Exchange, Oculus World Trade Center.
SOHO location: nearby you’ll find Ghostbusters Headquarters, Museum of Chinese in America, Color Factory.
Shake Shack
Just opposite Eataly Flatiron, in Madison Square Park, is located a New York staple — Shake Shack. And while these days you can find their burgers and milkshakes in many U.S. cities as well as abroad, this here is their original location.
Shake Shack was opened as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park back in 2001. You can still find hot dogs on their menu, an underrated snack, but their burgers are the star of the show. Considered gourmet, they feature antibiotic-free Angus beef patties, their signature sauce, and buttered buns, and are served with crinkle fries. The milkshakes are made with Shake Shack’s signature frozen vanilla custard and feature flavors like strawberry frosted donut, chocolate salted caramel, and peaches and cream.
The original location: nearby you’ll find Flatiron building, Madison Square Park, Gramercy Park, The Friends Experience. There are many more Shake Shack locations in NYC, so wherever you are just check if there’s a branch near you.
Los Tacos #1
Los Tacos #1 currently has 6 locations in NYC, so it’s a great place for a cheap meal whether you are exploring Tribeca, Noho, or are in the heart of Times Square. I tried out their location at Chelsey Market.
Los Tacos #1 was founded by three friends who originate from Mexico and California. Their mission was to bring traditional Mexican flavors to the East Coast. Their specialties are tacos and quesadillas that include such classics as carne asada, adobada, and even grilled cactus (mainly, family recipes are used). The menu is short and sweet. During lunch time there are often long lines that move pretty quickly.
Tourist attractions near the Chelsey Market location: Whitney Museum of American Art, the Highline, Pier 57 Rooftop Park, Little Island, Starbucks Reserve Roastery.
Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters is an iconic bagel shop in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (if you are after the most iconic meals in NYC, check out this post of mine). It was opened in 1914 and, over a century later, is still considered the best place for traditional New York bagels.
The space is quite small and almost always crowded. As you enter, take a little numbered ticket and wait till it’s called. The line moves fast, so while you are waiting make sure to figure out your order or you’ll be faced with half a dozen questions at the counter (which was exactly what happened to me the first time around).
There’s no seating inside, so you’ll have to enjoy your bagel on a park bench or on-the-go. If you do want to sit down, there’s a Russ & Daughters cafe, also located in the Lower East Side, but it’s definitely pricier than just grabbing a bagel at the shop. A classic bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon is 11$, and a bagel with smoked tuna with horseradish cream is 9$.
Apart from bagels that are, of course, heavenly (the amount of cream cheese is extremely generous), I also tried their seven-layer halwa. It’s superb and makes for a great edible souvenir to bring from New York.
Tourist attractions nearby: the Tenement Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Chinatown (granted there are plenty of cheap places to eat in Chinatown, too, but it’s not a long walk), Museum at Eldridge Street, Essex Market.
Zabar’s
Another great place if you are looking for bagels is Zabar’s. It’s a New York institution that has been a staple in the Upper West Side since 1934 when it was opened by Louis and Lillian Zabar. Zabar’s is a classic NYC deli that offers cold cuts, cheeses, smoked salmon, and pastries. Their bagels are very generous and will fuel you up for a day of sightseeing in New York. I tried the classic bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon which was fantastic.
There’s no place to sit inside, but you’ll find a couple of tables where you can have your meal standing up.
Tourist attractions nearby: American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Central Park.
Mamoun’s Falafel
Mamoun’s Falafel was established in 1971, with its first location opening in Greenwich Village. Over half a century later, they have expanded into a chain with a presence not only in NYC, but also in New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut. They currently have three locations in New York: Greenwich Village, East Village, and Upper West Side (which is the one I tried).
The restaurant on the Upper West Side was a fairly small place with no inside seating, but a few tables outside, on the sidewalk. You have to order at the counter and pick up the food yourself. The menu is quite straightforward: you can choose between falafel, shawarma (slices of lamb) or chicken kebab served either as a sandwich in pita bread or deconstructed, on a plate. They also offer traditional Middle-Eastern sweets like pistachio and walnut baklava. I got a plate of falafel and my husband tried the shawarma sandwich — everything tasted fresh and delicious.
Greenwich Village location: nearby you’ll find Washington Square Park (and the historic Washington Square Arch), the Friends apartment building at the corner of Bedford Street and Grove Street, Bleecker Street (one of the most popular streets in Greenwich Village with plenty of shops and restaurants), the building where Carrie Bradshaw lived in Sex and the City.
East Village location: nearby you’ll find Tompkins Square Park, St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery.
Upper West Side location: nearby you’ll find American Museum of Natural History, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Central Park.
Xi’an Famous Foods
Xi’an Famous Foodsis, hands down, one of my favorite places to eat in New York and I never miss a chance to devour their (indeed) famous hand-pulled noodles when I visit. The restaurant was launched by Jason Wang and his father David, Chinese immigrants from the city of Xi’an, back in 2015 and has grown into a chain of 14 locations all over New York.
As the business grew, the high quality stayed the same: they still make their own chili oil and hand-pull noodles to order. I love how simple and down-to-earth their restaurants are. The space is usually small, featuring an open kitchen so you can watch the cooking process. Pretty much every branch has a line of people waiting, but it moves fast.
Be aware that most dishes are quite spicy, bold flavors are their signature. Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles is, probably, their most popular dish: wide hand-ripped noodles are mixed with slices of spicy cumin lamb and Xi’an’s own soy and black rice vinegar sauce.
Locations: there are 14 locations in NYC so wherever you are, just check if there’s a branch near you.
Blue Park Kitchen
Blue Park Kitchen is a perfect choice if you are looking for a healthy nourishing meal. The concept is to serve salads, bowls, and wraps. You can order one of the ready-made options off the menu (like turkey meatballs and lemon ricotta bowl or roasted chicken breast with fennel slaw) or build your own by choosing grains, greens, protein, and vegetables.
Blue Park Kitchen places an emphasis on using local and seasonal produce; the menu changes twice a year to reflect the seasons. They have options for vegetarians, vegans, and people with intolerances. Their signature bowls cost $15.25.
There are two locations in NYC: in the Financial District and Midtown. I visited the former with my kids. The plan was to feed them something healthy before grabbing spicy noodles from Xi’an’s Famous Foods for me and my husband. The kids loved their bowls and I ended up stealing some of their veggies while waiting. I don’t have any pictures, unfortunately, because the food was gone too fast.
Financial District location: nearby you’ll find Federal Hall, Charging Bull, the Battery Park, it’s also a great lunch spot if you are taking the ferry to Staten Island to see the Statue of Liberty.
Midtown location: nearby you’ll find the Empire State Building (a 20-minute walk), Bryant Park, New York Public Library, Summit One Vanderbilt, Grand Central Terminal, Chrysler Building.
Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery
This iconic bakery in the Lower East Side was opened by Yonah Schimmel, a Romanian rabbi, in 1910 and the original shop remains on East Houston Street to this day. For over a hundred years it’s been a family business.
A knish (k is pronounced) is a snack brought to New York by Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in the early 20th century. It consists of creamy mashed potatoes wrapped in thin dough and baked. The fillings can vary, at Yonah Schimmel’s Bakery, for example, you can find knishes with cabbage, kasha, mushrooms, and spinach, but potato is the most popular one.
At $5.5 a piece, knishes are some of the most affordable foods you’ll find in New York. They are quite heavy, too: 1 or 2 knishes are more than enough for a filling breakfast. I have to say, this place is worth checking out more because of its history rather than the exceptional taste of knishes. The potato knish I tried was ok, but a bit bland to my taste. So if you are exploring the Lower East Side, stop by to try it for yourself, but I wouldn’t make a trip out here just for the knishes.
Tourist attractions nearby: the Tenement Museum, Museum of Chinese in America, Chinatown (granted, there are plenty of cheap places to eat in Chinatown, too, but it’s not a long walk), Museum at Eldridge Street, Essex Market.
Downtown Burritos (Formerly Downtown Bakery)
Downtown bakery has been around for 30 years and has become a staple in the East Village serving Pueblan and Mexican-American foods. Don’t let the word “bakery” in the name confuse you: although it started as an Italian bakery, it gradually switched from baked goods to tacos and burritos. In 2023 the restaurant was closed, but later that same year reopened again under the name Downtown Burritos.
The menu is almost unchanged and so are the reasonable prices. Burritos are starting at $10, enchiladas are $12, tamales — $6.5 a piece. I tried huevos rancheros which were excuisite. The place is quite small, with limited sitting inside, but at 8 in the morning, I didn’t have a problem getting a spot by the window to have breakfast and people-watch.
Tourist attractions nearby: Tompkins Square Park, Museum of Ice Cream, Tenement Museum, Essex Market.
Spicy Village
Spicy Village is one of the many restaurants in Chinatown where you can find a delicious and affordable meal. Their signature dish is da pan ji, or spicy big tray chicken. Unfortunately, I didn’t try it (I didn’t do my research well, but now you know what to get there!).
I had the lamb tripe soup with noodles. Funny thing: the waiter asked me three times if I actually wanted the soup because it was made with stomachs and hearts and I had to assure her I was fully aware of what I was ordering. Anyway, the soup was a bit underwhelming, so I ordered soup dumplings and those were crazy good! 9 pieces cost $6.75.
The spicy big tray chicken is $16, but is, apparently, easily enough for two people. It’s a dish native to Xinjiang region of China: bone-in pieces of chicken in a sauce made with Sichuan peppercorns and star anise. There’s an option of adding hand-pulled noodles, which you should do.
Tourist attractions nearby: Mott Street (Chinatown’s unofficial “Main Street”), Museum of Chinese in America, Manhattan BridgeEntrance, Museum at Eldridge Street.
If you are looking for more places to eat in New York, check out these guides I have:
10 Iconic NYC Foods You Must Try on Your First Visit
New York Restaurants From Movies (That You Can Visit in Real Life)
12 Places to Eat in the Lower East Sideof Manhattan
New York’s Iconic Serendipity 3 and Its Frozen Hot Chocolate
Where to Find the Best Baklava in New York
Leave your recommendations for more affordable places to eat in New York in the comments below!
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