NYC Cheap Eats

2 Bros / 99¢ Fresh / Percy's

NYC's unbeatable floor price. Plain cheese slice at dozens of no-frills counters across Manhattan.

Vanessa's Dumpling House

Pork with chive or cabbage. Pan-fried golden. Three locations. Cash-friendly.

Shu Jiao Fu Zhou

Creamy peanut noodles under $4. Pork & chive dumplings 6 for ~$3. Chinatown legend. Cash only.

Lam Zhou Handpull Noodle

10 steamed pork dumplings for $3. Hand-pulled noodle soups also dirt cheap. Cash only.

Mei Lai Wah Bakery

Legendary bakery. Fluffy BBQ pork buns under $2. Always a line, always worth it.

Zhu Ji Dumpling

Breakfast in Flushing for $3: crispy scallion pancake + fresh soybean milk.

Golden Steamer

Chinatown bakery with dirt-cheap steamed buns and snacks. Perfect under-$5 fuel.

Yi Ji Shi Mo

Low-priced rice roll breakfast/lunch staple. One of the best under-$10 meals in Chinatown.

Any bodega / deli

The NYC breakfast staple on a roll. SPK (salt pepper ketchup). Every corner has one.

Various bodegas / carts

Flaky stuffed pastries from carts, bodegas, and Hispanic groceries. Meat, cheese, or veggie.

Liu Liu Sheng Jian

Crispy-bottom sheng jian bao with hot broth inside. Watch the giant pans bubble.

Wah Fung No. 1 Fast Food

Extremely low-cost roast meat rice boxes. Long line, massive portions, incredible value.

Jin Mei

15 handmade pork and chive dumplings for $5. Best dumpling value in the outer boroughs — cheaper than Chinatown.

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A&A Bake & Doubles

Trinidadian doubles: curried chickpea sandwiched in fried bara dough. NYC's best $2 breakfast. Arrives early or miss out.

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Thiru Kumar's Cart

Legendary $4–$7 South Indian dosas from the world's most famous street cart. Cash only, usually a line.

Eight Jane

Chinese street crepe loaded with egg, scallion, crispy wonton, hoisin, and chili sauce. $5 breakfast in Flushing.

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Arepa Lady (María Piedad Cano)

Famous street cart arepas from the legendary Arepa Lady. White corn, cheese, chicharrón, mote. Cash only.

Gray's Papaya

Two franks + medium tropical drink for $6.95 including tax. A NYC institution since 1973.

Xi'an Famous Foods

Hand-pulled noodles in spicy cumin lamb sauce. Started in a Flushing food court, now an empire.

Mamoun's Falafel

50+ years of authentic falafel, shawarma, and kebabs. The OG of Greenwich Village cheap eats.

The Halal Guys

The original halal cart. Massive platters of chicken or gyro over rice. Lines around the block.

Los Tacos No. 1

Best tacos in NYC. Homemade tortillas, real marinated pork. 2–3 tacos is a full meal under $15.

Birria Landia

Cult food truck/cart. Slow-cooked meat tacos with consommé for dipping. Went viral for a reason.

White Bear

Tiny takeout window. Order #6: 12 pork wontons in chili oil. Impossibly soft.

Nene's Deli Taqueria

Strong under-$15 burrito and quesabirria value. Multiple Brooklyn locations.

Banh Mi Saigon

Classic Chinatown banh mi. Crispy baguette, pickled daikon, cilantro, your choice of protein.

Veselka

Open since 1954. Boiled or fried pierogis with sautéed onions and sour cream. Open 24 hours.

Empanada Mama

Cuban, shredded chicken, pernil, chorizo — dozens of fillings. Portable, filling, cheap.

Bunna Cafe

All plant-based Ethiopian. Choose 4 items: chickpeas, lentils, beets, string beans. Communal injera.

Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles

Large noodle portions at accessible prices. Watch them stretch the dough in front of you.

Calle 191 Pescaderia

Hidden gem seafood market + outdoor café. Crab Meat Creole, Shrimp Mofongo. All under $15.

New World Mall Food Court

30+ stalls: dry pot, noodles, soup dumplings, roast duck. Bring cash.

A-Pou's Taste

Two-item value combo around $12.50 total. Taiwanese comfort food in East Williamsburg.

Nepali Bhanchha Ghar

Strong value combo under $15. Nepali momos with rich gravy plus fried bread.

Dim Sum Palace

Lunch special reportedly includes rice and soup. Solid Midtown cheap lunch option.

Maestro Pasta

Fast casual pasta bowls and half-bowls (from ~$6). Great FiDi office lunch.

Punjabi Deli

Classic taxi-driver vegetarian value spot. Open late. Samosas, dal, veggie plates.

Bolivian Llama Party

Bolivian fried chicken with spicy sauce. Outstanding Queens under-$15 value.

Kwik Meal

Legendary Midtown halal restaurant. Massive portions, great lamb.

7th Street Burger

Fast casual smash burgers with many locations. Strong late-night value.

Kolachi

Two kati rolls for ~$15–$16. Indian/Pakistani late-night value in the East Village.

Bobwhite Counter

Reliable under-$15 fried chicken and buffalo chicken wrap. Great near-NYU spot.

Caravan Chicken

Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken. Strong family/portion value under $20.

Pio Pio

Half Peruvian rotisserie chicken with green sauce and sides for around $10. Multiple locations, consistent quality.

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Sao Mai

Giant bowls of Vietnamese pho under $10 in Manhattan. Also bun bo hue, banh mi, and rice plates at fair prices.

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Russ & Daughters Café

Counter service bagel with nova, cream cheese, and fixings from NYC's legendary appetizing shop since 1914.

Too Good To Go (app)

App-based mystery bags of surplus food from NYC restaurants and bakeries at 60-80% off. Find $4 bags worth $15.

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Charles' Country Pan Fried Chicken

Legendary Harlem fried chicken: extra-crispy, hand-seasoned, pan-fried in cast iron. Sells out daily. Cash preferred.

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Cơm Tấm Ninh Kiều

Vietnamese broken rice plates in the Bronx: grilled pork chop, egg, pickled veg, all for under $12. Hidden gem.

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Mermaid Oyster Bar

Chef's choice oysters $2. Monday HH runs ALL NIGHT. Great pre-theater stop.

Crave Fishbar

Assorted oysters $2–$3.50 range plus discounted food/drinks. Multiple locations.

Grand Army

Dozen oysters for $25 plus discounted wine/beer. Clean Brooklyn deal.

OTB

Oysters and bar food HH. Pool tables, Lone Stars, strong cool-but-cheap positioning.

Due West

West Village oyster HH. Cozy neighborhood spot.

John Doe

$1 oyster happy hour in NoMad. Call to verify current days/times.

The Summit Bar

Daily HH with raw East Coast oysters and pulled pork sliders.

Grand Banks

Waterfront oyster/bar specials vary seasonally. Iconic boat bar on the Hudson.

Pilot

Boat restaurant with seasonal seafood specials. Great summer deal candidate.

Upstate

$1 oysters daily, max 12/guest. Cocktails $14, wine $10. Romantic date spot.

Dock's Oyster Bar

$1.50 oyster du jour + clams, $3 beef slider, $6 drafts, $8 fish tacos.

Brooklyn Crab

$1 oysters at a 3-floor waterfront bar with cornhole and beachside vibes.

Maison Premiere

$1 oysters at one of NYC's most celebrated oyster bars. Absinthe cocktails, beautiful garden. Get there early.

The Ready Rooftop

$1 tacos on a rooftop in the East Village. High viral potential. Saturday only.

Frijoleros

Weekday HH with tacos and classic cocktails at one of Brooklyn's hottest new Mexican spots.

Mad Dog & Beans

Bottomless tacos 6–9pm with a FREE frozen margarita. All you can eat for $19.95.

Eastpoint

$2 tacos every Tuesday. No gimmicks, just cheap tacos in the East Village.

East End Bar & Grill

Beef or chicken 2/$5. Fish, shrimp, carne asada, al pastor, pulled pork 2/$6.

All-Stars Bar & Grill

$3 chicken or beef tacos, $5 margaritas every Tuesday.

Mason Jar NYC

$5 tacos (beef, pork, fish, chicken), $7 margs, live music at 6pm.

Barrio Taqueria

$20 unlimited tacos: al pastor, tinga, mushroom, chicken, chorizo. 1-hour limit.

Colima Taqueria

$2 birria tacos every Tuesday noon to 6pm. Bronx gem.

Various NYC bars

50-cent wings from 7pm to midnight at multiple Manhattan bars.

UES bars

Half-price wings across UES. Some top finishers in citywide Lord of the Wings challenge.

Select bars

Yes, dime wings still exist at a few NYC bars.

Pizza Hut

20 lil' wings for $10. Carryout only, limit 6 orders.

Mason Jar NYC

BOGO Double Bacon Cheeseburgers all day Wednesday. Beverage purchase required.

Golden HOF

Burger + beer combo plus $10 cocktails and $6 beers during HH. Great Midtown office deal.

Burger King

$3.99 Whopper (regular or Impossible) via the BK app every Wednesday.

Sonic

Half-price cheeseburgers every Tuesday evening at Sonic.

Popina

Happy hour pasta and drinks at a respected Brooklyn restaurant. Also: no-corkage Wednesday.

Koloman

Upscale NoMad Austrian/French restaurant with martini hour and lower-priced bar snacks.

PHD Terrace

Published happy hour with $7 bites and $5 prosecco on a Midtown rooftop. Strong SEO for rooftop value.

Red Rooster

Harlem hotspot with half-off cocktails on weekdays. Marcus Samuelsson's flagship.

The Dynamo Room

Steakhouse-adjacent bar near MSG with discounted cocktails and raw bar. Great pre-event.

Mad Dog & Beans

Your choice of fajita + one FREE frozen margarita for $15.95.

Mexican bars

$5 margaritas all day and all night at the bar. Acoustic live music 7–10pm.

Dozens of bars

$4 domestic bottles, $5 craft drafts, $6 wells/wine. The NYC baseline.

Street Taco

$3 mini tacos, $6 nachos, $9 margaritas. Double happy hour: afternoon and late-night.

Roey's

$4 beers, $5 cocktails, $6 wine, $6 pizza slices. The West Village daily happy hour.

Tile Bar

$5 well drinks in a classic East Village dive bar setting. No frills, just cheap drinks.

Claw Daddy's

$1 wings, $1 oysters, $7 beer, $9 Adult Capri Suns. Daily afternoon deal in LES.

A10 Kitchen

Crispy double-fried wings for $9 during happy hour. Also discounted cocktails. Casual Brooklyn neighborhood spot.

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The Laurels

6 crispy chicken wings for $10 plus $5 cocktails and $4 drafts. Long happy hour window in Park Slope.

Various (per SecretNYC)

$14 bottomless rosé mimosas, classic mimosas, or sangria with food. Cheapest bottomless in NYC.

Beatstro

$19.95 for 90 min unlimited sangria/mimosas with live music. Chicken & waffles, rum cake french toast.

Sweet Afton / Bonnie's

$25 for 90 min unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, sangria, or beer with entrée.

Ainslie

$32 for 1.5 hours unlimited brunch cocktails with any entrée. Three-floor venue.

Medium Rare

Steak frites ($34.95 at dinner) — at brunch add bottomless for $5 more.

Carroll Place

$40 for 90 min Mimosas/Bloody Marys/Sangria with entrée. Wood-fired oven.

Taco Vision

Endless tacos + bottomless margaritas/mimosas. Bi-level with Margarita Garden patio.

Rowdy Rooster

Hot casual restaurant from the Dhamaka team with accessible items. Indian-spiced fried chicken.

Taqueria Ramirez

One of NYC's hottest taco spots with accessible à la carte pricing relative to demand.

Superiority Burger

Hot vegetarian spot with some of the most affordable items on any trendy menu. Cult following.

Raku

High-quality udon where selective ordering stays under $20. Not a deal — just great value.

Hamburger America

Hot new burger spot with accessible per-item pricing. Classic smash style.

S&P Lunch

Trendy retro lunch counter with classic sandwiches at reasonable prices.

Dante

World-famous cocktail bar. Not always a deal, but aperitivo-style drinks at a bucket-list bar.

L'Express

Classic French brasserie that's surprisingly affordable for what you get. Open late.

Queens Night Market

Seasonal Saturday market with 80+ vendors and capped affordable pricing. Must-visit event.

Adel's Famous Halal Food

Cult halal cart with massive portions. Long lines = good sign.

King of Falafel & Shawarma

Queens street food staple. Enormous portions of shawarma and falafel.

Frying Pan

Not always a deal, but strong casual waterfront value. Burgers, clam chowder, beers on a lightship.

Urbanspace Vanderbilt

Food hall with multiple fast-casual vendors. Strong Midtown office lunch rotation.

Essex Market

Multiple affordable vendors: Puebla tacos, dumplings, pizza, Shopsin's. Good LES hub.

Arthur Avenue Retail Market

NYC's real Little Italy. Fresh mozzarella, porchetta sandwiches, pasta, cannoli, and pastries at unbeatable prices.

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Joe's Pizza

Iconic slice remains a relatively cheap NYC meal. Tourist-approved, local-validated.

Scarr's Pizza

Hot slice shop with hand-milled flour. Worth the premium over dollar slice.

L'Industrie Pizzeria

Cult-favorite slice shop. The burrata slice is the move. Strong value-to-quality ratio.

Prince Street Pizza

Tourist-heavy but the spicy pepperoni square is worth one visit. Expect a line.

Denino's Pizzeria & Tavern

Staten Island institution since 1937. Legendary thin-crust square pies in a classic tavern setting. Worth the ferry.

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Taco Bell

Beefy 5-Layer Burrito + Taco + Twists + drink. App $7 box = Crunchwrap + Burrito + Baja Blast.

Shake Shack

Free chicken sandwich Sundays w/$10 min. Code: CHICKENSUNDAY. Through June 2026.

Buffalo Wild Wings

$9.99 Mix & Match Bottomless Appetizers. Through June 2026.

McDonald's

McValue Under $3 menu + $4 breakfast. Manhattan = ~$6. Free medium fries Fridays via app.

Gallagher's Steakhouse

Three-course prix fixe at a classic steakhouse for $29. One of the best lunch deals in the city.

Café D'Alsace

Three-course French lunch that changes daily. Friday = Moules Frites au Curry.

Avra (Rockefeller Center)

Three-course Greek prix fixe. Amazing outdoor seating at Rock Center.

STK

2.5-course Power Lunch with filet mignon, tuna tartare tacos, chicken, or pasta.

600+ restaurants

Bi-annual city program. Prix fixe at $30/$45/$60. 600+ restaurants. Excludes Saturdays.

Various

NYC Tourism's year-round dining discovery program between Restaurant Week seasons.

Ace Hotel New York

Massive communal tables, outlets everywhere, free WiFi, no purchase required. Best free coworking in Midtown.

Capital One

50% off drinks with CapOne card, free WiFi for everyone, coworking tables. Multiple NYC locations.

New York Public Library

Free public space, rooftop terrace with city views, incredible WiFi, silent study spaces. Open to all.

Devoción

Fast WiFi, plant-filled industrial space, exceptional specialty coffee. Arrive early for outlets.

Chelsea Gallery District

Free wine, beer, and snacks while viewing world-class contemporary art at 200+ galleries. Every Thursday.

Various NYC venues

Free pizza, drinks, and networking with founders and VC scouts. Check Luma app for this week's events.

Whitney Museum of American Art

Free museum admission, rooftop drinks, live music, and stunning Hudson River views every Friday evening.

Bryant Park Corporation

Rotating free events: movie nights, fitness classes, ice skating in winter, carousel, free concerts.

Smorgasburg

NYC's legendary outdoor food market with 100+ vendors every Saturday spring through fall. Free entry.

Brooklyn Museum

Monthly free evening with live music, dancing, art-making, film, and special exhibitions. NYC's best free party.

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MoMA (11 W 53rd St)

Free admission to MoMA every Friday evening for NY State residents. Wine bar, last-minute tour talks, world-class art.

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Wo Hop

NYC's most famous all-night Chinese restaurant since 1938. Wonton soup, roast duck, and clay pots at 4am. Zero judgment.

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Corner Bistro

Cash-only dive bar serving legendary $9 Bistro Burgers until 3:30am nightly. Cheap beers and perfect greasy burgers.

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Artichoke Basille's Pizza

Iconic thick-cut artichoke and crab slices served until 5am on weekends. NYC institution for 15+ years.

Kunjip

24-hour Korean BBQ at the heart of Koreatown. Tabletop grills, banchan, dolsot bibimbap, soju. Never closes.

Kellogg's Diner

Classic 1940s stainless diner open 24 hours. Massive plates, strong coffee, pancakes at 3am, perfect disco fries.

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Sarge's Deli & Diner

NYC Jewish deli open 24/7 since 1964. Pastrami sandwiches stacked sky-high, matzoh ball soup, cheesecake.

Empanada Mama

Latin empanadas stuffed with 30+ fillings until 4am. Spinach, chicken, beef, shrimp — massive and cheap.

Katz's Delicatessen

The world-famous pastrami sandwich at Katz's stays open until 2:45am on weekends. Since 1888. Worth every penny.

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Nom Wah Tea Parlor

NYC's oldest dim sum parlor, open since 1920 on the crooked Doyers St. Order-from-menu style, no carts. Must-do.

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Jing Fong

Traditional Hong Kong-style cart service in a massive ballroom. Har gow, siu mai, egg tarts pushed to your table.

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88 Palace

Hidden underground food court beneath a mall on E Broadway. Multiple vendors, off-tourist-track prices, insiders-only.

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Dim Sum Go Go

Modern dim sum with colorful dumpling skins, no cart service, all-day menu. Instagrammable and delicious.

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

Best XLB outside Shanghai. Soup dumplings, pan-fried pork buns, and scallion pancakes in the heart of Flushing.

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Golden Unicorn

Classic Hong Kong banquet-hall dim sum on East Broadway. Full carts, massive space, great price-to-quality ratio.

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