20 Satisfying Cheap Eats in New York City (Under $15!) (2024)

Contrary to popular belief, eating well doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg while visiting NYC. The city is home to a plethora of great restaurants serving bites at affordable prices. As a longtime local, here’s my list of the best cheap eats in New York City (less than $15). Let’s dive in!

Authors Note: If you feel like one of the best cheap eats in NYC is missing from this list please drop me a comment below and I’ll check it out ASAP!

Best Cheap Eats in New York City

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Los Tacos No. 1

Website:Los Tacos No. 1

Los Tacos No. 1 dishes out the best tacos in New York City. The simple menu pays homage to authentic Mexican street food, with a focus on tacos, quesadillas & mulas.

The tacos are the draw, wrapped in homemade tortillas (choose between flour and corn) and topped with onion, cilantro, salsa and guacamole these bad boys have no business being so good.

My favorite taco is the adobada (marinated pork), an order of 2-3 tacos serves as a meal. The guacamole and chips is a great companion, but at $5.50 for small servings, don’t feel guilty if you skip it.

We always prioritize at visit here with out-of-town guests and everyone raves about the meal months after. In fact, it’s the place most of our friends want to re-visit when they return to the Big Apple. So if you’re looking for the best cheap eats in New York City, Los Tacos gets my vote.

Xi’an Famous Foods

Website:Xi’an Famous Foods

Xi’an Famous Foods is named after the easternmost city in China (and the last stop on the Silk Road). The restaurant specializes in traditional Xi’an street foods like hand-pulled noodles and large dumplings swimming in glorious spicy-sour sauce.

Full of fiery spices and aromatic seasonings, the menu doesn’t pander to amateur palates (the motto says it all “not spicy = not as good”). Surprisingly, most dishes are less than $10, earning this no-frills establishment a spot on our list of the best cheap eats in New York City.

My husband and I visit Xi’an’s often and our order is almost always the same: spicy hot-oil seared hand-ripped noodles and spicy & sour lamb dumplings. This restaurant is a personal favorite, I’m not saying I’m on a first-name basis with the staff, but they’re on my Christmas card list.

Grandma Slice at Scarr’s Pizza ($6)

Website:Scarr’s Pizza
Address: 22 Orchard St, New York, NY

Scarr’s has been milling flour on-site (an unusual practice) since opening in 2016. Offering traditional NYC slices (they’re huge, folding required) alongside Sicilian slices (focaccia-like crust), the handmade dough serves as the ideal canvas for high-quality toppings and velvety sauces.

In a city where good food sometimes comes at the expense of good service, Scarr’s stands a mile above the rest (the staff are consistently awesome). Also, the retro ’80s-inspired decor definitely evokes old school charm that’s hard to beat.

My go-to slice is a toss-up between the classic cheese ($4) and pepperoni grandma slice ($6), one of the most iconic NYC cheap eats. And before you protest the $6 slices at Scarr’s, know this: Scarr’s dishes out some of the best pizza in New York City, rivaling far more expensive joints.

Smash Burgers at 7th St Burger ($7)

Website:7th Street Burger

The signature flavor of 7th Street Burger’s is achieved by smashing the patty as soon as it hits the grill to ensure optimal searing. This gives the burger a crispy, caramelized flavor, starkly contrasting the thick and meaty patties most burger joints serve.

At 7th Street Burger, the menu couldn’t be simpler, choose between a cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, impossible burger and fries. Each burger comes with the restaurant’s signature sauce, grilled onions, pickles and cheese.

You Might Enjoy Reading: 15 Prime New York City Burgers You Won’t Soon Forget

Breakfast Sandwiches at Daily Provisions ($10)

Website:Daily Provisions

Daily Provisions was opened by Danny Meyer, the mastermind behind Shake Shack, Gramercy Tavern, and so many other iconic NYC restaurants. Most folks trek to this charming for crullers and find themselves returning for everything else on the menu.

I’m partial to the all day breakfast menu, home to some of New York City’s best cheap eats. The breakfast sandwiches are less than $10. The BEC (bacon, egg and cheese) is on constant rotation in my weekend plans, although my husband swears by the smoked salmon croissant. Both are outstanding.

Mamoun’s Falafel ($7)

Website:Mamoun’s Falafel

Established in 1972, Mamoun’s Falafel predates the proliferation of Middle Eastern food carts in Manhattan. A pioneer of sorts, this establishment played a crucial role in introducing falafel sandwiches to the city. Priced at $6.50, the signature sandwich (falafel, hummus, lettuce, tomato, onions, and tahini) is among the most popular cheap eats in New York City.

Peanut Noodles at Shu Jiao Fu Zhou ($4)

Website:Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Address: 295 Grand St, New York, NY

Known for creamy peanut noodles and tender dumplings, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou (cash-only establishment) earns a well-deserved spot on our roundup of best cheap eats in NYC. Located in Chinatown, this is the spot to go if you’re trying to save a buck. A serving of peanut noodles is less than $4 and an order of the pork and chive dumplings will cost you less than $3 (for 6) or $4 (for 10).

You Might Enjoy Reading: 20 Chinatown Restaurants You Can’t Afford to Miss (The Hungry Foodie)

Trapizzino ($10)

Website:Trapizzino
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 144 Orchard Street, New York, NY

Trapizzino is a popular Italian chain that recently expanded to New York City. Specializing in the popular Roman street food by the same name, trappizzini is sourdough pizza crust gorged with various fillings.

Choose from 9-hour braised oxtail, beef meatballs and (my personal favorite) stracciatella and cantabrian anchovy, among other options.

Sometimes referred to as an elevated version of a hot pocket, this is one of my favorite NYC cheap eats in a pinch. Don’t sleep on the supplì (fried risotto balls) either!

Banh Mi Saigon ($10)

Neighborhood: Chinatown
Address: 198 Grand St New York, NY

If there’s anything you take away from this roundup of NYC cheap eats, let it be this: Chinatown is a goldmine of options. One of my favorite spots in the neighborhood is Banh Mi Saigon, famous for (you guessed it) banh mi.

A tour de force, the popular Vietnamese sandwich is made with crisp baguette-style bread, pickled carrots, daikon, chiles, cucumber slices, cilantro, mayo, and a protein (typically marinated pork). The best part? It’s a mere $10 at Banh Mi Saigon.

Local’s Recommendation: If you don’t plan on eating the sandwich right away then ask for it to be prepared “for tomorrow.” The veggies will be set aside so the sandwich doesn’t get soggy.

Birria Landia

Website:Birria Landia
Neighborhood: SoHo & Brooklyn

Birria is a tender slow-roasted meat stew made with braising liquid. Since opening in 2019, Birria Landia has been churning out thousands of birria tacos a night, making it clear locals can’t get enough.

The popular food cart sells tacos, consomé (richly-flavored broth, great for dipping), tostadas and mulita (stuffed tortilla sandwiches) for less than $5. And since a full meal will only set you back $15-20 (depending on hunger levels) long lines are all but guaranteed.

Joe’s Steam Rice Roll ($10)

Instagram:Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
Neighborhood: Upper West Side & Chinatown

Hailing from southern China, steamed rice rolls have gained traction in the Big Apple thanks to Joe’s Steam Rice Roll. A popular Cantonese street food, steamed rice rolls consist of thinly-steamed rice batter filled with pork, shrimp, beef and vegetables.

True to tradition, Joe’s steam rice rolls are made by hand, a tedious process that results in a delicate chewy texture. Dressed with soy sauce and/or chili oil, it’s a great light lunch option for $10.

Customized Corn Dogs at Two Hands ($5)

Website:Two Hands Corn Dogs
Neighborhood: SoHo & West Village

Battered, fried and seasoned to perfection, Two Hands specializes in made-to-order Korean corn dogs, a fun twist on the American classic. Getting your hands on these bad boys is a two step process: First, choose a coating from the seven options offered (I like the fried potato cubes with Cheetos powder).

Second, pick a filling (spicy sausage, beef sausage, cheese, etc.). Priced around $5 per corn dog, Two Hands is one of the most affordable places to eat in New York City.

Halal Guys

Website: Halal Guys
Address: Multiple locations in NYC

What started as a humble food cart in 1990 has now expanded to several outposts across town and a restaurant on the Upper West Side. Under Islamic law, Halal food must be prepared with minimal animal suffering, viewing the slaughter as a sacrifice to God (a requirement of the Quran).

Today, folks of all stripes line up to get filling $15 platters (choose from beef, chicken or falafel) and $9 gyros. Seriously, you couldn’t miss this place if you tried, the lines are always so long, especially in the evenings.

Veselka

Website:Veselka
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 144 Second Ave, New York, NY

Opened in 1954, Veselka has been a steadfast East Village institution in the ever-changing neighborhood. A byproduct of the thriving Ukrainian community, the restaurant introduced generations of New Yorkers to Eastern European cuisine.

With a handful of affordable dishes, Veselka has become a go-to destination for budget-friendly eats in New York City. The Ukrainian borscht (traditional beet soup) seems to be a huge hit at $6 per cup or $11 for a bowl.

Likewise, the pierogis (dumplings served boiled or fried, topped with sautéed onions and sour cream), priced at $9 for four, are another easy crowd-pleaser.

Cheeky Sandwiches (Under Renovation)

Instagram:Cheeky Sandwiches
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Address: 35 Orchard St, New York, NY

Shelling out for a sandwich has never been my idea of a good time. The ingredients are seldom pricey on their own, so paying a premium for someone to assemble a sandwich doesn’t feel like a smart move on my part. However, Cheeky Sandwiches has managed to change my perspective.

None of the sandwiches surpass the $10 mark and they’re some of the best in town. The braised short rib sandwich in particular deserves shout-out, topped with horseradish, arugula and cherry tomatoes, it’s an uncomplicated masterpiece.

Mei Lai Wah ($2)

Website:Mei Lai Wah
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Address: 64 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013

Mei Lai Wah is an established Chinese bakery known for stuffed steamed buns. Serving tons of exciting flavors, the crowd favorite seem to be the pineapple pork bun. The tender meat complements the slight sweetness of the dough harmoniously. This is one of the best cheap eats in New York City because the generously-sized buns start at $1.50 a piece.

Best Cheap Eats New York City (Post Summary)

1. Xi’an Famous Foods
2. 7th St Burger
3. Scarr’s Pizza
4. Los Tacos No. 1
5. Tiki Chick
6. Mamoun’s Falafel
7. Two Hands
8. Halal Guys
9. Veselka
10. Ess-A-Bagel
11. Joe’s Steam Rice Roll
12. Cheeky Sandwiches
13. Wonton Noodle Garden
14. Evelia’s Tamales
15. Birria-Landia
16. Banh mi Saigon
17. Trapizzino
18. Mei Lai Wah
19. Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
20. Daily provisions

Best Cheap Eats NYC Map

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And there you have it, folks! Our list of the best cheap eats in New York City. We’re always looking for a way to stretch a dollar, so let us know your suggestions.

Cheers!