Real Cheap Eats NYC
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"Alphabet City"
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- $3.00
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At this narrow East Village coffee mecca, a small assortment of pastries matches some of the city’s best brews. Baker Elizabeth Quijada’s acclaimed olive oil cake, which arguably sparked a renaissance of its own in coffee house food, is unequaled. Moist and prone to minor crumbling, it harbors a simple and unassertive flavor, like a more flavorful angel cake.
Abraço
86 East 7th St. at First Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-9731
- MAN
- $9.50 for 4
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In the gentrified East Village, B&H Dairy is still churning out tasty old-school dishes, including “tastes-like-homemade” soups. On any night at this vegetarian diner you’ll find special combos, like four pierogies (boiled, Polish-style dumplings) plus a cup of soup. The pierogies, filled with potato or cheese, are plump and unusually large. They’re great with the hearty, but not heavy, barley and mushroom soup. Sop up any leftovers with the two slices of challah, smeared with generous amounts of butter, that come on the side.
B & H Vegetarian Restaurant
127 Second Ave. nr St. Mark’s Pl. (map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 505-8065
- MAN
- $6.25
In New York, the Vietnamese sandwich known as bánh mì tends to be a heavy affair, loaded with grilled pork and closer to a hero than a street-side snack. Bánh Mì Zon captures the best of both approaches with a filling bánh mì that tastes light and fresh. Each layer of the sandwich—a flavorful pâté, terrine, thin-sliced ham, dried pork floss, pickled vegetables and cilantro—is applied in careful balance, and the baguette holding it all together is just crusty enough to crackle. It’s a bit more expensive than clunkier counterparts in Chinatown, but the extra cost is worth it.
Bánh Mì Zon
443 East 6th St. nr Ave A. (map)
New York, NY 10009
(646) 524-6384
- MAN
- $6.00
When people say “bacon makes everything taste better,” they’re pretty much right. At the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop, you can have soft serve ice cream with sea salt and dulce de leche dipped in chocolate, but what you should really try is the Choinkwich, an ice cream sandwich made with chocolate cookies from the Treats Truck, chocolate soft serve ice cream and a layer of Bacon Marmalade. It’s chocolatey, bacony, smokey, salty, sweet and most definitely delicious.
Big Gay Ice Cream Shop on Eat to Blog
125 E. 7th St. at Ave. A (Map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 533-9333
- MAN
- $8.50
The fried chicken sandwich (a sweet-tea-brined behemoth) and seared pork chop sandwich (coated with a vibrant chowchow relish) are both solid choices at this Virginia-descended fried chicken joint in Alphabet City. Bobwhite’s fried catfish sandwich, however, trumps them both. The cornmeal-crusted filet is tender, fresh and just barely crumbly around the edges. The cole slaw scooped atop is thankfully light, and the entire sandwich comes together beautifully with a splash of Bruce Louisiana hot sauce (look for the yellow-and-red bottle at the counter). Catfish may be bottom feeders, but this sandwich flies high.
Bobwhite Lunch & Supper Counter
94 Ave. C at E. 6th St. (map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 228-2972
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- $7.99
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- Photograph by James Boo
Some Tibetan food is light on the spice, but the chili dofu from Cafe Himalaya is not one of those dishes. One wrong bite of the bright red, pepper-laden sauce can leave you in a coughing fit, though the basmati rice that comes with it helps soothe the burn. Alongside firm strips of tofu, you’ll find red and green pepper, onion, tomato and other spices that make the dish a panoply of textures.
Cafe Himalaya
78 E. 1st St. at First Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 358-0160
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- $7.95
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- Photograph by James Boo
To make its Cookies and Cream Sundae, Dessert Club Chikalicious cuts up three of its cookies—The Situation (chocolate chips, corn chips, peanut butter chips, marshmallow and pretzel), Situation Dark (chocolate cookie with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, toffee popcorn and pretzel) and Chocolate Chip—then mixes the crisp chunks with super creamy vanilla bean soft serve. Each dessert is great on its own, but together they form the best combination of cookies and ice cream you may ever eat. Just make sure to share with one or two people; the portion is huge.
Dessert Club Chikalicious on The Girl Who Ate Everything
203 E. 10th St. at Second Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 475-0929
- MAN
- $2.50
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- STREET
- Photograph by James Boo
For most young people, “egg cream” evokes hazy, black-and-white memories of an older generation of New Yorkers, sharing the once-ubiquitous drink over doo-wop music at a 1950’s-era diner. Thankfully, the humble egg cream, a mixture of chocolate syrup (the purists demand Fox’s U-Bet), milk and soda water, lives on at Gem Spa, a ramshackle bodega on the corner of St. Marks and 2nd Ave. Grab one on a hot afternoon for a refreshing, cross-generational treat.
Gem Spa
131 2nd Ave. at St Mark’s Pl. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 995-1866
- MAN
- $7
- SPICY
For those who are disinclined to trek to Flushing for quality Sichuan, newcomer Hot Kitchen provides a surprisingly solid alternative in the heart of the East Village. Their hot pot is great, but if you’re without a group, stick to this appetizer. The name is misleading—the noodles are actually vermicelli—but forgive the misnomer and just enjoy the mouth-numbing sensation of slippery noodles bathed in a hot chili-oil broth, studded with bits of ground beef, peanuts and cilantro. Taste- and texture-wise, it’s a workout for your tongue—in a good way.
Hot Kitchen
104 Second Ave. at 6th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 228-3090
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- $3.35
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At this Japanese-inspired, Vancouver-born hot dog joint, even dessert comes on a warm bun. The Age Ice (pronounced “ah-gay ice”) consists of three plump scoops of ice cream in your choice of flavors—vanilla, strawberry, green tea or black sesame—set inside a bun that is lightly deep-fried moments before being served. The bun’s texture and light coating of granulated sugar are reminiscent of a good raised doughnut.
Japadog on Eating in Translation
30 Saint Marks Pl. nr Second Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(646) 476-2324
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- $2.50
Mark serves a perfect rendition of a classic slider. A proprietary beef blend is chopped right on the premises. The patties are pressed into a cast iron griddle with onions, flipped, and topped with cheese, which is then left to steam underneath the bun until gooey and soft. The result is the perfect hamburger experience in a bite-sized package.
Mark on A Hamburger Today
33 St. Mark’s Pl. at 2nd Ave.
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-3132
- MAN
- $10.00
Porchetta’s reputation was built on killer Italian roast pork sandwiches. With the Lebanese pressed chicken sandwich, chef Sara Jenkins has turned her attention to poultry and the Middle East. The bird is marinated in lemon and saffron for a day. Then it’s roasted, sliced and slathered with toum, an intense spread consisting of garlic, olive oil and salt. Thrown in a press and topped with pickles, the result is a crunchy, lemony and garlicky sandwich that calls to mind a chicken-based Cubano, by way of Beirut.
Porchetta
110 East 7th St. nr First Ave. (map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 777-2151
- MAN
- $9.95
Filipino cuisine’s meaty tendencies often extend into the vegetables, and pinakbet is no exception. This stew is jam-packed with squash, tomatoes, green beans, bitter melon and eggplant, showcasing a variety of squishy textures and flavors ranging from naturally sweet to sour—with a salty edge from shrimp paste. Of course, there’s also plenty of pork strewn throughout, creating enough heft to qualify this dish as a main attraction, not just as a mere side.
Sa Aming Nayon
201 First Ave. at E. 12th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 388-0152
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- $3.00
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While they offer the giant, Bavarian-style pretzels we’re used to seeing, Sigmund Pretzelshop also makes sweet and savory mini pretzels. Warm, airy and tasty, these mini pretzels make the perfect afternoon snack. Try the garlic parsley, paired with a honey mustard dip.
Sigmund Pretzelshop on Eat to Blog
29 Ave. B at E. 3rd St. (Map)
New York, NY 10009
(646) 410-0333
- MAN
- $5.10
Not to be confused with tourist trap The Stage Deli, Stage Restaurant is a tiny postage stamp-sized diner in the East Village that has been knocking out breakfast classics since 1980. Unlike most every other diner these days, Stage makes everything from scratch. The corned beef hash doesn’t come from a can, but is made daily from fresh corned beef. Served with two eggs, toast and potatoes, an order costs barely over $5 and is packed with beefy flavor. Best of all, it’s available all day long.
Stage Restaurant on Serious Eats
128 Second Ave. at St. Marks Pl. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 473-8614
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- $3.85 for 1 scoop
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This ice cream shop offers classics like vanilla, strawberry and mint chocolate chip, but the main draw is a selection of Asian-inspired flavors, including wasabi, ginger and black sesame. If you’ve never had taro-flavored ice cream before, this is the place to try it. Made with fresh taro and taro-flavored powder, the ice cream tastes like vanilla and sweet potato—subtly starchy and floral.
Sundaes & Cones on Serious Eats NY
95 East 10th St. at 3d Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 979-9398
- MAN
- $7.00
Deep in the East Village, there’s an unassuming bodega called Sunny and Annie’s with an ambitious sandwich program. Alongside turkey clubs and chicken parms, they dabble in combinations appealing to a variety of customers—the adventurous, the gourmet, or the stoner. Perhaps the most innovative (and tastiest), is the PHO Real. This sandwich uses fresh sliced Boar’s Head roast beef, basil, cilantro, sprouts, tomato, avocado, and a squirt of spicy sriracha and sweet hoisin to capture the essence of the Vietnamese noodle soup in sandwich form.
Sunny & Annie’s
94 Ave. B at E. 6th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-3131
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- $5.50
The “This Way” sandwich served at this East Village hole in the wall is an obvious homage to the roast beef sandwich sold at the Sheepshead Bay institution Brennan and Carr. Slowly roasted beef round is sliced paper thin and served on a sesame studded roll, a hearty au jus is ladled on, and lashings of cheese whiz are then applied. The resulting sandwich is as delicious as it is messy.
This Little Piggy on Beef Aficionado
149 First Ave. at E. 9th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 253-1500
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- $8.95 for 3
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- Photograph by James Boo
For decades the East Village meant Ukrainian and Polish food. Now only a few of those old restaurants remain, and East Village Ukrainian Restaurant is one of the best. Their cheese blintzes (nalesnyky) taste like the East Village of bygone days. Each is filled with lightly sweetened farmer cheese and fried in butter until the edges are just crisp enough, while the middle remains tender. Eaten with sour cream, these blintzes are dairy nirvana.
Ukranian East Village Restaurant on Eric Eats Out
140 Second Ave. at East 9th St. (map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 614-3283
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- $3.50
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Not a fan of Artichoke’s heavy hand and long lines? Looking for a break from the ambitions of neo-Neapolitan pies? If you’re in the East Village, there’s no better stop for a solid slice than Vinnie Vincenz. The margherita slice—featuring a taut, thin crust, rich but mellow tomato sauce and a modest layer of fresh mozzarella—is particularly good. This pizza may not be legendary, but it upholds the New York standard with distinction.
Vinny Vincenz Pizza
231 1st Ave. at E. 14th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 674-0707
- MAN
- $7.00
- Photograph by Robyn Lee
If you have ever spent an evening roaming the streets of Berlin hungry, this is the place to bring you back. A veal and pork bratwurst, cut up and served with fries and a homemade, tomato-based curry sauce, is the perfect snack food while drinking German beers.
Wechsler’s Currywurst Bratwurst on Eating the World in NYC
120 First Ave. at E. 7th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 667-4663
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- $4.00-4.50
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Since opening, Xi’an Famous Foods has duly conquered Flushing, Chinatown, the East Village, Anthony Bourdain’s heart, Adam Richman’s gut, and Andrew Zimmern’s, uh, heart and gut. As famous as the no-frills noodle shop has become, it can’t be praised enough, especially when said praise is pointed at Xi’an’s “cold skin noodles.” This signature dish—a vegetarian plate of noodles, sprouts, wheat gluten and spices served cold—throws nearly every trick into the mix. Imparting tangy, spicy, hot, cool, crisp, moist and chewy sensations with every bite, cold skin noodles are still the double rainbow of flavor they’ve always been.
Xi’an Famous Foods on The Eaten Path
67 Bayard St. at Mott (Map)
New York, NY 10013
81 St. Marks Place at 1st Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
41-28 Main Street Stall #36 at 41st Rd. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
86 Beadel St. at Vandervoort Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
