Real Cheap Eats NYC
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- QNS
- $6.95
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Tender pieces of beef swim in a fiery red broth at Andy’s, clearing your sinuses, warming you to your core and helping you sweat out any ailments you may feel approaching. Don’t wear white—the slippery noodles soak up the spices and splash oil on whatever you’re wearing. A few pieces of spinach are included for decoration, but the real star of the dish is the taste of red chilies, which, while in-your-face, is still not quite enough to make you say “uncle.”
Andy’s Seafood and Grill
95-26 Queens Blvd. at 63rd Ave. (map)
Queens, NY 11374
(718) 275-2388
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- $1.00
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Mexican Coke can be elusive, but Indian Coke? Get a real sugar bite way in the back of the Apna Bazar. The soda’s black color shines through the bottle, without even a sliver of Coca-Cola red. For a Coke collector or a soft drink enthusiast, this is a nice pick-up.
Apna Bazar on Jeffrey Tastes
72-20 37th Ave. at 73rd St. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 565-5960
- QNS
- $1.30
- STREET
Flushing is dotted with tiny Chinese bakeries, and Apollo Bakery is one of the smallest; yet, its square-shaped pork floss bun is one of the biggest. A cross between bread and pastry, the top of the bun is flaky and layered, while the bottom is dense and chewy. Inside, Taiwanese dried pork shavings puff up the bread like a decorative couch pillow.
Apollo Bakery on Food Mayhem
135-36 39th Ave. at Main St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 961-0596
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- $6.00
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The house specialty at Astoria’s Arepas Café is (unsurprisingly) Venezuelan-style arepas: thick, white corn cakes that are griddled until their outsides are slightly crisp, and then stuffed with savory fillings. Amid the mostly meaty options, the “Guayanesa Tropical” arepa holds its own, bolstered by a rich combination of fried sweet plantains, creamy wedges of avocado, and firm, mild Guyanese cheese. Add squirts of peppery-and-sour West Indian hot sauce (hello, Scotch bonnet peppers) and the tangy, creamy, house-made guasacaca (a blend of mayo, avocado, garlic, and cilantro) to your arepa, and you’ll have a full meal in your hands. -Anne Noyes Saini
Arepas Cafe on City Spoonful
33-07 36th Ave. at 33rd St. (Map)
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 937-3835
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- $8.00
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At roadside food stands in Indonesia, pecel lele (“Peh-chel Lay-lay”)—tenderized, marinated, deep-fried catfish—is traditionally eaten by hand. Patience is required: Ask for your fish to be cooked a bit longer and crispier, and nibble cautiously, working around the little bones by touch rather than by sight. The chili sauce, inflected with shrimp paste, is finger-lickin’ good.
Asian Taste 86 on Eating in Translation
86-10 Whitney Ave. at 43rd Ave. (Map)
Queens, NY 11373
(718) 779-8686
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- $10.00
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Thais know how to turn meat into a salad, and Ayada’s beef larb is a perfect example. Roughly chopped (not ground), ragged strips of meat are dressed with lime juice and fish sauce, then tossed with chopped scallion, red onions, cilantro, crushed dried chilies and finished with a dusting of toasted rice powder. Like a lot of Northern Thai food, larbs are particularly spicy—use the accompanying cucumber slices and a side of sticky rice to temper the heat.
Ayada Thai Restaurant
7708 Woodside Ave. at 77th St. (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 424-0844
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- $8.00
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On the periphery of Flushing Chinatown you’ll find Bownie Restaurant, a small, modest eatery for Sri Lankan home cooking. The freshly pressed iddiappams, delicately steamed wheat noodle patties, outshine the more familiar Indian dishes on the menu and come with a serving of sambhar and coconut chutney on the side. They taste even better with an order of mutton curry for dipping—like a chip in salsa, this match is a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavor in each bite.
Bownie Restaurant on World to Table
143-05 45th Ave. at Bowne St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 463-8621
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- $2.50
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At Brother’s, nearly everyone orders a regular slice—oregano-tinged, thick-sauced and well heated over a smokey, crackling crust. There’s nothing behind a sneeze glass, and you won’t see a chicken-and-broccoli or buffalo-and-bleu-style slice. Instead you’ll see a regular and a square behind the counter and the ever-working pizza man making another.
Brother’s Pizzeria on Jeffrey Tastes
185-04 Horace Harding Expressway at 185th St. (Map)
Fresh Meadows, NY 11365
(718) 445-7888
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- $5.75
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- Photograph by Robyn Lee
Arepas aren’t the only food being given clever treatments at this hip downtown spot. The yo-yo, a classic Venezulan side that is a kind of cheese-stuffed plantain-wich, gets a sugary makeover at Caracas. Sweet plantains are fried in a cinnamon-spiked plantain batter to produce a crisp, aromatic crust; then they’re stuffed with a subdued, slightly chewy, fresh cheese. Dunked in the honey dipping sauce that comes on the side, they’re an irresistable way to start your meal.
Caracas Arepas Bar
93 1/2 East 7th St. at 1st Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 529-2314
291 Grand St. at Havemeyer St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 218-6050
106-01 Shore Front Parkway at Beach 106th St. (Map)
Queens NY 11694
(718) 474-1709
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- $9.75
Photograph by James Boo
The debate over the best Thai cooking in New York usually pits fans of Chao Thai, in Elmhurst, against devotees of SriPraPhai, in Woodside. But in a flat noodle contest, Chao Thai’s Gai Kua Noodle (chicken, squid and egg) wins handily. Flat noodles are usually thick and floppy—congealed into an oily, glutinous mound. But Chao Thai’s noodles are exceptionally delicate and firm—almost perky—and totally free of gloppy, sweet sauces. Enjoy the subtly mingled flavors of garlic, the squid itself and that smoky wok essence. -Anne Noyes Saini and Sue Yacka
Chao Thai on City Spoonful
85-03 Whitney Ave. at Broadway (Map)
Queens, NY 11373
(718) 424-4999
Chao Thai Too
8347 Dongan Ave. at Broadway (Map)
Queens, NY 11373
(718) 424-9888
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- $1.65
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Cheburechnaya’s cheburek—a popular snack of Crimean origin that looks like a flattened Indian samosa—embodies the Rego Park eatery’s Central Asian, Bukharian Jewish cooking, which blends Eastern European and Asian traditions. Cheb’s cabbage chebureki contains a piquant mixture of cabbage and pureed tomato, still crunchy after a thorough deep-frying. The mushroom variety is filled with tender, deeply savory bits of seasoned funghi. Diners can order one of each with a Baltika brew ($5) and enjoy this oil-rich, classic drinking snack as it was intended—all for less than $10. -Anne Noyes Saini
Cheburechnaya on City Spoonful
92-09 63rd Dr. at Wetherole St. (Map)
Rego Park, NY 11374
(718) 897-9080
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- $3.50
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- (Photo by James Boo)
Flimsy styrofoam plates come overflowing with chili oil, and the old man behind the counter has a heavy hand with mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns. His “House Special Salad” is stunningly perfect: Glass noodles, carrots, seaweed and chopped scallions accompany a hot and numbing dressing with a vinegary zip. The natural sweetness of the carrots mellows the whole dish out, but your mouth will be buzzing for hours. A convincing case for (occasionally) eating vegetarian.
Chengdu Heaven on Law & Food
Golden Shopping Mall
41-28 Main St. at 41st Rd. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
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- $8.00
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The shining star of the restaurant is definitely bi-bim naeng-myun, a cold dish of spicy buckwheat noodles. The accompanying paste is mildly spicy, very chewy and very slippery, but what makes this version stand apart from others is that it relies heavily on sesame.
Chung Moo Rollrice & Dongas on Eating the World in NYC
39-04 Union St. at Roosevelt Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 308-6582
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- $1.00
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A $1 Peking duck sandwich at Corner 28′s streetside window is one of the cheapest and tastiest things to eat in downtown Flushing. The steamed bun is a taste of heaven, cradling a bit of duck blanketed by hoisin and topped with green onion. And it won’t spoil your appetite for any of the neighborhood’s other delicacies.
Corner 28 on World’s Fare
40-28 Main St. at 40th St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 886-6628
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- $3.00
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Roti canai, a thin crepe served with chicken curry, is often miscategorized as a pancake on Malaysian menus. The true Malaysian flapjack is apam balik, a popular hawker snack filled with sweet corn and ground peanuts. Save the plane fare and find it at Flushing’s Curry Leaves for $3.00. Take note: It’s only available from 4:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., when the restaurant serves various and sundry soups, noodles and other night market fare to a motley crew of night owls, club kids and homesick Southeast Asians lining up at the counter.
Curry Leaves on World’s Fare
135-31 40th Rd. at Main St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 762-9313
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- $2.50
Lo mai gai, or lotus leaf sticky rice, is interspersed with various goodies. Though a dim sum staple, it’s rarely seen in our fair city’s Malaysian eateries, but Flushing’s Curry Leaves serves an exemplary version. The dome of rice is pleasingly chewy with chicken, egg, char siu and mushroom pressed into the top. At $2.50 it’s a rib-sticking bargain. Take note: It’s only available from 4:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. when the restaurant serves sundry soups, noodles and other night market fare to a motley crew of night owls, club kids and homesick Southeast Asians who line up at the counter.
Curry Leaves on World’s Fare
135-31 40th Rd. at Main St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 762-9313
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- $2.00 per piece
There are mandoo (Korean dumplings) and there are wang mandoo, which roughly translates to “king-sized dumplings.” At Daheen Wong Mandoo, the first U.S. outpost of a popular dumpling shop in Seoul, Korea, jjin (steamed) mandoo are stuffed with peppery minced pork, tender sweet potato noodles and a fine mince of vegetables. One is enough for a snack, and two to three could be a meal. Despite the regal moniker, these hefty dumplings are only $2 a piece.
Daheen Wang Mandoo on Serious Eats NY
2 W. 32nd St. nr. Fifth Ave. (map)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 510-7332
153-24 Northern Blvd. nr. 154th St. (map)
Queens, NY 11354
(718) 321-2007
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- $7.50
There are as many opinions about where to find the best xiao long bao in New York City as there are places to find the puckered, broth-filled dumplings. One of the best in Flushing’s Chinatown is a relative newcomer called Diverse Dim Sum, which opened this winter in the Flushing Mall food court. There are no dim sum carts here, but you can order a sextet of the thin-skinned, broth-filled crab soup dumpings from the shop’s bingo-style menu card.
Diverse Dim Sum on World’s Fare
Flushing Mall Food Court
133-31 39th Ave. at Prince St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11354
(718) 395-8188
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- $5.50
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A step into Eddie’s is a step back in time to when things were simpler—the ice cream was homemade, and whipped cream with a cherry on top was a given. Every flavor is handcrafted, but the standout is maple walnut: rich, buttery, filled with nuts. Hot fudge is unnecessary on a scoop this beautiful.
Eddie’s Sweet Shop on Feisty Foodie
105-29 Metropolitan Ave. at 72nd Rd. (Map)
Forest Hills, NY 11375
(718) 520-8514
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- $6.00
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There’s no shortage of amazing authentic Mexican street carts outside of the Roosevelt Ave. subway stop in Elmhurst. If you’re having trouble picking one, try El Gallo Giro, which serves up a whopping big torta (a type of Mexican sandwich) in a variety of flavors. While a base of chicken, sausage or pork may be a safe choice, adventurous eaters should order the torta de lengua, constructed with slowly braised and triumphantly meaty beef tongue and topped with queso fresco, lettuce, tomato and guacamole.
El Gallo Giro Cart
Roosevelt Ave. at 74 St. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
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- $1.75
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Empanada Cafe is a short distance off the Long Island Expressway, but people travel from all over to partake in the delicious empanadas. The maduro y mozzarella white flour empanada might sound a bit odd, but somehow, the sweet plantains and mozzarella work wonderfully well together, creating a sweet, creamy, cheesy center surrounded by a crisp, crunchy shell.
Empanada Cafe on Feisty Foodie
56-27 Van Doren St. at 108th St. (Map)
Corona, NY 11368
(718) 592-7288
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- $8.95
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Cooked in the style of ba si (“bah sih”)—which roughly translates to “pulling threads”—these cubes of taro are fried until lightly crisp, tossed in caramelized sugar and brought straight to the table, where wisps of candy trail each piece as it’s coaxed from the plate. The layering of crystallized sugar, browned edges, and fluffy-yet-hearty taro is a minor miracle of cooking. It’s also fleeting — within minutes the pile will begin to cool, melted sugar hardening into a sticky, unyielding sludge until dunking the pieces into water loses its sorcery. Share it with friends, and share it quickly.
Fu Run on The Eaten Path
40-09 Prince St. at Roosevelt Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 321-1363
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- $8.99
Take one part water, two parts ox bones, three parts time, a dash of devotion and you’ll get a bowl of seolleongtang (bone soup), such as the version found at Gahwa, in Flushing. The dish is served with a bowl of salt and fresh scallions, for the diner to augment the soup to their taste. On the surface, its simplicity is deceptive, but fish around in the long-simmering milky bone broth, and you’ll encounter slabs of beef, light wheat noodles and tender white rice. Such simplicity elevates the clean flavors of the dish and reveals the patience and skill of the cook.
Gahwa
2932 Union St. at 29th Rd. (Map)
Flushing NY 11354
(718) 886-3223
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- $6.99
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If you love the tiny, green, ultra-hot chilies eaten throughout Asia, then the Ganesh Temple Canteen’s spicy, Hyderabadi Masala Dosa is for you. A fiercely spicy chutney spread across the underside of the dosa blends the chilies with cilantro, lime juice and other seasonings. If you can get past its extreme heat, that chutney is just the thing to liven up the hunks of mildly spiced potatoes that come on the side. The dosa itself is a fine specimen of its kind: crisp on the outside with a spongy underside and a distinctly tangy, fermented flavor. -Anne Noyes Saini
Ganesh Temple Canteen on City Spoonful
45-57 Bowne St. at Holly Ave. (map)
Queens, NY 11355
(718) 460-8484
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- $5.00
An alum of the Golden Shopping Mall, Gourmet Noodles and Delicacies is best known for spare rib noodle soup, and rightfully so. While a juicy slab of pork that practically falls off the bone is the star of the show, the topping of minced, salted vegetable is a strong supporting actor, serving as a tangy counterpart to the meat, noodles and broth.
Gourmet Noodles and Delicacies
42-15 College Point Blvd. at Pople Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 886-0123
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- $5.39
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This falafel is the most authentic Israeli-style sandwich I have yet to find outside of Israel. Use Grill Point’s large salad bar, full of fresh and pickled veggies, to top the crisp and tasty falafel balls, which are nestled within a thick and chewy hummus-slathered pita, and then squirted with tahini sauce. The beautiful inclusion of french fries or “chips” make this sandwich even better.
Grill Point on Serious Eats NY
69-54 Main St. at Jewel Ave./69th Rd. (Map)
Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367
(718) 261-7077
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- $1.00
$1.00 tacos are exciting. $1.00 tacos al pastor with meat actually sliced from a revolving spit are even more exciting. These $1.00 tacos al pastor, overflowing with spiced pork, topped with bits of sweet pineapple and doused with a bright red, spicy salsa, are the most exciting of all. Not much more needs to be said about these tacos; they are delicious, done well, and cheap, cheap, cheap.
Guadalajara de Noche
85-09 Roosevelt Ave. at 85th St. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 397-9666
- QNS
- $5.50
Jjajangmyeon, that staple of every Korean American’s childhood, is brought to new heights at Guh Song. A mere $5.50 will bring a bowl to your table, piled high with wheat noodles covered in black bean paste. Stir the noodles thoroughly, then enjoy bite after bite of the chewy strands coated with the savory sauce.
Guh Song on Feisty Foodie
47-24 Bell Blvd. at 48th Ave. (Map)
Bayside, NY 11361
(718) 281-1810
- MAN
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- BK
- $7.50/lb
This Turkish bakery and café excels at baklava, and a visit wouldn’t be complete without picking up a few pistachio and phyllo treats. Don’t ignore the savory offerings, though. Gül böreği, an eggy pastry that is more quiche-like than flaky, comes stuffed with spinach and feta, potato or spinach and ground beef. Paired with an intense shot of Turkish coffee, this is a perfect breakfast.
Gulluoglu
231 Brighton Beach Ave. at Brighton 2nd St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11223
(718) 645-1822
982 Second Ave. at E. 52nd St. (Map)
New York, NY 10022
(212) 813-0500
30-92 31st St. at 31st Ave. (Map)
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 406-9100
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- $1.00
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Just off the well worn trails of Main Street in Flushing is Halal Food/BBQ Chicken, wedged into a tiny storefront shared with Home Noodle. The chef, who hails from Tianjin, produces a litany of meats (mostly lamb and chicken) and cold dishes. Subdue your carnivorous urges, and instead snag a couple of lǘ dǎ gǔn, a cake of sticky rice rolled in cooked soybean powder and stuffed with homemade red bean paste. A characteristic dessert of the Beijing region’s Muslim population, it’s sweet in that Chinese dessert kind of way—which is to say: not at all.
Halal Food/BBQ Chicken
41-28 41st Rd. at College Point Blvd. (Map)
Queens, NY 11355
(718) 888-9208
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- $7.00
Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) is renowned as a stamina builder during the hottest days of summer. It’s not usually found at a Chinese food court stall—unless the folks running it hail from Shenyang in China’s northeast like Ming Song Zheng, the cheerful head cook at Han Song Ting in the New World Mall Food Court. Samgyetang is typically made with a whole young chicken, stuffed with glutinous rice and chestnuts, among other things. Zheng offers a half bird served in a grayish, bubbling hot broth, listed on the menu as “panax stew chick soup (half).” Adjust the taste with salt and pepper. Feel your temperature rise as you inhale the restorative chicken-ginseng vapors. Slurp away and pick the meat off the carcass. If you’re too hot afterwards, there’s always Snopo.
Han Song Ting on World’s Fare
New World Mall
40-21 Main St. at Prince St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
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- $8.50
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Fried masala noodles—thin pasta strands, simply sauteed with egg, scallion, carrot and your meat of choice—may not sound like much. But it’s the masala that makes this dish so special. The spice mix, heavy on coriander and chile, adds a level of flavor that takes these noodles far above most stir-fried noodle dishes. Order it spicy and it comes spicy, not watered down for the American palate. These noodles are addictive.
Himalayan Hut
75-18 37th Ave. at 76th St. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 426-6888
- QNS
- $8.95
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You’re more likely to find the “Hunan” name haphazardly slapped on an Americanized Chinese takeout awning then on a legitimate source of China’s fieriest food. But at Hunan House, sweet, salt-pickled chilies and smoky pork are found in abundance. For those seeking vegetarian fare, there are plenty of opportunities to sweat. These sautéed taro cakes, which don’t add much flavor, are present more for their textural contrast and bland relief from the plentiful, spunky-sour green beans and chilies. A scattering of roasted bell pepper, which perfumes the dish with smoke, seals the deal.
Hunan House
137-40 Northern Blvd. at Linden Pl. (map)
Queens, NY 11354
(718) 353-18018
- QNS
- $5.95
The rough translation from Guaraní is “lots of little balls,” and it’s true, this Paraguayan national dish is filled with… well, lots of little balls. Made from cornmeal and cheese—imagine small, corn-based gnocchi and you’ll be close—the balls are served in a thick, salty, fatty chicken broth seasoned with cilantro, onion, garlic, tomato, oregano and (of course) a generous chunk of chicken.
I Love PY Bakery Cafe on United Nations of Food
43-16 Greenpoint Ave. at 47th Ave. (map)
Queens, NY 11104
(718) 786-5534
- QNS
- $7.75
If there’s anything you need to know about Filipino food, it’s that pork rules. No matter how many farm-to-table renditions of pork belly you’ve tried, lechon kawali, uncured bacon deep-fried and cut into cubes, is a simple delight. The crackly skin and meat, striated with luscious fat, is good on its own, but once dipped into the thick, tangy sauce, these pork blobs are taken to another level. You’d never guess that the condiment was made from liver, bread crumbs, sugar and vinegar.
Ihawan
40-06 70th St. at 48th Ave. (Map)
Woodside, NY 11377
(718) 205-1480
- QNS
- $3.50
- VEG
Bing bika ambon at Java Village, an Indonesian spot in Elmhurst, Queens, is as fun to say as it is to eat. Resembling a corn muffin in size and color, it has a spongy texture and pronounced, yeasty flavor, enriched by plenty of coconut milk. They come three to an order, a perfect serving size if you’ve put too much of this shop’s blazingly hot sambal on your noodles.
Java Village on World’s Fare
86-10 Justice Ave. at 52nd Ave. (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 205-2166
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- $2.50, $5.00
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Kering kentang, or Javanese potato chips, are the stuff of a snack lover’s dream. The crunchy spuds are tossed with chili peppers, sugar, peanuts and fried shallots. There’s also a goodly amount of salt and a touch of sweet Indonesian soy sauce, kecap manis. Each bite is simultaneously crunchy, sweet, salty, nutty and fiery. Find them at Java Village, a superb Indonesian steam table joint by Grand Ave. station in Elmhurst.
Java Village on World’s Fare
86-10 Justice Ave. at Broadway (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 205-2166
- QNS
- $8.00
Burnt Ends get most of the acclaim at John Brown Smokehouse, but the Pork Spare Ribs deserve a pedestal of their own. Made using a dry rub, these ribs are not messy or reliant on sauce; the flavor and smoky aroma stand on their own bones.
John Brown Smokehouse on FoodMayhem
10-43 44th Drive at 11th St. (Map)
Long Island City, NY 11101
(347) 617-1120
- QNS
- $3.50
- VEG
When New York becomes unbearably hot, cool off with Joju’s black sesame milk shake. The taste of black sesame, simple but strong, is neither overwhelming nor disappearing under the creaminess of the ice cream. Delicious and refreshing, this is a worthy warm weather treat.
Joju
83-25 Broadway at Dongan Ave. (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(347) 808-0887
- QNS
- $5.00
- VEG
Cholados are sold all over Jackson Heights, especially in the summertime. Made from shaved ice topped with fruit, fruit syrups, condensed milk and a cherry on top, they’re fruit salads transformed into the perfect summer refreshment. At Jugos Prontito y Algo Mas, the cholado isn’t just good—it’s exceptional. Here, the usual mix is accompanied by real passion fruit puree—seeds and all. Loaded with fresh chunks of banana, pineapple, papaya, melon and apple, it’s an extra special, tropical treat.
Jugos Prontito y Algo Mas
90-02 43rd Ave. at Ithaca St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11373
(347) 556-4950
- QNS
- $3.20
Xian dou jiang (salty soy milk) is a Taiwanese dish that introduces vinegar to soy milk, causing the milk to curdle into pillowy clouds of tofu soup. Downtown Flushing’s King 5 Noodle adds hunks of Chinese doughnut (you tiao) and a pinch of dried pork, then tops the bowl with scallions and tiny dried shrimp. The fluffy, half-curdled soy milk ($1.95) is thin enough to be soaked up by a second doughnut ($1.25 more). But it’s also hearty enough to be gulped straight from the soup spoon, with a savory, slightly sour flavor that stays within the boundaries of comfort food.
King 5 Noodle / Nan Bei He on The Eaten Path
39-07 Prince St. 1G at Roosevelt Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 888-1268
- QNS
- $1.00
The tamales at Taqueria La Casa Del Idolo are generously stuffed with chicken and a spoonful of spicy salsa, either red or green. The masa, or corn dough, is perfectly cooked—not too dry or too wet—and wrapped up tightly in a corn husk. These are close to tamale perfection, and only cost a dollar each. What’s not to love?
La Casa Del Idolo on Serious Eats NY
91-07 Corona Ave. at 91st Pl. (Map)
Corona, NY 11373
(718) 271-0384
- QNS
- $5.20
There are many places with good rotisserie chicken, especially in Jackson Heights, which has Peruvian and Colombian chicken places on nearly every corner. Yet La Casa del Pollo stands out because of its special green sauce—vinegary, spicy, herby and good on everything, especially fried rice. With bits of roasted pork throughout, the arroz chaufa, Peruvian-style Chinese fried rice (mixed with lots of green sauce, of course) is the best thing on the menu.
La Casa del Pollo Peruano
87-07 Roosevelt Ave. at 87th St. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
(718) 205-7023
- QNS
- $5.25
Everyone loves scallion pancakes. But how about scallion pancakes sliced into thick, noodle-like ribbons, then stir-fried with beef, ham, egg, and cabbage? The chewy pancakes soak up the flavor of the meat and the cabbage adds a healthy crunch. Squirt some hot sauce on the dish, and you’re good to go.
Lao Bei Fang Dumpling House
83-05 Broadway at Cornish Ave. (Map)
Queens, NY 11373
(718) 639-3996
- QNS
- $5.00
In the back of Tibetan Mobile, a trinket shop in Jackson Heights, you’ll find Lhasa Fast Food. Try the thukpa. Always made fresh, when ordered in multiples, it can overload the woman running the shop. The noodles are obviously pre-packaged, but the pile of greens and crumbled beef on top of this bone-broth soup make it nearly impossible to find something to complain about.
Lhasa Fast Food on Jeffrey Tastes
(Tibetan Mobile)
37-50 74th St. at Broadway/Roosevelt Ave. (Map)
Jackon Heights, NY 11372
(718) 205-2339
- QNS
- $6.50
- VEG
- STREET
Nevermind the pizza; it’s the focaccia that make this Astoria neighborhood joint special. Half a dozen varieties of focaccia are available on any given day. The richer (fresh mozzarella and tomato; spinach and ricotta) and fancier (eggplant, tomato and broccoli; pineapple and ham) toppings are hard to resist, but Lorusso’s traditional focaccia, topped only with slices of tomato, sea salt and olive oil, is the best of the lot. If you’re lucky enough to get yours fresh from the oven, you’ll find that the bread—soft, but crispy at the edges, and distinctly flavorful—is the real pleasure here. -Anne Noyes Saini
Lorusso Pizza Foccacia
18-01 26th Rd. at 18th St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11102
(718) 777-3628
- QNS
- $3.00
- VEG
Here’s the challenge: Find a better grandma slice in the city. This one, which supposedly originated on Long Island, has fresh mozzarella cheese on the bottom, garlic and plum tomato sauce on top and a sprinkling of parmesan and basil leaves. Cooked in a pan, the bottom of the pie is essentially fried, leaving the middle perfectly elastic.
Louie’s Pizzeria
81-34 Baxter Ave. at Ithaca St. (map)
Queens, NY 11373
(718) 440-9346
- QNS
- VEG
- $2.25
- Photograph by Yvo Sin
Notice the generous movement of cheese, especially when folding the slice, exposing dimples formed from the crust-warping sauce. It’s a fun, burn-the-roof-of-your-mouth slice. And it’s a slice that was created by one of the original owners of the legendary Gloria Pizza of Flushing. Most customers don’t care about the history, though—they just come for the slice.
Lucia Pizza on Real Pizza of NY
136-55 Roosevelt Ave. at Union St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11354
(718) 445-1313
- QNS
- $11.00
Editor’s Note: Since this dish was added to Real Cheap Eats, its price has risen past $10.00. It’s still a part of the guide as a part of our “grandfather” policy.
The Filipino passion for pork is legendary, and the dish that best embodies this (besides lechon, or roast suckling pig) is crispy pata. Literally “crispy foot,” it’s actually an entire pig leg that’s been fried to a shattering crunchiness. Mama Meena’s version is exemplary. Tons of succulent meat lies beneath the burnished exterior. Dip it into the accompanying bowls of spiced vinegar and liver sauce. It’s a porktastic taste of Manila directly above the Woodhaven Blvd. stop on the J/Z line.
Mama Meena’s
94-20 Jamaica Ave. at 95th St. (Map)
Woodhaven, NY 11421
(718) 696-8882
- QNS
- $1.25
- VEG
Mama’s Empanadas has taken a classic childhood comfort food and given it a Latin twist. At first glance it looks like any other empanada—crescent shaped with a bubbly golden brown crust. Bite into it and find an unexpected filling: macaroni and cheese. Elbow pasta is mixed with a cheesy sauce that, depending on who you are, will channel either your inner child or inner stoner. But do be careful on that first bite, as the filling is quite hot.
Mama’s Empanadas
4218 Greenpoint Ave. at 43rd St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11377
(718) 729-1303
8505 Northern Blvd. at 85th St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11370
(718) 505-9937
9120 59th Ave. at Queens Blvd. (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11372
(718) 429-2502
- QNS
- $8.50
The elongated, double-prowed configuration of the pide (“pea-day”) — a Turkish cousin to Italian-American pizza — suggests a well-laden canoe, until it’s sliced for portage from the kitchen. The chewy crust of this kiymali pide curls around seasoned ground lamb, but you can also procure a pide featuring sheep’s milk cheese, or egg and dried-beef sausage, or spit-roasted sliced lamb—whatever floats your boat.
Mangal Kebab on Eating in Translation
4620 Queens Blvd. at 75th Rd.(Map)
Sunnyside, NY 11104
718-706-0605
- QNS
- $1.00
- SPICY
- STREET
- (Photo by Robyn Lee)
Wandering down Roosevelt Avenue on a late night food crawl led by Jeff Orlick, we stumbled upon a row of three tamale vendors directly beneath the 103rd Street stop on the 7 train. Fireworks exploded on the first bite. The lard-laced masa in these tamales retains a light, fluffy texture (and every so often yields a bite of pure pork fat). The best of the fillings is the pork verde, with a slow-building heat that lingers on the tongue.
Available 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Maria’s Tamales on Law & Food
Roosevelt Ave. at 103rd St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11368
- QNS
- $5.00
- VEG
- SPICY
Anda bhurji (eggs scrambled with Indian spices and seasonings) is a popular street food in Mumbai, where it is often served with pav, the city’s famous, Portuguese-inspired bread rolls. In New York, where eggs are synonymous with breakfast, anda bhurji pav is an ideal way to start the day. At the sweets shop next to Mumbai Grill, moist, fluffy eggs are scrambled with diced onion, tomato, green chilies and fresh coriander leaves. Each double-wide pav is then slit open and buttered, then griddled to golden crispness. Pile on the steaming hot eggs and dabs of tangy, housemade coriander chutney and enjoy a filling, Indian-style breakfast. -Anne Noyes Saini
Mumbai Grill
37-33 74th St. at 37th Rd. (map)
Queens, NY 11372
(718) 205-7577
- QNS
- $5.25
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is most widely known and written about for its namesake: the soup dumpling. But don’t overlook the Pan Fried Pork Buns (6 pieces to an order). They are just as good, if not even better. A juicy pork meatball is housed inside a tender and fluffy bun, with a golden fried bottom. It’s the pot sticker of steamed buns.
Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao on Food Mayhem
548 Third Ave. at 36th. St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 321-3838
- QNS
- $5.00
- SPICY
Tender tripe is the sign of a good cook, and this beef tripe soup is clearly cooked with love and no small amount of expertise. Although the meat is cut a bit haphazardly (the larger pieces of tripe can be overwhelming), the red broth is tangy, spicy and satisfying. Add some lime, cilantro and onion to enjoy a textural contrast in every spoonful.
New Yorker Bagel on We Heart Astoria
3108 36th Ave. nr 31st St. (map)
Queens, NY 11106
(718) 361-9500
- QNS
- $4.00, $5.00
Outside the back-corner stall of the Golden Mall’s top floor hangs a sign marked, “LAMB SOUP.” The plastic bowl of lamb noodle soup served inside owns its marquee status. Tender yet chewy hand-pulled wheat noodles, thin and bouncy glass noodles, strands of tofu skin, wood-ear mushrooms, bits of well-done lamb and a pinch of cilantro come together in an impossibly intoxicating lamb broth that’s savory, sweet, and slightly funky. Even in a shrine of good eats as hallowed as the Golden Mall, this is headline material.
Nutritious Lamb Noodles on The Eaten Path
Flushing Golden Mall, 1st floor
(Serious Eats Guide)
41-28 Main St. at 41st Rd. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11355
- QNS
- $11.00
Editor’s Note: Since this dish was added to Real Cheap Eats, its price has risen past $10.00. It’s still a part of the guide as a part of our “grandfather” policy.
Ploy Thai’s miang kana is an authentic taste of Thai street food here in New York. After you’ve ordered, use your hands to bundle together a colorful mixture of fresh ginger, red onion, roasted peanuts, toasted coconut, dried shredded pork, fish sauce, palm sugar and lime juice with the betel leaves or Chinese broccoli leaves (one or the other, depending on the season). Pop it right into your mouth for a refreshing experience you’ll be hard-pressed to find at any other Thai restaurant in the city.
Ploy Thai at
8140 Broadway at Britton (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11373
(718) 205-7298
- QNS
- $2.50
- VEG
One of Astoria’s finest, this quick shop is the epitome of a New York slice: casual, quick, greasy, cheesy and best tasted while folded in your hand. They will be busy when you step up and order. Take it as a reassuring sign.
Polito’s Pizza on Jeffrey Tastes
38-12 Broadway at Steinway St. (Map)
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 626-6344
- MAN
- QNS
- BK
- BNX
- SI
- Under $10
- SPICY
Popeyes founder Al Copeland, a man whose taste for life was so unhinged that he literally met his end by cancer of the salivary gland, wasn’t messing around when he flipped us this particular bird. It may be made from factory-grade chicken parts uncomfortably close to the margin of cost, but Popeyes’ spicy fried chicken is consistently moist on the inside, crunchy on the outside, fluffy in the folds and loaded with artificial and natural flavors. Even as new, gourmet fried chicken options abound, New York is hard-pressed to find a cost-to-pleasure ratio as golden as this.
Popeyes Chicken on The Eaten Path
Let’s assume you know where the nearest Popeyes is.
- QNS
- $5.00
- SPICY
- STREET
Beef momos ($5.00 for eight) at the Potala Fresh Food cart may look a bit like Chinese soup dumplings, but these dumplings, which hail from Tibet, are a much heartier breed. Jammed with juicy ground beef and bound by thick, toothsome dumpling skin, each momo is kept wonderfully moist by a dash of beef broth. They’re served with a pool of violently red, fiery hot sauce, which will simultaneously punish the eater and leave him craving more. Taking down eight filling dumplings alone is actually quite the task, so bring a friend to share a Tibetan bite of meat and fire.
Potala Fresh Food
Broadway at 37th Rd. (Map)
Jackson Heights, NY 11372
- QNS
- BK
- $10.00
Every panino at Press 195 starts with excellent bread and continues with hand-picked, quality ingredients, making each one a labor of love—perhaps none more so than the meatloaf hot press sandwich. This panino is stuffed with homemade meatloaf, mashed potato, Vermont cheddar cheese and gravy in hand-crafted ciabatta and then pressed into crispness. Each bite is a study in deliciousness, traveling through a spectrum of tastes and textures.
Press 195 on Feisty Foodie
40-11 Bell Blvd. (Map)
Bayside, NY 11361
(718) 281-1950
- QNS
- $8.00
Eight dollars is pricey for two tamales, but these are no ordinary tamales. Salvadoran tamales de elote (fresh corn tamales) are sweeter than their Mexican counterparts. Studded with fresh corn kernels, they are soft and spongy—like a cross between corn pudding and corn bread. The sweetness is cut by the complementary side of tightly packed cheese curds and a puddle of fresh sour cream. Each bite is different, but any combination is delicious.
Rincón Salvadoreño
92-15 149th St. at Jamaica Ave. (map)
Queens, NY 11435
(718) 526-3220
- CLOSED
Anda Paraantha, an egg omelet rolled inside dense, griddled flat bread, is a favorite breakfast food throughout North India and parts of neighboring Pakistan. You won’t find it on the menu at this pan-South Asian eatery in Astoria, but ask for it in Hindi (“Aap anda paraantha banaa saktay heh?”) and you shall receive. Sabri Nihari’s foot-long version combines a flaky homemade paraantha with a nicely browned omelet, easily enough carbs and protein to keep you going all day long. Our suggestion: Ask for plenty of green chilies (haari mirch) and cilantro (dhania) in your omelet. -Anne Noyes Saini
Sabri Nihari & Grill
28-02 21st St. at 28th Ave. (Map)
Queens, NY 11102
(718) 777-2274
- QNS
- $9.00
At Salt and Fat the name gives away the mission, and the pig logo brings it home. The cooks here know how to set and meet expectations, but you can only guess about a dish called “Crack & Cheese.” The crisp fried gnocchi that arrive are melty on the inside, tossed in an oozy white béchamel and generously topped with bacon. It’s as addictive as its name implies.
Salt and Fat on Food Mayhem
41-16 Queens Blvd. at 42nd St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11104
11104 (718) 433-3702
- QNS
- $4.50
Samarkand sits in a part of Queens filled with Bukharan Jews and their restaurants, scents of which waft tantalizingly over the Boulevard of Death outside its doors. Skewers of grilled meats will waltz past you, and while those are excellent, the quiet star of the show is lagman, a tomato broth filled with homemade hand-pulled noodles and topped with tender beef chunks and loads of vegetables. Each bowl is filled to overflowing, but you will be sure to eat every last delicious strand and drop.
Samarkand on Feisty Foodie
98-98 Queens Blvd. at 67th Ave. (Map)
Rego Park, NY 11374
(718) 263-4444
- QNS
- $3.00
- STREET
During the very first “Vendy Awards” in 2005, Sammy’s Halal took home the grand prize, and for good reason. Even after six years, they’ve not lost a beat, as they still serve one of the best plates of “street meat” in NYC with swagger. The lamb and chicken gyro, rife with large chunks of juicy meat, lovingly drizzled with a fiery red hot sauce and a creamy white sauce, and wrapped in a fluffy pita, is an absolute steal.
Sammy’s Halal
73rd St. at Broadway (Map)
Elmhurst, NY 11372
- MAN
- QNS
- BK
- $3.50-$7.00
Shake Shack has appeared on many a cheap eats list throughout the years, and with good reason. Danny Meyer’s nod to fast food serves up, pound for pound, some of the best burgers in Manhattan. At Shake Shack, order a Shackburger and you’ll receive a freshly ground Pat LaFrieda blend cooked on a sizzling flattop grill. These crusty patties are paired with screamingly fresh lettuce, tomato and a “Shacksauce” that puts McDonald’s secret sauce to shame. There’s usually a line at any one of the Manhattan locations, but it’s always worth the wait.
Shake Shack
Multiple Locations
New York and Elsewhere
The name of this outfit is Sliced Noodle, but the guo tie, or potstickers, here are outstanding. The Henanese folks who run this stall cook their potstickers in a radial pattern resembling an asterisk—spokes on a wheel of deliciousness, if you will. Each is filled with an incredibly tasty mixture of loosely ground pork and chives. They’re juicy as all get-out, and the thin, crisp sheet of dough between each dumpling makes for fun eating.
Sliced Noodle on World’s Fare
New World Mall
40-21 Main St. at 40th Rd. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
- QNS
- $10.00
Most folks don’t think of Queens or Chinese food when it comes to crawfish. Nevertheless, a hefty plate of ma la xiao long xia (spicy little lobsters) can be had at Flushing’s New World Mall Food Court for a mere $10.00. Score them at stall No. 12, Sliced Noodles. Who knows why a Henanese noodle specialist is slinging crawdads? Just go with it. The tiny crustaceans come slicked with chili oil, showered in tongue tingling Sichuan peppercorns and topped with bits of ginger. Pop the tail off and pull out the nugget of sweet meat. Take plenty of napkins. You’ll need them as you work your way through Crawfish à la Flushing.
Sliced Noodles on World’s Fare
New World Mall
40-21 Main St. at 40th Rd. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 888-9393
- QNS
- $5.00
- VEG
Ironically, SN New Restaurant’s (formerly M&T Restaurant) “Qingdao Cold Noodles” aren’t noodles at all. Made from a special seaweed imported directly from the namesake province in China, these “noodles” are the result of extracting the gelatin from seaweed after hours of stewing. The gently buoyant extraction is then sliced into long, rectangular cubes and served with shredded carrots, cucumber, cilantro, a generous dose of garlic and tangy black vinegar. A bowl of these cold noodles is refreshingly restorative, especially on a hot summer day.
SN New Restaurant
44-09 Kissena Blvd. at Cherry Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11355
(718) 539-4100
- QNS
- $4.00
- VEG
What is SnoPo? Shaved ice? Ice cream? Cotton candy? The answer to all three questions is: YES. Shaved ice with the creaminess of ice cream and the fluffiness of cotton candy, it needs to be experienced to be understood. Make no mistake though: SnoPo is the future of cold treats to beat the heat.
SnoPo on Feisty Foodie
New World Mall
40-21 Main St. at Prince St. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
- QNS
- $1.50
- VEG
Nothing’s quite as comforting on a bitter winter day as a bowl of dou fu fa—fresh tofu curds served creamy, nutty and lashed with sweet syrup. And there’s no place like quite like Soybean Chen Flower Shop to get it. Add a you tiao—the crunchy cruller that’s a staple of Chinese breakfast—for a mere $2.50. Don’t forget to grab some flowers for your sweetie on the way out.
Soy Bean Chen Flower Shop
135-26 Roosevelt Ave. at Main St. (Map)
Queens, NY 11354
(718) 321-3982
- QNS
- $7.95
The last thing you’d think to order at a Sichuan restaurant named Spicy and Tasty is the seemingly tame Scallion and Egg Fried Rice, hidden towards the back of the menu. But when the owner of a great restaurant recommends a dish, she tends to be right. The fried rice comes tinted green from fragrant scallion oil and speckled with bits of fried egg and fresh scallions. It’s perfect company for all the spicy dishes on the menu.
Spicy & Tasty on Queens Love
39-07 Prince St. at Roosevelt Ave. (Map)
Flushing, NY 11354
(718) 359-1601
- QNS
- $9.00
- SPICY
Perhaps the most un-Thai of all Thai curries, massaman doesn’t burn with the heat of chilies, go wild with fresh herbs or rely on aromatic citrus for flavor infusions. Instead, the dish warms and comforts like a beef stew, while throwing off any Yankee pot roast associations with its use of Indian spices like cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and nutmeg. At Sripraphai this curry is pleasantly minimal, with only falling-apart chunks of beef (or chicken), potato and onion wedges submerged in the peanut-topped sauce.
Sripraphai
64-13 39th Ave. at 65th St. (map)
Queens, NY 11377
(718) 899-9599
- QNS
- $1.00
- VEG
- STREET
If you’re looking for an understated but satisfying dessert, do yourself a favor and ask the cashier at St. James Deli for a homemade polvoron—also known as a “Mexican wedding cookie.” These are made by a local woman who sells her baked goods at St. James. Crumbly and buttery—almost scone-like in consistency, but with a hard outer-shell—these polvorones are just sweet enough to perfectly complement a piping hot champurrado or a hot, milky tea on a cold winter morning or night.
St. James Deli on We Heart Astoria
34-02 34th Ave. at 34th St. (map)
Astoria, NY 11106
(718) 482-7835
