Real Cheap Eats NYC
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Currently viewing the tag: "Summer Edition 2012"
- BK
- $3.90
- VEG
- Photograph by Robyn Lee
If ice cream can be called intense, then that’s the best description for Salted Crack Caramel from Ample Hills in Prospect Heights. The dark flavor of caramel bumps up against a salty kick, and just when you think there’s not much more this ice cream can offer, you’re hit with a chunk of the “crack.” It isn’t an illicit substance, but saltines coated in chocolate, butter and sugar. The shop’s flavors rotate, but they seem to always have this one on the menu.
Ample Hills Creamery
623 Vanderbilt Ave. at St. Marks Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11238
(347) 240-3926
- QNS
- $10.00
- SPICY
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
- MAN
- $9.00
- SPICY
They call this dish “mouth watering” for a reason at this chic Murray Hill Chinese restaurant, which is done up with a 1930′s Shanghai aesthetic. The bone-in chicken is poached to tender submission, arriving in a bowl slicked with neon-colored chili-and-sesame oil. Garnished with sesame seeds and finely sliced slivers of scallion, the cold chicken somehow manages to be refreshing and incendiary all at once.
Cafe China
13 East 37th St. at Madison Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-2810
- MAN
- QNS
- BK
- $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
- BK
- $1.00 for small
If you’re looking for something quick and easy to eat while trying to catch the bus, try the meat burek (a.k.a. “meat cone”) at Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop in Cobble Hill. Curry-flavored ground lamb is wrapped in phyllo dough then deep-fried until golden. Most of the flavor comes from the ground lamb and spices. For $1, these make great snacks. Don’t worry, vegetarians – there are also cheese bureks.
Damascus Bread & Pastry Shop
195 Atlantic Ave. at Court St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 625-7070
- BK
- $4.00 per pound
- VEG
Henry’s Deli is one of few old-school, German-style delis left in South Brooklyn. Most dishes here have been replaced by more modern offerings, but Henry’s still bakes its own rice pudding every week. Made from long grain rice, milk, vanilla and several secret ingredients, the pudding is rich, creamy and smooth. It’s sweet without being cloying, and thick without being heavy. It’s just about perfect.
Henry’s Deli on Sheepshead Bites
2921 Ave. S at Nostrand Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 375-8580
- 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
- MAN
- $7.99
- VEG
The steam table specials at Kalustyan’s second-floor deli change daily, but you can always stuff yourself with a gigantic Middle Eastern veggie combo plate. On any given day you might receive a monstrous container overflowing with sautéed spinach, mujadarra (lentils with fried onions), a green salad, warm pita, pickled vegetables (celery, carrots, cucumbers) and dolma (stuffed grape leaves). It’s more than enough fiber to make you squirm, but the food is well worth it.
Kalustyan’s on United Nations of Food
123 Lexington Ave. at 28th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 685-3451
- MAN
- $2.00
- VEG
- STREET
New York’s appetite for frozen yogurt is undeniable. In a change of pace from the Pinkberry and Red Mango shops popping up all around the city, Monsieur Singh’s Lassi Pop brings a different type of frozen yogurt to the streets. Made from a blend of all-natural, probiotic Indian yogurt with digestive herbs, spices and fruit, these rich and creamy pops make for a delightful afternoon snack on a hot day.
Monsieur Singh on Blondie and Brownie
Schedule available at Monsieur Singh and Twitter
- MAN
- $2.00
- STREET
The Puerto Rican filled pastries called pastelillos, filled in advance and deep-fried to order, can get their filling all stuck up in one side. That’s just the nature of the beast and not cause for complaint, especially when the shell is so flaky and crisp. The tomato and pepper-sauced shrimp pastelillo is available Saturday only; beef, chicken, and cheese, a mere one buck each, are the standards. Get ‘em while they’re hot. Available Wednesday through Saturday, afternoons only.
Pastelillo Cart on Eating in Translation
Frederick Douglass Blvd. at W. 129th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10027
- BK
- $6.00
- SPICY
Move up in line, order your bird, watch it get hacked and collect your prize. Peppa’s jerk chicken is best known for its lovely, crisp skin, but be sure to soak your entire order in their wonderful jerk sauce. You’ll find it on the counter—just don’t confuse it with the BBQ sauce.
Peppa’s Jerk Chicken on Eating the World in New York City
738 Flatbush Ave. at Clarkson Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(646) 683-6012
- MAN
- $2.50
- VEG
This is a real New York slice, what every slice in the city should be. It’s thin, greasy and a bit burnt—all great qualities. The dusty lip has swipes of char, and the smooth, slightly fruity sauce stands out under a blanket of gooey cheese. Plus, the cheese tastes like actual cheese—imagine that. Seating is scarce, so don’t bring your family reunion.
Sacco Pizza
819 9th Ave. at 54th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10019-4461
(212) 582-7765
- BK
- $6.50
Stumble one block off the Brooklyn end of the L train, and you’ll find an oasis of Jamaican eats and sweets at Tastee Pattee Bakery and Grill. The saltfish and cabbage, served hot from the steam table atop fluffy rice and peas flavored with coconut milk, is worth the haul to Canarsie. Fried saltfish melts into silken cabbage, mixed with tomatoes, freshly grated carrots, onions, flecks of black pepper and thyme in this soul-satisfying dish.
Tastee Pattee Bakery and Grill on Tina’s Nom Noms
1431 Rockaway Pkwy. at Glenwood Rd. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11236
(718) 257-5400
- BK
- $3.00 for 1 scoop
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The portions at Sky Ice leave much to be desired—mostly because there’s so much to desire from the Thai cafe’s menu of house-made ice creams. Sky Ice’s Black Sesame Seaweed ice cream is a perfect example. It balances the deeply roasted notes of black sesame with a particularly milky ice cream, while bits of dried, salted seaweed added to the ice cream make each small scoop pop with unexpected umami. The price goes down as your portion goes up, but a single scoop packs a punch.
Sky Ice on The Eaten Path
63 5th Ave. at St. Marks Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 230-0910
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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
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- $6.95
- VEG
- SPICY
- Photograph by James Boo
The term “face melting” is tossed around a lot, but few dishes embody the description quite like Szechuan Gourmet’s hot and sour cellophane noodles. While sour flavors dominate at first, it’s the background buzzing of Sichuan peppercorns, sending a numbing hum through your face and mouth, that leaves a lasting impression. The thin, slippery noodles are a blank slate, and here they drink up the sauce. Slurp at your own discretion.
Szechuan Gourmet
21 West 39th St. at 6th Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 921-0233
- QNS
- $8.95
Can’t deal with the around-the-block line at über-hip Rockaway Taco? Head to Tap and Grill down the street. Also known as “The Clam Bar,” the joint’s been there forever (since 1934) and looks it—but they know what you want: shrimp tacos. Each taco contains plump shrimp encased in a crunchy panko batter and dressed with cabbage, cilantro and salsa. Add a dash of that old raw bar standby, Tabasco, and dig in.
Tap & Grill on World’s Fare
97-20 Rockaway Beach Blvd. at Beach 97th St. (Map)
Rockaway Beach, NY 11693
(347) 246-6769
- BNX
- $2.00
- STREET
Standing in the shadow of the Webster Houses, The Krab Shack is a Bronx seafood oasis. In just a few summers, the Shack has transformed from a street corner card table with a hot plate to a surreally painted pop-up trailer, with lip-slamming shell-fish and a line down the street. Cars pull up from near and far to get their fix in the form of two dollar bags of spice-dusted crab claws. The stuffed-to-the-limit sandwich bag of claws takes about 15 minutes to eat and borders on being a controlled substance. Buy some beers and a cup at the bodega across the street, and you’ll never want to leave. Spring and Summer months (April-August) only.
The Krab Shack
E. 168th St. at Webster Ave. (Map)
Bronx, NY 10456
- QNS
- $6.00
The Queens Kickshaw is known for its coffee, beer and grilled cheese sandwiches, but the Astoria hot spot has taken things to the next level with a full menu of dinner and dessert offerings. The fontina cheesecake is an unexpected highlight—a pleasantly sharp and savory scoop of creamy cheesecake sitting atop a bed of cereal crumbles and drizzled with a bittersweet blackberry-and-wheat-beer sauce. It’s a stunning combination of flavors and textures.
The Queens Kickshaw
40-17 Broadway at Steinway St. (Map)
Astoria, NY 11103
(718) 777-0913
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- $5.00
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- SPICY
- Photograph by James Boo
North Indians usually cook okra into a mushy mound—it’s easier to pinch between a piece of roti and scoop up that way. But the star ingredient in Thelewala’s okra roll retains a light, satisfying crunch. Tossed whole on the tawa (grill) with slices of red onion and red bell pepper, then seasoned with cilantro, lime juice and green chilies, this okra is tangy, spicy and subtly sweet, with a distinctly smoky edge. The paratha encircling it all is delicate and dotted with the char marks that signify an expert griddling. -Anne Noyes Saini
Thelewala
112 MacDougal St. at Bleeker St. (Map)
New York, NY 10012
(212) 614-9100
- QNS
- $8.00
- STREET
Beneath the rumbling of the 7 train lies one of the city’s best Mexican sandwich makers. Tortas Neza’s extensive menu is filled with delicious, overflowing tortas, but one of the highlights is the Torta Chivas—a.k.a. “the best breakfast sandwich ever.” It’s a towering stack of three eggs, chorizo, avocado, lettuce and tomato, topped with mild Oaxacan cheese, sandwiched in a fluffy white roll and finished off with a quick toasting on the grill.
Tortas Neza on Blondie & Brownie
111-03 Roosevelt Ave. at 111th St. (Map)
Corona, NY 11368
(347) 666-1517
- MAN
- $6.95
- SPICY
It’s easy to mistake Turco Mediterranean Grill for your run-of-the-mill gyro joint, but there’s some authentic and very tasty Turkish food to be found inside. The meze (appetizers) and the pita bread are made in-house. If you order the lamb döner kebab, the staff will slice moist lamb meat off of the rotating spit, then pile on crunchy shreds of lettuce and cabbage. The massive sandwich is finished with a drizzle of cacik (a tangy, yogurt-based sauce) and a bit of hot sauce.
Turco Mediterranean Grill on Midtown Lunch
604 9th Ave. at 43rd St. (Map)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 510-8666
