Real Cheap Eats NYC
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Currently viewing the tag: "Not Sandwiches"
- MAN
- $5.50
- SPICY
- STREET
This truck offers an African take on street meat, and one of its most popular dishes is simply called “tilapia.” An outsized chunk of the flaky white fish is fried and doused in a spicy sauce of stewed onions, peppers and herbs, then placed on a mound of rice flecked with chickpeas. The side of curried potato, carrot and cabbage seals the deal as a welcome alternative to lamb or chicken over rice.
$5 Lunch Truck on Midtown Lunch
Ann St. at Nassau St. (Map)
New York, NY 10038
- MAN
- $6.00
- SPICY
- STREET
The beef, pork and chicken dumplings here are longer and skinnier than the variety normally found at the five-for-$1 shops in Chinatown, but no less tasty. The bottoms ideally have a dark crust, and if you can take the heat, add some of A-Pou’s incendiary hot sauce, bright red and full of chili seeds.
A-Pou’s Taste Cart on Midtown Lunch
Liberty St. at Broadway (Map)
New York, NY 10038
- MAN
- $8.95
It is never a bad idea to order A-Wah’s house special, which (like all the others) comes in a very large, very hot clay pot. If you dine with a friend, you won’t need two of these—and the server will most likely tell you this. The dish is mainly rice, but it’s delicious rice with a crispy layer at the bottom of the pot. The meats could be more plentiful, but they are incredibly good. If you’re hungry, you can add more for $2.
A-Wah on Eating the World in NYC
5 Catherine St. at Bowery (map)
New York, NY 10038
(212) 925-8308
- CLOSED
The “Sauce Claire” at this unassuming Senegalese joint on Nostrand Avenue is fantastic. After tasting the dish, a thick tomato sauce with chunks of potatoes, carrots and a mix of fresh fish and guedge (a dried, fermented fish), you’ll hardly need to eat anything else. Try it with Aicha’s incendiary, homemade hot sauce (you’ve been warned).
Aicha Restaurant on Law & Food
602 Nostrand Ave. at Atlantic Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11216
(347) 533-7200
- QNS
- $1.00
- VEG
- STREET
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
- BK
- $4.00
- (Photograph by James Boo)
Deep fried balls contain so much mystery. Luckily, the risotto balls served at Arancini Brothers reveal rich, cheesy secrets. The classic ragu arancino is the standout, filled with a pork ragu dotted with green peas. Though the balls could be hotter (you can always ask for them to be fried a bit longer), these flavors still sing beneath their crisp exterior and the not-too-tender risotto. Vegetarian arancini are also on the menu.
Arancini Bros. on Law & Food
940 Flushing Ave. at Evergreen Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn NY 11206
(718) 418-6347
- BNX
- $8.00
(Photograph by Jason Crowley)
In addition to run-of-the-mill Middle Eastern fare, this Van Nest sit-down churns out some exciting Yemeni specialties. Try the fahsa salta, a fenugreek seed-laced stew of celery, onion, potato, tomato and shredded beef cooked in broth that—so the story goes—has its origins in the Turkish occupation. Heavily spiced and a tad bitter, it makes a grand entrance, frothing and ready for flat bread.
Arth Aljanatain
700 Rhinelander Ave. at White Plains Rd. (Map)
Bronx, NY 10462
(718) 918-9191
- QNS
- $8.00
- SPICY
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
- 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
- $9.50 for 4
- VEG
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
- $5.99 per lb.
Unfamiliar with the cooking of central Africa? Don’t worry. Just dive in at this inexpensive Chelsea steam table. If it looks like collard greens, it’s probably stewed cassava leaves. If it looks like goat, it’s probably goat. You’ll also find meaty braises of heart, liver or kidneys for the adventurous; beans with chunks of tender goat or lamb meat; plantains, corn bread, several types of rice and vegetables I still can’t identify. Spicing is very mild, the flavors unusual, and there’s usually soccer on TV.
B&B Restaurant
165 W 26th St. at Seventh Ave. (map)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 627-2914
- MAN
- $7.00
- VEG
Falafel is everywhere in New York City, but falafel that stands out is a rare treat. Ba’al Café & Falafel opened in Soho in 2011 without a media blitz, but news has spread about its cheap and well-crafted food. The word of mouth was right: This falafel is fresh and light, while the pita is fluffy. Throw in some of their lemony hummus, and you might find yourself thinking about this falafel for days.
Ba’al Cafe & Falafel on Midtown Lunch
71 Sullivan St. at Spring St. (Map)
New York, NY 10012
(646) 368-9957
- BK
- $8.00
- Photograph by Robyn Lee
The word “omelette” is defined loosely in this dish, which really should be called “simmering cast iron cauldron of aromatic ground lamb and sauteed vegetables topped with a sizzling egg.” Mix the whole thing together, then scoop up the heady, comforting creation with a chunk of the house-made clay-oven bread and imagine the Middle Eastern breakfasts you never had as a child.
Bab al Yemen
413 Bay Ridge Pkwy. at Fourth Ave. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11209
(718) 943-6961
- MAN
- $3.50
- VEG
- Photograph by James Boo
Salvadoran food isn’t exactly widespread along the L, but Bahia, on Grand Street in East Williamsburg, offers a legit taste of Central America. Although Bahia boasts a full menu and dining area, the best value lies in the takeout-friendly pupusas, stuffed with everything from loroco (an edible flower) and cheese to bits of pork and refried beans. Served hot off the griddle, each greaseless pupusa comes with generous portions of thin tomato salsa and a pickled cabbage, carrot and onion slaw called curtido. One is a hearty snack; two is enough for dinner.
Bahia Restaurant
690 Grand St. at Graham Ave. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 218-9592
- BK
- $5.95
- SPICY
Cold salads are a staple of Sichuan cuisine and make a perfect shared appetizer before jumping into more substantial dishes, like double-cooked pork or tea-smoked duck, at Bensonhurst’s Bamboo Pavilion. Ox tongue and tripe are a classic duo; the thin, beefy slices and springy ribbons of stomach taste like more than humble organ meat when drenched in fiery chili oil and dusted in Sichuan peppercorns and raw minced garlic. Your chopsticks will barely get a rest after the first spicy, buzzing mouthful.
Bamboo Pavillion on Goodies First
6920 18th Ave. at Bay Ridge Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11204
(718) 236-8088
- BNX
- $10.00
New Yorkers intent on savoring the city’s most unusual flavors, take note. Here at the Bronx’s premier venue for West African cooking, this dish of stewed sweet potato greens employs palm oil and fakoye, a reclusive and utterly unique Malian herb. Musky and earthy, the dish is redolent of pü-er tea and fields of dried grass. Mix the greens with white rice and bites of chewy goat and hints of smoked fish. Just don’t forget to pass the pepper, ami. Available Tuesdays and Saturdays only (look for “Sauce Feuille de Patate” on the menu).
Bate on Serious Eats NY
860 Melrose Ave. at E. 161st St. (map)
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 401-2283
- BK
- $8.50
A highlight of Bedouin Tent’s “pitza” menu, this hefty rendition of mid-eastern lahmacun tops a large disc of just-baked pita with a spread of minced lamb, onion, tomato and herbs. The lambajin’s browned topping crumbles into juicy, meaty morsels with each bite, its sweet-and-savory flavor dominated by well done lamb and tomato. It’s an expressive slice of immigrant cuisine, Brooklyn-style.
Bedouin Tent on The Eaten Path
405 Atlantic Ave. at Bond St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 852-5555
- BK
- $.80
A new Chinatown is emerging in Sheepshead Bay, and Bing Bakery makes some of the best baked pork buns in the neighborhood. The bread has a light, chewy texture very similar to challah. The diced pork filling, tender and moist, comes in a sweet BBQ-style sauce that’s bursting with flavor. With a nice filling-to-bread ratio, there’s meat in every bite.
Bing Bakery on Sheepshead Bites
1415 Gravesend Neck Rd. at E. 14th St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11229
- BK
- $2.50
Blue Sky Bakery redefines the muffin for anyone used to dense clumps of chewy, greasy cake. A thin coat of sugar brushed atop each blueberry muffin glistens just slightly on a sunny morning, and when your teeth penetrate the surface, they’re met with a confident crunch. Beneath the crust is a moist, fluffy texture that never dips into excess, and at the center of each muffin lies a cluster of moist berries, often warm to the touch. Try one at the main bakery in Park Slope, open until 1:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 2:00 p.m. on weekends.
Blue Sky Bakery on The Eaten Path
53 Fifth Ave. at Bergen St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
(718) 783-4123
- BK
- $7.00
- STREET
Fish fingers of the world, bow down. Bon Chovie’s Jersey-style anchovies arrive before you in a head-on collision of briny freshness and deep-fried goodness. “Head-on” is the key: You eat the whole fish, head to tail, plus tiny bones and everything else in between, dressed to your content with sweet pickled peppers and smoked paprika mayo. A headless, tail-less rendition, which amounts to less anchovy per order, is also available. But you might as well listen to your favorite rockers on AM radio. Get the uncut version.
Bon Chovie on Eating in Translation
Saturdays at Smorgasburg, East River State Park
Kent Ave. and North 7th St. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 355-0658
- BK
- $6.00
It’s not hard to find cheap rotisserie chicken in the city, but Brancaccio’s Food Shop brings take-home chicken to the next level. Dressed with lemon, garlic, herbs and spices, then roasted perfectly, it’s just the kind of chicken dinner you’d put on the table if you had the time. Lines queue early for chickens, so your best bet is to reserve one in advance or follow Brancaccio’s on Facebook for updates on when the chickens make it out of the oven. Round out your meal with their sinfully delicious, double-smoked bacon macaroni and cheese and roasted Brussels sprouts.
Brancaccio’s Food Shop
3011 Fort Hamilton Parkway at 3rd St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11218
(718) 435-1997
- MAN
- $2.50
- VEG
Almost everything on the shelves of Breads Bakery is an ode to truly great bread, each loaf a testament to quality ingredients and serious craft. If you’re only looking for a small bite of greatness, the bakery has you covered with a full assortment of pastries and savory baked treats for single servings. The Jerusalem Baguette, a slightly sour take on a French baguette, heightens the pleasure of a crackling crust with a coat of toasted sesame seeds. The simple but forward flavors make a surprisingly good match for a cup of strong coffee.
Breads Bakery
18 East 16th St. nr. Union Square West (map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 633-2253
- BK
- $4.00
- SPICY
The protein by the pound at Williamsburg’s BrisketTown exceeds the price limits of cheap eats. But for a fraction of the price, early birds can get a taste of the Central Texas-style barbecue in the form of Austin-style breakfast tacos. Hunks of smoked beef are mixed with scrambled eggs, a tomato-based chile sauce, cilantro and pickled red onions, then tucked into a soft flour tortilla. Even with all of the accoutrements, the salt-pepper-and-smoke flavors of the brisket shine through.
BrisketTown on Goodies First
359 Bedford Ave. at S. 4th St. (map)
Brooklyn, NY, 11211
(718) 701-8909
- BK
- $9.00
- Photograph by James Boo
This isn’t your grandma’s pork chop—unless your grandma’s expertise lies in Vietnamese comfort food. Double portioned, chargrilled, marinated with lemongrass and served with a side of rice, pickles, tomatos and a sunny-side up egg, the pork chop platter is a complete meal for $9. Don’t forget to add a drizzle from the tin ramekin of tangy nước chấm (a sweet-and-sour fish sauce).
Bún-ker Vietnamese
46-63 Metropolitan Ave. at Woodward Ave. (map)
Ridgewood, NY 11385
(718) 386-4282
- BK
- $3.75
“Everything is homemade,” proclaims this new Sicilian spot, nestled in a thicket of Middle Eastern restaurants along Atlantic Avenue. Those looking for southern Italian specialties would do well to make this an essential stop. Everything on display behind the long counter looks fabulous—from the piles of pastries to the pastas—but go for the “Siciliana,” a particularly enticing fried calzone filled with anchovies, olives, green onions and mozzarella. Its piquant bite will leave you craving Catania’s enticing desserts.
Cafe Catania
193 Atlantic Ave. at Court St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 522-2880
- 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
- $7.99
- VEG
- SPICY
- 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
- BK
- $1.50
- VEG
Caucasus Garden takes you to Azerbaijan with its amazing kutabs, flour pancakes stuffed with lamb or greens, pan fried in butter and topped with sumac. Filled with tender and mild lamb or a blend of spinach, parsley, dill and green onion, this dish is the perfect introduction to Azerbaijani cuisine. Top each kutab with some yogurt sauce, roll it into a wrap and enjoy.
Caucasus Garden on Sheepshead Bites
2715 Ave. U at E. 27th St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 769-7003
- BK
- $6.00
Even in a neighborhood overflowing with kebab houses, the Bosnian foods of Ćevabdžinica Sarajevo II stand out. The chefs work hard to bring the experience of a homemade dinner in Sarajevo to the streets of Brooklyn. Ćevapi, a lamb and beef sausage, is said to be the national dish of Bosnia. Judging from the flavorful and tender version sold here, that claim is certainly believable.
Ćevabdžinica Sarajevo II on Sheepshead Bites
2556 Coney Island Ave. at Gravesend Neck Rd. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11223
(718) 758-5454
- QNS
- $1.65
- VEG
- SPICY
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
- QNS
- $3.50
- VEG
- SPICY
- (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
- QNS
- $3.00 per quarter lb.
- VEG
- STREET
Just holding this little paper bag of twelve or so charcoal-roasted chestnuts on a cold day brings warmth. Cracking one open to reveal the yam-tasting nut brings further satisfaction. By the eighth one, you’ll master the art of peeling back an entire shell, leaving the meat inside unscathed. Three dollars for a quarter pound may not seem cheap, but it’s a small price to pay for this much nut-busting fun.
Chestnut King Stand
Main St. at 40th Rd. (map)
Southwest Cornwer
Queens, NY 11354
- MAN
- $6.00
- VEG
You can brave the pizza line at sister restaurant Artichoke Basille’s Pizza to score a stuffed artichoke, but you’re better off heading over to Chubby Mary’s, where you can wait for the dish to heat up in a more relaxed environment. The softball-sized ‘choke is packed with bread crumbs and anointed with artichoke stock. Take it home if you must. Better yet, sit on the one of the benches in front of the pizza shop and make passersby jealous of your Sicilian treat.
Chubby Mary’s Heroes
328 E. 14 St. btwn 1st and 2nd Ave. (map)
New York, NY
(212) 228-2807
- BK
- $3.00/pint
- SPICY
- Photograph by James Boo
As you approach this narrow Clinton Hill storefront, lined with red plastic barrels holding pickles in various stages of fermentation, you may experience a sense of déjà vu. It’s no coincidence; there’s a very similar sight on the Lower East Side. Formerly the owners of Guss’ Pickles, the mother-and-son team behind this shop lost their legendary moniker when they relocated to Brooklyn in 2011. They still serve some of the best pickles in town: no fancy labels—just simple, honest pickles. The spicy sour pickles are especially extraordinary, with a clean crunch and a singeing heat that lasts.
Clinton Hill Pickles
431 Dekalb Ave. at Classon Ave. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(212) 334-3616
- MAN
- $9.95
Congee offers much more than just the humble rice porridge that’s its namesake. Don’t miss their salt baked squid, featuring a mountainous pile of lightly battered and tender chunks of crisp, well seasoned cephalopod, sprinkled with salt and pepper and mixed with cashews and strips of bell pepper and onion.
Congee on The Girl Who Ate Everything
98 Bowery at Hester St. (Map)
New York, NY 10013
212-965-5028
- BK
- $3.50
- VEG
Some days a lazy weekend brunch is perfect, but on days I need to be up and at ‘em, a slice of Cookie Road’s egg frittata is exactly what I want. Fluffy, yellow eggs are baked together with young spring peas, chunks of asparagus and sliced shallots on a tender potato crust. The ample slice is enough to get me through any hectic morning without needing a second breakfast.
Cookie Road
94 Franklin St. at Oak St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
(718) 383-8094
659 Manhattan Ave. nr Bedford Ave. (map)
Brooklyn, NY 11222
- MAN
- $8.95
- VEG
- SPICY
Supper at this 24-hour Cuban-American diner will set you back $20, but an affordable selection of breakfast plates is available all day. Coppelia’s Huevos Rancheros, served over a deep-fried corn tortilla and flavorful moros (black beans and rice), are especially good. Sparing no detail, the two fried eggs atop are splashed with a tart salsa verde and garnished with pickled onion, crema and queso fresco. The impeccable contrast of textures and flavors makes this a noteworthy (and addictive) spin on a Mexican classic.
Coppelia
207 W. 14th St. at 7th Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 858-5001
- CLOSED
Coqui Mexicano’s owners hail from Mexico and Puerto Rico, and their creative, home-style cooking straddles both countries’ cuisines. From the tortillas to the tamales, everything at this three-table Melrose eatery is made fresh, from scratch. Try the chayote salad, a traditional Puerto Rican dish that tosses the tender, squash-like vegetable—lightly sautéed in onion, garlic, cumin and other spices—with roasted red peppers, Spanish olives, vinegar, fresh avocado, tomatoes and cilantro. Add a few shakes of Coqui’s homemade hot sauce and dig in. -Clare Trapasso
Coqui Mexicano on City Spoonful
871 Brook Ave. at 3rd Ave./St. Ann’s Ave. (Map)
Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 450-3477
- MAN
- BK
- $5.00
At this tiny East Village (and Williamsburg) spot, your favorite meat product in tube form gets a nice upgrade. The Good Morning Dog, also pretty tasty as a late night snack, is a hot dog wrapped in bacon and padded with melted cheese and a fried egg. The bacon is fried up nicely for that perfect, salty-crunchy bite that all bacon lovers crave. Cheese fries sold separately.
Crif Dog on Eat to Blog
113 Saint Marks Pl # 2 at Ave. A (Map)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 614-2728
555 Driggs Ave. at North 7th St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 302-3200
- QNS
- $3.00
- VEG
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
- QNS
- $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
- MAN
- QNS
- $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
- 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
- QNS
- $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
- MAN
- $3.90
Offering tasty, fresh tacos for under $4, Dos Toros brought a little slice of Bay Area Mexican food to Union Square. The carnitas (pork) are seared and slow cooked, leaving them juicy and flavorful, with the right amount of salty kick before being wrapped in corn tortilla along with toppings of your choice. The meat is purposefully left mild, so feel free to be adventurous with Dos Toros’ tangy homemade sauces.
Dos Toros
137 Fourth Ave. at E. 13th St. (Map)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-7300
11 Carmine St. at Bleeker St. (Map)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 627-2051
- BNX
- $4.00
I’m convinced that burek is like sex and pizza: Even when it’s bad, it’s still pretty good. But when burek is really good, it’s soft and gooey and awesome. The bureks at Dukagjini Burek, a four-table operation in Bronxdale, are even better than “really good.” Pulled straight from the oven, the meat burek is crisp on the outside, blissfully doughy on the inside and stuffed with wonderfully spiced ground beef.
Dukagjini Burek on United Nations of Food
758 Lydig Ave. at Holland Ave. (map)
Bronx, NY 10462
(718) 822-8955
- BNX
- $3.00
- SPICY
- STREET
El Atoradero is a tiny Pueblan grocery that seems to be expanding its territory—if not in size, than at least in the hearts of the local Mexican and Central American community. Unfortunately, its kitchen is only open on the weekends, starting in the morning and continuing through an early lunch. Walk in on a Saturday and you’ll be rewarded with the scent of a deep cauldron of carnitas simmering before you. Picaditas are similar to sopes, and I figure the difference is really just in size, but here the fresh corn tortilla is elongated and even larger than usual. El Atoradero’s salsas are excellent, but the tomatillo truly shines for freshness and variety. They make only a small amount of picaditas daily, so ask for a taste, and marvel at their complexity. Weekends only.
El Atoradero on Eating the World in NYC
800 E. 149th St. at Tinton Ave. (Map)
Bronx, NY 10455
(718) 292-7949
- BNX
- $7.00
El Nuevo Bohio is a Puerto Rican pork fantasy land where you can have any part cooked any way. Try the roasted pork plate, served with a plate of tostones (fried green plantain), as men with machetes hack away at whole pigs behind the counter.
El Nuevo Bohio on Eating the World in NYC
791 E. Tremont Ave. at Mapes Ave. (Map)
Bronx, NY 10460
(718) 294-3905
- QNS
- $1.75
- VEG
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
- BK
- $8.00
- SPICY
Festac Grill’s goat pepper soup is some serious stuff, almost as if a goat was hacked up and thrown in a pot. Unlike its more accessible counterparts in Clinton Hill, which are made almost exclusively with more familiar meats, it is heavy on the offal—as Nigerian foods tend to be. Dive right in!
Festac Grill on Eating the World in NYC
263 Hendrix St. at Liberty Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11207
(718) 627-5151
- BK
- $9.00
- VEG
- (Photo by James Boo)
The marinara pizza at the newly opened Forcella doesn’t hide behind the cover of cheese or the forgiving flavors of Italian cured meats. It’s a three-component dish: a tremendously zesty, herbal tomato sauce amped up with garlic and spices atop a perfectly pliant, charred crust with a stray leaf of basil. Behind this blistery crust is the culmination of years of experience by pizzaiolo Giulio Adriani, top notch ingredients and a very hot Acunto oven. No matter how homely this pie may appear, such simple pleasures are not without their rewards.
Forcella
485 Lorimer St. at Grand St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 388-8820
- MAN
- $1.00
- STREET
Canal Street is home to more than bad fake designer bags; it also has one of the only food carts in the city that will fry its entire menu on the spot. The menu ranges from fish balls to octopus—all ready to be eaten on a stick. One thing is perfect for the less adventurous: excellently fried chicken. Crunch your way thought the drumstick’s crispy shell, and you’ll be rewarded with juicy, moist chicken meat. It’s the perfect meal on the go.
Fried Food Cart on Blondie & Brownie
Canal St. at Baxter St. (Map)
New York, NY 10013
- BK
- $1.00
G&S Pork Store serves prosciutto balls just like your little Italian grandmother would make, if you had one. These fried balls of ricotta, mozzarella, provolone and prosciutto covered in light bread crumbs are amazingly grease-free and strangely light — not to mention, highly addictive.
G&S Pork Store on Sheepshead Bites
2611 Ave. U at E. 26th St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11229
(718) 646-9111
- QNS
- $6.99
- VEG
- SPICY
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
- BK
- $6.00
- VEG
- (Photo by Robyn Lee)
“Artisanal” is a word that’s thrown around a lot these days, but Badri, the baker at Georgian Bread, embodies this tradition in its truest, most elemental sense. There’s no glamour to be found in this grueling work, but Badri still turns out bulging loaves of shotis puri every day but Monday. Though he’s significantly cut back on making his world-class cheese khachapuri (a Georgian bread baked with fresh cheese), going early on a weekend will ensure a cheesy, buttery round straight from the oven. There are few purer pleasures to be found in the city, or in life—just don’t expect Georgian Bread to be around forever. Rumor has it that Badri will retire soon.
Georgian Bread on Law & Food
265 Neptune Ave. at Brighton 6th St. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 332-8082
- MAN
- $7.75
When Glaze Teriyaki Grill opened in 2010, it aimed to channel the best of Seattle-style teriyaki in its all-natural, homemade sauce. Glaze brushes this seriously tasty sauce over a variety of proteins, but the best value on the menu—or in all of Midtown for that matter—is the beautifully plump, juicy, organic teriyaki chicken thigh, served over white or brown rice with crisp and fresh side salad.
Glaze Teriyaki Grill on Midtown Lunch
638 Lexington Ave. at W. 54th St. (Map)
New York, NY
(212) 935-3400
- MAN
- $7.50
Sushi and ramen get all the love, but ask a Japanese expat what she misses most, and she might say curry. Neither Indian nor Thai, this curry is a Japanese riff on a British interpretation of an Indian classic. Flavored with pureed apples, ketchup, curry powder and garam masala, the brown gravy is sweet and mild (even if you order a spicy version) and is popularly topped with tonkatsu, a breaded, fried pork cutlet. A drizzle of thickened Worcestershire sauce adds a savory finishing touch.
Go! Go! Curry
273 W. 38th St. at Eighth Ave. (Map)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 730-5555
- SI
- $1.00
- VEG
- STREET
Walk past the trays of Italian butter cookies dipped in chocolate and bright sprinkles, past the Linzer tarts and the oozing cannolis. It’s the Mexican baked goods that set Golden Pastry Shop apart. The pan de muertos—buttery, mildly sweet Mexican pastries, typically served on Mexico’s “Day of the Dead” holiday—are available year-round here. Light, fluffy and dusted with sugar, they are the perfect breakfast indulgence. There’s no seating inside this tiny Tompkinsville bakery, so plan to hover as you eat, or grab a pastry and a cup of coffee to go. -Clare Trapasso
Golden Pastry Shop on City Spoonful
1 Corson Ave. at Victory Blvd. (Map)
Staten Island, NY 10301
(718)-727-9393
- MAN
- $4.95 for 2 dogs and drink
- STREET
- Photograph by Robyn Lee
A cheap eats stalwart—both west-side locations have been operating since 1973—Gray’s Papaya offers what is quite possibly the original budget-friendly meal. Avoid the sad looking dollar pizza slices and head straight for the hot dogs. The tart sauerkraut and spicy mustard (both free) add some depth to the otherwise generic, greasy dog, making this the perfect snack after you’ve had one too many at the local bar. Plus, at $4.95 for two dogs and a drink, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better deal along this stretch of Sixth Avenue.
Gray’s Papaya
402 Sixth Ave. at West 8th St. (map)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 260-3532
2090 Broadway at 72nd St. (map)
New York, NY 10023
(212) 799-0243
- QNS
- $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
- MAN
- QNS
- 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
- MAN
- $7.00
- STREET
The Halal Gyro Express cart toiled under the moniker “Xpress Power Lunch” for seven years, serving the usual trinity of lamb gyro, chicken and falafel. In 2011 the men running the cart added four Afghani dishes to the menu, including lamb chops and a tender, well-spiced lamb tikka. Try the tikka with Halal Gyro’s fantastic green sauce, and bring a book—these Afghani dishes are cooked to order.
Halal Gyro Express on Midtown Lunch
William St. at Maiden Lane (Map)
New York, NY
- QNS
- $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
- MAN
- $4.95
- Photograph by James Boo
Happy Garden Palace is a nondescript little restaurant on Chinatown’s East Broadway that offers Fujianese immigrants inexpensive, generously portioned cooking from home. A great many things here are under $10, but be sure to order the salted fish and chicken fried rice. For about half of what other places charge, you’ll get a sizable mound of moist rice with egg, cabbage, carrot and bits of salted fish, which give this dish subtly earthy, anchovy-like undertones.
Happy Garden Palace on Mahlzeit!
54 East Broadway nr Market St. (map)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 925-9888
- MAN
- $5.00
- (Photo by James Boo)
Bento boxes are to Taiwanese culture as bagged lunches are to American culture. Taking this analogy one step further, pork chop over rice is the Taiwanese working man’s equivalent of peanut butter and jelly. Hua Ji Pork Chop Fast Food executes this combination of meat and rice as if it were a science. A fatty slab of a pork chop is pounded thin and fried until golden brown, then paired with white rice and a sauce comprised of coarse ground pork and pickled vegetables. The pork chops are pretty damn good, but the sauce… that’s their real showstopper.
Hua Ji Pork Chop Fast Food on My Inner Fatty
7 Allen St. at Canal St. (Map)
New York, NY 10002
(212) 219-9876
- QNS
- $8.95
- SPICY
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
- MAN
- $5.99
Most non-pizza items at this tiny Italian shop (that also occasionally sells Uzbek food) are made to order—including the salsiccia e burro pasta, brimming with sausage and bacon. The salty, fatty meats in this pasta dish are balanced by a chunky tomato sauce that may make you ask for bread to sop up the last bits.
It’s a Pizza on Midtown Lunch
20 John St. at Nassau St.(Map)
New York, NY 10038
(212) 964-0999
- 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
- QNS
- $2.50, $5.00
- VEG
- SPICY
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
- BK
- $6.00
- SPICY
- (Photo by Robyn Lee)
The distinctive scent of jerk chicken cooking on a steel drum grill, sending plumes of smoke billowing down Fulton Street, is impossible to miss. Select a particularly hefty piece, and the counterwoman will take it into the kitchen for a meeting with the cleaver before placing it in front of you to top with jerk sauce and scotch bonnet-filled pepper sauce as you desire. The rich, smoky flavor of the jerk sinks deep within the still moist chicken, but it’s the spicy sweet jerk sauce that will catch your attention with its lingering heat.
JR’S & A Jerk Spot on Law & Food
1450 Fulton St. at Tompkins Ave. (Map)
Brooklyn, NY
(347) 787-1515
- MAN
- $4.75 for 1/4 lb.
- SPICY
The term “jerky” might inspire thoughts of half-chewed shoe leather, but the unassuming gang at Malaysian Beef Jerky has mastered the art of making dried meat gentle on your jaw. Tender in texture and feisty in flavor, the spicy sliced pork jerky is a treat at $4.50 per quarter-pound. Beef, chicken, shrimp and non-spicy variations are also available for a similar price.
K.L. Malaysia Beef Jerky
95A Elizabeth St. at Grand St. (Map)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 965-0796
