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The Best of New York · Eat · Cheap eats

The best cheap eats in New York City

Updated October 2026. 13 places.

Eating well in New York doesn’t have to drain your bank account. I know because I spent my first year here surviving on dollar slices and halal carts, and honestly, some of the best food I’ve had in this city cost me less than a subway ride. After years of tracking down the most satisfying cheap eats in New York City, I’ve put together the spots that keep me coming back, all under $15.

Antonina PattizWriter and photographer · how I decide
Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest

Best cheap eats in New York City, 2026

  1. Banh Mi SaigonRestaurant · ChinatownThe best part? It’s a mere $10 at Banh Mi Saigon.
  2. Birria LandiaRestaurant · QueensBirria Landia started as a late-night street cart in Queens and blew up because the birria tacos are genuinely that good.
  3. Breakfast Sandwiches at Daily ProvisionsCafe · ChelseaThe BEC (bacon, egg and cheese) is on constant rotation in my weekend plans, although my husband swears by the smoked salmon croissant.
  4. Cheeky SandwichesRestaurant · Lower East SideNone of the sandwiches surpass the $10 mark and they’re some of the best in town.
  5. Customized Corn Dogs at Two HandsRestaurant · SoHo & West VillagePriced around $5 per corn dog, Two Hands is one of the most affordable places to eat in New York City.
  6. Grandma Slice at Scarr’s PizzaRestaurant · Lower East SideScarr’s dishes out some of the best pizza in New York City, rivaling far more expensive joints.
  7. Los Tacos No. 1Restaurant · ChelseaLos Tacos No. 1 dishes out the best tacos in New York City.
  8. Mei Lai WahBakery · ChinatownThis one of the best cheap eats in New York City because the generously-sized buns start at $1.50 a piece.
  9. Peanut Noodles at Shu Jiao Fu ZhouRestaurant · ChinatownKnown for creamy peanut noodles and tender dumplings, Shu Jiao Fu Zhou (cash-only establishment) earns a well-deserved spot on our roundup of best cheap eats in NYC.
  10. TrapizzinoRestaurant · Lower East SideSometimes referred to as an step up version of a hot pocket, this one of my favorite NYC cheap eats in a pinch.
  11. VeselkaRestaurant · East VillageThe Ukrainian borscht (traditional beet soup) seems to be a huge hit at $6 per cup or $11 for a bowl.
  12. Xi’an Famous FoodsRestaurant · MidtownThis restaurant is a personal favorite, I’m not saying I’m on a first-name basis with the staff, but they’re on my Christmas card list.
  13. Halal GuysRestaurant · Central ParkSeriously, you couldn’t miss this place if you tried, the lines are always so long, especially in the evenings.

On the map

Where they are

8 neighborhoods, Chinatown and Lower East Side most of all.

Chinatown

Lower East Side

Chelsea

Central Park

East Village

Midtown

Queens

SoHo & West Village

Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest

The Best of New York 2026

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The full guide, with the ones that didn't make it and why: 19 Satisfying Cheap Eats in New York City (Under $15).