NYC Cheap Eats
By Faith Munoz
Even though New York restaurants are known for being infamously expensive, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your wallet to experience its delicious cuisine. That being said, here is my list of the best cheap eats I have tried throughout the school year that are all $15 or under and near campus!
BROOKLYN BAGEL
Location: 63 East 8th Street, New York, NY 10003
If you are looking for one of the best bagels near Washington Square Park, Brooklyn Bagel will satisfy your cravings! With five locations throughout New York, you are sure to find one no matter where you are in the city. They also offer online orders for local delivery and pick up, which I find very convenient when I’m on my way to class at Stern. My personal favorite is an everything bagel with lox spread cream cheese. The portion sizes are huge and you can definitely split one with a friend!
JOE’S PIZZA
Location: 150 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003
If you’re ever in need of a late night snack, Joe’s Pizza is definitely the place you should go to! I always get a cheese slice whenever I’m nearby after a long day of studying at Stern. You are sure to get the authentic New York street slice experience when you visit.
NY DOSAS
Location: 50 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10014
Located in Washington Square Park, NY Dosas is a popular food cart that offers an array of vegan dosas (Indian crepes) and Indian snacks. There is often a long line, so I recommend coming before the peak lunch hour to get your hands on one! You will definitely get your money’s worth for the amount you pay. My personal favorite is the masala dosa!
FAROOK HALAL FOOD
Location: 140 East 14th Street, Palladium Hall, New York, NY 10003
Farook Halal Food is on my way whenever I’m going past Union Square, which makes it a must for me to stop by. If you haven’t tried the chicken over rice, you should definitely try it out! The meat is always cooked fresh and the pita they put on top is a nice addition. Whenever I order, I always end up having leftovers.
JOE’S SHANGHAI
Location: 46 Bowery, New York, NY 10013
Located in Chinatown, Joe’s Shanghai has the best soup dumplings for an affordable price! Their pork meat soup dumplings are so good! They also have a large selection of other traditional Shanghai dishes. I always make sure to get the scallion pancakes and shrimp spring rolls on the side.
MATTO ESPRESSO
Location: 293 Mercer Street, New York, NY 10003
With locations all across the city, you are sure to find a Matto Espresso on your next outing. I love how it’s so close to Stern, which makes it the perfect midday pickup. My go-to order lately has been an iced latte with a slice of banana walnut loaf!
SAN MARZANO
Location: 117 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003
Pasta lovers, this one’s for you! San Marzano allows you to customize your bowl of pasta to your heart’s desire. My personal favorite is the rigatoni with wild boar ragu. It’s one of my favorite places to go to for weekend brunch! You can’t go wrong with a side of garlic bread as well.
