40 cheap eats rooms in New York City, editor-picked. the best low-budget rooms in New York City: the places editors actually return to. All New York City food.
Joe's Pizza ★ 4.8
greenwich-village · 7 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
Pino Pozzuoli's Carmine Street counter has folded the canonical New York slice in New York City since 1975. Located in Greenwich Village. Priced at $.
Tip: Order at the counter, eat standing at the window. Pepperoni runs out by 21:00; arrive earlier if it matters.
S&S Cheesecake ★ 4.7
the-bronx · 222 W 238th St, Bronx, NY 10463
S&S Cheesecake in the Bronx has baked one cake only since 1959 in New York City. Plain, dense, the canonical New York cheesecake, supplied to delis citywide.
Tip: Cash only, weekdays only. Drive or take the 1 train to 238th; the bakery is two blocks west of the subway.
Ess-a-Bagel ★ 4.6
midtown · 831 3rd Avenue, New York, NY 10022
Ess-a-Bagel on Third Avenue has hand-rolled bagels in Midtown New York City since 1976. Boiled in barley malt water, baked on burlap, sold dense and seeded.
Tip: The line is 30 minutes at 09:30 weekends. Order over the counter; pre-paid online jumps the line.
Zabar's ★ 4.6
upper-west-side · 2245 Broadway, New York, NY 10024
Zabar's on Broadway has anchored Upper West Side appetising in New York City since 1934. At 2245 Broadway. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Tip: Take a number at the appetising counter the moment you walk in; the bakery side has no number system.
Abraço ★ 4.6
east-village · 81 East 7th Street, New York, NY 10003
Abraço on East 7th has poured a single-origin cortado in the East Village, New York City since 2007. Standing-only counter, olive oil cake, no Wi-Fi.
Tip: Cash and counter-only. The savoury empanada is the lunch order; the olive oil cake is the dessert.
L'Industrie Pizzeria ★ 4.6
williamsburg · 254 South 2nd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11211
L'Industrie on South 2nd Street has sold $5 slices and a $7 burrata slice in Williamsburg Brooklyn New York City since 2017. At 254 South 2nd Street.
Tip: Order ahead online to skip the line. The burrata slice is the Instagram order; the plain is the better slice.
Los Tacos No.1 ★ 4.5
chelsea · 75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Los Tacos No.1 in Chelsea Market has run Tijuana-style hand-pressed tortillas in New York City since 2013. Priced at $. Kitchen leans taqueria.
Tip: Order at the till, eat standing at the counter. The Hudson Yards outpost is less crowded for the same taco.
Lhasa Fast Food ★ 4.5
jackson-heights · 76-03 37th Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Lhasa Fast Food hides behind a Jackson Heights phone shop in New York City. Tibetan momos, hand-pulled thenthuk noodles, butter tea, cash-only counter eating.
Tip: Enter the phone shop on 74th, walk to the back. The counter is to the left through the curtain.
Arepa Lady ★ 4.5
jackson-heights · 77-17 37th Avenue, Queens, NY 11372
Maria Piedad Cano started selling arepas under the 7-train tracks in Jackson Heights, New York City in the 1980s. Priced at $. Kitchen leans caribbean.
Tip: Cash only at the counter. Take the arepas to the park benches across the street for the full Queens lunch.
William Greenberg Desserts ★ 4.5
upper-east-side · 1100 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10028
William Greenberg Desserts on Madison Avenue has baked the canonical black-and-white in the Upper East Side, New York City since 1946. Schnecken.
Tip: Order black-and-whites in the bigger six-inch size. Pre-order schnecken at Rosh Hashanah; they sell out a week ahead.
Breads Bakery ★ 4.5
union-square · 18 E 16th Street, New York, NY 10003
Uri Scheft's Breads Bakery near Union Square turns out the city's most-loved chocolate babka in New York City. Rugelach by the pound, challah on Fridays.
Tip: Babka comes hot from the oven at 11:00 and 15:00. Slice with a serrated knife at home; do not pull it apart while warm.
Russ & Daughters Cafe ★ 4.5
lower-east-side · 127 Orchard St., New York, NY, 10002
Russ & Daughters Cafe on Orchard Street is the sit-down sister of the Houston Street counter in New York City. Located in Lower East Side. At 127 Orchard St..
Tip: Brunch books two weeks out on weekends. Tuesday and Wednesday lunch is the easy walk-in for the same plates.
The Halal Guys ★ 4.5
midtown · W 53rd Street and 6th Avenue New York, NY 10019
The Halal Guys cart at 53rd and 6th has served halal chicken and rice in Midtown New York City since 1990. At W 53rd Street and 6th Avenue New York.
Tip: The original cart sits on the southwest corner; a second cart on the southeast corner is the same kitchen. The line is shorter at the southeast.
N.Y. Dosas ★ 4.5
greenwich-village · Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012
Thiru Kumar's vegan South Indian dosa cart has run on the south side of Washington Square Park in New York City since 2001. Located in Greenwich Village.
Tip: Cash only. The Pondicherry special is the cart's signature; the masala dosa is the entry-level order.
Xi'an Famous Foods ★ 4.5
chinatown · 45 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Jason Wang's Xi'an Famous Foods has slung hand-pulled biang biang noodles in New York City since 2005. Located in Chinatown. Open daily 11:30-21:30.
Tip: Order the spicy cumin lamb biang biang noodles. The liang pi cold-skin noodles in summer are the secondary order.
Prince Street Pizza ★ 4.5
nolita · 27 Prince Street, New York, NY 10012
Prince Street Pizza in Nolita has sold the cult $6 spicy spring square slice in New York City since 2012. Sicilian crust, cup-and-char pepperoni.
Tip: Lines at 13:00 weekends run 45 minutes. Off-hours at 15:00-17:00 are the easy walk-up; the slice still holds heat.
Xi'an Famous Foods ★ 4.5
chinatown · 45 Bayard St, New York, NY 10013
Xi'an Famous Foods on St Marks Place sells hand-pulled biang biang noodles in New York City since 2005. Located in Chinatown. At 45 Bayard St.
Tip: Order the spicy cumin lamb biang biang or the spicy and tingly oxtail noodles. The cold-skin noodles are summer-only.
Tompkins Square Bagels ★ 4.4
east-village · 165 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009
Tompkins Square Bagels on Avenue A boils bagels at dawn in the East Village, New York City. Eight cream-cheese flavours, hot bagels until they sell out.
Tip: Sells out by 13:00 most weekends. Lunch arrives early; the lox sandwich is built thick.
Levain Bakery ★ 4.4
upper-west-side · 167 West 74th Street, New York, NY 10023
Levain Bakery has baked the six-ounce chocolate chip walnut cookie in the Upper West Side, New York City since 1995. Two-tray racks, lines around the block.
Tip: The original Upper West Side basement counter has the shortest line at 17:00. Heat one for ten seconds in your hotel microwave.
Veniero's ★ 4.4
east-village · 342 East 11th Street, New York, NY 10003
Veniero's has filled cannoli on East 11th Street in the East Village, New York City since 1894. Sfogliatelle, pignoli cookies, ricotta cheesecake.
Tip: Cannoli are filled to order at the counter; never buy pre-filled. Espresso at the bar is the after-dinner move.
The Elk ★ 4.4
west-village · 128 Charles Street, New York, NY 10014
The Elk on Charles Street runs a quiet, daylight cafe in the West Village, New York City. Order the maple latte. At 128 Charles Street. Booking recommended.
Tip: Two tables, four counter seats, no laptops at peak weekend hours. Tuesday afternoons are quiet enough to work.
Devoción ★ 4.4
williamsburg · 148 Grand Street, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Devoción on Grand Street in Williamsburg flies fresh-harvest Colombian beans into the cafe every week in New York City. Order the cold brew on tap.
Tip: The greenhouse skylight room at the back is the working-from-cafe spot. Closes 19:00 on weekends, 20:00 weekdays.
Lexington Candy Shop ★ 4.4
upper-east-side · 1226 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10028
Lexington Candy Shop at 83rd has poured chocolate egg creams from a 1940s Hamilton Beach mixer on the Upper East Side of New York City since 1925.
Tip: Egg cream is a $6 single-pour at the counter; the butter burger and the Lexington special sandwich are the lunch orders.
Sammy's Halal ★ 4.4
jackson-heights · 73rd St And Broadway, Jackson Heights, NY 11372
Sammy's Halal cart on Broadway in Jackson Heights, New York City has served Bangladeshi-style biryani and grilled chicken since 2001. Open daily 10:00-22:00.
Tip: Cash only at the cart. Ask for extra green sauce; the bright cilantro version is the menu's hidden detail.
King Souvlaki of Astoria ★ 4.4
astoria · 31st Street and 31st Avenue, Astoria, NY 11106
King Souvlaki of Astoria has grilled pork and chicken souvlaki on a Queens corner cart in New York City since 2006. Open tue-sun 12:00-22:00.
Tip: Order pork souvlaki on a pita, fries inside the pita. The chicken is well-cooked; the pork is the better cut.
Adel's Famous Halal Food ★ 4.4
midtown · 1221 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10020
Adel's cart sits across from the Halal Guys at 53rd and 6th in New York City. Located in Midtown. Open mon-sat 11:00-22:00. At 1221 6th Avenue.
Tip: The line is half as long as the Halal Guys for arguably the better chicken. The white sauce is tangier.
Country Boys ★ 4.4
red-hook · Red Hook Ball Fields, Bay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Country Boys runs a Mexican tamale stand at the Red Hook Ball Fields in Brooklyn New York City. Open apr-oct, sat-sun 10:00-19:00. Booking recommended.
Tip: The stand is seasonal, Saturday and Sunday only. The huaraches with carne enchilada are the move; cash only.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli ★ 4.4
east-village · 114 E. First St., New York, NY 10009
Punjabi Grocery & Deli on East 1st Street has fed cab drivers $5 curry plates in the East Village, New York City since 1994. Open 24 hours, all vegetarian.
Tip: Combo curry plate: rice, three vegetable curries, a samosa, a chapati. Cash only. Eat on the bench out front.
Black Seed Bagels ★ 4.3
nolita · 170 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012
Black Seed in Nolita bakes Montreal-style honey-water bagels in a wood oven in New York City. Smaller, sweeter, denser than the New York standard.
Tip: Mobile order is the fastest line. The beet-cured lox sandwich is the cross-style order to share.
Balthazar Bakery ★ 4.3
soho · 80 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
Balthazar Bakery on Spring Street in SoHo has supplied New York City's croissants and country breads since 1997. Open daily 07:00-19:00. At 80 Spring Street.
Tip: Take the morning pastry to the chairs at the Spring Street subway plaza; the bakery line moves faster than the cafe line.
Eileen's Special Cheesecake ★ 4.3
nolita · 17 Cleveland Place, New York, NY 10012
Eileen Avezzano has baked mini cheesecakes on Cleveland Place in Nolita, New York City since 1975. Open mon-sat 09:00-21:00, sun 11:00-19:00.
Tip: The plain or strawberry are the originals. The Oreo and the salted caramel are the indulgent picks; share two.
Saltwater Coffee ★ 4.3
east-village · 345 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Saltwater Coffee on East 12th roasts daily in-house in New York City. Located in East Village. Order the filter coffee. Booking recommended.
Tip: The communal table at the back is wifi-friendly until 16:00. Counter ordering only; no table service.
S&P Lunch ★ 4.3
flatiron · 174 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
S&P Lunch on Fifth Avenue reopened the former Eisenberg's counter in Flatiron, New York City in 2022 under Court Street Grocers. Same egg cream.
Tip: The chocolate egg cream is the order. The tuna melt and the Flatiron Delight sandwich keep the room's Jewish-deli line.
53rd & 6th cart ★ 4.3
midtown · 53rd Street & 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
The 53rd and 6th late-night cart corner is a New York City institution: three carts side by side, the Halal Guys and two rivals, feeding bar crowds.
Tip: Order from whichever cart has the shortest line; the three menus are nearly identical at this hour.
Uncle Gussy's ★ 4.3
midtown · 345 Park Ave, New York, NY 10154
Uncle Gussy's cart at Park and 51st has grilled pork and chicken souvlaki for Midtown office workers in New York City since the 1970s. Tzatziki.
Tip: Lunch only, weekdays. The line moves fast at 12:30; the platter feeds two if you split.
Best Pizza ★ 4.3
williamsburg · 33 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Best Pizza in Williamsburg Brooklyn has sold $4 New York slices in New York City since 2010. At 33 Havemeyer St. Booking recommended. Reservations advised.
Tip: The white slice with sesame seeds is the cult order. Cash only; the line moves fast.
Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery ★ 4.3
lower-east-side · 137 East Houston Street, New York, NY 10002
Yonah Schimmel's on East Houston has baked potato knishes in the Lower East Side, New York City since 1910. Wood-fired oven in the basement.
Tip: The kasha knish is the second-pick if potato sells out. Order one with mustard and a Dr Brown's cream soda.
Joe's Steam Rice Roll ★ 4.3
flushing · 136-21 Roosevelt Ave, Flushing, NY 11354
Joe's Steam Rice Roll in Flushing Queens has run Cantonese steamed rice rolls in New York City since 2017. Eight fillings, two sauces, $6 to $10 plates.
Tip: The shrimp-and-scallop rice roll is the order. Cash only at the original; the second Brooklyn location takes card.
Junior's Restaurant ★ 4.2
downtown-brooklyn · 386 Flatbush Avenue Extension, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Junior's on Flatbush Avenue Extension has baked New York cheesecake in Brooklyn New York City since 1950. Cream-cheese-base, graham-crust, sour-cream top.
Tip: The Brooklyn original is the right room. The Times Square outpost serves the same cake under different lighting.
Kos Kaffe ★ 4.2
park-slope · 251 5th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
Kos Kaffe roasts its own beans on Park Slope's Fifth Avenue in New York City. Order the single-origin espresso. At 251 5th Ave. Booking recommended.
Tip: Order at the counter, sit on the back patio. Saturday brunch has a 30-minute wait; weekday mornings are open.