Dining in New York for a dime
Cheap dining in New York City isn't as difficult as it sounds. New York is a city of many nations in which there are probably more nations represented in New York's dining options than any other city in the world. You can find wonderful food options that represent these many nations and they won't break your wallet. What a wonderful way to literally enjoy the flavors of the world on vacation!
Rainbow Falafel is the first place I recommend.
This may be the best falafel shop (if you can call it that) in New York City. If you've never tried falafel, a tasty treat awaits you. Falafel is essentially a ball of vegetables and spices (chickpeas, onions, garlic, and other delicacies) that is fried and placed in a pita alongside tomato, hummus, lettuce, and yogurt. Starting to feel hungry? We have just begun.
Gray's Papaya offers the best hot dogs in town,
especially considering the fact that hot dogs are hard to screw up, especially when that's all you do for the price. The price, in fact, is what keeps the clientele in droves. Where else in New York can you get two hot dogs and a drink for two dollars? However, keep in mind that the decor and atmosphere are what you would expect in a restaurant that charges two dollars for the average meal, and don't expect a Jimmy Buffet-style setting with umbrella drinks and neon colors.
If you are looking for pranks of heroic or epic proportions,
you must try Tony Luke's. The decoration is simple and the service fast. You won't find a huge menu here or a wide variety of specialty breads or carb-friendly diet options (there are a few items, but not a great selection). What you'll get is gigantic meaty sandwiches and maybe a side of cheesy fries and a soda to go with it. The food is good and the price is right, making it one of the best inexpensive places to eat in town.
Whether you refer to it as southern food or soul food,
Soul Spot has it going. They offer many of the traditional Sunday dinner meal types, such as fried catfish, fried chicken, and veggies that drip in 'drips' for those willing to risk an impending heart attack. This meal is without a doubt a fabulous example of the culinary delights one would experience in the South while at the same time being offered at a price comparable to what one would pay on a Sunday afternoon in Mississippi. They offer a lunch menu that is a bit less expensive than the dinner menu and offers excellent value for money.
Schnack is another low-cost
institution of gastronomic excellence in the great big city of New York. If you have a Krystal's or a White Castle in your area, you will get the concept of "Schnackies", which are very similar to the hamburgers that you will find in the places I mentioned above. Rest assured, however, you also have other options if cheap little burgers aren't your thing. If you arrive before 5pm, you can have eggs almost anyway, you can think about eating them, and if you have the time and space, you should try Harry's famous hot chocolate and banana bread pudding. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it.
The point of all this, in addition to making you feel good and hungry, was to let you know that despite its reputation for being an expensive place to visit, if you know where to look you can not only find cheap entertainment but also cheap food. You can enjoy the best that New York City has to offer without breaking your budget. And cheap is not necessarily a bad thing.
