Living in New York is expensive, without a doubt, but it doesn’t always have to be. I’ll update this list as I visit new places.
Chinatown
No trip to NYC is complete without a visit to Chinatown. There’s nowhere else in Manhattan with such a variety of food options that won’t drain your wallet. Things are always changing, and some of the places I liked when I lived there no longer exist, but it’s hard to go wrong. You’re unlikely to find great service or refined cuisine, but you’ll get your money’s worth. Bring cash.
Great NY Noodletown
A late-night Chinatown standard, this is one of the better places for crispy roast pig (火肉 or 吹皮烤肉), and the fancier baby/suckling pig version. Good roast duck, fried noodles, rice porridge and other Cantonese staples.
Delight Wong
Another solid Cantonese joint. Nothing special, but cheap. Wontons are decent, and they have roast pig – a lot of places (like Wah Fung) only offer BBQ pork.
Wah Fung Fast Food
I’m partial to roast pig, but for BBQ pork over rice, this little take-away spot can’t be beat. Be ready to wait in line if they’re busy.
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
A no-frills Fu Zhou restaurant with a limited menu. The peanut butter noodles are popular – I imagine they sell a lot to the vegetarian crowd. I come here for the Fu Zhou wontons – something I’d never encountered before coming to NYC. The wrappers are apparently made from pork. There are a handful of other dingy eateries on Eldridge serving the same dishes.
Spicy Village
Henan cuisine – not to be confused with Hunan, which is more well-known. They have some unique offerings but I only come here for the pork pancakes. The place is tiny and they’re often packed, so just get one to go. You won’t regret it.
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Sweet tooth or not, this place is a must-visit. I’ve never seen it empty, even in winter. The almond cookie ice cream is my personal favorite.
Mei Lai Wah
Get a baked pork bun for the road.
Mee Sum Cafe
This is an interesting place that I’d like to visit again. The sticky rice is good, and they have a sweet ginger-lemon drink that’s worth trying.
Super Taste
Haven’t been here lately but they have good hand-pulled noodles and Taiwanese braised pork rice.
Other stuff
B & B
A 24-hour African cafeteria serving all sorts of interesting dishes by the pound. The peanut sauce is awesome, and I like their donuts when available. This place was a block away from my apartment on 26th street; there’s a similar place on 29th called B & D.
Izakaya Mew
A Japanese izakaya hidden away in a Koreatown basement, I happened across this place while I was staying in a nearby hotel and it quickly became a favorite. Fantastic menu and remarkably good prices for the location.