In a nutshell
- Eating well and cheaply in New York is totally possible — you just need to know where to look.
- From our own experience: even on a tight budget, you can eat your way through some seriously delicious food here — from 99-cent pizza to a proper steak in Brooklyn.
- In this guide you’ll find our best money-saving food tips, insider spots, and the top budget restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in New York.
- Want to keep your overall travel budget low? Check out our tips for affordable New York hotels and free things to do in New York.
Ground Rules: How to Eat Cheap in New York
Before we get into specific spots and our favorite cheap eats in New York, here are a few ground rules for keeping your food budget in check without going hungry:
- Eat street food: Food trucks in New York aren’t just delicious — they’re often significantly cheaper than restaurants. You can score a quick, satisfying lunch here that’ll fuel you up for a full day of sightseeing.
- Take advantage of happy hour: Many bars and restaurants offer snacks & drinks at half price starting in the late afternoon. Keep your eyes open!
- Delis & supermarkets: You’ll find fresh salad bars, hot buffets, and sandwiches at every good deli and supermarket. A quick snack fills you up and won’t break the bank.
- Take-out instead of dine-in: Taking your food to go can save you extra fees or tips at some spots.
- Use apps: With apps like Too Good To Go or Yelp, you can find daily deals and some of the cheapest places to eat in Manhattan — and grab a ton of baked goods from cafés for next to nothing right before closing time.
Cheap Breakfast in New York
You can get bagels, coffee, and more for a great price in New York. These spots are perfect for eating breakfast on a budget:
Leon's Bagels
At Leon’s Bagels, you can get freshly baked bagels loaded with everything your breakfast heart desires — whether that’s classic cream cheese or smoked salmon. Prices run between $2 and $8.
Perfect for a quick, tasty start to the day without blowing your budget.
Nearby: Tompkins Square Park, St. Mark’s Place, East River Park
Gray's Papaya
Gray’s Papaya is a true New York classic. While the place is famous for its hot dogs, the breakfast offerings are seriously hard to beat on value.
Starting at just $2.75, you’ll find everything you need for a quick morning snack — juices, sandwiches, bagels, and coffee. Fast, filling, and quintessentially New York.
Nearby: Central Park (West Side), American Museum of Natural History
Liberty Bagels
Liberty Bagels is one of the most popular bagel spots in Midtown Manhattan. Freshly baked with tons of options — from classic cream cheese to hearty breakfast sandwiches.
Prices start at around $3, depending on your toppings, and everything is made right in front of you.
They also have the rainbow bagels that are all over social media — colorful bagels with a swirled rainbow design. Great for a photo, even better to eat.
Nearby: Bryant Park, Times Square, Empire State Building
Deli Juice Bar
If you need a fresh juice or a healthy smoothie in the morning, check out the New York delis. They often have juice bars with juices and smoothies starting at $4.
That’s cheaper than well-known chains like Joe & The Juice or Juice Generation, where smoothies start at $6.
Nearby: commonly found in Midtown and Downtown — e.g. around Wall Street, Union Square, or 6th Avenue
Cheap Lunch in New York
If all that sightseeing in New York has worked up your appetite, here are our top picks for a budget-friendly lunch:
7th Street Burger
7th Street Burger has several locations across New York. You’ll find juicy smash burgers, a simple menu, and fast service — perfect for a quick lunch while exploring the city.
Burgers here run around $7. For a few extra dollars, you can add fries and a drink.
Nearby: Times Square, Broadway, Madame Tussauds, Bryant Park
Los Tacos No. 1
Los Tacos No. 1 is hugely popular — and honestly, it deserves every bit of the hype.
You get tacos, quesadillas, and more exactly as they should be: fresh handmade tortillas, boldly seasoned meat or vegetarian fillings, and house-made salsas.
The place is quick, no-frills, and surprisingly good value for the quality. Tacos start at around $3.
Nearby: High Line, The Edge, Hudson Yards
99 Cent Pizza & Dollar Slice Shops
Here comes the classic NYC cliché: the greasy, cheesy pizza slice. And it’s not just something from movies and TV shows — it really is on practically every street corner in New York.
For 99 cents to $2, you get a massive slice handed right to you. Some spots also offer meal deals — two slices and a large drink for $5. One of the genuinely great cheap eats New York has to offer.
Nearby: practically everywhere — e.g. Times Square, One World Trade Center, Madison Square Garden
Mamoun's Falafel
Mamoun’s is one of the oldest falafel restaurants in New York and a great go-to for anyone who likes their food quick, flavorful, and vegetarian-friendly.
Starting at just $5 to $7, you can get stuffed pita bread with falafel, hummus, tahini, or grilled meat. Made fresh, no fuss, packed with flavor. Great for eating on the go or grabbing lunch in the park.
Nearby: Washington Square Park, NYU, SoHo
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle is a solid option if you want something fast, filling, and totally customizable.
Starting at around $10 to $12, you can build your own burritos, bowls, or tacos exactly the way you like — with rice, beans, meat, veggies, salsas, and guacamole.
Everything is made fresh, with a focus on sustainability and quality ingredients. One of the better NYC restaurants under $15 for a full, satisfying meal.
Nearby: depending on the location — Union Square, Times Square, Bryant Park
McDonald's, Subway & Co.
Of course, New York has all the familiar fast food chains too — McDonald’s, Five Guys, Subway, and more.
Admittedly, not exactly exciting. But reliable, and you already know what you’re getting.
Fast food also tends to be cheaper in the US than in most other countries. For a full meal, you’ll pay just $6 to $8 in New York.
Nearby: everywhere — e.g. Wall Street, SUMMIT, Top of the Rock
Cheap Dinner in New York
A long day in New York deserves a great meal to wrap it up. Here’s where to find good, affordable dinners across the city:
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou
Shu Jiao Fu Zhou in Chinatown is a real local favorite for fans of Chinese cuisine. They serve fantastic handmade dumplings and peanut butter noodles for around $3.
Perfect if you want to eat cheaply and authentically in New York — this is one of those under-the-radar picks that regulars swear by.
Nearby: Chinatown, near Canal Street and East Broadway
St. Anselm
Affordable steak in New York? It actually exists — at St. Anselm in Brooklyn.
Maybe your New York hotel is already in Brooklyn. If not, the ride on the New York subway to Williamsburg is absolutely worth it.
You’ll find really great, juicy meat at fair prices in a relaxed atmosphere. Expect to pay around $34 per steak. In Manhattan, a steak can easily run you $50 or more.
Nearby: Williamsburg Bridge, Domino Park
Also read our best Brooklyn tips
Rubirosa
Want really good Italian food in New York? Head to Little Italy — and specifically to Rubirosa.
Pasta, pizza, lasagna, and tiramisu, all at genuinely fair prices. You’ll pay around $20 to $25 per dish. That might sound like a lot compared to the other spots on this list, but the portions are huge and completely authentic.
And honestly, a cozy evening in Little Italy is always a great call. The atmosphere here is seriously special.
Really fun: Rubirosa sells restaurant merch — actual fan merchandise like caps featuring their pizza. You can also buy their pasta sauces. A genuinely cool souvenir to bring home.
Nearby: Chinatown, Washington Square Park, SoHo
Our Verdict: Eating Cheap in New York? Totally Doable!
We’ve spent a lot of time exploring New York ourselves — on a tight budget, with a big appetite, and not much time to spare. And we can tell you: you don’t need a fancy restaurant or $100 a day to eat really well.
The city is packed with small, affordable spots, great street food, and some seriously good nyc cheap places to eat if you know where to look.
If you keep your eyes open as you walk through the neighborhoods, you’ll find affordable snacks, budget lunches, and even a solid steak at a fair price almost everywhere you go.
Our tip: Plan a few budget-friendly spots along your sightseeing route in advance. It saves you not just money, but time too.
Frequently Asked Questions About Eating Cheap in New York
Where are the cheapest places to eat in Manhattan?
Our top picks for budget-friendly spots in Manhattan:
- Liberty Bagels (Midtown)
- Gray’s Papaya (Upper West Side)
- 99 Cent Pizza (everywhere)
- Los Tacos No. 1 (Chelsea Market)
- Mamoun’s Falafel (Greenwich Village)
- Shu Jiao Fu Zhou (Chinatown)
- Rubirosa (Little Italy)
How much does eating out cost in New York?
It really depends on where and how you eat. Hot snacks start at 99 cents, and most budget meals land somewhere between $3 and $12. Upscale restaurants can easily charge $80 or more for dinner — so the range is huge.
How can you spend less money on food in NYC?
Skip the sit-down restaurants and grab your food at street food stands, pizza spots, or supermarket delis instead — that’s where the real savings are.
The “Too Good To Go” app is also worth downloading. You can score leftover food at heavily discounted prices right before stores close.
We tried it at Starbucks and got a huge bag full of pastries for next to nothing.
How do you get free food in New York?
Free food in New York is basically only available for those who truly need it — at soup kitchens, for example. And we definitely want to leave their food for them!
But don’t worry — you can still eat really well in New York for very little money.
The 99-cent pizza slice at food stands on street corners is a great place to start.
