Cheap NYC Restaurants

We've all heard tell of the $15 coffee-and-pastry breakfast in the Big Apple. But diner food is where it's at, especially if you can get on down to the Roxy Coffee Shop in the Financial District. Your budget breakfast could be an egg sandwiche, pancakes, French toast, or omelettes, all for less than $5.

One of the cheap NYC restaurants with delicious thin crust pizza is Vezzo, in Murray Hill. A personal (!!) 9-inch pesto and cheese personal is all of $6.50, but load on toppings in the shroomtown pie and you'll hit the $12 mark. Trust us, that's still a deal.

Cheap vegetarian food with Middle Eastern flare is yours for a song at Maoz. A fresh falafel sandwich and all-you-can-pile-on-top salads goes for $5.25; add sweet potato fries for another 50 cents. There's a Maoz in Union Square and several sibling operations scattered throughout Manhattan.

Down in the Hatch lies deep in the heart of the West Village. Come on by for Monday night football or on a weekend for one of NYC's cheapest beer and wings specials. And that would be three pitchers and unlimited wings for $19.

Budgets and dates aren't always an easy match, but Cucina di Pesce is one of the cheap NYC restaurants that meets the requirements. This is the right choice for a date when you're in need of tasty Italian fare, an intimate atmosphere, and wallet-friendly prices. Choose a fish entree for less than $20 or pasta for less than $11.

Are you a frugal diner with dietary restrictions? Try Bonobo's in the Flatiron district for tasty, gluten-free vegan cuisine. You won't break the bank with a $6.95 kale salad for $8.95 for a filling Nori roll.

Fresh and flavorful Cuban fare is all yours at this cheap NYC restaurant. Margo dishes up a meat-packed Cubano sandwich with rice and beans for $9 and an octopus salad for $6.75. Stop by before the theater.

When hunting for a lot of beer for a little price, head straight for Jeremy's Ale House on Front St. Take a seat, take a breath, and then gulp down ginormous, and among the cheapest, beers in NYC. A full, quart-sized Styrofoam cup costs less than $7.

This cheese emporium in the West Village prepares super affordable, and most importantly, gourmet grilled cheese. At Murray's Cheese you can choose among ten Murray's Melts for less than $6 or build one to your own taste from 14 cheese and nine meat options.

On-the-go Chinese fare awaits at this Chinatown spot. Stop in at Nice Green Bo for cheap, Shanghai style dishes like scallion pancakes ($1.50 each) and vegetable dumplings ($4.25 for eight). You don't know what you're missing.

Wander around the Meatpacking District one weekend day and you may find yourself drawn into Paradou. This is the place to be for a tasty brunch composed of entrée and unlimited champagne; try the ouefs Paradou. The cost: $29 smackeroos.

Here's an idea that New Yorkers know oh so well: satisfy your craving for Italian eats by ordering in a pasta dish from Pepe Rosso To Go. No need to leave your apartment for an order in pasta for less than $10. Try the penne vodka for $8.95.

Shake Shack is home of the city's most popular cheap burger. At this cheap NYC restaurant, you can get a Shack Burger single for $4.25 or double your pleasure at less than double the cost ($7.25, that is); add fries for $2.75. Plan to wait on line at this Madison Park location -- you won't be disappointed.

We've tried Vietnames sandwiches so now it's time give cheap Cambodian sandwiches a go. At Num Pang Sandwich Shop in the Village you can fill up on hoisin veal meatball for $6.75 or spiced pork belly for $7.50. The pickled veggies on the sandwiches add a little kick.

Ooh-la-la, a cheap and satisfying French brunch at Tartine in the West Village. A $14.95 prix fixe menu gives you free range, but do try the croque monsier. This is a BYOB spot with no corkage fee -- big savings here. This cheap NYC restaurant is trés bien!

Top flight coffee and Italian sandwiches aplenty at Ballar Caff'e Prosciutteria in the Bowery. We're partial to the caffe macchiato for $1.50 (a steal at that price) and the prosciutto panini with mixed greens for $8.

La Linea may not be one of the cheap NYC restaurants, but it certainly passes for one of the cheaper Manhattan lounges. Here you can imbibe deliciously discounted cocktails every day from 3pm-9pm. During the summer we suggest trying the $4 apple martinis or $3 margaritas.

Tired of comfort food that comes out of a cardboard box? Get on over to S'Mac in the East Village for very affordable and highly addictive mac and cheese. The 4 Cheese in “nosh” size is $5.75 or $8 for the “major munch.” Hearty appetites are welcome.

Underground gourmet takes on new meaning at this cheap NYC restaurant. Descend below street level to this hidden treasure. Momokawa serves cheap, authentic Japanese fare. Choose from more than 20 lip-smacking small plates for less than $10.

Wanna try something out of this world? Make a landing at this kitschy Midtown spot and you'll discover one of NYC’s cheapest happy hour deals. Take your flight on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday from 5pm-7pm and try a Marstini for less than $6. And then come back to Earth.

Mama's Food Shop on the Lower East Side is a cheap NYC restaurant catering to those with big appetites. The portions of down-home American food are huge and inexpensive. Try Mama’s roasted chicken with a side for $12.50.

Slurp away on ultra-cheap Chinese cuisine at Tasty Hand-Pulled Noodles Inc. in Chinatown. Enormous portions of hand-pulled noodle soups range from $4 to $6.50. Go for the fish ball or beef soup and hand over a mere $5.

The fish tacos at Pinche Taqueria were voted #1 on the East Coast. Located on Mott St., this cheap NYC restaurant dishes up a taco de pescado and a taco de camaron for all of $3.95 each. If you're in the mood for some greens, try the Pinche taco salad for $7.50.

Lansky's is one of New York City's best and cheapest delis. This Upper West Side spot ladles out matzo ball soup for $4.50 and piles on pastrami, tomato, and cheddar on rye for an astounding $9.25.

The best cheap Belgian waffles in New York City cost $5 a piece and come from a traveling truck. For another $2 you get unlimited toppings ("dinges"). Be sure to try the spekuloos, a type of spicy biscuit. Check the website for Wafels and Dinges or call for the current location.