It's getting more expensive to eat out, and that's especially true in Manhattan where restaurant prices can be quite high. Finding an affordable meal in the city can be tough, but it's not impossible. With a little know-how, you can still enjoy delicious food without breaking the bank.
Below are some affordable restaurants in Manhattan where you can enjoy quality food without overspending. These places offer tasty meals for only $10 or less. B&H Dairy is a kosher restaurant that's been around since 1938. Breakfast is a steal, with two eggs, hashbrowns, challah bread, and coffee for only $7. All of their sandwiches are under $10 and are famously overstuffed.
Best 18 Affordable Restaurants in Manhattan
1. Joe's Pizza: A Slice of NYC History
Our first stop is none other than Joe's Pizza, known as a Greenwich Village legend since 1975. Step into this iconic pizzeria and enjoy the most delicious and cheesy pizza, the simplicity of New York's classic slice culture. Joe's offers a genuine taste of the city at an affordable price and is deliciously amazing as compared to any best pizzas in Queens ny.
Benefits:
- They offer reasonable rates for their pizzas with exciting deals and promotions, such as discounts on combo meals or special offers on large pizzas, etc.
- The pizzeria also offers loyalty programs or customer incentives so they must buy from them and be their regular customers.
- Online ordering and delivery services may offer convenience while being on a budget.
2. Mamouns Falafel: Middle Eastern Magic
Get a taste of the Middle East in Manhattan's West Village. Mamouns Falafel offers an array of delicious and affordable falafel, shawarma, and other authentic dishes. The restaurant's flavors are as vibrant as the city itself.
Benefits:
- You might find special meal deals and promotions, such as combo options, that are likely to provide additional cost savings for customers.
- The use of economical yet quality ingredients contribute to maintaining reasonable prices.
- They provide diverse menu items so that customers can enjoy a variety of tastes without overspending.
3. Taim Falafel & Smoothie Bar: Fusion Bliss
In the heart of Greenwich Village, this small eatery will win your heart with its Falafel & Smoothies. It proves that affordable vegetarian fare can be an explosion of taste. Indulge in their mouthwatering falafel and enjoy it with a refreshing smoothie – a perfect fusion for your palate and your budget. So, if you are new to NYC and looking for things to do in New York as a first-timer, then do try to eat at this place for once.
Benefits:
- They make sure that their menu items are reasonably priced compared to similar restaurants.
- They provide deals or combo options so that customers can get a combination of falafel and smoothies at a bundled price.
- They use fresh and locally sourced ingredients to make the quality better and to get loyal customers to the eatery.
4. Vanessa's Dumpling House: Dumplings Delight
If you are looking for some best restaurants in Manhattan, then head to Chinatown. There you will find a unique and flavorful dumpling venture- Vanessa's Dumpling House. The menu boasts affordability without compromising quality, this spot is a favorite among locals. So, dumpling lovers here is good news for you, come and enjoy eating at this place.
Benefits:
- It provides discounts or special deals for bulk orders, so order as many dumplings as you want and get a discount.
- You can get the cheapest and most beloved pan-fried pork and chive variety.
5. Gotham West Market: A Global Feast
If you are looking for a diverse menu of food items, then this place is for you. Gotham West Market in Hell's Kitchen is a foodie haven and a collection of diverse food vendors under one roof. This market will allow so many vendors to offer affordable bites from around the world. Whether you crave tacos, ramen, or artisanal sandwiches, this market has you covered. So, next time you plan to go to NYC and look for the best things to do in New York, then Manhattan’s Gotham West Market is the best place to go where you will find a variety of vendors selling different things in one place.
Benefits:
- This market hosts a variety of vendors so that customers can choose many varieties that cater to different budgets.
- Customers can easily pick from so many cuisines from different vendors and may have the flexibility to order smaller portions.
6. Shopsin's: Eccentric Eats
If you want to experience some best places to visit in Manhattan, then this Lower East Side gem is not just about food; it's about the eccentric atmosphere and a menu that resists categorization. This place is affordable and unique and a must-visit place for adventurous eaters.
Benefits:
- Despite its variety of meals, Shopsin's offers reasonably priced options, so that customers can order according to their budget.
- The eatery is known for its flexibility in customizing orders, customers can create meals based on their preferences and their budget.
- The restaurant provides value for money by offering a balanced number of meals on a plate so that customers will not waste them.
7. Superiority Burger: Vegetarian Delights
Vegetarians, here is good news for you all….. now you can enjoy the Superiority Burger in the East Village. This budget-friendly spot offers delicious veggie burgers and a rotating menu of creative vegetarian dishes. This place is proof that affordable dining can be both innovative and satisfying.
Benefits:
- Plant-based ingredients may allow them to offer a cost-effective menu.
- For those who prefer to eat vegetarian and vegan cuisine, this place is a must-visit.
- The restaurant's casual and cozy atmosphere aligns with an affordable dining experience.
8. Bo Ky: Vietnamese and Cambodian meals
This no-frills Manhattan Chinatown spot is one of New York’s only restaurants that focus on the cuisine of Teochew, a Chinese community. This means the cuisine at Bo Ky is very diverse, with traditional roots. It also offers its loyal customers surprising versions of other various noodle dishes from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Laos, and no dish will cost you more than $15.
Benefits:
- The eatery offers reasonably priced dishes with traditional and authentic Vietnamese and Cambodian cost-effective recipes.
- The restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients, managing costs while maintaining the quality.
9. Burger Joint: serving no-frills burgers
If you are seeking some best places and things to do in midtown Manhattan, then this Midtown burger spot is waiting for you. It is famous for its location and its burgers. Walk into the lobby of the Parker New York Hotel, look for the neon burger sign, and here you go …. Enjoy the most scrumptious burgers in town. You won’t find a $25 burger here, instead, you can get filled up for under $10. So, what are you waiting for just plan a trip to Manhattan and enjoy this affordable eatery.
Benefits:
- The no-frills concept points toward avoiding unnecessary premium ingredients and keeping the meals within budget.
- The menu has basic burger options, allowing for simplicity in ingredients and keeping the price low.
10. Cafe Delia: Georgian food
If you wanted to try delicious Georgian food, you had to jump on the subway for an hour or so and go deep into Brooklyn, and it is one of the best things to do in brooklyn. But now there are Georgian restaurants everywhere in NYC. Cafe Delia, located in Manhattan, offers affordable versions of pizza-like khachapuri, the popular cheesy baked bread, plus khinkali, the pork dumplings that hold broth inside.
Benefits:
- Georgian cuisine often involves providing locally sourced ingredients that are cost-effective.
- Cafe Delia follows traditional Georgian cooking methods that are simple efficient, and affordable.
- It offers a diverse customer base seeking budget-friendly yet flavorful Georgian food.
11. Empellon Al Pastor: Mexican food
The world’s best Mexican food is waiting for you at East Village in Manhattan. The eatery named Empellon Al Pastor serves up excellent versions of the namesake taco plus nachos and even corn dogs—all of which are very affordable. And if you come on Friday or Saturday evening after 10 pm then the tacos will be as low as $3.
Benefits:
- The locally sourced Mexican ingredients may help in maintaining affordability.
- The restaurant promotes a casual atmosphere, it may attract a diverse customer base and align with an affordable dining experience.
12. Haandi: Indian and Pakistani restaurant
Taxi drivers, the world over, apparently know the best cheap eats in their cities, Haandi in Murray Hill is living proof of this. This Indian and Pakistani restaurant always has a dozen or so yellow taxis parked in front of it. The food is good and the best part is, it’s very affordable. So, if you want to experience some unique things to do in nyc, then this taxi driver’s restaurant is your place to go.
Benefits:
- It emphasizes traditional and straightforward cooking methods that promote cost-effectiveness.
- The restaurant offers dishes at reasonable prices, because of the locally sourced ingredients.
13. Rowdy Rooster: Indian Fried Chicken
Rowdy Rooster is a casual East Village spot that focuses on Indian fried chicken. For under $10, you can indulge in very satisfying hot chicken pieces or chickpea chaat and/or eggplant pakora. So, if you are planning to wander around the city and looking for some amazing things to do in Manhattan, then this place will welcome you with its traditional chicken dishes and a nearby dive bar to pair it with a vodka soda to cool the palate.
Benefits:
- The eatery focuses on sourcing chicken locally at affordable rates so that the dish will be available at reasonable rates.
- It provides value combos or meal deals, offering customers a cost-effective way to enjoy a variety of items.
14. Saigon Shack: Vietnamese food
Saigon Shack is a restaurant on MacDougal Street that is popular with NYU students because it's affordable and serves good food. For just $12, you can get a large bowl of “pho” or an overstuffed “banh mi sandwich”. This restaurant is surrounded by other places that sell kebabs and bars.
15. 7th Street Burger: Late-Night Smash Burger Spot
7th Street Burger opened its doors in 2022 and quickly became very popular. Their burgers are made using the "smash" technique, which means that they press down on the patty with a spatula to intensify the flavor. They then add a slice of American cheese and put it all on Martin's potato roll. You can get a delicious burger here for under $10 and as the name refers, it’s for night owls. So, if you are looking for some activities and things to do in nyc at night, then this burger joint is your go-to place.
Benefits:
- It is one of the best and most affordable options to attract customers during late-night hours.
- They often run promotions or offer deals late at night to attract customers.
- The menu is so simple yet cost-effective.
16. Simò Pizza: Neapolitan pizza to NYC
Simo Pizza is known for its delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas, which are both authentic and of the highest quality. The best part is that most of their pizzas are only $12. The Margarita pizza is a simple and excellent choice, but for those who want more toppings, the pesto and pecorino pie are also fantastic options.
Benefits:
- They typically use high-quality and cost-effective ingredients.
- The making technique, such as the usage of wood-fired ovens, could enhance the authenticity of the pizza and the technique would cost less expenditure.
17. Super Taste: Lanzhou-style noodle soups
The restaurant's name does not lie. Their Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodle soups do taste super and deliciously amazing. The atmosphere is very cozy and laid back but customer service is super amazing just like the food. You come here for the spicy hand-pulled noodle beef soup. Super Taste is one of the better Chinatown places to eat noodle soups and you can leave there satisfied for under $10.
Benefits:
- The soups often use simple yet flavorful ingredients, that reduce the making cost.
- Super Taste may have cost-efficient methods for preparing and simmering the broth for soups.
- They build strong relationships with local suppliers and communities to maintain the prices.
18. Taqueria Diana: Nachos everywhere
As the name shows, it is one of the best for nachos. It is located in the East Village and the Lower East Side, Taqueria Diana has a menu loaded with all the Mexican street food staples: tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. But the show-stopper dish is its nachos. For under $13, you get a large portion of nachos that could feed a family of four.
Benefits:
- The larger quantity feeds more than four persons at a time, which means it is affordable for a bigger family.
- The eatery may offer substantial servings, ensuring customers feel they are getting value for their money.
- They create nachos with a mix of flavorful yet cost-effective ingredients.
