It’s no secret that Manhattan is one of the most expensive places to live in the entire world. Between shelling out several hundred dollars on bottle service, paying for parking, your outfit, and even greasing the doorman, gallivanting about town can wind up crippling your bank account.
Luckily, while New York is famed for fine dining, those that peer beneath the veneer of trend and style can find cheap places to get some savory eats, all at prices won’t have you dipping into your laundry money to get to work the next day. They’re not the prettiest spots in New York to grab grub, but the prices can’t be beat, and the food is deceptively delicious. Consider it part of the New York experience – it’s a rite of passage to
Gray’s Papaya
402 6th Ave, at W 8th St
Gray’s is hot dog legend among denizens of the village. Ask any Manhattanite about the best place to get a dog, and you’ve got 50/50 odds that “Gray’s Papaya” will be their answer – and one bite of a Gray’s frank will show you why: the buns are toasted, the relish is savory, the dogs are plumped to perfection. In business for more than twenty years, and Gray’s has made cameos on Sex and the City, Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, and still gets bundles of business in a city where many finer restaurants bite the dust in less than a year. Gray’s has three central locations on West 8th street, 72nd and Broadway, and north of Herald Square, so you can get your papaya fix no matter which side of 14th street you’re on. Gray’s also spices up their menu by offering various fruit juices, including papaya, mango, and non-alcoholic daquiris. A “recession special” will set you back a mere $3.50, which includes two hefty hot dogs and a large fruit juice.
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Wo Hop
17 Mott St, Basement, nr Worth St
The space is the size of a studio apartment, wallpapered with signed photographs of local B-and-C-list celebrities, with all the requisite ambiance of a hole-in-the-wall diner. Is this some sort of culinary purgatory? Not even – it’s Wo Hop, New York staple. Any local will tell you that their parents used to eat here, and though the divey atmosphere may not bode well for the food at another joint, have no fear – Wo Hop is incredibly delicious, and every order off their menu of typical Americanized Chinese food comes in massive proportions. You’ll probably get the best mileage by going with a buddy or two and pooling your cash to try more than one dish. The rice orders come on giant platters, and for a moment you might think that somebody cut a basketball in half and glued pork fried rice onto every surface. Wo Hop also stocks Tsingtao, so you can keep your buzz going while you chip away at a gargantuan helping of Peking Pork.
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San Loco
129 2nd Avenue, btwn 7th St and St. Mark’s Place
Fifteen minutes inside of San Loco will have you reeking of taco for an hour or two. Bathed in red light, San Loco’s interior doesn’t really focus on atmosphere, though they have put up a few bull skulls and license plates on the walls to maintain the theme of Tex-Mex décor. The prices have risen from the ¢75 tacos of a bygone era: a hard-shell taco with your choice of filling runs for about $2.50. Coronas are recommended if you dine in. Introverts, be warned: San Loco can get pretty crazy with all the punk-rock kids who trail in from Saint Mark’s place. San Loco has an additional location at 151 Avenue A, between 9th and 10th streets.
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Chelsea Papaya
171 W. 23rd Street, at 7th Ave
Chelsea Papaya lingers on the corner of 23rd street and 7th avenue like a pre-Rudy prostitute. Originally a clone of Gray’s Papaya, Chelsea Papaya has distinguished itself by expanding their menu. They still offer cheap hot dogs and fruit juices, but you can also order Philly cheese steak sandwiches, corn dogs, chicken sandwiches, burgers, and fries. The $4 combo deal isn’t quite up to the Gray’s standard, but the more diverse menu and close proximity to the Meatpacking district make it an attractive stop for anyone stumbling out of the nearby clubs.
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Around The Clock
8 Stuyvesant St, btwn 11th and 12th Sts
The name says it all. Open 24 hours, Around the Clock serves good, solid diner food, and has a well-stocked bar to boot. A favorite of the NYU student population and nearly anyone who just happens to be walking by in a drunken stupor. The prices are a little heftier than some of the other venues, but you’re getting sit-down service, free water, access to a bathroom, and hefty proportions. In case you need a nightcap, the bar is literally five feet from the door.
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Veselka
144 2nd Ave, btwn 9th St & St Marks Place
Like Around The Clock, Veselka is a little pricier than the other options presented, but still very affordable. Awash in warm, paneled walls decorated with sophisticated murals and paintings, the atmosphere has the relaxing vibe of a coffee shop. Their menu consists of Ukrainian diner food, a great sell if you’ve never experienced Cossack cuisine before. Make sure you sample the red borscht and pierogis—the proportions are large for the price.
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Tuck Shop
68 E 1st St, at 2nd Ave
Australia has come to 2nd Avenue with Tuck Shop, a cute little spot on 1st street. While not a good option for vegetarians, the menu is composed mostly of British-influenced meat pies and sausage rolls, and will run carnivores about five bucks each. Tuck does make some killer coleslaw, and like any late-night dining establishment worth its salt, it also keeps a ready supply of beer on hand for those who don’t want to embrace the stark reality of sobriety yet. Female diners will also have a fun time ogling the strapping Australian guy behind the counter.
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Noodletown
28 1/2 Bowery, at Bayard St
The most surprising aspect of Noodletown is its modern décor: sturdy wooden chairs and glass-covered tables are complimented by a level of cleanliness that puts most other noodle joints to shame. A bowl of steaming, heavenly wonton noodle soup will run you four bucks, and you can enjoy it sitting down rather than perching at a cramped bar. You can also get a variety of other noodle soups, congee, noodle bowls, and some tasty soft-shell crab, all of which are served in generous proportions. Any place that’s still crowded at 3AM has got to be something worth writing about.
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