Chowhound Goldmine -- aka NYC Cheap Eats

Chowhound can be beyond resourceful at times. I bought bone marrow at the grocery store on a whim and then promptly had no idea what to do with it. Chowhound to the rescue with instructions to roast the bone marrow and smear it on toasted bread.

Then there was this recent goldmine of a post about favorite eats under $10 across NYC. So far, I've only worked  my way through a few -- Big Booty Bread Company's red velvet cupcakes (the best I've ever had), Lamazou's array of unique and tasty sandwiches and the rabbit and ginger sausage at Ivo & Lulu. A few had been duds -- the trio at Mee's Noodle House and the cheese rock at Big Booty Bread Co., but more have surpassed my expectations than not.

So here's my attempt to organize them in a more easy-to-follow format, arranging them by area with the name (and sometimes address) followed by what the poster suggested to order.

HELL'S KITCHEN
Tulcingo del Valle-- 10th between 46th and 47th; be sure to try the carnitas tacos!

Pam Real Thai-- 404 W 49th St, Btwn 9th & 10th Ave, 212-333-7500
Oxtail soup from $10.95 (it's worth the extra 95 cents!)

Tehuitzingo -- 10th and west 48th street). another is a pair (or triplet) of tongue tacos from $2 each, freshly made, hot off the grll and they have a little DIY salsa/crema stand at the counter. great right there, decent to go.
http://www.nycnosh.com/?p=165

Mee Noodle House- 53rd and 9th ave. My favorite under-$10 is what I call 'the trinity' at Vegetable Hot & Sour Soup w/ Cellophane Noodles, $1.65; Scallion Pancakes, $1.95 and Cold Sesame Noodles, $1.95. That's $5.55, not for one dish, but a very good meal. The soup alone is more than enough to satisfy a 'small' eater.

Kyotofu, 705 9th Ave., between 48th and 49th.
DREAM of the desserts at kyotofu, the original sweet tofu w/ black sugar syrup.

Sullivan St Bakery-- the pizza bianca

MIDTOWN EAST
Sophies on 42 and Lex -- Cuban sandwich

KOREATOWN
Seoul Garden Restaurant- 34 W. 32nd Street (between Broadway and 5th Ave.) 2nd floor,212-736-9002 Definitely Seafood Soon Dubu.

Pinkberry with rice cake (ask for it)

TWENTIES

Lamazou --370 3rd Av. between 26th and 27th.
My latest is a sandwich from Lamazou's - proscuitto, fresh mozzerella, pesto on ciabatta. About $6. also, one with smoked salmon, with thin sliced red onion, capers, cornichons, and a delicious lemon oil sauce

Sapa Happy Hour, 43 West 24th St. (btw Broadway + 6th Ave), 212.929.1800 
(530 to 730, pretty sure each night), features items such as $1 oysters and the following items are all $2 or $3: Potato Knish with Caviar, Duck Confit Steambun (served taco style), mini steak sandwiches on brioche, FREE warm chocolate chip cookies at end of meal if you know to ask.
http://www.sapanyc.com/food.php

Big Booty Bread Co. on 23rd street and 8th ave--The $1.50 "cheese rock" at hard on the outside, deliciously cheesy and bready on the inside! Apparently they're made with yuca flour and queso blanco. I just discovered them last week and am completely addicted. Also, try red velvet cupcakes.
 
EAST VILLAGE
Stage Restaurant (next to Stomp) 128 2nd Ave, Btwn 7th & 8th St
Fried pierogies -- A full order is $7 and I think a dozen is just under $10. You have to pay extra for delicious apple sauce and sour cream, but these are the best; I usually get the meat ones but their other ones are quite good, and you can mix them. nicest people as well and they've got great bread
http://www.menupages.com/restaurantdetails.asp?areaid=0&restaurantid=2567&neighborhoodid=0&cuisineid=23

Mogador -- 101 St. Marks Place, Bet. 1st Ave. & Ave. A, Tel: (212) 677-2226
i remember correctly, at mogador they're poached or baked eggs served w/ a nice warm pita, hot harissa sauce, and a side of tangy tabouleh. very yummy, and quite healthy too.
http://www.cafemogador.com/contact.htm

Menkuitei (E. Village location) - Tonkatsu ramen, 7.75. Always a favorite. 

LES/CHINATOWN
Saigon Bakery or Nicky's -- Bahn mi below $4.oo each

Public --- 210 ELIZABETH STREET(B/N PRINCE & SPRING)
which reminds me, i wanted to add to my list - the Tunisian Eggs at Public brunch - a bowl of 2 baked eggs topped with a berbere butter and creamy yogurt - and a thick slice of sourdough. $9. add a $4(?) side of quinoa hash browns and you're set.
http://www.public-nyc.com/

New Yeah Shanghai Delux--Chinatown, 65 Bayard St., at Mott St., 212-566-4884
New Yeah. New Yeah has tastier soup dumplings with skins that hold up better.

VILLAGE/WEST VILLAGE
Otto -- Olive Oil Gelatto

Alta--64 W. 10th St.,nr. Sixth Ave., 212-505-7777
Sea scallops with artichoke puree, yuzu mayo and salmon caviar at Alta - $9 for 2
 
Rafiqi's cart (Broadway/9thSt)--lamb gyro over rice 4.25

Grey Dog, 33 Carmine St., New York. (212) 462-0041, Between Bleecker Street and Bedford Street
Blt on challah --$7.50

Press Toast -- Israeli press toast w/ zaatar, egg white, olives, ketchup - i know it sounds gross but it's delish. - $4 

Fatty Crab, 643 Hudson Street New York, NY 10014 Tel: 212.352.3590
Fatty tea sandwiches and quail egg shooters at Fatty crab - $6 and $5
www.fattycrab.com/

SOHO/TRIBECA
Mooncake, 28 Watts St.,between Thompson St. and Sixth Ave., 212-219-8888. Steak Sandwich

Ivo & Lulu-558 Broome St., between Sixth Ave. and Varick St., 212-226-4399. And this one isn't UNDER $10, but it's exactly $10: the free range rabbit and ginger sausage 

UES
Pio Pio, 1746 1st Ave.(Btwn. 90th & 91st), 212-426-5800
And let's not forget...a WHOLE chicken at Peruvian Restaurant Pio Pio for $8 that comes with a lovely green sauce
http://www.greatrestaurantsmag.com/NYC/restaurant_view/144/

Payard -- For dessert, a $5-6 tart.

UWS
Celeste, 502 Amsterdam Ave betw 84th and 85th, (212) 874-4559
The homemade tagliatelle with shrimp, cabbage, and sheep's cheese at  I think it's $9.50.

Comments

[ann]

oooh, what a great list! I can personally vouch for the ramen at menkuitei as one of the things I miss most about living on Manhattan. So. Damn. Good.
I'm a fan of Rafiqi's for lunch too. It's nearly criminally cheap!
Thanks!

[Polecat]

I guess not enough people on C-hound posted on places above 91st Street to merit making this list, but no matter: there are tons of cheap, affordable and delicious eateries all over Harlem and Washington Heights as well. To name just a few: M&G Diner, Sandy's, A Taste Of Seafood, El Mundo Fried Chicken, etc, etc, etc...

[bryan]

"I bought bone marrow at the grocery store on a whim."

Never thought I'd see that in print.

I believe I ate kangaroo at Public. I think Rafiqi's is waaaaay overrated (if only because of the Astoria cart that knocks its lights out so bad it's ridiculous). Pio Pio I don't even need to elaborate, and I'm definitely going to try the Korean restaurant for lunch. I'm literally one minute away.