Chambers Street

1 The Soda Shop This newcomer offers the best country breakfast south of Canal: An $8.75 hungry-man sampler features three kinds of meat (turkey bacon, pork sausage and ham), cheddar-dappled scrambled eggs, cinnamon-raisin French toast and a blueberry pancake. This baby is plenty big for two typical diners. 125 Chambers St between Church St and West Broadway (212-571-1100)

2 Blaue Gans This Viennese bistro is a bargain on weekday mornings. Try the krupfen, an apricot-filled jelly doughnut for $2.50. Austrian coffee, $3, is served on its own silver tray. A heartier meal would include the edapfelgrost, scrambled eggs, crisp bacon cubes and browned hunks of potato for $8. 139 Duane St between West Broadway and Church St (212-571-8880)

Lunch

3 Pakistan Tea House At this restaurant—a cabbie canteen by night and an on-the-go lunch spot by day—people pack in for the excellent Pakistani food. At lunchtime, $5–$6.50 buys a combo mountain of steam-table options like nutty chickpeas, smoky eggplant and sweet chicken jalfrazi. 176 Church St between Duane and Reade Sts (212-240-9800)

4 Faraj Falafel Go straight for the $8 grilled-to-order kofta platter, which features flavorful, parsley-speckled ground lamb served with salad, tahini, white-bean stew and a heap of lentil-flecked rice. 165 Church St between Chambers and Reade Sts (212-571-0668)

5 Carl’s Steaks Settle in for cheese steak nirvana. The usual toppings are available, naturally (or unnaturally) including Cheez Whiz. Steak and chicken sandwiches start at $5.75. 79 Chambers St between Broadway and Church St (212-566-2828)

6 Cornerstone Grill Don’t judge this fast-food purveyor—a neighborhood fixture for 15 years—by its grease-spattered digs. Cornerstone delivers skinless fried chicken that’s not only delicious but, at less than $5 for three pieces, also a steal. 327 Greenwich St at Duane St (212-966-3065)

7Bouley Market David Bouley’s bakery-market, across the street from his haute cuisine flagship, stocks a mouthwatering selection ($5–$12) of salads, pizza, pastries, quiche and unusual sandwiches—like skate wing with shallots, capers and lemon dressing ($7.50). The prices aren’t bargain-basement, but this is a relatively pain-free way to sample the recipes of a world-class chef. 130 West Broadway at Duane St (212-608-5829)

Dinner

8 Casse-Croute Tribeca This tiny eatery offers an encyclopedic menu of classic French and Moroccan fare, including niçoise salad ($8.95), croque-monsieur ($6.95), couscous and tagine ($9.95 each). Bring your own wine for an early dinner of chicken-and-raisin-studded quiche à la Marocaine, or tender lamb with olives and preserved lemon—big dishes for a small price of $9.95 each. 73 West Broadway between Murray and Warren Sts (212-693-2213)

Hoi Am

9 Hoi An With its range of easily shared dishes, you can cobble together a do-it-yourself feast at this Vietnamese restaurant headed by a Japanese chef. You can’t really make a mistake here, given that none of the shareable selections—delicate spring rolls and curried chicken included—will set you back more than $10. 135 West Broadway between Duane and Thomas Sts (212-233-1339)
—Jay Cheshes

Key: