35 best new cheap eats

Defonte’s of Brooklyn
Why we love it: The monstrous sandwiches at this long-awaited Manhattan outpost of a Red Hook favorite make it possible to easily get two meals out of a single sub, significantly cutting the cost of your chow.
Top picks for $10 and under: Try the roast beef, mozzarella and fried eggplant on pillowy Italian bread ($9.75), or the Dino, stuffed with homemade meatballs ($8.50). 261 Third Ave at 21st St (212-614-1500, defontesofbrooklyn.com)

Doc’s
Why we love it: Sheer volume and short lines are the biggest draws of Doc’s soul-food takeaway menu. Arrive early in the day for mac and cheese and baked chicken fresh from the oven.
Top picks for $10 and under: A roasted chicken thigh ($2.50) or six charred and sticky rib tips ($7.95) both come with fries, but if you prefer, add on a generous side of sweet potatoes bathed in butter and brown sugar ($1.50). Book end that meal with sweet tea ($1.25) and a slice of red velvet cake ($3.75). 1902 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd (Seventh Ave) between 115th and 116th Sts (212-222-8820)

Farinella
Why we love it: The Roman-style pizzas here—four feet long and rectangular—are made with quality local and imported ingredients; when sliced, the thin crust has enough backbone for comfortable on-the-go munching.
Top picks for $10 and under: At $3 per slice, you can load up on classic Margherita with tomato and mozzarella, or paper-thin slices of potato and onion ($3.25 per slice). 90 Worth St at Broadway (212-608-3222)

Fort Defiance
Why we love it: You’d never guess that this charming old-school café—already populated with neighborhood characters lingering over coffee and pastries—is actually a brand-new Red Hook addition run by Pegu Club vet St. John Frizell.
Top picks for $10 and under: A serious simulacrum of the New Orleans muffuletta sandwich ($9) with olive salad, cheese and a variety of salami, executed by Good Fork alum Sam Fiorino. Make sure to ask for a tall glass of satisfying seltzer on tap ($1.50), chilled and carbonated to order. 365 Van Brunt St at Dikeman St, Red Hook, Brooklyn (347-453-6672)

Haakon’s Hall
Why we love it: For Columbia students on a shoestring budget, Haakon’s dressy comfort food sates the homesick soul.
Top picks for $10 and under: A starter of chicken livers sautéed with green apples ($4.50) or a poached duck egg and a cup of the soup du jour ($6.50), or rotisserie chicken for $9.75. 1187 Amsterdam Ave at 118th St (212-300-4166)

HB Burger
Why we love it: The proximity of Heartland Brewery’s burger restaurant to Times Square pretty much guarantees tourists, but look past them: The straightforward, griddle-seared patties are juicy and bursting with beefy flavor.
Top picks for $10 and under: The burger with fries is $10, but for fifty cents more you can get bacon-cheese Tater-Tots—a defensible splurge. 127 W 43rd St between Broadway and Sixth Ave (212-575-5848)

Hunan House
Why we love it: Though it’s hard to find, lovers of fiery food know that Hunanese cuisine can be every bit as robust as Szechuan fare, as evidenced by this Flushing standout. Experience the smoked tofu topped with pepper relish, spicy water-spinach stir-fried with fermented black beans, and cumin-kissed lamb, and you’ll see what we mean.
Top pick for $10 and under: The sautéed poached eggs ($8.95) are an irresistible mound of crunchy yolks blanketed with salty pickled red and green chilies. 137-40 Northern Blvd between Main and Union Sts, Flushing, Queens (718-353-1808)

Ikea
Why we love it: The Swedish superstore’s restaurant pays homage to authentic Scandinavian delicacies, and you don’t have to navigate your way through the labyrinthine mart to get there—it’s located right by the entrance.
Top picks for $10 and under: The meatball plate includes mashed potatoes, gravy-like cream sauce and that ubiquitous lingonberry sauce ($4.99). Starting at 11am on Wednesdays, a half rack of baby back ribs, french fries and a cube of corn bread is $7.99. 1 Beard St at Otsego St, Red Hook, Brooklyn (718-246-4532)

La Superior
Why we love it: Picture the best taco truck in L.A. doing it up restaurant-style in Williamsburg and you’re halfway there. Streetwise takes on tacos ($2.50–$3.50) and quesadillas ($3.50) abound, but good luck tearing yourself away from the baseball-size gorditas overflowing with mild requesón and slick, orange chorizo ($5 for two), or the exceptional sopa tarasca ($6), a traditional black bean soup punched up with ancho chili goodness.
Top picks for $10 and under: Invest in four $2.50 tacos (we’re fans of the juice-squirting carne asada and carnitas varieties), or the more dignified torta ahogada—pork confit and black beans bundled in a sourdough roll and swirled with tongue-lashing arbol sauce—for $8. 295 Berry St at South 2nd St, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (718-388-5988)

Lansky’s
Why we love it: You’ll need to unhinge your jaw to wrap your mouth around the sandwiches (most of which are less than $10) at this classic Jewish deli. The dining room’s retro look and homey, outsize portions will bring you back to Bubbe’s kitchen.
Top picks for $10 and under: Make a meal of the soothing chicken noodle matzo ball soup ($4.50) served in a bowl that could double as a birdbath. Those who bleed for red meat will appreciate the Lansky’s grilled cheese ($9.25), made with cheddar, crispy pastrami and tomato on rye, or a juicy ten-ounce cheeseburger blanketed with mushrooms ($7.70). Bonus: Sour pickles and creamy homemade coleslaw are free when you dine in. 235 Columbus Ave between 70th and 71st Sts (212-787-0400, lanskysnyc.com)

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Best cheap eats in New York City
Everything under $10!