Best cheap eats in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

La Bonita/Rocio's

Photograph: Lizz Kuehl

Anna Maria Pizzeria
Regular cheese ($2.50) is standard here, but the specialty wedges, like garlicky pesto with tomato ($4), are where you hit the jackpot. The crust is thin, crispy and loaded with toppings. 179 Bedford Ave at North 7th St (718-599-4550)

Caracas
The addictive, spicy yellow sauce that sits on every table makes the cheese-, meat- or vegetable-stuffed arepas ten times better. Get the Mulata, which combines sweet plantains with spicy peppers, black beans and, in a stroke of genius, crispy, griddled mild white cheese ($6). 291 Grand St between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts (718-218-6787)

Kiosko Piaxtla
Kiosko Piaxtla serves a mole poblano that will send you back to the mountainous town of Puebla, Mexico—even if you’ve never been there. Chocolatey, dark, infused with chiles, it makes a simple order of cheese enchiladas ($7.95) complex. 258 Graham Ave at Maujer St (718-388-2957)

La Bonita/Rocio’s
Don’t let the bakery’s exterior fool you—this place offers real Mexican grub. Better yet, it’s open 24 hours in case of late-night cravings for fatty carnitas tacos wrapped in soft corn tortillas and topped with a deceptively spicy jalapeño-and-tomato green sauce ($2.50). 501 Grand St at Union Ave (718-384-0773)

Lady Octopus
The Japanese-ish food is quick and satisfying, especially anything fried. Tonkatsu—a breaded and deep-fried pork chop served with fries, fried rice or, for the health-minded folks, a salad ($5.99)—is juicy and crispy enough to make up for the lack of décor. 495 Lorimer St between Grand and Powers Sts (718-384-4123)

Moto
There’s no sign on the door, just a bicycle jutting out above a window, but the dimly lit, date-friendly Moto is worth tracking down for affordable, French-tinged fare like warm lentils sweetened with fig-and-walnut croutons and mellowed with mild queso fresco ($8). 394 Broadway at Hooper St (718-599-6895)

Old Poland Foods
Follow the lead of local Polish expats and order the huge, fist-size rolls of cabbage stuffed with beef and chicken, and topped off with a creamy tomato sauce ($2.50). 149 North 8th St between Bedford Ave and Berry St (718-782-2700)

Papa Lima
Try the Pablo Honey ($7.95) at this creative eatery: smoked turkey, American cheese, lettuce, mayo and—the key ingredient—potato chips, served on a hero with a side of gravy. 362 Bedford Ave at South 4th St (718-218-7720)

Peter Luger
Get the Luger experience at a quarter of the price: During lunch, a quality grain-finished burger is $8.95 (served with thick-cut steak fries, $10.95). The coarse-ground patty has a crispy, meaty crust that gives way to a juicy, pink interior. 178 Broadway at Driggs Ave (718-387-7400)

Snacky
Arrive with the munchies: Asian-inspired snacks, such as a hot dog piled with tangy kimchi ($3.50) or a melty fusion of mozzarella and Chinese sausage stuffed in a sesame pancake ($6), will sate them. 187 Grand St between Bedford and Driggs Aves (718-486-4848)

Vivi Bubble Tea
This standing-room-only Taiwanese-style bubble tea joint offers healthy portions of popcorn chicken for $2.95 in imaginative flavors, such as pepper-salt, spicy, curry, basil and garlic. 49 Bayard St between Elizabeth and Mott Sts (212-566-6833)

Astoria, Queens

Park Slope/Prospect Heights

Penn Station area

East Village

Long Island City, Queens

Murray Hill

Chinatown

Williamsburg, Brooklyn

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