The Best Cheap New York City Restaurants You Have To Try

Eating in New York City doesn’t need to break the bank. Check out these cheap and yummy New York City restaurants you should check out!

Be sure to check out NYC Favorites: Things to See here.

Since Valentine’s Day is all about love, I want to share some of the things I love! Besides celebrating and planning parties, I love to travel! I could go on and on about some of my favorite places I’ve traveled. And perhaps if you even care to hear, maybe I’ll get around to sharing them. But today, we are going to talk about New York City.

New York City has a special place in my heart (as cliche as it sounds). My husband proposed to me on Bow Bridge in Central Park and since then, I’ve been back 4 times, most recently with our family of 4. Boy, was that an adventure! I have a new respect for city mommas.

I get questions from friends about favorite places to go in the city, and while I am no expert (really, my sister should be writing this post since she lives there), here are some of my favorite things to do in New York City.

Since there is so much to say about NYC, I’m going to break it up into a few different posts. Let’s talk about food first. Because isn’t that half the fun of traveling? Let’s just say we planned our trip around the food!

The Best Places to Eat in New York City 

The Shake Shack –– Madison Square Park is my favorite location because of the ambiance (hello outdoor lights!), but there are locations throughout the city– Yummy hamburgers, fries, and shakes at a cheap price. The Concrete Jungle is my favorite shake!

Julianna’s Pizza — 19 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn| (718) 596-6700– Order a pizza to go as you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and it will be ready by the time you get to Brooklyn. A great way to avoid the lines. Take it to the park on Dock Street (where Jane’s Carousel is) and you’ll have a magical view of the city. There is a lot of hype about Grimaldi’s which is practically next door, but Julianna’s is better in my opinion (we’ve tried both) and doesn’t have as long of a wait.

Norma’s –– 119 West 56TH Street | 212.245.5000 — For a decadent, gourmet over the top (but pricey!) brunch, try Norma’s. The Crunchy French Toast is what I always get, but everything looks amazing to be honest.

Sarabeth’s — various locations — Three words for you: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes. Get a side of fresh berries and cream and you’ll be wishing Sarabeth’s was local.  It’s a great place for brunch and much cheaper than Norma’s.

Levain Bakery — 167 West 74th St– famous cookies you must try!

Chelsea Market — aside from the fun and unique shops, Chelsea Market has a lot of fun food options as well.

 Wafels & Dinges — check the website for locations | amazing Belgian waffles with delicious toppings. You won’t need lunch after this!

Street Vendors near 9/11 Memorial— the best gyros and smoothies from a food cart in the city (and trust me, my husband tried quite a few!)

Other Good Eateries We Like: 

• Rice to Riches — my husband’s favorite rice pudding
• Serendipity — famous for Frozen Hot Chocolate 
• Junior’s Cheesecake — near Time Square. You can pick up to-go cheesecake to avoid the long lines. 
• Stardust Diner — the food is diner-type food, but the atmosphere is super fun for before or after a broadway show. They have Broadway singers sing and perform throughout dinner.
• Magnolia Bakery— try the Banana Pudding. So so good!
• Carnegie Deli– huge deli type sandwiches that will fill you right up.
• Panna II –  If you love Indian food, you’ve got to try this place out! The food is really good, and the atmosphere is unforgettable! Hundreds of thousands of lights adorn the ceilings and walls. It’s loud and tables are tight together, but you won’t forget your experience. Click here for a preview of what you’re in for.

And a few places that were on our list but we ran out of time for :

• Parm
• Max Brenner (Chocolate by the Bald Man)- anything and everything chocolate. Yum!

Tip: Use “OpenTable” to make reservations for the busy and popular restaurants. 

…

Have you  been to New York City? What other eateries should I add to this list? Next up: favorite things to do in New York City!