It’s easy to see how a lot of money gets spent on food in the city. The restaurants are often very overpriced, and once you add tip and tax, you around $15-20 a person. There are definitely those times when it’s worth it to have a great sit down meal, but it can’t be an everyday thing. My suggestion? Pick a few days and plan to eat out, but eat cheaply otherwise. That way, you have the extra cash to splurge.
The thing is, in NYC, eating cheaply doesn’t mean eating badly. I’ve found a few great ways to eat for just $5 or under. My first suggestion is to get a refillable water bottle and make sure it’s full before you leave. New York tap water is the best in the country, and cuts down anywhere from $1-$3 that you would regularly spend buying a drink. Even if you don’t want tap water, buying your own water bottles from a pharmacy or grocery store is much cheaper than buying them from street carts or cafes.
The first under $5 suggestion is rather typical, but good to keep in mind. Most fast food places in the city are absolutely competing for business so you’ll see lots of ‘value meals’ and specials. Popeye’s has a $3.99 chicken strips basket with side and drink. Wendy’s has cheeseburger/fries/drink combos for $3.99, and taco bell is always a cheap bet. Watch out for coupons too. You’ll often see people handing out coupons just outside the restaurant to get you to come in. Even though fast food is not quite the NYC experience, you’ll find the best deals in the city due to the massive crowds, so I included it on my list.
Next, the street vendors! Honestly, they have some of the best food you could find. Don’t just settle for the first one you see though, walk around the block and find the best deal. My favorite? Chicken over rice with a drink for just $5. You can also get gyros, wraps, hot dogs, sausages, burgers, pretzels, and falafel. Best thing? It’s all tax included, so the price you see is all you’ll be paying.
I’ve also gotta mention grocery stores. If you want something healthier and faster, many of the grocery stores and food markets have cafes. My favorite is Whole Foods Market. I love their pizza – heated fresh in a brick oven. It’s by the pound, but a typical serving usually costs around $3. That even leaves room for you to check out their desserts – the cupcakes at $1.89 each are best. They also have salad bars and hot food, if you want something else, and everything is healthy and fresh.
I always find the cheapest unique food in the ethnic districts. My tip is to look for places without tourists. Even if you’ll be pointing at the food you want because you don’t speak the language, you’ll get the best authentic food for your buck. I suggest Tai Pan Bakery on Canal Street. They have a range of Chinese buns and rolls, most at $1 each. I grab a steamed chicken bun and a hot dog roll (sort of like a large pig in a blanket). Only $2 total, and tax included. They also have mini-cakes for dessert, also just $1 each.
These fun eating out adventures drastically cut down on money you spend eating, and you can still get a wonderful range of great tasting food.
I'm glad that you liked the Tai Pan Restaurant in Chinatown. There are a lot of them like it though, no matter where you are in Chinatown, and sometimes you can get sticky or steamed buns for even less! (Some places, like $0.75-$0.80 each!) I also didn't know that Whole Foods had food so reasonably priced! I've been wary of them ever since I went there and paid $8.00 for two small lemonades! ><
ReplyDeleteYes, whole foods can be very very over priced, but their fresh food is a great deal. I also love that they stock TAZO brand bottled tea for the cheapest i've ever seen it. I avoid the marked up packaged foods and get their own brand. Their store brand products are called Brand 365 (savings 365 days per year, as they say), and these products cost the same as regular groceries but are much higher quality.
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