« Sentences to ponder | Main | Norway Tax Data Now! »
Dining tips for Manhattan
JonSanders, a loyal MR reader, asks:
I read "Discover Your Inner Economist" (as well as "Create Your Own Economy") and I want a little more help with the Manhattan dining tips you covered. Care to help someone on a serious budget, like say, an undergrad at NYU? Staying off the main avenues is useful, but it is still hard to find dirt cheap authentic food from most cultures. More advice?
I'm was in New York yesterday and I despaired. Short of dropping $50-$70 or more for lunch, it's hard to get a good meal in most of Manhattan. Greenwich Village went mainstream long ago and the overall problems in Manhattan are high rents, rising tourism, and the importation of growing numbers of people from U.S. regions with lesser food taste (can you guess where?). That's a triple whammy. I recommend the following:
1. Eat on the far west or far east side, like 9th Ave. or The Bowery. The East Village hasn't been ruined. The West Village still has some quirky places near The Village Vanguard, usually further west off the main paths. There are good places near Hudson St., the neighborhood Jane Jacobs wrote about.
2. Eat on the way to or from LaGuardia in Flushing, Queens, in superb Chinatown. If you try the Chinatown in Manhattan, go for breakfast -- not dinner -- for the best chance at quality.
3. Look for obscure ethnic places in the mid 30s, on the streets, not the avenues.
4. The best food reviews are in New York magazine, by far.
5. Two of my reliable stand-bys are Ess-a-Bagel and Shun Lee Palace, both in East/Midtown. They're both pretty tired in terms of concept but the quality still is excellent. I enjoy them every time I go. Shun Lee Palace would not count as dirt cheap, however.
6. Get to Brooklyn or Queens. Or (gasp) New Jersey.
What advice can you give this poor fellow?
Posted by Tyler Cowen on October 24, 2009 at 05:31 AM in Education, Food and Drink | Permalink
Comments
There are some very authentic Japanese izakaya style places in the east village. I can't remember the name of the place I went to, but as soon as I walked in the door it felt like I had stepped directly back to Japan. It was loud, boisterous, and full of Japanese speakers-- the atmosphere could not be beat. And the menu had all the items I used to find at the izakayas I would frequent when living back in Shikoku. I dream of having anything similar in Florida.
Posted by: Tom Gregorich at Oct 24, 2009 6:22:37 AM
I wonder what happened to that Norway tax article that showed up briefly on the 'Next article' link...taken down for revision, or did the Norwegians issue a cease and desist?
Those Norwegians, they look all nice and friendly with their Nobel prizes, Viking longboats and Ikea bookshelves, but you just say the wrong thing and feel that sting!
Posted by: Leigh Caldwell at Oct 24, 2009 7:06:16 AM
Suggestions: Sigiri Sri Lankan (east village/les); Polash Indian Cuisine (far better than the garbage in the village, but a decent trek to east harlem. This is one of the most authentic indian restaurants i've been to and is very, very cheap in price); Yuka sushi (actually on an avenue in the ues, but you can't beat the all you can eat sushi)-go for the salmon skin roll
Posted by: JC at Oct 24, 2009 7:57:53 AM
(can you guess where?)
Michigan?
Posted by: Floccina at Oct 24, 2009 8:19:59 AM
For a very reasonably-priced (not 'dirt cheap') 'nice' dinner out, the Smorgaschef chain is quite decent -- in particular the midtown location, NOT the cheesier and generally lower-end Scandinavia House one. Probably as good as you'll do on a regular basis for ~ $30 for a 3-course dinner in a proper restaurant.
Also not dirt-cheap but still good value, Katz's delicatessan on the Lower East Side remains underrated even after accounting for how famous it is.
Posted by: Gary Leff at Oct 24, 2009 8:33:24 AM
Anything with more than four starts, at least 75 reviews, and one dollar sign on Yelp.com probably won't disappoint. Cheapest, best bite I know of in Manhattan is Dogmatic Sausages just West of Broadway on 18th. Joe's Ginger in Chinatown is great for dinner... what else.. Manna's Soul Food Buffet on 125th street. If you're in Brooklyn, the best burger I've ever had for any price is $9 in a neighborhood bar called 'Soda Bar'. Happy eating!
Posted by: Bret Heilig at Oct 24, 2009 8:33:53 AM
^"four stars," sheesh.
Posted by: Bret Heilig at Oct 24, 2009 8:34:33 AM
Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien is good for the price. Hardly the best burger I've eaten, but a burger and fries for less than $10 in Manhattan, and at an upscale hotel no less, isn't to be sneezed at. Call in your order, skip the line and walk up to the register.
As for 'rising' tourism, I'm not certain that's accurate (increased tourism maybe -- compared to when?).
Posted by: Gary Leff at Oct 24, 2009 8:36:34 AM
Jersey City has great Indian food, and cheap. Just about any place you go there will be good.
Posted by: db at Oct 24, 2009 8:44:43 AM
Go Go Curry on west 38th is cheap and one of the best Japanese curry places in America, at least according to the Japanese curry blog americurry.com
Posted by: db at Oct 24, 2009 9:01:00 AM
Even after years of gentrification, the upper west side (above 96th street) still has plenty of decent places where you won't go broke.
Hunan Balcony (99th? and Broadway) is still excellent. There's a very good Indian place at about 122nd and Amsterdam. The East African place right next to it used to be decent: I haven't been in a while.
Posted by: David Hecht at Oct 24, 2009 9:05:42 AM
i feel for you JonSanders, as i understand and share your predicament.
three questions: in what area do you live, how willing are you to travel to other neighborhoods (especially queens), and how tolerant are you of 'failed' experiences?
if you can answer these questions i'll try to check back and give some more ideas.
but i'll start with a few suggestions.
my favorite food neighborhoods:
woodside and astoria queens
flushing queens
corona queens
brighton beach brooklyn
arthur avenue bronx
in these neighborhoods it pays to do some research ahead of time as mediocre and bad food outnumbers excellent food. the 95% principle works for food as well as music -- 95% of food is bad food.
these days the best reviews are in time out new york (surprisingly good food reviews the past couple years) and, for queens and brooklyn, in the chowhound outer boroughs board. if you can find a "top 100" list from time out new york that might give you some specific pointers. robert sietsma from the village voice sometimes has good recommendations as well but i often find him too enthusiastic. to his defense, if i had to write a positive restaurant review once a week i would have to lie.
chinatown is extremely variable. for supercheap and very good i'd recommend vanessa's dumplings on (i think) eldridge. the beef sandwich is the best thing on the menu but everything is good, and you can get out of there for less than $5. you can eat well for a little money in chinatown but you can also be served absolute dreck.
Posted by: babar at Oct 24, 2009 9:07:41 AM
I think Manhattan actually has more cheap (say under $10 for a meal) good ethnic restaurants than anywhere else in America. It is true that if you're looking for a big table to eat at as opposed to a shared table or a counter, the prices go up.
A couple near NYU:
Num Pang Cambodian sandwiches - things like pork belly with sliced pear, or grilled mackarel. $7.50
Keste Pizza - authentic Neapolitian pizza w / a lunch special: Marghertia pie to go for $6.50
Posted by: Will Perkins at Oct 24, 2009 9:16:57 AM
Astoria, Queens: N/W to Broadway: Uncle Georges (real Greek); sweets and frappe at Omonia (made the cake for My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
Astoria, Queens: N/W to 30th: Zlata Praha (Czech); Seva (Indian)
Astoria, Queens: N/W to Astoria Blvd: Neptune Diner
Posted by: Haralambi at Oct 24, 2009 9:39:58 AM
Rhong Tiam on LaGuardia Place got a Michelin star (questionable imo, but still) and has a lunch menu for $7.50. I also like Jaiya on 28th & 3rd a lot. There's good food on the eastern parts of St. Marks and Avenue B around 10th St. Tyler's right about the streets in the 30s, a few good Korean restaurants for example.
Posted by: georg at Oct 24, 2009 10:17:26 AM
Near midnight, walk to the west from Midtown. Eventually you will happen upon a cluster of yellow cabs, many double-parked. Locate the focal Indian/Pakistani diner. Enter, and eat.
Posted by: gorobei at Oct 24, 2009 10:32:34 AM
I've lived in New York (Brooklyn) for 10 years, and I still don't make enough money to eat out more than occasionally at most Manhattan restaurants.
For JonSanders, I first would recommend developing a solid rotation of, say, two cheap, good restaurants in each category of ethnic food and then branching out from there, exploring all over the city if possible, including the boroughs (place mentioned in some comments above).
A few suggestions:
Chinese:
-The hand-pulled noodle places down on Eldridge(?) around Canal. Super Taste was a good one; there are many others, although I can't speak to quality.
-New Yeah Shanghai Deluxe in Chinatown. As always, best not to order standard American Chinese stuff like beef with broccoli. The boiled beef is very good, as is the pork shoulder. There is lots of other stuff to try. The quality is definitely above average, and the price is right.
-As mentioned above, the dumpling house on Eldridge. Also there is a newish Grand Sichuan on 7th near Houston, although I haven't tried it. Last I looked, the lunch specials looked very reasonable.
Vietnamese:
-Pho Bang on Mott and other Pho places. Do a search for Banh mi on Chowhound.
Middle Easterm:
-Can be a tough one for better than average. Taim in the West Village, on a side street near St. Vincent's is terrific. A great falafel.
Indian:
-Forget about 6th Street. Go to Lexington and 28th. Try Chennai Garden on 27th. Had some very good food there recently. There is also Kalustyan's on Lexington, a deli/spice store. They sell prepared foods, and there is a small space upstairs where you can eat.
-You must have been to the dosa guy at the SW corner of Washington Square park.
Also, even if you're not a vegetarian, I would take advantage of the proximity of Vegetarian's Paradise to NYU. The lunch specials are cheap, and the food is very good.
There are many other good place in all kinds of categories, but this comment is already getting long. The point is that eating cheap, good food can be done even in Manhattan, but you have to work increasingly hard. Internet research is a must...
Posted by: HipToBeCautious at Oct 24, 2009 10:39:10 AM
JC has it right. Yuka (81st and 2nd) is awesome, but forget the all-you-can-eat unless you're a 20-year-old male. Their regular sushi (Alaska roll is my favorite) is top-notch and super cheap.
Curry Hill has been very disappointing to me. Very strange.
And Tyler, next time you're in Manhattan and you want a cheap meal, let me know and I'll round up a few of your fans and we'll take you out!!
Posted by: Chuck E at Oct 24, 2009 10:45:25 AM
When I was at NYU a favorite Indian restaurant was Sangam, on Bleecker between Avenue of the Americas and MacDougal. They have excellent biryanis for under $10.
Handi, at 28th and Lexington is an excellent place for Indian (Pakistani to be precise) Punjabi food. It is, as a previous commenter mentioned, very popular with cab drivers, so you know its good.
Saravana Bhavan at 26th and Lexington is the go to place for vegetarian South Indian food.
The East Village is full of wonderful and relatively cheap ethnic restaurants. Tsampa (Tibetan) on 9th street at 3rd Avenue is one of my favorites.
Posted by: Kunal at Oct 24, 2009 11:03:25 AM
These comments explain why I decided to make a lot of money -- to eat where I want to in Manhattan. And the years it takes to get you there are years you can develop your palate so you can appreciate it. And, Tyler, I'm usually available for lunch. Heck, JonSanders, glad to take you out to lunch too now and again. Email Tyler and ask him for my email address...
Posted by: jf at Oct 24, 2009 11:16:04 AM
My tips:
1) Unless you are from Chicago and have some odd ideas as to what "pizza" means, you'll not go wrong eating pizza for three meals a day for four days here. Stay away from Times Square and a three block radius in any direction. Bravo Pizza on 37th and Broadway is surprisingly good given its proximity to tourists (and therefore easy customer base) and this is coming from a person who worked in an office of pizza snobs.
2) I echo two of Tyler's tips in particular: side streets in the 30s have gems (but clunkers) and NYMag is awesome. Both would have lead you to find Olympic Pita on 38th b/w 5th and 6th which, before it chained owners, was the best Middle Eastern kebab place I've been too, and I've been to a lot of those.
3) I don't eat off food carts (dietary restrictions prohibit it) but the Rafiqi-brand carts are apparently excellent. I believe there is one on 47th and Vanderbilt (that small road b/w Park and Madison) but again, it's not my bag.
4) Atlantic Grill (3rd b/w 76th and 77th) is a short walk from the uptown 6 train and is probably less than 15 minutes from Grand Central that way. The Miso-Glazed Chilean Sea Bass roll is incredible.
Posted by: Dan at Oct 24, 2009 11:27:41 AM
a couple more comments about food--i disagree with tyler in regards to the reviews in the new york mag. Pick up a copy of the not for tourists guide. In my opinion, i've found the suggestions to be more accurate than in other publications. two other suggestions--pongsri thai--try the jungle curry if you like spicy--and check out moustache for some dirt cheap middle eastern fare--go for one of the pitza's and make sure you try the hummus with a pita--can't beat it!
Posted by: JC at Oct 24, 2009 11:32:09 AM
on the subject of cheap indian in manhattan: there are two places i really like. indus express on 46th(?) and dhaba on lexington. dhaba is a real standout.
food carts are a good bet too. i wish we could deregulate and get more of them. the dosa cart on the south side of washington square park is quite surprisingly good, cheap, and near NYU.
Posted by: babar at Oct 24, 2009 11:49:17 AM
Dan,
The 47th and Vanderbilt raf-cart (usually parked nearer Madison) looks good - the line at lunchtime there is always pretty long.
Oh, and I'm totally up for a TC in NYC eat-fest.
Posted by: gorobei at Oct 24, 2009 11:57:35 AM
Look for obscure ethnic places in the mid 30s, on the streets, not the avenues.
I suspect this is a specific case of a more general rule about the relationship among restaurant location/quality/price.
Posted by: Bernard Yomtov at Oct 24, 2009 12:08:24 PM
