How To Eat In New York City On A Budget

New York City is a food lover's dream, where practically any cuisine is available at your fingertips. There are countless restaurants, corner stores, and pop-ups to choose from; you may find yourself wanting to try a bit of everything. But while your taste buds will thank you for exploring the many offerings, your wallet won't. The costs of eating out in this city can add up fast. While some major cities offer more affordable Michelin-star dining, New York restaurants tend to be pricey.

When I first moved to the city, I was shocked by the prices and unsure how to navigate the food scene without spending way more than I was comfortable with. But after a couple of years living here and taking the advice of more seasoned New Yorkers, I've found ways to save money while eating well. Whether you're just visiting, moving to the city, or trying to cut back on spending, there are lots of ways to stretch your food budget while still indulging in some of the best dishes. Follow these 12 tips to make the most of your time in NYC without getting a shock when the bill comes.

This is another NYC classic that you can get for a reasonable price. Bagels are an iconic, satisfying, and customizable breakfast. Like pizza, this is another food you'll find all over the city. There are so many bagel shops throughout New York that it's a bigger challenge to narrow down which one you want to go to than to find one. Tal Bagels, Bagel Talk, and Bo's Bagels are just a few favorites, but there are many more to choose from. You can also order a decent one at most bodegas (corner stores) and get an even better price.

This is one dish that NYC has perfected, and you don't want to miss it. A fresh New York bagel has a light, malty flavor, a dense, chewy texture, and a slightly crisp exterior, and there are so many delicious spreads and add-ons to try. The price will vary based on where you get your bagels and what add-ons you order. A plain buttered bagel is the most affordable option, while cream cheese, lox, or vegetables are extra. Getting a bagel sandwich with eggs, bacon, and other fixings is pricier. But even with add-ons, bagels are still a fairly good deal. Plus, the shops tend to pile on the cream cheese and toppings, so you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.

Food trucks make for an affordable and laid-back dining experience that you can have on the go. NYC has a lot of street vendors, so there's a variety of cuisines to choose from. Whether you're in the mood for a full meal, dessert, or snack food like pretzels or crispy French fries, there's a food truck for you. Opting for street food also means you don't have to worry about making reservations or sitting in a stuffy restaurant. You can get unbelievable dishes at an inexpensive price and eat the food while sitting in a park or taking in the incredible sights of the city.

There are some particularly famous trucks like The Halal Guys, King Souvlaki, and Diso's Italian Sandwich Society. These options often have long lines because they've become big tourist attractions. If you don't mind a wait, then they're great trucks to try. But you can also find lesser-known vendors and get a great meal with less of a line.

You'll find plenty of vendors around Bryant Park, in lower Central Park, outside museums, and in most places that get a lot of foot traffic. If you don't want to leave things up to chance, you can use Street Food Finder to sort through the many vendors and locate the exact truck you want. With so many to choose from, you won't be disappointed. 

If you're doing a lot of sightseeing in New York City, you'll quickly find yourself hungry and parched. While exploring a walkable city is lovely, it can get tiring without enough food to fuel you. While you want to enjoy the NYC food scene, stopping to purchase food every time you get hungry or thirsty will add up very quickly. Bringing bottled water and a few granola bars or other easy snacks can save you from dipping into your meal budget for an overpriced bottle of water and food at a bodega. Instead, pick up a few of your favorite snacks and drinks for a reasonable price at a grocery store, and you'll save lots of money while you're out.

Planning ahead like this allows you to budget for bigger meals so you can enjoy yourself without stressing out about the money. It also helps you avoid impulse purchases of overpriced items when hunger takes over. Along with the savings, a packed lunch can make an excellent experience in its own way. Enjoying something as simple as a homemade peanut butter and jelly sandwich and fresh fruit while sitting in Central Park is the perfect lunch on a budget in New York.

Many New York City restaurants offer an array of tempting specialty drinks. Whether at a cocktail bar or a restaurant with a cocktail menu, these beverages with delicious flavors, refreshing mixers, and unexpected liquor infusions can make an exciting addition to your night. But while these menu items are tasty and fun, they can easily add an extra $20 or more to your tab (and that's if you only get one). Planning ahead to budget for drinking along with your food is always a good idea, especially if you plan to order alcohol with dinner or go out to a bar after your meal.

To cut back on how much you spend, you can always opt for more affordable drink options. While specialty cocktails draw a lot of attention, more standard bar menu items like a simple mixed drink, cider, or beer will cost you a lot less. You can also reduce costs by going out earlier and taking advantage of happy hour deals. Mary's is an excellent neighborhood bar where you can order $12 cocktails, $6 beers, and $10 wines at happy hour. Clinton Hall is another great destination for $6 drafts and cheap finger foods. Lastly, you can enjoy $9 margaritas during Hidden Lane's happy hour special.

Don't forget to ask your waiter for a takeaway box so that you can package up the remaining food to take with you. This helps to avoid food waste and allows you to save money when you can eat the leftovers instead of buying a whole new meal for lunch the next day. This is true anywhere, but in New York, where food costs are quite steep, it feels even more wasteful to toss out a portion of uneaten food.

Many restaurants give large servings, so you may have a full meal's worth of food remaining. However, even if you just have a small portion left, it's still a good idea to get a small bag. You can enjoy the leftovers as a smaller snack or add them to another meal to repurpose them. If you're worried that the leftovers won't taste as good when not served fresh, try these helpful tips for reheating steak or leftover fried chicken, for example, so that it tastes as good as new.

Just because you're on a budget doesn't mean you can't have a luxurious evening. A steak dinner is perfect for a special occasion, but often, the price tag puts it out of reach. Fortunately, NYC has a few steakhouses with surprisingly good deals that make the indulgent dinner doable. 

New York-based TikTok foodie Jonathan Choi recommends Legasea Bar & Grill for the best bargain steak in the city. In a video shared on his account, you can see him enjoying slices of tender ribeye steak with a side of steak fries, salad, and dipping sauces while visiting the midtown location. While Choi's TikTok says you can get this steak dinner for just $45, the price has now increased to $49. But that's still a deal, considering that this is an all-you-can-eat special, so it's a good option for any meat lovers who will be helping themselves to more than one steak. 

You could also go to Le Relais de Venise. This world-famous French bistro has locations in New York City, London, Paris, and Mexico City. The steak dinner may be one of the best offers you can find at just $34.95 for steak and fries as of November 2023. While many steakhouses will run you well over $100 for a meal, you can savor succulent steak while saving money at one of these locations.