10 Best NYC Cheap Eats ...

This was the first "hole-in-the-wall" NYC cheap eats spot that I was shown when I moved to the city, and I fell in love instantly. All they sell... are French fries! They are authentic Belgian fries made from freshly cut potatoes and fried to golden perfection. The best part of this spot is that there are over 26 different dipping sauces to choose from for your fries! With that number of sauces, they of course have some unique ones like Smoked Eggplant Mayo, Pomegranate Teriyaki Mayo, and Peanut Satay. But if you like to keep it original, they of course offer normal dippings, like ketchup, which is free. Their regular sized fry is $4.50, which is plenty enough for one person, and you can get a combo of three dipping sauces for $2.50 or $1 each. They are open until 3:30 a.m. on the weekends so it's always a great late night spot to hit after the bars. Pommes Frites is located on 2nd Ave and East 7th Street in the East Village.

Known for its long lines that run out the door, Shake Shack is a must for NYC visitors. What once began as a hot dog cart, Shake Shack is now a modern day "roadside" burger stand that serves up the most delicious burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, and even beer and wine! Their regular cheeseburger is $4.55 and fries are $2.65. If you have a doggie companion with you, they also serve up a "Pooch-ini" ice cream treat for dogs, which is $3.75. Vegetarians shouldn't feel left out in the cold either, they have a fried portobello burger that's filled with cheese for $6.55, which I've heard is one of the best vegetarian sandwiches the city has to offer. If you have the time to wait on line, head to one of their 9 NYC locations.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but you can get pretty close with a $1 slice of pizza. The problem with dollar slices is that you almost always get what you pay for. You will come across dozens of dollar pizza places all over the city, but the best has got to be the dollar slice at Percy's Pizza. The better known hubs for cheap pizza like "2 Bros" and "99 Cent Fresh Pizza" have nothing on Percy’s, whose artisan dough and specially spiced sauce bring dollar pizza to another level.

What was once a delicious food truck has now settled down in the heart of Midtown West! Mexicue is the combination of red-hot Mexican cuisine and down-home, barbecue goodness, all mixed into one amazingly delicious package. They have your deceivingly familiar tacos, sliders, quesadillas and tamales, but everything's reinvented in a tasty and surprising barbecue way! First you choose between creating a rice bowl, burrito, 3 tacos, or 3 sliders. Then you choose your filler, which ranges from BBQ chicken, brisket, pulled pork, short ribs, or BBQ beans. Afterwards, you can choose a side and I would definitely recommend the green chili mac & cheese! Depending what you choose, your meal can range from $8.25-$10.25 and it is definitely worth every penny!

How could this best NYC cheap eats list be complete without including a hot dog stop? Gray’s Papaya is the NYC standard (other than your favorite cart outside Central Park) for a cheap, delicious hot dog. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help you save some money by offering deals like a Recession Special (2 franks and a 14 oz drink) for under 5 bucks! But if all you're wanting is a simple dog, it will only cost you $1.50. Gray's Papaya has two locations, one on the Upper West Side, and another in Greenwich Village. Don't be fooled by other Papaya impostors!

Momofuku is no ordinary noodle bar! This restaurant serves their famous ramen in a variety of dishes that change with the seasons. Their small dishes range from $9-16 and large dishes range from $12-18, but you need to make sure to order a pork roll with any dish you choose, as it is what they're known for! But be warned, just like Shake Shack, Momofuku is known for its incredibly long lines, so don't try to come here for dinner if you need to be to a show at a certain time! Also, if you want to experience their fried chicken meal, you need to register online for it and select a day/time to come try the meal with at least 4-6 people!

The question of NYC’s best falafel has been long debated and while I'm not sure if Mamoun’s takes the number one spot, their $2.50 falafel satisfies both hungry New Yorkers and tourists alike! It's fast, it's cheap it's one of the tastiest falafels in New York. This is definitely a must try for vegetarians and meat lovers alike! Not to mention it's the oldest falafel restaurant in New York and one of the first Middle Eastern establishments in the United States! So if you're hitting the bars in the village, stop by and try one of their falafels! It will definitely be cheaper than buying another drink!

Get a little taste of Chinatown at Fay Da Bakery! This chain offers hot, fresh Steam Roast Pork Buns for only a $1.25 each. With prices so low, you can afford to splurge on a few different types of buns for a filling lunch or snack on the go. The buns can either come baked or steamed and even if you're not a fan of buns, they also have a small sandwich selection. They have tons of cake and cookie choices too if you are looking for a great and cheap dessert spot. There are currently 3 locations in Manhattan and 4 in Queens.

This is definitely only a cheap sushi restaurant if you are going with people who don't eat like they have eight stomaches. The method of dining at East Japanese involves snatching small plates from a conveyor belt. Pricing is distinguished by the color and pattern of the plate with most ranging between $1.25 and $6 for two to three pieces of different types of sushi. At the end, waiters tally up the bill based on the number of plates stacked in front of you. It's a fun atmosphere with pretty good quality sushi considering the low price, and most of the lower priced plates offer your normal sushi choices such as California rolls, shrimp tempura, and salmon rolls.

No best NYC cheap eats list would be complete without a food truck on it. Wafels & Dinges features every type of waffle you could imagine! They have both sweet and savory waffles that you can top with anything from strawberries to pulled pork! This is definitely a truck for the adventurous eater! They drive all over Manhattan so you would need to check their website first before hunting them down. A waffle only runs $5, your first topping is free, or you can get unlimited toppings for $2! This is definitely a waffle lover's paradise on wheels.

A safe bet for finding the best NYC cheap eats in Manhattan is to head down to the village. When you are near big tourist spots like Times Square, The Theater District, or Herald Square, everything seems to rise in price! What are your favorite eating spots in New York City? Make sure to comment and add them so this list grows even longer!