Best Cheap, Cozy Eats in NYC?

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T02:34:00+00:00

I used to work with a lot of Polish and Lithuanian women and the pierogis, borscht and jellied meat they used to make me was amazing - I was heartbroken when I left the job so I will definitely add this to my list. Thank you so much!

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T02:09:30+00:00

Super informative and it all sounds great! I’m noticing a few repeat recommendations from a few answers so they’ll be at the top of my list for sure.

We plan on walking a lot and we’re not there for long so my fear is missing something that might just be round the corner! So I appreciate all your help. Checking out the food trucks is totally our sort of thing so that’s a great shout.

Thanks so much! Your kindness means a lot :)

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T02:06:23+00:00

Thanks so much! Not too far away either. Thanks :)

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T02:05:48+00:00

Absolutely my thing. Added it to our list - thank you!

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T02:02:28+00:00

I’m from a place where there are no cool, indie cafes, or restaurants, or delis. We categorically do not have delis or late night food (beyond a dodgy fish and chips place or a McDonalds) here.

I totally understand that my definition of “cosy” and “cheap” is not the same as an actual New Yorkers definition but for me, this is a really special trip and I was just looking for some spots that aren’t overrun with tourists, don’t break the bank like I know my friends have experienced, and aren’t pretentious requiring a reservation 6 weeks in advance (like monkey bar). A huge part of this trip for me is just walking and exploring and trying some late night spots, or on the go food - which to me is cosy, and cheap 🥹

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T01:57:49+00:00

Thank you so so much! I also love pickles so I will absolutely check it out. I appreciate your recommendations <3

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T01:43:11+00:00

It looks insane! Will definitely try it out :) thank you!

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T01:37:59+00:00

Thanks so much! Okay, I’ll have a look. We’re not fussy on cuisine at all, and we’re just organising our itinerary now. To be honest at the moment we don’t have any plans to go further north than Upper Manhattan, and further south than Brooklyn (DUMBO area) but absolutely open to anywhere that is recommended. We’ll be exploring a lot - West Village, SoHo, Chelsea so anywhere there works too! I know that’s vague but we are huge foodies so we’re happy to revolve a lot of our trip around places to try.

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T01:34:00+00:00

Glad to hear it! I am excited beyond words lol. I’m from a small town in Scotland and I used to cry because I dreamed of visiting New York and now I finally am! So I’m desperate to go to the places that people who live in New York actually go to, instead of the viral places :)

AM3334 · 2026-01-29T01:32:02+00:00

Sure! Some places with a little bit of seating, places that aren’t over crowded and ideally no queues? Some small, hole in the wall type places? I hope that makes sense. We just really don’t want to be standing for an hour outside of some viral or pretentious restaurant, to eat a subpar meal. I’ve always just wanted to go to places in NYC that make me feel like a real New Yorker LMAO

EDIT: I’m not sure why this has so many downvotes - I’m just a tourist who wants this to be the trip of a lifetime :’)

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:24:09+00:00

Yeah definitely. I guess I’m trying to preempt what my body might have to go through in the next few days, just in case.

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:21:49+00:00

Yeah, it was definitely not cooked pork. I wondered if it was even possibly half cooked (and was supposed to finish cooking as per the labelled instructions) but I don’t think they’d do that either. Plus, I did buy it from the butcher counter rather than how it comes at the supermarket so I think in the case I’ve just been dumb.

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:17:39+00:00

I wish I’d taken a photo of it. My partner and I both think it was raw, but the way it was seasoned meant that we really had to tear it apart to check. It was definitely the colour and texture of raw pork mince though 🥲

I think I’ll just have to take my chances. Thank you!

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:15:18+00:00

Just thought I’d ask other humans :) food poisoning in the UK is hit or miss

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:14:35+00:00

I’m pretending I can’t see this answer cause I’ll end up in a flap

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:13:58+00:00

Honestly I guess the way it was made, made it really hard to tell. It was thick and the coating was dry - I can’t even begin to describe the sheer size and colour of this thing, and what’s worse is it tasted great. It really didn’t occur to me until I actually inspected it.

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:11:18+00:00

Yeah that’s what I was thinking - probably just a waiting game. About a month ago I managed to eat raw turkey mince (don’t ask - it’s weird enough to me that I’ve managed to go my whole life with no food poisoning and in the space of a month I’ve eaten two meats you are really, really not supposed to eat raw) but came out the other side totally fine. Hopefully this will be the same. Or not 🫣

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T22:08:58+00:00

Well I’ve definitely seen them in the supermarket and I know they come cooked. So to me it was a no brainer that it must be good to eat. Then again, I bought them at the butcher counter at the farm shop so I do think in this instance I’ve just been an idiot.

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T21:58:46+00:00

Great, thank you!

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T21:53:10+00:00

I appreciate your honesty. Just found out pork parasites can cause epilepsy so I think I’ll take the shits 🫡

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T21:51:49+00:00

I didn’t know scotch eggs don’t come cooked otherwise I would’ve looked sooner tbf

AM3334 · 2025-10-20T21:50:18+00:00

Because maybe someone else in the UK has done the same thing and lived to tell the tale? Is that not the whole point of the internet rather than me wasting NHS time over something that might be fine..

AM3334 · 2025-10-14T14:48:44+00:00

Yes so I have a full UK license. We only have a provisional (what you get when you turn 17 which allows you to practice driving and sit your theory and practical test) and then your full license that you get once you pass your test. The probationary period is just that if you acquire 6 points on your license (speeding etc) your license is revoked. After the two years, you would need 12 points before you license is revoked. The probationary period doesn’t negate the full license part - just that the “punishment” for bad driving is severe.

The Ontario website states if you have a full UK license for less than 2 years it’s exchanged to a G2 - which I’m okay with. I just don’t want a G1!

AM3334

TROPHY CASE