Oms/b Rice Ball Café

156 E 45th St NY, NY 10017

212-922-9788

http://www.riceball-omsb.com/index.html

This Rice Ball Café serves up over 40 kinds of amazingly delicious and beautiful rice balls as well as traditional Japanese appetizers, Udon noodle soups and desserts. If you are in the Grand Central Station area in the AM, there’s no beating the Morning Set that consists of any 2 rice balls, pickles, and a miso soup for $5. Individually, each rice ball costs somewhere between $1.50 and $2.95.

Go!Go!Curry

273 W 38th St NY, NY 10018

212-730-5555

If you’re near Port Authority or Penn Station, you must go to Go!Go!Curry and get some amazing take-out. This is an authentic Japanese curry shop. If you are unfamiliar with Japanese curry, it is a bit thicker than Indian curries and not as spicy. The original Go Go Curry is $5.00. You can get pork cutlet, chicken, shrimp, or sausage topping for an extra $2 and natto, pickles or cheese for $1.50. In honor of Hideki Matsui, every 5th, 15th, and 25th of the month, all customers get a free topping.

Minca Ramen Factory

536 E 5th St (b/t Ave A & Ave B) NY, NY 10009

212-505-8001

Ramen is all the rage in New York. This ramen does not look, smell or taste anything like the instant stuff you survived on in college. And it cannot be found for 99 cents either. But if you want awesome ramen for less than $10, check out Minca in the East Village. This tiny ramen shop offers basic soy, miso and meat broths as well as salt and garlic, kimchi, and a veggie option. If the restaurant is full, order to go and head across the street to the Ace Bar to eat your ramen, play some skee-ball and shoot some pool.

Snack Dragon Taco Shack

199 E 3rd St NY, NY 10009

no phone

Okay, if you’ve drank all your money away hanging in the East Village but realize you are starving, go to Snack Dragon. It’s not really a shack so much as a window with two bar stools under it, but don’t let the humble appearance dissuade you. The tacos are delicious and all for $4 and under. I highly recommend the carne asada as well as the fish taco. The tortilla soup is quite popular as well as the daily specials. If you feel as though tacos without beer is a sin and you have a few bucks to spare, the bodega on the corner is happy to supply both beer and brown paper bag or take your taco into the dark and moody bar next door, No Malice Palace.

Mama’s Food Shop

200 E 3rd St (b/t Ave A & Ave B) NY, NY 10009

212-777-4425

http://www.mamasfoodshop.com/

Sometimes you just need a little lovin from Mama. All the basics are only $10; fried chicken, roasted chicken, grilled chicken, grilled salmon, meatloaf or the veggie plate and all come with 1 side. And the sides are where it’s at baby. I can never resist the roasted brussel sprouts, chinese greens, honey-glazed sweet potatoes, roasted turnips and a mac & cheese that is divine. If the seating area is full, they own the bar next door and let you eat there if you ask nicely.

Hummus Place

109 St. Marks Pl, NY, NY 10009

212-529-9198

99 MacDougal St NY, NY 10012

212-533-3089

Now I know you’ve had hummus before, but trust me, you’ve never had hummus like this. White tahini is their secret and what a delicious secret it is for $5.95. The super creamy hummus is served with a choice of white or whole wheat pita, pickles and hot sauce. It is a perfect hangover meal but is hearty enough for dinner. Enjoy your hummus at the restaurant with some Turkish coffee, Israeli beer and wine or get it to go and head over to Thompson Square Park if you are in the East Village or Washington Square Park if you’re at the West Village location.

Crif Dog

113 St Marks Pl, NY, NY 10009

212-614-2728

So if hummus isn’t your thing, a few doors down offers up some true Americana for super cheap. Crif dog is the place to enjoy tater-tots, rootbeer floats, pabst blue ribbon, and some truly unique hotdogs. I recommend the Chihuahua, which is a deep-fried, bacon wrapped hotdog topped with avocado and sour cream. Some other favorites are the spicy redneck and tsunami. If you can get the lady pac-man table, order an extra round of drinks.

Dumpling Man

100 St Marks Pl NY, NY 10009

212-505-2121

http://www.dumplingman.com/

Food and entertainment for super cheap can be had at the Dumpling Man. Watching the chefs deftly stuff and roll the dumpling is mesmerizing, but it will only hold your attention until the delicious savory or sweet pillows of yummy filed dough hits your mouth. You can get ten pork, chicken, shrimp, veggie, or daily special dumplings for less than $8 bucks. They have four special sauces that are all awesome, a handful of salads, and miso soup. This is not a late-night dinning option but a perfect pre-drinking choice.

Great N.Y. Noodletown

28 Bowery NY,NY 10013

212-349-0923

Roast duck for $8.50, roast pork and wonton noodle soup for $5.25 and open until 4am. After a long night of boozing it up in the Lower East Side, head over to Noodletown and invite all your friends. They have round tables that can accommodate up to eight people and portions that will ensure no one goes home hungry. All the noodle dishes are fantastic and if you like seafood, check out their salt-baked options. Make sure you have cash, because they don’t take cards.

Hampton Chutney Co

68 Prince St

212-226-9996

If you are in Soho and looking for a good vegetarian option, Hampton Chutney Co is a great choice. For $9.95 you can get the Tahli Special, which is vegetable of the day, basmati rice, dal soup, naan bread, chutney and yogurt. You can also get a wide selection of dosas (sour-dough crepe made from rice), uttapas (rice batter pancake) and sandwiches. They also have some super special drinks; an orange ginger iced tea that has to be good for you and a fruit and yogurt drink called a Lassis.

Corner Bistro

331 W 4th St NY, NY 10014

212-242-9502

This place serves up a burger that is well worth the wait. Juicy, delicious hamburger with pickles and the choice of cheese, bacon and/or raw onions for less than $7 just might be my favorite hamburger in New York. The $2.50 McSorley’s doesn’t hurt either.