Black Seed Bagels
170 Elizabeth St., NoLIta | blackseedbagels.com | 212.730.1950
A twist on the traditional New York bagel, these are small and kind of crispy. In addition to the standards, they have a wide variety of schmears and spreads for an affordable price.
Come here for: Bagel with salmon, cream cheese, red onion and tomato

Buddha Bodai
Mott St., Chinatown | chinatownvegetarian.com | 212.566.8388
For those with dietary restrictions, Buddha Bodai is one of the most accommodating Chinese food restaurants, featuring a 100 percent vegetarian and kosher selection of traditional items.
Come here for: General Tso’s vegitarian chicken

Clinton St. Baking Company
Clinton St. | clintonstreetbaking.com | 646.602.6263
One of the best breakfasts in the city, but arrive extra early if you don’t want to wait for hours. The small bakery is famous for its specialty pancakes.
Come here for: Blueberry pancakes

Joe’s Shanghai
9 Pell St., Chinatown | joeshanghairestaurants.com | 212.233.8888
The Chinatown restaurant has community style tables and classic Shanghai dishes. It’s a great place for a group dinner.
Come here for: Soup dumplings

Katz’s Delicatessen
205 E. Houston St. | katzsdelicatessen.com | 212.254.2246
Famous for the unforgettable Harry Met Sally scene, this large deli packs as much meat as possible into a delicious sandwich. Old photos cover the walls, shedding some light on the deli’s history.
Come here for: Katz’s pastrami sandwich

Parm
248 Mulberry St., NoLIta | parmnyc.com | 212.993.7189
A great Italian restaurant just north of Little Italy. It offers a variety of sandwiches, pastas and homemade ice cream for dessert.
Come here for: Chicken parm sandwich

Prosperity Dumpling
46 Eldridge St. | prosperitydumpling.com | 212.343.0683
Known for one of the best meal deals in the area, Prosperity Dumpling offers great dumplings, noodles, soup and scallion pancakes for students on a budget.
Come here for: Pan-fried dumplings

Souvlaki GR
116 Stanton St. | souvlakigr.com | 212.777.0116
This restaurant’s interior makes you feel like you’re on a Greek island, making it a perfect spot for a date. You can also find a Souvlaki GR truck around the city.
Come here for: Souvlakia kalamaki paketo

Taqueria
198 Orchard St. | 212.677.3910
This Mexican restaurant doesn’t have Americanized burritos. It serves the best affordable authentic Mexican food in New York.
Come here for: Tacos

Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles
Doyers St., Chinatown | tastyhandpullednoodlesnyc.com | 212.791.1817
Tucked in the back of Chinatown is Tasty Hand Pulled Noodles, where there are extremely cheap, delicious and large portions — a great alternative for dumplings and fried rice.
Come here for: House special hand-pulled noodles and soup

Vive La Crepe
51 Spring St. (multiple locations) | vivelacrepe.fr | 855.273.7369
Offering both savory and sweet crepes, Vive La Crepe serves them in handheld paper envelopes. It’s an easy lunch on the go, or a great way to rebelliously have dessert for dinner.
Come here for: Savory crepe with prosciutto, racchette cheese and potatoes 

Photos via yelp.com