Cheap things to do in NYC
Manhattan has a reputation for expensive nights out, but plenty of good places cost little. Set a low budget in Find Your Vibe™ and it looks for places in your price range.
Our picks
Eating cheaply in Manhattan can mean a square Roman slice, hand-folded Northern Chinese dumplings, a heaping halal platter or a kimbap roll from a no-frills stand. The picks run from Chinatown and Nolita counters to Midtown carts and East Village Thai, with spicy mala bowls and birria tacos uptown.
- Maruf Halal Food
Middle Eastern · Tribeca
Chicken biryani is the order here, with one regular saying they've come back for it for years and calling the flavor consistently strong.
- 7th Street Burger Soho
American · Nolita
Made-to-order smashburgers and fries in a chaotic little room; fans compare the cheeseburger to an In-N-Out double double.
- Unregular Pizza
Pizza · Lower East Side
Square Roman-style slices inside Essex Market, including a vegan pie that sells out and a slice crowned with a whole burrata.
- El Delicioso NY Food Truck 🇨🇴
Colombian · Midtown
A Colombian food truck in Midtown where reviewers rave about the empanadas and the ají served alongside them.
- Abitino’s Pizza Financial District
Pizza · Financial District
A small New York slice shop near the tip of Manhattan, praised for huge slices on a thin, crispy crust.
- Shah’s Halal Food
Middle Eastern · Midtown
Platters come filled to the brim, and the lamb gyro with a fiery red sauce gets singled out by regulars.
- Chomp Chomp Thai kitchen
Thai · East Village
Tiny Thai room with a lunch special regulars return to weekly; the drunken noodles, curries and corn salad earn repeat praise.
- Niukee Shumai
Chinese · Nolita
Massive hand-made shumai, skins included, with a hearty beef bone broth and the owner's cabbage pickles at this no-frills counter.
- Grandma’s Dumpling House
Chinese · Chinatown
Freshly handmade Northern-style dumplings on Pell Street, like pickled bok choy and pork, with fast service and vegetarian options.
- Yummy Stick
Japanese · Meatpacking District
A takeout-only stand run by a friendly couple, rolling generous kimbap and sushi burritos; the Ninja is the one people name.
- Trocitos De Mexico
Mexican · Inwood
Up in Inwood, birria tacos with rich consomé and house-made nacho chips draw praise, along with the al pastor.
Set the budget first
Find Your Vibe™ asks how much you want to spend per person. The lowest setting is under $15, which still covers a slice, a taco plate, a coffee or a drink at the right bar. Results show each place's price level, so there are no surprises. If you don't mind spending more on one part of the night, run Find Your Vibe™ twice: once for a cheap dinner, once for a drink after.
Go early, or go casual
Happy hour is the easiest way to drink well for less. Choose happy hour when Find Your Vibe™ asks when you're going and it matches bars for that time. Casual places, like cafes, counters and neighborhood spots, keep costs down too. The East Village, the Lower East Side and Koreatown are full of cheap, good food, and plenty of it is served late.
Free and almost free
Not every good night needs a bill. Pick Move & Unwind or Do Something Different for what you feel like, and Find Your Vibe™ brings in parks, open-air spots and things to do, then add a cheap bite nearby. Put both in your plan and it maps the walk between them, so the night costs one meal and some shoe leather.
Questions people ask
- What are cheap things to do in Manhattan?
- Happy hours, casual counters, cafes and things to do outdoors. Set the Find Your Vibe™ budget to its lowest and pick what you feel like, and it looks for places in that range.
- How much is a cheap night out in NYC?
- It depends on the neighborhood, but the lowest Find Your Vibe™ budget is under $15 a person, and it favors places at that price level.
- Can I find a cheap date spot?
- Yes. Choose a date for who's coming, quiet and intimate for the energy, and the lowest budget. You get places that feel like an occasion without the price.
Planning something else?
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Eight questions, and you'll have somewhere to go.