421981 Tue Jul 17 09:32:07 -0700 2007 27 18 Manhattan 0 2757316 Hi. Where are your favorites less than $5 lunches in the EV, WV, Union Square, Chinatown and possibly even the LES/Alphabet City? Here are some of my favs A Chau Deli (Banh Mi - I think $3.50) Saigon Banh Mi (Banh Mi - I think $3.50) Chinese Place ($1 dumplings, $1 for 2 fried chicken legs, $2.75 for 3 choices of food and rice) corner of Broome and Mott Street Cart at the corner of 4th & Broadway ($3.50 Gyro) Mamoun's Falafel ($2.95 falafel sandwich) Wendy's (Super Value Menu) Dosa Man (all vegetarian items under $5) Tue Jul 17 09:32:07 -0700 2007 95761 cidonie 1 2757388 There's the Lunch Box Buffet aka Central Buffet at 195 Centre. Last time I was there it was $3 for four items which is even cheaper than the buck a plate stuff you find sometimes in the poorer non-Asian neighborhoods. And you can more than fill yourself up for under $5 at any of the Chinese bakery/cafes with dim sum type baked goods and sandwiches (e.g., Fay Da among dozens in Chinatown). Tue Jul 17 09:52:35 -0700 2007 2757316 10131 Chandavkl 1 2757412 There is a 5-sides for $4 Chinese hot&cold buffet a block north from Canal & Broadway. You can take out, and they have plenty of sit down tables but no air conditioning. the white rice you get with the plate is considered a side, so make sure you refuse it when you first pay in order to get something else. if you want additional sides or baked goods most are just another $1 Tue Jul 17 09:59:34 -0700 2007 2757316 85183 Joe Berger 2 2758238 Isn't that place on Centre and not Broadway? Tue Jul 17 12:57:22 -0700 2007 2757412 52283 eatfood 1 2757463 Zaragoza Mexican Deli is awesome. $2 tacos (get two and you're good for a light lunch). They've typically got a few different meat items, but they're all good. Its on Avenue A, between 12th and 13th I believe. Tue Jul 17 10:07:31 -0700 2007 2757316 45651 randymac88 1 2758245 As for bahn mi, I personally prefer Saigon Bakery, on Mott, a little south of Grand. $3.25. Tue Jul 17 12:58:21 -0700 2007 2757316 52283 eatfood 2 2758309 go to the big enchildada on 12th and university. 3 beef tacos are 1.59 each. Tue Jul 17 13:11:55 -0700 2007 2758245 19060 ricky7 3 2758554 Dumpling House on Eldridge. 5 great dumplings for $1. You can also have a nice big beef sesame pancake for an extra $1.50. Tue Jul 17 14:03:57 -0700 2007 2758309 72390 clashfan 1 2758763 Sammy's Halal cart (offshoot of 2006 Vendy winner) 4th St. between Broadway & Lafayette chicken over rice - $4 chicken & gyro meat combo over rice - $5 (my fave) Extra white sauce, extra hot sauce. Next time I'm going to have to check if they have the green sauce like in Jackson Heights. ========== Super Taste 26 Eldridge Street (between Canal & Division) spicy beef hnd-pulled noodle soup - $4.25 ========== Dumpling House 118 Eldridge Street sesame pancake with beef - $1.50 (squirt some Sriracha & it's like a mini banh mi) pork & chive fried dumplings - $1 for 5 Tue Jul 17 14:54:31 -0700 2007 2757316 32939 spanky28 2 2765231 I used to like Sammy's, but after trying Rafiqi's at 9th and Broadway, I've converted to their lamb and chicken rice plate. The pieces are bigger and less shredded, which I prefer, and I find their lamb to be much better than Sammy's. I think it's 4.50 for the mixed plate. Thu Jul 19 12:35:42 -0700 2007 2758763 12802 spchang 3 2776221 Thanks for the recommendation. I will have to try it since it's closer to me that Sammy's. Will report back. Mon Jul 23 15:40:18 -0700 2007 2765231 32939 spanky28 1 2760053 Caracas in East Village does great arepas and $5 gets you an empanada and creamy venezuelan guacamole. El Cocotero in Chelsea had even better arepas - while most arepas are $6-7, I had the avocado arepa for just a shade under $5, and it was overflowing. Really filling and delish. You could also have 2 pastelitos for five bucks and all the empanadas are under $5. Real good value. Wed Jul 18 04:42:35 -0700 2007 2757316 108727 Bombay_Curry 1 2760069 The Puerto Rican place on lafayette between spring and prince. Get anything! Ugh hungry for rice and beans at 8am. Also: The bangladesh deli on Mott and Grand (grand?). I'm usually falling down drunk there on friday nights and have been going long enough the guys know me. It changed its name a bunch of times. Used to be called Kandakhar (spelling?). Anyway get the spicy chicken special sandwich, and there's another chicken dish that has ramen noodles crushed up in it but don't remember the name. Wed Jul 18 04:57:55 -0700 2007 2757316 21954 2slices 2 2761497 La Conquitas? Is that the Puerto Rican place you are referring to? I think everything there is $7. Wed Jul 18 12:03:06 -0700 2007 2760069 52283 eatfood 3 2761768 Yeah that's it. So good. I'm not so sure about those prices. I don't think everything is $7. I'm sure rice n beans with maduros is 5 or less. The chicken soup is a meal in itself, that's definitely under 5. Tripe stew is prolly 5, maybe even beef stew. I think roast chicken or pork with rice and beans is maybe a bit over 5, but that's more than I can eat in one sitting and I'm still a growing boy. Wed Jul 18 13:04:39 -0700 2007 2761497 21954 2slices 1 2760097 My vote goes to Mamoun's Wed Jul 18 05:17:33 -0700 2007 2757316 71851 jinet12 1 2760288 The harissa falafel from Taim ($5): http://www.eatingintranslation.com/2007/06/tam.html I'm also fond of: Stromboli from Faicco's (half-pound, $4) Lentil soup at Bereket ($3.75) Pork sausage and sage roll from Tuck Shop ($2.75) Grilled cheese at Tiny's Giant Sandwich Shop ($4.25) Cheung fun at 3 Wang Cafe (three for $2) Hay-and-honey pecorino from DiPalo's ($3.25 per quarter-pound) Mustard green sandwich and fresh-scooped tofu ($1 each) at Fuzhou Good Taste Grocery A banh mi (about $3) and a durian mung bean cake ($1.50) at Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1 Crushed-peanut rice ball (50 cents) and a basil seed drink with mango ($3.50) at Sunkiss Market Hooligan cheese ($5 per quarter-pound) from Cato Corner Farm, at the Union Square Greenmarket Wed Jul 18 06:48:47 -0700 2007 2757316 14517 DaveCook 2 2766860 Here's the stromboli I mentioned, and the grilled cheese. They look much more filling when you click on the photos. Thu Jul 19 22:34:53 -0700 2007 2760288 14517 DaveCook 1 2760474 "Health sandwich" (eggplant, hard-boiled egg, lettuce, and tomato on a pita) at Hoomoos Asli. Wed Jul 18 07:57:47 -0700 2007 2757316 29034 scrittrice 1 2762129 This cart is awesome: "Atlantis with love" http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0609,lalli,72326,15.html Wed Jul 18 14:24:30 -0700 2007 2757316 109723 emilywca 2 2768267 Is this cart still around? I've never seen it but the article makes it seem so intriguing. What do you get? Fri Jul 20 11:12:35 -0700 2007 2762129 82426 jdream 3 2776227 I can vouch that it's still there. Passed by it on the way down to Chinatown early Friday evening. Never ate from there though. Mon Jul 23 15:42:44 -0700 2007 2768267 32939 spanky28 1 2762444 Maoz felafel. If you've been to Amsterdam (the city, not the Ave), you know the one I mean. Ashkara felafel. Similar joint in the East Villiage. Let's not forget the Papaya-style hot dogs. Yum. Pio Maya's tostadas or soup. Wed Jul 18 15:58:00 -0700 2007 2757316 68945 NYprof 1 2763645 Fu Kee, 128 Lafayette St. aka M&B 1 block N. of Canal. $3.50, roast duck on rice, soy sauce chicken on rice, or the roast pork on rice. Mamoun's on Macdougal also gets my vote. Two Boots andouille sausage slice $2.50(?) Thu Jul 19 05:40:16 -0700 2007 2757316 10147 michele cindy 1 2766537 I'm a huge fan of Punjab Deli on 114 E. 1st St (btw 1st and Ave. A). They usually have around 7 tasty Indian dishes/curries in a fridge which they warm and serve over basmati rice. Almost all of the dishes are vegetarian and have a nice spicy kick to them. The best part is that a "combo" with 2 curries is only 3 bucks! You can get a larger combo with the choice of 3 curries for 5 bucks! I always get the $3 combo and leave quite satisfied and full. Mind you it's not mindblowing Indian cuisine (you can't expect TOO much since all the dishes are prepared in advance, refridgerated and microwaved for you on the spot) but Punjab really hits the spot when I'm broke and starving in the East Village/LES. The place itself is a tiny hole in the wall where a lot of cabbies seem to pick up lunch/dinner (added bonus: it's open 24/7). There's a sliver of a counter where you can theoretically eat in, but you're much better off getting the food to go and eating it in one of the nearby parks. Thu Jul 19 19:26:38 -0700 2007 2757316 106423 icchinmame 2 2768146 I pass that place all the time but thought it was a little scary. Thanks for the recommendation - I'll definitely try it! Fri Jul 20 10:44:22 -0700 2007 2766537 68945 NYprof 1 2767387 i like the empanadas at SUCELT (14th/7th ave) and SWEETHEART DELI (14th/8th ave). the former have always been good, but the latter recently upped their game in the empanada dept. Fri Jul 20 07:27:17 -0700 2007 2757316 11372 mrnyc 1 2774715 The grilled corn at Cafe Habana is always good ($1.90). Probably won't be enough for lunch though. Mon Jul 23 10:13:37 -0700 2007 2757316 52283 eatfood