Here goes, NYC

[rrrich7]

Hi, I'm coming to NYC (Manhattan) from Houston for a few days next week. This will be my 1st trip to New York.

I'm looking for reasonably priced good places to eat. By reasonably, I guess I mean under $30/person, though that's not set in stone.

A Brief List of Preferences
American
Chinese, Thai, Korean
Food carts!
Great coffee
Bagels
Italian
Mexican (tricky, I think Houston has superior Mexican)

I'm staying in midtown Manhattan, but willing to travel.

I've been reading this board for a few days.

I hope this post isn't too generic!

[GraydonCarter]

Somebody said, if you're from Texas, then don't look for Mexican food in NYC.

As a chowhound, my line of thinking would always be, what unique thing can I get in NYC that I could never get in Houston? What unique experience can I anticipate? You can get almost anything in NYC, but there are some specialties.

It's been a while since I've been to Houston, but I bet they don't have a good:
- Jewish Deli (sandwiches, bagels, pickles)
- Indian, Paki, Afghan
- Irish Bar

[rrrich7]

Thanks everyone, great feedback and questions (especially Kathryn of course).
Chinese: definitely interested in Szechuan and Hunan. I lived in SF for 20 years, so fairly picky when it comes to Chinese.
American: both sandwiches and home-cooking/blue plate specials is what I guess I meant. Had never really thought about what American means. Not big on burgers or red meat in general. Which reminds me, any vegetarian suggestions? (Houston is very big on meat in general, so it's weak on veggie.)
Thai: curry; for me, Thai is all about curry.
Food carts: Houston basically has 1 kind, Mexican. I've read and intend to bring a list from NY Mag's "Best 20 food carts".
Italian: definitely pasta.
Neighborhoods: particularly interested in Chelsea and the Village.
Thanks again for helping me narrow things down.

[kathryn]

For Sichuan, go to Szechuan Gourmet on 39th and 5th or go out to Flushing to Little Pepper or Spicy & Tasty, etc. Most of the best Sichuan is out in Queens. Manhattan just can't compete.

Same for Thai, you might have better luck out at Sripraphai where they have great green curries and other dishes.

For great sandwiches, Porchetta, No. 7 Sub, Defonte's, Lamazou, This Little Piggy, Despana's takeout counter, Salumeria Rosi (takeout), Di Paolo's (takeout and porchetta available only on weekends I think), Sunny and Annie's, Crosby Connection...
http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2010/05...

For vegetarian, maybe go to Curry Hill, get a dosa at Chennai Dosa or a meal at Tiffin Wallah. Well within your budget.

For reasonable Italian pasta, I like Po, Peasant, Otto, and Lupa (though I've not been back recently). Heard good things about Apizz and Falai though I haven't been.

In Chelsea, you have a lot of great options like Co aka Company for Naples inspired (but not exactly authentic) pizza, Grand Sichuan International, Txikito or El Quinto Pino for Spanish (though possibly a bit more than you want to spend).

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Lupa
170 Thompson Street, New York, NY 10012

Despana
408 Broome St, New York, NY 10013

Lamazou
370 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016

Tiffin Wallah
127 E 28th St, New York, NY 10016

Apizz
217 Eldridge St., New York, NY 10002

El Quinto Pino
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011

Szechuan Gourmet
21 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018

Falai
68 Clinton St, New York, NY 10002

Crosby Connection
284 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

Porchetta
110 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Txikito
240 9th Ave, New York, NY 10001

Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10023

No. 7 Sub
1188 Broadway, New York, NY 10001

[Pan]

Kathryn: By Di Paolo's, do you mean Di Palo's, or is there another place called Di Paolo's?

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Di Palo's Fine Foods
200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013

[kathryn]

Oops, typo! Di Palo's.

[scoopG]

Oh, Szechuan Gourmet obviates the need to have to leave Manhattan for excellent Sichuan. SG has a more extensive menu than LP to boot.

Not sure if the Fuzhou restaurant explosion has hit Houston but Manhattan has that well covered. This is a reverse Chinese migration (NYC westward) from over 100 years ago (California eastward.) Try Best Fuzhou at 71A Eldridge Street for a taste of Fujian delights.

[daffyduck]

i agree about sripraphai their green curries are great. their pad thai though is pretty weak.

[GraydonCarter]

El Quinto Pino might be a good selection for breakfast. And speaking of more than you want to spend, pretty much every place in NYC is going to be more than you would spend in Texas. Be prepared for sticker shock.

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El Quinto Pino
401 W 24th St, New York, NY 10011

[kathryn]

These might also help:

Best Chinese
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/717430
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/709440

Best Thai - note that Kurve and Rhong Tiam have closed but Rhong Tiam has just opened a takeout location on 21st and Broadway
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/689978

Best Korean BBQ
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/666924

Best street food/street carts in NYC:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/720404
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/701278

Best coffee
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/671241
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/722330
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/651597
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/09/dining/20100309-new-york-coffee-map.html

Best cheap eats under $10
http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/restaurants-bars/9142/best-cheap-eats-in-new-york-city-everything-under-10

Please help me eat during a month in new york
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/716238

Don't leave NY without eating these foods
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/610739

Pizza in NYC
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/692820#5454962

BTW, I highly recommend RGR's self guided Lower East Side Gustatory tour, just note that Guss' has closed so sub in Pickle Guy instead:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/493333

Best breakfast and brunch:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/707772

Best foodie shopping:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/585538
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/33
http://www.chow.com/lists/edit/924

Best mixology:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/609073

Top Ten Bars for Beer Snobs
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/572919

[kathryn]

American - can you elaborate more on what this means to you? Steak, burgers, sandwiches?

Chinese, Thai, Korean - For Chinese, can you specify what kind of Chinese food you want? Sichuan, Cantonese, dim sum, etc.? NYC is strongest in Sichuan but I'm not familiar with Houston's Chinese food scene.

For Thai, what are you looking for? Curry, pad thai, khao soi, maybe larb? Thai is kind of spotty in NYC -- for example there are some restaurants whose pad thai is not good but they have great, more interesting Northern Thai dishes.

Also it's hard to do Korean BBQ for just one person, the best place I know of, Madangsui, has a two person minimum. I'm not an expert on other Korean -- it really depends what dishes/stuff you want.

Food carts, any specific cuisines, maybe something you don't have at home?

Great coffee - depends if you want light roast or dark roast, and drip coffee or straight up espresso or cold brewed iced coffee or fancy espresso drinks.

Bagels - get a smoked salmon sandwich from Russ & Daughters, or go to Barney Greengrass for a sit down experience.

Italian - again, depends what you want. Are you including pizza in this? I'd include Keste and/or Motorino if so. And you can do Po, Otto, or Peasant or a number of other Italian restaurants for that price range, but a lot depends on your preferences: antipasti, pizza, pastas, roasted meats, what are you looking for?

I'd skip Mexican here.

I'm sure there are other cuisines here that Houston doesn't have a lot of, maybe you should spend your time exploring those instead?

Top 3 cheap eats that are NOT street food
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/700760

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Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024

Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Madangsui
35 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001

Motorino
349 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003

[Pan]

Almost everything Chinese would be under $30/person. Whether you're by yourself or not is actually a consideration in which Chinese restaurants I would recommend to you. For example, my favorite Cantonese banquet restaurant in Manhattan, South China Garden, is not ideal for just one person.

Since you're from Houston, definitely do not have any Mexican food in New York.

There are so many restaurants that could fit into your specifications that any additional preferences in terms of types of dishes you particularly like, which locations you'd prefer, etc., would be helpful.

[wreckers00]

I know this isn't offering up much...but I know Momofuku Ssam has a $25 prix fixe that's really good and it's certainly unique to NYC

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Momofuku Ssam Bar
207 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

[kathryn]

The prix fixe is only for lunch, BTW.