Underground/ Hip/ Cheap dinner spots?

[lhease]

Meeting two NYC friends for dinner tomorrow. They love trendy places like Mission Chinese and slow food restaurants. Any good similar restaurants? Also underground restaurants w/ unique experiences are a plus. However, we have a limited budget (less than $20 a person, the cheaper the better).

Help!

[sgordon]

You're not going to find many trendy slow food places at that price, unfortunately. But here are some good ones that might meet one category or the other:

Xi'an Famous Foods (the Bayard St location will be less crowded / has more seating than the St. Mark's location)
Pok Pok Phat Thai
Cocoron
Spicy Village (fka Henan Flavor)
Meatball Shop

...or grab a few tacos at the Tacos Morelos cart on 2nd & A, and take 'em to the bar across the street.

You could theoretically do Mission for that price, since everything is served family-style. Wouldn't leave much budget for drinks, though.

[Tommy D.]

Ramen Misoya
Katsuhama
Mad for Chicken

[Hey19]

Tacombi?
get a taco or two and rice/beans, and a beer, prob about 20. I like their food, and its a pretty cool space.

[kathryn]

$20pp BEFORE tax and tip? Or after? Makes a big difference on such a low budget...