There are a lot of Korean BBQ types of places on 31st St. around 5th Avenue. Most of them are relatively reasonable, and I don't think that you'll need reservations.

Also, Chinatown is not only for chinese food. There are tons of vietnamese and malaysian places also. And if you like ice cream, one of my favorites is the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (right near the intersection of Bayard and Mott). They have cool exotic flavors like green tea, almond, ginger and pumpkin pie.

La Bonne Soup is on 55th Street between 5th and 6th avenues (nearer to 6th). The previous poster is right - $14 for large bowl of soup, salad, bread and a glass of not too bad wine. They also have reasonably-priced and good omelettes, sandwiches, etc.

I don't know if you've used these sources Susie, but here are a few websites with Cheap Eats listings. The Village Voice lists 100 cheap Asian restaurants, Time Out NY and New York Magazine's listings are divided into categories. They all have mini descriptions which I find useful.

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0220/cheapeats02_display.php

http://www.timeoutny.com/features/317/317.ft.cheapeats.html

http://www.nymetro.com/restaurants/articles/cheap_eats/index.htm

If you are in the East Village on St. Marks street, there's a place called Dojo. They make huge platters of food for very little $. I think there are 2 locations. Here's the citysearch links...
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7087549/
http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/7109180/

Our family was in New York City last week. Inexpensive and very good is available everywhere, even in mid-town. We came prepared, having done our research, with a list of inexpensive restaurants in a variety of sections of the city. But after the first day, we threw it away. We stumbled across great places on our own in our wandering through the city.

Topping for Kodi

Cover story of this week's double issue of New York Magazine - "75 Best Meals under $20". Great suggestions...for lunch if not for dinner. As previous posters mentioned, try Little Italy, Chinatown, Little India, etc.. The delights of NY is in ethnic eats..

Do do a search if someone hasn't topped things for you, there are lots of threads on this subject I think

Breakfast at diner-like coffee shops is a bargain. For breakfast and all meals, a great place is Veselka, 2nd Ave at Ninth Street. 24 hours.

Anything with "Papaya" in the name is good for a $3 lunch--Papaya King,
Gray's Papaya--really excellent hot dogs.

Any clean-looking pizza place will get you fed. I like the 2 Stronboli's, one at 8th St (=St Marks Place) and First Ave, the other on University Place at about 13th Street.

In Chinatown, my perennial recommendation is Wong Kee, 113 Mott St at Hester St. Before 4 pm, ask for the "Over rice" menu and have lunch for well under $5.

Yes to the Indian places on 6th Street betwen First and Second Avenues,
it is easy to have a $10 dinner there.

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