Hi. Want to eat out in NYC when I'm there next month. Am not a fussy eater but on a tight budget and preferably the healthy option. Any recommendations as to where I should eat? Thanks

With the number of times it's referred to here, I'm amazed more people don't just look at chowhound.com

The Village Voice, New York Magazine and Timeout New York all have had features on the best inexpensvie places to eat in the city. You can easily find all of them on the appropriate web sites.

Key is keeping out of midtown and eating in the residential neighborhoods.

If you provide cuisines (positive or negative) and areas people can give specifics.

www.menupages.com

newyork.citysearch.com

You can select by neighborhood, type of cuisine, or rating.

Chinatown is a bargain. Lunch specials (soup and main course) for $4.95. DInner plates not much more.

I like the Cosi restaurants for inexpensive salads, wraps and paninis. there are multiple locations areound the city. Not fine dining by any means, but it's an option. Take a look at http://www.getcosi.com/

Are you looking for somewhat nice sit-down restaurants or hole-in-the-wall joints, or does it matter?? NYC is FULL of cheap places to eat, but then, everybody's definition of "cheap" is different. Agree with BarryK that some of the cheapest places to eat are in Chinatown. Of course, you could always go to one of the famous Nathan's!, or one of the other famous hot dog joints like Gray's Papaya or Papaya King.

Union Square - try Republic (noodles) or Zen Palate (vegetarian)
Upper Eastside - try Candle Vafe (vegetarian), Mangiarini (Italian)
West Village - Snack Taverna (Greek)
East Village - Il Bagatto (Italian)
Some ideas - not crazy $$. Where will you be staying?

nymetro.com/cheap