New York City/ Food & Drinks
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Published on June 01, 2020
New York's 4 top spots to score gourmet food, without breaking the bankPhoto: Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao/Yelp

Got a hankering for gourmet food?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable gourmet food sources in New York, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to meet your needs.

1. Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao

Photo: Stephen W./Yelp

Topping the list is Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao. Recently relocated to Flushing's One Fulton Square at 39-16 Prince St., Suite 104, this Michelin-recommended Shanghainese eatery is the most popular budget-friendly gourmet food restaurant in New York, boasting four stars out of 3,551 reviews on Yelp.

Yelp has lots more information on Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao.

"Xiao Long Bao (also known as soup dumplings) originated from Nan Xiang County in Shanghai, China," the business explains in its Yelp profile. "Our signature dishes include the restaurant's unrivaled crab and pork soup dumplings, plentiful steamed buns and Shanghainese dim sum. Other popular dishes include crispy noodles, fried rice cakes, scallion pancakes with sliced beef, fish fillet and pickled cabbage noodle soup and pan-fried dumplings."

2. Pommes Frites

Photo: Meryl F./Yelp

Next up is Greenwich Village's Pommes Frites, situated at 128 MacDougal St. This cozy counter-service spot serves up street food-style double-cooked Belgian fries ($6.75 for a regular order, $9.25 for a double) with more than 30 different dipping sauces, and with 4.5 stars out of 905 reviews on Yelp, it has proved to be a local favorite for those looking for a budget-friendly option.

If you're looking for more, we found these details about Pommes Frites.

"The Pommes Frites story began in 1997 with a dream of bringing Belgium's most popular street food to the city of New York," according to the business's Yelp profile. "Whether you're visiting NYC with friends, treating yourself to a tasty snack, or grabbing late-night eats after bar-hopping, Pommes Frites is a fun experience every New Yorker should try."

3. Eva's Kitchen

Photo: Eva's Kitchen/Yelp

Also in Greenwich Village, at 11 W. Eighth St., is Eva's Kitchen, offering Mediterranean favorites, vegetarian eats, smoothies and more. Yelpers give this inexpensive spot, which has been in business since 1978, 4.5 stars out of 401 reviews.

4. Pickle Guys

Photo: Pamela L./Yelp

Last but not least, there's Pickle Guys on the Lower East Side, with 4.5 stars out of 361 Yelp reviews. Head over to 357 Grand St. (on the corner of Essex Street) to check out this artisanal pickle and condiment shop for yourself.

We turned to Yelp for an overview of Pickle Guys.

"As far back as 1910, there have always been numerous pickle stores on Essex Street, but today, we are the only pickle store left on the Lower East Side," the business states on Yelp. "We are kosher, under the strict supervision of Rabbi Shmuel Fishelis, and we carry over 40 different varieties of pickles and pickled products, such as sour pickles, 1/2 sour, tomatoes, peppers, sauerkraut, pickled Brussels sprouts, pickled mangoes, pineapples and herring."


This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.