Astoria, Bars, Brunch, Featured, Food and Drink, Food Talk, Neighborhood, Restaurants, Street Food
May 29, 2019

The OFFICIAL Astoria CHEAP EATS Guide

Whether you’re always living that #Budget lifestyle, or are trying to recoup your wallet after a spend-heavy weekend, it’s always good to have some seriously cheap eats in your back pocket. (…)

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Whether you’re always living that #Budget lifestyle, or are trying to recoup your wallet after a spend-heavy weekend, it’s always good to have some seriously cheap eats in your back pocket.

Inspired by New York Mag, we decided to round up some of our favorite budget-friendly bites (and sips) in the neighborhood. These kinds of things seem to be known more by word of mouth or by frequenting a place, rather than being advertised by them, so definitely let us know what your favorite go-to’s are during a tight week and we’ll be adding them to the list.

1. $5 Soup Dumplings at Bund on Broadway

We used to have to trek to Flushing to get truly authentic, affordable Chinese food, but now thanks to Bund on Broadway that’s only a short walk away. Filling soup dumplings are only $5 for an order of four, and regular steamed ones are even a few cents less.

25-08 Broadway

The flavor-packed pork soup dumplings, made fresh on-premises.

2. $7.95 Arepas at La Vecina

La Vecina on Steinway specializes in these South American corn cake “sandwiches,” and offers a wide variety, well-stuffed, for only $7.95/each. These range from the “La Colombiana” with Colombian chorizo, sunny-side up fried egg, queso blanco, pico de gallo and scallion, or the “La Batata” with sweet potato croquettes, arugula, roasted red peppers, pickled onions, and lemon cilantro crema.

30-66 Steinway St

3. Free Happy Hour Hot Dogs at Madam Marie’s

Madam Marie’s on Broadway (from the owners of Judy & Punch) offers a FREE hot dog with each drink purchase ($5 beer, wine, and well drinks) during happy hour (4-8 p.m. Monday through Friday), so you can get food and drink for the price of one! Also, having an until-8 p.m. happy hour is a huge win in my book, and for anyone else getting out of work later.

35-15 Broadway

Weekend happy hour is from 2 to 8 p.m. Credit to Madam Marie’s.

4. $5.50 Burek at Djerdan

This Balkan phyllo dough pie is a must-have at Djerdan Burek on 31st Ave (started by an immigrant couple at this original location in 1998). They come in a variety of fillings such as beef, cheese, spinach and cheese or potato. Get a “slice” (aka a huge slab that takes up an entire plate) for $5.50/each. Add a homemade yogurt for $1.75 and it will keep you filled up for most of the day.

3404 31st Ave

Spinach Burek and Homemade Yogurt, a filling lunch for $7.

6. Half Price Doughnuts at Comfortland (after 4:30 p.m.)

Mouthwatering doughnuts at Comfortland are normally $5-6/each, which isn’t bad considering how big they are. But, from 4:30 p.m. to closing each evening they are half price – so only $2.50-3 each for a huge, delicious gourmet doughnut!

4009 30th Ave

Photo Courtesy of Comfortland’s Instagram page

7. $14 Fresh Pasta at Botte Bar

Though $14 isn’t quite on par with the rest of the list, $14 for a fresh pasta dinner is quite cheap for NYC (or in general). Try Fresh Tagliatelle Pasta in Angus Beef Bolognese Sauce  or homemade Potato Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce, Buffalo Mozzarella and Basil for a fraction of the price.

2507 Broadway

Tagliatelle Bolognese. Credit to Botte.

8. $4 Meze Dishes at Tru Astoria

Relax with friends and share a bunch of meze (or Greek “small plates”) Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Tru Astoria. This includes $4 for dishes like hummus and pita, pan-fried halloumi and Yiayia’s meatballs. The Happy Hour also includes $4 rotating drinks specials like palomas, old fashioneds, and sangria.

 35-19 Ditmars Blvd

The tzatziki, hummus, and spicy whipped feta with warm pita bread.

9. $7 Gruyere Crepe at Bonjour Crepes

Crepes without all the fancy toppings are only $6 at Bonjour Crepes and Wine on 30th Ave. This includes: gruyere, sugar and butter, peanut butter, cream cheese, jam, chocolate, dulce de leche, or cinnamon apple with maple syrup. Perfect for a cheap but tasty breakfast or dessert stop!

34-10 30th Ave

lemon-sugar-crepe-cafe-lefrape-astoria-queens

10. Brunch at RaR Bar LIC

RaR Bar has an amazing weekend brunch deal that includes a free drink (mimosa, bellini, bloody mary, bloody maria, or French spritzer) with any entree. Considering that the entrees range in price from $7 (breakfast tacos) to $14 (biscuits and gravy, baked apple waffle) and that the drinks don’t skimp, it’s a total budget brunch.

30-01 35th Ave

11. $2 Iced Coffee at Stellar Brews

Pop-up coffee shop Stellar Brews takes over sek’ənd sun from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each weekday, and is a great place to work because there is SO much space and it’s never overly crowded. They regularly have great breakfast coffee deals, like brioche French toast with a cup of coffee for $5. Currently, they’re offering $2 Japanese Cold Brew and discounts on fresh-baked pastries when you purchase a drink.

32-11 Broadway

iced-coffee-astor-bake-shop-astoria-queens

12. Less Than $2 Empanadas at Mama’s Empanadas

Almost all the empanadas at this chain eatery, with a location on Steinway in Astoria, are less than $2. Loaded with different meats and cheeses (rice and beans, beef, chicken, ham and cheese, etc), they’re just as filling as they are delicious. Have one or two to-go if you need a pick-me-up snack on your way to (or from) the subway, or have three to four for a full meal.

3241 Steinway St

Photo by Yelp user Farheem A.

13. $6 Bourbon at Sanford’s

From 4-7 p.m. on weekdays Sanford’s allows the budget-friendly person to have access to one of the largest whiskey bars in NYC, with over 300 single malts and bourbons. And these happy hour specials aren’t from the bottom of the barrel (pun intended), get $6 pours of craft bourbons like Elijah Craig 11-Year Barrel Proof Bourbon, Redemption, Filibuster, High West American Prairie, Basil Hayden’s Two by Two Rye, and W.L. Weller Special Reserve.

30-13 Broadway

14. $3 for a Side of 6 Falafel at King of Falafel & Shawarma

30-15 Broadway

king-of-falafel-platter-harris-graber-astoria-queens

This is the PLATTER (not the side) of falafel from King of Falafel on Broadway. Image source: Harris Graber from our WHA Flickr pool.

15. $6 for 3 Tacos at Athens (formerly El Grill)

30-11 30th Ave

el athens grill tacos

El (Athens) Grill tacos

16. $5 Half-pound Burger and Fries at Dillinger’s on Thursdays

4619 30th Ave, Astoria

17. $3 Lamb Sticks at Franky’s Souvlaki

31-02 Steinway St, Astoria

18. $1.85 Tacos at Los Portales

25-08 Broadway, Astoria

19. Happy Hour at Passage

$5 drafts; wings; beef & Guinness pie; curried shepherd’s pie; shots of Jameson’s…M-F 4 -7p

40-11 30th Ave, Astoria

7 Comments

Taylor

Cant forget Katch! I don’t know if they were on there $18 bottomless and whole menu for brunch its so good and drinks were huge when we went last!

Reply
Stephan

You forgot Franky’s and King of Souvlaki! Can’t beat $3 lamb sticks at Franky’s right after the gym!

Reply
JJD

Consider adding: Passage Astoria, right next-door to Comfortland. $5 drafts; wings; beef & Guinness pie; curried shepherd’s pie; shots of Jameson’s…M-F 4:00p -7:00p (other specials, too). GREAT staff.

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