Chinatown

Hop Kee

21 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

Cheap; normally around $10 per person

Hop Kee is known for its cheap family-style meals. They have a variety of Chinese dishes that everyone can enjoy. When dining at Hop Kee, I suggest having one person ordering for the table since the dishes are served in a family style which means that they are a big portion for the table to share.

Joe Shanghai

9 Pell St, New York, NY 10013

Cheap; $10 per person

Joe Shanghai is famous for its soup dumplings that have become a New York favorite. These dumplings are not only being enjoyed by locals, but also by tourists and celebrities. Because of the fame Joe Shanghai has received, it does tend to get crowded. Although the wait can get long, the staff handles waiting and seating very well.

99 Favor Taste

285 Grand St, New York, NY 10002

Middle Range Price; $18-$24

99 Flavor Taste is an all you can eat hot pot and Korean barbecue restaurant. You are sat in front of a grill and pot where you get to cook your own food. This is great because, unlike family-style restaurants, this place allows you to enjoy your food the way you like it best. I would suggest going with someone who has been to hot pot places before because ordering could get confusing.

Staten Island

Precious Island Tea Shop

366 New Dorp Ln, Staten Island, NY 10306

Cheap; $10 per person

Dimsum is an interesting experience because there are carts of food going around the whole time you dine. All you have to do is point to the foods you’d like to try and the server will stamp your card according to price. Be wary and make sure not to over order because it can add up.

Pho Mac

1407 Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10314

Middle Range Price; $12-$18

Pho Mac is a traditional Vietnamese restaurant which is famous for their soup. They also serve a variety of appetizers and dishes. Pho Mac also serves taro, mango, passion fruit and milk bubble tea.  This place is great to visit on a chilly night because their food will warm you right up!

Maynila

3555 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314

Cheap; $8-$12

Maynila offers traditional filipino food that also doubles as a Filipino grocery store. It’s great for first-timers because you can easily point to what you want to try and fairly priced and if you really like it, they can even cater. While you pick up your food then you should pick up some Filipino snacks like Chicharon, Ube Pillow Puffs or Stik-O.

Koreatown

Turntable

20 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001

Middle-High Range; $20-$25

Turntable is a popular Korean fried chicken place that features classic crispy soy garlic wings. They are also known for their creative appetizers like the Twister which is a spiral shaped potato with Parmesan cheese topped with chef’s sauce. The atmosphere of this restaurant is really jazzy and relaxed with really great food.

Woorijip

12 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

Cheap; $9/lb

Woorijip offers buffet style Korean classics for only $9 per pound. They carry a large variety of difference foods and very convenient for locals as it has a quick bite atmosphere. However, it can get pretty crowded especially during dinner times.