Among the hundreds of hole-in-the-walls located in and around Chinatown, Prosperity Dumpling is one of the few that's actually worth trying. The 'Open' sign is upside down and its tiny interior is often overcrowded with a line spilling onto the sidewalk, but the dumplings are far too delicious to pass up.
For just $1, you can get 5 huge dumplings, fried or steamed, with pork and chives or vegetable filling. As you can see in the picture, these dumplings aren't the small, overpriced ones you'll find at most restaurants. They're enormous with a juicy filling and tender shell that has just the right amount of crisp, and they're served very hot and fresh. Want some dumpling soup? You can get that too, with 8 dumplings, for only $2. And if you want to bring some home in bulk, which I did, you can get 50 frozen dumplings for only $8. To add some tanginess, you must douse the dumplings in Sriracha and their house dumpling sauce; the two condiments incorporate another layer of flavor that makes the dumplings even better than they are naked.
Since you probably won't be full after just one order of dumplings (though I'm biased because I'm never full), be sure to take a look at the other winners on the menu. Their fried pork buns, just $1 for 3, are fried to perfection with a great Asian barbeque flavor. Sesame pancakes are also a very popular item: for .50 cents you get a plain one, and for $1.25 it comes stuffed with beef, pork, or vegetables. The sesame bread is thick, salty, and about 3 times the size of a regular pancake, yet it is not overbearingly heavy.
Make it to Prosperity and you'll have a satisfying and amazing meal for $2-3. Try it, and I promise you'll be returning to Chinatown sooner than you thought.
image from nymag
For all of my seafood fanatics and/or New Englanders craving a delicious meal, this one is for you. Fish is a small, always-packed restaurant on Bleecker between Jones and 7th Ave, whose catchy slogan is "Sex, Drugs, and Lobster Roll." Through the small window, you'll see a mini fish market complete with fresh fish laid upon ice, which is available for purchase. Further inside this 'sea-shack,' there is a raw bar whose chef enthusiastically shucks oysters day and night. Creating a maritime ambiance, the walls are covered with buoys and seaside photos; each tiny table has massive cans of Old Bay Seasoning, coarse sea salt, and Tobasco sauce, adding to the nautical vibe.
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| image from yelp |
If you're able to drop some cash on this delectable seafood, I recommend the widely popular Chilean sea bass, lobster macaroni and cheese, and fried oysters. However, I'm concerned with the amazing bargain you'll find nowhere else in New York City: the Down East Lobster Feast. The price of this succulent dinner varies depending on the day, but it ranges from $18-21 dollars per feast. If that doesn't impress you, the second feast is priced at only $12-15. Sounds a bit expensive, but for what you get, it's definitely worth it. Each feast consists of a whole lobster (1 1/4 lbs.) fresh from Maine, fries, corn on the cob, and 4-5 steamer clams. For just $30 dollars, you and a friend can fine dine for about half the usual price. The lobsters are huge and undeniably fresh, the steamers are juicy and tender, and if you're a fan of cocktail sauce, you must request a side of it because it is spicy and tangy with the perfect amount of lemon and horseradish. Just remember to take your lobster bib off after your meal, or suffer the consequences of strange looks (like I did).
Ray's Candy Store is a hidden gem located right across from Tompkins Square Park in Alphabet city. The size of a hallway with no sign outside, this place is easy to overlook, but for decades, many New Yorkers have frequented this small, preserved piece of Lower Manhattan.
Owned and run by an 80-year-old Turkish man named Ray, who happens to be one of the most charming, kindhearted, and generous people I've ever met, this hole in the wall serves up mouthwatering beignets ($3 for half a dozen, but he gives everyone about three extra), $2 hot dogs with two free toppings, and Belgian fries ($4.50). Although candy isn't on the menu, these fried goodies make you forget Ray's is supposed to be a candy shop. Each item on the menu is cooked to order by Ray himself and handed to you with a smile. The fries are hand-cut and covered with ketchup, cheese, chili, or honey dijon; the beignets are crispy on the outside, doughy on the inside, and smothered in powdered sugar; the hot dogs are made of a somewhat spicy sausage with a nice bite.
To top off the fried fun, you must order what is widely known as the best egg cream in Manhattan ($2 for a medium). Ray's offers 13 different flavors of egg creams, but the most popular is vanilla and when you take that first sip, you'll feel like you're back in the '50s. Ray's is reminiscent of old New York when food was cheap and simple. If you're not a fan of egg cream, get gelato, frozen yogurt, or a milkshake, all of which they make in-house and all of which can satisfy even the most demanding sweet tooth.
Ray's is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and no matter what time you go, it will make your day, guaranteed. You'll enjoy fresh, fast, and delicious food and you'll probably even make a friend. If you're lucky, Ray might take you back to the kitchen to show you how to make beignets and may even pick up the tab. However, pay and tip well because Ray deserves it. Remember, cash only!
For just $1, you can get 5 huge dumplings, fried or steamed, with pork and chives or vegetable filling. As you can see in the picture, these dumplings aren't the small, overpriced ones you'll find at most restaurants. They're enormous with a juicy filling and tender shell that has just the right amount of crisp, and they're served very hot and fresh. Want some dumpling soup? You can get that too, with 8 dumplings, for only $2. And if you want to bring some home in bulk, which I did, you can get 50 frozen dumplings for only $8. To add some tanginess, you must douse the dumplings in Sriracha and their house dumpling sauce; the two condiments incorporate another layer of flavor that makes the dumplings even better than they are naked. 
Since you probably won't be full after just one order of dumplings (though I'm biased because I'm never full), be sure to take a look at the other winners on the menu. Their fried pork buns, just $1 for 3, are fried to perfection with a great Asian barbeque flavor. Sesame pancakes are also a very popular item: for .50 cents you get a plain one, and for $1.25 it comes stuffed with beef, pork, or vegetables. The sesame bread is thick, salty, and about 3 times the size of a regular pancake, yet it is not overbearingly heavy. 
