Image via Complex Original
The City That Never Sleeps is also The City That Never Stops Draining Your Money, be it from your bank account, Venmo surplus, or the Visa gift card your aunt sent you for Christmas. Chances are you've had more than one moment when you stumble out of the bar, only to realize you have five bucks left in your wallet and haven't eaten dinner. Of course this will inevitably lead you to the familiar arms of your local deli, for the same bacon, egg, and cheese that you’ve had, what, fifty times this year? A hundred?
Come on. Grow up. You’re a person of taste, a connoisseur of flavor! You should be eating $5 goat and $1 samosas, not setting your sights on the same old BLT. Because you deserve better, we scoured New York City to find you the delis with the tastiest and cheapest meals. In the spirit of Steve Ells, the founder of “fast-casual chain” Chipotle, we like to think of this food as gourmet-on-the-go. You’ve run out of excuses: Drop that shitty sandwich and head to one of these next-level bodegas.
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Zarazoga
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 215 Avenue A
Zaragoza is like a foodie-hipster wet dream in the best way possible. This unassuming Mexican grocery boasts your typical bodega collection of Jarritos, salsa, lotto tickets, and, surprisingly, the most authentic and unique Mexican food in the East Village. Zaragoza has a revolving menu of specials that include rabbit mole and fiery pepper steak. We recommend the beef tongue, served in your choice of a taco, burrito, tostada, or flauta. Not feeling the Mexican Coke in the fridge? Get in tight with the owners and they'll serve you a Modelo to wash down all the food you just ordered.
First Ave Pierogi & Deli
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 130 1st Ave.
For the uninitiated, pierogi are a version of dumplings hailing from Poland that are first boiled, then—if you're really a G—baked or fried in butter and served with sweet onions and sour cream. The fillings can be anything from sauerkraut, to potatoes and cheese, to ground meat. These babies are an indulgence and there's no better place to luxuriate in their plump deliciousness than at First Ave Pierogi & Deli. What really makes this spot a true keeper are the prices: it's $6 to $8 for a dozen doughy balls of happiness.
Sau Voi
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Address: 101 LaFayette St. #3
We're not sure what exactly is going on in this tiny convenience store but among the cigarettes, ladies' underwear, and Vietnamese pop cassette tapes, you will find some damn good banh mi. The classic Dac Biet is not to be missed: A bed of crisp French bread holds indulgent Vietnamese pâté, pickled carrots, and fresh cilantro. The only thing more appealing than the sandwich is the $4 price tag. Seriously, $4 for pâté? Sign us up.
Punjabi Grocery & Deli
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 114 E 1st St.
As you approach Punjabi Grocery & Deli, a tiny store on the border between the East Village and the Lower East Side, you may notice the line of empty yellow cabs parked outside. It's pretty-much always there because cab drivers know what's up when it comes to delicious food that's easy to eat on the fly. On any given day, you'll find around 10 hot dishes, along with six to seven desserts, fluffy rice and cold, refreshing yogurt. Head to the fridge at the back and grab a pistachio or cardamom-flavored kulfi, an Indian version of ice cream that's denser that what Westerners are used to, and round the meal off with a cup of masala chai. But go easy on the sugar—"one" serving of it tastes like the equivalent of five teaspoons of diabetes.
Polish G.I. Delicatessen
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 109 1st Ave. #1
Looking for Polish food, but not trying to make the trek to Greenpoint? You're in luck because smoked fish and pierogi that are just as good as in Brooklyn can be found on the other side of the East River. The shelves are stacked with imported specialty products and top-notch traditional, Polish-style breads. Our favorite is the paczki, a ball of fried dough with a perfectly sweet and tangy raspberry jam in the center. Walk to the back, where you'll good ole' home-style cooking in the prepared foods section. Try the bigos, a rustic stew of slow-cooked sauerkraut, kielbasa, bacon, pork and prunes.
31 Ave Stop Deli
Neighborhood: Astoria
Address: 43-01 31st Ave.
Located on a corner in Astoria, this 24-hour deli attracts a stream of hungry and hungover locals in need of a taco fix. The tacos are tasty, but the often-overlooked tortas and nachos also make a strong showing. For the torta, choose your own meat and have it delivered between two crispy rolls stuffed with beans, jalapenos, cheese, avocado, sour cream, and the usual tomato-lettuce-onion mix. If nachos are more your vibe, go for the ones that come with meat, along with avocado, cheese, cilantro and sour cream. Crispy and addictive.
Sunny and Annie's
Neighborhood: East Village
Address: 94 Avenue B
This deli is home to the famous pho-banh-mi hybrid, the Pho Real. The pho what?! The Pho Real! That's right: Here, you can buy a genius mix of roast beef, bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, avocado, tomato, onion, hoisin, and Sriracha sandwiched between a fresh roll 24/7. This discovery literally could have not come at a better time for all those pho addicts looking to get their fix during the upcoming summer months.
Lahore Deli
Neighborhood: SoHo
Address: 132 Crosby Street
When it comes to the competition for the part of our hearts that's devoted to South Asian food, Lahore is in deep competition with Punjabi Deli. Located in Soho, this is the other spot where you will find a line of cabs most any day or night. What we're salivating over here is the fluffy basmati rice topped with spicy vegetables and lamb or the lovely chicken biryani with chickpeas. And if you're looking for a truly incredible deal (keep in mind: This is Soho!), the vegetables samosas are a dollar a piece.