If you live in New York City, you know the power a Michelin star holds. Luscious cuisine and divine ingredients, a fancy restaurant that you dress to the nines just to enter, and a lot of the times…a hefty price tag. But if we told you some about some secret Michelin star restaurants that are not only delicious, but super affordable? Get ready to make those reservations, because we’re about to spill the tea on 10 of the best Michelin star restaurants in NYC where you can score a budget deal.
1. Casa Enrique, LIC
Casa Enrique has made our list for many of things, including best Mexican restaurants in NYC and best margaritas, so it really does check out as one of the most affordable Michelin spots around.
Chef Cosme Aguilar’s menu serves up all sorts of regional Mexican cuisine that’s packed full of flavor, for a great price. Our recommendations include the Guacamole for starters ($18) and either the tacos ($16) or enchiladas ($25) as a main. It’s worth the bang for your buck. Full menu here.
📍 5-48 49th Ave, Queens
🚇 Closest subway stop: Vernon Blvd-Jackson Ave (7)
2. Oxalis, Prospect Heights
Just steps away from the Brooklyn Museum and Grand Army Plaza is Oxalis, a lovely one star Michelin restaurant serving up a seasonal carte blanche menu in the intimate dining room and a $75 three course prix-fixe at the bar.
Not only is their modern interior super inviting, but their affordable menu highlights like the Tuna with preserved fruit and garbanzo for starters and Bone-in Ray Wing for a main can’t be missed! Full menu here.
📍 791 Washington Ave, Brooklyn
🚇 Closest subway stop: Eastern Pkwy-Brooklyn Museum (2, 3)
3. Oxomoco, Greenpoint
Although it can be a stickler to get a table, we highly recommend Oxomoco and their signature Mexican cuisine. They serve high quality food out of their wood fire ovens, including their tacos, which are the talk of the town.
Our favorites include the Beet “Chorizo” Tacos ($17) and the Swordfish Tacos ($28)! Check out the full menu here.
📍 128 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn
🚇 Closest subway stop: Greenpoint Ave (G)
4. Jeju Noodle Bar, West Village
If you’re looking for top of the line Korean ramen, you have to give this one star Michelin restaurant a try. As you can imagine, they specialize in affordable noodles, but their cuisine spans far and wide.
May we suggest the pictured above Toro Ssam Bap ($55) for starters? What about the mouth-watering Gochu Ramyun noodles covered in pork bone broth as a main ($23)? Everything here is incredible so there really is no going wrong. Full menu here.
📍 679 Greenwich St
🚇 Closest subway stop: Christopher St-Sheridan Sq (1)
5. Francie, Williamsburg
This gorgeous brasserie serves up all sorts of European-style cuisine out of their open kitchen for diners to enjoy! It’s located in Brooklyn and is a great place to stop in for drinks and some light bites (if you want to keep it on the affordable side).
The menu highlights include the pictured above Soufflé Cakes ($23) on the “snack menu” alongside their pastas that range from $26-38 (although we love to side with the Pappardelle or Lobster Ravioli). Full menu here.
📍 136 Broadway, Brooklyn
🚇 Closest subway stop: Marcy Ave (M, J, Z)
6. Claro, Gowanus
We recently just named Gowanus’ Claro restaurant as one of our favorites for hidden outdoor dining, but they also double as one of our favorite Michelin star restaurants in NYC–and their food isn’t half bad either! They too specialize in Mexican cuisine, particularly from the Oaxacan region, and it’s perfect to enjoy in their outdoor patio.
They do offer a four course prix for $80, but we suggest splitting items off their bar food menu which are just as yummy and way cheaper. The Mole Verde ($28) and Tostada de Pulpo ($24) stand out to us, and we suggest pairing it with one of their famous Mezcal drinks. Full menu here.
📍 284 Third Ave, Brooklyn
🚇 Closest subway stop: Union St (D, N, R)
7. Tuome, East Village
Chef Thomas Chen spearheads the curated Asian fusion menu at Tuome in East Village. It’s a cozy little hideaway where most meals you’ll find are under $50!
The concise menu features a little of everything, with the main highlights being their Octopus with fingerling potato appetizer ($27) and Crispy Chicken (with gem lettuce, basil, porridge) for $35. Check out all of their menu here.
📍 536 E 5th St
🚇 Closest subway stop: 2nd Ave (F)
8. Don Angie, West Village
Don Angie is one of the most notable Italian restaurants not only in the West Village, but in all of New York, making it one of the best Michelin star restaurants in NYC. It’s pretty common knowledge that it’s a tad difficult to get a table, but if you can it’s quite worth it!
Their menu offers all the sorts of Italian dishes you would expect like the Sourdough Pasta Cacciatore ($28), Veal “Da Pepi” ($39), and Lasagna for Two (shown above for $68), but they also have tons of delicious sides and desserts too. Full menu here.
📍 103 Greenwich Ave
🚇 Closest subway stop: 14 St (1, 2, 3)
9. Chuan Tian Xia, Sunset Park
Although not technically Michelin-starred Chaun Tian Xia has received Michelin’s next highest honor, the Bib Gourmand for their good quality and good value cooking.
The Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn usually has a line wrapped around the block, waiting to try either their hot and cold dishes. Their rich flavors really stand out from the crowd and their meats, noodles, and seafood are always as fresh as you like. Full menu here.
📍 5502 7th Ave, Brooklyn
🚇 Closest subway stop: 8th Ave (N)
10. SaRanRom Thai, Elmhurst
Also receiving the Bib Gourmand is SaRanRom Thai, who’s worth the trek to Queens. They serve all sorts of authentic Thai cuisine, and you can expect the classics like curries, fried rice, salads, and stir-fries.
Some other standouts (according to Michelin) including the Yum Pla Duk, Miang kha-na, and more!
📍 81-10 Broadway, Queens
🚇 Closest subway stop: Elmhurst Ave (M, R)
11. Jua, Flatiron
For an $140 tasting menu, Chef Hoyoung Kim’s multi-course Korean wood-fired dishes are worth the hype. Jua has a two hour sitting that walks you through 7 courses loaded with caviar, scallops, and tons of wood-fired meats (like black cod and duck). See the full menu here
📍 36 E 22nd St
🚇 23rd St (6, N, R, W)
12. Estela, SoHo
Dubbing itself as an American restaurant in SoHo, you’ll find all kinds of playful flavors incorporated into the works of Chef Ignacio Mattos. It’s a tight-knit and boisterous bistro at heart, and it’s becoming synonymous with some of the tastiest ricotta dumplings and endive salad in the entire city. Entrees range from $30-50 a pop making it great for a downtown date night or a split and share situation.
📍 47 E Houston St, 1st Floor
🚇 Broadway-Lafayette (B, D, F, M) & Bleecker St (6)
13. Casa Mono, Gramercy
Casa Mono is an affordable Michelin-spot serving upscale Spanish tapas in their cozy dining room. Each bite here feels like it came from Costa Brava, and it becomes instantly recognizable why they’ve racked up the prestigious honor. Their next door sister spot Bar Jamón is equally incredible, serving up jamón, bocadillos, conservas, cheeses, and a whole lot more. Not to mention Casa Mono’s wine list which has over 600 variations…it’s probably why they’ve earned Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence for several years. See the full menu here.
📍 52 Irving Pl
🚇 14th St/Union Sq (4, 5, 6, L)
14. Semma, Greenwich Village
Let Chef Vijay Kumar lead you on a culinary journey to Southern India, where his a la carte menu will have your tastebuds dazzling. Make sure to have a drink ready, because their spicy, yet brilliant menu is full of Indian delicacies like Naithai Pirattal (snail curry) and Kudal Varuval (goat’s intestines). Their menu is broken into “small, medium, and large” size portions which range from $11-$56 accordingly. See the full menu here.
📍 60 Greenwich Ave
🚇 14th St (1, 2, 3)
15. Dirt Candy, Lower East Side
If you’re vegetarian, this spot should be on your list because it’s only 1 of 2 vegetarian restaurants in NYC with a Michelin star. Chef Amanda Cohen quite literally only serves vegetables—but in an inventive and upscale way that pushes boundaries. Their 5 course ($105 per person) changes seasonally, but their current menu includes artfully crafted dishes centered around cucumber, asparagus, romanesco, and more. See the full dinner menu here!
📍 86 Allen St
🚇 Delancey/Essex St (M, J, Z, F) and Grand St (B, D)