In a city where lunch can easily cost $20, finding a go-to cheap eat becomes essential. Luckily, one of the best in the entire country is right here in the city–no reservation required.
A new study from CashNetUSA analyzed Yelp ratings across more than 450 U.S. cities to uncover the top-rated low-price food spots in America–and an NYC street food favorite made the list.
Coming in at No. 4 in the nation, Farook Halal Food earned an impressive 4.95-star average rating on Yelp, making it the highest-ranked budget-friendly spot in New York City.
Tucked away in the East Village, the beloved food truck has built a cult following for its heaping portions, bold flavors, and wallet-friendly prices, proving you don’t need a white tablecloth to eat well in NYC.
And Farook’s isn’t just highly rated–it’s raved about. One ‘Elite’ Yelp reviewer wrote:
Absolutely banging, straight fire flames, go there don’t look back. Almost want to keep it a secret.
Others wrote “The meat was so juicy and tender, and the sauces were absolutely delicious,” and “Extremely cheap food and unbelievable portions.”
Even Redditors are obsessed: “Farook halal food in NYC is the bomb… nothing beats Farook’s chicken biryani,” one user wrote. “Top 5 in the city easily… I have a hard time saying it’s not top 2 or 3 every time I have it,” said another.
In a city as expensive as NYC, it’s no surprise New Yorkers are flocking to a spot that delivers huge portions and standout flavor without a price tag that will drain your bank account.
Top 10 best cheap eats in the U.S., according to the study:
- No. 1 – K Zone Cafeteria, Los Angeles, CA
- No. 2 – Destination Taiwan, Cheyenne, WY
- No. 3 – Gourmet Kolache Kafe, Tomball, TX
- No. 4 – Natural FruttiBerri, Watertown, MA
- No. 4 – Mazza Kitchen, Lorton, VA
- No. 4 – Gyro Grill, Boring, OR
- No. 4 – Farook Halal Food, New York, NY
- No. 8 – Happy Dog Hotdogs, Santa Cruz, CA
- No. 8 – Best of Crete, Charleston, WV
- No. 8 – 2 Scoops Ice Cream Eatery, Saint Paul, MN
To determine the rankings, CashNetUSA analyzed restaurants listed under Yelp’s lowest price tier, filtering for spots with at least 50 reviews. They then calculated precise average ratings (to two decimal places) to find the highest-rated cheap eats across the country.
