Where To Eat On A Budget In Astoria, NYC
Here are June's favorite cheap eats in one of the city's culinary hubs.
After guiding us through budget meals from her own kitchen, our Budget Queen June Xie is stepping out to show us the best bites in her favorite New York City neighborhoods. Last episode, we traveled to Flushing, Queens, and saw what delicious dishes you can buy for less than 50 dollars. Our next stop is on the west side of the borough in one of the city’s best culinary hubs: Astoria.
Astoria, Queens, sits right across the East River from Manhattan's Upper East Side. This laid-back neighborhood features cuisines from all over the world: Greek, Middle Eastern, South American, West African, the list goes on. June compiled some of her favorites, along with recommendations from Team Delish, to hit some of Astoria's best restaurants.
The rules of this show are simple: June is handed a $50 bill and tasked with eating as many things as possible from different spots around the neighborhood. Here are her top picks in Astoria.
Seoul Meets Bagel (SMB), Between The Bagel
On nearly every block of New York City, you can find a spot that makes bacon egg and cheese sandwiches, but have you ever had a bulgogi egg and cheese? At Between The Bagel, you can find freshly made bagels paired with classic Korean dishes. An added perk: you might get a free order of kimchi fried rice balls!
Ekmek Kataifi, Yaya's Bakery
Since 2004, this Astoria institution has serving baklava, spanakopita, and many other Greek specialties. Ekmek kataifi is a rich, creamy dessert with layers of syrup-soaked kataifi (shredded phyllo dough), custard, whipped cream, and chopped pistachios.
Egusi Soup, Nneji
When you think of West African food, egusi soup is almost always at the top of the list. This savory stew is made with the seeds of egusi melon, tomato, and lots of spices. And the best way to eat it is with garri, a type of fufu made with cassava. This pliable, sticky, and starchy side dish is typically used to scoop the soup—a.k.a. the ultimate finger food.
Gabby Romero is Delish’s editorial assistant, where she writes stories about the latest TikTok trends, develops recipes, and answers any and all of your cooking-related questions. She loves eating spicy food, collecting cookbooks, and adding a mountain of Parmesan to any dish she can.
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