I work in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. Is it possible to find under $5 lunches that is decent, filling, and… vegan-friendly? Yes! Just avoid SoHo. It’s lovely being in a tri-neighborhood area, where SO many options exist. My choices are primarily ranked on 2 factors: value & proximity. Here’s my top 5:
- This is a tie between Pinisi Cafe & Bakery and Punjabi Grocery & Deli, both close to 1st/1st ave in East Village. They are so good I can go to both 3 times a week – even with the 10+ minute walk!
- Pinisi’s made-to-order paninis mean custom ingredients. My greens-avocado-hummus combination was fresh and hot. Oh, and it’s 4 bucks. It makes me question why paninis are usually over 6? There are also always vegan sweets available, though I haven’t tried them yet.
- Punjabi is a nondescript hole-in-wall – you really would walk past this place if you weren’t searching for it. Oh wait, that’s what happened my first time. When we finally found this tiny place wedged between apartment buildings and a bar, we discovered the many under $5 options, including my favorite choice: a $3 small rice bowl with 2 veggie options. Tasty and spicy vegetarian Indian food. Be aware though – there is a bitter veggie you may want to ask about and [not] get. It’s definitely an acquired taste and might ruin your meal if not prepared.
- Lite Delights is only a 5-minute walk from my office. Considering its location (NoHo, right on Houston between Mott & Mulberry), the prices are superb. So, what are my vegan choices? The Santa Fe burrito ($4.25 +tax) is simple and filling: brown rice, avocado, scallions, salsa. The veggie dumplings/sushi combination ($3.25) is not as filling but good on a not-too-hungry-but-want-to-eat day. Then there is the questionably vegan veggie burger sandwich ($3.95 +tax). It uses honey mustard, but yes, I don’t mind that. This place is #2 in terms of its quality, proximity, and of course value!
- Vanessa’s Dumplings in Chinatown (near Eldridge & Grand). Let me just preface this by saying dumplings are my favorite foods. And they have $3 veggie dumplings. $3 for 8 piping hot fresh dumplings with handmade wraps. It’s thick and chewy – what the Taiwanese call “Q”. The only downside is that there is usually a long line during the lunch time. If that is the case, I head over to Prosperity Dumplings, which is around 4 blocks south, near Manhattan bridge. They have $2 dumplings! But it’s not as “Q”. Still, it’s a close call. Unfortunately it takes around 20 minutes to walk over. Unless I take the subway 1 stop. Which is a bit lame, don’t you think? This is why dumplings will only be #3 on my list.
- Viet-Nam Banh Mi So 1, aka Saigon in Nolita at Mott & Broome. At $4.75 incl tax you have 4 vegan sandwich choices. Or at $3.25 you can get the traditional veggies sandwich. What is a Banh Mi? It’s a French baguette with Asian-style veggies: cilantro, cucumber, carrot, hot sauce, plus variations. Oh, and they are huge portions. HUGE. I had it earlier today. And no, I am not yet hungry (it’s been 5 hours?).
- Last one I’ll mention is Yatagan at MacDougal & Bleeker in Greenwich Village/NYU area. Falafel sandwiches for $2.50. I used to hit up this place when they were only $2, as well as Mamoun’s down the street at past midnight, after a late night out – or if I was in the area, exhausted, with only a few bucks in my wallet. Then even before the recession, Mamoun’s prices rose to $2.50, while Yatagan remained at $2. Slowly I got more addicted to Yatagan’s more generous portions, and friendly faces. Now, even when the falafel prices are the same, I still choose Yatagan. It may be #5, but I always know where to go if I crave a falafel and am in the area!
Runners-up include: Whole Foods on Bowery (it’s never under $5 for a filling meal, but the seating area and atmosphere is terrific), NY Dosa cart (All vegan! But the meal choices narrowly missed the $5 limit – it’s $6), Two Boots Pizza (it’s under $5, but I rarely crave pizza these days), Buddha Bodai (Under $5 meal option, but it’s just too far for this to be regular).