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Where To Eat On A Budget In Astoria, NYC

Here are June's favorite cheap eats in one of the city's culinary hubs.

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preview for I Ate As Many Different Meals As I Could On A $50 Budget In Astoria, NYC

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.

1

Seoul Meets Bagel (SMB), Between The Bagel

bulgogi egg and cheese
Chelsea Lupkin

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!

2

Ekmek Kataifi, Yaya's Bakery

yaya's bakery
Chelsea Lupkin

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.

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3

Falafel Pita Sandwich, DuZan

falafel sandwich
Chelsea Lupkin

One of the best cheap eats you can get in New York City is falafel, and Astoria's DuZan is no exception. Here, June ordered a pita sandwich filled to the brim with freshly-fried falafel, tahini, hummus, pickles, cabbage, and spicy sauce. All for just eight dollars.

4

Egusi Soup, Nneji

egusi stew
Chelsea Lupkin

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.

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