This by PM from Ryan Rogers- I'm posting it here for other's future use.
Thanks, Ryan!!
Cheap eats are my specialty
Vanessa's Dumpling House
118A Eldridge Street, New York NY 10002
Get the sesame pancake sandwiches (in the $2 price range), they have peking duck and a few others that are home runs. Always busy, great lunch.
Fried Dumpling
106 Mosco Street
New York, NY 10013
Best $1 dumplings in the city, order by the price, you get 4 or 5 for $1, can't remember. Add plenty of vinegar/soy sauce and sriracha and enjoy!
Mei Li Wah Bakery Inc
64 Bayard Street New York, NY 10013
(212) 966-7866
Old school chinese coffee/pork bun shop. Get the pork buns, like $0.80 a piece brown (baked) or white (steamed). Two are very filling. Also if they aren't sold out get an almond cookie, very good.
Joe's Shanghai
9 Pell Street
New York, New York 10013
The place to go for soup dumplings
Wo Hop Restaurant
17 Mott Street New York, 10013
(212) 566-3841
If you happen to be intoxicated at 2am and craving some old school americanized chinese this is the place to go, you'll be surrounded by hoards of people doing the same.
Baoguette Cafe
37 St. Mark's Pl
(between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
Good sloppy bahn mi's, more commercialized
Vietnam Bánh Mì Sổ 1
369 Broome St (btw Mott & Elizabeth)
212-219-8341
Great bahn mi's, $3-4, fresh squeezed juices
Saigon Bánh Mì
198 Grand St (btwn Mulberry and Mott)
212-941-1541
Decent Bahn Mi's, also a jewelry store
Mamoun's Falafel
119 MacDougal St
New York, NY 10012
Village staple, good falafel sandwiches, make sure to add hummus, the place across the street (ali baba) is better when they're on, but can be hit or miss. Make sure to get the hot sauce (better hot sauce at ali baba).
As for momofuku I'd definitely try to go at lunch, it really depends on what you're looking for food wise. Noodle bar is more street food/noodle house and saam bar is more upscale, composed plates.
As for specialty shops I'd definitely hit
Russ and Daughters
russanddaughters.com/Specializes in caviar, smoked fish, herring, bagels and elegant food gifts.
179 East Houston Street New York, NY 10002
(212) 475-4880
Also maybe
DOUGHNUT PLANT | New York City
379 Grand Street New York, NY 10002
(212) 505-3700
The PICKLE GUYS!
The Pickle Guys, the best sour pickles, new pickles, half-sour pickles, hot pickles, tomatoes, peppers, sauerkraut, mushrooms, giardiniera, olives, pepperoncini, ...
49 Essex St # B New York, NY 10002
(212) 656-9739