Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take Out
Cuisine: Japanese Snack Food
Favorite Dish(es): Okonomiyaki ($6), Takoyaki ($5)

This is real Japanese street food. This tiny food stand on the original Japantown (9th St), nestled between the Cloister Cafe’s outdoor areas, serves two drunkfood faves.

1) Okonomiyaki (oh-ko-no-mee-yah-kee) – a battered pancake made with veggies and protein of your choice, either squid, chicken, or beef.

2) Takoyaki (tah-ko-yah-kee) – small round balls using the same batter with bits of octopus, commonly referred to as “octopus balls”, although they are not actual octopus testicles (sorry Andrew Zimmern, keep lookin!).

Both are topped with healthy squeezings of Japanese sweet mayo (Kewpie) and a sweet and tangy dark sauce that is similar to tonkatsu or plum sauce, and then covered in bonito flakes, which are sweet, dried, smoky fish flakes. Notice the sweet theme. They’re made hot, fresh to order, and are perfect as a mid-day anti-starvation treat while wandering the St Marks area, or even better as a hold-me-over till the next bar mini-meal. Either way, totally worth the 5 minute wait, and if there’s a long line, hold out and come back later.

Don't fear the fish flakes! Takoyaki Octopus Balls waiting underneath...

Tehuitzingo Mexican Deli
695 10th Ave (btw 47th & 48th Sts)
(212) 397-5956

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take Out / Sit Down
Cuisine: Mexican
Favorite Dish(es): Bisteck (beef) Taco $2.50

Everyone north of the border knows that the best, most authentic Mexican food is found in the cheapest, most unassuming of places, be it from a truck or a hole in the wall. Well, if “hole in the wall” means knocking out the back of a bodega, adding a few stools and a walk-up counter, then this is the quintessential Mexican food find, at least in Manhattan. Tehuitzingo is simply a typical NYC deli/convenience store that serves tacos, tortas, and other typical Mexican fast food in the back. Think of it as a taco truck upgraded with seating, a bathroom, and access to all the soda and beer you want from the front bodega. At $2.50 as pop, the tacos are mighty fine – of course not quite as good as LA or the motherland, but sure tastes like somebody’s aunt put some extra special loving in the seasoning. I’m gonna hit this spot up anytime I venture into Hell’s Kitchen for a quick taco fix.

follow the white rabbit...

be nice to the lady and she'll treat you right.

one of these is tongue, and i assure you it's good in the mouth as well.

Online Menu

Super Tacos
96th St, between Broadway and West End Ave (SW Corner)
(917) 837-0866

Pricing: Cheap
Venue: Take Out
Cuisine: Mexican, Taco Truck
Favorite Dish(es): Tacos ($2), Tamales ($2), Torta ($5)

This is the best $2 we’ve ever spent on food in Manhattan. It’s an (extended) family-run biz that’s not a restaurant but a small taco truck parked on 96th between Broadway and West End. They’re open from noon till the wee hours, sometimes past midnight, perfect for a post-drink grub. As far as Mexican food goes, this seems to be one of the most authentic hole-in-the-wall-style taco places in NYC. They’ve got a bunch of different kinds of tacos, from shredded chicken (Pollo) to more uncommon like tongue, but our favorite is the spicy pork (Enchilada), with beef (Rez) as a close second. The Torta is a super tasty, filling, warm sandwich layered with lettuce, jalapenos, melted cheese, and a meat of our choice. We like the beef Torta. Their tamales are pretty good too, either chicken or cheese w/jalapeno (sweet’n'spicy). And Horchata (a cinnamon rice drink) for a dollar! This place IS super.

Online Menu