Foodie Friday: Tour of LES Cheap Eats

Although NYC admittedly is one of the food meccas of the world, the trendy new hotspots cropping up every few weeks are not exactly friendly to a budget. Yet in a city like New York, quality eats can be sought in certain neighborhood gems. If you're nostalgic for a unique bite that doesn't beget a three digit tasting menu, the Lower East Side is the perfect locale. Out of Grub Street's annual 101 Best (New) Cheap Eats for 2014, the LES made a strong showing: we snagged more than 4 spots out of the top 10. Tour through the winners below.

Eclectic. Delicious. Affordable. That's a true recipe for success.

Gaia Italian Cafe: Homespun, affordable Italian fare that reminds you of an overly affectionate grandmother serving heavenly spinach-ricotta gnocchi. All dishes hover at around $13 a plate. At Gaia, home-baked pastries, made with love and care, conclude each meal. 

El Rey Coffee Bar and Luncheonette: El Rey's airy space is usually filled around lunchtime with a fashionable crowd hovering over capuccinos and pretty, colorful concotions by chef Gerardo Gonzalez. The coffee is strong and delicious, as are the acai bowls. 

Xi'An Famous Foods: This place is the success story of Chinatown; the owner operated out of a small underground cafeteria in Flushing before expanding to six locations in New York, all serving the potent Shanxi streetfood of this author's home province. Try the spicy cumin hand-ripped noodles or the cold skin noodles-- a refreshing staple for summertime. Not to mention, the entire menu runs less than $10. 

Ivan Ramen: This ramen joint (now open for lunch, much to REAL New York's glee) has been reviewed before in our pages as the first Foodie Friday post on the company blog! (See post here)

Check out the rest of the list on Grubhub!