Best Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance Restaurants in SoHo
3 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Fanelli Cafe
Historic SoHo tavern where burgers, chili, and martinis meet creaky floors and decades of stories.
Notable Picks
#1
Fanelli Cafe
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Late Night Legends
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Operating on this corner since the 19th century, Fanelli Cafe is one of New York’s oldest bar-restaurants, now serving straightforward pubby American fare to artists, locals, and visitors in a time-worn room. Burgers, chili, and open-faced tuna melts anchor a menu that’s more about atmosphere, value, and history than trend-chasing.
Must-Try Dishes:
Fanelli's Burger with Fries, Open-Faced Tuna Melt with Cheddar, Moroccan Lamb Stew
What makes it special: Historic SoHo tavern where burgers, chili, and martinis meet creaky floors and decades of stories.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Vibes:
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Hidden Gems Heaven
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
A Chinatown street cart focused on fresh rice noodle rolls—hot, chewy, and best eaten immediately with soy and chili. It’s ideal for a snack crawl or a quick bite between bigger meals, not a destination dinner.
Must-Try Dishes:
Shrimp cheong fun roll, Dried shrimp roll, Soy sauce + chili oil combo
What makes it special: Fresh rice noodle rolls from a classic Chinatown street cart.
7.8
Operating since 1979, Famous Ben’s Pizza is a Spring Street fixture best known for its hefty Sicilian squares and movie cameos as much as for day-to-day slices. Quality feedback is mixed in recent years, but the thick focaccia-style squares and old-school SoHo slice-shop vibe still draw steady traffic.
Must-Try Dishes:
Sicilian Square Slice, Classic Cheese Slice, Baked Ziti or Pasta Plate
What makes it special: Long-running SoHo slice shop from 1979 known for thick Sicilian squares and a roster of film and TV appearances.