Quick and cheap bites in New York City – Soho/Greenwich Village – part 3

Today’s post was written by my husband, Thiago. He worked for a while in Soho and having lunch there every day, he discovered a lot of nice and cheap places. This is the third and last post about it – and you can check out the first one here and the second one here. 

IMPORTANT: the average price per person at these places is $10.

1. Tacombi – When you get to Tacombi, you’ll effortlessly understand why the place takes its name: there is a 1963 Volkswagen Kombi inside the restaurant. Add to this the fact that the Mexican tacos, prepared in the Kombi itself, are the flagship of the menu and there you go: Tacombi. Their story is very interesting: in 2005, the owners bought a 1963 Combi in Mexico City and drove it to Playa del Carmen. After removing the engine, they transformed the vehicle into a food truck, to prepare and sell the tacos. The original Kombi is still alive and it is in the Gansevoort Market, one of the addresses of Tacombi in New York. My suggestion for a quick lunch: a trio of tacos. My favorite EVER: Taco Al Pastor (marinated pork with pineapple, lemon, and cilantro). A delightful combination: Taco Al Pastor (of course!), Taco Chorizo con Potatoes and the Crispy Fish Taco. Got more time to sit down to eat? Order the guacamole with the housemade “totopos” (Mexican corn chips) as an appetizer and a trio of tacos as main.  Two other things to highlight in Tacombi: 1) They serve fresh pressed juices, something not common here; 2) Their amazing Salsas available in all the tables. Do not underestimate them.

Address: 267 Elizabeth Street (between Houston and Prince Street).

2. NY Dosas – Before I talk about this place – which is one of the most classic and famous food trucks in NY – let me explain a little bit what a dosa is. Dosa is a type of pancake from the South of India. It is somewhat similar to a crepe in appearance. Another interesting fact is that they are made from fermented batter, usually from rice and black gram.  There is a wide variety of types of dosas – one of the most famous is called Masala Dosa, which is a stuffed dosa with lightly cooked potatoes, fried onions, and spices. Given this context, now we can talk about NY Dosas – or, Thiru Kumar’s dosas, the dosas of the famous “Dosas Man”. The cart belongs to an Indian gentleman who is in Washington Square Park every day (except Sundays) since 2001.  My recommendation here is the Special Pondicherry Dosa, with one or two Samosas as a side. Another classic is the Masala Dosa accompanied by the “Vegan drumstick” on the sugar cane stick. Dosa’s man cart is there from Monday to Saturday, from noon to around 4:00 p.m or till they run out ingredients. Ideally, arrive there before 2:00 p.m. to ensure that the cart has not run out of some options. Lines can easily take half an hour. But the wait is totally worth it. It’s a classic among all NYU students. Another tip is to also check NY Dosas’s Twitter account to make sure the food cart is in Washington Square Park.

Address: 50 Washington Sq S (south western end of Washington Square Park).

3. Despanã – Despanã is a company that supplies New York with food products imported from Spain. The place also has an area where some food options are served, the tasty Tapas Café.  My recommendations for a quick bite here are the “Tortillas” or the “Bocadillos”. The tortillas, a Spanish omelette made with eggs and potatoes fried in oil. My favorite is the “Tortilla Picante”. But if you do not like spicy foods, I recommend the “Tortilla Idiazabal”. Bocadillos at Despanhã Tapas Café are sandwiches made with ingredients imported from Spain – also available for purchase on the spot. They are served in the traditional ciabatta bread. Here, I recommend the “warm” options. Among them, I love the Chorizo one.  Another super cool thing at Despanã, if you’re in NY during the summer, is the famous Paella on Saturdays. Tickets cost $ 15 for the paella only or $ 18 for paella + a bottle of Mahou beer. Even if you do not eat at Despanã, it’s worth exploring the market, full of delicious product options and delicious Spanish specialties such as wines, chorizo, ham and cheeses.

Address: 408 Broome Street (between Lafayette Street and Cleveland Place).

4.  Berimbau do Brasil – It’s a great choice for those who work nearby. The atmosphere is very relaxing and the attendants super friendly. Also, the food is very well prepared and the prices – especially at lunch during weekdays – are excellent for NY. The Berimbau menu manages to gather a little of each Brazilian culinary delight. My favorite entrees here are the “Strogonoff de Frango” (seasoned strips of Chicken breast, fresh cream, tomatoes and mushroom, rice, potato sticks)  and the “Bife acebolado” (Top Sirloin cut topped with sautéed onions, rice, beans, and fries). For vegetarians, I strongly recommend the “vegetariano” (Black beans, garlic rice, sautéed collard greens, fried eggs and fried banana in breadcrumbs).

Address: 43 Carmine St (between Bedford and Bleecker Street).