Best of Manhattan 09: Eats and Drinks

Best $5 Lunch on the Upper East Side: Szechuan Kitchen
1518 First Ave. (betw. 79th & 80th), 212-249-4615
There are probably as many hole-in-the-wall Chinese “restaurants” in Manhattan as there are bodegas and pizza joints. They all offer pretty much the same fare, and if you’re in the mood for fried rice smothered in plastic packets of hot mustard, they’re the way to go. If, however, you want a truly flavorful, filling and jaw-droppingly cheap lunch, head to Szechuan Kitchen in Yorkville. The lunch menu has about 10 options for less than $5, and if you really want to splurge you can go for a shrimp dish for $5.50. Our recommendation is the diced chicken with bell peppers or chicken with cashews. If you decide to have them deliver, they’ll be ringing your buzzer before you’ve hung up.     —JP Read more