Cheap Eats

Last week, I shared some of the highs and lows from the Times Union’s Best of the Capital Region readers’ choice poll. And I’d argue the results were some of the best yet. I was thrilled that Stacks Espresso finally found its way onto the list. But there are still some best of class local businesses that are still widely unknown to the newspaper’s readership, and that is a shame.

But the fact that neither Mrs. London’s, Crisan, nor TC Paris are on the list for Best Bakery pales in comparison to the fact that the Best Cheap Eats category is dominated by chain restaurants.

One of the reasons the FLB was created was to help spread some knowledge of issues concerning food around the Capital Region. An ongoing mantra has been that good food does not need to be expensive. The corollary to that is that inexpensive food doesn’t have to be mass-produced dreck.

This region is filled with great places to get cheap eats. And to its credit, the number one pick from the TU Poll was Gus’s Hot Dogs. Personally, my favorite place for the Capital Region’s signature mini dog is Famous Lunch, but to each their own. We’ve got lots of places for mini dogs. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

I’ve long claimed that the mini dog is upstate New York’s answer to the taco. An intensely flavored food that’s inexpensive and can be consumed in a couple of bites. But you know what? We’ve also got some legit street-style tacos at La Mexicana in Schenectady. I’ll sing the praises of its carnitas taco until I’m azul en la cara. But for $2 a pop, that’s cheap eats right there.

You know what else is cheap, foldable, and edible while standing? The New York Style pizza slice, of course. And we have so many slice shops scattered around the Capital Region. My two personal favorites are the I Love on Upper Union Street in Schenectady, and Marisa’s Place in Guilderland. The truth is that I only fold my slices when I’m eating them on the go, but both of these places have adequately thin and crispy bottom crusts that you can eat your slice however you choose.

Bagels have been an inexpensive staple for my people in New York and beyond for decades. People love the ones from Uncommon Grounds, and after seeing Melinda’s side by side comparisons, I have a renewed appreciation for the everything bagels from this local coffee shop. My favorites still come from The Kosher Chopper in Colonie, around the intersection of 155 and Central Avenue. But Price Chopper’s Eastern Parkway location is where you want to go for the region’s best bialy.

On the subject of breakfast foods, there is always the egg and cheese on a hard roll. The mystery of the hard roll endures. Why is it called a hard roll when it is not hard? Sure, it’s not as soft as some of the more tender rolls produced by our local bakeries. But I’d say it’s more of a dry roll than a hard roll. Regardless, Eggy’s Place, the food truck off the beaten path in Albany’s warehouse district, is incredible. But as long as you stay away from Stewart’s, you can get fantastic versions of this sandwich from pretty much any deli or diner in the area.

There are other value sandwiches too. It’s been a few years since I treated myself to a frikadellen at Rolf’s pork store. But a sandwich of this crispy meatloaf patty was recently a paltry $2.50. And they would also be happy to sell a slice of their warm leberkäse on a roll for you to eat on the spot.

The newcomer to the European smoked meat scene, Chester’s Smokehouse, has a mini kielbasa bar, where you can snag some of their housemade smoked links for less than a buck a pop.

And once we open up the doors to ethnic foods, we’ve got an avalanche of cheap delights.

I’m at Hong Kong Bakery & Bistro all the time for the baked BBQ pork buns, which are only a buck and some change. The best thing at Flores Family Restaurant are the pupusas, which are only a couple of bucks each. For less a fiver you can get the idli sambar at Parivar, which combines a steamed lentil cake with a spicy lentil broth. The bolani at Afghan Kabob Express will stuff you with delicious spiced potatoes for a pittance. One of my favorite comfort foods is at Taiwan Noodle, where I get the fried wheat collar—which resembles a savory cruller— to dip in a steaming bowl of fresh soy milk, for about $4. And with the arrival of Trinbago, we now have doubles in the Capital Region, which will set you back a paltry $2 for all their spiced chickpea deliciousness. We now even have a $5 banh mi thanks to Saigon Pearl in Albany. I’m tempted to include K-Plate on this list, since its six dollar bowls filled with Korean flavors are a fantastic value, but if we start opening up the category to things over $5, this list will go on forever.

Especially since cheap eats can come in all forms too. They don’t have to be savory things. I think about the $5 slice of cheesecake and a coffee at Cheesecake Machismo. Isn’t the best part about being an adult getting to eat cheesecake for lunch?

And if you really want cheap eats to be burgers, we’ve got that too. Just head over to Jumpin’ Jack’s in Scotia or Jack’s Drive-In in Wynantskill, and they’ll hook you up with some of that old-fashioned seasonal burger joint loving. I’ll put these places up against the national burger chains any day.

But all of this is off the top of my head. Surely there are places I’m forgetting. What else should make the list?