Cheap food during my March '08 trip to Broadway -- Help!

Hey everyone. I'd like to enlist the help of some of my Broadway-loving friends with this question.

I'm planning a trip for me and my girlfriend in March 2008: Four musicals in three days! We're seeing "In the Heights," "Spring Awakening," "Xanadu" and (because I want to see Annaleigh Ashford) "Wicked."

We also got the cheapest hotel we could find within walking distance from the theaters.

As you can guess, that just about depleted our travel budget.

So my question is: What are some places we could eat in the area for really cheap? Anything but McDonald's (or any other lame national chain) would be great.

Thanks in advance for any info you could provide!

Lucky Burger (burgers, veggie burgers, turkey burgers, shakes, etc)....52nd btwn 8th and 9th. Look for the red and yellow exterior

Ray's Pizza on 8th! I always have to eat at that particular one when I am in NYC.

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Cheap for brunch - check out VNYL for sure.

Lord I'm gettin' HUNGRY!

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Me too BFB!! I am taking notes for the next trip in!

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p.s., we must meet up someday at the WestWay!

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Yes to Empanada Mama! A bit further up on 9th btw 55th and 56th is a great divey sushi bar Hayashi Ya. Lunch specials where u can get 3 rolls and soup for 7.30 total!

Where are u staying? There's also a cheap and fun burger joint within the Le Parker Meridien called Burger Joint! Cash only, burgers and fries only. Like 6 bucks or something crazy. Neat thing is it is tucked away inside a very posh hotel. The atmosphere is so completely different, like stepping into a time warp.

There's a great variety of stuff on 8th and 9th in Hell's Kitchen (btw mid 40's to mid 50's streetwise) that's noticeably cheaper than on 7th or Broadway.

Subway, McDonalds, Popeyes...they're all there...

yup.. youre right on 8th Avenue side.... those are cheap food in my vocabulary...
less than $10.00 including coffee afterwards.

I've been to Bread Factory Cafe! I remember the food being decent, but don't remember the price.

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I stayed at the Milford Plaza and if memory serves there was a little pizza hut nearby. I know you weren't looking for chain places but it really came in handy when I was walking back to my hotel hungry and didn't feel like searching for something edible. I think I got a personal pan pizza and a drink for under $10. It was last February so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

Also, does anyone know the name of this place and what street it's on? There was a little grocery store/deli type place near David Letterman's show. They have a buffet sat up and they also had a grill where they made you sandwiches. I got a really good spicy chicken sandwich I think it was around 6 or 7 dollars. I was in a hurry so I didn't look around to see what all they offered. I'd like to go back there (I'm hoping to come back to NYC this summer).

Aside from breakfast specials, try to steer clear from the diners, they can be pretty pricey.