This guide highlights affordable Michelin-starred restaurants in NYC, managed by Michelin Star chefs. It features places like Jeju Noodle Bar and Gotham Bar & Grill, known for their exquisite yet affordable dishes. These restaurants offer diverse cuisines, including Korean and contemporary American, curated by renowned chefs. This combination of affordability and culinary excellence makes them standout destinations.
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Jeju Noodle Bar
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While Japanese Ramen has rightfully taken the world by storm, not as much attention is paid to Ramyun, the Korean alternative. Jeju Noodle Bar serves up deliciously comforting noodle dishes that have been inspired by the flavours of Korea. For a bowl of this brothy noodle goodness, diners can expect to pay just $20, unless you opt for the premium Wagyu beef or truffle bibim ramyun, which will set you back around $40.
Jeju Noodle Bar’s menu is not only limited to noodles, however. You can also feast on appetizers like fried chicken, ribs and ceviche. The restaurant is located near to the city’s iconic Greenwich Village, making it easily accessible from almost anywhere in the city.
- Price: $
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 679 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10014
- Type of food: Korean
- Must-try: Gochu Ramyun, Jeju fried chicken, Wagyu Ramyun, Truffle Bibim Myun.
Gotham Bar & Grill
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Apart from having a name that instantly makes you think of Batman’s hometown, Gotham Bar & Grill packs all of the flavour, but none of the frills and is a fraction of the price of other Michelin Starred grills in New York. This is one of the finest affordable Michelin Star restaurants in NYC and serves up simple yet impressive dishes. While there’s no fuss at Gotham, it still makes for an elegant dining experience. Diners can take full advantage of the three-course lunch for under $50. Dinner service is slightly pricier, but it allows for a bit of customisation on the part of the diner.
This grill has been open since 1984, but in November 2021, changed owners and reopened. The restaurant is filled with books, music and an impressive art collection that all work together to create a very welcoming ambience within the space. The menu includes highlights such as Island Creek oysters, Black River Caviar, yellowfin tuna tartare, Elysian Field lamb and Painted Hills strip steak.
- Price: $$
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 12 East 12th Street, New York, NY 10003
- Type of food: Steakhouse, grill.
- Must-try: Berkshire pork belly, Arctic Char, Black River Caviar, Elysian Field lamb.
Kanoyama
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New York City has an almost overwhelming number of Japanese restaurants in it, but not all of them can carry the accolade of being one of the best affordable Michelin Star restaurants NYC can offer. However, Kanoyama stands out from the rest as it offers up exquisite Japanese cuisine at an affordable price point. This restaurant’s sushi and entrees are amongst the city’s freshest and are available for delivery, take-out or dine-in.
Kanoyama’s diverse menu includes entrees, appetizers, soups, oysters, salads and sake, all of which come with vegetarian alternatives too. The fish used in the production of this eatery’s sushi is sourced from Japan and the toro and uni from Maine and California. The menu carries an extensive sushi selection, as well as other highlights such as chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki and a tempura special.
- Price: $
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 175 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
- Type of food: Japanese, sushi
- Must-try: Hamachi carpaccio, shrimp tempura, sashimi.
Agern
Agern brings a bit of an edge to this list of affordable Michelin Star restaurants in NYC. While most dinners out tend to focus on the likes of Italian or Indian cuisine, Agern brings some of the finest Scandinavian dining to the Big Apple. Nordic countries are generally famed for their breathtaking landscapes, but their food is often overlooked. However, chefs Gunnar Gislason and Claus Meyer are here to change that.
When dining at Agern, you can choose between sampling a two-course set lunch for $40, or three courses for $48. Dinnertime will cost you a bit more, but you can choose between the tasting menu or going a la carte. The menu’s highlights include absolute treats like sourdough bread served with lobster.
- Price: $
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
- Type of food: Scandinavian
- Must-try: Tasting menu.
Gramercy Tavern
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Gramercy Tavern is one of America’s most beloved restaurants, which is exactly why we’ve included it in this list of affordable Michelin Star restaurants in NYC. This eatery serves up contemporary American cuisine and is well-known for its warm hospitality and unparalleled service, which has become an integral part of New York’s dining scene for the past two decades.
Spearheaded by Chef Michael Anthony, the menu is an ever-evolving one and is guided by seasonal ingredients. Gramercy Tavern’s doors were first opened in 1994 by restaurateur Danny Meyer. It is located just north of Union Square and has earned an impressive nine James Beard Awards, which include “Outstanding Restaurant” and “Outstanding Chef in America.” The menu includes favourites like mushroom pot pie, golden beet salad, beef tartare and beignets.
- Price: $
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 40 E 20th Street, New York, NY 10003
- Type of food: American
- Must-try: Brick pressed jerk chicken, duck meatloaf, chocolate chunk cookie.
The Clocktower
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Rounding off our list of cheap Michelin Star restaurants NYC has to offer is The Clocktower, which serves as something of an homage to our friends across the pond. This restaurant serves modern cuisine with “a palpable UK sensibility”. The menu has been crafted by Chef Jason Atherton and is served just a few steps away from the iconic Madison Square Park.
There are 90 seats in this restaurant, and you can bet your bottom dollar that during most dinner services, each seat is filled.
- Price: $
- Michelin stars: 1
- Address: 5 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
- Type of food: British
- Must-try: Dandelion salad, braised lamb shepherd’s pie, beef wellington.
Sebastian is a former hedge fund trader who worked only to indulge his true passion – food.
He has dined at over 240 Michelin-starred restaurants around the world, savoring culinary masterpieces and understanding the stories behind them. He now advises restaurants on menu design, decor and holistic diner experience.