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Post Overview: Affordable Michelin star restaurants in New York City you won’t want to miss!

There are currently 69 Michelin Star restaurants in New York City. They come in a variety of flavors, sizes and perhaps most importantly – price tags.

But fret not, we’re here to go over the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City. By using the guide as a starting point and harnessing the power of Google we’ve done the heavy lifting so you don’t have to.

In this article we’ll briefly cover the restaurants’ history, their availability (how easy it is to get a table) and of course, their food. We believe good food is an experience, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of your rent.

I want this to be your one-stop shop when it comes to choosing which Michelin Star restaurants in NYC are most worth your time and money. So without further ado, why don’t we dive right in?

Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (The best neighborhoods for first timers +2 to avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s our favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.

Affordable Michelin Star Restaurants in New York City

Casa Enrique

Mexican food has found a way to embed itself into the fabric of the America, but it isn’t often viewed as fine-dining. We’ve all had drunken 2AM burrito runs, but that doesn’t mean the cuisine is only good when you’re tipsy.

In fact, one of the handful of affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City is a Mexican joint.

Casa Enrique in Long Island City, Queens is a star in its field. It took them a mere two years after opening to receive a Michelin Star in 2014, which it’s had a white-knuckle grip on since.

Chef Cosme Aguilar’s dishes like the carne asada, ceviche and chicken mole are absolute knockouts and the desserts? Let’s just say the tres-leches cake can bring people back to life, it’s reason alone to visit.

The most expensive item on the menu is a $42 lamb shank (Chamorro de Borrego al Huaxamole), but entrees can be had for as little as $24. The drink menu has a variety of cocktails in the $15-$18 range which is on par with the city and keeps Casa Enrique well within the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in NYC.

Midweek reservations are relatively easy to come by with a little flexibility. On the other hand you’re going to want to book at least two weeks in advance for a weekend table.

As an affordable Michelin Star restaurant in New York City Casa Enrique is a gem. It serves upscale Mexican classics in a setting that is still as welcoming as the small town Mexican restaurants found all across America.

Address: 5-48 49th Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101

Affordable Michelin Star Restaurants New York City., Casa Enrique

Tuome

The head chef behind Tuome, Thomas Chen, has some heavy hitting experience under his belt. He previously worked at three star restaurant Eleven Madison Park and two star Jean-Georges.

The years spent climbing the ladder paid off, because Tuome was (and is) ahead of its time. The restaurant has helped pioneer casual fine-dining, and its unpretentious approach is reflected in the fact Tuome is one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City.

The fare is best described as American with strong Asian influences. As a first generation Chinese-American, chef Chen does a beautiful job blending flavors.

The small dinner menu has an average entree price of $42, with the lone outlier being a $69 dish meant for two people. By no means is Tuome cheap – but assuming you get an appetizer, entree and dessert you’re roughly spending $100 a person which is affordable by Michelin Star (and New York City) prices.

Reservations are easy to get your hands on, and go live two weeks in advance. If you have an eye on a specific date I suggest making them as soon as they’re available, otherwise you’ll be able to get a table a few days in advance.

Address: 536 E 5th St, New York, NY 10009

Crown Shy

Chef James Kent deserves a medal, he’s responsible for two Michelin Star restaurants that reside within the same building. His restaurant Saga has two Michelin Stars, and Crown Shy has one.

Crown Shy is (much) more affordable than Saga, thus it’s a great entry point into the world of New York City Michelin Star restaurants. The menu is a-la-carte so you can order as much or as little as you’d like!

Channeling his New York upbringing, Kent keeps a stimulating hip-hop playlist in the background. The restaurant’s atmosphere is immaculate, intimate enough to feel exclusive but remaining unpretentious.

The complimentary bread Crown Shy brings to each table is worth the Michelin Star alone, seriously. I’d add my name to a mailing list if I could schedule regular deliveries of it.

As far as the menu goes, it rotates with the seasons and dinner entrees range between $20 and $45. The lone exception is the short rib, which clocks in at an imposing $105.

Impressively, Crown Shy reservations aren’t difficult to come by. In fact, at the time of writing this there are same day reservations available, not to mention the rest of the week has some sort of availability throughout.

Even the drink menu goes to show that Crown Shy is one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City. Sure, the cocktails are $20+ but you can just as easily order a $10 beer.

Address: 70 Pine Street Ground Floor, New York, NY 10005

Jeju Noodle Bar

Lovers of Asian cuisine need to make a bee line towards Jeju Noodle Bar, a Korean restaurant that’s also one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City.

In fact, Jeju Noodle Bar is the only Michelin Star noodle restaurant in the United States! They make ramyun, not ramen but the dishes are similar. noodles in broth with a plethora of mouthwatering additions.

Main courses are priced anywhere between $23 and $150, so there’s a lot of play. Minus the two most expensive dishes (wagyu ribeye and rack of lamb) the average entree price is $32 which is well under market-value for a Michelin Star restaurant in NYC.

But Jeju Noodle Bar is the kind of restaurant where you need to order appetizers too. For a lot of folks, they’re the star of the show! The Jeju fried chicken and Toro ssam bap have amassed a cult like following, for good reason.

As far as reservations go all I’m going to say is, good luck. Jeju Noodle Bar might be one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City, but it’s also one of the most popular.

You’ll need to keep an eye online and snatch up a table as they become available. The best way I’ve found to get a reservation is to add your name to the wait-list for a few different days and hope for a cancellation.

Address: 679 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10014

Semma

New York City’s only Michelin Star Indian restaurant, Semma, is a West Village hot-spot for good reason.

Semma shines a spotlight on South-Indian fare, which isn’t as common. With a booming popularity I’d be shocked if Semma doesn’t spark more South-Indian restaurants to start popping up around the city.

All dishes (save for one) are under $50, and there’s plenty to choose from that are sub-$40. The lone exception is the $125 Kanyakumari Nandu Masala, or Dungeness crab for two (which has limited availability so pre-ordering is strongly recommended).

The ambience is lively and can get a little loud but hey, you’re at one of the most affordable Michelin Starred restaurants in New York City so folks are excited.

As I mentioned, reservations are not the easiest to come by. You’ll likely have to play the waiting game, so add your name to the notify list and pray for a cancellation. Otherwise, you’ll likely be waiting for a month!

Pro-tip: Order the Gunpowder Dosa. It’s a rice and lentil crepe that will bring you to your knees!

Address: 60 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10011

Don Angie

Don Angie is everything you want in an (affordable) New York City Michelin Star restaurant. It’s exclusive, it’s vibrant, it’s charming and best of all, it’ll leave you stuffed.

The Italian restaurant is famous for their pasta, the lasagna stole my heart. It’s creamy, almost airy, and arguably one of the best pasta dishes in the city. Best of all, it’s only $68 and meant to be split between two.

Outside of the shareable plates, all other main dishes are under $40. You can reasonably stay under $100 a person, making Don Angie one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City.

This popular restaurant is also one-stop shop in every sense of the word, you don’t have to find a dessert shop after dinner. The tiramisu gives every bakery in NYC a run for their money!

The biggest drawback to Don Angie is that they’re one of the hardest reservations to land in NYC. I’ve had luck (once) by arriving as soon as the restaurant opened and adding my name to the queue for a late-night table.

Address: 103 Greenwich Ave, New York, NY 10014

Casa Mono

Casa Mono doesn’t immediately look like a Michelin Star restaurant, but the Spanish restaurant teaches us that appearances can be deceiving. Its had a Michelin Star restaurant for 14 years!

Like most Spanish restaurants, tapas are the name of the game at Casa Mono. This is one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City to visit with friends since you can load up on tapas and share!

All the dishes are $35 and under. The only one that isn’t is the Jamon Iberíco, which clocks in at $52. The “must-order” dish is the bone marrow with trout roe, you’ll be grinning from ear to ear after a single bite.

Reservations are relatively easy to get, there’s usually next day availability so long as your flexible on the time.

Address: 52 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003

Claro

Did we do something to deserve two affordable Mexican Michelin Star restaurants in New York City? Because Casa Enrique in Long Island City isn’t the only joint worth shouting-out.

Claro in Gowanus, Brooklyn is a border-line addicting restaurant, funneling Oaxacan flavors into a star-studded menu. The $80, four course prix-fixe menu is well within the price range of affordable Michelin Starred restaurants in NYC.

And as far as I’m concerned the $80 price tag is a highway robbery. Popular dishes like aguachiles, tostadas and tacos and mole are all allowed to shine with fresh ingredients and precise seasoning.

If you don’t want the prix-fixe menu you always have the option to sit at the bar for a la carte dining. No dish exceeds $32, which also qualifies Claro as one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City.

And last but not least, you may recognize Oaxaca as the Mexican state responsible for some of the best mezcal. Fans of the Mexican liquor will have a field day with all the options at Claro, and if you have a hard time deciding you can always order a curated mezcal flight for $56.

Reservations are readily available only a few days out, so visiting Claro is always a good idea.

Address: 284 3rd Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Oxalis

A stone’s throw away from Prospect Park, Oxalis is an American restaurant with a growing fan-base.

The reason it cracks this list of most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City is thanks to a $75 prix-fixe menu. You get three courses: a starter, a main dish and a dessert.

The caveat to the great pricing is that the prix-fixe menu is only available at the bar. For some folks that’s not a problem. But it’s not as romantic or special when you’re celebrating an anniversary or the like.

If you’d rather sit in the dining room you’ll have to opt in to Oxalis’ carte-blanche menu for $150. For those unfamiliar, carte blanche is when the chef surprises you rather than you ordering from a menu.

I’ll admit the prix-fixe menu is relatively small but what it lacks in options it makes up for in flavor! Plus, Oxalis is one of the easier Michelin Star restaurants in New York City to get into, reservations are only a day or two out.

Address: 791 Washington Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Gramercy Tavern

Gramery Tavern is not only one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in New York City, it’s one of the most iconic restaurants in the entire city.

Split in two sections, the tavern and the dining area, both spaces offer their own exclusive menus. I’ll also mention the dishes are curated with care and are prepared over a wood-fire grill.

The tavern is traditional American dining. You’ll find savory starters, satisfying entrees and innovative takes on classic desserts. In fact they have a caramelized cheesecake that will singlehandedly make you come back on more than one occasion.

Every iconic New York City restaurant has a signature dish and for Gramercy Tavern that’s their burger. A fresh patty combines with smoked onion aioli, bacon and cheese to create a burger that will reappear in your dreams. Pair that with the duck fat potato chips and it’s not hard to see why this is a beloved burger with a cult following.

The dining room has a seasonal menu that rotates based off the available produce from local markets. There’s a flat rate per person, regardless of which dish you order.

All this to say, whether you choose to dine at the tavern or in the dining room you’re in for a memorable meal at one of the most affordable Michelin Star restaurants in NYC. My piece of advice? Make reservations ASAP!

Address: 42 E 20th St, New York, NY 10003