Time your New York City vacation right and you may be able to eat your way through the Big Apple without going broke.

There's no more authentic way to start your day in NYC than with a fresh-baked bagel, such as at the bohemian Murray's Bagels in Greenwich Village. Get in line with the locals and make up your mind among standard flavors ($1 each) and organic options ($1.35 each) and supplemental spreads. If you're in the mood for a bona fide diner experience, the East Village's Stage Restaurant is rich in character and couldn't be more humble in ambience and prices, slapping down filling plates of eggs and bacon. Veselka is another East Village favorite, serving Ukrainian soul food (blintzes, potato pancakes, borscht) 24 hours a day.

For lunch, try the sandwich of the moment: the Vietnamese bánh mì, sold at a number of take-out shops. Spicy-sweet meat (pork, beef, chicken, steak, pâté) in a crisp baguette runs under $10 at Num Pang, near Union Square; Nicky's Vietnamese Sandwiches in the East Village and in Downtown Brooklyn; and at Baoguette's three branches around town. Need a hit of sugar to make it through the afternoon? Take a chocolate-chip-cookie break at the sublime City Bakery, off of Union Square.

See website for a listed of all restaurants.