Cheap Eats - New York City Free and Dirt Cheap - page 40

Little Poland DINER/POLISH The old-time Eastern European flavor of the East Village is fading, but fortunately
this greasy-spoon stalwart is hanging on. Some dozen hearty soups are less than $4 a bowl, and pirogi are eight
for $8.25. For dinner, a breaded pork chop bigger than its serving plate is $10.95, and if you're in before noon,
you can get a full array of breakfast specials (starting with two eggs, potatoes, toast, juice, and coffee for $4.25). If
you can't fill your stomach here for $11, perhaps you should consider a career as a competitive eater.
200 Second Ave., btw. 12th and 13th sts. 212/777-9728. Daily 7am-11pm. Subway: L to First or Third Ave.

Otafuku JAPANESE Ideal drunk food can be found at this tiny takeout in the East Village—though the sober will
be equally sated. The dishes are hot, flavorful, filling, and decidedly odd. The mainstays are okonomiyaki, a pizza-
shaped pancake fried up with shredded cabbage, bonito flakes, and a choice of meat; and takoyaki, dumplings
made of batter and octopus, topped with some of the above pancake fixin's. At $3 to $8, everything's cheap and
large enough to share. Yakisoba (fried noodles with squid and shrimp) is only $7. This is sidewalk food.

The place is the size of a closet, and aside from a bench in front, there's no seating.
236 E. 9th St., btw. Second and Third aves. 212/353-8503. Mon-Thurs 1-10pm; Fri-Sat noon-11pm; Sun noon-10pm. Subway: 6 to Astor
Place; N/R to 8th St.