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🎭🌆 NYC on a Budget? YES, You Can! 🍽️🚕💃-2025

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Bluejeanfood

🎭🌆 NYC on a Budget? YES, You Can! 🍽️🚕💃

Small Bites Radio has been named Top Hospitality Shows on the Planet from 2020–2025, #Bluejeanfood.com named Top Philadelphia Best Philadelphia Lifestyle Blogs and Websites from 2021-2025, Best Philly Food Blogs and Websites 2023-25, Top Philly Food RSS Feeds 2024-2025, nominated by Metro Philly Newspaper 2022-25 Best of Philadelphia Arts & Entertainment, and WINNER of Metro Philly Newspaper Best of Philadelphia Arts & Entertainment in 2023 and 2024.

You don’t have to break the bank to have an unforgettable time in the Big Apple — I just spent a few amazing days in New York City, and between Broadway magic and incredible eats, it was everything you’d hope for and more — without the crazy price tag. 💸🙌

✨ First, let’s talk Broadway:
NYC Broadway Week is happening September 8–21, and it’s the perfect excuse to see a world-class show at a serious discount — 2-for-1 tickets! 🎟️
🎭 I highly recommend checking out Stranger Things: The First Shadow — a gripping, visually STUNNING theatrical experience that blends mystery, suspense, and mind-blowing effects. A must-see for fans and newcomers alike.

🍴Now onto the food — because NYC is just as much about the flavors as it is the lights:

🌭 Little Island Hot Dog Stand – NYC, NY Grabbed a quick bite while exploring Little Island Park, and even the hot dogs here were on point. Simple NYC-style dogs with that perfect snap.

🥘 Zoralie (Hell’s Kitchen) – NYC, NY A FANTASTIC no-frills, cash-only Dominican spot. I had the baked and stewed chicken with arroz, beans, and plantains — so hearty, comforting, and flavorful. Feels like home cooking in the best way.

🍱 i-Taste Express (Midtown) – NYC, NY Don’t sleep on this little spot. Crazy cheap combo meals that are surprisingly good — perfect if you’re catching a show or sightseeing nearby and want a fast, satisfying bite.

🌶️ Jasmine’s Caribbean Cuisine (Times Square area) – NYC, NY The jerk chicken here is 🔥🔥🔥. Full of flavor and spice, with that island-style warmth. A great sit-down spot with good vibes and even better food.

🥪 Mercado Little Spain – Jamón & Queso – NYC, NY Had the Jamón Ibérico sandwich, and WOW. Salty, savory, and totally satisfying. This whole market is a hidden gem — Spanish flavors, fun energy, and great for grazing.

🥯 Good Morning Breakfast Food Truck (Midtown) – NYC, NY Grabbed an overflowing turkey bacon, egg & cheese bagel from this street cart and it was everything you want in a NY breakfast — hot, messy, and totally delicious across the street from Virgin Hotel NYC.

🍦 Milk Bar – Stopped here for a soft serve dessert (hello cereal milk flavor!), and it did not disappoint. Sweet, nostalgic, and just the right size.

🍨 Gelatoville Gelateria Coffee & Bakery (Hell’s Kitchen) – A delightful little spot with house-made gelato, fresh pastries, and coffee. I had a scoop of gelato and it was creamy, flavorful, and super authentic. Whether you’re looking to cool off or just treat yourself, Gelatoville hits the sweet spot.

💡 Pro tip: Mix high and low. A little Broadway here, a little street food there, and you’ve got a weekend that’s both budget-friendly and totally unforgettable.

📍 NYC doesn’t have to be expensive to be amazing — explore the neighborhoods, eat like a local, and soak up the showbiz energy.
🎉 Celebrate the city that’s always making history — and right now, you can do it for less.

🩸🌕 New Release Alert – Just in Time for Halloween! 🌕🩸
In NYC we were also howling with excitement to celebrate the release of Fang ‘n Claw, the thrilling new middle-grade series by Richard DuBois, published by Young Dragons!

🐺 He’s one full moon away from becoming the monster he fears…

Seventh grade is rough… especially when you’re a werewolf. Every full moon, 12-year-old Carl Lamont becomes something wild, dangerous—and hunted. After a tragic accident forces Carl and his dad to flee to the one place his mom warned them never to go—Blairstown, New Jersey—Carl discovers that starting over isn’t as easy as it seems.

🌲 The woods whisper secrets.
🚷 People are disappearing.
👁️ Something is watching…

Carl’s not the only werewolf in town—and the others don’t follow the rules. Faster. Stronger. Hungrier. They’re coming for him, for his friends, and for anyone who gets in their way.

If Carl wants to survive, he’ll have to stop hiding…
and start hunting.

🕷️ Perfect for fans of spine-tingling suspense and supernatural thrills, Fang ‘n Claw is the ultimate Halloween read for brave young readers (and adventurous grown-ups too)!

🎃 Grab your copy now—before the next full moon rises… 🐾

Click this link to purchase – https://a.co/d/bnJ8clb or CLICK HERE

#FangNClaw #RichardDuBois #YoungDragonsPublishing #WerewolfReads #HalloweenBooks #MiddleGradeHorror #SpookySeasonReads #NewRelease #NYCBroadwayWeek #NYConABudget #StrangerThingsOnStage #EatLikeALocal #NYCFoodie #HiddenGemsNYC #SupportLocal #DominicanEats #CaribbeanCuisine #StreetFoodGoals #BroadwayMagic #AffordableNYC #NYCAdventures

Again, in 2024, Small Bites with Donato Marino and Derek Timm of Bluejeanfood.com was blown away by winning the Best of the Best in the Philadelphia Region Arts & Entertainment category out of 80,000 votes tallied in total through Metro Philly’s Best of Philadelphia for 2024. Truly appreciate everyone who voted for us. We would be thrilled if you voted for us again in 2025. 

As usual don’t forget to listen to the #1 listed “Food Radio Show Philadelphia” and the #1 listed “Food Radio Show South Jersey” Small Bites Radio. For a list of guests who have appeared on the show and more information click below:

www.bluejeanfood.com/smallbitesradio

#foodradioshowphiladelphia

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Shake Shack, Philadelphia

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Bluejeanfood

Shake Shack – Philadelphia, PA

Burgers, burgers, burgers everywhere in Philly these days. Directly across the street from Shake Shack is Iron Chef Jose Garces’s famed Village Whiskey, 500 Degrees a burger joint a few blocks away on Sansom Street, another Iron Chef Bobby Flay’s endeavour Bobby’s Burger Palace in University City, and the better than fast food Five Guys Burgers on Chestnut Street.
As much as Philadelphians hate most things related to New York, NYC just has some things that we simply can’t compete with. For example the Yankees have more championships than I will ever see the Phillies accumulate in three of my lifetimes. As much as people like to say Philadelphia is the birthplace of freedom with relics like the Liberty Bell, you really can’t compete with a large majority of this nation’s history marking the sight of the Statue of Liberty and arriving on Ellis Island as their first glimpse of America. Finally, as much as I love Rittenhouse Square as much as the next person, do I really have a fighting chance putting it up next to Times Square and Broadway, I think not.
With that being said, will a New York burger joint have what it takes to win us over to the ways of New York and does Philly have room for all these burger places? Yes and no.

Shake Shack arrives in Philly

Yes, I think Philly has room for another burger place as each one is different, and I do not think any single one of them is the be-all end-all one stop shop to get exactly what anything you would want at any moment. No, Shake Shack was good, but sure as hell isn’t going to convert Philly’s finest to lust for things related to New York.
Shake Shack’s bread and butter is their burgers and while the Smoke Stack Burger was delicious, it was not earth shattering. The good points are that with the Shake Shack special sauce provided a nice balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy, but was lathered on a little too thick and sogged the roll too much. The cherry peppers is a nice touch, but once again a heaping pile created a mess and distraction to the meal instead of an enhancement. The bacon, could not have been more perfect though. Exact crispness, taste, and size. The burger size was slightly small for my taste. If I had my way, I would increase burger size slightly, only put a touch of special sauce and cherry peppers or just give me the burger with the add-ons on the side for me to correctly portion it and prevent a soggy mess.

Here’s lunch

The crinkle cut fries were cooked to perfection with the cheese sauce simply phenomenal. As opposed to the caramel apple custard which was just slightly above average in taste, but not average in price for an infant sized serving of custard.
All in all, Shake Shack is a welcome addition to the Philadelphia burger scene. You have heard it from here though, that by no means is it the messiah that you would think it is on that hipster website, oh I want to be cool and relevent and have my friends think I am important so I post snarky reviews on Yelp makes Shake Shack out to be. The prices are slighty high, but then again you are only a block away from Rittenhouse Square where you will pay ten times more for a quick-lunch then you would here, and still not be full or satisfied eating at those other establishments. For me, Shake Shack fits like a glove for the common burger lover in this location, but may not be so great at a different one.
Will I go back? Yes

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