Starving Foodie Student

Some really good suggestions here. Finding good cheap food will be fun. I wouldn't worry too much because you will quickly find some favorites and you're in cheap food central. Also if you're a food network fan, a lot of places featured are in ny.

Some tips:
1. Eat your biggest meal at lunch and take advantage of lunch specials. A lot of places have lunch that is cheaper than their dinner with almost the same menu. Good lunchtime specials near NYU - Spice thai & Balucchi's Indian. Both have several locations. Spice gives you an appetizer with the meal. Balucchi's is 1/2 off at lunchtime.
2. Murray's bagels is on 6th Ave & 13th.
3. Au Bon Pain has several locations, one on Union Square. There's a Pret-a-Manger at Union Square as well.
4. Rainbow Falafel (17th near Union Sq). It's a hole-in-the-wall but they're good and have been there forever. Also there are street carts and mini chain stores like Maoz and Chickpea. You can get chicken or lamb over rice from the carts as well. Usually about $5-$7. Try with white sauce and hot sauce. A lot of the best carts are in midtown (see midtownlunch.com) but there are some downtown too.
5. For burritos, Chipotle is always good. It's a chain but ingredients are fresh. There are a few locations. (St Marks, 19th & broadway, 6th and 13th.) Cosmic Cantina (3rd Ave nr 13th) is also good. The Big Enchilada (E12 near University) for takeout. Mary Ann's (2nd and 5th st) when you are eating in.
6. Local delis. The one on 5th and 19th has specialty sandwiches like cajun chicken or bbq. Also there's udon, a noodle soup with chicken, beef or fish. Around $7.
7. Whole Foods & Au Bon pain for soup. Whole Foods Union Square. Pricey for some things but a good deal on other things. Their prepared food is ok. Salad bar can be pricey but it's good. Soup is very reasonable at Whole Foods.
8. Trader Joe's 14th street.
9. Blue Nine Burger (12th Street & 3rd Ave.) Also if you have spare time, walk to Madison Square Park for Shake Shack. Their burgers are famous.
10. I've never tried 99 Miles to Philly (next door to Blue Nine, across Cosmic) but it looks good. Cheesesteak.
11. Pie (4th ave bet 12th & 13th street) has pizza by weight. Also try Two Boots Pizza if you get a chance. Several locations, but not super close to the area you requested. (Bleeker & Broadway, Ave A and 3rd, 7th Ave & 11).
12. St Mark's (East 8th street) has lots of cheap food. For ex, Crif dogs (hot dogs), Baoguette (vietnamese sandwiches called banh mi), etc.
13. East 6th/1st ave in the east village for cheap Indian food. Panna 2 or Milon. (Both are 93 1st ave)
14. Chinatown (Mei li wah bakery for pork buns & banh mi saigon are both on mott street. Get some buns and banh mi and refrigerate for the next day. They're best fresh but will last a day. Or go to Vanessa's dumplings or Prosperity dumplings on Eldridge. Most people think of chinese food as beef with broccoli type dishes but you dont go to chinatown for that. Instead go for dumplings, noodles & buns. Or dim sum.
15. Groceries outside manhattan are cheaper. If you have a chance to go to Queens or Brooklyn, you'll see.

nc.foodie in Manhattan