Budget Brooklyn and Queens, From a Free Garden to Dumplings

3.9 (23)

95 Malcolm X Boulevard

Recycled concrete pavers and a boardwalk run through this 3,200-square-foot Brooklyn plot, once known as the Lola Bryant Community Garden. Green walls, shallow terraces, trellises, and an arbor shape the restored grounds, a Little Free Library sits on site, and the bulletin board lists open hours.

3.8 (129)

Mon – Thu, 11:00 – 21:30; Fri – Sat, 11:00 – 22:30; Sun, 12:00 – 21:30

22-20 154th St, Whitestone, NY 11357, USA

Made-to-order Chinese classics come hot and fresh at Green Garden in Whitestone, Queens, with generous portions and thin-skinned dumplings that longtime patrons praise for value. Reviews are mixed, with reports of bland flavors and incorrect orders, and cooking takes at least 15 minutes.

3.7 (47)

Mon, Wed – Sun, 10:30 – 21:00

81-30 Broadway

Elmhurst dim sum, spicy chili oil wontons, and mini buns anchor the menu at Hi Fry. Coconut milk ice jelly has built a following, mango sago adds another dessert, and a spin of the wheel offers a chance at free food. Orders take 10 to 15 minutes.

4.8 (746)

Mon – Sat, 11:00 – 19:30

963 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA

Generous portions of braised pork and potstickers fill plates at A-Pou's Taste, a Taiwanese restaurant on Grand Street in Brooklyn known for value combo specials. A relaxed host keeps the homey dining room and takeout line moving, and cash or Venmo earns a discount over credit cards.