10 Affordable Places for Difficult-to-Find Cuisines in NYC

"Laotian cuisine is almost nonexistent here. Khe-Yo is our sole exemplar as far as I can tell, a cozy restaurant in Tribeca. Much of the menu is on the pricier side, but you can dine exceedingly well at lunch for $15 or so. Your choices include a pair of Southeast Asian baguette sandwiches featuring either Berkshire pork or crisp hen of the woods mushrooms, a Laotian version of pho inspired by kinds from the Thai-Laotian border, and a series of satisfying bowls highlighting grilled tiger prawns, lemongrass chicken, or caramel salmon." - Robert Sietsema