We tried the top-rated cheap restaurants in New York City - and the winner was obvious

• We tried the New York Times' five highest-rated cheap restaurants.
• The offerings ranged from barbecue and Thai food to ramen and veggie burgers.
• While some weren't as impressive as we hoped, others offered bold flavor combinations at excellent prices.

The New York Times reviews an impressive variety of restaurants, from high-end Manhattan institutions where meals can cost thousands of dollars to small falafel shops where you can find a gyro for under $10.

But, most of the restaurants that receive stars from the Times' critics tend to fall on the more expensive end. Of the 274 restaurants that hold two-, three-, or four-star ratings (unlike traditional arts criticism, most restaurants don't receive stars, so a one or two-star rating is a positive designation), only five are labeled as "inexpensive" by the Times.

We went to all five, and while we were mostly impressed, a few didn't quite live up to their billing. We ranked the five best cheap restaurants in New York City, as designated by the Times.