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Chinatown is great for noodle soups etc... I like the Roast Pork Wonton Noodle Soup from Great NY Noodletown (Bayard and Bowery).

Also, lots of great ramen places in the East Village area (Ippudo, Momofuko, etc)

I go once in a while in NY- as a supermarket, its nothing special, but they have almost any cut of meat you can think of, or they have someone there that can cut it for you. the quality is okay - not amazing, but definitely acceptable.

to quit complaining about it being to difficult to make healthy and tasteful meals and realize that you can make a satisfying delicious meal in less than a half hour

I used to like the one's at Joe's Shanghai and Joe's Ginger on Pell (the other locations in manhattan aren't so good) but I feel like they're not as good as they used to be. Shanghai Cafe on Bayard is really good for soup dumplings, but I don't think I've had anything else there. Joe's Shanghai in Flushing still remains as my favorite.

Otto does a quick one (i think its 2 hours, and about $45). Its not a great "course" (there's not too much discussion of the wine) but you get to try about 8 wines with a few snacks. its a great thing to try on a sunday afternoon with nothing to do.

Great Burrito on 23rd and 6th is open 24-hours. I've never had the pizza there (it looks okay - probably an average slice) but their tortas/burritos/tacos/etc are fantastic.

Shake Shack is definitely overrated. the burgers are good, but expensive for the meager 4oz patty or whatever it is. they won't serve them medium rare. it takes forever even when there is no line (still don't understand that). and overall the burger is just bland. the best thing about it is the bun. its worth a 10 minute walk from madison square park to go to resto for a real burger.

for the amount on money and the amount of time it takes, there are thousands of better places in the city to eat.

and what is with the 7-11 style cheese on the fries?

You can get it at the italian place in chelsea market on 15th and 9th. i think they sell small bottles for aorund $6

Houston's is by far the best chain restaurant burger around. The beef is excellent quality, and its always cooked perfectly

I mostly drink Green and White teas - Ten Ren Tea Company has a really good selection of all different teas and are high quality and good value.
http://www.tenren.com/
they have a few stores in the US, but they also do mail order.

Gui Zhou Chicken and Dan Dan Noodles from any of the Grand Sichuans - they're probably my favorite dishes in nyc. (8th st btwn 2nd and 3rd, 9th ave @ 24th street are my 2 favorite locations).

Pork Buns at Momofuku (1st and 10th i think)

Peter Lugers is pretty amazing for steak.

Soup Dumplings at Joe's Ginger or Joe's Shanghai are the best I've had.

Yaki Tori on 8th Street/St Marks is always fun and delicious (there's a few between 2nd and 3rd ave)

I've always been a fan of Fish on Bleeker St in the West Village. 1/2 dozen oysters and a beer for $8 cannot be beat.

I've searched but I think the only real options up there is an Applebees and a Fridays, both of which are pretty awful. I did once find a sushi place that was decent in Monroe (I think), but I can't remember the name of it (but it does exist). It was about a 15 minute drive from Woodbury Commons.

chinatown/bowery is the place to go. they have everything you could possibly need, all for very cheap and typically good quality. just walk from houston all the way down bowery and you'll pass a ton of places. then when you're finished, have a great meal in chinatown.