•Stay away from main attractions by 2-3 blocks.
•Eat where locals do (look at the visitors).
•Ask locals (hotel staff, taxi drivers — specifically: 'Where do YOU eat?').
•Apps: Yelp, TripAdvisor (filter by low prices), local blogs.
•Couchsurfing hangouts.
•Free walking tours by locals.
•Markets, not shopping malls.