Pearl Club

Best Lunch Spots in New York City

Recommendations/
New York City/

Looking for delicious lunch spots in New York City? Look no further! From trendy cafes to iconic delis, NYC offers a plethora of dining options to satisfy any craving. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal, this guide will help you discover the best lunch spots in the Big Apple. Wondering where to find the best New York-style pizza for lunch? Keep reading to find out!

1. JG Melon, New York City

Jg Melon Table

Green and white table cloths, cottage fries, cheeseburgers, and Bloody Mary's attract a local New York crowd. Cash only. Worth saying again, JG Melon is known for its burgers - start there, then branch out.

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2. Ruby’s Café, New York City

Ruby's

Coffee and cuisine made with Australian culinary influence, and fresh local produce. Open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their Bronte Burger has generated a name for itself, though any dish hits the mark.

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3. French Louie, New York City

French Louie - Food and drink

Creative French-American fare served in a sleek setting. Also a popular venue for weekend brunches. Try to grab a seat on the backyard patio. Equally as good for a meal among friends as it is for date night.

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4. Jack's Wife Freda, New York City

Jack'S Wife Freda Food

Lively bistro with a unique, yet not intimidating, menu with a touch of Middle Eastern flair. Locations in Soho, West Village, Williamsburg, and Chelsea. Worth the wait - eat, then stay for drinks.

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5. Rabbithole, New York City

Rabbithole Food

Brooklyn-based restaurant best known for its brunch menu. Rustic and super casual. Regardless of its brunch and lunch popularity, Rabbithole stays open into the night - so turn up whenever.

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6. Fedoroff's Roast Pork, New York City

Fedoroff's Roast Pork - Food 1

Self-explanatory eatery - the place to go for South Philly sandwiches. Satisfy any roast pork, cheesesteak, or hoagie cravings. The space is compact and unpretentious - here, food is the focus.

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7. 12 Chairs Cafe, New York City

12 Chairs Table

12 Chairs started as a small neighborhood café, and has become a New York hot spot. Visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Coming here for group dinners can turn into a party. Enjoy food, drinks, and music - bar hop after.

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8. Colonia Verde, New York City

Colonia Verde - Table

Cozy restaurant in Fort Greene specializing in Latin American food. The duck confit tacos are a menu highlight, but the brunch offerings are standout too. Visit for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Enjoy the rustic greenhouse aesthetic.

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9. Shuka, New York City

Shuka - Plates of food

Eastern Mediterranean restaurant serving brunch, lunch, and dinner. Visit with friends and share dishes tapas style - from grilled kebabs and shawarma to shakshuka and pitta spreads. Enjoy drinks in the back garden too.

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10. Two Hands, New York City

Two Hands

A community-focused café that strives to create nutritious, simple, and delicious food inspired by the Australian coastal lifestyle. Come for a quick breakfast, or stay and work. Locations throughout New York City.

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11. Xilonen, New York City

plant based tacos

Vegan and vegetarian Mexican cafe serving coffee, colorful dishes, and beautiful cocktails on the corner of McCarren Park.

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12. Spring Cafe Aspen, New York City

Spring Cafe

Organic, nourishing vegetarian foods with vegan and gluten-free options. Packaging is compostable, and the food is cooked on cookware that is free from aluminum and other harmful metals; the cafe is even built with non-toxic materials.

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13. Cafe Colette, New York City

Cafe Colette - Table

Popular brunch venue but equally appropriate for a morning coffee or evening meal. Using locally-sourced ingredients, Colette's New American dishes take inspiration from world cuisines. Urban jungle meets vintage vibes.

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14. Chavela's, New York City

Chavela' S Door

Energetic and lively, diners here feel as if they're in the heart of Mexico instead of Brooklyn, just as head chef and Mexico City native Arturo Leonar intended. Brunch is available weekends and weekdays, so you never have to miss out.

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15. Reunion, New York City

Reunion - Plate of food

Israeli dishes served in a light-filled setting. The falafel hummus, Yemenite pancakes, and breakfast pita are great starting points for brunch eats. Explore the dinner menu if visiting later. Drinks aplenty - from coffee to cocktails.

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16. Pig Beach, New York City

Pig Beach - Meat

Indoor-outdoor barbecue house located in Queens. Unpretentious and hearty eats - from smoked meats to grilled cuts and ample sides. The huge space can easily accommodate large groups. They also sell sauces and seasonings.

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17. Gertie, New York City

Gertie - Bagel

Gertie's motto, "Good food every day," is an apt evaluation of the brunch eatery. Alongside serving fresh bagels, sandwiches, and other comfort foods, the venue supports its community as a non-profit kitchen by distributing meals.

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18. Fairfax, New York City

Fairfax - Food and drink

All-day eatery with a small but impressive menu - the lunch-menu burger is often put in the discussion of being New York's best. Walk-ins are welcome but make a reservation ahead of time to secure the best indoor and outdoor tables.

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19. Cheeky Sandwiches, New York City

Cheeky Sanwiches - Food 1

Super casual sandwich kitchen in a tiny storefront. An ideal spot for a quick bite. The menu is relatively compact but their buttermilk chicken is a reliable choice if decision paralysis hits. Coffee and tea are on offer too.

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20. Bobwhite Counter, New York City

Bobwhite Counter Food

Independent fried chicken eatery located within Manhattan's Alphabet City - a second branch exists across the Hudson in Jersey. Boasts a casual vibe. The spicy chicken sandwich comes highly recommended.

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21. Edith's , New York City

Vegetarian sandwich

Small counter-service sandwich shop. Their frozen coffee has a cult following itself.

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22. Nom Wah Tea Parlor, New York City

Nom Wah

Made-to-order dim sum and dumplings since 1920, housed within a vintage parlor. Busiest during lunch hours, but try here any time of day - they offer a good drinks menu too. As the name would suggest, try a premium tea.

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23. Westville, New York City

Westville

Health-oriented American menu with an emphasis on vegetable dishes. Westville is a cozy place with a number of locations throughout New York. Operates using a market-style menu with a constant rotation of 20+ dishes.

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24. Barney Greengrass, New York City

bagels, lox, and other foods on a wooden cutting board

Historic Jewish deli, the 'Sturgeon King,' where waiters serve platters of smoked fish and scrambled eggs with lox. The bustling room is unapologetically old-school—Formica counters, famously blunt service, and cash-only on weekends.

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25. Pastrami Queen, New York City

a ham and cheese sandwich with pickles and potato chips

Old-school kosher-style deli serving overstuffed pastrami sandwiches on rye bread. The space is small and unassuming; expect to squeeze in for a table.

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26. Forty Carrots, New York City

black and white ice cream sundae

Spacious seventh-floor Bloomingdale's cafe serving a steady lineup of midday salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Most orders end with a cup of the original recipe frozen yogurt, piled high in thick, tart swirls.

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27. The Russian Tea Room, New York City

an ornately decorated room with a throne

Ornate, multi-level dining room next to Carnegie Hall, filled with red leather banquettes, gold fixtures, and year-round Christmas decor. The menu is classic Russo-Continental – think borscht, caviar service, and formal afternoon tea.

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28. COMPTON'S, New York City

a sandwich on a plate next to a can of soda

Casual sandwich counter stacking massive, messy subs with fried chicken, burrata, and house vodka sauce. Mini arcade games sit on the counter to pass the time while waiting on heavy lunches and hangover cures.

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29. Carnitas Ramirez, New York City

two tacos on a plate with pickles and onions

Strictly pork taqueria serving Mexico City-style carnitas cooked nose-to-tail in their own fat. Tacos filled with everything from ribs to snout get dressed at the self-serve salsa bar.

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30. Salt Hank’s, New York City

a sandwich with meat and cheese on a wooden cutting board

Compact West Village sandwich shop slinging massive prime rib French dips. The heavy sandwiches pack caramelized onions and a side of hot au jus, eaten right out front on the sidewalk before the fresh baguette gets soggy.

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31. The Sandwich Board, New York City

two chicken sandwiches on a wooden cutting board

Tiny Chinatown storefront turning global dishes into inventive breakfast and lunch sandwiches. Roast duck on bolo bao and Dominican wraps are made to order, with only a narrow ledge for eating inside.

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32. Manuela, New York City

a steak with onion rings on a plate

Hauser & Wirth’s SoHo canteen fills a reclaimed industrial space with museum-grade art and wood-fired American cooking. Seasonal plates hit tables beneath exposed ducts and works by Warhol, Condo, and Bourgeois.

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33. Mercado Little Spain, New York City

a restaurant with a sign that says little spain

Lively food hall offering a taste of Spanish fare, with wood-fired paella and churros as highlights. Authentic flavors shine in expertly prepared dishes.

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34. El Tepeyac Taqueria, New York City

a table full of mexican food on a wooden table

Warm, nine-table East Harlem taqueria turning out homestyle Mexican cooking and quick takeout bags. Plates of birria tacos with rich consommé and heavy al pastor burritos anchor the daily lunch trade.

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35. Zaab Burger, New York City

a burger with cheese and meat on a plate

Essex Market counter slinging American smash burgers spiked with northeastern Thai heat. Trays of sticky rice bun burgers and beer-battered fries move straight from the open kitchen to the busy communal tables.

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36. Son del North, New York City

a pizza on a marble table

Lower East Side burrito shop serving the Sonoran style: chewy flour tortillas filled with grilled meats and beans, but never rice. This is a tiny, takeout-focused spot where the smell of carne asada fills the street.

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37. Ramen By Ra, New York City

a bowl of ramen with meat and noodles

Intimate ramen counter fusing Japanese tradition with New York brunch classics like bacon, egg, and cheese. The handful of seats are reservation-only and must be booked well in advance.

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38. L’industrie Pizzeria West Village, New York City

four slices of pizza on white plates on a wooden table

Buzzing slice shop with a constant line for its thin-crust, New York-style pies. The famous burrata slice is the move – just expect to eat it standing at the counter.

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39. Fiores, New York City

a full moon rises over a city at night

Formal dining room in The Langham hotel, a Midtown spot for business lunches and special occasions. The menu draws from the Italian and French Riviera – think handmade pastas, seasonal crudo, and an award-winning wine list.

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40. Uncle Ray's Chicken Rice, New York City

asian food with rice and chicken on a wooden table

Compact Hell's Kitchen storefront serving traditional Hainanese chicken rice and coffee pork ribs. The 16-seat room runs fast and casual, sending out combo plates of poached and roasted chicken with ginger, chili, and dark soy.

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41. 1915 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles, New York City

three bowls of food on a table

Open kitchen where chefs pull fresh noodles to order for bowls of slow-simmered beef soup. The small space is always bustling, with fast service and a few coveted counter seats right in front of the action.

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42. King Dumplings, New York City

dumplings in sauce on a plate

Tiny, cash-only Chinatown corner shop turning out handmade pork and chive dumplings. Staff fold dough in plain sight while customers squeeze into the few seats or buy frozen bags of fifty.

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43. Kong Sihk Tong, New York City

Kong Sihk Tong 1

Bustling Hong Kong-style café serving street food classics and strong milk tea. The signature order is the Golden Lava French Toast – a thick, shareable slice with a molten custard filling.

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44. Pupusas Ridgewood, New York City

cheesy, cheesy, cheesy, cheesy, cheesy,

Counter-service window dishing up handmade Salvadoran pupusas with traditional fillings like chicharron and loroco flower. They're served hot off the griddle with curtido and eaten at a few simple tables set up on the sidewalk.

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45. Pizzaria Panina, New York City

a pizza on a plate with basil leaves on it

Neighborhood pizzeria turning out thin, crispy sourdough pies and house pastas like agnolotti. The warm, classy room is a local go-to for date nights and Italian cocktails.

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46. Salty Lunch Lady's Little Luncheonette, New York City

a sandwich on a plate

Old-fashioned lunch counter dishing up serious comfort food – think house-roasted turkey sandwiches and elaborate layer cakes. The cozy, tiled space gets crowded; expect long lines on weekends.

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47. Blue Sky Deli, New York City

a sandwich with meat, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles

East Harlem bodega serving the city's original chopped cheese sandwich from a 24-hour grill. Ground beef gets chopped with onions and melted American cheese, then pressed into a hero roll for takeaway only.

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