Eating lunch in Midtown on a daily basis can be a daunting task. We did it for many years, and know the struggle well. You don’t want to spend a lot of money, but you don’t want to eat sh*tty food. What’s the solution? Well, you’re not seven anymore, so you probably don’t pack a lunch. Instead, you venture out into the world and wander. Usually, nothing good comes of it. Because this is Midtown.
The food options in this area have actually been improving over the last few years (thanks, Little Beet), which is why we’re back with this new update on our Midtown Lunch Guide. But while there are plenty of good new spots to get into your rotation, there are still so many more awful things. Things like deli steam tables with weird looking meatballs on them that nobody ever eats – except you know someone eats those things. Why else would they keep putting them out? On second thought, don’t think about that, and remain blissfully unaware.
Instead, simply follow this handy guide to our favorite spots for lunch in Midtown, which includes excellent options from low brow to high brow and everything in between. May your sad sandwich days and scary meatball days finally be behind you.
Midtown West
Burger Joint
You can’t have an argument about the best burgers in the city and not have Burger Joint in the mix. This place gets slammed during high lunch hours, but by 3pm it’s dead. Eat a late breakfast.
Le Parker Meridien Hotel, 119 W. 56th St.
The Marshal
This little American restaurant is one of Hell’s Kitchen’s best kept secrets – at least until we can change that. The food here is all sourced from NY state, and the sandwiches they serve for lunch are fantastic. Don’t tell anyone. Just kidding, tell everyone.
628 10th Ave., near 45th St.
The Little Beet
Why did it take so long for someone to figure out that healthy food would do well in Midtown? The Little Beet is reaping the rewards of being first in, serving excellent food that won’t kill you slowly to long lines of people every day. It’s worth the wait.
135 W. 50th St., near 7th Ave.
Between The Bread
Between The Bread is an all time Infatuation favorite lunch destination. It’s basically a high level catering operation with a takeout counter. They serve excellent, simple entrees with delicious sides. Count on at least two fish options, some sort of glazed chicken thing, sandwiches, and soups.
145 W. 55th St., near 7th Ave.
Radiance Tea House
A weird Buddhist bookstore that actually serves pretty decent dumplings with a side of inner peace. Inner peace and ponzu sauce, actually.
158 W. 55th St., near 7th Ave.
Topaz
Excellent Thai food that can be a pain in the ass to procure – the restaurant is always busy and delivery is slow. But it’s always worth it. Order Drunken Noodles and Panang Curry.
127 W. 56th St., near 6th Ave.
Betony
Did you do something fucking awesome today? Maybe you sold your company? Maybe you sold a vaccum cleaner to someone? Is that what sales people do? Whatever your victory, celebrate it at Betony, which does a two course lunch for $38. If you’re good at business, you’ll understand that’s a steal.
41 W. 57th St., near 6th Ave.
Xi’an Famous Foods
Cheap, spicy, excellent Chinese food that will save you from the monotony of the daily salad. It will also do bad things to your stomach, so we’ll call it a draw? Just know what you’re getting yourself into.
2 W. 45th St., near 5th Ave.
Num Pang
If you don’t know Num Pang yet, it’s time you introduced yourself and your dorky coworkers to Cambodian sandwiches. They’re a lot like a bahn mi, only better.
148 W. 48th St., near 6th Ave.
Melt Shop
A good grilled cheese never hurt anyone, and Melt Shop’s grilled cheese sandwiches are about as good as it gets. This isn’t exactly health food, but it’s a good place to have at your disposal on the Thursday after a Wednesday night got out of hand.
135 W. 50th St., near 7th Ave.
Poulette
Delicious rotisserie chicken from a very clean, very to-go friendly little restaurant. We like Poulette because the food is always fresh and the prices are reasonable.
790 9th Ave. Ave., near 53rd St.
The Halal Guys
The original spot, the original halal guys. Everyone else is an impostor (even though it all sort of tastes the same).
53rd St. & 6th Ave., Southeast corner
Glaze Teriyaki
Teriyaki chicken, salmon, or steak, in a bowl with rice and greens. For $10, you probably can’t eat better than this in Midtown. Glaze is a home run.
60 W. 56th St., near 6th Ave.
Gotham West Market
Ivan Ramen, Court Street Grocers, The Cannibal, and Ample Hills, all under one roof. Yes, that roof is all the way over on 11th Avenue, but it’s worth the cab ride. Or walk if you’re feeling frisky/want to burn some more calories before you eat a bucket of ice cream for lunch.
600 11th Ave., near 45th St.
Totto Ramen
If you have an hour to kill waiting to sit down for a weekday lunch, congrats on whatever situation you’ve worked out for yourself. Spend some time in line at Totto Ramen. It’ll be worth it. For the rest of us working stiffs, maybe hit Danji down the street.
366 W. 52nd St., near 9th Ave.
Danji
Excellent, modern Korean food in a small, slightly uncomfortable environment. Danji is not the kind of place you choose for a business meeting, unless your business is eating a giant bowl of bimbimap alone while you plot some power moves.
346 W. 52nd St., near 9th Ave.
Soba Nippon
Soba Nippon has their own field of buckwheat (somewhere). That’s how serious they are about their soba noodles, and it shows. The soba salad at this Midtown classic is one of our favorite daytime meals ever, and it’s cheaper if you get it to go. That said, it’s still not cheap ($14).
19 W. 52nd St., near 5th Ave.
Ippudo
Pork buns, a bowl of Akamaru Modern, and maybe a Sapporo. Don’t go back to work after this, go to sleep.
321 W. 51st St., near 8th Ave.
Midtown East
Little Collins
An Australian coffee shop that does great sandwiches and salads – just do it to go. There are only a few seats in the shop itself, and it’s usually mayhem in there.
667 Lexington Ave., at 56th St.
Aburiya Kinnosuke
A serious lunch for serious people. Aburiya Kinnosuke is a very authentic Japanese restaurant, and we’re not talking sushi. We’re talking fully composed meals that someone spent more time putting together than you’ve spent doing…anything. You’re going to want a reservation and enough time set aside to enjoy it.
213 E. 45th St., near 3rd Ave.
Pizza By Certe
This is a pizza spot run by the owners of the solid catering deli, Certe. It’s surprisingly good. It is not, however, healthy. Proceed as you wish.
132 E. 56th St, near Lexington Ave.
Glaze Teriyaki
Why there is a second Glaze Teriyaki mere blocks from the one we previously mentioned, we do not know. Don’t question the good things in life.
638 Lexington Ave., at 54th St.
Crave Fishbar
This Midtown East staple does a solid lunch, especially if you’re meeting people and need a nice, laid back environment with good food from which to discuss your mergers and acquisitions. As you should with any big meeting, end it with a cookie.
945 2nd Ave., near 50th St.
Uncle Gussy’ Food Truck
On an average day with decent weather, it’s not uncommon to see 40+ people standing in line to get some Greek food from this truck, and for good reason. The food is excellent, and $7 will get you a lamb platter that you might be embarrassed to finish in front of your coworkers, except for the fact that you don’t give a f*ck.
51st St. & Park Ave.
Totto Ramen East
An east side fascimile of the original Totto Ramen, only this one has more space. That means you have a (somewhat) better shot at getting a seat.
248 E. 52nd St., at 2nd Ave.
The Map