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January 21, 2020 | by
Reviewed by real estate expert Jonathan Tootell
How can you find the best lunch in SoHo? With a dizzying number of options for lunch and brunch in New York City, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. If you have an office in SoHo and don’t have time to pour over Yelp reviews looking for the greatest local lunch-hour escape, this is the perfect post for you! From hidden gems to the most popular restaurants, we’re breaking down the best places for you to grab lunch in your neighborhood. So let’s hit those cobblestone streets and take a look at where you can get the best lunch in SoHo!
Known as a popular brunch spot specializing in bagels, Sadelle’s is also a great choice for a lunch away from the office. Sadelle’s has a brick-walled, vintage vibe, and a customer base that includes everyone from local hipsters to bargain hunters on their upscale shopping adventures. The menu includes fresh fish, salads, soup, eggs in many different configurations, and triple decker sandwiches, offering a new take on the classic Jewish delicatessen experience.
Location: 463 West Broadway
Alidoro has a cult-like following, and we can certainly see why. The large sandwiches are made with heaping servings of only the best quality ingredients. Perhaps the highlight of this tiny-doored haunt, however, is the experience. Attitude abounds and a sarcastic staff are more than willing to take jabs at anyone who asks the wrong question (which is any question). A list of things not to ask for is posted on the counter and you’d best look at it or fear the employee’s wrath. If you’re looking for a superb sandwich with a bit of a show to liven up your lunch hour, Alidoro is the place to go!
Location: 105 Sullivan St
This handsome downtown NYC establishment is a seafood lover’s dream, offering a raw bar, the finest sushi, and fresh fish from across the globe. Whether you prefer dining on oysters from the East Coast or the West Coast, Lure Fishbar can provide! Here, all of the sea is at your command, from littleneck clams and shrimp cocktail to crab claws and caviar. On a chilly day, warm up with clam chowder or lobster bisque. Feeling like less surf and more turf? There’s a chicken club or a burger waiting for you. Vegetarians will also discover salads and market sides like roasted cauliflower on the menu. It’s a top contender for the best lunch in SoHo for seafood enthusiasts.
Location: 142 Mercer Street
Open 24 hours a day, Lahore Deli is a popular hole-in-the-wall where you can get amazing Indian and Pakistani food. Ideal for a grab and go lunch because there’s not a lot of space, here you can get samosas, biryanis, curries, lentils, chapatis, and all kinds of yummy South Asian dishes. Whether you are vegetarian or carnivore, prefer your food mild or spicy, you will find options here to suit your palette. And whatever you do, don’t forget the chai!
Location: 132 Crosby Street
This spin-off of Torrisi Italian Specialties is at its prime come lunchtime. Parm has a vintage coffee-shop look, but offers so much more. The menu consists of Italian sandwiches, classic red-sauce dishes, and yummy snacks. It should come as no surprise that the favorite on the menu is the meatball parm, with the chicken parm being a triumph as well. Both are lathered in marinara sauce, encased in heaps of mozzarella cheese, and will require going through a large stack of napkins. Parm exceeds in providing comfort food in a way that makes you realize what you never knew you were missing.
Location: 248 Mulberry St
If your idea of the best lunch in SoHo is one that transports you from the year 2020 to another time, Fanelli’s Café is the place for your midday nosh. The historic building was constructed in the mid-1800s, and Fanelli’s Café was born under its current name in the 1920s, becoming a speakeasy during Prohibition. Admire the charming atmosphere and walls of old photos as you munch on bar food faves like potato skins, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, burgers, fish and chips, or a tuna salad sandwich. And in honor of the establishment’s dubious past, you might try to sneak a lunchtime drink of one of the beers on tap!
Location: 94 Prince Street
The chefs at Olive’s sandwich shop believe that even busy New York go-getters who have to eat on the run deserve to have something good to munch on. There are a few counter seats available if you’re lucky enough to nab one, but it’s best to get lunch here on a nice day when you can get your food and take it somewhere outside to eat. The sandwiches are the main event here, and there are many types: a hero with salami and provolone, smoked turkey, tuna salad, mozzarella and roasted red peppers, ancho chili rubbed steak, and more. You can also get soups, salads, cookies and pastries, and many different beverages.
Location: 191 Prince Street
This lovely French bistro can provide you with a little respite from busy New York City, or if you prefer, there is outdoor seating to give you a good view for people watching. The fine lunch special selections, which can include tasty items like roasted butternut squash ravioli with sage cream sauce or curry chicken salad served over mixed greens & fruit, will get you a very satisfying meal for under $20. Among the many other options on the menu, all at very reasonable prices, are homemade duck terrine, coq au vin, fried gnocchi, yellow fin tuna niçoise salad, and the omelette of the day.
Location: 180 Spring Street
Meaning ‘tasty’ in Hebrew, Taim is a great option for a grab-and-go lunch. It’s even hailed as having some of the best falafel in New York City. Diners can choose from three different flavors of falafel to serve as the centerpiece of their pita sandwich. They can then dress it up with a wide selection of toppings including egg, feta cheese, and spicy peppers. For those looking for a slightly lighter lunch option, Taim also offers a nice selection of salads as well as a noteworthy smoothie bar that lets you create your own concoction or pick a pre-designed mix. For a mouthwatering Middle Eastern meal, head to Taim.
Location: 45 Spring St
For those lunch-goers looking for a sit-down option, Jack’s Wife Freda is at the top of the list. Serving up American-Mediterranean cuisine, this SoHo haunt has an effortless charm that makes you feel right at home from the second that you walk in. If you had any question about the quality of the food served here, the fact that the owners met while working together at Balthazar should help ease your mind. The menu somehow comes across as unique, yet not at all intimidating. Dishes like green shakshuka, while adventurous-sounding to many, are presented in an appealing way that will take you out of your comfort zone without even realizing it. Whether you’re eating alone or in a small group, Jack’s Wife Freda is always a good choice.
Location: 224 Lafayette St
In the search for the best lunch in SoHo, Mexican food fans must try out Lupe’s East L.A. Kitchen. Tacos de carnitas, chicken mole, shrimp quesadillas, and the taquito platter are some of the options that await you. Lupe’s is also a go-to for people who love Mexican cuisine, but don’t eat meat. For vegetarians, there are spinach and cheese enchiladas, tamales, a tasty taco de papa, and more. There are also several healthy vegan offerings, such as the super spinach burrito, vegan cazuelitas (fried corn flour cakes), and chile verde burrito. You can take advantage of Lupe’s many lunch specials from 11:30am to 3:30pm, and most of them will run you a mere $10-$13.
Location: 110 Sixth Avenue
You don’t have to wait until dinner to indulge in a hearty meal. This cool Italian restaurant has a modern vibe and Old World comfort food. There’s a fun snacks section on the menu to start off with appetizers like mozz chips, baby rice balls, bufala mozzarella, meatballs, and “magic mushrooms.” Main dishes include classics such as gnocchi, spaghetti carbonara, beef ragu rigatoni, chicken parm, and grilled salmon. Salads come in numerous varieties (e.g. Greek, Caesar, kale, arugula, spinach, beet) and flatbreads and sandwiches are also on offer.
Location: 45 Mercer Street
Opening at noon each day, Blue Ribbon Sushi is one of the best lunch spots in SoHo for the discerning seafood fan (and they don’t take reservations, so try to get there early!). Pull up a seat to the handsome sushi bar, or grab yourself a table, and prepare for a meal of extraordinary quality. In this cozy setting, you can choose from an extensive menu of fresh fish, including seasonal selections. For the true sushi enthusiast, Blue Ribbon is a must-visit.
Location: 119 Sullivan Street
When you’re looking for the best lunch in SoHo that also happens to be casual, cheap, and quick without sacrificing quality, this is the place! Champion Pizza SoHo (actually, the location is technically in nearby Nolita) specializes in square pizza with the freshest ingredients. There’s a pie for every mood and preference, including vegan pizza, BBQ chicken, Hawaiian, white pesto, meat lover’s, margherita, and many more. For a little something extra, grab a cheese calzone or chicken parm roll.
Location: 17 Cleveland Place
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