Downtown Dining: Lunch To-Go!
Yes, there are countless sit-down dining destinations downtown. From cozy bistros to Italian trattorias and everything in between, the options are endless. But what about when you just need a quick lunch to go? Luckily, Lower Manhattan is packed with spots that make grabbing a fast, satisfying meal feel effortless — and even a little fun. From inventive sandwiches to hand-stuffed tofu pockets to bagels fresh from the oven, we’ve got you covered. And you might be surprised to find that — even on the busiest day — downtown lunch doesn’t have to be boring.
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Mommy Pai’s
We love Thai Diner. And we love chicken fingers. Lucky for us, the team behind downtown’s most beloved Thai restaurant has launched their latest venture. Mommy Pai’s is a new takeout counter devoted to Thai-style chicken fingers, with flavors ranging from lemongrass to coconut to Muay Thai, and a variety of sauces with names like “Heavenly BBQ” or “Phuket Island Sweet Heat.” Veggie lovers aren’t left out either — the Filet o’ Tofu or the vegan drunken broccoli salad are both solid options. But whatever you get, make sure to grab one of their tropical drinks — like pineapple-basil or mango-coconut.
The space itself leans kitsch, with décor echoing a Thai wood stall and images of “Mommy Pai” herself (one of the owner’s mothers) smiling from the menus. Appropriately, the space is housed in the former Uncle Boons Sister spot — the original takeout outpost from the team’s first venture. Fast food with a full-circle twist!
203 Mott St
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PopUp Bagels
Born out of founder Adam Goldberg’s pandemic baking experiments in Connecticut, PopUp Bagels has quickly become an NYC cult fave. The bagels are smaller, crusty on the outside, soft inside, and served hot — never toasted, always meant to be ripped apart and dunked into tubs of scallion cream cheese, brown sugar butter, or rotating flavors like lemon poppy or pimento.
What started as $38-a-dozen subscriptions (with Paul Rudd among the early fans and investors) has grown into long lines at city pop-ups — and now a growing fleet of shops. Manhattan already has three locations, with Midtown, Williamsburg, and Tribeca on the way.
177 Thompson St; (203) 297-8819
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Alidoro
A SoHo sandwich institution since 1986, Alidoro is well known for its extensive menu of Italian heroes. With over forty sandwiches to choose from, it’s unlikely there won’t be something for everyone. And though you’ll find no chips, forks, or plates here, you will find plenty of prosciutto, sopressata, and mozzarella! From the Romeo with smoked chicken and arugula to the ultimate Italian cheesesteak with truffle cream, this pint-sized sandwich shop sure does pack a lot in.
105 Sullivan St; (212) 334-5179
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Yubu
Yubu’s first East Village incarnation was takeout-only, and though the SoHo location has added a dining room, we still find that Yubu is an ideal “standing on the street corner” lunch fix. Their menu consists of perfect handheld rice-stuffed tofu pockets — or “yubuchobap” — topped with Korean flavors. From creamy crab salad to salty-sweet bulgogi, each pocket is a punch of flavor — deceptively filling whether you grab two or a full meal’s worth. But make sure you grab one of their sparkling beverages — we love the fermented Asian green plum — and don’t worry, each order comes with a five-pack of Haribo gummy bears, so you’ll get that sweet fix too.
46 Grand St; (646) 820-3525
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Edith’s Sandwich Counter
First opened in Williamsburg in 2020, Edith’s was such a near-instant success that expanding its horizons seemed inevitable — and with its latest West Village outpost, Manhattanites are finally getting a (literal) taste. Founder Elyssa Heller insists on sandwiches with a twist: a bacon, egg, and cheese built on a latke instead of hash browns; pastrami Reubens with house-fermented sauerkraut; schnitzel on buttery challah with za’atar ranch. On the weekends, lines can stretch around the block. But if you’ve ever had their famous slushie iced coffee, you know it’s worth the wait.
64 Charles St; (646) 360-3803
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Spicy Moon
Downtown New York sure does love its vegan Sichuan! Since the launch of Spicy Moon’s original East Village space in 2019, two more locations have followed downtown — one on Bowery and another in the West Village. And we are here for it — the vibe inside is colorful and buzzy, and the food is addictive. You’ll find classics like General Tso’s available as a mushroom-based dish, while kung pao and other fiery styles get a tofu twist. But we especially love the dan dan noodles, slick with chile oil — and, of course, the scallion pancakes are a must. Even if you’re not vegan, you’ll find Spicy Moon hits for anyone craving spice, crunch, or heat — or even just a quick lunch to go.
68 W 3rd; (646) 590-1390
WORDS Hillary Sproul
PHOTOGRAPHY Ambitious Studio* | Rick Barrett on Unsplash