Does anyone else ever feel like lunch is such a struggle? It’s kind like a Goldilocks situation - this lunch spot is too expensive, this lunch spot takes too long, and this lunch spot is too far…and then you’re sitting at your desk starving and at a loss. To help you defeat the struggles of a work day lunch, here is a list of some great spots to get a quick, easy meal during the week that will take under an hour!
Updated December 2021
Located on McKinney and Olive in Uptown, Mixt allows you to design your own bowl, plate, or salad, or choose something from their menu! If you have dietary restrictions or track what you eat, this is a perfect option; all of their nutrition information is on their website, and they even have a nutrition calculator if you build your own lunch! Sit inside, or enjoy the plaza outside.
Located in Uptown's West Village, Sweetgreen prides themselves on serving a quality menu that is both plant-forward and sustainable. They're know for simple, seasonal, healthy salads and grain bowls made in-house from scratch every day!
Malibu Poke is a great place for a light, delicious, and healthy lunch. Similar to Mixt (and with a location right next door), you can choose one of their pre-made bowls, or create your own! They provide an allergy and diet info guide on their website for anyone with sensitivities. In addition to their Olive St. location, you can find them on Oak Lawn next to East Hampton Sandwich Co.
Tribal All Day Cafe is located in the heart of the Bishop Arts district and serve a locally sourced and nutrient dense menu. The cute neighborhood shop offers healthy breakfast, lunch, dinner, cold pressed juice, smoothies, coffee and cocktails all day! They also offer vegan, gluten free, and vegetarian options too.
We are so excited to have four Flower Children in Dallas now! Known for their nutritious and flavorful meals, Flower Child has been a hit since their first Dallas location opened in Inwood Village. You can now also find them in Uptown, Addison and at Preston and Royal. Build a plate or select a salad, wrap, appetizer, or bowl from their menu. We love that they have healthy but intricate options like Red Chili Glazed Sweet Potato, Turkey Sausage and Zucchini Lasagna, and Sweet Corn and Quinoa!
EAST HAMPTON SANDWICH CO.
East Hampton Sandwich Co. doesn’t mess around when it comes to the art of sandwich making. This local beach-inspired sandwich chain organizes its menu by the filling, so you choose what protein you want, then check out the options from there! They don’t only offer sandwiches; they also have wraps, salads, sides, and soups, and they have four DFW locations to choose from: The Crescent, Turtle Creek Village, Snider Plaza and Fort Worth. The choices are endless, especially since they just launched their breakfast sandwiches available all day!
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | DIRECTIONS
Since it opened, Commissary has quickly become a staple lunch (and anytime) spot downtown. They may look like just a bakery, but they are much more than that! They also have a butcher shop, gelateria, espresso bar, and market. Their lunch menu includes fresh deli sandwiches, pastas, salads and grains, and sides. Their ham and cheese sandwich and Chicken Chop-Chop salad are standouts for us, though! Plus, you must get a cookie to eat after lunch - they’re heavenly! And they’re located in the most gorgeous of settings: a blue tiled building on Main Street!
While Ascension may be best known for their coffee, or avocado toast, they offer delicious food as well! Their lunch menu was crafted to mimic traditional lunch fare: the sandwich, the salad, and the meat and cheese board. Grab a midday pick-me-up and some lunch at one of three Dallas locations, Thanksgiving Tower, Crescent Court, or the Design District, or at one of the many others in the suburbs! For us, their salads are our go-to, especially the Nicoise. It’s presented beautifully!
This happy-looking yellow restaurant is popping up all over the place, and we’re lucky to have had a few pop up around here! Modern Market has been around since 2009, and they have a great mission: they believe in quality, craft, community, and convenience. They definitely have some things you might expect, like salads, sandwiches, and bowls. But, they also have pizza! And, for our fellow Millenials out there, they now serve avocado toast all day long.
photo courtesy of Modern Market
If you’re a health nut and you haven’t discovered this place yet, you’re welcome! Original ChopShop is top notch when it comes to healthful food. They opened in 2013 to try to provide everybody, and every body, with good fuel for their busy lifestyles. In addition to plates, sandwiches, and salads, they also offer juices, protein shakes, and smoothie bowls. There are seven DFW locations, so you're never too far away!
photo courtesy of Original ChopShop
If you have an eclectic group of coworkers with a variety of tastes, Gather Kitchen is sure to have something to please everyone! From waffles to tacos to fried green tomatoes and everything in between, all of the dishes are created with health in mind. Gather is located downtown in Thanksgiving Tower.
Temporarily closed.
If you don’t like making decisions or just want to keep it simple, Murray Street Coffee is a great lunch stop. Grab a cup of joe and a sandwich made with bread gathered daily from local bakers! Not into sandwiches? Their hummus platter is a great option for vegetarians or meat-eaters alike, or order off their breakfast menu all day long. Murray Street is located in the heart of Deep Ellum.
If you have a big appetite for lunch, Cindi’s offers breakfast all day, as well as some heartier lunch options like chicken and dumplings, meatloaf, and chicken fried steak. Their weekday menu varies by location and by day, so check it out online before you go! Cindi’s has locations on Campbell, Central Expressway, Forest and Downtown.
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
photo courtesy of Cindi's
Not quite sure what you’re in the mood for? Eatzi’s has a little bit of everything! Visit their hot bar for something hearty (make sure you check out their daily specials), grab a pre-made salad or sandwich, pick up some sushi, or grab a to-go box full of delicious dishes from their buffet line. Need snacks for later? They have a market, too, so you can get some snacks for your desk as well! They have locations on Oak Lawn, Preston, and Lovers, as well as Grapevine, Fort Worth, and Plano.
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | OAK LAWN
CAVA is a mediterranean, make-you-own-bowl heaven! Start with a base, then choose your spread, dips, proteins, toppings and dressings, and you're good to go! They also have sides like pita bread and pita chips that we recommend dipping in their signature dips, like organic caramelized onion hummus and tzatziki! You can even purchase their dips in various grocery stores like Central Market and Whole Foods!
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | DOWNTOWN
photo courtesy of Cava
With two locations in Plano and one in The Hill, Bellagreen is an American bistro that offers delicious food and prioritizes reducing their ecological footprint, hence the green in Bellagreen. They have various sandwiches, wraps, burgers, pizzas, pastas, and they all err on the healthy side. We recommend the grilled chicken sandwich, and their french fries are pretty stellar!
MULTIPLE LOCATIONS | THE HILL
photo courtesy of Bella Green
