18 Lunch Specials to Try Around Indy
The “quick lunch break” is a modern phenomenon, a convenience of the Industrial Revolution. In industrial cities, employers and employees both saw lunch as a “meal on the go” rather than a thoroughly considered meal. This was a departure from previous times, when lunch didn’t really even exist — the midday meal was called “dinner” and it was often the heaviest meal of the day, following hours of hard work in the fields.
Fast forward to today and we’re still searching for convenience and speed.
If you’re ready to move beyond the sad desk lunch, look to these Indianapolis lunch spots:
Downtown Indy Lunch Specials
On the hunt for lunchtime meal deals while you’re downtown? Look to these locations:
Subito
Subito is an Indy lunchtime legend, and for good reason. It’s a spot where you know whatever you order is going to be tasty and hot. Their soups and sandwiches check three important (lunch) boxes: they’re filling, affordable, and flavorful.
The Subito sandwich and salad menu generally remains the same, but their soups change daily. Check their website for their monthly soup schedule.
An added bonus? Subito offers local delivery for those times when you can’t leave your desk.
Subito, 34 N Delaware St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
The smashburger lunch special from Turchetti’s Delicatessen
The chicken kati roll from A Cup of Chai in Fountain Square
Turchetti’s
If I’m being honest, Turchetti’s lunch specials are so good that I feel like I should keep them to myself. But I’d bet that if more people eat these specials, they’re more likely to stick around. For $11.99, you can get one of the best darn smashburgers in the city, plus beef tallow-fried fries.
If you’re not in the mood for a burger, though, their lunch deal isn’t limited to that — you can get their take on an Italian sub, a hot chicken sandwich, pastrami, a turkey sandwich, or a meatless sandwich for those who abstain. And yes, they’re all served with a side (I recommend the fries, but there are salad, chips, and often soup options too!).
Turchetti’s Delicatessen, 1110 Prospect St, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Forty Five Degrees
When I worked on Mass Ave, Forty Five Degrees was one of my favorite places to grab lunch. For just $10, you can get a sushi roll and a cup of soup or a salad. For those looking for a light meal, this is the perfect option. (Although, to be fair, some of their Americanized sushi roll options are not going to fall into the “light” category).
Forty Five Degrees, 765 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Pearl Street Pizzeria
Pizza has been a lunchtime favorite of mine ever since school pizza day (Fridays, duh) in my elementary school cafeteria. Pearl Street’s pizza is slightly (read: much) higher quality than school pizza, but their prices are great and their meals are filling.
Their lunch specials changes daily, but they typically offer by-the-slice deals Monday through Friday. They’ve also usually got a drink special going on, if you’re into that.
Pearl Street Pizzeria & Pub, 65 E Pearl St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Goodfellas
Here’s something a little special: Goodfellas’ lunch special isn’t limited to just the weekdays. Their $10 slice, side, and drink combo is available seven days a week, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
You can choose any slice of pizza that’s in their display case, select a side (a massive breadstick, salad, or dessert), and a drink.
Goodfellas Pizzeria, 545 Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46204
A Cup of Chai
This is another one of those “so good I almost don’t want to share it” specials. I always go for the kati roll combo, but they also serve a samosa combo. While these options aren’t technically “lunch specials,” they are super well-priced, delicious options that… happen to be available during the lunch hour.
Their kati rolls are a delight. It’s like a wrap or burrito, but Indian-style. You can choose your filling: spicy marinated chicken, paneer, or potato. Whatever you choose is wrapped in a flaky, buttery crepe-like flatbread, served with a side of bright green chutney. The wraps are served with deliciously seasoned chips (I recommend throwing a couple inside of your kati roll for a texture switch-up!).
A Cup of Chai, 1028 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46203
North Side Indy Lunch Specials
These north Indianapolis spots are perfect for a quick lunch on a budget.
Ichiban Noodles
Stop at Ichiban Noodles for bento boxes, sushi rolls, and tempura. What this restaurant lacks in ambiance, it makes up in value — you can get an inexpensive, good meal quickly and without breaking the bank.
Mix and match your way to a full meal with their bento options that include tempura and sushi, tempura and chicken, sashimi and sushi, and more. The bentos are served with rice and soup to round out your lunch.
Ichiban Noodles, 8355 Bash St, Indianapolis, IN 46250
Chao Vietnamese Street Food
Serving up some of the best pho in town is Chao, a street food-focused Vietnamese shop on the border of Indianapolis and Fishers. I’ve written about them countless times, but that’s only because their food is so good, and their lunch special is a great value for under $12.
Chao’s lunch special is a banh mi and a generous portion of pho — not a full-size bowl, but more than the little cup you’d usually get with a sandwich. You can choose from beef, pork, cold cuts, chicken, shrimp, or veggies for your banh mi filling (I usually go with pork or beef) and you have the option of a chicken or vegetarian pho. Vegetarians, this is a great lunch option!
Chao Vietnamese Street Food, 7854 E 96th St, Fishers, IN 46037
Yats
There are Yats locations all over Indy, so don’t fret if you’re not on the north side. This is a super-fast and filling lunch option for those craving something warm and hearty. Authentic it is not, but Yats’ cajun creole-inspired menu gets the job done for me.
The Yats formula is pretty much rice + sauced-up protein + bread, and it’s been that way for a long time, for a reason. Chili cheese étouffée is their signature dish, loaded with crawfish and chili seasonings. Again, if you’re looking for authentic NOLA-style eats, this isn’t it. But it’s delicious.
Multiple locations: 86th and Ditch, Traders Point, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville
South Side Indy Lunch Specials
Looking for inexpensive eats on the south side of Indianapolis? Here are a few options:
Egg Roll #1
In this day and age, I’m not sure how Egg Roll #1 can offer a $7.99 lunch special, but they do. The place is always packed, which probably explains how they can keep prices so low. Lunch options come with rice, soup, and an egg roll (of course). Their lunch menu items include something for everyone, including sweet and sour chicken, cashew chicken, moo goo gai pan, broccoli and beef, and shrimp chow mein.
Not on their lunch special menu, but still a great deal: their pho. Depending on what you order, their pho ranges in price from $9.99 to $16.99.
Egg Roll #1, 4540 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203
Ale Emporium
Ale Emporium is another restaurant where you can fill up for under $10 (before tip, of course). Ale offers pizza by the slice, salad, bread sticks, and soup for lunch. Vegetarians can enjoy veggie pizza and salad or breadsticks, while meat-lovers can indulge in sausage and mushroom or sausage and pepperoni pizza.
Ale Emporium, 997 E County Line Rd B, Greenwood, IN 46143
Shallo’s
For nearly 40 years, Shallo’s has been serving Greenwood great beer and bar food. For a wallet-friendly, gut-pleasing lunch, order a half club sandwich and cup of soup or salad combo for $9.95. Shallo’s is well-known for their French onion soup.
Shallo’s, 8811 Hardegan St, Indianapolis, IN 46227
East Side Indy Lunch Specials
Vegans and carnivores can find deals on lunch across the east side of Indy.
10th Street Diner
Everything on the menu at 10th Street Diner is vegan. As one of the few vegan-focused restaurants in Indianapolis, 10th Street is a busy place. Their menu changes often, but typically features hearty dishes like meatless burgers and sandwiches, seasonal salads, and soups. You can find vegan BLTs, vegan reuben sandwiches, and vegan kid’s meals here.
10th Street Diner, 3301 E 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46201
R&R Extreme Wings
R&R’s standard lunch special always includes wings, fries, and a drink, but their daily specials give you the flexibility to switch up your lunch on a budget.
They’ve got discounted days for bone-in wings, boneless wings, and chicken sandwiches.
R&R Extreme Wings, 4361 N Keystone Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46205
Chicago Beef and Dog
File under: not technically a lunch special, but always a great deal. Chicago Beef and Dog sells all-beef Vienna hot dogs done up in a variety of ways, from a classic Chicago dog to hot dogs loaded with chili and cheese, bacon, and more. They’ve also got Italian beef sandwiches, Italian sausages, chicken tenders, onion rings, grilled cheese, and more. Most of their menu items clock in at under $10.
Chicago Beef and Dog Company, 5402 E Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219
West Side Indy Lunch Specials
The west side’s lunch offerings range from classic burger joints to casual Asian restaurants.
The Workingman’s Friend
I’ve written about The Workingman’s Friend a lot. For good reason.
This place has been around for more than 100 years, serving crispy smashburgers, fries, onion rings, and ice cold beers. Their name suggests exactly what they are — an inexpensive, quality spot for blue collar workers (and everyone else) to grab lunch. Note: They’re cash-only and only open for lunch most days.
The Workingman’s Friend, 234 N Belmont Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46222
Asian Snack
This hidden gem is literally hidden from street view — it’s inside Saraga, an international grocery store. The owner is from northern China, and their food is incredibly authentic, some of the best you can find in Indianapolis.
Menu items include spicy fish soup, mapo tofu, hot and sour rice noodles, beef noodle bowls, steamed buns, and more. Don’t let the menu intimidate you — if you’re not familiar with traditional Chinese food, you’ll probably find things you’ve never heard of. Give it a shot! Asian Snack’s prices are very reasonable, making this a great place to try a bunch of new-to-you menu items.
Asian Snack (inside Saraga), 3605 Commercial Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46222
The AMP
If you’re looking for a lunch spot that pleases everyone, The Amp is the place for you. With a variety of food stalls and an open, communal space to eat, The Amp is a great place for a large group. There are more than 20 vendors at The Amp selling everything from wings and salads to soups and poke bowls.
The AMP at 16 Tech, 1220 Waterway Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202
