Updated: July 26, 2026. Every spot on this list was verified open in July 2026.
In this guide
Columbus has no shortage of fabulous restaurants, everybody knows that.
Food is meant to be enjoyed and shared. A great meal isn’t something reserved just for special occasions – it should be eaten on a daily basis. That’s where lunch comes in. Sometimes, the fact that we have so many fabulous restaurants makes it overwhelming to choose just the right spot to grab lunch.
Luckily, we’ve narrowed it down for you. Whether you’re hoping to grab some tacos or you’re in a salad kind of mood, this list has the perfect, mouthwatering suggestion waiting for you.
Let’s dive right in, friends.
Columbus Lunch Spots At A Glance
| Spot | Neighborhood | Price | Perfect for |
| Emmett’s Cafe | Brewery District & Campus | $7-$14 | Breakfast-to-lunch cafe fare |
| The Brown Bag Deli | German Village | $8-$15 | Build-your-own sandwiches |
| Katalina’s | Multiple locations | $9-$15+ | Brunchy lunch |
| Brassica | Multiple locations | $9-$15 | Fast, fresh Mediterranean |
| Budd Dairy Food Hall | Italian Village | Varies by vendor | Groups (lunch Thu-Sun) |
| Tommy’s Diner | Franklinton | $7-$15 | Old-school diner lunch |
| Lalibela | East Side | $10-$15 | Shareable Ethiopian platters |
| Pat and Gracie’s | Clintonville | $9-$20 | Sit-down comfort food |
| The North Market | Downtown & Dublin | Varies by vendor | Groups that can’t agree |
| Wario’s Beef and Pork | Arena District | $17-$21 | A splurge sandwich |
| Yellow Brick Pizza | Franklinton | $10-$20 | Casual pizza lunch |
| The Mad Greek | East Side | $9-$16 | Family-style Greek |
| Scotty’s Cafe | Bexley | $7-$16 | Weekday deli lunch |
| Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace | Downtown | $4-$10+ | Cheap and quick |
| El Tacoriendo | Southeast Columbus | $4-$15 | Tacos (closed Wednesdays) |
| Marino’s Seafood Fish & Chips | W 5th Ave (Grandview area) | $7-$10 | Fish and chips |
| Katzinger’s | German Village | $10-$15 | Legendary deli sandwiches |
| Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille | Brewery District | $8-$15 | Venezuelan lunch |
| Northstar Cafe | Multiple locations | $8-$23 | A longer sit-down lunch |
| The Little Grand Market | Grandview Crossing | Varies by vendor | Groups and patio weather |
Quick Counter Lunches
The Brown Bag Deli
Brown Bag Deli takes sandwiches to the next level. They have a variety of specialty sandwiches to choose from or you can build your own.
There are also some amazing vegetarian options like the Caprese wrap. If you go during a slightly colder month, I recommend the soup and sandwich combo.
Location: 898 Mohawk Street
Price: $8-$15
Brassica
Brassica is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, great for a quick lunch during the work day or a more relaxed lunch with your friends.
You get to choose between a salad, a pita sandwich, and a hummus plate. On top of your base, you pick your protein (I recommend the falafel) and any toppings you want.
Location: View multiple locations here.
Price: $9-$15 per meal
Wario’s Beef and Pork
If you could only eat one sandwich for the rest of your life, what would it be? I ask because if the answer isn’t that The Steak made Wario’s way, then you need to change your lunch plans and rectify that immediately.
The sandwiches aren’t cheap, but they will blow your mind. Some things are just worth splurging for.
Location: 111 W Nationwide Blvd, Columbus, OH 43215
Price: $17-$21
El Tacoriendo
This delicious spot has become quite the staple at my house. It’s fast, cheap, and most importantly- it’s so freakin yummy. One heads-up: they’re closed on Wednesdays. I particularly like the carnitas tacos, but honestly you can’t go wrong here.
Location: 3892 Refugee Rd, Columbus, OH 43232
Price: $4-$15
Marino’s Seafood Fish & Chips
Some days call for a delicious, affordable platter of fried foods. Marino’s is a restaurant from another era, offering fish & chips, battered chicken, hush puppies, and more. It’s a nostalgic spot perfect for a rainy day and a tight budget.
Location: 1216 West 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
Price: $7-$10
Katzingers
Katzinger’s Deli is another staple of Columbus for sandwiches and sides. This is a casual lunch break spot during work or you can bring it back to the office.
The half-pound sides are perfect for sharing and they have some awesome dessert choices as well. The Marigene’s Meal of Fortune is amazing if you need help deciding.
Location: 475 South Third Street
Price: $10-$15 per meal
Scotty’s Cafe
At Scotty’s Cafe, everything is made in-house and fresh to order. The restaurant is somewhere between a bistro and deli, and they’ve got all sorts of goodies on the menu to try.
Scotty’s always flies under the radar, but it never ever misses the mark. It’s a weekday-only spot, open until 2pm, so save it for a workday lunch.
Location: 2980 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43209
Price: $7-$16
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace
Every Columbus native knows Dirty Franks, making it a unique place to take your out-of-town guests for a casual bite. They even have vegetarian and vegan dogs for our plant-loving friends.
This place can get packed because their restaurant is so small, so I recommend not going at peak lunch times if you’re with a bigger group.
Location: 248 S 4th St, Columbus, OH 43215
Price: $4-$10+
Sit-Down Spots For A Longer Lunch
Emmett’s Cafe
Emmett’s Cafe has been one of my favorite additions to the city. You can stop in for breakfast or lunch, but our lunch suggestion will forever be The Emmything.
It’s pulled chicken on an everything roll with white cheddar, crispy prosciutto, tomato confit, arugula, and rosemary aioli, served with a side salad. Also known as, perfection.
Location: 744 S High St, Columbus, OH and 2571 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH (where it goes by Emmett’s at Open Air)
Price: $7-$14
Katalina’s
Katalina’s is the essence of a trendy brunch. They have both sweet and savory dishes but their pancake balls are what they’re really known for.
This is a nice local place to take the out-of-town guests whether the vibe is brunch or lunch.
Location: Multiple locations
Price: $9-$15+ per meal
Tommy’s Diner
Tommy’s Diner has been a staple on the West Side for over 3 decades. The food is delicious, the vibes are fantastic, and its close proximity to downtown makes it a very convenient spot to grab a quick lunch. The menu offers traditional diner grub and breakfast is available all day long.
Location: 914 West Broad St, Columbus, OH 43222
Price: $7-$15
Lalibela
This is a hidden gem, if I do say so myself. Lalibela is a delicious Ethiopian restaurant I found a few years ago. The food is amazing and the price is equally as awesome.
It’s a fun spot for a meal with a little more culture. It’s perfect for those big family dinners, with food that’s meant to be shared.
Location: 1111 S. Hamilton Road
Price: $10-$15
Pat and Gracie’s
Pat and Gracie’s has become one of my favorite spots in the whole city. The restaurant’s a newer arrival by Columbus standards, but there’s something wonderfully nostalgic about it.
I’ve genuinely never had a bad thing there, but my favorite menu items are their salads. They’re so yummy and absolutely massive.
Location: 138 Graceland Blvd, Columbus, OH 43214
Price: $9-$20
The Mad Greek
This longtime Columbus spot will forever be a family favorite for Greek food. The spanakopita is always a good choice. Dine in or take it to go.
This is one of those restaurants where you just know that the people in the kitchen have been cooking this food for years. Their clasic gyro is a good choice if you’re looking for something a little more filling.
Location: 4210 E. Broad Street
Price: $9-$16
Yellow Brick Pizza
This pizza joint is perfect if you’re looking to grab a casual lunch with the family or for a lunch date. Of course, they have incredible pizza (the crust is out of this world) but you can also grab a salad, calzones, sandwiches, and more.
Location: 415 W Rich St, Columbus, OH 43215 (Franklinton)
Price: $10-$20
Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille
Arepazo lives on in the Brewery District these days as Arepazo Tapas Bar Grille — same family, same arepas, one great location.
The Columbian chorizo with the sunny-side-up egg looks like the perfect bite for an early lunch. The atmosphere has a great South American vibe as well.
Location: 515 S High St, Columbus, OH
Price: $8-$15 per meal
Northstar Cafe
Northstar has been the answer to “where should we get lunch” since 2004, and Columbus Underground readers have voted it the best lunch in the city more than once. The order everybody argues about is the Northstar Burger, a black bean and beet patty that meat eaters defend as loudly as vegetarians do. You order at the counter, the food shows up on real plates, and the weekday lunch menu runs 11am to 3pm.
Location: 951 N High St (Short North), 4241 N High St (Clintonville), and Easton, plus Westerville and Liberty Township
Price: $8-$23
Food Halls For Groups
Budd Dairy Food Hall
If you’re headed out with a group, or you’re just not exactly sure what you’re in the mood for, then lunch at Budd Dairy Food Hall is the way to go.
With ten different kitchens to choose from, you can find everything from cheesesteaks to southern comfort food. The only downside is that the food hall is only open for lunch Thursday through Sunday.
Location: 1086 N 4th St, Columbus, OH 43201
Price: Prices vary by vendor
The North Market
North Market is such a convenient place to grab your lunch during the workday. That’s especially true now that you can visit the OG North Market Downtown or the newest North Market at Bridge Park in Dublin.
There are a variety of different food vendors to choose from so you can eat something new every day of the week, which also makes it an easy place to take large groups.
Location: 59 Spruce St (downtown) and Bridge Park (Dublin)
Price: Prices vary per vendor
The Little Grand Market
The Little Grand Market landed in Grandview Crossing in 2024 with ten kitchens under one roof, which settles most lunch-table arguments before they start. The lineup covers tacos from Los Agavez, Vietnamese from Lan Viet, Cuban sandwiches from Pablo’s Havana Cafe, and Korean bowls from Seoul Food On The Go, plus a coffee shop and a bar. The patio runs May through October.
Location: 710 Grandview Crossing Way, Columbus, OH 43215
Price: Prices vary by vendor
Columbus Lunch FAQ
Where should you go for lunch in Columbus?
It depends on the occasion. For a quick counter lunch, Brown Bag Deli and Katzinger’s in German Village are the standards. For a sit-down lunch that earns the hour, look to Northstar Cafe or Emmett’s. And when a group can’t agree, a food hall like North Market or Budd Dairy solves it.
Where can you get a cheap lunch in Columbus?
Dirty Frank’s Hot Dog Palace will feed you for under $10, and El Tacoriendo’s tacos start around $4. Marino’s fish and chips run $7 to $10, and deli sandwiches at Scotty’s Cafe start around $7.50.
Where should a group go for lunch when nobody agrees?
Head to a food hall. The North Market downtown, Budd Dairy Food Hall in Italian Village, and The Little Grand Market in Grandview Crossing each put ten or more kitchens under one roof, so everybody orders what they want and shares a table.
