Lunch in Union Square usually means one of two outcomes: a rushed desk salad or a bill that makes you wince. The $14 on 14th Street lunch special at Time Out Market Union Square offers a third option: a proper midday meal from some of the city’s more interesting kitchens, at a price that feels like a small win. In a neighborhood with plenty of options, this one earns its spot.
The appeal is the range. Craving heat? Kam Rai Thai brings bold regional Thai cooking from Astoria, with dishes like khao soi and pad see ew. Want smoke? Jase’s BBQ serves slow-smoked brisket, spare ribs, and jerk pork with Caribbean flavor, and has the awards to prove it. Looking for something lighter? BKLYNwild builds vegetable-forward bowls from Chef Ivy Stark, plant-based or with steak, egg, or chicken added.
Stick to the classics and Smashed delivers crispy-edged burgers and golden fries at lunch-break speed, while The Rotisserie Haus offers free-range roasted chicken and steak frites. For something different, Lou Yau Kee serves Hainanese chicken rice, one of Singapore’s most beloved dishes.
That’s what makes the special work: seven kitchens, one price, and no one at the table stuck eating something they don’t want. Grab a seat at a communal table, add a drink from the Market Bar if the day calls for it, and get back to your afternoon with something better than a desk lunch.