New York is known for having some of the top fine dining restaurants in the world – that’s a given. But it’s also home to so many incredible fast casual spots for just about any cuisine you could be in the mood for. I get excited for the days I’m out and about so I have an excuse to grab lunch out. Here are my top picks for the best healthy fast casual restaurants NYC.
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Hu Kitchen
You might have noticed that I’m at Hu Kitchen all. The. Time. It’s in a super convenient location near Union Square, and it’s pretty much a healthy food heaven. The menu is mostly Paleo but also have a ton of great plant-based options. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a full juice bar, cafe, prepared foods, and bakery. I must’ve tried just about everything on their menu and have never been disappointed, but my favorites are building my own bowl, their burgers, breakfast burritos & the Hu crack bar.
Blossom Du Jour
Blossom Du Jour is the little sis of Blossom vegan restaurant (another favorite of mine) with a handful of locations across the city. Whether you’re a vegan or not, their take on vegan “fast food” is seriously delicious.
My go-to at Blossom Du Jour is always the Smokey Avocado Wrap – avocado, smoked tempeh, tomato, lettuce, and chipotle aioli – on a gluten free wrap.
Charley St
Charley St is a newer kid on the block and became one of my favorites pretty much instantly. With its bright & airy Nolita location, paired with delicious eats + a cafe, I find myself at Charley St at least once a week (I love setting up here to work for a few hours). My favorites on the menu are the PB&J oatmeal, Happy Morning avocado toast, and Tahini Time bowl.
By Chloe
I remember it was such a big deal when By Chloe first opened – for good reason – and now they have locations all over the city! They’ve completely raised the bar when it comes to vegan food. My favorites are the Quinoa Taco Salad, Mac’n Cheese and Guac Burger.
Sweetgreen
The biggest “chain” you’ll find on this list, but for good reason. You can’t have a healthy eatery roundup and not include the best salad joint in the universe. It’s no secret that Sweetgreen puts all the other salad places to shame, and I’m so glad there are locations all over the city now.
Terri
Terri is another vegetarian spot I love, with a few locations in the city. My favorites from there are the Chickpea “Tuna” Melt, the Green Power Smoothie, Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcake, and Portobello Pesto (on a gluten-free wrap).
Inday
Inday is one of the more unique fast casual spots in the city, in the best possible way. They offer a healthy take on Indian cuisine with customizable bowls and deliciously interesting ingredients.
PokeSpot
The customizable poke bowls at PokeSpot are out of this world. Seriously. You can choose from various bases (including zoodles!) and topping ingredients, or choose one of their signature bowls. You also get quite the bang for your buck – the bowls are huge, so go hungry.
Beyond Sushi
Don’t be scared about missing the fish – Beyond Sushi‘s vegan sushi and wraps are ridiculously good – incredibly flavorful and refreshing. My favorites are their Nutty Buddy Wrap and the Sweet Tree roll.
Springbone Kitchen
Springbone brought the bone broth trend to NYC with dozens of different variations and add-ins, along with a delicious menu of mostly Paleo food. I’m a huge fan of their burger (I mean, look at it).
Dig Inn
Dig Inn has been around for a long time, but I think about a year ago they redid their menu and it’s seriously better than ever. Dig Inn is always consistent. Their vegetables and proteins are always so flavorful and taste like they were cooked on the spot.
Mission Ceviche
Ah yes – more customizable bowls. Mission Ceviche offers Peruvian bowls full of fresh, locally sourced ceviche with tons of topping options. It’s located in the Gansevoort Market in the Meatpacking District.
Dez
Dez brought Middle Eastern cuisine to the fast casual world, and I’m so glad they did. Their dishes are seriously flavorful with big, filling portions. I really love their Jeweled Rice Bowl + build-your-own bowl option.
Loco Coco
If I’m being honest I’m not usually the world’s biggest fan of smoothie bowls…unless it’s at Loco Coco. They’re bowls are on another level with fresh & unique ingredients. The perfect spot for when you want a meal that’s sweet and refreshing.
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