⏰ Typical Lunch Special Hours
Standard: Monday-Friday, 11am-2:30pm
Extended: Some restaurants run lunch pricing until 3-4pm
Weekend: A few spots extend lunch specials to Saturday
What Makes a Good Lunch Special
🍱 Combo Pricing
Entree, side, and drink bundled together for less than ordering a la carte.
⚡ Fast Turnaround
Lunch menus are built for quick service — ideal for a workday break.
🍜 Smaller Portions, Same Quality
Same kitchen and ingredients as dinner, just right-sized for midday.
💵 Lower Price Point
Lunch specials typically run 20-40% cheaper than the equivalent dinner entree.
Best Cuisines for Lunch Specials
Chinese
Lunch combos w/ rice + entree
Thai
Lunch-only pricing on curries
Indian
All-you-can-eat lunch buffets
Japanese
Bento box lunch sets
Italian
Smaller pasta portions, lower price
Mexican
Lunch combo plates
- Call ahead - lunch hours vary by restaurant and location
- Lunch buffets (Indian, Chinese, Korean BBQ) offer the most food per dollar
- Order fast during the lunch rush - kitchens prioritize speed
- Ask if lunch pricing applies to the full dinner menu or a separate lunch menu
- Business lunch spots often have prix fixe options for groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do lunch specials usually run?
Most lunch specials run from 11am-2:30pm on weekdays. Some restaurants extend lunch pricing through 3pm or offer it on weekends too, so it's worth checking each restaurant directly.
Why are lunch portions cheaper than dinner?
Restaurants use lunch specials to drive traffic during a slower part of the day. Portions are often slightly smaller than dinner, but the same quality ingredients and preparation, at a lower price point.
What cuisines have the best lunch specials?
Asian restaurants (Chinese, Thai, Japanese, Indian) are famous for lunch specials and lunch buffets that cost significantly less than dinner. Italian and Mexican restaurants also commonly run smaller-portion lunch menus.