Lunch Break: Korean Convenience, Indian Burritos And Thai Lunch Specials

Pick and choose your desired lunch fare at a West side Thai spot, or enjoy an Indian take on burritos on Pearl Street. By Yvo Sin.

Wondee Siam

792 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10019
(212) 459-9057
(212) 582-0355

Customizable lunch menus are great, allowing you to pick your protein, your level of spice, and oftentimes, even your choice of carb (rice or noodles). But customizable lunch menus offered for a mere $6.95 are even greater, it's hard to argue that. Wondee Siam offers that along with a rather large list of Thai dishes from which to choose; curries, ranging from mild to quite spicy, pad gra pow (basil, garlic, onions, chili paste and bell peppers with your choice of protein), and even the ubiquitous albeit completely Americanized pineapple fried rice. If you do go with spicy, though, be sure to order a Thai iced tea ($2) to help tame that heat, lest you be caught unprepared to eat heat.

Baluchi's Masala

60 Pearl Street
New York, NY 10004
(212) 742-2222
baluchismasala.com/

Though Baluchi's Masala falls squarely into the category of Indian fast food - witness the steam trays and meals easily purchased by pointing to what looks good and having scoops ladled into a container quickly for you to take to go - there lies within an item not available at just every Indian fast food place. That item? Kati rolls (pictured: chicken kati roll), or what some have likened to an Indian burrito. Hand over $7 and receive flavorful chicken wrapped up in a soft flour Indian bread, along with spicy sauce and lettuce. Wash it all down with a mango lassi and you have a great meal.

Woorijip

12 W 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 244-1115

The easiest way to describe Woorijip would be to say it is like a 7-Eleven with a Korean slant to it. Convenience in its highest form with a slight twist - everything is Korean, and though it's all neatly packed into containers for you to pick and choose from the refrigerated cases, it's made fresh early each day and healthier for you than the plastic-wrapped microwave burritos and burgers found at a 7-Eleven. Along the right-hand side is a help-yourself buffet area full of Korean goodies, and along the left-hand side is a refrigerated case of all sorts of lovely pre-packed tasty delights; try the kimbap (Korean rice rolls that look like sushi) and spicy chicken combo (pictured), which, for $5.50, comes with a small soup (usually seaweed or miso). No matter what you choose, you're sure to fill up cheaply - and conveniently.

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Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of Feisty Foodie.