Where to Find the Best Lunch in Omaha

The “most important meal of the day” is a heavily debated topic. You’ve probably heard the phrase “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” countless times in your life. But there is a valid reason some argue that lunch is the most important meal of the day, especially in a world where people work 9-5 jobs. 

Do you know how sometimes in the middle of the day you start to feel tired and you lose the ability to concentrate on your work? Eating in the middle of the day can fix this because eating even a small meal can raise your blood sugar levels, re-energizing your body and helping you get your focus back. So, essentially, lunch is what gets you through the second half of your day. 

That said, whether you’re exploring a new city or on your lunch break from work, you should fuel the second half of your day with a nice lunch at one of the many amazing restaurants in Omaha. Keep reading to see where to find the best lunch in Omaha!

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1. Lighthouse Pizza

Scarf down an oversized slice for lunch.

1004 S 74th Plz | West Omaha | lhpizza.com 

Nothing screams lunch quite like a slice of pizza. If you have a slice or two, you’ll fill yourself up just enough to tackle the rest of a day at work. This pizza joint is known for their oversized slices (9-inches!), which are loved by visitors and locals alike. 

You can create your own 9-inch slice or or choose from one of their specialty slices. The Buffalo Chicken is a favorite, topped with roast chicken, onions, buffalo sauce, and bleu cheese crumbles, while the Thai Chicken is definitely something you won’t see anywhere else! This one is made with roast chicken, carrots, onions, sweet chili sauce, and Thai peanut sauce. 

If you don’t want pizza, they have a variety of specialty fries piled high with toppings as well as a side salad. For kids, they have cheese, pepperoni, or hamburger pizza served with applesauce or traditional fries and juice or a kid’s fountain drink.

You can purchase a GiftYa for Lighthouse Pizza here!

“Known for their famous slices, this place did not disappoint one bit. They have build your own slices or a full menu with a variety of different options. Soda machine is always well carbonated and pizza tastes so fresh and it is usually made to order!!!” - Yelp Review 

2. Louie M’s Burger Lust Cafe

Burgers and shakes to make the midday scaries go away.

1718 Vinton Street | Southeast Omaha | louiemsburgerlust.com

A burger might not be your go-to for lunch - we usually want to take a nap after eating one, too - but Louie M’s burgers are the exception. One of Louie’s Famous Award Winning Hand Pattied 1/2 Lb. Burgers can turn your whole day around if a juicy burger is what you’re craving.

You can stick to a classic Hamburger or Cheeseburger, or you can try one of their specialty burgers like their Mushroom Swiss Burger, Cajun Burger, or Jalapeno Cheddar Burger. 

If you really don’t think you can make it back to work after one of these bad boys, they have offerings on the lighter side as well. Their Naked Burger is a regular burger served on crisp lettuce - no bun - while Michelle’s Garden Burger has no meat and is topped with only green pepper, onions, and Swiss. 

Louie M’s also offers sandwiches, wraps, soups, and salads. Check out their website for their weekly lunch specials. We love their lunch deal on Tuesdays, which is a Philly Cheesesteak with onions, green pepper, and mushrooms for only $13.89!

We almost forgot to mention the shakes! Malts and shakes are the perfect match for your burger, and they’re only $4.99.

Purchase a GiftYa for Louie M’s Burger Lust Cafe here!

“The restaurant has a very nostalgic Omaha feel to it. The cherry on top was the owner walking around and engaging with each table. He was helping bus, interacted with our kids, and checked in on us while we were there.” - Yelp Review

3. Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe

Local sub sandwich chain.

370 North 114th St | West Omaha | picklemans.com

Pickleman’s is the perfect spot for a quick, affordable lunch. You will find this local chain all throughout Omaha, and you’ll find lots of locals at this chain during the lunch rush.

Sub sandwiches are their specialty, but they also have a variety of fresh chopped salads, thin crust pizza, and gourmet soups. 

Menu favorites include their Turkey Sandwich, their Ham Sandwich, and their Chicken Caesar Salad. But if you want to try something unique to Pickleman’s, you can try either their Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, chipotle ranch drizzled over grilled chicken and topped with melted provolone cheese and lettuce, or their Meatball Sandwich, whipped garlic butter spread over all-natural bread with melted mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce, and meatballs finished with a dash of Italian seasoning and parmesan.

If you aren’t feeling a sandwich, another featured item unique to Pickleman’s is their “The Truth” pizza. This one-of-a-kind pizza is their Buffalo Chicken Pizza topped with BBQ sauce. You aren’t likely to find this pizza topping combo anywhere else - and we promise it’s good!

You can purchase a GiftYa for Pickleman’s Gourmet Cafe here!

“I had time in between meetings so I stopped into picklemans to grab a healthyish bite to eat. There were ample staff members who were very friendly helping me. The Italian club was incredible. I'm still thinking about it today. Would definitely return here.” - Yelp Review 

4. FarmHouse Cafe & Bakery

You may be tempted to try their Triple Decker Gourmet Grilled Cheese.

3461 S 84th St | South Central Omaha | farmhousecafe.com

Okay, we might have spoken too soon when we said that nothing says lunch quite like pizza - we forget about sandwiches! And the sandwiches at Farmhouse Cafe & Bakery are too good to pass up.

From classics like BLT (technically BBLT here because there’s extra bacon) and French Dip, to sandwiches all their own like the Potato Chip Club Melt and the Triple Decker Gourmet Grilled Cheese. The former is made up of potato chip chicken tenders, ham, American cheese, tomato, lettuce, bacon, and honey mustard on grilled sourdough bread, while the latter consists of deli cheeses grilled on FarmHouse marble bread. 

Although this cafe serves a variety of delicious sandwiches for lunch, you could also satisfy a brunch craving with their griddle cakes, omelettes, or a pecan roll from the bakery.

There may be a wait for brunch on the weekends, but the wait isn’t all bad because FarmHouse is connected to Mangelsen’s, a craft shop that’s fun to explore while you wait!

Purchase a GiftYa for FarmHouse Cafe & Bakery here!

“When you ask your children, ‘What was the best part about driving through Nebraska?’, they will say ‘the cinnamon rolls we had in Omaha.’ You will nod your head and tell them that they're correct.” - Yelp Review

5. Upstream Brewing Company

In case you need a drink with your lunch, or for your lunch.

514 S 11th St | Downtown | upstreambrewing.com

On your day off, sometimes a beer and some bar food is just the right recipe for your lunch. In comes Upstream Brewing Company, Omaha’s original brewpub, where they’ve been serving local beer and pub fare since 1996.

Here, beer is brewed thirty feet away from your table. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. They have a patio where you can sit and sip, or billiards tables inside for a round of drinks and billiards with friends.  

In terms of actually eating food for lunch, their offerings include wings, thin crust pizzas, soups and salads, burgers, sandwiches and even heavier plates like hand-cut steaks and other entrees. We have nothing but good things to say about their Grilled Blackened Salmon Salad, grilled blackened salmon served on a base made up of mixed greens, pickled red onions, roasted corn, avocado, grapes, and feta, and topped with a lemon-cracked black pepper vinaigrette.

“LOVE upstream. The salads are very good and the fried cauliflower is FANTASTIC. We ate outside, had great service and enjoyed the great weather. Beers are great. My family loved it - came back two days later.” - Yelp Review

6. Block 16

Farm to table street food.

1611 Farnam St | Downtown | block16omaha.com 

This restaurant serves what they call “farm to table street food.” They use locally sourced ingredients, avoid preservatives whenever possible, and offer vegan-friendly dishes, while their bold, imaginative, and deliciously messy street food gives you a taste of something you’ve never had before without any guilt whatsoever thanks to their methods.

Menu favorites include the Croque Garcon Burger, a 1/3-pound Jon's Natural burger with cheese, ham, a sunny-side-up farm egg, mustard, and truffle mayo on a ciabatta roll, Duck Duck Goose Fries, duck confit, crispy skin, cheese, duck-fat mayo, and gooseberry gastrique over a basket of fries, and the Dragon Wrap, grilled naan wrapped around pickled veggies, spicy slaw, hummus, arugula, fries, dragon sauce, and your choice of PCF chicken, tempeh, or wild sockeye salmon.

Block 16 also has a new special every day so be sure to head over to their Facebook page and check it out!

This is a great spot for a more upscale lunch, so it’s perfect for your day off or for a lunch with coworkers. 

“They have some really fun, unique items on their menu - We discovered their crab rangoon burger and fries and wow... Let's just say it got me out of my bad mood after dealing with the cold!” - Yelp Review 

7. Kitchen Table

Slow food served fast.

1415 Farnam St | Downtown | kitchentableomaha.com 

Kitchen Table is similar to Block 16 in that it’s on the upscale side of lunch in Omaha and that they make their food from scratch using local ingredients. However, their offerings are slightly less adventurous - which we know might appeal to some!

Here you will find a small menu of snacks, salads, and sandwiches. Their Grilled Sweet Potato Jam sandwich is an upgrade from a PB&J. It’s made with roasted sweet potato, lentil smash, mozzarella, red onion jam, dukkah, cilantro, and grilled levain. Their Molly Grilled Cheese is another favorite. It’s made with fresh ricotta, mozzarella, roasted butternut squash, and reduced balsamic. 

They have kombucha on tap. In several flavors. We highly recommend you try their Tulsi Turmeric or Wild Berry. Did we mention that popcorn is served with every entree? What a treat!

“Had coffee with ginger syrup, a different sweet experience. Ordered Chile crisp egg biscuit sandwich, Wagyu beef patty, spiced butternut squash bread with apple sauce. Each entree was unique in its taste… Good value for $$, great service and yummy food.” - Yelp Review 

Now that you know lunch is indeed the most important meal of the day, which of these Omaha restaurants will you be going to for lunch? Will it be as simple as a giant slice of pizza, or as unique as something called Duck Duck Goose Fries and kombucha on tap? Will you be riding solo or dropping in on your lunch break with your coworkers? Will lunch now become a part of your routine or was it already your favorite part of your day? 

Let us know in the comments where you go and what you order! We love to hear from you!