Your Guide to What's for Lunch in Springfield

Paneer Wrap
Taj Mahal Indian Restaurant
1250 E. Republic Rd., Springfield
The paneer is tender and spicy, the grilled veggies are satisfying, and the naan is supremely soft.

Chicken Tikka Naan’wich
Eurasia Coffee Co.
445 E. Commercial St., Springfield
Cilantro chutney and garlic yogurt sauce are the stand-out flavors in this grilled chicken tikka delight.

 Loukaniko Wrap
Greek Belly
320 E. Walnut St., Springfield
The snap of sausage, the heat of spicy feta dip and the crunch of fresh veggies—this wrap is divine.

Local Goat Salad
Derby Deli
2023 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
A sweet-and-savory masterpiece of dried dates that perfectly complement Terrell Creek goat cheese, walnuts and bacon.

Cajun Chicken Salad
St. Michael’s Restaurant & Italian Catering
301 South Ave., Springfield
A big-big bowl of greens, Cajun-spiced chicken, Gorgonzola cheese and sunflower seeds.

Couscous Salad
Beth's Bake Shoppe & Tea Room
1645 W. Republic Road, Springfield
Less lettuce, more couscous—plus cucumbers, peas, carrots, feta, roasted almonds and more.

Salmon Caesar Salad
Jimm’s Steakhouse & Pub
1935 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Perfectly cooked salmon is the main character in this classically delicious Caesar salad—great if you like a steakhouse vibe, but not steak.

Burnt & Bleu Salad
Gettin’ Basted
606 W. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa
Burnt ends play nice with bleu cheese, crispy onion straws and jalapeño vinaigrette.

Yum Woon Sen Salad
Thai Thai Cuisine
1615 W. 76 Country Blvd, Branson
There are clear noodles in this salad, but that doesn’t make it any less fresh. It’s packed with veggies and seafood and spiced with chli paste.

Buddha Bowl
The Press Coffee & Juice Bar
2710 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Spring mix is the base of this big, beautiful bowl. But it’s the toppings that leave us swooning (and feeling like a million bucks). You get roasted chickpeas and quinoa for protein; carrot, cucumber, onion and kale for that veggie crunch; and avocado for that creamy, dreamy flavor. We like to top this with The Press’s sesame sauce.

Hot Stone Bibimbap
Koriya
4121 S. Fremont Ave., Suite 128, Springfield
You can get cold bibimbap, and it’s super-refreshing. But trust us: You really need to try the hot stone version. It’s served in a seriously hot bowl that creates delightful crispy rice bits. It’s topped with your choice of protein (we love the tofu) and sauce (we like the spicy gochujang-based kochi sauce) and a ton of vegetables too.

BYO Poke Bowl
Craft Sushi
1251 E. Sunshine St., 1282 E. Republic Road, Springfield
Choose from five bases (we like either white rice or salad greens), eight proteins (the raw salmon is our fave) and a huge menu of toppings and sauces to build a bowl that will hit all your cravings at once. We recommend loading up on veggies and then adding the wasabi aioli and ginger sesame vinaigrette sauce.

Kimchi Tingle Bowl
Fresh Poke at 14 Mill Market
203 E. Mount Vernon St., Nixa
This texture bomb is an excellent choice for lovers of Korean flavors. The toppings include gochujang-honey soy sauce, Japanese mayo, puffed rice, seeds, green onions, cucumber, kimchi and edamame. You can pick either a salad or rice base, plus one of the six protein options. Spicy ahi tuna for us, please.

Tabbouleh Bowl
RISE
105 Park Central Square, Springfield
Every part of this surprisingly filling dish tastes oh-so-nourishing. It starts with a mix of grains  (farro, barley, quinoa) and is topped with beet hummus, cilantro-ginger chickpeas and crunchy pepitas. Then, of course, the veggie mix brings in a variety of fun textures with kale, green onions, cucumbers and carrots.

Italian Beef
D’Vine Delicatessen at 14 Mill Market
203 E. Mount Vernon St., Nixa
Roast beef, provolone, au jus, peppers, giardiniera

Tarragon Chicken Salad
Derby Deli
2023 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Chicken salad, applewood-smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato

New York–Style Pastrami
Queen City Deli
1647 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Brisket pastrami piled high, Jewish rye

Fried Chicken Sandwich
The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms
802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark
Crispy chicken, pimento cheese, pickled pepper, arugula

Cuban
Cafe Cubano
3650 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Slow-roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, mustard, pickles

Italian Scene
The Sandwich Scene
208 W. McDaniel St., Springfield
Italian meat, provolone, kalamata olives, dried tomatoes

Curry Chicken Salad
Tea Bar & Bites
621 S. Pickwick Ave., Springfield
Chicken salad with pecans, celery, creamy curry dressing

City Smokestack
City Butcher
3650 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
Beef brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, sausage

Juliet
Big Momma’s Coffee & Espresso Bar
217 E. Commercial St., Springfield
Tart apples, provolone, olive spread, cream cheese

Avocado Chicken
The Grotto West Coast Grill
301 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
Chicken breast, avocado, chipotle mayo, bacon

Fighter Pilot
The Sub Shop
1721 E. Seminole St. and 456 W. McDaniel St., Springfield
Pepperoni, salami, cheese, pepperoncini.

Karai Ramen
Karai Ramen & Handroll
640 W. Republic Road, Springfield
The tonkatsu bone broth that forms the base of this ramen is absolutely to-die-for. It’s deeply rich in flavor thanks to the 24 to 48 hours it takes to cook it. We recommend ordering it spicy with pork, and adding a seasoned soft boiled egg.

Spicy Beef Noodle Soup
Pho Kim
3433 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield
This Vietnamese soup has a broth that’s a spice-lover’s dream. It packs a comfortable amount of heat and is packed with rice noodles, rare eye round, tender meatballs, lemongrass, fresh herbs, lime and jalapeño slices.

Pho Tái
Bambu
1338 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield
This is the classic pho that dreams are made of. A beefy broth bursting with umami is filled with lots of rice noodles, thin slices of beef, green onion and cilantro. On the side, you get more herbs, lime wedges and jalapeños to customize your soup.

Khao Soi Curry Noodles
Rama Thai Café
1129 E. Walnut St., Springfield
Simplicity makes this dish excellent. An especially cravable curry broth warms the soul, and lots of tender egg noodles fill the belly. So satisfying!

Japanese Udon Bowl
Omo Japanese Soul Food
2101 W. Chesterfield St., Suite B102, Springfield
Fat, slippery udon noodles are just fun. This choose-your-own-adventure take on udon soup lets you customize the broth and the toppings.

Shroom n’Fu
Skully’s Ramen
1427 E. Cherry St., Springfield
An excellent option for vegetarians, this ramen’s main ingredients (aside from fresh noodles, of course) are fried tofu, marinated shiitake mushrooms and a mushroom broth. Additional veggies add color and texture too.

For the Sashimi Lover
Spicy Sashimi Salad from Momo Sushi & Grill
On Bottom: A bed of fresh greens
On Top: Slices of sashimi in several varities

For a Crunchy Handheld
Salmon Skin Handroll from Karai Sushi & Handroll
Inside: Perfectly crunchy salmon skin
Outside: Seaweed

For Perfect Nigiri
Tuna Sampler from Haruno Sushi Bar & Grill
On Bottom: Perfect pats of sushi rice
On Top: Five varieties of excellent tuna

For Something Light
Cherry Blossom Roll from Niji
Inside: Raw tuna, salmon, yellowtail, avocado
Outside: Pink soy paper

For an Indulgent Fried Roll
Ramil Roll from Nakato Japanese Restaurant
Inside: Fried shrimp, spicy crab, masago
Outside: Tempura and a sweet-spicy sauce

For Something a Little Fruity
Tuna Mango Avocado Roll from Kai
Inside: California roll
Outside: Tuna, avocado, mango

Sakura Special Combo
Sakura
3230 S. National Ave., Springfield
You can choose to include two entrees or three entrees when you order this bento box, making it a great choice for the truly famished. We like to order it with salmon teriyaki and donkatsu (fried pork cutlet). Alongside those proteins you also get miso soup, a side salad, white rice, fresh fruit, a fried spring roll and some tasty little pickles.

Bento Box Combo
Haruno
3044 S. Fremont Ave., Springfield
Start by picking your main protein: chicken, salmon or  beef bulgogi. Then pick your second option: a sushi roll, donkatsu, grilled mackerel or shrimp and veggie tempura. The box also comes with spinach salad, egg roll and fruit. We like to get tempura for that second choice because it comes with something unexpected and delicious: fried lotus root!

Korean Street Tacos
The Press Coffee & Juice Bar
2710 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield
Flour tortilla, spicy pork greens mix, pico de gallo

Spicy Babe Taco
Tinga Tacos
308 W. McDaniel St., Springfield
Flour tortilla, pork, taco rice, spicy verde sauce, pickled onion, carrots, lime crema

B.A. Baracus Taco
Team Taco
1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield
Corn tortilla, braised beef brisket, rojo sauce, cotija cheese, cilantro, onion

Bang Bang Tofu
Not’cho Ordinary Taco at 14 Mill Market
203 E. Mt. Vernon, Nixa
Corn tortilla, fried tofu, bang bang sauce, avocado salsa verde

Camaron Taco
I Love Tacos Taqueria
430 Broadview Pl., Springfield
Flour tortilla, grilled shrimp, chipotle sauce, coleslaw, pico de gallo, avocado

Tacos Especiales
Señor Julian Mexican Bar & Grill
3405 E. Battlefield, Springfield
Corn tortilla, carne asada, cilantro, onions, queso fresco, avocado

Jicama Taco
Mundos Latin Kitchen
5493 N. 17th St., Ozark
Jicama, coconut-breaded shrimp, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce

Tacos Authentico
Cesar’s Old Mexico
2627 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Corn tortilla, onion, cilantro, guacamole, Cesar’s pork

Kimchi Falafel Taco
The Wheelhouse
1845 E. Sunshine St., Springfield
Corn tortilla, falafal, homemade kimchi, chipotle aioli

Fish Taco
Springfield Brewing Co.
305 S. Market Ave., Springfield
Flour tortilla, beer-battered cod, fruit salsa, shredded greens

Pork Belly Banh Mi Taco
Civil Kitchen
107 Park Central Square, Springfield
Flour tortillas, pork belly, greens, sriracha mayo, pickled carrots

Smoked Salmon Toast
Aviary Cafe
2144 E. Republic Road, Springfield
Baguette with mascarpone, salmon, pickled onions, fried capers

The Bacon Toast
The Workshop at Finley Farms
802 Finley Farms Lane, Ozark
Sourdough with bacon, avocado, tomato, arugula, basil-mayo

Figgy Goat Toastie
Urban Grounds
5557 N. 21st St., Ozark
Sourdough with goat cheese, fig jam, prosciutto, apples

Elevated Egg Sandwich
First Watch
3103 E. Sunshine St., and 2946 S. National Ave., Springfield
The bacon at First Watch is legendary, and when you put it on a sandwich it’s next-level. The bun is soft brioche, and the toppings include lemony arugula, a gooey over-easy egg, smashed avocado and Gruyere cheese.

Cottage House Hashbrown Bowl
Sleepy Opossum Cafe
1427 E. Cherry St., Springfield
If you haven’t indulged in the cheesy hashbrown casserole from this spot, you’re missing out. It’s so good. In this dish, it’s married with fried eggs, braised greens, bacon, charred tomatoes, cottage cheese and chili crisp.

El Jefe Skillet
Gailey’s Breakfast Cafe
220 E. Walnut St., Springfield
Skillets are built for serious appetites, and this one packs big flavor. This one starts with home fried potatoes. They’re topped with eggs, chorizo, jalapeños, tomato, red onion, avocado queso and cilantro for a Tex-Mex taste.

Chicken N’ Waffle
Liege Love Waffle Co. at 14 Mill Market
With a bit of sweetness and a bit of spice, this dish hits all the tastebud hotspots. It has hand-battered chicken tenders, hot honey and a fluffy waffle. You can opt for maple syrup or plain honey if you don’t like heat.

Chicken Pot Pie
Prairie Pie
307 S. Jefferson Ave., Springfield
Prairie Pie’s reputation for ultra-tasty dessert pies precedes it—but the savory offerings are just as good! There are a few flavors, but you can’t go wrong with the classic chicken pot pie. A rich sauce surrounds tender chicken breast chunks, peas, carrots and the comforting flavors of rosemary, garlic and thyme.

Bangers and Mash Pasty
London Calling Pasty Co.
203 E. Mt. Vernon St., Nixa
Of all the dishes on this list, this one feels the most like cozying up under a warm blanket. Buttery mashed potatoes fill every bite, and the sausage is savory and delicious. It’s all packed into a tender crimped-edge crust sized just right for a handheld treat.

Jerk Chicken Patty
Jamaican Patty Co.
3439 S. Campbell Ave., and 301 Park Central West, Springfield
We love when a dish looks simple from the outside but is surprising on the inside, and the Jamaican patties fit the bill. There are several flavors, but we like the jerk chicken for those tasty Caribbean spices and tender bits of shredded chicken. And the pastry is perfectly flaky too.

Sausage Roll
Blue Heron Farm & Bakery
206 E. Commercial St., Springfield
The presentation of this sausage roll is so fun. It’s served upright in a little cardboard cup with skewered pickles and a bit of whole grain mustard for a handheld meal that’s savory, comforting and has a pleasant acidic zip on the side. Bonus: The sausage is homemade and so good.

Steak Empanada
Pampa Empanadas
3302 S. National Ave., Springfield
There are more than 25 empanada varieties at Pampa Empanadas, but we like the signature steak. It’s filled with tender pieces of beef, onions and peppers for a bit of a cheesesteak sammy vibe, but without the cheese. It’s all packed into a crimped pastry. These are small;  you’ll want to order two.

Pan Roasted Salmon
Farmers Gastropub
Pasta? Check. Fresh veg? Check. Perfectly prepared salmon? Check. This dish is perfection that hits all the high points.

Yucatan Shrimp
Catrinas Modern Mexican
Like a spicy bite? This dish packs some serious heat thanks to Indonesian sambal chili paste. It adds zing to the midday meal.

Don’t Go Bacon My Heart
Black Sheep
Bacon, sharp cheddar and garlic mayo make this burger an indulgence. Pair it with an order of the smoked French fries.

Ceviche Plate
Cafe Cusco
The addition of beans and rice turns this fresh, light and delightfully acidic ocean Wahoo ceviche into a hearty meal. It’s the brightest flavor on this list.

Hunan Beef
Leong’s Asian Diner
Super-tender slices of beef are served in a sauce that is mildly spicy and super satisfying. Order one of Leong’s famous egg rolls on the side.

The Ziti
Bambino’s Cafe
Pure comfort in a bowl, this baked ziti has a creamy tomato sauce and big chunks of super-tender braised beef in every indulgent bite.

Panang Curry
Thailand Station
Peas, carrots and bell peppers add crisp veg to this hearty coconut-accented curry. We order it with shrimp for a meal that makes us wiggle with joy.

Catfish Dinner
Queen City Soul Kitchen
This is home cooking that warms the heart. The catfish has a super-crispy cornmeal breading, and you can add a couple of the comforting sides.

Paneer Karahi
India Clay Oven
The paneer here is especially tender, making every bite of this saucy dish a delight. The addition of onion and bell pepper adds a little nourishment too.

Grab Your Girlfriends

Grab your girlfriends to have lunch at Tea Bar & Bites, where the patio is pretty, the mismatched table settings are charming and food is delish.

Make it a Date

Plan a lunchtime date with your sweetie at The Ozark Mill Restaurant at Finley Farms, where you can sneak in a cocktail by the river with your meal.

Impress a Client

Schedule a business lunch or meeting-plus-meal at Jimm’s Steakhouse & Pub, where you can pair professional vibes with stellar steaks.

Dine in a Flash

Squeeze good food into a super-speedy lunch break at Craft Sushi, where you can get something fresh and be in and out in no time at all.