NYCers are looking for delicious lunch options that don’t drain your wallet and soul — check out these spots all under $20

These return nan “mid” retired of Midtown.

With NYC workers flocking backmost to nan agency successful grounds numbers, moving stiffs are seeking speedy and tasty luncheon options without paying done nan nose.

More often than not, they extremity up pinch nan ubiquitous “sad” salad, an costly amalgam of acold rabbit foods crunched catatonically astatine one’s table while 1 scrolls societal media. 

Hawked astatine specified basking spots for illustration Sweetgreen and Chopt, these soulless roughage bowls person inundated Midtown, offering small sustenance for nan ever-growing throngs of table jockeys successful NYC, wherever post-pandemic visits to agency buildings successful April were conscionable 5.5% beneath 2019 levels — a nationalist record, according to the Placer.ai platform.

“[It’s] difficult to find nutrient that really tastes bully [and] that’s not conscionable rushed,” Sade Quianes, who useful for a streaming institution successful nan city, told The Post.

The “$20 salad” was notably lampooned connected TikTok by vocalist “Awkward” Marina Sneider, who crooned successful her viral ditty, “it isn’t moreover bully and you’re not moreover wealthy, but you request each your co-workers to deliberation you’re ace healthy.”

Thankfully, location is simply a increasing fraternity of Midtown fast-casual restaurants that supply convenience without sacrificing spirit — and they’re progressively eating “sad” salads for lunch.

As a work to hangry workers, present are 5 of nan best, because Gotham deserves a amended people of midday meal.

They’re diamonds successful nan rough-age

Seoul nutrient astatine SOPO

SOPO achieves nan difficult task of condensing Korean staples for illustration beef bulgogi and crispy scallion dumplings into 1 convenient takeout dish.

Opened pinch nan intent of bringing “Michelin-quality Korean nutrient to Midtown,” SOPO (whose sanction intends “Parcel” successful Korean) is helmed by co-founder Tae Kim and Chef Dennis Hong, an alum of Michelin-starred Le Bernadin.

“We wanted to do a well-executed type that’s very delicious, but it’s besides hassle-free,” Kim told The Post. He was inspired successful portion by his years moving astatine a Tribeca slope wherever he’d person to scrounge up edible eats disconnected Seamless connected a $25 stipend.

To order, customers prime their bases ranging from crockery to Korean purple atom (a operation of achromatic and achromatic rice), proteins specified arsenic steak aliases chicken, garnishes for illustration crispy seaweed and sides including kimchi and soy-dipped eggs. These tin beryllium topped pinch a palette of sauces ranging from a Korean chili paste to 1 pinch perilla leaves, tarragon and coconut yogurt.

Total value for a Seoul Steak Signature Plate: $16.48.

“You tin travel present and get authentic Korean nutrient and still very affordable,” gushed Quianes while toting a crockery of dumplings and rice, which is cooked on-site successful oliva lipid and elephantine sheets of Korean kelp for maximum umami.

One quality is that SOPO doesn’t “mix” thing together to debar discordant spirit combos. “It’s intended that everything is had separately arsenic its ain gourmet dish, because I consciousness for illustration that’s nan only measurement that each permutation really works,” said Kim.

Those who want their luncheon successful wrap shape tin opt for nan kimbap, Korean “sushi rolls” featuring chicken, beef, tofu and much fillings ($13.49) that are hand-rolled successful beforehand of customers and swaddled successful foil to spell — fundamentally SOPO’s reply to Chipotle.

SOPO, 463 Seventh Ave. betwixt W. 35th and 36th St.

The Toast Of Midtown

Healthful toast and juice bars person go almost cliche successful NYC, but this recently opened Washington, DC-based transplant elevates nan well-trodden conception pinch responsibly originated and unsocial accoutrements.

Some of nan Gourmet Toasts, which are served atop bloodcurdlingly-crunchy breadstuff arsenic large arsenic a conflict cruiser, include Spicy Crab ($17) pinch lump crab, melted Swiss and Fontina cheese, tomatoes and much — for illustration a jumbo crostini.

Other toppings see avocado mash — nan millennial catnip — prosciutto and moreover peanut food and berry jam that’s made in-house sans preservatives. Those looking for thing lighter tin opt for their consequence and granola bowls and lavation it down pinch their all-natural smoothies aliases cold-pressed juices.

Toastique, 445 Fifth Ave. adjacent E. 39th St.

Dim sum and substance

With its mini meal baskets of chickenhearted feet and lotus-wrapped sticky rice, dim sum mightiness not look for illustration office-friendly fare. Thankfully, Dim Sum Sam makes nan accepted Cantonese sit-down brunch to spell and astatine immoderate clip of time — for illustration China’s type of Denny’s all-day meal but precocious quality. They boast 4 locations crossed municipality successful FiDi, Chinatown, nan Flatiron territory and a recently opened branch successful Times Square.

Unlike galore fast-casual options, Dim Sum Sam besides notably handcrafts each portion of dim sum fresh.

Along pinch bamboo handbasket standbys for illustration chickenhearted feet, shrimp dumplings and Portuguese ovum tarts, nan dim sum depot besides hawks portable bowls. These see BBQ roast pork complete atom ($11.95), shrimp and pork wonton crockery ($8.95) and moreover a speedball of roast duck and pork complete atom ($13.95).

“If you can’t find your Chinese aunt aliases mom successful nan morning, I cognize wherever they are,” quipped frugal foodie @val.am successful a video reappraisal of Dim Sum Sam.

Dim Sum Sam, 240 W. 40th St. betwixt Seventh and Eighth Avenue

Midtown Eastern

This Lebanese juggernaut offers nan aforesaid choose-your-own-adventure format arsenic its “sad” crockery counterparts, but pinch vibrant toppings for illustration beef shawarma and lamb kebab complete vermicelli atom that’s adorned pinch yogurt, hummus and paired pinch pita (for astir $13.99) — they’re not trading glorified airplane nutrient here.

Founder Hady Kfoury told The Post that NAYA distinguishes itself via value components for illustration tahini and pickles originated from Lebanon and hummus that’s soaked for 24 hours, boiled each day, blast chilled and whacked pinch tahini and lemon.

He besides said that nan concatenation makes nutrient that’s difficult for nan mean navigator to recreate. “During nan pandemic, everybody baked breadstuff astatine home, everybody created salads,” Kfoury said. “You’re not capable to replicate NAYA astatine location because of nan ingredients.”

Kfoury said he hopes to person 45 branches by nan extremity of this twelvemonth pinch nan latest 1 opening adjacent Rockefeller Center connected June 11 if each goes well.

NAYA, 9 W. 42nd St. adjacent Fifth Avenue

Treasure of nan Sierra Madras

Also perfect for casual fry-day is this Boston transplant, which precocious opened a caller branch successful Times Square and specializes successful dosas, a parchment-thin South Indian savory atom and lentil crepe.

They person astir 30 customizable options, ranging from savory options for illustration spicy potatoes ($16.33), Lays’ Indian-flavored chips and lamb to unorthodox saccharine versions specified arsenic strawberry jam and Nutella.

Other notable lunchable fare includes chaats, fried mixed topped pinch various herbs and chutneys, champion washed down pinch a tangy, creamy mango lassi.

Madras Dosa, 30 Rockefeller Center, Concourse Level