Between The Bun Deli & Cafe

Takeout sandwiches don’t always mean a sad desk lunch. Between The Bun Deli & Cafe keeps the format simple—bread, filling, done—without skimping on the neighborhood feel. The spot sits at 135 E 125th St, where the sidewalk hums with the kind of energy that makes a quick bite feel like part of the daily rhythm rather than an afterthought.

You can walk in and eat on the premises or grab your order and go. Either way, the counter moves fast enough to keep pace with the block outside. Delis like this one often become the default lunch stop for nearby offices and construction crews, and the menu here reflects that no-frills reliability—nothing fussy, just solid sandwiches and sides that travel well.

A call to (646) 649-3211 will put your name on the pickup list, or you can show up and wait the few minutes it takes for the next batch to come off the griddle. For directions, check the map. The corner of East 125th and Lexington has seen plenty of turnover, but places that serve a steady lunch crowd tend to stick around.