Maximise your midday meal at these brilliant new lunch spots

The forgotten meal, standing unnoticed in the shadows of breakfast, brunch and dinner, lunch's whole existence is often seen merely as a way to escape the office for an hour of melancholy meal deals and sad noodle soups. But it need not be so – there are serious sandwiches, glorious grain bowls and swanky salads to be had if you know the right places to look. Take back your lunch hour with a grab from one of these three newly opened eateries in Shanghai.

Fresh-Off

Chef Austin Hu (Diner) gets behind another menu for more guilt-inducing gusto, teaming up with Shanghai-based foodie Jessica Chu to whip out sandwiches the likes of which we just don't have in this neck of the Mainland. Both Chu herself and the spark behind the sandwiches come 'fresh-off-the-boat' from Taiwan – hence the shop's name, inspired by popular stall Ying Yang Sanmingzhi ('Nutritious Sandwiches'), at Taiwan's street food haven Keelung Miaokou Night Market.

The bread 'boats' – or shall we say deep-fried canoes of carbolicious joy – are crisp and golden on the outside, soft and pillowy on the inside, really verging on the edge of savoury doughnut. Aside from The Classic with marinated egg, ham, veggies and sweet Kewpie mayo, these ships carry globally inspired cargo. The Oppa Fried Chicken is a hefty combination of Korean fried chicken, cabbage, pickled daikon and gochujang sauce, while the Thai-Tanic is crammed with grilled pork neck, pickled chillies and red onion, peanuts and coriander. They all go for 30-38RMB.

9 Ziyun Xi Lu (inside Hongqiao Park), near Zunyi Lu, Changing district.

Deli Boys

Current talk-of-the-town Dingxi Lu sandwich shop looks a lot like your classic NYC deli and appropriately slings large-and-in-charge American-style sandwiches and all-day breakfast. On the sandwich board sit drool-inducing choices like homemade lox on mini Montreal bagels with scallion cream cheese, pickled vegetables and microgreens (68RMB), the Moroccan Jumbo Grilled Meat and Cheese with harissa hummus and five kinds of deli meat on a challah roll (78RMB), a Wagyu portobello cheeseburger (78RMB) and more. Each sandwich is accompanied by heaping sides of coleslaw and fries.

The real standout on the Deli Boys ticket is the house-brined and smoked beef brisket, which plays a starring role in the Classic Montreal Beef Brisket sandwich typically spread with yellow mustard – or dill Dijon if you're a rebel – (medium for 73RMB/large for 88RMB) and the New York Reuben with coleslaw, melted cheese and 'secret sauce' (85RMB). Both allow you to vary your calorie count via the choice of lean, medium or fatty meat.

Lane 710, 20 Dingxi Lu, near Panyu Lu, Changning district.

WHEAT, Fumin Lu

The healthy eatery's shiny new Fumin Lu location is all a-buzz with energising eats and trendy thirst quenchers. Much bigger than the first location on Dagu Lu, WHEAT is filled with glowing, health-centric diners waiting for their beetroot hummus, pumpkin-kale hash, vegan lentil bowls and organic prosecco. There are salads that come in 'protein packed', 'body builder' and 'feel good', all day breakfasts, a variety of non-dairy milk options for your coffee and DIY bowls where you pick your protein, fibre, veg or carb base, healthy fats and sauce.

For a great lunchtime pick, go for the vegetarian sandwich (65RMB) on whole grain bread with avocado, roasted veggies, feta and house-made barbecue sauce that's really more like a smoky salsa. If you can't go a meal without meat, the chicken and avocado sandwich (69RMB) with 'butterless hollandaise' – a creamy sauce that's way better than you think it sounds – is also light, fresh and delicious.

291 Fumin Lu, near Changle Lu, Xuhui district.

More from Time Out Shanghai

Click below for more sandwiches