The Ultimate Guide to Lunch at Tim Hortons
As a popular Canadian coffee shop chain, Tim Hortons serves up more than just steaming cups of coffee. They offer a hearty lunch menu filled with sandwiches, soups, wraps, chili dishes, and more.
But when exactly can you snag that BBQ beef sandwich or broccoli cheddar soup? Here‘s an in-depth look at everything you need to know about lunch hours and offerings at Tim‘s locations across the country.
Lunch Hours Vary By Location Type
Standard Tim Hortons locations switch from breakfast to lunch service around 10-11am on weekdays. 24-hour stores kick in lunch as early as 8am and keep it going all day. Urban shops tend to have later hours – until 8pm or so.
Check the store locator to confirm, but here are the typical timings:
| Location Type | Breakfast Ends | Lunch Begins | Lunch Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 10-11am | 10-11am | 3-5pm |
| 24-hour | 11am | 8am | 1-3am (limited late-night menu) |
| Urban | 11am | 11am | 8pm |
| Airport | 6am | 6am | Last departing flight |
So at an average suburban Tim Hortons, you can expect lunch service to start up around the 10 o‘clock hour.
In big cities, look for more extended hours into the dinnertime range. And 24-hour spots will welcome you for lunch any time from morning until night.
Lunch Competition Differs By Neighborhood
Tim Hortons may dominate Canada‘s coffee scene with a whopping 78% market share. But does their lunch stand up against quick service competitors?
Tims holds its own remarkably well – 4 out of 5 Canadians visit at lunch compared just 1 in 5 hitting Starbucks. And while McDonald‘s tops lunch traffic overall, Tim‘s beats them on customer satisfaction scores for food quality.
Tim Hortons clearly knows how to craft the sandwiches, soups, and wraps Canadian‘s crave at lunch. The trick becomes knowing which nearby quick-service chains pose the biggest competition based on your location.
In smaller communities, Tim‘s may reign supreme for all quick lunch bites. But in dense urban centers, you’ll also find Starbucks, McDonald’s, Subway, Wendys, and local cafes tempting residents. Understanding the options landscape can help optimize your Tims run.
Best Sellers – Customers Love Chili and Cold Cut Combo
When Tim‘s fans come in for lunch, what exactly are they ordering? Customer satisfaction surveys and sales data reveals some clear favorites:
Top 5 Purchased Lunch Items
- Chili w/ bun combo
- Cold cut deli combo
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Roast Chicken Wrap
- BLT Sandwich
The hearty chili seems to be a standout hit, while cold cut and roast chicken sandwiches also please crowds. Brothy, creamy soups remain classic accompaniments.
So if you also gravitate towards these customer favorites, you know you’ll be in good company!
Tips for Saving Money on Lunch
Lunch deals are fairly limited at Tim Hortons compared to morning discounts. But a few tips can still help you maximize value:
Go combo – Combo meals that bundle food and a drink tend to provide the best bang for buck compared to ordering items individually.
Use rewards – Register for the Tims Rewards app and collect points towards free food and drinks.
BYOC – Bring your own cup for 10¢ off coffee refills. Have tea instead? Bring your own mug for 20¢ off!
Choose chilli or soup – Dollar drink days apply to chilli and soup upgrades too. Pair with a sandwich combo on these discount days to get the whole meal for cheap!
With Sandwich Platters, Office Platters, Take-Ten snacks, and combo deals, Timmies still does their best value in the mornings though. So if you’re really pinching pennies, an early stop may serve you best!
Beating the Lunch Rush
Plan around the weekday lunch rush and you can avoid frustration and get your food faster. Here are some of the busiest times to watch for:
- 12:00pm – 1:00pm – The lunch hour hot spot
- 11:30am – Grab and go corporate crowds
- 11:50am – People aiming to catch the start of the noon rush
With so many loyal fans frequenting Tim Hortons, high demand at peak times is no surprise. The stores do remarkably well handling huge volumes, but you’ll almost always face shorter lines by arriving shortly before or after that hectic noon spike.
Of course, hoping to plan around the rush won’t always be realistic with school, job, or other schedules to manage. So if 12pm is your only option, just brace yourself! Nabbing that tasty turkey bacon club will still beat missing out.
Yes, You Can Order Lunch Ahead!
Love skipping queues by ordering in advance? You’ll be happy to know mobile ordering is available at Tim‘s!
Download the Tim Hortons app to place orders a day ahead or just 15 minutes before pickup. Customize all your sandwich ingredients, condiments, and sides to your liking too.
Then stroll in at your designated time and grab your freshly prepared meal from the Quick Pick-Up spot. No waiting around in lines trying to decide what you want. It’s an easy, efficient lunch solution!
Satisfy Your Lunch Cravings at Timmies!
Canadian‘s clearly love visiting Tim Hortons for convenient, craveable lunch bites. By understanding the typical lunch hours and planning around peak demand, you can maximize both savings and efficiency.
So next time hunger strikes around noon, load up your tray with customer favorites like chilli bowls, cold cut sandwiches, broccoli cheddar soup, or roast chicken wraps. And don‘t forget you can mobile order ahead to sail past the queues!
