How to Eat Cheap at the University of California Berkeley

Berkeley, California is a cornucopia of cheap eats. The area surrounding the University of California at Berkeley is loaded with a variety of inexpensive cuisines as diverse and eclectic as the people of Berkeley. Most restaurants and snack bars are geared toward students and the motley crowd that hangs around Berkeley.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Head to the South Side of the UC Berkeley campus for the cheapest food. The area around the intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Durant Avenue has some classic eateries that have filled the bellies of generations of Berkeley students. The most famous of all is Blondie's Pizza on Telegraph Avenue one block south of the campus. Around the corner on Durant Avenue is Top Dog. This shack sells a wide variety of hot dogs and brats for a few dollars apiece. For dessert, cross the street and check out King Pin Donuts. This Berkeley institution makes donuts the old fashioned way by hand. Go there late at night while they are making them and they will hand you one fresh out of the fryer. There are also many small Asian restaurants nearby to satisfy any craving.

2. Stay on campus for great food to go. While classes are in session, UC Berkeley is dotted by portable food shacks. They appear early in the morning and serve hungry students all day long. A large concentration of them accumulate just south of the Sproul Hall administration building. You can get everything from a teriyaki chicken bowl to a pita bread falafel sandwich to a fruit smoothie.

3. Enjoy the cafe experience. Berkeley had cafes long before they were chic. Sit down, order a drink and soak in the atmosphere. Cafes also have reasonably priced food to accompany their drinks. In fact, many restaurants double as cafes and many cafes have menus worthy of a full service restaurant. Caffe Strada at 2300 College Avenue is a student favorite. Also try Caffe Roma at College and Ashby and Yali's on Oxford just south of Hearst.

4. Dine on some of the most delicious and inexpensive sushi in the world. In Berkeley there is a sushi restaurant on every block. On some blocks there are two or three. The competition ensures reasonable prices and high quality. One of the best bargains near the UC Berkeley is CU Japanese Fusion at 2152 Center Street. It is just a few steps west of the campus. They have two for one sushi specials every day. This is top quality sushi, not bargain basement discount fish.

5. Splurge a bit at Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto. The area is northwest of the UC Berkeley campus around Shattuck Avenue from Rose Street on the north to Hearst Street on the south. Food here isn't as cheap but many restaurants have organic themes that appeal to Berkeley regulars. The very first Peet's coffee is here.Sample some cheese at The Cheese Board, try one of the countless varieties of pasta at Phoenix Pastificio or enjoy the delicious roasted chicken at Poulet. If you want to big splurge, dine at Chez Panisse. It is the restaurant of celebrity chef Alice Waters. There is a fixed price menu and you eat what they serve you. Make reservations months in advance.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• How to Lose 30+lbs Guaranteed. Try it Free.