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Sandwich on table
Sandwich on table
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UC Berkeley | Culture

VISITING BERKELEY? HERE ARE 5 RESTAURANTS YOU CANNOT MISS

Sage Gasson Student Contributor, University of California - Berkeley
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

With restaurants on every block and multiple cultural landmarks, Berkeley is the perfect college town. As people come from all over the state, country, and world to visit our home, they spend their time exploring the breathtaking UC Berkeley campus, but what to eat? 

1. Mezzo

Located on Telegraph, Mezzo is a college student favorite, serving classic breakfast pastries and a variety of sandwiches and salads. Because of its peak location and homey atmosphere, Mezzo is the best place to go when you’re looking for a bowl of comforting tomato soup or want to indulge in a California classic: avocado toast. Watch out for the line!

2. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

Think of your favorite pizza chain and throw it to the side, because Artichoke Basille’s Pizza will blow all of your expectations out of the water. Located next to student housing Unit 1 and another classic Berkeley restaurant, Top Dog, this pizzeria is perfect for late-night munchies. Open until 2AM on weekdays, and 3AM on weekends, any craving you have, whether it be for their classic Margherita or a couple slices of the Meatball Parm, you will go to bed satisfied after eating the perfect midnight snack.

pizza slice pulling from whole pizza
Pexels

3. Himalayan Bite

A favorite of mine, Himalayan Bite, is perfect for someone who is craving warm spices over rice and naan. The restaurant focuses on Indo-Chinese flavors, mixing cuisines into a beautiful fusion that has me returning every week. As someone who has consistent sniffles, their vegetable and chicken soups, depending on your preference, are perfect to cuddle up with when watching a movie. The spices of ginger, peppercorn, and garlic warm you from inside-out.

4. Yogurt Park

Adored by all (except for the lactose-intolerant), Yogurt Park is a Berkeley staple located right across from campus and has been there almost fifty years. Best known for their generous servings, it’s common to walk around Durant and Telegraph seeing students holding their cup of froyo, enjoying the treat no matter the weather. Again, beware of the line!

5 Ice cream cones
Photo by Courtney Cook from Unsplash

5. Binge coffee house

Berkeley is in a matcha chokehold, every cafe serving their take on the earthy and sweet beverage. However, no one does it better than Binge Coffee House. With multiple flavors, including strawberry and banana, along with seasonal flavors such as blueberry and peach, Binge is carrying the Berkeley matcha scene. Additionally, they serve banh mi and pandan waffles. There are two locations with one closer to downtown Berkeley and one right across campus, so it’s perfect for whatever you’re doing wherever you’re doing it!

From froyo to tandoori chicken, these local businesses cannot be beat!

Sage Gasson

UC Berkeley '29

Sage is currently a student at UC Berkeley studying Political Economy. That might sound intense (and it definitely keeps her busy), she has always been fascinated by how laws, politics, and money shape the world around us. When she's not writing, you can find her working on social media gigs or watch puppy videos.

When she's not working or studying, Sage looks into niche history facts and wanders around Berkeley in search of the best chai lattes. She's also been involved in community work for years, from volunteering at local food pantries to being part of Girl Scouts. At the end of the day, she's happiest when she's learning something new, creating memories, and connecting with fellow writers!