Ever since freshman year began, I’ve been spending WAY more money on food than I intended to. I’m sure most freshmen can relate to this, considering that the dining hall food isn’t all that great and can definitely be very hit or miss. I’ve tried a decent amount of food places near campus, so here are my top picks (in no particular order) for when you want to grab a bite to eat.
Gyro Delicious (https://www.yelp.com/biz/gyro-delicious-austin): I recently decided to try this place since I passed it almost every day on the way to classes. It’s located right next to Dobie on 21st street. So if you’re ever near South campus studying at PCL or after a workout at Greg and need a bite to eat, Gyro Delicious is definitely a good option. They are a food truck that has a good array of options (including falafel as a vegetarian option) for a decent price. I got the gyro plate that comes with gyro meat, salad, rice, white sauce, and red sauce. It came out to just above $10, which is a great deal for the amount of food you get as well. Definitely a must-try!
Cava (https://cava.com/locations/the-drag-tx): I’m sure you all have heard of Cava, but in case you haven’t, I’d describe it as a Mediterranean Chipotle. The Cava closest to campus is on Guad and is definitely closer to north campus near Moody and Kinsolving. They offer bowls or pitas and have so many different options to choose from. I almost always get the spicy lamb meatballs and do half rice and half salad with so many great toppings. The portion sizes are pretty big so I almost always have leftovers which are super nice for college students. It does get pretty busy around lunch hour though, so keep that in mind when going. It’s a super great, balanced meal.
Kbop (https://www.orderkbopatx.com/): I’m not even ashamed to say I go here probably once a week. I LOVE korean food, so this place is always just so good. Kbop is also on Guad, but definitely in the south campus area-pretty close to MLK street. I’ve gotten their bibimbap (rice, meat, veggies), kimbap (Korean-style sushi rolls), and their boba. All of it was SO good. Highly recommend it, and the people working there are so nice as well.
Torchys (https://torchystacos.com/): I’m sure everyone has heard of Torchy’s Tacos by now. It’s a chain that actually started as a food truck here in Austin, TX. They serve Tex-Mex style tacos that are “damn good,” always. This is a sit-down restaurant that’s on north campus so if you have a little bit of extra time for a meal, this is a great spot. I always love their Trailer Park (fried chicken) taco as well as The Wrangler (breakfast taco that’s served all day with egg and beef brisket). You can also never go wrong with their queso.
Raku Sushi (https://www.rakusushiaustin.com/): I’ve only gotten food from here once, but when I did it was amazing. This is a Japanese restaurant that’s on west campus on Rio Grande St. I will say that this place is a little bit pricier than the others, but they always have combos and deals for lunch which is incredible. They also have great vegetarian options, which I love. I haven’t checked out their sit-down area, since the one time I ordered from there, it was for takeout. I will say, they were super efficient and had my food ready within about 20 minutes!
Next time you are wanting to try a new place for lunch near campus or just want a break from dining hall food for a day, try out one of my top picks! You won’t be disappointed.