El Cami贸n 鈥� Ballard
Car: 7 minutes
Bus: 24 minutes
Don鈥檛 miss: $1.55 tacos
Love burritos? El Cami贸n has some of the best in the city. With two locations in the nearby Ballard neighborhood, a food truck and a sit-down restaurant, quality Mexican food is just a short bus ride away. The restaurant鈥檚 generous portions are ideal for hungry appetites or to save in the mini-fridge for a late night study snack. El Cami贸n also has a wide array of salsas that will appease both those with a high spice tolerance as well as more mild, avocado-based dips. It鈥檚 also the perfect spot to grab a breakfast burrito at any time of day, which is cause for celebration in itself.
Ballard Pizza Company
Car: 7 minutes
Bus: 25 minutes
Don鈥檛 miss: $2 pizza slices, 4-8 p.m.
A huge slice of pizza is a college favorite, but Ballard Pizza Company offers something a little bit different. Owned by famed 涩里番 restaurateur Ethan Stowell, BPC adds a bit of gourmet to the dish without spiking the value. While buying a whole pizza can steep the bill, stopping in for a quick slice or two is easy on your wallet. In the evenings, the shop also offers 鈥淔lour Hour鈥� with $2 slices. For the health conscious, they also have a variety of salads. If you鈥檙e feeling adventurous, pool some cash with friends and order a 鈥淏ig Moses鈥� 鈥� a mystery pizza that lives up to its massive name.
Dick鈥檚 Drive-In 鈥� Wallingford
(also in Ballard, Capitol Hill, Edmonds, Lake City, and Queen Anne)
Car: 12 minutes
Bus: 26 minutes
Don鈥檛 miss: $1.40 hamburgers
Longing for the old school days of drive-up burger joints with 鈥�50s pastiche? Dick鈥檚 Drive-In in Wallingford has you covered. No SPU residence hall experience is complete without joining your floormates on a late-night Dick鈥檚 run at least once. The iconic 涩里番 chain has multiple locations peppered throughout the city, but the Wallingford location has a certain charm to it. Grab a burger, fries, and a milkshake for just a few bucks. (The most expensive item on the menu is $3.10.) You can either eat in your car, the parking lot, or take it to go for a city adventure. These burgers are beloved just as much for their flavor as their value. They鈥檙e open to 2 a.m. as well, perfect for a study break or post-concert fuel-up.
Kwanjai Thai Cuisine 鈥� Fremont
Car: 7 minutes
Bus: 12 minutes
Don鈥檛 miss: $9.50 for most entrees
Located in a repurposed house in Fremont, Kwanjai Thai Cuisine is one of the many excellent Thai restaurants within our city. Scarf down some Phad Thai or curry to your liking of spiciness and down it with a refreshing Thai iced tea or coffee. The house provides a comforting, home-like feel for diners. The portions are large, making them great to split with a friend or to challenge the limits of your stomach. Their menu is expansive, so there鈥檚 plenty of reason to keep coming back and working your way through these delicious meals.