Meals feuds: Berkeley versus Palo Alto

A few of the most important considerations of school college students when on the lookout for off-campus eating choices are price and ambiance. Discovering comfy, cost-friendly choices is a vital side of school life, although it may be a troublesome process.

“Two of the preferred eateries in Palo Alto which might be extra inexpensive are Mendocino Farms, which is a daily sandwich and salad place, and Ramen Nagi, which is the most effective ramen on the town,” mentioned David Dunn ’23.

Mendocino Farms sits at 167 Hamilton Ave., with a big selection of things starting from sandwiches to salads to steak and rooster bowls. The associated fee ranges from $12 to $15 for many gadgets. Ramen Nagi, at 541 Bryant St., has a smaller menu than Mendocino Farms however features a make-your-own ramen bowl in addition to pre-selected ramen, all starting from $13 to $15.

Although priciness can discourage college students from sure eating places, college students need meals that reminds them of house. Ramen Nagi does this for Dunn.

“For a really white household in Tennessee, we ate a whole lot of Japanese meals in our house. My dad and mom lived in Japan for some time and introduced a whole lot of stuff again, so after I go to Japanese eating places, it’s like a style of house,” Dunn mentioned.

The wrestle to search out and get to homey and inexpensive spots isn’t a Stanford-specific downside. College students at Berkeley likewise expertise this frustration in a city identified for its quite a few meals choices.

“Quick meals is banned on campus, so low cost meals is already exhausting to search out,” mentioned Berkeley sophomore Layla Metni, referring to the truth that there are not any quick meals eating places immediately on Berkeley campus. “The ‘Asian Ghetto’ comes shut.”

The Durant Meals Court docket, identified colloquially as “Asian Ghetto,” is a set of low cost Asian meals eating places only a block away from Berkeley’s campus. Some pupil favorites embody Punjabi Dhaba, Steve’s Korean BBQ, Thai Basil and Katsumi Sushi.

“They’ve many tables outdoors. It’s only a actually good spot. It’s the place I had my first date with the individual that I’m now with, and it’s the place I went after the primary time I went to a celebration from the frat row,” Metni mentioned.

“If you happen to mentioned ‘Asian Ghetto,’ I feel any Berkeley pupil would know precisely what you’re speaking about,” Metni added.

The abundance of reliably good and inexpensive meals choices in Berkeley compensates for the truth that for college students who reside off campus (about 74% of all college students), meal plans price an extra charge.

“Most sophomores, juniors and seniors take the bus to Dealer Joe’s and reside on groceries as a result of it’s simply cheaper,” Metni mentioned.

Proximity can also be an necessary consider figuring out whether or not or not college students go off campus for meals.

“In comparison with Berkeley, the eating places [in Palo Alto] are positively barely larger high quality, however at a worth, actually,” mentioned Berkeley junior Davis Leland. “The stroll to downtown Palo Alto can also be somewhat farther, however the outlets are bigger, cleaner and in a tighter space. It does appear, nonetheless, that the overall buyer for a downtown Palo Alto restaurant isn’t a pupil, whereas in Berkeley it’s. Although I don’t know the ins and outs of Stanford eating, I think about {that a} meal plan is perhaps simply as costly as consuming out, however way more handy.”

The pattern in low cost meals over high quality meals isn’t a coincidence. Decisions for fast and inexpensive selections are a lot slimmer.

“I want Palo Alto simply had a pleasant quick meals joint, like a Elevating Canes. I don’t suppose that Palo Alto actually has an indulgent, kind-of-bad-for-you restaurant,” Dunn mentioned.

The closest Elevating Canes is, actually, nearer to Berkeley in Oakland. Stanford freshman Matthew Gück lately went there.

“I made the 40 minute trek to Canes as a result of Canes fulfills my emotional and dietary wants like no different,” Gück joked. He grew up going to Elevating Canes in Texas and wished a style of house.

Favourite eating places are an necessary side of the school expertise for a lot of throughout the Bay. It’s liberating to discover a place that belongs to you and your pals outdoors of your house.

In Berkeley, Metni mentioned that she “would go [to Niko Sushi] each different Tuesday with my greatest good friend in freshman yr. We’d watch ‘The Bachelor’ with our headphones in whereas we ate.”

In Palo Alto, it’s barely more durable to search out these kinds of eating places.

“That is the issue with Silicon Valley,” Dunn mentioned. “There’s probably not wherever that I’m going that makes me really feel like the faculty expertise.”