Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter.

Exploring and finding new food spots is a love language within itself and there’s no denying it. For those quality time people, having someone to be a foodie with is probably one of the most enjoyable things to do. However, solo dining moments in a college town are just as popular and fun. 

With Cal knowing to have popular, delicious eateries here are five of my favorite foods I’ve tried in Berkeley. (A lot of these spots will be listed based on price-to-portion fairness and consistency!) 

1. Thai Basil

Thai Basil is probably one of my favorite Thai restaurants here in Berkeley. The pad see-ew and pad Thai, are my go-to’s at any Thai place and a solid choice no matter where you go. There are so many great Thai restaurants in Berkeley but I’ve found that Thai Basil is the best bang for your buck. The portions, consistency/flavor, and prices are pretty unmatched as some other places tend to have higher prices and smaller portions. Getting our money’s worth as college students is a top priority when eating out and Thai Basil will give you just that no matter what you order! 

Peanut Noodle Salad
Alex Frank / Spoon

2. Crave Subs 

With Crave Subs having a pretty wide range of sandwiches and options, the prices are pretty fair in comparison to the portion size! My personal favorite is Tom and Jerry on sourdough! The consistency is great and the variety of sandwiches for meat-lovers, vegans, or vegetarians is so great for such a diverse area like Berkeley. 

3. Little Belgium Waffles 

One of my roommate and I’s favorite spots to get a sweet treat to improve our week. The create-your-own is the best value for those who like their waffles, simple and to the point!

The Lalaguy Hands On Breakfast Date Waffles And Hashbrowns
Her Campus Media

4. 1951 Coffee Company 

Their iced latte is probably one of the best lattes I’ve had here in Berkeley! It’s light, flavorful, and simple. Not only are the lattes amazing, but it’s also a perfect study spot before class, only two blocks from campus!

5. Noodle Dynasty

When you walk by this place, you are guaranteed to find a long line of people waiting to get into this hotspot. Not only is it delicious, but the portions are also actually insane. Nothing sounds better than paying $20 for a giant bowl of hot noodles in the cold Berkeley winter. The house-special noodle soup is so delicious, and the meat is packed with flavor and tender! 

Emily Yang

UC Berkeley '24

Emily is a student at Berkeley majoring in Media Studies from Southern California expecting to graduate in Spring 2024. Being on the writing team she gets to express her hobbies of reading, watching movies, going to concerts, eating good food, and hanging out with friends through the articles she writes. She hopes to work in the fields of media, entertainment, and fashion.