Is anyone more adept at sniffing out dining deals than a college student? Typically short on cash, time and sometimes even transportation, Arizona State University students quickly learn which nearby restaurants offer good but inexpensive food.
The only problem is — with more than 60,000 students at ASU — the most popular places usually are packed. The next two months are the exception, of course. So here are nine places near ASU worth checking out before the hordes of hungry students return to campus in August.
The Chuck Box: There’s nothing fancy about this dimly lit, low-ceilinged burger shack, but it’s been grilling some of the Valley’s best burgers for more than 35 years. Their signature, one-third-pound The Big One will set you back less than $4. 202 E. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 968-4712, thechuckbox.com.
Dilly’s Deli: You’ll need both hands to handle just half of one of the huge sandwiches at Dilly’s, which also puts fresh-baked bread to good use as bowls for soup. There’s another popular location near Mesa Community College. 414 W. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 929-0111; 3330 S. Price Road, Tempe, (480) 491-1196, dillysdeli.com.
Restaurant Mexico: Now in its fourth location — all in the same half-mile area — this longtime downtown Tempe favorite continues to dish out tacos, burros and enchiladas, most with crumbled white cheese instead of melted yellow cheese. All menu items are less than $10. 423 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 967-3280.
Cheba Hut: This tongue-in-cheek sandwich shop (pictured above), decorated with plastic marijuana plants, offers delicious “toasted” subs with monikers like Majic Mushrooms, Thai Stick and Chronic. It also has an MCC location. 960 W. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 446-0088; 1710 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, (480) 649-7827; chebahut.com.
Plaid Eatery: Vegans especially love this hippie-friendly hangout, but carnivores also will find lots to their liking on Plaid’s Indian-Asian-Caribbean menu of panini sandwiches and entrée “Plaidders.” Check out the local art on the walls while you wait for your food. 1044 S. Terrace Rd., Tempe, (480) 394-9424.
Sacks: Self-proclaimed experts in “The Art of Sandwicherie,” Sacks’ palette includes such tributes as the Dali (egg salad and bacon), the O’Keefe (chicken and mushrooms) and the Mona (salmon and avocado). All are served in a sack with a fresh-baked cookie. 35 E. Ninth St., Tempe, (480) 966-9266; 839 W. University Drive, (480) 967-2980; sacks.info.
Simply Burgers: This transplanted Gilbert eatery serves all kinds of burgers — American Kobe beef, Angus beef, free-range chicken, salmon, ahi tuna and veggie — as well as wraps, salads and pizzas. Be sure to try the sweet potato fries. 580 S. College Ave., Tempe, (480) 621-7373, simply-burgers.com.
Slices: Summer is your best chance to get one of the few lunchtime seats at this shoebox-sized pizzeria, where $3 gets you a huge slice of chicken parmigiana, meat lovers’ or baked eggplant pizza. 11 E. Sixth St., Tempe, (480) 966-4681; 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 966-2021; slicespizzajoint.com.
Cornish Pasty Co.: Pasties, also known as oggies, are oversized turnovers traditionally filled with steak and potatoes. This narrow shop’s more exotic fillings range from chicken alfredo to Philly cheesesteak to chicken tikka masala. Look for a Mesa location to open soon. 960 W. University Drive, Tempe, (480) 894-6261, cornishpastyco.com.
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