These Are The 35 Top Restaurant Delivery Joints According To College Students
If there’s one thing that college kids are good at (besides getting plastered by night and blowing through 10-page essays by day), it’s knowing where to find fantastic grub.
Spoon University collaborated with GrubHub via Snapchat to poll American students on their favorite delivery spots, and the results are in—we now have a mega munchie list of the 35 best delivery spots in US college towns, and they’re just as wild as you’d hope for. Mac ‘n’ cheese hot dogs, vegan sushi, and poke tacos are only a few of the unique dishes that these joints offer.
Did we mention that everything on this diverse list is available for delivery? Let’s do the math: home is where the heart is, and the way to a heart is through the stomach. Therefore, no matter how homesick you are, food is the cure.
So whether you’re bundled up and hungry in a Virginia Tech dorm room or have an empty tum after an intense rager at UCSD, feel instant comfort by indulging in these fabulous college town eateries.
Post originally written for Spoon University by Nancy Chen
1. Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX): Velvet Taco
Photo courtesy of Velvet Taco
Not only is it open until 4 am for all your late-night taco cravings, it has some of the most unique taco combos anywhere. The ahi poke taco is a seafood lover’s dream come true and the burger taco is a hybrid of what is arguably the two best foods on earth: burgers and tacos.
2. University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): Sabrina’s Café
Photo courtesy of Sabrina’s Cafe
Confession from U Penn students: Drexel has better food options nearby. Prime example is Sabrina’s, the go-to brunch spot. Yes, you can get brunch delivered so you don’t even have to get out of bed. #winning
3. University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA): Little Nippers II
Photo by Abby Wang
No more cardboard-tasting pizza. Even drunk you deserves better, so treat yo’self to Lil Nip’s pepperoni/sausage pizza.
4. New York University (New York, NY): Beyond Sushi
Photo by Katherine Baker
You wouldn’t think vegan sushi is any good, but it is. And we guarantee you won’t feel like shit after eating it.
5. Emory University (Atlanta, GA): Pizza Bella
Photo courtesy of Sophie Smith
Their pizza is hand-tossed and made with flour all the way from Naples. So basically you have no excuse to order Domino’s again.
6. Indiana University (Bloomington, IN): The Big Cheeze
Photo by Claire Wagoner
Your dreams have come true, because this food truck delivers. Now you can chow down on a mac ‘n cheese grilled cheese in the comfort of your own home, without anyone judging (or you having to share).
7. University of California San Diego (San Diego, CA): Little Korea
Photo courtesy of Little Korea
If you go to UCSD and you don’t have a car, good luck getting anything other than dining hall food. Buuut good thing Little Korea delivers — you don’t even have to venture off campus to get quality Korean comfort food.
8. Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): Purity Ice Cream
Photo courtesy of Yelp
Netflix and chilling has never been easier. Who needs Ben and Jerry’s when you can get Purity’s wide range of flavors all delivered to your apartment?
9. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL): D.P. Dough
Photo by Armin Nayak
Pizza is good, but calzones are better. D.P. even has a “Calzone of the Day,” so you now have an excuse to order from them every single day. We won’t judge if you do.
10. University of Maryland (College Park, MD): Sardi’s Pollo a La Brasa
Photo courtesy of Yelp
If you’re ever starving, Sardi’s is the place to go. You can get the 1/4 a chicken, which comes with two sides and will leave you more than stuffed, but you can also get 1/2 a chicken if you’re feeling ambitious. And we’ll let you in on our little secret: you’re getting 25% more food by ordering delivery than by eating in the restaurant. Score.
11. Northwestern University (Evanston, IL): Peeled Juice Bar
Photo courtesy of Peeled Juice Bar
Being healthy has never been easier. And you can take all the Insta-pics you want without looking like a basic bitch.
12. Northeastern University (Boston, MA): Pho Basil
Photo courtesy of Dylan Khor
More often than not, Boston weather is shitty. So stay home in your PJs and order a steaming bowl of pho.
13. Yale University (New Haven, CT): Jake’s Diggity Dogs
Photo courtesy of Jake’s Diggity Dogs
Mac ‘n cheese. On hot dogs. No other explanation needed.
14. University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI): New York Pizza Depot
Photo courtesy of New York Pizza Depot
All entrees come with their famous garlic knots, so just order any entree because the garlic knots are the star of the show anyway.
15. University of Oregon (Eugene, OR): Wild Duck Cafe
Photo courtesy of Wild Duck Cafe
Not all delivery food is cheap and crappy, and Wild Duck proves that. You can get high-end and local food, as well as brunch — sourdough pancakes in bed, anyone?
16. Penn State University (State College, PA): Gumby’s Pizza
Photo by Spoon PSU
If you don’t know Gumby’s Pokey-Stix, do you even go here?
17. Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA): Fiorella’s Express
Photo courtesy of Yelp
Let’s be real here — sometimes you’re really craving homestyle Italian food and the North End is way too far. Fiorella’s is Italian comfort food at its best and has free delivery, so you might as well order in, pour yourself a glass of wine and pretend you’re in Italy.
18. Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA): Cream
Photo courtesy of Cream
Ice cream sandwiches, delivered. That is all.
19. Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA): Chinese Kitchen
Photo courtesy of Chinese Kitchen
Chinese food can be hard to find around here, but Chinese Kitchen’s got you covered. Bonus points to them for getting you your food faster than the GrubHub estimate.
20. University of Texas (Austin, TX): Black’s BBQ
Photo courtesy of Yelp
University of Texas students are #blessed because they can get BBQ from one of the best places in Texas delivered. So #blessed.
21. Brown University (Providence, RI): Bagel Gourmet
Photo by Maclaine Lehan
Sometimes you’re hungover and really need a bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. And sometimes you really just need a bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel, period.
22. University of Georgia (Athens, GA): Taqueria Tsunami
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Photo by Jane Mo
If you haven’t tried Latin-Asian fusion, you should. Taqueria Tsunami’s Asian nachos are a good place to start.
23. Harvard University (Cambridge, MA): OTTO
Photo courtesy of Otto Pizza
OTTO’s creations are fancy, creative and a definite step up from your typical college pizza.
24. Duke University (Durham, NC): The Palace International
Photo courtesy of The Palace International
If you want to try East African food without having to leave your room, much less America, The Palace International is the place to order from. Especially since their fried plantains are the bomb.
25. University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA): Ivy Provisions
Photo by Elizabeth Jerakis
There’s not a bad sandwich at this place. So no matter what you order, there’s a 100% chance you’ll be satisfied.
26. Notre Dame University (South Bend, IN): Blaze Pizza
Photo courtesy of Blaze Pizza
Fresh, flatbread-style pizzas that you can order online and customize? Sign us up.
27. University of California Berkeley (Berkeley, CA): El Burro Picante
Photo courtesy of Yelp
You can’t go wrong with Mexican food in California, as all Californians know. An added bonus? Everything is under $10 and there’s free delivery.
28. University of Rochester (Rochester, NY): Dogtown
Photo courtesy of Dogtown
Rochester is famous for their garbage plates, which Dogtown has plenty of. But they also have a variety of specialty hot dogs (including veggie dogs for all you vegetarians out there). It’s takeout only, but their hot dogs are worth getting out of your PJs for.
29. Texas A&M University (College Station, TX): Ozona’s Bar and Grill
Photo courtesy of Les “Texas Foodie!” R.
This place is on the pricier side, but when you want good delivery food (like a queso catfish platter) delivered right to you, it hits the spot.
30. University of Delaware (Newark, DE): No. 1 Chinese
Photo courtesy of Her Campus
Every college has to have their go-to cheap Chinese food place, and for UD students, No. 1 is their number one. Plus, you can get a free egg roll with orders of $10 or more.
31. Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.): Mai Thai
Photo by Scott Harrington
If you want a meal that’s a bang for your buck, order from here — you’ll have leftovers for days.
32. Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC): Bib’s Downtown
Photo by Kelly McAdam
You can get a combo plate delivered AKA you can bring southern barbecue to your own dorm with zero effort.
33. University of California Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA): TLT Food
Photo courtesy of TLT Food
TLT’s Mexican-American food is the essence of California. And now you can skip the lines at this popular Westwood restaurant by ordering online.
34. Syracuse University (Syracuse, NY): Beer Belly Deli and Pub
Photo courtesy of Beer Belly Deli and Pub
Yes, you can get New Orleans-style po’ boys delivered in New York. And sadly, you’ll never want to swipe into the d hall after this sandwich.
35. American University (Washington, D.C.): Cafe of India
Photo courtesy of Groupon
Sometimes you just want to enjoy your chicken tikka masala from the comfort of your couch. So even though Cafe of India’s laughably close to campus, we won’t judge for ordering in — we understand.
Post originally written for Spoon University by Nancy Chen
