For every incoming college freshman, there are a million things you have to do, research, fill out, prepare for, and buy before move-in day. The months leading up to college are a stressful time, and sometimes you forget to think about certain things, like where you'll find yourself stuffing your face at 2 AM on a Saturday. Whether you're downtown or pulling an all-nighter in the library, here's a little list of USC's best late night food places, ranked by yours truly, just to make you incoming freshmen's lives a little easier. Future Gamecocks, read up.
1. Cookout: Just a heads up: you will find yourself at the Cookout in Five Points more than a few times your first semester. There's nothing like a Cookout tray to curb your late-night hunger. Just a warning though: it will be packed. But it'll be worth it.
2. Grilled T: Grilled Teriyaki is a Japanese restaurant right on Harden Street. It's a great place to go when you're downtown, as it's cheap, you get your food quickly, and the atmosphere is fun. Get the chicken teriyaki with their special sauce and you're good to go.
3. Insomnia Cookies: Insomnia Cookies' name speaks for itself: get yourself some fresh-baked cookies at ungodly hours of the night. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, snicker-doodle...any kind of cookie you can imagine, they've got it. And their brownies are the bomb. Insomnia delivers until four in the morning too, so make sure you ignore that nagging voice in the back of your head and just order them. You can go to the gym the next day if it makes you feel better.
4. Fast Eddies: Ah, good old Slow Eddies. This calzone joint in Five Points is a classic. Choose one of their many different, absurdly big calzones for just $7 up until 4 a.m. In addition to calzones, they have wings, fries, mozzarella sticks (my personal favorite), ice cream, and sodas. Fast Eddie's is great after a night DT and you can either get it there in Five Points or have it delivered to you...it just might take a while to get there.
5. Jimmy John's: If you want something that at least tastes like it's healthy and you want it in about four minutes, Jimmy John's is your answer. Their sandwiches are delicious, won't make you run to the bathroom an hour after you eat it, and the delivery time is ridiculous.
6.Chicken on a Stick: This is literally a dude selling chicken. The chicken is on a stick. He's next to Horseshoe until way past midnight. That's all you need to know.
When it comes to a decision on where to satisfy your drunchies, you really can't go wrong on this list. But it always helps to have a little guidance, as some of your greatest memories in college will happen in a booth in one of these restaurants. After all, what says "college" like stuffing your face with your friends at 2 AM on a Saturday night
