Sometimes I need a change from the mundane dining hall options and my nightly dinner of pasta. But I am a student so I also don't have too much extra money to spend. We need to treat ourselves every once and a while to not go completely insane. So here a list of some chain restaurants you can eat at on a strict budget. A disclaimer though: I am a vegetarian and meals without meat tend to be cheaper. So keep that in mind as I go through the different restaurants.
1. Panera Bread
There are very few food options here that are over $10, and you can get free water if you ask for a water cup. And there is a huge range of things to choose from including bagels, sandwiches, soups and pasta. I've never been upset with a meal here, and if you are willing to splurge a little the coffees/beverages are just as good as the food.
2. Moe's Southwest Grill
I know people love their Chipotle, but it can be kind of pricey, and I've found that Moe's is a cheaper (and in my opinion, tastier) option. At Moe's when getting a burrito/quesadilla, you get free chips and salsa with your meal. That in itself makes it worth it for me. Also, if you ask to make your order a meal, you get a side of queso dip and a drink for only a couple dollars more.
3. Dunkin' Donuts
Coffee is essential, and sometimes you want something more than just the cheap coffee beans/grounds you brew at home. Dunkin' coffee can be really cheap and you can also grab a breakfast sandwich or donut to make it a meal.
4. Denny's
While we are talking about breakfast foods, lets talk about Denny's. Sometimes all you want is a stack of pancakes and some hash browns, and you can get just that for super cheap at Denny's. I mean, you can get $4 unlimited pancakes...you can't really beat it.
5. Papa Johns
There are quite a few cheap pizza chains to choose from, but Papa Johns is my personal favorite. You can get a medium pizza starting at $9.99 but there are always specials going on for discounted pizzas. Also, if you are like me and can't eat an entire pizza in one sitting, you can get two or three meals out of the one order.
6. Five Guys
Where else can you get a brown bag overflowing with amazing french fries for around $5? One of the best parts here is that all toppings for burgers and hot dogs are free, which is really hard to find anywhere else.
7. Friendly's
There are only one or two items on the entire menu over $10, and I mean...the ice cream is amazing! Sometimes I really just want a good scoop of cookies and cream with peanut butter sauce, and Friendly's gives that to me.
8. Chili's
Now this is probably the priciest restaurant on this list, but you can still get away with a pretty cheap meal if you do it right. What my friends and I like to do is just order a couple appetizers for the table as our meal, and then we split the cost. They also have a dinner for two option that comes with two full-sized entrees for $20.
I hope that reading this article hasn't made you too hungry and if it did, I hope you try out some of these options for some good meals while not breaking the bank. Everyone needs to treat themselves to some good food at some point during the week, or if you are like me, multiple times a week.
