Any college student can tell you that the price of food is a major factor in deciding what to eat. While many first-year students will buy meal plans, the number of times someone can eat at the Downunder Café in a week has a limit. Many upperclassmen and in turn must buy all their food, spending tons of cash. The following is a short list of the various places across Reno to get a filling meal for a low cost.

Scoopers Drive-In

Double cheeseburger with fries and large drink - $4.59
Looking like it came straight out of “Happy Days,” this classic American-style restaurant serves burgers, hot dogs and fries, portraying the kind of drive-in diner In-N-Out used to be. Scoopers offers a variety of shakes with flavors ranging from cola to pumpkin, which is a delicious treat for a minimal charge.

Sinbads Hot Dogs

Hot dog with medium drink and chips – $4.50
Sinbads serves deliciously large hot dogs, just under a foot, and is “home of the Steamin’ Wienie.” With incredible preparation, the hot dogs are served with mustard, ketchup, relish, onions and, in an odd twist, tomatoes. Also offered are chili dogs, cheese dogs and chili bowls.

Dreamers Coffeehouse & Deli

17 S.Virginia St.
Reno, NV 89501

Grilled peanut butter and banana sandwich - $3.65
This friendly coffee house has a cozy feel as it cooks up quiches and pastries daily. The artistic deli features a wide range of coffees and sandwiches, all at affordable prices. Dreamers is a comfortable meal for any student on a tight budget.

The Pita Pit

Vegetarian pita with cheese - $4.89
While this restaurant is a bit more commercial, it has plenty to offer. Featuring a massive selection of ingredients, The Pita Pit offers tons of ways to eat healthy. The Pita Pit also prides itself on being vegetarian-friendly, devoting nearly half its menu to vegetarian pitas.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwich

Any 8-inch sub sandwich - $4.75
This unforgettable sub shop is a classic favorite; however, the speed and price of these subs are sometimes forgotten. Students across campus know that nothing hits the spot like a sub made in 30 seconds at 1 a.m., especially when it costs less than five dollars.

Pub & Sub

Any pizza between 6:30 p.m. - close on Mondays and 6:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Fridays – half price
While this example is time-sensitive, it is by far the best special available. A one-topping medium pizza that can usually feed two people is normally $14. For $7 on Friday nights, you can have the same amount and use the rest of what you would normally pay on beer. Pub & Sub is a local favorite and a winner in terms of tight budgets.

Archie’s Famous Grill

Half order biscuits and gravy - $3.99
While it may not sound like much, this breakfast from Archie’s is just enough to fill any man up. However tempting it may be to save another dollar and eat at a casino, one should remember that Archie’s is much nicer than any casino-based diner. The classic bar-and-grill setting is perfect for any sports fan, especially on the weekend when they serve breakfast until 1 p.m.

Big Pig Smokehouse BBQ

Any of four lunch specials - $5.00
This restaurant, self-labeled “knuckle suckin’ good,” lives up to the claim by providing the kind of barbecue that makes a mess and doesn’t even faze you. Pulled pork, beef brisket and hot links for entrees, as well as corn bread, cole slaw and baked beans for sides, Big Pig Smokehouse is good ole Southern barbecue.

Blue moon gourmet pizza

Lunch special - $3.50, Combo - $7.50
The lunch special features a slice of pepperoni or cheese pizza. The combo includes the pizza slice, a salad and a drink.

Phots by Julian Rhodes/Nevada Sagebrush