Hi incoming students, and welcome to MBKU!
As grad students, we often have to find a healthy balance between keeping ourselves fed and staying on a budget. Throughout our time here, my friends and I have found a few local food spots that we enjoy, but don’t break the bank. Hopefully this list gives you some places to start, and I’d love to hear what you think if you try any of them out!
1. Ensenada’s Surf and Turf Grill: Fullerton
This location has deals for Taco Tuesdays and Fish Taco Wednesdays, which make for great meals throughout the week! I specifically recommend coming on Wednesdays for their battered/fried fish tacos, which are <$3 each and are super substantial/filling. It’s also fairly close to campus, which makes it one of my favorite spots for a quick meal after class.
Speaking of Taco Tuesdays, this spot is fairly well-known in the area for having great tacos and a wide variety of options! It can get a little crowded on Tuesday evenings, but it’s not hard to see why once you try their tacos, which are usually a little over $2 each. They have self-order kiosks and a great salsa/topping bar, which combine with their awesome food to make this a go-to spot for dinner after those long days on campus.
This is a great spot to satisfy your sushi/rice bowl cravings on a budget! They serve their lunch specials all day, which would be my main recommendations, but the rest of their menu is also reasonably priced and tasty. The combos will get you either a variety of rolls or a teriyaki chicken bowl, plus some variety of soup/salad, and usually run close to or less than $10. The wait times can be a little long since they get busy during mealtimes, but I’d say the food and value are well worth the wait, and the location is reasonably close to campus.
4. Banh Mi Che Cali: Fullerton
This spot is a little further from campus, but if you’re ever near the downtown Fullerton area, it’s a great place for deals on Banh mi and milk tea! Their Vietnamese sandwiches are “buy 2 get 1 free (around $12 for 3)” and milk teas are BOGO, so it’s a good spot to go with friends.
- As an aside, this plaza on S. Harbor Blvd in Fullerton is also home to a bunch of other honorable mentions that are well-known chains, so I won’t necessarily list them out in detail, but there’s also In-n-out, Chipotle, Panera, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-a, and the ultimate spot for cheap eats (as long as you have a membership), the Costco food court!
5. Sprouts Farmers Market (Deli): Brea
The deli counter at Sprouts is a great place to get a very satisfying sandwich, starting at $5. They also accept EBT (stay tuned for another peer advisor blog post later for a guide to EBT), so if you have CalFresh benefits, this is one meal you can use those on. It’s located close to campus and you can also pick up other study snacks, drinks, or groceries while you’re waiting for your sandwich (which I definitely recommend getting toasted).
- Tokyo Central is another grocery store in the area with really tasty premade meals that are EBT eligible. These tend to be more expensive, so I wouldn’t necessarily call them cheap eats, but if you have extra benefits to spend and are craving sushi, katsu, or Japanese snacks, I would give this spot a go!
Fullerton and its surrounding cities are rich with food spots perfect for hungry students, and I would definitely recommend branching out beyond this list when you have the opportunity to. However, these are always reliable options for a quick bite in between classes, or after a long day on campus. Once again, welcome to MBKU and I hope you find that both your mind and stomach are well-fed here!