Dinning out is expensive and being a college student, excess funds to dine out are limited. But you do not have to rid dining out completely. There are options. Dinning out on a college budget is possible. Knowing where to go, at what time and what to look for can make going out to eat a lot less painful on your wallet.
Downtown Glendora is less than three miles from campus. The street is filled with boutiques, cafés and restaurants. At first glance, of the big trees and brick exterior of the buildings, Downtown Glendora might look a little too expensive for a college student. There are, however, great deals and discounts if you know what to look for.
The Village Eatery located at the top of the street has a variety of specials they offer on a weekly basis. They have coupons on restaurant.com and in the Entertainment Book. Also if you take a look at their specials board located right outside the café, you may find different dishes everyday. Another great café is Ed’s Place. They offer a 10 percent student discount with an APU ID. “No one utilizes our student discount, but we always have it,” waitress Hailey Webb said. They also have early bird specials like 50-cent cups of coffee before 8 a.m.
Classic Coffee is a very student-friendly café. Manager Jonathon confirms that the coffee shop is continually trying to keep their prices low for students. Classic Coffee also offers free Wi-Fi and daily discounts posted on their Twitter and Facebook accounts. If you bring in one of their mugs or tumblers, they have a “one size down” deal. So if you were to order a medium drip coffee or tea, they would charge you the price of a small size.
The Cake Mamas, a bakery on the corner of Alosta and Barranca, may not serve dinner or lunch, but their famous cupcakes won an episode of Cupcakes Wars on the Food Network. They have a loyalty card and for every purchase made you get a stamp on the card. After 10 stamps you get a free box of six cupcakes.
Jersey Mike’s, located right next to The Cake Mamas, is a new sandwich shop. They are currently working on a student discount to bring in more students.
Kara’s Korner located in Downtown Glendora has some unconventional discounts. If you have had a gastric bypass surgery you can order off the children’s menu; seniors also get a 10 percent discount. Kara’s Korner also has a specials board revised throughout the day.
Most of the restaurants and cafés around have specials boards. The boards vary from day to day and have great meals at lower prices than on the regular menus. Ed’s Place had an Italian eggplant on a deli roll for $6.95 and a Chinese chicken salad for $9.95. The Village Eatery had a two-egg cheese omelet with country potatoes for just $4.59.
Eating out on a college budget can be tricky. Looking at the specials board and asking if they have a student discount can help lessen the price. Asking if they have a happy hour or loyalty card can also be beneficial when dining out.
If you do not feel like going to a sit-down restaurant, and do not want to eat on campus, a good alternative is organic grocery stores. “I only shop at Trader Joe’s,” said junior sociology major Sophia Horton. “ It’s majority organic, which is usually really expensive in normal grocery stores but their stuff is really cheap. It’s good cause I try to eat organic and healthy and on a budget.”
No longer should you feel restricted by campus food. Feel free to venture out beyond APU’s walls and dine out! Glendora and Azusa both have affordable restaurants, cafés, pubs and markets.
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