Taste of Thai – Close to campus and with a $5.95 lunch buffet. Taste of Thai specializes in a wide variety of ethnic Thai food, including a vegetarian menu, at a fairly decent price, and with large enough servings to send you packing with enough chicken curry for the next two days.Hunan 1 – Its proximity to campus and inexpensive pricing make this restaurant a favorite amongst Lawrence students. Although their brown sauce seems to have a universal standard, appearing on everything form their Vegetable Lo Mein to General Tso’s Chicken, Hunan’s is Chinese fast food at it’s best, and especially convenient for grabbing a quick bite at lunch, as well as a favorable way to ditch Downer for a night.
Erbert and Gerbert’s – A sandwich joint that puts Subway to shame and that offers a variety of subs with quirky names and fresh ingredients. Open until 2 a.m., the subs here make great nighttime snacks that become necessities around the time those first few freshman studies papers are due.
La Bamba’s – With a slogan advertising “Burritos as Big as Your Head,” and with pizza-sized tortilla’s to back it, La Bamba’s is a great place to get your fill of well-priced Mexican food, and to try an ice-cold, cinnamon-spiced cup of horchata (refills are only fifty cents). Open until the wee hours of the morning, it’s also a great place to regroup with friends and your stomach after a heavy night of partying.
Pilgrim’s Cafe – A quaint caf with an upstairs balcony that resembles a ship’s hull, a somewhat pious atmosphere, and a menu offering your standard caf fare of soups, salads, sandwiches, and homemade desserts. Their coffee is always fresh, and their sandwiches prepared with fresh vegetables and thick slabs of fresh turkey, ham, roast beef, and cheese.
Foxley’s Coffee Break Cafe – A coffee shop with muraled walls and a funky atmosphere which offers hot and cold coffee drinks with a twist, as well as juices and teas. A great place to get a cup of something and a slab of cheesecake and chill on the overstuffed couches for a bit, or to buzz through on the go.
Beaner’s Coffee Haus – A laid-back and rather Hippie-esque caf that offers a wide variety of food and drinks, as well as an interesting array of clientele that lend a local flavor to the place. Although it’s a bit of a hike from Lawrence, and cold in winter, the 4-plus blocks are certainly worth it once you’re warm and inside, sipping a caf latte, and far enough from campus to de-stress for a spell.
Nakashima’s – A Japanese restaurant specializing in both sushi and hibachi, where you can watch as your food is ceremoniously prepared in front of you on the grill built into your table. Its delicious, though somewhat pricey food and distance from campus make Nakashima’s a wonderful place to take the parents when they come to visit, and to subsequently foot the bill.
Sy Ram’s – An authentic Indian restaurant with a nice, formal ambience, and moderately priced, generous servings. The Thali dinner there is held by many in high regard.
Mongo’s – A rather unique Mongolian restaurant where you can either sit in chairs or on cushions and which offers an all-you-can-eat, build-your-own-stir-fry bar, with a wide selection of fresh meats, vegetables, and sauces.