Stanford University - Off-Campus DiningCollege Prowler4.62

Off-Campus Dining:

A

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Off-Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Best Pizza

  • Applewood Pizza
  • Pizza Chicago

Best Breakfast

  • Hobee's
  • Jack in the Box

Best Asian

  • Fresh Taste
  • Hunan Garden

Best Healthy

  • Trader Joe's
  • Whole Foods

Best Place to Take Your Parents

  • The Fish Market

College Prowler Take

Palo Alto and its neighboring cities offer a great variety of dining options. Students are most pleased with the area’s Asian food, including Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese. In addition, there’s plenty of good Italian and Mexican cuisine, and no shortage of fast food. Palo Alto is home to many expensive eateries that are only really appropriate if your parents are paying, but if you search around, you can find high-quality options in the $10 range, too. Stanford students really love to eat off campus and they will explore places in a large radius outside of Palo Alto. Student preferences vary considerably, but everyone seems to find something he or she likes that is budget-friendly.

Off-campus dining becomes a way of life for most Stanford students. For freshmen, it’s a bit trickier since they can’t have cars, but taking the Marguerite shuttle to downtown Palo Alto is a reasonable option. For upperclassmen, eating in the dining halls grows tiresome, and a meal off-campus provides a nice change of pace, and a chance to socialize. For upperclassmen living in Row houses—co-ops and self-ops—there are generally no meals on the weekend, so going off campus is essential. The cost of living in Silicon Valley is relatively high, so food can be expensive, but the student directory and Stanford newspaper usually have coupons.

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Students Speak Out

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Anonymous says:

We have fast food places like Jack...

We have fast food places like Jack in the Box, and nicer stuff like Max’s Opera Cafe. Whatever your dining pleasure happens to be, it will be here somewhere. I wouldn’t say that there is any one definitive place to which everyone goes, but there are plenty of good places in the area.

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Anonymous says:

There are a lot of good...

There are a lot of good restaurants off-campus, but I don’t tend to eat out all that often. One of my favorite places is called Frankie, Johnnie, and Luigi Too! It’s a great Italian place, with absolutely amazing knife-and-fork pizza. Order a ‘Tina’s Too-Too Much’ for some serious eating. Given the size of the pizza, the prices are great. They also make excellent pastas and salads, for those who aren’t in a pizza mood. The atmosphere is very casual, and Stanford students get a 15 percent discount. It’s a good time all around.

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Anonymous says:

Palo Alto is the city of dining....

Palo Alto is the city of dining. You’d think there might be slightly more culture in such a relatively affluent town, but apparently all the locals want to do is eat. There are all price ranges, all kinds of food, and most of them good. For Italian, try Pasta?—yes, it seriously comes with question mark—and Bella Luna.

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Anonymous says:

Pluto’s is the best thing that...

Pluto’s is the best thing that ever happened to me—great salads and meat that they cook right in front of you at very reasonable prices! Bella Luna and Osteria are great for taking your parents out. La Fondue in Saratoga has the best chocolate dessert fondue, which can be very romantic, too.

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Anonymous says:

There are a lot of restaurants on...

There are a lot of restaurants on University Avenue, that you can get to by biking, driving, or the Marguerite [shuttle]. I personally eat a lot of Thai, so I’ll recommend Krung Siam, which is one of the restaurants on University Avenue.

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Facts

Student Favorites

  • Applewood Pizza
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Pluto's
  • The Creamery

24-Hour Dining

  • Denny's
  • Jack in the Box
  • McDonald's

Grocery Stores

Safeway
325 S. Sharon Park, Menlo Park
(650) 854-3056

Trader Joe's
720 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park
(650) 323-2134

Whole Foods Market
774 Emerson St., Palo Alto
(650) 326-8676

Restaurant Listing

Applewood Pizza
Pizza
1001 El Camino Real, Menlo Park
(650) 324-3486
Price: $2-$8
Unusual toppings, beer on tap
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m–10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

Bella Luna
Italian
233 University Ave.
(650) 329–0665
Price: $10-$20
Massive portions, family style dining
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

Buca di Beppo
Italian
643 Emerson St.
(650) 329-0665
www.bucadibeppo.com
Price: $10-$20
massive portions, family style dining
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

California Pizza Kitchen
Gourmet pizza
531 Cowper St.
(650) 323-7332
www.cpk.com
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Cold Stone Creamery
Ice cream
9 Town & Country Village
(650) 323-2102
www.coldstonecreamery.com
Price: $2-$5
Cold-slab
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

Darbar
Indian/Pakistani
129 Lytton Ave.
(650) 321-6688
Price: $5-$10
$7 lunch buffet
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Thursday–Friday 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Denny's
Diner fare
4256 El Camino Real
(650) 493-3082
www.dennys.com
Price: $5-$10
All-day breakfast
Hours: Daily 24 hours

Frankie, Johnny, & Luigi Too!
Italian
939 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View
(650) 967-5384
Price: $5-$10
Coupons and student discounts
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday 11 a.m.–1 a.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

Fresh Taste Mandarin Kitchen
Chinese
2111 El Camino Real
(650) 324–8749
Price: $2-$7
Student special
Hours: Monday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Gelato Classico
Italian ice cream
435 Emerson St.
(650) 327–1317
Price: $1-$5
Unique flavors, like pumpkin and pear
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

Hobee's
California breakfast
67 Town & Country Village
(650) 327–4111
Price: $2-$7
Coffeecake
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Hunan Garden
Chinese
3345 El Camino Real
(650) 565–8868
Price: $5-$10
Good spicy options
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

In-N-Out Burger
Premium burgers
1159 N. Rengstorff Ave., Mountain View
(800) 786–1000
www.in-n-out.com
Price: $2-$5
Try a Double-Double Animal Style, and get your fries crispy.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–1:30 a.m.

Jack in the Box
Fast food
423 University Ave.
(650) 586-0350
www.jackinthebox.com
Price: $2-$7
24-hour eating
Hours: Daily 24 hours

Janta Indian Cuisine
Indian
369 Lytton Ave.
(650) 462-5903
Price: $8-$15
Many special meals for two
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–2:30 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 5 p.m.–10 p.m.

Krung Siam Thai Cuisine
Thai
423 University Ave.
(650) 322-5900
Price: $5-$10
Pineapple fried rice, served in the rind
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

La Fondue
Varied fondue dishes
14510 Big Basin Way
(408) 867-3332
Price: $20-$60
Alligator, ostritch, boar
Hours: Monday–Thursday 5 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday 5 p.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 4 p.m.–11 a.m., Sunday 4 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Mango Café
Jamaican
435 Hamilton Ave.
(650) 324-9443
Price: $8-$15
Goat, jerk chicken
Hours: Monday–Thursday 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 6 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 6 p.m.–10 p.m.

Max's Opera Café
deli, variety
711 Stanford Shopping Center
(650) 323-6297
Price: $8-$15
great sandwiches, ‘50s atmosphere
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Minokichi
Japanese
150 University Ave.
(650) 324-9536
Price: $8-$15
All-you-can-eat sushi
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

Miyake
Sushi
140 University Ave.
(650) 323-9449
Price: $10-$25
Techno music, strobe lights (at night only)
Hours: Daily 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Osteria
Italian
247 Hamilton St.
(650) 328-5700
Price: $10-$25
Excellent, authentic Tuscan cuisine
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 5 p.m.–10 p.m.

Pasta?
Italian
326 University Ave.
(650) 328-4585
Price: $2-$8
Bruschetta
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–12.a.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m.

Peninsula Fountain & Grill (The Creamery)
Classic American diner
#2A in the Stanford Shopping Center, or 566 Emerson St.
(650) 327-3141
Price: $8-$15
Great milkshakes, though pricey at $4.95, and grilled cheese sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Pizza Chicago
Deep-dish pizza, pasta
4115 El Camino Real
(650) 424-9400
Price: $5-$10
Try the Eddie Gaedel, a John Dillinger, or another specialty pizza.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Pluto's
Salads, sandwiches
482 University Ave.
(650) 327-9569
Price: $5-$10
Yuppie dining at its best
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

The Fish Market
Seafood
3150 El Camino Real
(650) 493-9188
Price: $8-$15
Amazing sourdough bread, fresh fish
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Zao Noodle Bar
Asian “street” food
261 University Ave.
(650) 328-1988
Price: $8-$15
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.

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