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Stanford University
- Off-Campus Dining

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Stanford University - Off-Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Off-Campus Dining

B-
Where does this grade come from?View all Off-Campus Dining rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Off-Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Favorites
  • Applewood Pizza
  • The Creamery
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Pluto's
24-Hour Dining
  • Denny's
  • Happy Donuts
  • Jack in the Box
Best Asian
  • Fresh Taste Golden Wok
  • Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant
Best Breakfast Hobee's California Restaurants
Best Coffee Starbucks
Best Dessert
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Kara's Cupcakes
  • L'Amour Frozen Yogurt Café
  • Sprinkles Cupcakes
Best Healthy
  • Pluto's
  • Sprout Café
  • Trader Joe's
  • Whole Foods Market
Best Late-Night Jack in the Box
Best Mexican
  • Palo Alto Sol
  • Sancho's Taqueria
Best Pizza
  • Patxi's Pizza
  • Pizza Chicago
  • Pizza My Heart
  • Spot A Pizza Place
Best Wings
  • The Old Pro
  • Wingstop
Best Place to Take a Date
  • Buca di Beppo
  • Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery
Best Place to Take Your Parents
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Darbar Indian Cuisine
  • Nola
Other Places to Check Out
  • Back A Yard Grill
  • Bistro Elan
  • Café Borrone
  • Caffé del Doge
  • California Pizza Kitchen
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • The Counter
  • Coupa Café
  • Crepevine
  • Don Giovanni Ristorante
  • Dutch Goose
  • Ewia Estiatorio
  • Fresh Choice
  • Garden Fresh Chinese Vegan Cuisine
  • Il Fornaio
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Jing-Jing Szechwan Hunan
  • Joanie's Café
  • Joya Restaurant & Lounge
  • La Strada Italian Restaurant
  • Loving Hut
  • Maruichi Japanese Noodle House
  • McDonald's
  • Mediterranean Wraps
  • The Oasis Beer Garden
  • Oaxacan Kitchen
  • P.F. Chang's
  • Pasta? Restaurant
  • Peet's Coffee & Tea
  • Philz Coffee
  • Pinkberry
  • Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits
  • Red Mango
  • Red Rock
  • Reposado
  • Satura Cakes
  • Siam Royal Authentic Thai
  • Slider Bar Café
  • So Gong Dong Tofu House
  • Stacks
  • Sundance Steakhouse
  • Sushi Tomo
  • Taco Bell
  • Tandoori Oven
  • Taqueria El Grullense
  • Taqueria Tres Hermanos
  • Thaiphoon Restaurant
  • University Coffee Café
  • Village Cheese House
  • Zao Noodle Bar

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Palo Alto screams "upscale resort town" more than "cheap college fun," but there are still perks. Stanford is located right off of University Avenue, the local street for everything amazing. Filled with incredible restaurants with cuisines that range from Thai to Italian, many Stanford students find themselves walking around this area on a Friday or Saturday night.  

Although these restaurants can be a bit expensive, many of the restaurants give Stanford students discounts. If you have access to a car, Santana Row is also a great place. Located about 20 minutes from campus, Santana Row is full of fun American eateries that cater to the college crowd as well as really good bars for drinks and appetizers.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

Stanford Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Off-Campus Dining at Stanford University

smartsoprano

'13

Biology

3.5
B

Parent's Weekend Town

The off-campus dining options are great and varied but Palo Alto is an expensive town. There are student discounts given with ID or with coupons that every student is given at the beginning of the year but the best resturants are the ones you ask your parents to go to on Parent's Weekend not with your friends. The variety and quality is great, the prices are not. Best places for students: Pluto's, Crepevine, The Counter, and countless fro-yo places

Oct 01, 2011

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Off-Campus Dining at Stanford University

nallen20

'13

Industrial and Product Design

4.6
A

Plenty of Options

There is abundance of good eateries in Palo alto, and many, many more along the El Camino. If you don't have a car, which you won't freshman year, it is harder to enjoy this dining. However, if you are willing to make the short drive of campus, your efforts will be rewarded with a bunch of great dining options. Use yelp.com to help narrow it down.

Sep 14, 2011

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Off-Campus Dining at Stanford University

lukeknep

'14

Computer Science

4.6
A

Palo Alto Is Restaurant Heaven

University Avenue has every kind of restaurant you could imagine, from authentic French and Italian bistros to award-winning grills -- not to mention at least a dozen different dessert places. What's more, it's only a two minute drive or seven minute bike ride away. The only downside is the price, seeing as Palo Alto is one of the highest income areas in the country. Downtown Menlo Park has some more casual and inexpensive options, like bars, cafes, and diners, and is only a five minute drive from campus.

Aug 27, 2011

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Page 1 of 10

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus restaurants on the following topics

How would you rate the diversity of off-campus dining options?

Facts

Did You Know? Every Stanford student receives a book full of coupons at the beginning of each year that has specials and discounts for many off-campus restaurants. The book also features discounts for boutiques, spas/nail salons, and convenience stores, for all of your college wants and needs.

Grocery StoresWhat's This?

JJ & F Food Store
520 College Ave.
(650) 857-0901
Monday–Saturday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Safeway
325 S. Sharon Park Dr., Menlo Park
(650) 854-3056
www.safeway.com
Daily 24 hours

Trader Joe's
855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
(650) 327-7018
www.traderjoes.com
Daily 8 a.m.–9 p.m.

Whole Foods Market
774 Emerson St., Palo Alto
(650) 326-8676
www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Daily 8 a.m.–10 p.m.

Restaurant ListingsWhat's This?

Bella Luna
Food: Italian
233 University Ave.
(650) 322-1846
Price: $10–$20
Cool Features: Massive portions, family-style dining

Buca di Beppo
Food: Italian
643 Emerson St., Palo Alto
(650) 329-0665
www.bucadibeppo.com
Price: $10–$20

The Cheesecake Factory
Food: American
375 University Ave., Palo Alto
(650) 473-9622
www.thecheesecakefactory.com
Price: $10–$20

Darbar Indian Cuisine
Food: Indian/Pakistani
129 Lytton Ave.
(650) 321-6688
www.darbarcuisine.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Lunch buffets for $7

Denny's
Food: American
1201 Broadway, Redwood City
(415) 364-4545
www.dennys.com
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Open 24 hours

The Fish Market
Food: Seafood
3150 El Camino Real
(650) 493-8862
www.thefishmarket.com
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Amazing sourdough bread, fresh fish

Frankie Johnnie & Luigi Too
Food: Italian
939 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View
(650) 967-5384
fjlmountainview.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Coupons and student discounts

Fresh Taste Golden Wok
Food: Asian
2111 El Camino Real
(650) 324-8749
www.freshtastegoldenwok.com
Price: $2–$7
Cool Features: Student specials

Gelato Classico
Food: Italian ice cream
435 Emerson St.
(650) 327-1317
Price: $1–$5
Cool Features: Unique flavors, like pumpkin and pear

Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery
Food: American
640 Emerson St.
(650) 323-7723
www.gordonbiersch.com
Price: $10–$20
Cool Features: Also features a brewery!

Happy Donuts
Food: Donuts, pastries
3916 El Camino Real
(650) 843-0658
happydonutspaloalto.tripod.com/
Price: <$10
Cool Features: Donuts are made fresh overnight.

Hobee's California Restaurants
Food: California breakfast
4224 El Camino Real
(650) 856-6124
www.hobees.com/paloalto.html
Price: $2–$7

Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant
Food: Chinese
3345 El Camino Real
(650) 565-8868
Price: $5–$10

Jack in the Box
Food: Fast food
2280 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
(650) 856-0350
www.jackinthebox.com
Price: $3–$8
Cool Features: Open 24 hours

Janta Indian Cuisine
Food: Indian
369 Lytton Ave.
(650) 462-5903
www.jantaindianrestaurant.com/
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Many special meals for two

Kara's Cupcakes
Food: Cupcakes
855 El Camino Real, Suite 50
(650) 326-2253
www.karascupcakes.com
Price: $10

Krung Siam Thai Cuisine
Food: Thai
423 University Ave.
(650) 322-5900
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Pineapple fried rice

La Fondue
Food: Varied fondue dishes
14550 Big Basin Way, Saratoga
(408) 867-3332
www.lafondue.com
Price: $20–$60
Cool Features: Alligator, ostritch, boar

L'Amour Frozen Yogurt Café
Food: Frozen yogurt
276 University Ave.
(650) 853-1328
Price: $10

Mango Café
Food: Jamaican
435 Hamilton Ave.
(650) 324-9443
mangocaribbean.com/
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Goat, jerk chicken

Max's Opera Café
Food: Deli
711 Stanford Shopping Center
(650) 323-6297
www.maxsworld.com/home.html
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Great sandwiches, ‘50s atmosphere

Minokichi Restaurant
Food: Japanese
150 University Ave.
(650) 324-9536
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: All-you-can-eat sushi

Miyake
Food: Sushi
140 University Ave.
(650) 323-9449
www.gardencourt.com
Price: $10–$25
Cool Features: Techno music, strobe lights (at night only)

Nola
Food: New Orleans-flavored food
535 Ramona St.
(650) 328-2722
www.nolas.com
Price: $20

The Old Pro
Food: American
541 Ramona St.
(650) 326-1446
www.oldpropa.com
Price: $10–$20

Osteria
Food: Italian
247 Hamilton Ave.
(650) 328-5700
Price: $10–$25
Cool Features: Excellent, authentic Tuscan cuisine

Palo Alto Sol Cocina Mexicana
Food: Mexican
408 S. California Ave., Palo Alto
(650) 328-8840
www.paloaltosol.biz
Price: $10–$20

Pasta
Food: Italian
326 University Ave.
(650) 328-4585
pastaq.com
Price: $2–$8

Patxi's Chicago Pizza
Food: Pizza
441 Emerson St.
(650) 473-9999
patxispizza.com
Price: $10–$20

Peninsula Fountain & Grill (The Creamery)
Food: American diner
566 Emerson St.
(650) 323-3131
paloaltocreamery.com/
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Great milkshakes (though pricey at $4.95) and grilled cheese sandwiches

Pizza Chicago
Food: Deep-dish pizza, pasta
4115 El Camino Real
(650) 424-9400
www.pizzachicago.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: There are Chicago-related names for a lot of the food offerings.

Pizza My Heart
Food: Pizza
220 University Ave.
(650) 327-9400
pizzamyheart.com
Price: $10–$20

Pluto's
Food: Salads, sandwiches
482 University Ave.
(650) 853-1556
www.plutosfreshfood.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Yuppie dining at its best

Sancho's Taqueria
Food: Mexican
491 Lytton Ave., Palo Alto
(650) 322-8226
www.sanchostaqueria.com
Price: $5–$15

Spot A Pizza Place
Food: Pizza
115 Hamilton Ave.
(650) 324-3131
www.spotpizza.com
Price: $10–$20

Sprinkles Cupcakes
Food: Cupcakes
393 Stanford Shopping Center
(650) 323-9300
www.sprinkles.com
Price: $10

Sprout Café
Food: Healthy
168 University Ave.
(650) 323-7688
cafesprout.com/
Price: $10–$15

Starbucks
Food: Coffee, tea
79 Stanford Mall, Palo Alto
(650) 330-0754
www.starbucks.com
Price: $3–$8

Wing Stop
Food: Wings
1135 Industrial Road, San Carlos
(650) 592-9464
www.wingstop.com
Price: $5–$15

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College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at Stanford

Name: Alexandria Butler

Hometown: St. Louis, MO

Major: Communications, Spanish

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