Cheap eats abound

Students may have extra-skinny wallets after buying textbooks, clickers and computer software for school, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get an affordable bite to eat once in a while.

For Hayden John-Williams, a sophomore philosophy and political science major, there’s always a place on the Hill to get a cheap sub.

“I’m a sub guy, so I really like places like Half Fast,” John-Williams said.

Half Fast Subs, 1215 13th Street, offers a monster list of subs to choose from. Whether it’s the beef-and cheese Tijuana Taxi or the meaty Ba-donk-a-donk, Half Fast packs their subs with ingredients and offers three bread choices. A 7-inch sub is only $5, but extra-hungry customers can get a 14-inch sub for $8.

For those looking for smaller sandwich portions, John-Williams recommends Cheba Hut on 1313 College Ave.

“You can get smaller subs, which some places don’t offer. You can build your own sub with things like pineapple and mushrooms,” he said.

Cheba Hut has daily specials for $6.19, including their roast beef Chronic and their Sunday Customer’s Choice special.

Valerie Slasor, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, said her favorite sandwich place is Salvaggio’s Deli, located at 1107 13th St. It’s a place to get a healthy meal she can feel good about eating, she said.

“It’s fresh food, and they cut the meat right in front of you,” Slasor said.

Students who aren’t in the mood for a sub should try Tra Ling’s on 1305 Broadway, said senior psychology and sociology major Shlesha Basnet.

“I’m all about the Chinese food, and Tra Ling’s is really cheap and you can get a lot of food,” she said.

For $5, Tra Ling’s offers choices like orange chicken and beef and broccoli on combo plates filled with lo mein or white or fried rice. You can throw in extra munchies like boba tea or crab wontons for just $2.

Out-of-towners might not know about Boulder’s burrito staple Illegal Pete’s, 1320 College Ave. Burrito lovers can get steak, chicken and beef burritos for around $6. Unique wraps with poblano chile pesto or fish and potatoes set Illegal Pete’s apart from chains like Chipotle, and they offer vegetarian options like the Big Potato with veggies and fresh salsa. For night owls, Illegal Pete’s stays open until 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Veggie-lovers have their pick of affordable meals, said Darren Legge, a senior environmental studies major.

Alexander’s, a Mexican food restaurant on 1650 Broadway, is a cheap sit-down restaurant with lots of vegetarian options, Legge said.

“They have a bunch of really unique dishes. I got a broccoli and potato burrito there, and all the food is really healthy,” Legge said.

Students only have to cross Broadway to visit veggie heaven Boulder Greens, which offers any salad you can dream up for $5. Students can also munch on the Buffalo chicken salad or the It’s Greek To Me salad with olives and feta. There are also daily soup specials for $2.50 to add that little extra to a lunch on the go.

For a heartier meal, Global Chili,1622 Broadway, sells bowls of chili from their ever-changing menu for $6. Sampling is required, so students can try any chili on the menu before adding toppings like cheese, tomatoes, or sour cream. Global Chili’s ice cream menu is just as varied as the chili, and with prices at a dollar a scoop, customers often stack their bowls with jalapeno, cinnamon orange and mole flavored scoops.

For an affordable and fun date, Global Chili’s neighbor Khow Thai, 1600 Broadway, offers everything from sweet to spicy for as little as $7.95 a plate. Try good old Pad Thai, peanut stir-fry or eggplant curry, as well as fresh salads and cold dishes.

The unique choices are what keeps Legge coming back.

“They just have really good food that’s pretty different,” he said.