It’s lunchtime, and your friends are heading out off campus; you realize you have only $10 in your wallet. Can you go? Can you afford anything? Here are a few options to make that ten spot stretch to the max.
Safeway’s $5 Fridays delivers value
Safeway holds $5 Fridays where sushi boxes and fried chicken are only $5. It’s a solid option if you want something relatively light and quick. The store is also only about a 5-minute drive away, and with only 30 minutes to spare for every lunch; it’s perfect for getting back to 5th or 6th period on time.
“I think it’s one of the best lunch food deals, if not the best, and you can also get other snacks from Safeway when getting the cheap chicken,” said junior Rohit Thomas, who often gets Safeway fried chicken on Fridays for $5.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Falcons
Taco Bell’s Luxe Cravings Box: a shockingly good deal
Taco Bell is also a staple option for cheap-but-tasty fast food while also being less than 10 minutes from campus, with a standout menu item: the Luxe cravings box, containing a burrito, two tacos, churros and a drink for just $7. Once you order, the food comes fast enough that you can still eat it in a tight time crunch. You could also order on the app in advance to ensure you don’t spend time waiting.
Sophomore Selina Xu is a fan of the Drinks Party Pack in addition to the Luxe Box.
“I love the Luxe Box, but my favorite deal is the Drinks Party Pack where you get four drinks for just $4.39, whereas, if you order four drinks separately, it’s about $11. It’s not even limited to Baja Blasts either; you could literally get any fountain drink, which is crazy for just a buck per,” Xu said.
Rating: 4.8 out of 5 Falcons
Raising Cane’s Sauce: good deal but too far away for lunch
This fast rising fast food chain offers an opportunity to fill up a 22-ounce cup with their popular Raising Cane’s sauce for $5.99. This deal highlights the sides, but you can use the sauce for anything from chicken strips to pasta.
However, the closest Raising Cane’s is 20 minutes away, which only makes this deal accessible if you happen to be near the San Jose area or have some extra time on your hands. Senior Vashisht Palisetti often takes advantage of this deal when he is close to a Raising Canes.
“I wouldn’t really go out of my way to get it since Raising Cane’s is so far away, but whenever I’m in the San Jose area I make sure to grab it. It lasts a while and I use it with basically everything,” Palisseti said.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Falcons
Dominos’ Carryout Special
Domino’s deals constantly change, but one standout deal generally available is the Carryout Special, which gets you a single 1-topping pizza for only $7.99 each. If you’re with a group, the carryout special is perfect for sharing among yourselves. Junior Arav Choudary frequents this deal for weekend dinners or lunches with friends.
“I usually don’t use this deal for school lunches since it takes some time to eat the pizza together and transporting a full box isn’t that practical, but I love using this deal on non-school days,” Choudary said.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Falcons
If money is tight and you’re looking for the best value, convenience, or portion size, these deals will give you plenty of ways to maximize while not going broke.
