Best meal on a budget
1. Taqueria Guadalajara’s
640 W. Covell Blvd. and 417 Mace Blvd.
2. ASUCD Coffee House
Memorial Union
3. Hunan
207 D St.
UC Davis Aggies may be starving students but that does not mean we have to sacrifice quality for price.
Voted best place in Davis for a meal on a budget, Taqueria Gaudalajara, or colloquially known by students as “Guad’s”, offers delicious food for a very reasonable price. With its two locations in both North and South Davis, students throughout the city have the opportunity to enjoy this Mexican food.
“Guad’s has a very good selection of food,” said Dan Yeffa, a sophomore evolutionary anthropology major. “It has a pretty chill atmosphere, a good selection of salsas and is my favorite place to eat in Davis.”
Guad’s offers a variety of menu items. A super burrito is $5.45, while their unique Super Giant Burrito, the size of three burritos, costs a student only $10. All orders include free, unlimited chips and salsa with their meal.
If Guad’s is too far away for your eating pleasure, you may want to take another look closer to campus.
The ASUCD Coffee House, known popularly as the CoHo, is the largest student-run food service on a university in the United States. Because of this, employees understand the concept of providing top-notch food for low prices.
“You’re not going to find delicious food like what we make at the CoHo anywhere else in Davis,” said Megan Frantz, a junior technocultural and American studies double major and CoHo employee. “Not only is it cheap and tasty but it’s also organic, local and made-from-scratch by student employees every day.”
Housing a cornucopia of foods, the CoHo offers a wide range of bakery goods as well as sandwiches, salads, pizza and even nachos – almost entirely below the $5 range.
Rounding out the top three ranked meals on a budget is Hunan Bar and Restaurant located at 207 D St. A full menu of Chinese dishes, Hunan’s prices are competitive, with entrees ranging from $4.75 to $11.50. They even offer a full bar for those students over the age of 21.
Nick Markwith
Best Asian Cuisine
1. Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
129 E St., Suite 3
2. Hunan Bar & Restaurant
207 D St.
3. Davis Noodle City
129 E St.
When it comes to Asian cuisine, Davisites stick with the classics.
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen, which opened in 1996 as the first Thai restaurant in Davis, is still the city’s number one Asian restaurant.
“We’ve been here the longest out of all the Thai restaurants in Davis. We’re consistent. We always have the same service and we never let people down,” said Brad Varnum, floor manager.
“When a customer likes a dish, they know it will be consistent time and time again,” he said.
Sophia’s boasts a large menu of authentic Thai cuisine with a California twist, including stir-fry, noodles and seafood. The full bar gets creative with signature cocktails and beers from around the world along with many other special drinks.
“Everyone loves pad Thai. We have great mojitos and Thai drinks, and our curry is amazing,” Varnum said.
Guests can mix and mingle in the tropical outdoor patio, or enjoy the ambience inside the artfully-decorated dining room. Sophia’s also hosts live music from diverse, independent musicians on most Thursdays through Saturdays and Trivia Night on Tuesdays.
In second place was Hunan Bar and Restaurant, where customers can enjoy a wide variety of traditional and Americanized Chinese dishes at prices that won’t break the bank. The lunch special in particular is popular among students looking for a satisfying midday meal for as little as $5.
Third-place winner Davis Noodle City, behind Sophia’s Thai Kitchen on 129 E St., offers a unique menu of piping hot soups, traditional Taiwanese dishes, and of course, noodles of many different flavors and varieties.
– Robin Migdol
Best Breakfast
1. Crepeville
330 Third St.
2. Black Bear Diner
255 Second St.
3. Delta of Venus
122 B St.
With such offerings as a chocolate Nutella crepe with whipped cream and ice cream for breakfast it may come as no surprise that Crepeville is the number one breakfast destination in Davis.
The large crepe menu – you can pick from 31 ingredients for your crepe – coupled with more traditional breakfast foods provides Davis residents with many choices.
Crepeville’s breakfast menu is served all day until 10:30 p.m., providing an opportunity for late-rising college students to still get breakfast in the afternoon and evening.
“Whenever I wake up after a long night out that’s where I want to go,” said Sara Goodman, senior international relations major. She said that the mound of potatoes served at Crepeville is one of the best parts of eating there.
Crepes average about $7 to $8 and include potatoes.
“We have really good food no matter what you choose,” said Pavel Kramaremko, Crepeville assistant manager. “We have a big menu to choose from, it’s a great value and you get a lot of food.”
Even vegetarians can find something delicious to eat at Crepeville.
“They have a bomb vegetarian crepe,” said Maha Neouchy, a junior communication major.
In addition to crepes, they offer more traditional breakfast dishes such as omelets, French toast, bagels and a variety of egg dishes.
“The country scramble [Chicken apple sausage, jack cheese and mushroom] is probably our most popular breakfast item,” Kramaremko said.
Crepeville gets a mix of locals and students Kramaremko said, adding that Crepeville’s proximity to campus encourages many students to come after and before class.
The newly established Black Bear Diner, which serves a wide range of traditional breakfast foods all day ranked second and Delta of Venus ranked third.
– Kelly Krag-Arnold
Best Buffet
1. Davis Sushi Buffet Japanese Restaurant
707 Second St.
2. UC Davis Dining Commons
3. Kathmandu Kitchen
234 G Street
The best buffet food in town comes on boats.
That’s how the dishes are served at the Davis Sushi Buffet Japanese Restaurant, returning winner for Best Buffet in Davis.
The restaurant features a fleet of sushi boats, stocked with delicious cargo, that float in a circuit around the bar in front of the chefs. Those wanting to order something specific off the menu are free to approach the sushi chefs and request what they want. Next to the bar is an appetizer buffet which features fresh fruit as well as hot food, like shrimp tempura.
The chefs are led by Chef Henry, winner of the 2008 Sacramento Sushi Chef of the Year Award.
The all-you-can-eat sushi buffet costs $12.95 at lunch and $16.95 for dinner and is open seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for lunch and dinner, respectively.
When the restaurant is busy, the wait for a table or seat at the bar can be several minutes.
“Usually we get more people on weekends,” said Huong Ngo, the maitre d’ at Davis Sushi Buffet. “On weekdays, dinner is busier than lunch.”
Coming in second as the best buffet are the UC Davis Dining Commons. Students are not strangers to the DC, where one swipe of an ID card will get you all the food you can imagine. Meal plans vary in price according to residence halls and are available in 90, 120, 150 and 180 meal packages.
Kathmandu Kitchen, which features an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet Monday through Friday for $8.95, came in third in Best of Davis voting.
– Richard Procter
Best burger
1. Burgers and Brew
403 Third St.
2. In-N-Out Burger
1020 Olive Dr.
3. Habit Burger
500 First St.
It’s midnight on a Thursday, and aside from a couple drunken stragglers, downtown Davis is all but asleep.
Not at the corner of Third and C.
Burgers and Brew is one of the few restaurants in Davis that sees more people at 1 a.m. than 1 p.m. Whether it’s party-goers getting a late night bite, or tired students needing a break from studying, Burgers and Brew can always expect a crowd late at night.
“It’s a typical college restaurant,” said shift leader Rosemary Smith. “Having people here at all times adds to the legacy of a college place.”
The Davis location, which opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at midnight Sunday through Wednesday and 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, opened its doors in 2007 and has been voted Best of Davis every year since.
“It feels good,” Smith said. “We feel like we’re a part of the Davis culture.”
Burgers and Brew prides itself on using some of the freshest ingredients found in Davis. The eatery gets its buns delivered from Davis’ Village Bakery and all of its produce and meat from California farms. The menu has 13 specific burgers and 11 specialties, all of which have their own legacy.
Smith said the fresh ingredients are what separates Burgers and Brew from other hamburger places around Davis.
But burgers are only half of the name. Burgers and Brew has an extensive collection of beer ranging from the classic Belgium beers to some local breweries. The restaurant has 12 beers on tap and over 40 wines and bottled beers to choose from.
“We have tons of good beer on tap,” Smith said. “We have some of the best Belgian beers.”
Because of Burgers and Brew’s ideal location next to Central Park, numerous patrons avoid the crowded deck and take their burger to a park bench. Smith said being able to eat in the park adds to the legacy.
Known for its simple menu and classic drive-thru, In-N-Out is always a Davis favorite. Habit Burger, with its famous Charburger, is known for its excellent service and affordable prices.
– Jason Alpert
Best burrito: Taqueria Guadalajara
1. Taqueria Guadalajara
640 W. Covell Blvd. and 417 Mace Blvd.
2. Chipotle
227 E St.
3. Dos Coyotes
1411 W. Covell Blvd. and 2191 Cowell Blvd.
There’s no doubt which burrito is the favorite by UC Davis students, as Taqueria Guadalajara, or “Guad’s” as many refer to it, wins Best Burrito yet again.
Many may wonder how Guad’s makes their burritos so delicious.
“The secret ingredient is love,” joked manager Christian Marquez. “We make our burritos with fresh ingredients, at great quality, with affordable prices.”
Not only does Guad’s provide quality for their customers, but they also provide variety.
The restaurant has a wide variety of meat to choose from including steak – or “carne asada” for you Spanish speakers out there – chicken, pork, fish and even shrimp.
Guad’s delivers each burrito in a tightly wrapped tortilla with all the essentials like salsa, beans (black or pinto), guacamole (or a whole avacado upon request), sour cream and cheese. Each meal is complete with complementary chips and salsa.
Guad’s not only delivers on its product, but it also provides quality prices for a money-starved college student.
A regular burrito is listed at $4.45 with a super only a dollar more at $5.45. If you have a huge appetite, Guad’s has the giant super for $9.99 – it can feed three people!
They also have chimichangas for $5.45.
For all you non-meat eaters out there, Guad’s provides a vegetarian burrito for $4.95.
They also provide other authentic Mexican dishes such as nachos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
“Most importantly, we give the customers what they want,” Marquez said.
With yet another Best of Davis award, there’s no reason to argue with him there.
For the second straight year, Chipotle takes second place with its downtown location. Chipotle is a fresh mex joint that offers burritos along with tacos and the unique burrito bowl.
Dos Coyotes, with locations in both North and South Davis, provides a menu comparable to Guadalajara and Chipotle.
– Kyle Hyland
Best Coffee
1. ASUCD Coffee House
Memorial Union
2. Starbucks Coffee
3. Peet’s Coffee & Tea
Despite renovations, the ASUCD Coffee House remains a popular spot to hang out and grab a cup of coffee.
The CoHo lures students in with its central location and organic, fair-trade coffee supplied by the Beantrees roasting company.
“They have really good espresso and coffee drinks and obviously it’s a really good location as it’s right on campus,” said Julie Linden, a first-year anthropology graduate student.
Linden gets her coffee at the CoHo almost every day like many other Davis students.
“Also, they’re really friendly and nice. It’s a good atmosphere,” she said.
People enjoy coming back because the baristas are very well trained and experienced, said Franny Brogan, a barista at the CoHo.
“We have a lot of really dedicated student employees who are committed to good customer service,” she said.
Starbucks coffee came in at second place. There are many Starbucks locations through Davis: central Davis at the University Mall, downtown at 208 F St., and in West Davis at 2038 Lyndell Ter.
Peet’s Coffee & Tea came in third. They also have two locations: North Davis 1411 W. Covell Blvd. #114 B and a central Davis location on 231 E St.
– Janelle Bitker
Best Dessert
1. Yolo Berry Yogurt
316 C St.
2. Ciocolat
301 B St.
3. Davis Creamery
2191 Cowell Blvd.
After opening its doors in October of 2008, Yolo Berry quickly proved to be the favorite dessert option for an Aggie with a sweet tooth.
With 101 different toppings to choose from and a rotating array of yogurt flavors, customers can mix and match as their taste buds please. According to Yolo Berry worker and Sacramento State student Lance Simons, Original Tart is the flavor in highest demand.
In addition to their large topping and flavor selection, Yolo Berry sits at a student friendly location alongside Central Park in Davis.
“We are located at a good meeting spot,” Simons said.
With its close proximity to campus and the park, Yolo Berry can be easily accessed by students on campus or patrons of the Farmers Market – a characteristic that Simons attributes to Yolo Berry’s success.
The business also helps out clubs and groups in the Davis community.
“We do a lot of fundraising for student organizations,” Simons said. “It’s a big part of our business.”
Another trait that sets Yolo Berry apart is its unlimited free yogurt after ten purchases. Once a customer fills up their Yolo Berry punch card, they earn a free yogurt with no limits on weight.
Following Yolo Berry for the title of Best Dessert is a classic Davis dessert delicatessen, Ciocolat. With a selection of sweets ranging from hand-rolled chocolate truffles to Madagascar Vanilla Crème Brule, Ciocolat caters to customers with an adventurous palette.
Davis Creamery, which faces the adversity of a distant location in South Davis, came in third this year. In the past year the business has added cupcakes from Cupcake Craving in Sacramento, and cookies from the gourmet cookie company Cookie Connection.
Store manager and UC Davis graduate Shane Edmunds said it’s the store’s daily specials that sets Davis Creamery apart.
“We try to cater to students with our specials because we know that students are strapped for cash,” Edmunds said.
– Amanda Hardwick
Best Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream
1. Yolo Berry Yogurt
316 C St.
2. Cultive
231 E St.
3. Yogurt Shack
113 E St.
Though ice cream may be one of America’s favorite chilly treats, Davis residents have made their preference for self-serve frozen yogurt loud and clear.
Yolo Berry Yogurt has been voted Davis’ favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt shop.
After opening its doors in 2008, Yolo Berry quickly became a favorite destination for all things sweet and frosty. Its prime location at 316 C St., across the street from Central Park and just steps away from the restaurants and nightlife of downtown, makes it an ideal stop for students, families and couples.
Customers dispense the yogurt from the self-serve machines on the wall. Over 100 toppings allow shoppers of all ages and tastes to build their own fro-yo masterpieces. The cost is 39¢ per ounce.
Yogurt flavors rotate daily; Owner Lee Pflugrath said that some of the most popular flavors are cheesecake, peanut butter and tart.
Pflugrath said kids often create the most unusual yogurt and topping combinations.
“A lot of kids like the sour belts with yogurt,” he said. “They can get really creative with the candy, like gummy bears and Reese’s.”
Ultimately, it is the sociable atmosphere and diverse selection of flavors and toppings that keeps people coming back for more.
“We’re right across the street from the Farmer’s Market and have a nice patio,” Pflugrath said. “We also have all kinds of fresh fruit and really friendly service.”
Cultive, located further downtown at
