As a senior at the University of Houston, I bring to you, 3 cheap and good Houston restaurants that every University of Houston student should know about. H-Town is one of the most diverse culinary cities in the world. We have seen plenty of Houston home cooks battle it out on MasterChef. Our city inspires mouthwatering recipes that truly represent a melting pot of cultures. As a University of Houston student, you are one of the lucky ones. You get to explore worldly, innovative, and cheap foods in the big city. Yeah sure, our infrastructure sucks and traffic is a pain to sit through. But damn, we know how to eat.

Cali Sandwich & Pho

713-520-0710 | 2900 Travis St, Houston, TX 77006

This whole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant is as authentic as it gets. It’s pretty old school, when you walk in you sit down, order and pay when you finish eating. The Banh Mi sandwiches are tasty, filling, and will only cost you $4. Their meat and rice dishes, I recommend the pork and rice, are just as amazing at $8. Cali Sandwich & Pho has a variety of options, like fresh smoothies, a vegetarian section, and soups. To all the picky eaters, this restaurant offers plenty of options that are guaranteed to satisfy your tastebuds.

The Waffle Bus

832-582-5842 | Check thewafflebus.com to find this food truck’s location.

Just talking about The Waffle Bus makes my stomach start to growl. This is seriously one of the best food trucks I’ve ever had. By far the most popular dish on their menu has to be the Chicken Thunder Fries. This mix of fried chicken and waffle fries drenched in sweet sauces is sure to become your next obsession. Their menu prices range between $4-$10, depending on whether you get the waffles, fryders, or thunder fries. A perfect combination of sweet and savory, the Waffle Bus is a required campus destination for any University of Houston student. Yes, we cougars are lucky enough to have The Waffle Bus stationed a short walk away from our classes. Click this link to figure out the next time you can find The Waffle Bus food truck on campus.

Abu Omar Halal

346-262-6149 | 7500 Almeda Rd Suite A, Houston, TX 77054

If you’ve never tried shawarma, drop everything you are doing and go to Abu Omar Halal. This food truck is located about ten minutes away from campus and has the cheapest and best Mediterranean food in Houston. I’m telling you the hummus, falafel, rice, meat, and pita will make your stomach very happy. The beef over hummus is only $7 and the Shawarma sandwiches are $6.50. This food truck is a mere ten minutes away from campus and never disappoints. As you get to know Houston, you will see just how many options you have when it comes to Mediterranean food. There are soooo many restaurants to explore, but out of all of them, this is a must-try the next time you have a Halal craving. Plus, if you’re lazy, you can always order Abu Omar Halal online, through either DoorDash or Postmates.