Late-night grub pleases partiers

Students find the best way to end a night is with cheap eats

By Sharon Yep

As last call sounds or the keg runs dry, many students who party are thinking about the night's next feat: taking a trip for some late-night treats.

Most partiers stick to the downtown area of Chico south of campus, also known as "the streets," and the surrounding eateries profit from the after-hours groups, said Travis Harris, a junior majoring in criminal justice.

His restaurant of choice is usually Five and Eye, a fairly new island-themed addition to the popular party corner of Fifth and Ivy streets. Serving up greasy goodness, such as burgers, chicken strips and fries, it's a good place to get "tons of food if you don't got a lot of funds," he said, sitting outside the Bell Memorial Union Marketplace. Eating out that late is spare change, Harris said. "It's like $5 at most," he said. "The other places around there earn big bank too."

The walk-up window at Franky's can also be a drunk's savior, with employees doling out $2 pizza early into the morning, he said.

The line outside Franky's can wind around the block and then some, Harris said.

Senior Marko Polunic has been studying abroad in Chico from Germany for about two months, but he already has a familiar fascination with Franky's.

"I just don't understand how they can serve good food cheap and still be in business," said the 22-year-old business major. "I go out a couple times every week, and it's still standing there."

By walking just past the corner of Fifth and Ivy streets, downtown junkies looking for a food fix can find Tacos De Acapulco, which is so busy that there's usually a 20-minute wait, said senior Claudia Higueros.

"The wait is well worth it," she said. "The food's good enough to go there during the day, too, even when you're sober."

When the bartenders at nearby Madison Bear Garden announce closing, Higueros, 22, usually splits a $6 plate of nachos with a friend or two at Tacos De, she said.

"It's big portions with everything on it," Higueros said, smacking her lips. "You can't go wrong with spicy food after having bitter beer."

Food outside the party area

Places farther toward the shopping area of downtown, such as Jack in the Box or Jack's Restaurant, are also options if you're willing to make the trek, she said.

The food's definitely worse, but everyone has a burger binge sometimes, Higueros said.

For first-year student Becky Vickers, roaming around downtown after stumbling out of the bars isn't exactly an option.

But Vickers, 18, uses her room at Craig Hall to her advantage when she gets the early-morning munchies. Her housing costs include dorm dollars, which can be used at her eatery of choice, Pita Pit.

As if the meal couldn't be any more of a deal, Vickers doesn't even have to leave the comforts of her room or her friends. She orders through www.campusfood.com, a food-delivery service that participates with many of the city's restaurants. Her pita's usually at her door within 45 minutes, she said.

"It's bomb," she said. "I eat healthy food in my own room without having to get up or spend money."

Though many may crave Vickers' pita bargain, senior Pete Howell can be particular about what he wants to eat when he gets back from the bars. If he wants ice cream, he wants a carton. If he wants candy, he wants a huge bag.

And for the biggest portions of late-night grub, he said there's no better place to go than Winco.

"You can't complain when you go to Winco," Howell said. "No matter what you want, you'll find it. Not to mention, they can't kick you out."

No matter the distance, the variety or the price, Chico State students are acquiring their own tastes of post-party fare.