Laksa Delight – Kevin
Laksa Delight is a hidden gem serving up warm and comforting bowls of the good stuff in Matthew’s Arcade on Upper Campus. Tucked in within the myriad offerings in that underground food court, Laksa Delight looks unassuming, but their noodle soups are delicious, as evidenced by the lines of students and staff that are always there.
The laksa they serve is of the classic curry variety, with a slightly spicy curry paste and coconut milk broth, that’s found all over the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Your bowl is served with yellow egg noodles and beehoon (rice vermicelli) which is designed to soak up the rich flavour of the soup. Toppings include tofu puffs and your choice of protein (I recommend going for the classic wonton and char siu combo). And feel free to say yes to extra chilli paste and dried garlic at no extra cost.
If you’re ever studying long hours in the library, don’t forget to take a break and head to Laksa Delight.
P.S. Make sure you bring a tissue
Yallah Eat - Steven
If you haven’t been to Yallah Eat already, you’re doing things wrong at uni. Yallah Eat does Middle-Eastern style fast food that ranges from kebabs, HSPs, salad bowls and Falafel Shawarmas (my personal favourite), although their most popular food items are definitely the lamb/chicken shawarmas.
Yallah Eat is legitimately great food on campus at a relatively inexpensive price. For 10 dollars, they deliver a huge amount of carbs and protein through generous dollop of hummus, lentil rice, salad, pita bread and your protein of choice. If for some reason you are truly starving and need even more sustenance, you can make it a meal with 3 extra dollars and grab some surprisingly good fries and drink.
You should definitely check out Yallah Eat down in lower campus near IGA!
Subway – Richard
A classic option for time-poor uni-students who want the ‘healthier’ option on campus. A staple in any uni-student’s food palette, and a place that I frequent on an almost daily basis. Located squarely between Boost Juice and Southern Wok, you'll often see the managers of each joint having chats just after the lunch-time rush. In terms of food, you could go the boring, healthy route by getting a Turkey Sub on a grain bread. Or, if you're at your seemingly perpetual lowpoint you could completely go ham with a Meatball sub, lathered in ranch, covered in cheese and on an Italian herb bread. Will it be healthy? No. Will it be tasty? Hell yeah.
Q-Lounge - Thaveesha
Ever felt that pang of hunger in your stomach in between your afternoon lectures but didn't have the cash for it? Well lucky for Scrooge McDuck’s like myself, the Q-Lounge has got us covered.
Nestled in the heart of campus, tucked into the quad food court is your ideal choice of cafe for every meal of the day. From the ‘Grinders’ (renowned Melbourne based coffee manufacturer) black coffee, and ham and cheese croissant to the ‘choose your own protein’ $10 special (Ps.: The chicken schnitty and chips is to die for) or even a wholesome garden salad to take home.
My favourite feature is the friendliness of the staff. No matter how busy they were during peak times, they were always keen to have a chat, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Good customer service is an indicator of a great business and this is a proper example. Whether it’s the leather lounge chairs, high bar stools or the tables with the outdoor balcony view, there is always a place for students to relax, catch up with friends or just revise for lectures in the Q-Lounge.
Guzman y Gomez – Caleb
If you haven’t been to Guzman y Gomez (GYG) on campus yet, you must be a first year student. If that’s you, welcome to UNSW!
GYG provides the finest Mexican food on campus, and is simply the better Mad Mex with a wider range of products. Simply celebrated by their slogan: GYG is “fast food your mum says ‘YES’ to!”
You’ll find GYG at the university terraces on Kensington’s lower campus, hiding between the Fitness and Aquatic Centre and UNSW Village. The perfect pre-and-post workout meal.
They offer a diverse variety of meals including burritos, nachos, naked and loaded fries, quesadillas, and salads. You can fill these up with your choice of grilled chicken, pulled pork, slow-cooked beef, pan-seared barramundi, ground-beef, or (if you’re living the vegan life, or simply looking for a bit of green) sautéed vegetables with guacamole. OH! And did somebody say frozen margaritas? The complete menu can be found HERE!
If you’re on the go, the $3 taco is a solid choice. Heck. At that price, why not get $3 tacos for all your mates...or four for yourself. If you’re looking for something bigger, you won’t be failed by the Chicken Nacho Fries for $13.
Treat yourself to something special and get GYG. You’ve earned it.
Thirsty Burger (Roundhouse) - Junyoung
Thirsty Burger is undoubtedly the MVP for all things burgers and fries on campus. Located in the Roundhouse on Lower Campus, it is one of the best value eateries to satisfy your burger cravings. With a generous selection of burgers, wings, fries, and other sides to choose from, the menu is sure to impress even the most pretentious, pickiest of eaters and self-proclaimed UNSW ‘foodies’ out there.
The $9 Classic burger meal is where VALUE really shines, with a choice of either a beef, chicken, or veggie burger (the Cheezus, Chick Chick Boom, or Turn the Other Leaf, to use the real names) with a side of thinly-cut, generously seasoned fries, and a (non-alcoholic) drink of your choice. For those who aren’t too keen on burgers, no need to worry. You can always choose to indulge in some succulent, juicy wings with a choice of spicy buffalo, chipotle BBQ, or garlic butter sauce/s. And if you’re not too hungry, more in the mood for snacking and sharing, you can always play it safe and go for either the shoestring fries, chunky wedges, onion rings, falafel bites, and plenty more.
If you’re ever on campus and in the mood for a great value, quality feed, make sure you head over to the Roundhouse and treat yourself to something from Thirsty Burger. I promise you’ll enjoy it.
P.S. You’ll probably see me there at one point or another.
