Sometimes, the meal plan just doesn’t cut it.

Market Central is only open so many hours of… Sometimes, the meal plan just doesn’t cut it.

Market Central is only open so many hours of the day, and 3 a.m. isn’t one of them. But there’s more to Oakland cuisine than what’s provided by the University. In fact, Oakland is home to food at good prices if you’re willing to venture away from your meal plan.

A lot of Oakland eateries have late night deals.

The new Souf Oakland Steaks shop on Atwood Street specializes in cheesesteaks, and between 1 and 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, they’re only $5.

Just up the street are two pizzerias that offer $5 deals of their own. Sorrento’s Pizza Roma operates a $5 large cheese pizza deal every day after 8 p.m. and also sells a number of other Italian food items. Antoon’s Pizza is well known for its $5 large cheese pizza – no time constraints on this pizza place’s price – and, like Sorrento’s, offers other food items including great-priced hoagies.

The McDonald’s on Forbes Avenue is another late-night stop. It’s in a convenient location, between Oakland and Atwood streets, for Pitt students and offers fast food to Oakland’s college population 24/7.

But Oakland also offers a number of food options if you’re looking for a restaurant to sit down in at a reasonable hour.

Primanti Brothers is a local chain with one restaurant located on Forbes. It is known for its unique style of sandwich building in which coleslaw and french fries are served not on the side but rather between the two pieces of bread in the sandwich itself. This Pittsburgh tradition was started back in the day when miners didn’t have time on their lunch breaks to eat their fries, so they put them right inside their sandwiches.

Another eatery that’s made a name for itself in the city is The Original Hotdog Shop, also located on Forbes. The O, as it is known around Oakland, is famous for its hotdogs but also prepares french fries, pizza and a variety of other greasy-spoon staples. For people of age, The O has a selection of beer for sale until 2 a.m.

Pamela’s on Forbes Avenue is another Pittsburgh institution. It’s the place to go for breakfast in Oakland, but be prepared for a wait, as there is sometimes a line stretching outside the restaurant on weekend mornings.

Like Pamela’s, Uncle Sam’s Subs has a number of locations throughout the city of Pittsburgh, and one of them is on Oakland Avenue, seconds from Forbes Avenue.

As the name suggests, Uncle Sam’s is a sub shop, but it’s also a Pittsburgh establishment. Oakland is home to a Subway and a Quiznos as well, but only in Pittsburgh can you find an Uncle Sam’s.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries might not be unique to Pittsburgh, but it is a favorite of Pitt students. Located next to the O, Five Guys is your destination if you’re searching for large quantities of fries, famous burgers and free peanuts. While lines aren’t particularly long at Five Guys, this establishment allows you to call your order in advance to eliminate wait times.

Like happy hour at the local bar, a number of Oakland’s restaurants offer half-off specials on a portion of their menus to keep the tables full as the night wears on.

Joe Mama’s, on the corner of Forbes and Oakland, is one of these, and from 11 p.m. to midnight, certain items from its Italian menu are half-price. Joe Mama’s has been in Oakland for a while, and its staying power is a result of the great Italian food it continues to serve to Oakland’s population. Unknown to many, Joe Mama’s also offers a solid breakfast menu.

Next to Joe Mama’s on Oakland Avenue is Fuel and Fuddle. Like Joe Mama’s, it operates a half-off menu every night after 11. Fuel and Fuddle describes its cuisine as “wildfire food,” which translates into burgers, pizza and a number of other items. Fuel serves brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday.

Atwood, previously mentioned for its two pizzerias, is also home to two Mexican restaurants. La Fiesta and Mad Mex are both located on Atwood and each operates late-night specials.

Another Oakland restaurant that offers late-night specials, India Garden serves authentic Indian food that you really can’t get on your Pitt meal plan.

If you’re willing to venture away from the heart of Oakland in search of good food, it would be worth walking down to Craig Street. Still a part of Oakland but closer to Carnegie Mellon than Pitt, Craig Street is home to a number of restaurants including some of the best Asian restaurants in town.

LuLu’s Noodles is a popular pan-Asian restaurant on Craig Street that specializes in, obviously, noodle dishes.

Of course, if you’re looking for traditional rice dishes, Little Asia is just up the street from LuLu’s on Craig. Little Asia serves Asian rice and noodle dishes as well as a variety of sushi.

If you walk down Forbes past Craig Street, you will also find Orient Express. No one is left out by Orient Express’s menu, which offers noodle and rice dishes with meat and vegetarian options. The prices are easy on the average college student’s budget, too.

As you will see, Oakland has something for everybody when it comes to food. From wildfire food to Indian and everything in between, sampling what foods Oakland has to offer is an education in and of itself.