The Best Food

Best Dorm Food: Easy Mac

It’s lunch time, and the thought of waiting in the… Best Dorm Food: Easy Mac

It’s lunch time, and the thought of waiting in the endless lines at Eddie’s is making you lose your appetite. Or maybe it’s 2 a.m. and nothing on campus is open. Or maybe it’s early in the morning and you’re out of the overpriced cereal you bought with extra blocks last Sunday. Whatever the situation, Easy Mac is there to rescue you from the clutches of overwhelming hunger. In less than five minutes, for less than the cost of Antoon’s and without having to leave your room, you can have all the cheesy goodness you want, courtesy of Kraft and your microwave.

Runner-up: Ramen noodles

—Anna Kissell, Copy Chief

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Best Fries: The Original Hot Dog Shop

Nothing satisfies late-night, drunken cravings quite like the golden fries from perennial favorite Essie’s Original Hot Dog Shop.

Located for decades at the corner of Forbes and Bouquet, the neon marquee outside of the “O” stands as a beacon of legendary amounts of grease. Known for serving up sopping wet fries that often soak through the paper bags they’re placed in, the “O” also stands for mass quantities of Conehead proportions, with fries piled upon fries so high that the “extra-large size” is no longer available, presumably because that many fries could feed a varsity sports club three times over.

This Oakland favorite took first place to Five Guys Burgers and Fries, a competing (and marginally less greasy) joint located just around the corner on Bouquet Street

Runner-up: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

—Andrew Macurak, Staff Writer

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Best Indian: India Garden

You wake up one morning and you feel tired and, well, bland. You have a latte and you don’t feel any better. You go up to Student Health and have them check you out for chronic fatigue, only to discover you’re just fine.

Then, around 10 p.m., it hits you — you haven’t had paneer tikka makhni in three weeks.

You rush to the India Garden on Atwood Street and inhale the spicy, half-off goodness and are immediately revitalized.

With half-off specials every day from 4 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., there’s really no excuse not to get your fill of good Indian food and remain spicy and vibrant all the time.

Runner-up: Prince of India

—Annie Tubbs, Managing Editor

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Best Mexican: Mad Mex

Mad Mex takes the win in this year’s Best Of probably because it’s not like any other Mexican place you’ve ever been to.

Mad Mex’s tiny dining room is packed every night because of good food and, for the over-21 crowd, large, powerful margaritas.

Their menu is packed full of burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and other delights that aren’t your stereotypical beans-rice-cheese-meat variations found in most Mexican dishes.

The quirky names — such as Kristy’s Big Sister’s Red Velvet burrito — don’t say much about the dishes, but all of their burritos have interesting ingredients — such as their own chickpea chili, spicy spinach, tofu, portabella mushrooms — in unexpected combinations to make it a very unique burrito experience.

Plus, with half-off specials every night from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., late-night Mex is always a good idea.

Runner-up: Qdoba

—Annie Tubbs, Managing Editor

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Best Sushi/Japanese: Sushi Boat

Using the words “good” and “cheap” in the same sentence when talking about sushi isn’t usually a good thing. If there’s one thing you should spend money on, it’s probably raw fish.

Sushi Boat, however, manages to make good sushi for, well, cheap. Their prices are very reasonable and the fish is always fresh, delicious and well-prepared, and they are always very generous with the size of their maki, or rolled sushi.

In addition to sushi, their menu contains Chinese and Japanese specialties, including build-your-own rice and noodle bowls, in which you can choose your meat and your sauce and then it’s cooked to order in a matter of minutes.

Runner-up: Nakama

—Annie Tubbs, Managing Editor

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Best Meal Under $5: Wendy’s

For under $5 there are few places that can beat Wendy’s. Specifically, Wendy’s is now offering a $.99 junior bacon cheeseburger that combines the best aspects of classic grilled beef with … bacon. So just get five of those juicy, crunchy babies and a cup of ice water … to go.

But if that’s not your style, you can always get something else off of their extra value menu like the junior cheeseburger deluxe, medium fries, small frosty, five-piece chicken nuggets, crispy chicken sandwich or (gasp!) the side salad.

But don’t forget that there are also several meals that will run under $5, so that the people out there who absolutely need a soda and fries to go with their delicious greasy goodness can get some.

So go get some.

Runner-up: Antoon’s

—Andy Medici, News Editor

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Best Vending Truck: What Trucks?

For many, the opening of Schenley Plaza was bittersweet. While the redesigned space promised new and exotic dining venues, many shed a tear for the trusty food trucks that had for so long vended eclectic fare to hungry folk of all kinds outside Hillman Library. The slow decline of the trucks began when they were displaced by construction and exiled to the corner of Fifth and Thackeray. Then, after more strife and trouble, they came to rest on Bigelow next to Soldiers and Sailors. The solemn trek took its toll and only two brave truck vendors survived. As of now, only one remains — the sole evidence of a once proud troupe of peddlers. We weep for them, because they were our friends.

Runner-up: Asian Tea Room, Schenley Plaza

—Doug Denison, Senior Staff Photographer

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Best Half Price: Fuel ‘ Fuddle

It’s 10:45 p.m., and, as usual, people around campus are hungry. After all, there are only so many things you can heat up in your dorm room microwave before you start longing for something different. Thankfully, 11 p.m. is quickly approaching, which means that students can dash over to Fuel ‘ Fuddle and enjoy the greatness that is its half-price menu. If you’re running short on cash and your stomach is growling, or, in other words, if you are a college student, then Fuel ‘ Fuddle’s combination of lots of food and low prices will definitely be an appealing choice.

Runner-up: Hemingway’s

—Ben Wischnowski, Copy Editor

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Best Hamburger: Five Guys Burgers and Fries

If you are really hungry, Five Guys Burgers and Fries is the place to grab Oakland’s best burger. Order a regular burger and you will be met with two fresh beef patties that challenge you to be devoured. Five Guys lets you build your own burger with whatever toppings you find most delicious. It’s easy to see why Five Guys is so popular, since you never leave hungry.

Runner-up: Wendy’s

—Keaton Carr, Assistant Photo Editor

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On-Campus Eatery: Eddie’s

There aren’t many eating experiences more rewarding than spending your Sunday afternoon in Eddie’s block-shopping with your 11 leftover meal blocks. The food combinations are endless (well, almost) between Eddie’s and that market latched on next to it. From the fancy-schmancy cereal bar to my personal favorite, pierogies, you can rest assured that you will be satisfied.

Certainly, Pitt will not be the same next year once Eddie’s goes under renovation, but the lasting memories of almost running into kids carrying those blue trays with an obscene amount of bottled water/Gatorade on them will stay with me forever. But cheer up, at least the Cathedral Cafe will always be at your service … as long as you have the appropriate funds.

Runner-up: Cathedral Cafe

—Laurie Zinberg, Staff Writer

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Best Chinese Food: Lulu’s Noodles

With quirky decor and delicious food, Lulu’s Noodles offers the best Chinese food for a very reasonable price.

Whether you like the adventurous Spicy Basil or the classic General Tso’s Chicken (a Pittsburgher favorite), Lulu’s offers a large selection of Asian delicacies. Featuring fun slogans and noodle-themed photos, Lulu’s also offers a fun and trendy atmosphere.

Also try their large variety of bubble and milk teas with delectable gummy bubbles.

Runner-up: Szechuan Express

—Tim Stienstraw, Assistant News Editor

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Best Sandwich: Primanti Brothers

Visiting Primanti Brothers and indulging in a french fry and coleslaw-smothered sandwich for the first time is truly a rite of passage for Pittsburghers. Primanti Brothers has been doling out their “almost famous” sandwiches for more than 60 years now, and the restaurant has become a symbol of Pittsburgh.

Primanti’s offers a wide array of menu choices at very reasonable prices for diners, with menu selections ranging from the infamous No. 2 best-seller, the Pitts-burgher cheesesteak, to — (gasp!) salads. And with an atmosphere that bleeds Pittsburgh pride, Primanti Brothers is an ideal place to grab lunch, watch the game or take out-of-town visitors.

Runner-up: The Original Hot Dog Shop

—Erin Green, Assistant Opinions Editor

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Best Vegetarian: Subway

Let’s face it: Cold cuts aren’t so hot when juxtaposed with a huge assortment of fresh, crisp veggies.

Subway has realized this, and offers its meat-loathing patrons some tasty vegetarian options. On its Veggie Delite