As soon as the lunch bell rings, it’s a race to the parking lot. Seniors run to their cars to grab a bite to eat. With 45 minutes on the clock, students must choose wisely to get the most for their buck and time. Here are some of Oak Park High School’s student’s favorite spots to grab a bite.
This cute hole-in-the wall sandwich spot just off Kanan and Thousand Oaks is a must-try. Uncle Af’s serves sandwiches, subs and fries. Their chicken burrata and firecracker chicken sandwiches are amazing and the best part is the bread. The thin crispy crust contrasts beautifully with the soft crumb.
These delicious sandwiches are not exactly cheap though. One sub can cost over $16. But if you are looking to save a little money, their portion sizes are big enough to split with a friend.
Popular for their iced drinks and donuts, Gladstones also makes for a great quick bite. Located in the Starbucks parking lot, they also serve croissant and bagel sandwiches with a variety of simple toppings. These small hot meals are perfect for students in a time crunch and pair well with one of their blended drinks.
For high schoolers on a budget, dropping $18 on a burrito bowl and bag of chips may not be realistic. Luckily, there are plenty of cheaper options around the Oak Park area that offer fast service and consistent food. Senior Akash Gampala who is always “looking for deals,” spends many of his lunch breaks at the McDonalds near Canwood and Kanan Rd.
“It is not about quality, it’s about quantity,” Gampala said. “It’s the cheapest, it’s the closest, it’s the best. My go to at McDonalds is the two for $4 spicy McChicken. It keeps me energized for the rest of the day and is truly a delicacy.”
When he’s not craving burgers and fries, Gampala and his friends head to Taco Bell.
“We just hop from place to place depending on what we’re feeling,” Gampala said.
If you don’t want to wait in fast food lines, Pavilions may be your next stop. Offering hot plates, sandwiches and sushi for low prices, there is something for everyone just 1.5 miles from campus. Senior Hansika Sangaraju is a regular at Pavilions where she and her friends love grabbing crunchy avocado rolls.
“Pavilions sushi is super fresh because it’s made that morning,” Sangaraju said. “It can be a nice change of pace from the fast food around here and is pretty quick to get since you can just grab the container and go.”
Other highly underrated options are their chicken combos and potato sides. Always crispy and hot, these plates hit the spot on cold windy days.
Chipotle and Panda Express:
Four miles away from campus, students often hustle to Chipotle and Panda Express. At the intersection of Russell Ranch Rd and Lindero, these spots are extremely popular. At Chipotle, the burritos and bowls are fan favorites, several students noting they liked the bowl because they could save whatever they didn’t finish as an after-school snack. At Panda Express, students like getting chow mein, orange chicken and teriyaki chicken.
But it is always a gamble with these farther places. If you don’t get lucky with the stoplights, it may be tough to get back in time for the last class of the day. Because they have an assembly line style and can often be busy, some students opt to order online to minimize the wait.
If your sweet tooth is kicking in, taking a pit stop at Crumbl may be the move. With new weekly flavors, you’ll be kept on your toes.
“My friends and I love going to Crumbl to try new flavors,” senior Ashley Tepher said. “Honestly, most of the time the cookies don’t taste that great, but it is the anticipation of new stuff that is fun.”
Zero dollars and zero miles:
Located on campus and charging nothing, OPHS’s cafeteria serves hot meals and grab-and-go lunches every day. Going out for lunch everyday is incredibly unrealistic, and sometimes staying back on campus to enjoy the cafeteria food is worth it. From chicken tikka masala to veggie burgers, the cafeteria is always trying to bring fun, diverse and healthy lunches to the student body. So, the next time your wallet is looking a little dry, save yourself money, gas and time by eating at the cafeteria or bringing lunch from home.
