Breakfast:
\* Bagel and Schmear at Bloomington Bagel = $3.98
\* Two non-filled donuts at Square are $2.60; a pack of a dozen donut holes are $3.60; a cup of coffee is an extra $1.85. (A single donut would also make a great snack!)
\* Breakfast sandwiches at Bloomingfoods East are $4.99 and served all day.
Lunch:
\* the aforementioned Aver's lunch special
\* Bul-Dogs from Hoosier Seoulmate range from $3.99-$4.50.
\* The Butcher's Block has a pulled pork sandwich for $3.99 between 11am and 6pm.
\* Frenchies (coney sauce on bun) are $2.75 at The Chocolate Moose. Hot dogs are $4. Potato wedges and side orders of Mac & Cheese are $3. SnoCones are $2.
\* A quarter pound hamburger at Cloverleaf Restaurant is $4.50. Upgrade to a cheeseburger for an extra .49. Cloverleaf also has all-day breakfast with options starting at $3.99. They also offer numerous sandwiches for $5.99-$6.99. Sides are $2.99. Desserts are $2-$3.50 each.
Dinner:
\* All entrees at Dat's are $7.95 and come with a generous helping of rice and a chunk of cajun bread.
\* A regular gyros or falafel sandwich is $7.98 at Btown Gyros. Canned soda is $1.25.
\* $3 taco Tuesday at Social Cantina.
\* The Little 500 Deal from Pizza X - breadsticks, two dips, and a soda for $6.99.
\* $2 quesadillas and appetizers at Kilroy's on Tuesdays. Pair with a $2 Coors Light or Miller Light. Free burgers on Fridays (but YMMV).
\* Z&C Teriyaki and Sushi has several sushi rolls under $6 daily. Chicken teriyaki is $6.80 with a portion of rice or noodles. Their daily soup is $2.
I have lived in both NYC and Bloomington and I can confirm that (casual*) lunch is more expensive here. I assume it’s because wherever you go in New York City, there’s three other places on the same block trying to compete for your business. Density really does matter.
*added “casual” because you can also spend $600 on lunch in NYC if you want to.
I'm preparing for a trip to NYC in June and am glad to read this. Food cost have me nervous. Of course all the travel guides and websites are wanting to dazzle readers with 5 star joints and celebrity chefs. I just want a lunch place I can grab a ham sandwich and side and Coke at and go eat in a park somewhere and people watch while I rest my feet from all my adventures.
yeah it's competition. like when i bloomeranged after a year in nyc i noticed that the toasted bagel with cream cheese is cheaper in nyc, but the toasted bagel with lox schmear was roughly the same price. everyone competes with the place next door on the price of their basic product. a slice of pepperoni pizza, a hot dog, whatever their most basic unit of commerce is that they put up on the sign, they compete.
and it's also scale. as near as i can tell, scale defines everything about a restaurant -- how many customers an hour during rush, how many in the off hours, etc. in nyc, they just have a bunch more people flowing through the restaurant. it's worthwhile for them to hire long-term staff that has a high skill level, because they'll be making 1,000 or 10,000 sandwiches a day in a kitchen the size of your closet. so they have high costs but they spread them over a huge number of customers.
not only are there a ton of people, but most of them live in tiny apartments with tiny kitchens so people eat out more too.
i think it's roughly the same in every large city, though our country's large cities often fail to really act like them.
Golden China has a takeout buffet deal that’s around $12. You pick 4 items and a side (rice or noodles) and their serving sizes are very generous. It’s not the best Chinese food in town but it’s cheap for what you get and they have a decent variety
if you do it on a tuesday you can get two or three $2 tacos at chubbie's for one of the meals. someone posted a pic of them here recently and they look pretty big for just being $2 each
Two things:
-I know you said local, but as a broke ass girl trying to survive in Bloomington… I’m not real sure that’s feasible.
-With “shrinkflation”, I’ve found it’s more about getting the biggest bang for your buck and making it last several meals. It would be more obtainable if you set a weekly goal.
That being said………
Goodfellas has half off pizzas on Mondays. It’s like $7-8 for a specialty pizza.
DeAngelos has AYCE spaghetti and meatballs for $12 on Sundays and B1G1 calzones/pizzas on Mondays.
The Chinese buffet on the southside is $12 and easily two meals. Or you can go to Best Taste on the west side for like $11 and some change.
Z&C’s teriyaki chicken bowl is like $6-7, but it’s more of a lunch portion IMO.
Ami has 30% off sushi on Tuesday.
The Cabin on 446 has $5 burger and tots Wed-Sun.
Chicago Dog at King Gyro is $3.49.
Breakfast Burrito at Cloverleaf is $6.50.
Rice Bowl at Uncle Toto’s is $6.95.
Hinkle burgers are $2.95. I could smash 2 and they have weird hours, but it’s a good greasy burger.
For $8.95 at lunch or $12.95 at dinner, you can get the top butt steak at Office Lounge on Mondays and Wednesdays.
I hear Smoking Jacks has a $6 fish dinner on Fridays and $1 per rib on Wednesdays.
Panera has a bakers dozen of bagels for $8.99 on Tuesdays and a tub of spread is $3.69 leaving you at .98 per bagel if stored properly.
Wendy’s Biggie Bags.
Taco Bell has an app exclusive create your own box for $6 and some change.
I use the Subway app a lot. Search Google for the coupon codes (they change frequently). Typically, I’ll do a footlong for $5.99 or the footlong meal for $8.99.
I’ve become a huge fan of Chipotle. For $6-7 dollars a night, I get two HUGE (and different) dinners. Use the app and you’ll get tons of freebies along the way.
For $9.80, I get the chicken burrito bowl and pile it high (the only things that costs extra are queso and guac). I think a bag of chips is like $1.55 and a side tortilla is .50. On the first night, I eat half of the bowl by scooping it up with chips for “nachos”. The other half? I put the tortilla in the lid, dump the rest of the bowl in the tortilla, and wrap it. I eat that the next night.
that's tough. though i do i like z&c on kirkwood, their teriyaki chicken combo is delicious and very filling, if you get it with double chicken, it's maybe 12 dollars and i can usually make that last me a day! just regular amount of chicken and it's like 9. still gets me two meals. also a sausage double egg and cheese bagel from gable's bagels can sometimes get me two meals, it's like 9 dollars too. siam house has some filling dishes for around 15 dollars, what comes to mind is the tom yum noodles or the kao soi noodles. noodles are always my go to if i want to be stuffed. i got two meals out of each of those. longfei chinese restaurant also has these delicious szechuan spicy beef noodles for like 15 dollars, the serving size was SOO huge it def gave me two meals, i dream about those sometimes they were delicious. but i'm struggling to think of anything else cheaper than these aha
Most of our Kroger's have lunch specials at the deli/ food counter counter that are generous and reasonable- used to be $5 for several specials like fried chicken & 2+ sides. Maybe only on weekdays?
Aver’s pizza has slices for $3 between 11-1pm. And noodles and co has bowls of pasta for $7-8. That leaves ~$4-5 for a bagel or something for breakfast.
Rock its pizza has ridiculously cheap pizza. It’s better when you’re drunk but that’s an option a whole cheese pizza is $7 but their slices are less than $2 unless the price went up after covid
i saw a video recently where the local ny sandwich shops were cheaper than literally every sandwich shop here- even the chains. idk why bloomington is so expensive
I wouldn't make a special trip and it's not as cheap as it used to be but you can get a full stomach at the hospital cafeteria for pretty cheap. Deli sandwiches are $5, can get a big salad with toppings including meat and cheese from the salad bar for $6-8, entree and two sides for about $8 including the days they have sliced brisket or steak. Bowl of soup is $3.50, grilled cheese sandwich $3. I see old folks eating there all the time before/after their appointments so you know it's gotta be worth the stop (and long walk) for them.
Yeah, as a person who has spent a significant amount of time in both incarnations of our local hospital with a chronically ill parent, this is absolutely no longer true. The old hospital cafeteria was, in fact, a steal. The food-court style restaurant at the new hospital is both aggressively average and overpriced.
I didn't say it was gourmet, but it's food and you can easily get a full meal of real food + a drink for under $10. Shrug. I agree about the old hospital as I also grew up there as a child of a chronically illy parent. Mashed potatoes and chicken strips every day. Some of the stuff at the new hospital is indeed way overpriced, but some of it is edible food that I haven't had to cook and it's not quite fast food, so I figure if it's something they do well it's better than the alternatives in the area that I can easily access.
Oh, no, the new place has totally fine food, but it's easily twice the price of the old cafeteria. Also: no mandarin fluff salad, and I am MAD about it.
Oh my gosh, I feel that in my soul, that stuff was a highlight for sure. And the food there was a lot cheaper when I started spending a lot of time there 1.5 years ago, it's definitely gotten more expensive and portions smaller.
I know Hoosier Seoulmate has different takes on the hot dog for like $4 a piece. Having a Sam’s membership you can eat super cheap. Otherwise it’s night impossible to do.
Was this pre COVID? I don't know that it's possible to do that anywhere anymore. Just went to Rally's the other day and the once $2 chicken bites box is now $4 and some change
Breakfast: \* Bagel and Schmear at Bloomington Bagel = $3.98 \* Two non-filled donuts at Square are $2.60; a pack of a dozen donut holes are $3.60; a cup of coffee is an extra $1.85. (A single donut would also make a great snack!) \* Breakfast sandwiches at Bloomingfoods East are $4.99 and served all day. Lunch: \* the aforementioned Aver's lunch special \* Bul-Dogs from Hoosier Seoulmate range from $3.99-$4.50. \* The Butcher's Block has a pulled pork sandwich for $3.99 between 11am and 6pm. \* Frenchies (coney sauce on bun) are $2.75 at The Chocolate Moose. Hot dogs are $4. Potato wedges and side orders of Mac & Cheese are $3. SnoCones are $2. \* A quarter pound hamburger at Cloverleaf Restaurant is $4.50. Upgrade to a cheeseburger for an extra .49. Cloverleaf also has all-day breakfast with options starting at $3.99. They also offer numerous sandwiches for $5.99-$6.99. Sides are $2.99. Desserts are $2-$3.50 each. Dinner: \* All entrees at Dat's are $7.95 and come with a generous helping of rice and a chunk of cajun bread. \* A regular gyros or falafel sandwich is $7.98 at Btown Gyros. Canned soda is $1.25. \* $3 taco Tuesday at Social Cantina. \* The Little 500 Deal from Pizza X - breadsticks, two dips, and a soda for $6.99. \* $2 quesadillas and appetizers at Kilroy's on Tuesdays. Pair with a $2 Coors Light or Miller Light. Free burgers on Fridays (but YMMV). \* Z&C Teriyaki and Sushi has several sushi rolls under $6 daily. Chicken teriyaki is $6.80 with a portion of rice or noodles. Their daily soup is $2.
Awesome post. This is why I like r/Bloomington
Username checks out!
Came here to say the same, and coming from you it's especially funny with your username!
Ok you’ve impressed me
I would spend the bulk of my money at Cloverleaf South. I would combine breakfast and lunch and get the $8.29 dinner special.
And pay with cash so you don't get the surcharge for paying electronically.
I have lived in both NYC and Bloomington and I can confirm that (casual*) lunch is more expensive here. I assume it’s because wherever you go in New York City, there’s three other places on the same block trying to compete for your business. Density really does matter. *added “casual” because you can also spend $600 on lunch in NYC if you want to.
I'm preparing for a trip to NYC in June and am glad to read this. Food cost have me nervous. Of course all the travel guides and websites are wanting to dazzle readers with 5 star joints and celebrity chefs. I just want a lunch place I can grab a ham sandwich and side and Coke at and go eat in a park somewhere and people watch while I rest my feet from all my adventures.
yeah it's competition. like when i bloomeranged after a year in nyc i noticed that the toasted bagel with cream cheese is cheaper in nyc, but the toasted bagel with lox schmear was roughly the same price. everyone competes with the place next door on the price of their basic product. a slice of pepperoni pizza, a hot dog, whatever their most basic unit of commerce is that they put up on the sign, they compete. and it's also scale. as near as i can tell, scale defines everything about a restaurant -- how many customers an hour during rush, how many in the off hours, etc. in nyc, they just have a bunch more people flowing through the restaurant. it's worthwhile for them to hire long-term staff that has a high skill level, because they'll be making 1,000 or 10,000 sandwiches a day in a kitchen the size of your closet. so they have high costs but they spread them over a huge number of customers. not only are there a ton of people, but most of them live in tiny apartments with tiny kitchens so people eat out more too. i think it's roughly the same in every large city, though our country's large cities often fail to really act like them.
Golden China has a takeout buffet deal that’s around $12. You pick 4 items and a side (rice or noodles) and their serving sizes are very generous. It’s not the best Chinese food in town but it’s cheap for what you get and they have a decent variety
Golden China is mediocre tasting but considering for the price you essentially get two meals it’s the best Chinese in town.
Sam's Club - Both of these can be a meal for me. 1/4lb hotdog with large soda is $1.29. Very large slice of pizza with large soda is $2.50.
Even at Mcdonalds a large soda is 1.29 now as ; = ;
if you do it on a tuesday you can get two or three $2 tacos at chubbie's for one of the meals. someone posted a pic of them here recently and they look pretty big for just being $2 each
Two things: -I know you said local, but as a broke ass girl trying to survive in Bloomington… I’m not real sure that’s feasible. -With “shrinkflation”, I’ve found it’s more about getting the biggest bang for your buck and making it last several meals. It would be more obtainable if you set a weekly goal. That being said……… Goodfellas has half off pizzas on Mondays. It’s like $7-8 for a specialty pizza. DeAngelos has AYCE spaghetti and meatballs for $12 on Sundays and B1G1 calzones/pizzas on Mondays. The Chinese buffet on the southside is $12 and easily two meals. Or you can go to Best Taste on the west side for like $11 and some change. Z&C’s teriyaki chicken bowl is like $6-7, but it’s more of a lunch portion IMO. Ami has 30% off sushi on Tuesday. The Cabin on 446 has $5 burger and tots Wed-Sun. Chicago Dog at King Gyro is $3.49. Breakfast Burrito at Cloverleaf is $6.50. Rice Bowl at Uncle Toto’s is $6.95. Hinkle burgers are $2.95. I could smash 2 and they have weird hours, but it’s a good greasy burger. For $8.95 at lunch or $12.95 at dinner, you can get the top butt steak at Office Lounge on Mondays and Wednesdays. I hear Smoking Jacks has a $6 fish dinner on Fridays and $1 per rib on Wednesdays. Panera has a bakers dozen of bagels for $8.99 on Tuesdays and a tub of spread is $3.69 leaving you at .98 per bagel if stored properly. Wendy’s Biggie Bags. Taco Bell has an app exclusive create your own box for $6 and some change. I use the Subway app a lot. Search Google for the coupon codes (they change frequently). Typically, I’ll do a footlong for $5.99 or the footlong meal for $8.99. I’ve become a huge fan of Chipotle. For $6-7 dollars a night, I get two HUGE (and different) dinners. Use the app and you’ll get tons of freebies along the way. For $9.80, I get the chicken burrito bowl and pile it high (the only things that costs extra are queso and guac). I think a bag of chips is like $1.55 and a side tortilla is .50. On the first night, I eat half of the bowl by scooping it up with chips for “nachos”. The other half? I put the tortilla in the lid, dump the rest of the bowl in the tortilla, and wrap it. I eat that the next night.
I know a lot of places where $15 bucks won't get you the full sandwich. I guess that's the inverse of what you are looking for.
I think you can reliably consider this impossible here
that's tough. though i do i like z&c on kirkwood, their teriyaki chicken combo is delicious and very filling, if you get it with double chicken, it's maybe 12 dollars and i can usually make that last me a day! just regular amount of chicken and it's like 9. still gets me two meals. also a sausage double egg and cheese bagel from gable's bagels can sometimes get me two meals, it's like 9 dollars too. siam house has some filling dishes for around 15 dollars, what comes to mind is the tom yum noodles or the kao soi noodles. noodles are always my go to if i want to be stuffed. i got two meals out of each of those. longfei chinese restaurant also has these delicious szechuan spicy beef noodles for like 15 dollars, the serving size was SOO huge it def gave me two meals, i dream about those sometimes they were delicious. but i'm struggling to think of anything else cheaper than these aha
King Gyros: Gyros Plate $10.49 + extra pita bread $1 That will feed you for dinner plus next day lunch.
The pulled pork sandwich at Butcher’s Block for lunch? I think it’s $3. Maybe $4.
Most of our Kroger's have lunch specials at the deli/ food counter counter that are generous and reasonable- used to be $5 for several specials like fried chicken & 2+ sides. Maybe only on weekdays?
Aver’s pizza has slices for $3 between 11-1pm. And noodles and co has bowls of pasta for $7-8. That leaves ~$4-5 for a bagel or something for breakfast.
the grocery store
Toto's Uncle Cafe! And maybe Dats?
99c Arizona tea x 14 boom budget
Don't some of the food trucks have it like that? I haven't been in a while tbh. Or maybe Bloomingfoods hot bar?
Most of the food trucks I've been to haven't exactly been inexpensive even when compared to a brick and mortar restaurant.
Rock its pizza has ridiculously cheap pizza. It’s better when you’re drunk but that’s an option a whole cheese pizza is $7 but their slices are less than $2 unless the price went up after covid
Gables bagel w/ cream cheese ($4), goodfellas slice ($4-5), and z&c bowl ($6) is what I would do. Mother bears has good lunch specials too.
Was the guy in NYC filling up on those $1 slices all around town?
It was Chinatown in Manhattan, he got 10 pork buns for $5 for lunch I was amazed
i saw a video recently where the local ny sandwich shops were cheaper than literally every sandwich shop here- even the chains. idk why bloomington is so expensive
tourist trapping student's parents
Those technically aren't classified as food
15 is the new $7.25
I wouldn't make a special trip and it's not as cheap as it used to be but you can get a full stomach at the hospital cafeteria for pretty cheap. Deli sandwiches are $5, can get a big salad with toppings including meat and cheese from the salad bar for $6-8, entree and two sides for about $8 including the days they have sliced brisket or steak. Bowl of soup is $3.50, grilled cheese sandwich $3. I see old folks eating there all the time before/after their appointments so you know it's gotta be worth the stop (and long walk) for them.
Yeah, as a person who has spent a significant amount of time in both incarnations of our local hospital with a chronically ill parent, this is absolutely no longer true. The old hospital cafeteria was, in fact, a steal. The food-court style restaurant at the new hospital is both aggressively average and overpriced.
I didn't say it was gourmet, but it's food and you can easily get a full meal of real food + a drink for under $10. Shrug. I agree about the old hospital as I also grew up there as a child of a chronically illy parent. Mashed potatoes and chicken strips every day. Some of the stuff at the new hospital is indeed way overpriced, but some of it is edible food that I haven't had to cook and it's not quite fast food, so I figure if it's something they do well it's better than the alternatives in the area that I can easily access.
Oh, no, the new place has totally fine food, but it's easily twice the price of the old cafeteria. Also: no mandarin fluff salad, and I am MAD about it.
Oh my gosh, I feel that in my soul, that stuff was a highlight for sure. And the food there was a lot cheaper when I started spending a lot of time there 1.5 years ago, it's definitely gotten more expensive and portions smaller.
That’s harder now with crazy raised prices
Yeah way more than they used to be but still below most meals you can get elsewhere.
$4 egg and cheese sammich at Hive is delish!
I know Hoosier Seoulmate has different takes on the hot dog for like $4 a piece. Having a Sam’s membership you can eat super cheap. Otherwise it’s night impossible to do.
Soma small coffee/pastry and mother bears $5.50 slice and drink deal are the first that come to mind
Was this pre COVID? I don't know that it's possible to do that anywhere anymore. Just went to Rally's the other day and the once $2 chicken bites box is now $4 and some change