It’s that time of year when the U-Hauls come rolling in, parents are circling the block looking for parking, and thousands of new VCU students are about to move in and get their first real taste of Richmond. There are about 4,500 new students and 1,500 transfer students coming in, so you might want to avoid the chaos around Monroe Park this weekend.
Sooner or later, all those students will want something to eat. If you would rather spend your money supporting local without breaking the bank, Richmond has a ton of options. From pizza and dumplings to diners, food carts, and coffee shops, we can help you get through the weekend and the school year.
Here is our guide to eating local around VCU’s campus on a budget. As always, if we missed anything, drop us a line.
821 Cafe
825 W. Cary Street
821 Café is one of those places where vegans, vegetarians, and meat-eaters can all find something. The pancakes are big, the biscuits are solid, and they mix in the soy and tofu options well. It is a neighborhood diner and late afternoon dive bar with affordable prices and portions that will fill you up.
Abi’s Books & Brews
1212 W. Cary Street
Abi’s Books & Brews is a neighborhood coffee shop with a small bookstore right on Cary Street. They open early with coffee, espresso drinks, pastries, and specialty drinks like the Campfire Latte. There are books to check out, space to sit and work, and enough going on that it feels more like a community hang than a grab-and-go coffee shop.
Aladdin Express
801 W. Broad Street
Aladdin Express has been feeding broke students for decades, and the prices, and service, haven’t changed much. It’s one of the few spots around VCU where you can get a solid meal without spending much more than you would have twenty years ago.
Alchemy Coffee
814 W. Broad Street
Alchemy Coffee is right in VCU, making it an easy stop before class and get some work done. They take the coffee seriously, with espresso drinks, pour overs, cold brew, and house-made syrups. There’s plenty of seating, a relaxed atmosphere, and enough outlets to make it a solid study spot.
Benny Ventano’s Pizza
2501 W. Main Street
if you check out their instagram, you can that their slices are stupid huge. A few bucks gets you a piece of pizza roughly the size of your head, plus a soda. It’s cheap, filling, and that late night stop when you just need something to hold off that oncoming morning hangover.
Beauvine Burger
1509 W. Main Street
Beauvine makes one of the best burgers near-ish campus. Instagram-ready artisan burgers with well-seared patties and plenty of side options. The duck fat fries are worth the upgrade, and there’s a full bar for the over-21 crowd that stays open late. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other spots on this list, but still reasonable when you want something better than the usual cheap eats. Get your parents to take you there and save some money.
Blanchard’s Coffee
26 N. Morris Street
Blanchard’s has been around awhile and is one of Richmond’s go-to coffee shops, with strong coffee and several locations around town. It’s a reliable spot for studying, getting some work done, or grabbing a cup on the way to class.
BoDillaz
916 W. Broad Street
BoDillaz has been feeding VCU students on Broad Street for years, with big quesadillas, wings, wraps, and plenty of late-night options. The quesadillas are the main attraction, with a long list of fillings and flavored tortillas, but the wings have their own loyal following online. Portions are generous, prices are student-friendly, and they regularly run specials aimed directly at the VCU crowd.
Brave Captain
729 W. Cary Street
Brave Captain is that neighborhood dive with cheap drinks, surprisingly solid food, and plenty of personality. There’s a Jaws theme running through the place, including a shrine to the infamous Quint behind the bar that looks over the place in approval. It’s small but casual and comfortable, and feels like the kind of bar that’s been around longer than it actually has. Also, it gets packed anytime there’s a show at the Altria Theater, so keep that in mind.
Christian’s Pizza
404 N. Harrison Street
Christian’s is a VCU late-night staple for a reason. The slices are delicious, with a variety of toppings, heated up fast in the oven, and generally less than $5, which still makes them one of the cheapest meals around campus. It gets especially busy after the bars let out, but the line moves quickly.
City Dogs
1309 W. Main Street
City Dogs keeps things real simple. There’s typical bar food, but this spot is all about hot dogs with plenty of different toppings, and most options are around $10 or less. It’s a longtime Richmond favorite, dive, and hang that’s a reliable late-night stop when you want something quick, filling, and affordable. Add chili, cheese, or whatever else you like, grab a beer if you’re old enough, and you’re set.
Cobra Cabana
901 W. Marshall Street
Cobra Cabana is from the same folks behind Brave Captain, so if you like one, you’ll probably like the other. It’s a neighborhood bar with a punk, retro ’80s swords-and-sorcery vibe and a metal edge, plus a really solid food menu with plenty of vegan options. Burgers, carne asada fries, sandwiches, and affordable drinks make it a popular late-night spot, with the kitchen serving late. Also, it’s a great spot to catch a good show from time to time.
Garnett’s Café
2001 Park Avenue
Garnett’s is that small neighborhood spot that feels like it belongs in the pages of Southern Living. Cozy and full of personality, this Fan favorite is known for its delicious, unique sandwiches and salads. There aren’t many tables, so it can fill up quickly, but that’s part of the appeal. It’s affordable, relaxed, and a good option for lunch or a low-key date without spending too much.
Get Tight Lounge
1104 W. Main Street
Get Tight Lounge combines affordable food and drinks with a steady schedule of live music, along with a rotating slate of fun one-off events like crab boils and Orioles watch parties. They’re also open for lunch with weekly specials and a solid brunch, but nights are when the place really gets going. The scene is diverse, the pours are heavy, and the soundtrack is usually on point. They recently stepped up their food game, too. Read our story HERE.
Govinda Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurant
812 W. Marshall Street
Govinda serves affordable Indian food on Marshall Street, with a menu that’s friendly to vegans and vegetarians. The portions are generous, the food is flavorful, and you can get a filling meal without spending much.
Got Dumplings
309 N. Laurel Street
Got Dumpling is exactly what it sounds like. You’ve got dumplings, various soups, and a few Asian drinks to round out the menu. They keep it inexpensive and filling and serve it up quickly, making it an easy option for students looking for a solid meal on a budget.
Greenbriar Cafe and Coffeehouse
1211 W. Main Street
Tucked along Main Street, this is a solid neighborhood spot for coffee and breakfast. The house-made sausage, egg, and cheese bagel is a favorite, filling without being too expensive.
GWARbar
217 W. Clay Street
If Richmond legends GWAR were a bar, it would probably look something like the cantina scene in Star Wars. It’s loud, full of neighborhood characters and GWAR memorabilia, all wrapped around a surprisingly tasty mix of burgers, sandwiches, vegan options, and cheap drink specials. It’s Richmond at its most exaggerated and a great hang if you want to experience our tiny, slightly deranged version of Disneyland.
Halal Munchies
815 W. Grace Street
One of the street food staples in New York is lamb and rice with white sauce. Halal Munchies brings some of that same energy to VCU’s campus, with a fun run of Instagram reels selling the vibe. They keep things simple with gyros, lamb platters, chicken over rice, and other filling options at reasonable prices. The portions are generous, the flavors are solid, and the service is friendly, making it an easy choice for students looking for a lot of food without spending too much.
Harrison Street Cafe
402 N. Harrison Street
Harrison Street Café hasn’t changed much, and they’ve been doing vegetarian and vegan food around VCU longer than just about anyone we can remember. The menu includes staples like the vegan burrito and beer-battered tofu sandwich, along with rotating specials and plenty of coffee. It’s casual, affordable, and conveniently located right near campus.
Home Team Grill
1630 W. Main Street
Sometimes you just need a decent sports bar to meet up at. Home Team Grill is a longtime Fan standby for cold drinks, TVs from every angle, and solid bar food that isn’t complicated. Think wings and chicken tenders, with garlic parm and Nashville hot among the favorites. For game day, a quick lunch, or just somewhere easy to grab a beer and some wings, Home Team does what it does without getting fancy.
Hot For Pizza
1301 W. Leigh Street
Hot For Pizza is a dive bar that serves up some of the tastiest slices in the city, in a casual spot filled with ’80s hair metal and movie-inspired decor. Come for the delicious pizza, with options like the Pepe Le Pew, Temple of Boom, and Running with Basil, plus a bunch of vegan choices, and stay for the personalities that inhabit the tiny bar. Wash it all down with a cheap beer if you’re of age.
Jamaica House
416 W. Broad Street
Jamaica House has been a Richmond favorite for years, serving Jamaican classics at affordable prices. The Jamaican patties always come out hot and fresh and are some of the cheapest, most delicious meals around, while the jerk chicken and other entrees come in generous portions. It’s straightforward, flavorful food that works especially well when you want something filling on a student budget.
Lift Coffee
218 W. Broad Street
Lift is a neighborhood coffee shop that makes it easy to lose a couple of hours. Tucked into Richmond’s Arts District, but close enough for students to walk to, it has plenty of seating, an easy atmosphere, and a patio out back when the weather is nice. The coffee gets playful with seasonal drinks like banana bread and banana toffee lattes, while the breakfast burritos and bagel sandwiches are enough to count as an actual meal. Good coffee, good food, no rush to leave.
Little Mexico
1328 W. Cary Street
Little Mexico has been feeding VCU students for years and is still a go-to for many of us in the neighborhood. What’s not to like? Affordable tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and other Mexican staples, with chips and salsa that come out quickly and guacamole that tastes handmade. It’s casual, reliable, and an easy choice for a meal near campus.
Main Street Dragon
1537 W. Main Street
ain Street Dragon is a casual, anime-inspired spot serving really tasty pork bao buns, various versions of ramen, and other Asian dishes at student-friendly prices. There’s also a decent happy hour that makes it an even more affordable option near campus.
Nate’s Bagels
21 S. Allen Avenue
Nate’s makes some of the best bagels in Richmond, with plenty of breakfast sandwiches and spreads to choose from, along with great locally sourced coffee options. People know about this spot, so it can get busy, especially in the morning, and popular options sometimes sell out. For students, it’s a little bit of a hike, but if you’re looking for a great bagel, it’s worth the trip.
Piccola Italy
1100 W. Main Street
Piccola has been feeding VCU students since long before most of the people reading this were born. Big, greasy New York-style slices, hot out of the oven, cheap enough for a student budget and substantial enough to count as dinner. Richmond has changed, VCU has changed, and half the places we used to hang out are gone but Piccola is still there.
Ramen Spot
948 W. Grace Street
Ramen Spot is right there on campus and serves big bowls of ramen, curry rice, gyoza, and other Japanese favorites at reasonable prices. The ramen is the draw, but the chicken katsu gets plenty of love online and comes in a portion big enough for a meal and a snack afterwards. It’s a good, quick lunch or dinner when you need that comforting broth near campus
Rick’s Pizza
913 W. Grace Street
Rick’s makes pizza and they know their customer base. It is a straightforward pizza spot with plenty of options that are affordable and filling.
Sticky Rice
2232 W. Main Street
Sticky Rice is a longtime rock ’n’ roll sushi spot that has been a Richmond staple for decades, combining sushi and Asian-inspired fare with a full bar and late-night events like Tuesday night karaoke and speed bingo, appropriately named BLINGO! It’s lively, fun, and one of those places that has become part of the VCU experience. Read our story HERE.
Sugar Shack
1001 N. Lombardy Street
Sugar Shack is a longtime Richmond staple for donuts and coffee that’s closer to Virginia Union University than VCU, but still worth the trip, or a DoorDash order. They have plenty of flavors and rotating options, and at some point they launched the Luther Burger, which swaps a traditional hamburger bun for two glazed donuts. It has to be experienced before you scoff at it.
Thai Top 10
911 1/2 W. Grace Street
Thai Top Ten is a reliable spot for affordable Thai food near campus, with favorites like pad Thai and curries, plus plenty of tofu and chicken options. The portions are generous for the price, making it a good choice when you want a filling meal that can sometimes stretch into leftovers.
TT Lounge
705 W Cary Street
TT Lounge is old-school Richmond boba, around long before bubble tea shops started popping up everywhere. This little Cary Street spot has been keeping VCU students caffeinated and loaded up on tapioca for years, with dozens of flavors, milk teas, slushes and plenty of combinations. The taro milk tea gets a lot of love, prices are student-friendly, and regulars seem to like the owner almost as much as the drinks.
Village Cafe
1001 W. Grace Street
Village Café is a legendary VCU staple with a history that stretches almost back to the beginnings of the university. It has been at the center of the literary and social scenes of student life for nearly as long, while serving everything from breakfast and burgers to sandwiches and milkshakes. The menu is big, the portions are generous, and the prices remain reasonable. Students, longtime Richmonders, and just about everyone else eventually find their way into a booth here.
VCU On Campus Food Carts
The food carts around VCU are some of the easiest places to grab a quick and affordable lunch between classes. You’ll find them around Shafer Street and Cabell Library, serving everything from Mediterranean wraps and noodle bowls to empanadas, along with vegetarian and gluten-free options. The selection changes, but there’s usually something worth trying.
Photo from Nate’s Bagels
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