However, finding an ice cream place that has something for everyone at a cheap price range can be difficult.

Some days, I want ice cream and other days frozen yogurt or Hawaiian shaved ice would hit the spot. Although it is not hard to find a frozen dessert far from home, in my opinion, Jon and Bon’s Yogurt Shoppe is one of the best ice cream places in town, not only for its wide variety of opinion but location, atmosphere and pricing as well.

Jon and Bon’s is a frozen dessert shop located in the heart of downtown, only minutes away from the Chico State campus and other local businesses. As the summer comes creeping closer and closer, this ice cream shop is definitely going to bring in plenty of customers and for a good reason. Not only does it offer high-quality ice cream but it also has frozen yogurt and Hawaiian shaved ice.

Looking at price points, the shaved ice is well within a starving student’s budget, but the ice cream and frozen yogurt can ge expensive especially when adding extra toppings.

If you are looking for a refreshing sweet treat for less than a cup of coffee, I would buy the large shaved ice, for only $3.95. With tip added, the total comes out to around $5.

The best part about coming to Jon and Bon’s is the back seating. I love taking some time out of my weekend to come and people-watch out of the large windows that look to downtown. Although usually crowded, you can find a quiet spot to talk with friends or spend alone.

Sunset on a Friday or Saturday night is personally my favorite because downtown is full of people and it isn’t too hot outside.

When I get shaved ice, I usually like the sour syrup to go on top, like lime or blue raspberry. However, there are plenty of options to choose from. I would recommend putting two or three syrups on your shaved ice for no extra cost but lots of extra flavor.

Jon and Bon’s doesn’t go light on the syrup which I enjoy a lot.

This treat isn’t as heavy as ice cream or yogurt but also large enough to still keep your sweet tooth satisfied. I have been living in Chico for almost three years now and only just decided to check out this dessert shop within the last few months. Now that I have, I recommend this place to all my friends because I always have a great time here and don’t break the bank to get a sweet treat.

Be warned, if you are getting ice cream or yogurt, go light on the toppings because it can get expensive really quickly. Still, come and check this place out. You won’t regret it.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

To Go: Jon and Bon’s Yogurt Shoppe

Address: 300 Broadway Street

Phone: 530-899-9580

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Total spent: $5

When in doubt, nothing beats the sweet and savory flavors of pancakes, eggs and more any time of day. However, many breakfast places close early, leaving starving students to fend for themselves.

For the record, I cannot cook and poaching an egg is something I have no recollection of doing ever in my life. So, when I’m craving breakfast late at night, sometimes I find myself lost on where to go.

Recently, Crepeville opened a restaurant in downtown Chico, solving all my late-night horror stories of being hungry for breakfast but nowhere to go.

Crepeville is a great place to go for a bite to eat because not only does it serve breakfast all day, it also offers lunch and dinner options all day as well. The best part? Their hours run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. That means if it’s 8 a.m. on a Tuesday and I want a salad, I can get it. If I want pancakes at 8 p.m. on a Sunday night, no problem.

The atmosphere is Crepveille is modern and spacious. There are plenty of tables and the food is brought directly to you after you order at the counter. It isn’t as busy as I anticipated, and I have never seen too large of crowds when walking by.

The free fruit-infused water it offers guests is also a nice plus. I would definitely take my mom here for a Sunday brunch, or a late-night crepe.

In the spirit of breakfast for dinner and the name of this restaurant, I decided to order Nutella strawberry crepes with ice cream on the side. How is that for a high-quality breakfast? At only $8.90 with a $2 tip, my total came out to $10.90.

My food took about 15 minutes to come out. When the crepes finally came out I loved how beautiful my meal looked. I almost didn’t want to eat it. After snapping a few pictures for the #Instagram, I dug in.

There were two crepes filled with Nutella, strawberries and powdered sugar on top and two scoops of vanilla-bean ice cream on top. This meal did not require syrup because everything was already so sweet.

I tried to finish it all but failed in my attempts. Still, it was a delicious and satisfying meal for my sweet tooth. Next time, I would probably skip the ice cream because it cost me almost $2 extra and was not required for a delicious meal. The crepes themselves were enough.

I enjoyed Crepeville. This clean, fun restaurant has many options on its menu, many of them under $11. I would definitely recommend coming here next time you have a late-night craving for breakfast, because this eatery really does have something to satisfy any craving. Well done, Crepeville, well done.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

When in doubt, nothing beats the sweet and savory flavors of pancakes, eggs and more any time of day. However, many breakfast places close early, leaving starving students to fend for themselves.

For the record, I cannot cook and poaching an egg is something I have no recollection of doing ever in my life. So, when I’m craving breakfast late at night, sometimes I find myself lost on where to go.

Recently, Crepeville opened a restaurant in downtown Chico, solving all my late-night horror stories of being hungry for breakfast but nowhere to go.

Crepeville is a great place to go for a bite to eat because not only does it serve breakfast all day, it also offers lunch and dinner options all day as well. The best part? Their hours run from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day. That means if it’s 8 a.m. on a Tuesday and I want a salad, I can get it. If I want pancakes at 8 p.m. on a Sunday night, no problem.

The atmosphere is Crepveille is modern and spacious. There are plenty of tables and the food is brought directly to you after you order at the counter. It isn’t as busy as I anticipated, and I have never seen too large of crowds when walking by.

The free fruit-infused water it offers guests is also a nice plus. I would definitely take my mom here for a Sunday brunch, or a late-night crepe.

In the spirit of breakfast for dinner and the name of this restaurant, I decided to order Nutella strawberry crepes with ice cream on the side. How is that for a high-quality breakfast? At only $8.90 with a $2 tip, my total came out to $10.90.

My food took about 15 minutes to come out. When the crepes finally came out I loved how beautiful my meal looked. I almost didn’t want to eat it. After snapping a few pictures for the #Instagram, I dug in.

There were two crepes filled with Nutella, strawberries and powdered sugar on top and two scoops of vanilla-bean ice cream on top. This meal did not require syrup because everything was already so sweet.

I tried to finish it all but failed in my attempts. Still, it was a delicious and satisfying meal for my sweet tooth. Next time, I would probably skip the ice cream because it cost me almost $2 extra and was not required for a delicious meal. The crepes themselves were enough.

I enjoyed Crepeville. This clean, fun restaurant has many options on its menu, many of them under $11. I would definitely recommend coming here next time you have a late-night craving for breakfast, because this eatery really does have something to satisfy any craving. Well done, Crepeville, well done.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

Still, some starving students have chosen to stay in Chico over the summer, whether to work or take summer classes. Just as with everyone, hunger is inevitable and finding a meal under $11 is still an important issue.

In my experience, I have found the downtown Thursday night market to be the top place to find a decent meal with extraordinary atmosphere in Chico. Mentioning this event before, I have explored my way back and found some high-quality food in the trucks lines along the back of the market. It is here where I found Big Chico Burger.

Many Chiconians already know about Big Chico Burger because it is an iconic eatery located on East Avenue. However, during the Thursday Night Market, this burger place turns into a burger truck, saving you the trek away from downtown if you happen to live or work there. It is here I found the perfect comfort food: chicken tenders and fries, for only $8.

If you have ever been to the Thursday night market before, you know how crowded it can be. However, crowds tend to die down after Chico State students go home for the summer. In my opinion, this makes the best atmosphere for summer starving students, surrounded by familiar faces, not too many people and usually live entertainment to enjoy while you eat. What could be better?

I will admit that the line for Big Chico Burger is quite long and the food does take a while to come out. When I got my food after about 15 minutes, there were three chicken tenders and a large plate of fries in my hands. The person standing directly to my right had four chicken tenders and fries. Interesting.

I am still wondering if the correct portion of tenders is three or four, but for your sake I hope it is four because they were delicious. There is just something about chicken tenders that never disappoints. They were cooked nicely and had plenty of crunch. The fries were soft and long cut.

This combo goes great with ketchup, but I also enjoy putting mayonnaise and mustard on them as well.

Starving student tip: Mix ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise together for a dipping sauce that is out of this world.

I sat on the grass across from the food trucks as I do every Thursday and people watched until the sun went down.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of Big Chico Burger’s food truck next time you find yourself at the Thursday night market. It has multiple options all for under $11. Plus, you can’t go wrong with classic American food on a warm spring night.

Still, some starving students have chosen to stay in Chico over the summer, whether to work or take summer classes. Just as with everyone, hunger is inevitable and finding a meal under $11 is still an important issue.

In my experience, I have found the downtown Thursday night market to be the top place to find a decent meal with extraordinary atmosphere in Chico. Mentioning this event before, I have explored my way back and found some high-quality food in the trucks lines along the back of the market. It is here where I found Big Chico Burger.

Many Chiconians already know about Big Chico Burger because it is an iconic eatery located on East Avenue. However, during the Thursday Night Market, this burger place turns into a burger truck, saving you the trek away from downtown if you happen to live or work there. It is here I found the perfect comfort food: chicken tenders and fries, for only $8.

If you have ever been to the Thursday night market before, you know how crowded it can be. However, crowds tend to die down after Chico State students go home for the summer. In my opinion, this makes the best atmosphere for summer starving students, surrounded by familiar faces, not too many people and usually live entertainment to enjoy while you eat. What could be better?

I will admit that the line for Big Chico Burger is quite long and the food does take a while to come out. When I got my food after about 15 minutes, there were three chicken tenders and a large plate of fries in my hands. The person standing directly to my right had four chicken tenders and fries. Interesting.

I am still wondering if the correct portion of tenders is three or four, but for your sake I hope it is four because they were delicious. There is just something about chicken tenders that never disappoints. They were cooked nicely and had plenty of crunch. The fries were soft and long cut.

This combo goes great with ketchup, but I also enjoy putting mayonnaise and mustard on them as well.

Starving student tip: Mix ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise together for a dipping sauce that is out of this world.

I sat on the grass across from the food trucks as I do every Thursday and people watched until the sun went down.

I would highly recommend taking advantage of Big Chico Burger’s food truck next time you find yourself at the Thursday night market. It has multiple options all for under $11. Plus, you can’t go wrong with classic American food on a warm spring night.

For some odd reason, I was always slightly scared of trying new things, and rumors said that Thai food would be too spicy for me, so I was pretty reluctant ordering rice and curry at that age.

To my surprise, it turns out Thai food became one of my favorite things to eat and I would always recommend it to family or friends when putting my opinion in about where we should go for dinner. To this day, I will argue that Thai food is one of the highest-quality dishes out there due to its mix of flavors, healthy options and usually large portions.

As with all food types, there are higher-quality places and lower-quality places scattered throughout town, and Chico is no exception. This week, I decided to try out a new Thai restaurant that I have never been to before, Thai Express. Long story short, I am extremely impressed for a multitude of reasons.

On the outside, Thai Express doesn’t look like much. I used to walk past it daily on my way home from school not thinking twice about it. However, once you step inside, your attitude changes immediately when immersed in Thailand culture, music and atmosphere. A clean restaurant with a small seating area and outstandingly friendly staff, this restaurant exceeded my expectations right when I walked in.

There was no line and only a couple of other groups eating. It was nice to know that this quaint and cozy spot was located near campus. I definitely recommend coming here for a first date. Browsing over the menu, only a couple of things were under $11 and I was worried that I would walk away hungry.

I decided on Pad Thai, a classic dish of rice noodles, loads of veggies topped with a peanut sauce. You can choose a different meat to go on top as well as egg, but a lot of traditional Thai food is either vegetarian or vegan, so I thought it would be appropriate to give that a try. I skipped on the meat and eggs and with tip, my total came to be $11 flat.

I sat by a corner window and enjoyed the sunshine beaming through the windows. Taking in the decorations, I noticed plastic chickens on every windowsill. If you ever visit Thai Express, please don’t forget to take a picture of the plastic chickens, they are very cute.

When the waitress came with my food after about 10 minutes, the first thing I said was, “Wow.” I have never seen so much food presented to me for only $11. I had leftovers for days to come and I was not complaining.

The veggies were cooked nicely, and the rice noodles were soft and sweet compared to classic wheat pasta. The star of the show here by far was the peanut sauce and peanut crumbles on top of the entire dish. I don’t know what they put in the sauce, but I have no words to describe how good it was. The sauce soaked into the veggies and noodles, bringing everything together in a delicious sweet, spicy and savory experience.

After taking my pound of leftovers home with me, I had Pad Thai for lunch and dinner the next day.

I wish I found this restaurant sooner. It is perfect for a relaxing dinner with a loved one or even a takeout meal for late-night studying. I will see you again soon, Thai Express.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

As a pineapple enthusiast myself, it can be hard dealing with those who would rather eat dirt than fruit on pizza, but I will agree to disagree. Personally, the sweet and savory flavors mixed together are very enjoyable and I think anyone can learn to love the taste combination as well.

Still, if you won’t budge on a hatred for the pineapple and pizza duo, be wary and continue reading at your own risk. However, don’t worry too much, there are other topping options in your future.

Celestino’s New York Pizza is known at Chico State University as one of the best places to grab a quick and cheap lunch between classes. Located right across the street from campus, selling pizza by the slice, student discounts and a relaxed atmosphere, students trek here every day.

Even if you’re not a Chico State student, Celestino’s is still a great option for faculty, staff or those who work near campus.

I have heard of Celestino’s before but never tried it for myself, so this was the perfect opportunity to see if it was Starving Student approved.

Celestino’s is definitely a casual restaurant and reminds me of an old diner or fast-food place. It is small and crowded because there are always people coming in and out to get a slice.

Still, the service was quick and the line moves fast, making it easy to rush in and out on lunch breaks or in between classes. I decided to order (can you guess?) a slice of Hawaiian pizza ($4) and a small drink. I was shocked to see that my total after tax was only $5.95. I can see why this place is so popular among students.

I grabbed my cup and filled it with lemonade, a great combo with Hawaiian pizza. After about three minutes my name was called and my food was waiting for me at the counter, a classic piece of Hawaiian pizza with mozzarella cheese, Canadian bacon and pineapple.

If you don’t like Hawaiian pizza, there are multiple other options at Celestino’s for you to choose from. Whether it be classic cheese, spaghetti and meatballs or breadsticks, you don’t have to settle for pineapple pizza.

I enjoyed my meal and it was worth the $5 I spent on it. It was a little greasy and messy but the slice filled up the entire plate and my stomach. The Canadian bacon was cooked well and had a smoky flavor to it. The cheese took over the pizza, so if you enjoy gooey pizza this is the place for you.

The toppings took up the majority of the meal because the crust was thin. I would definitely recommend splurging on the drink because my slice took a while to eat and my lemonade helped a lot.

Not the best pizza I have ever had in my entire life but I definitely would say this was a great option for students or anyone downtown looking for an affordable and quick bite to eat. Celestino’s New York Pizza is Starving Student approved. I will be returning soon.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

One of the best farmers markets I have ever been to, I look forward to the reopening of this iconic Chico tradition spring after spring.

I love looking at the fresh produce, beautiful clothes and friendly faces downtown during the warm Chico seasons — not to mention the out of this world food. These Thursday night markets are the perfect opportunity to relax, grab a bite to eat and mingle around town.

In the celebration and appreciation for this weekly event, I decided to seek out a Starving Student friendly meal to share with my fellow market goers. Although many of these food booths are already popular among Chicoans, I was able to find a unique dish at an affordable price at the Maria’s Gone Tamales food truck.

You can’t miss this food truck due to the pink paint job that is recognizable anywhere. It is famous for its pink lemonade, which is perfect refreshment after swerving through the crowds for an hour or two. This food truck almost always has a line on Thursday nights, but the wait is well worth it.

Authentic Mexican food with a unique twist, I decided to order the chicken tamale nachos after perusing the menu. Everything is Starving Student friendly, but if you are willing to splurge, I definitely recommend buying not only a meal but a pink lemonade as well. However, to keep from going over my budget, the solo tamale nachos would have to do. Plus, you can always sneak a sip or two from your friend’s drink, at no extra charge. The nachos were $7 and with a $2 tip, my total was $9.

I was surprised at how quick my meal came to me, even though the line was pretty long. Less than two minutes after ordering I was walking away with chicken tamale nachos in one hand and a smile on my face. I went to the grass just across the street and sat, listened to some live music and appreciated the beautiful city I lived in. I also appreciated the beauty of my tamale nachos.

It was a classic chicken tamale with lots of gooey cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and jalapeños, mixed together with corn tortilla chips. I don’t think I have ever been more excited to eat in my Starving Student endeavors before. I didn’t know where to start.

Cutting up the tamale and mixing it with the nachos was a good choice, in my opinion. I applaud Maria’s Gone Tamales for not skimping out on the cheese. The jalapeños added the perfect amount of kick while not being overpowering and the chips stayed crunchy despite being completely covered in toppings. The tomatoes and lettuce added a refreshing bite as well.

It was the perfect meal to enjoy while sitting and taking in the farmers market and sunset. It was filling, affordable, not too heavy or spicy but full of flavor. If you ever find yourself downtown on Thursday nights, check out the pink truck, grab some tamale nachos and perhaps a pink lemonade. There is nothing quite so delicious.

Welcome back, Thursday Night Market.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

Going to the ocean, swimming in the salty sea and watching the surfers while the sun sets cannot be beat, no matter how much I adore Chico. Bear Hole just doesn’t cut it sometimes, especially when I am in need of a reminder of the beach waiting for me back home.

After complaining to a friend one night of my homesickness, I was clued in on a deli close to the Chico State campus that apparently “is exactly like spending an hour at the beach.” It’s no surprise that this restaurant also happens to be called Beach Hut Deli, and for good reason.

I decided to check out this sandwich shop in between classes one day to see if the atmosphere was true to my friend’s observations.

Beach Hut Deli offers not only sandwiches but salads, breakfast options and nachos. I would argue that nachos are not exactly a beachy food option, but to each their own. After opening in 1981, they claim to provide awesome sandwiches with an even “awesome-er” atmosphere.

Walking in, I definitely understood what my friend was saying. The whole restaurant was decked out in beach-themed decor. The tables, chairs, floor, ceiling, everything. Reggae and rock music was playing in the background and even the staff gave off a hippie vibe. Not exactly the same as an afternoon in Santa Cruz or San Diego, but I was impressed.

However, looking over the menu, I noticed that not a lot of the sandwiches were Starving Student friendly. Reluctantly, I decided to order the cheapest sandwich on the menu in the smallest size, the “La Jolla.” It was a 6-inch sandwich with avocado, blue cheese, tomato, spinach, onions, pickles, balsamic vinaigrette and mayonnaise on whole wheat bread for $8.61. Not the best deal but I wasn’t about to dismiss Beach Hut Deli just yet. I was still having a great time absorbing the atmosphere. After adding a $2 tip my total came out to $10.61, just under my budget.

When my sandwich came out I will admit that I was not being skimped out on the veggies. They were piled on liberally, which I appreciated. Biting in, a burst of balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese flavor began to throw a party on my taste buds. I have never quite had a unique combination like that before and I was not complaining. Accompanied with the avocado and mayo, balanced by the bread, I was starting to think the sandwich was worth $10.61.

I finished my meal slightly wishing I had more but was impressed despite my moment of skepticism. Although I do think there are better deals on sandwiches hidden through town, I think this is a good option for students because it is close by and offers high-quality sandwiches and atmosphere, despite the narrow selection of affordable sandwiches.

I want to come back and check out the nachos and breakfast sandwiches.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.

Going to the ocean, swimming in the salty sea and watching the surfers while the sun sets cannot be beat, no matter how much I adore Chico. Bear Hole just doesn’t cut it sometimes, especially when I am in need of a reminder of the beach waiting for me back home.

After complaining to a friend one night of my homesickness, I was clued in on a deli close to the Chico State campus that apparently “is exactly like spending an hour at the beach.” It’s no surprise that this restaurant also happens to be called Beach Hut Deli, and for good reason.

I decided to check out this sandwich shop in between classes one day to see if the atmosphere was true to my friend’s observations.

Beach Hut Deli offers not only sandwiches but salads, breakfast options and nachos. I would argue that nachos are not exactly a beachy food option, but to each their own. After opening in 1981, they claim to provide awesome sandwiches with an even “awesome-er” atmosphere.

Walking in, I definitely understood what my friend was saying. The whole restaurant was decked out in beach-themed decor. The tables, chairs, floor, ceiling, everything. Reggae and rock music was playing in the background and even the staff gave off a hippie vibe. Not exactly the same as an afternoon in Santa Cruz or San Diego, but I was impressed.

However, looking over the menu, I noticed that not a lot of the sandwiches were Starving Student friendly. Reluctantly, I decided to order the cheapest sandwich on the menu in the smallest size, the “La Jolla.” It was a 6-inch sandwich with avocado, blue cheese, tomato, spinach, onions, pickles, balsamic vinaigrette and mayonnaise on whole wheat bread for $8.61. Not the best deal but I wasn’t about to dismiss Beach Hut Deli just yet. I was still having a great time absorbing the atmosphere. After adding a $2 tip my total came out to $10.61, just under my budget.

When my sandwich came out I will admit that I was not being skimped out on the veggies. They were piled on liberally, which I appreciated. Biting in, a burst of balsamic vinaigrette and blue cheese flavor began to throw a party on my taste buds. I have never quite had a unique combination like that before and I was not complaining. Accompanied with the avocado and mayo, balanced by the bread, I was starting to think the sandwich was worth $10.61.

I finished my meal slightly wishing I had more but was impressed despite my moment of skepticism. Although I do think there are better deals on sandwiches hidden through town, I think this is a good option for students because it is close by and offers high-quality sandwiches and atmosphere, despite the narrow selection of affordable sandwiches.

I want to come back and check out the nachos and breakfast sandwiches.

Kendall George is a Chico State University journalism student. Each week she is asked to find a meal that costs no more than $11 (one hour at minimum wage), including tip, and then write about it. Email her at starvingstudentkg@gmail.com.