Sushi Ai
Address: 4 N Central Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105
Type of Food: Japanese / Lunch / Dinner
Price Range: $$
Dine-In/Delivery/Takeout: Dine-In or Takeout
314-727-1168
Sushi Ai’s website
Make a quick, seven-minute trip into Downtown Clayton for some fresh sushi. Try the $20 all-you-can-eat dinner buffet any night of the week, or get two rolls for $8 during the day. Dine in, call an order, or order online. If you’re dining in, make sure to show your student ID for a 10% discount! Be cautious of local employees flooding in for their lunch breaks during the week; aim for a later lunch Monday through Friday. Making a reservation never hurts!

Russell’s on Macklind
Address: 5400 Murdoch Ave., St. Louis, MO 63109
Type of Food: American / Brunch / Lunch / Dinner
Price Range: $$
Dine-In/Delivery/Takeout: Dine-In or Takeout
314-553-9994
Russell’s website
Looking for the perfect place to treat yourself to brunch? Look no further. Russell’s in south St. Louis provides the perfect setting for a fun meal with good friends. This intimate café, with both a covered porch and an outdoor patio, also provides the perfect place to take cute Instagram pictures. With a moderately-priced brunch and lunch menu and a posher, slightly-pricier dinner selection, Russell’s is the perfect place to treat yourself after a long school week—no matter which meal you’re having. Make sure to check their hours before you go; they are closed on Mondays and have a special Fall schedule that can be found on their website. Make sure to check out the Instagram of Russell’s chef and owner, Russell Ping, for some serious #foodgoals
Pointer’s Pizza
Address: 1023 S Big Bend Blvd., Richmond Heights, MO 63117
Type of Food: Pizza
Price Range: $
Dine-In/Delivery/Takeout: Delivery and takeout only
314-644-2000
Pointer’s website
Tired of the same-old chain pizza you eat every weekend? If Papa John’s has got you in a rut, try out Pointer’s Pizza. Pointer’s is available in thin or thick crust and offers any topping you’d ever want, and is open for pickup or delivery until 2 a.m. every day. Pointer’s also gives a 10% student discount; just mention that you are a student when you’re ordering. And if you and your hungriest friend are feeling brave, you can even try the Pointersauras challenge: a 28”, 10-pound, two-meat or four-vegetable pizza that must be consumed in one hour inside the Pointer’s waiting area. The prize? Your names on the Pointersaurus Hall of Fame and a sweet $500 (that you’ll probably use on textbooks next semester). You can order pizza and find more details about the challenge on the Pointer’s website.

Mi Ranchito
Address: 887 Kingsland Ave., University City, MO 63130
Type of Food: Mexican / Lunch / Dinner
Price Range: $
Dine-In/Delivery/Takeout: Dine-In or Takeout
314-863-1880
Mi Ranchito’s website
Four words: Affordable, accommodating, fast, and delicious. If you and your friends are craving Mexican food and need it before your 12:30 p.m. class (and it’s already 11:15 a.m.), Mi Ranchito is the place to go. When in doubt, get something covered in queso, like the chicken chimichanga.
Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company
Address: 700 DeMun Ave., Clayton, MO 63105
Type of Food: Breakfast / Lunch / Coffee
Price Range: $
Dine-In/Delivery/Takeout: N/A
314-727-9955
Kaldi’s website
In need of a new place to caffeinate and study, but the Starbucks on Clayton is super crowded or already closed? Try Kaldi’s Coffee just down the road. Open from 6AM to 10 p.m., Kaldi’s serves small-portioned, light meals alongside a variety of different beverages. Try any of the “Traditional” coffee beverages or opt for something sweeter, like the sweet matcha latte or a fruit smoothie. Sitting outside on the patio with your warm beverage on a crisp Fall night couldn’t get any better.

Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream
Address: 7326 Manchester Rd., Maplewood, MO 63143
Type of Food: Ice Cream
Price Range: $
Delivery/Takeout: Takeout
314-449-1209
Boardwalk Waffles and Ice Cream’s website
If you’re tired of the chain ice cream places and want to try something a little out of the box, head to Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream in Maplewood. Flavors change with the season, so there’s always something new to try. Go classic with vanilla or chocolate; or go totally outside-the-box with gooey butter cake or pumpkin cheesecake. With a scoop (or two . . . or three) of locally-sourced Serendipity ice cream in between two quarters of a warm, freshly-made waffle, Boardwalk will hit you in all the right spots.

I love this post! I’m definitely going to try Sushi AI and Russell’s. And yes, Waffles and Ice Cream is that good.
The Crow’s Nest in Maplewood also serves a killer brunch with vegan options. It’s called the Heavy Metal Brunch–brunch in a local bar with heavy metal playing in the background (not too loud) and movies projected onto the wall.
Also this open secret is super close to campus and authentic AF: https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/review-sabor-si-is-serving-some-of-st-louis-best-tacos-out-of-an-unassuming-corner-market/Content?oid=3091748&showFullText=true
You make everything sound “delectable “!