Boulder Eats for Students on a Budget 🍜🍕🍲

I usually head to Pearl Street for food, but this time my son schooled me—students want tasty, affordable, and generous portions! We hit three spots: 1️⃣ PHO DUY – Vietnamese Restaurant After 15 days in the U.S., we craved something hot and soupy! 🍜 Son ordered the large Beef Pho—the beef was stir-fried with spices, super fragrant and way better than the usual half-raw slices! Must-tries: Shrimp Spring Rolls & Beef-Shrimp Rolls 🍤 Also tried fried tofu and pepper shrimp—decent but not mind-blowing. Total: ~$80 Great Wall Asian Market next door—perfect for stocking up on home-country snacks! 🛒 📍 *6600 W 120th Ave B, Broomfield, CO 80020* 2️⃣ Pizza Place near Student Dorms Located right next to Boulder West Village dorms! 🏠🍕 Meat Lovers & Calzones—seriously the best pizza I’ve ever had! eat Lovers: crispy, packed with meat, perfectly cooked beef 🥩 Calzone: huge, stuffed, and flavorful You can order by the slice! We were hungry and got two whole ones 😂 Total: ~$44 📍 *659 30th St, Boulder, CO 80303* 3️⃣ Hot Pot Spot – All-You-Can-Eat Hotpot Unexpectedly busy—mostly with non-Asian folks! Hotpot is clearly a global favorite now 🌎🍲 Choose your broth, order meat plates (beef/lamb) from servers—unlimited refills! Ribeye and filet available 🥩 Self-serve veggies, seafood, and sauces Fresh ingredients—the students went all out! $35 per person 📍 *13567 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80241* None of these are “fine dining,” but they’re perfect for students looking for a hearty, affordable meal—with plenty of protein, veggies, and freedom to eat your fill! 🥬🍤🔥 #Colorado #CU_Boulder #StudentLife #FoodDiary #BoulderFood #BudgetEats