A Student’s Guide to Cheap Food Near Kean University

By: Isabella Cobo | Publish Date: October 6, 2026

Hungry, on a budget, and only have an hour before your next class? For many Kean University students, finding a meal that is affordable, filling, and quick can be a challenge. Luckily, students do not have to go far to find food that fits their budgets and busy schedules. Around the Union campus, there are several options that can help students grab a meal without spending too much time or money. 

For this guide, affordable restaurants are defined as places that offer meals at prices that are realistic for a college student, particularly meals ranging from $10 to $15. The restaurants included also offer the convenience of being located close to Kean University’s Union campus, making them accessible options for students who may have short gaps between classes and need a quick meal. 

With these factors in mind, here are five affordable places near Kean where students can grab a meal without going over their budget. 

La Casa Del Pan  

La Casa Del Pan is a Colombian restaurant located only 10 minutes walking away from campus, making it convenient for students with short gaps between classes. Lunch specials cost around $12, while Colombian pastries range from about $2 to $5. The restaurant offers table service, but students who prefer to eat on campus can also order their food to go. 

La Casa Del Pan is a Colombian restaurant located on 500 North Avenue Drive, only a ten minute walk from campus. This makes it convenient for students with short gaps between classes. Lunch specials cost around $12, while Colombian pastries range from about $2 to $5. The restaurant offers table service, but students who prefer to eat on campus can also order their food to go. 

What to try: 

• Lunch special that includes soup, rice and protein and salad. 

• Colombian Empanadas. 

• Colombian bread and pastries. 

• Steak or Chicken plate with sides.  

“Their lunch specials are very cheap for the quality and the amount of food they come with. It’s always a go-to when I’m hungry and want a home-cooked meal,” said Manuela Rodriguez, a sophomore architecture student at Kean. 

&pizza 

Located on 1101 Morris Avenue directly across from campus, &pizza allows customers to create their own pizza by choosing from different ingredients, drizzles and toppings. Pizzas range from $10 to $12. For $12, customers can add unlimited toppings, giving students the option to customize their meal based on their preferences. 

What to try:  

• Build-your-own pizza 

• Choice of pizza ingredients including protein and veggies 

• Choice of drizzles  

• Unlimited toppings for $12 

Chipotle 

A very popular option among Kean students is Chipotle, also located on 1101 Morris Avenue. Although this place is a well-known choice for students, it is worth mentioning for those looking for an affordable and filling meal. A chicken bowl with the regular toppings can cost around $9. This makes Chipotle a very convenient option for students looking for a filling, affordable, and quick meal that is, above all, close to campus.  

What to try? 

• Chicken burrito bowl, around $9  

• Chicken burrito  

• Three chicken tacos  

• Chicken salad  

• Rice, beans and fajita vegetables  

• Fresh tomato or roasted chili-corn salsa  

• Guacamole 

“I’ve always loved Chipotle, even when I was a student at Kean,” said Anndy Moscoso. “Being able to grab a relatively healthy meal for a good price made my campus experience 100 times better. It helped me get on track with eating a little healthier because there are many different ways you can build a meal at Chipotle, and that was one of the things that hooked me in the first place. Whether you’re looking for a healthy, balanced meal with everything you need or a nice cheat meal you can enjoy without breaking the bank, there are plenty of options,” Anndy Moscoso, a former Kean University student, said

Omgyro 

Another affordable option is Omgyro, a halal restaurant located on 1571B Morris Avenue about 5 minutes away from campus by car and 15 minutes away on foot. Omgyro offers a variety of platters and gyros, a very balanced meal especially for students. A platter costs around $13, depending on the selections, and they have different proteins where students can choose from and even mix them.  

• House Chicken Platter  

• Jerk Chicken Platter  

• Lamb Platter  

• Combo Platter  

• Lamb Gyro  

• House Chicken Gyro  

• Hot Wings  

• Combo Loaded Fry 

“I love the amount of food they serve with the platters. It’s very filling. I also love the service provided by the staff,” said Erick Lopez, a junior architecture student at Kean. 

Bonchon 

For students interested in trying Korean food, Bonchon is an option located in Union downtown on 1045 Stuyvesant Ave, just a short distance from campus. Bonchon offers a wide variety of Korean dishes, including bibimbap, chicken katsu, japchae, fried rice and Korean fried chicken. While some dishes can cost more than $15, they are only slightly above that price, making Bonchon an option for students who can spare a few extra dollars. For students willing to spend a little more, the filling portions and variety of dishes can make the extra cost worthwhile. Its close location to Kean also makes it a convenient option for students looking to try something different. 

What to try: 

• Bibimbap 

• Chicken katsu 

• Japchae 

• Fried rice 

• Korean fried chicken 

• Korean corndog  

• Tteokbokki 

For Kean students affordable not only means paying a cheap price for food, but also accessibility, quality and good service. With several restaurants located near campus, students have options that can fit different budgets and tastes. Whether grabbing a quick pastry between classes, sitting down for a full lunch or creating a customized pizza, students can find meals without having to travel far from campus. As college expenses are always increasing, knowing where to find affordable food can make a difference for students trying to make the most of their budgets.