By: Rut Labrada, Arts & Entertainment Editor 

Welcome to another installment of Ruts & Veggies! The first couple weeks of school have passed by in a blur, and I hope we all feel the crisp fall air right around the corner. 

As we are all settling into a new semester, I’ve been thinking about our newest students who are not familiar with the Valdosta area, and most importantly, the local restaurants in Valdosta.  

Being college students, I know we all get more than our fair share of Chick-Fil-A and Moe’s, which are on campus, but also other fast-food chains like Wendy’s or Burger King. 

These are great options for when we’re in a rush or need a quick pick-me-up, but I know I sometimes get tired of these places, so I’m sure our new students will soon feel the same. 

So, I decided to look around town for some of our most delicious (and cheapest) restaurant options that will be perfect for any college student who is strapped for cash. 

These are some of my favorite go– to options when I’m looking for something a little different: 

5. Chicken Salad Chick
   For students who are looking to stay healthy while on a budget, Chicken Salad Chick is bound to be a great option.

As its name reveals, Chicken Salad Chick sells chicken salad in a wide variety of fun and inventive flavors, like the Luau Lydia, which has pineapple and macadamia nut. As well as this, Chicken Salad Chick also offers sandwiches, soups, and salads,  

A one scoop one side meal from Chicken Salad Chick costs $9.49, and it is quite inexpensive for the amount of chicken salad and a side that you receive. That, combined with its healthier foods, makes it a great option for health-conscious students. 

I must admit I was a bit terrified the first time I went to Chicken Salad Chick because of some of the more experimental salad flavor combinations, but I found the experience to be worthwhile, and the potato soup that I ordered as a side was delicious. 

4. Huey Magoo’s

Located on the ever-busy Gornto Road, Huey Magoo’s is a fast-food restaurant that prides itself on its chicken tenders and its special Huey Magoo’s sauce. 

The restaurant offers traditional chicken tenders as well as sauced tenders in flavors like Lemon Pepper and Garlic Parm. 

My first time going to Huey Magoo’s, I was very impressed by the sauced tenders, which were covered in sauce but not super soggy, which I appreciate as someone who hates soggy food. 

For an 8-count meal with original tenders, a drink, fries, and toast, the total is $9.99. 

3. Cookout

Choosing this establishment might be a bit of a cheat since many of us are already familiar with Cookout, but I could not leave it out because of the convenience that it provides for college students. 

Cookout is a chain located primarily in the Southeast, and it is known for its BBQ, burgers, and milkshakes, which come in over 40 flavors. 

The pricing is more than reasonable, with a meal with two sides and a milkshake or drink usually being priced at around $10.  

However, the true selling point of Cookout for college students is its late opening hours, as Cookout is open until 3 a.m. on weekdays or 4 a.m. on weekends.  

This makes it the perfect late-night option for students who have been studying or working all day and need something quick before bed. 

2. 2. Woks Up

One of the newest restaurants on our list, Woks Up opened only earlier this spring, but it has quickly become one of my go-to spots for Chinese food, especially when I am in a hurry.  

The highlights of the menu include its stir fry bowl, which is $9.65, as well as their 10-piece flying nuggs meal for $8.19. 

However, my personal favorite order from Woks Up is the fried dumplings, which costs roughly $6 for eight dumplings. 

The dumplings are always fried to crispy perfection, and I especially love the dumpling sauce that comes along with them. Unlike other dumpling sauces I’ve seen, the Woks Up sauce is very thick, which allows you to truly enjoy the savory goodness of the sauce, and it always keeps me going back. 

1. La Jalisco 

La Jalisco is my number one restaurant whenever I am stressed from a tight deadline or when I am craving authentic, home-cooked Mexican cuisine for cheap. 

The restaurant sells a wide variety of dishes, from tacos to tortas (Mexican sandwiches) and even different soups. My go-to order at La Jalisco is a carne asada huarache, a dish made from corn dough and topped with meat, tomatoes, queso fresco, and more for only $10.  

Out of the different restaurants, I found La Jalisco offers the most filling food for a reasonable price. 

As well as this, La Jalisco doubles as a grocery store, selling plenty of low-cost necessities. Because of this, I love to go in, order my food, and browse around for my weekly groceries while I wait for my order to be completed, and I have found that the convenience cannot be beat, which places La Jalisco at the top of my list.