This breakfast and burgers joint is a fast-rising star on the scene thanks to its reasonably priced, delicious grub. Fella’s Loaded Goat (1305 Menomonie St.) is open seven days/week and serves both early birds and night owls with kitchen hours of 6:30am-10pm. Nearly none of its offerings teeter past the $12 mark (several breakfast dishes only $9), and they don’t skimp on the portions or the butter. Make sure to lounge on the outdoor patio while the weather’s right.

You’re not likely to find any area restaurant with lower prices than The Fremont, a newer spot in the heart of downtown. Its simple menu offers burgers, sandwiches, salads, and sides, the latter including $3 fries, $3 chicken tenders, and $3 mac-n-cheese. Snag a burger for just $4 or make it a double-patty burger for $7. Or enjoy a New York Strip steak for $10. (Yeah, that’s not a typo: $10). Enjoy breakfast all day on the weekends and live music on the patio.

This traditional Thai restaurant is a downtown Eau Claire staple, Rice Palace is known for having some of the area’s best pho, as folks voted in this year’s Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll. From soups, curries, and stir fry to Thai salads and a plethora of appetizers and entree options, there’s definitely something for anyone craving Asian cuisine! Take advantage of Pad Thai Wednesday when pad thai is only $7.50, and Pho Friday, when a large bowl of pho is just $6.50 (one of our staff’s favorites!).

Searching for home-style comfort food? There’s nothing quite like stepping into Altoona Family Restaurant (just a short drive from campus at 2000 N. Hillcrest Parkway, Altoona) for a home-cooked meal. With their mouth-watering all-day breakfast menu and to-die-for sandwiches, this family-style spot is a timeless hit.

Girolamo’s Court’n House is the quintessential Wisconsin bar and burger place, just about a mile walk from campus. You don’t need to add much to their beautifully juicy patties, which are 2-for-1 on Thursdays. For more than a decade, Volume One readers have ranked their burgers No. 1 in town in our Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll.

Don’t let the beautiful new building fool you: The prices are as reasonable as the servings are large at Cancun Mexican Grill. Voters have named them the Best Restaurant for Mexican Food in our Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll for 13 years, so you can trust that their scrumptious queso, big burritos, and everything else will be top notch.

If you’re looking for a fix of bold flavors, fresh recipes, and mouth-watering meals, look no further than locally-owned Egg Roll Plus (1611 Bellinger St.), which was voted Best Restaurant for Asian Food in our Best of the Chippewa Valley Poll. Their pho is divine, their fried rice is rich with flavor, and there’s simply nothing better than their larger-than-life egg rolls, fried to a crisp and dunked in some sweet and sour.

Much-loved for their huge, deli-fresh sandwiches, plus ice cream.

A classic greasy spoon diner, perfect for getting a cheap breakfast or lunch when you need some comfort food.

Over the past few years, the national food truck trend has been rolling into Eau Claire. In 2018, the Eau Claire City Council expanded the number of parks where licensed food trucks can serve up mobile munchies. They’ve also made special allowances for smaller neighborhood parks in an effort to bring those communities closer together. The new ordinances, combined with an ever-increasing presence at local events and private businesses (like breweries) seems to be convincing Eau Claire restaurateurs that a food truck or trailer is worth a try. On top of that, Volume One hosts Food Truck Friday in the Summer, where once a month, a tasty lineup of trucks parks in Phoenix Park for lunch and dinner Looking for info on local trucks? Check out Volume One's list of Eau Claire Food Trucks for listings.