There are a few things in this world that we’ll never turn down: The cancellation of an 8 a.m. discussion and anything free being handed out on Sproul are the undisputed front-runners of this list. Right below these God-sent gifts are the local eateries that call our names just when we need them most. From Top Dog at 1 a.m. to the hangover cure of pho, here are all the Berkeley bites we can’t go without.
The world has never experienced temptation quite like Yogurt Park for breakfast. Before you call Michelle Obama and report us for our unhealthy diets, just hear us out. People eat yogurt for breakfast all the time. Albeit, it’s not usually topped with brownie bits and Reese’s Pieces, but that’s neither here nor there. Forget about your morning cup of joe. Nothing can start your day quite like the insulin high of frozen yogurt on your way to class.
Taco Bell on Durant is the gift that keeps on giving. Beyond the meme content lies the tasty Mexican fast food that keeps us neither full nor nutritionally satisfied. While there are very few positive externalities to the faux Mexican cuisine, we find ourselves camped out in the Bell far too often. Maybe it’s the fake cantina ambiance, or perhaps it’s the Doritos Locos taco shells. Whatever it may be, we can’t stop coming back for more.
Cinderella’s carriage turned into a pumpkin at midnight, but that’s nothing compared to our stomachs when the clock strikes 12. Science has yet to prove why food tastes better between midnight and 2 a.m., but something about the prospect of a brand-new day works up quite the appetite. While there are plenty of tempting snacks to satisfy our deep need for late night/early morning grub, Top Dog is the winner by far. We won’t judge if you get two — heck, we won’t judge if you get six. The only double-fisting we’re interested in after midnight is a kielbasa and a mango habanero.
Forget the Pepcid and put away the Pedialyte. The only hangover cure we need is a steaming hot bowl of pho. After a wild evening, all we want to do is drown last night’s regrets in this morning’s pho. The hot soup resurrects our broken souls as the filling noodles remind us that there’s still good in the world.
So the next time it’s 2 a.m. or 8 a.m., remember that these Berkeley restaurants will always be there to satisfy your strange cravings and hankerings.
