Eat Well on a Student Budget
Food & Restaurants
$5-8
Average fast food meal
$12-20
Sit-down restaurant
$200-300
Monthly food budget (cooking)
Local Restaurants
Rexburg favorites for dates, celebrations, and treating yourself
The Hickory
$$BBQ & Burgers
Local favorite for smoked BBQ and burgers. Great atmosphere for dates.
Red Rabbit Grill
$$American
Craft burgers and comfort food. Popular date night spot.
Da Pineapple Grill
$$Hawaiian & Sushi
Best sushi in Rexburg. Try the poke bowls and Hawaiian plates.
Original Thai
$$Thai
Authentic Thai cuisine with vegan and vegetarian options.
El Jaliciense
$Mexican
Authentic Mexican food. Large portions at student-friendly prices.
Pizza Pie Cafe
$Pizza Buffet
All-you-can-eat pizza buffet. Great for groups and hungry students.
Blister's BBQ
$BBQ & Breakfast
Hearty breakfast and BBQ. Known for their smoked meats.
Red 8 Asian Cuisine
$$Asian Fusion
Pan-Asian menu with sushi, Chinese, and Thai options.
Fast Food & Chains
Quick, affordable options when you are on the go
Costa Vida
$Mexican
Fresh Mex bowls and burritos. Student favorite for quick lunch.
Chick-fil-A
$Chicken
Quality chicken sandwiches. Closed Sundays.
Five Guys
$$Burgers
Fresh burgers and unlimited toppings. Generous fries portions.
Panda Express
$Chinese
Quick Chinese food. Orange chicken is a crowd pleaser.
Jimmy Johns
$Sandwiches
Freaky fast delivery. Great for study sessions.
Subway
$Sandwiches
Customizable subs. Healthy options available.
Wendys
$Burgers
Late night drive-thru. 4 for $4 deals.
Taco Bell
$Mexican Fast Food
Cheap late-night eats. Cravings menu hits the spot.
McDonalds
$Fast Food
Dollar menu for tight budgets. Open late.
Pizza & Delivery
Perfect for study sessions and group hangouts
Craigos Pizza
$Local favorite with late-night deals. Perfect for study groups.
Late NightDominos
$Mix and match deals. Fast delivery to campus.
Late NightPapa Johns
$Better ingredients pizza. Good specials.
Late NightLittle Caesars
$Hot-N-Ready for $5.55. Cheapest pizza option.
Desserts & Treats
Sweet spots for dates, FHE treats, and pick-me-ups (no coffee needed!)
Crumbl Cookies
Cookies
Rotating weekly menu of gourmet cookies. Mon-Sat 8am-10pm, closed Sundays.
Cold Stone Creamery
Ice Cream
Mix-in ice cream creations. Great date spot.
Crispy Cones
Ice Cream
Local ice cream in waffle cones. Student favorite.
Karie Annes
Gelato & Italian Ice
Authentic gelato and Italian ice. Refreshing summer treat.
Swig
Specialty Drinks
Dirty sodas and treats. Perfect pick-me-up.
Dutch Bros
Drinks
Smoothies, Italian sodas, and more. Drive-thru convenience.
Frosty Gator
Smoothies & Sodas
Smoothies, shaved ice, and specialty drinks.
Moose Tracks
Hot Chocolate
Gourmet hot chocolate - perfect for Rexburg winters!
Late Night Food Options
When those late-night study sessions need fuel
McDonalds
Open 24/7
Always open for late-night cravings
Taco Bell
Open 7am-2am (Sun-Wed), 7am-3am (Thu-Sat)
Drive-thru open late
Craigos Pizza
Open Until 2 AM
Best late-night pizza deal in town
Dominos
Open Until 1 AM
Reliable delivery
Wendys
Open Until 12 AM
Drive-thru open
Jimmy Johns
Open Until 10 PM
Delivery until close
Pro tip: Download DoorDash and Uber Eats for even more late-night delivery options
Budget Eating Tips
Stretch your food budget further with these student-tested strategies
Shop at WinCo Foods
Best grocery prices, but it is in Idaho Falls. Carpool with friends for big shopping trips.
Meal prep on Sundays
Most restaurants are closed anyway - use this time to prep meals for the week and save money.
Ask about student discounts
Many places offer 10-15% off with BYU-I ID. Always ask even if not advertised.
Check for daily specials
Many restaurants have weekday deals - Taco Tuesday, Wing Wednesday, etc.
Use the McDonalds app
Daily deals and free items. Sometimes get a full meal for $3-4.
Split meals at buffets
Pizza Pie Cafe buffet can feed two if you share strategically.
Buy in bulk at Broulims
Their bulk bins have great deals on rice, beans, oats, and snacks.
Costco trips to Idaho Falls
Split a membership with roommates. Stock up on essentials monthly.
Grocery Store Guide
Where to shop for the best prices and selection
Broulims
Downtown Rexburg
Pros:
Walking distance from campus, good produce, local store, bulk bins
Cons:
Slightly higher prices than Walmart
Best For:
Quick trips, fresh produce, supporting local
Walmart Supercenter
South Rexburg
Pros:
Lowest prices in Rexburg, one-stop shop, open late
Cons:
Further from campus, crowded on weekends
Best For:
Main grocery shopping, household items
WinCo Foods
Idaho Falls (20 min)
Pros:
Absolute cheapest prices, amazing bulk section, 24-hour
Cons:
In Idaho Falls, cash/debit only
Best For:
Monthly stock-up trips, bulk buying
Costco
Idaho Falls (20 min)
Pros:
Bulk savings, rotisserie chickens, gas savings
Cons:
Membership required ($60/year), in Idaho Falls
Best For:
Split membership with roommates, monthly bulk buying
Money-Saving Grocery Strategy
The ideal combo: Do your main shopping at Walmart, make monthly WinCo trips with roommates for bulk items, and use Broulims for quick fresh produce runs. Split a Costco membership 4 ways with roommates for just $15/year each.
Meal Prep Essentials
Save hundreds each semester by cooking at home! These tools make meal prep easy:
Important: Sunday Food Planning
Most restaurants in Rexburg are closed on Sundays due to the LDS community. However, Walmart (6am-11pm) and Albertsons (7am-11pm) are open. Broulim's is closed Sundays.
- Walmart - Open 6am-11pm (Pharmacy 12pm-5pm)
- Albertsons - Open 7am-11pm (Pharmacy 10am-4pm)
- Plan your meals ahead for a more restful Sabbath
- Meal prep on Saturdays to have food ready for Sunday
Frequently Asked Questions
What restaurants are open on Sunday in Rexburg?
Most restaurants in Rexburg are closed on Sundays due to the LDS community. However, Walmart (6am-11pm) and Albertsons (7am-11pm) are open for groceries. Broulim's is closed Sundays. Gas stations like Maverick stay open. Plan to cook at home or stock up on Saturday.
Where can I eat for under $10 in Rexburg?
Taco Bell, Little Caesars ($5.55 Hot-N-Ready), McDonalds dollar menu, Wendys 4 for $4, Costa Vida, Subway, and El Jaliciense all offer meals under $10. For pizza, Craigos and Little Caesars are your best budget bets.
Which restaurants offer student discounts?
Always ask! Many restaurants offer 10-15% off with your BYU-I ID even if not advertised. Costa Vida, some local restaurants, and various chains participate. The discount can add up over a semester.
Where can I get food delivered late at night?
McDonalds is open 24/7. Taco Bell stays open until 2-3am. Craigos Pizza delivers until 2 AM. Dominos and Papa Johns also deliver late. DoorDash and Uber Eats operate in Rexburg with varying availability.
Whats the cheapest grocery store in Rexburg?
Walmart Supercenter has the lowest everyday prices in Rexburg. For even cheaper, make a trip to WinCo Foods in Idaho Falls - their prices beat everyone and their bulk section is incredible. Carpool with roommates to save on gas.
Need More Budget Tips?
Check out our complete budget template designed specifically for BYU-Idaho students.