Connector Editor

Whether you’re a returning student, a transfer student, a first-year student, or a commuter, you’re probably going to get tired of eating the same food every day. There’s nothing new about Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, or Subway, but the answers to your hunger woes and diverse tastes are closer than you think.

Brunch time

If you’re looking for a hearty breakfast at college-student prices, then you can’t go wrong with either Owl Diner or Rosie’s Diner. Both restaurants feature specialty omelets named after streets in their respective towns (Lowell and North Chelmsford), and a multitude of other breakfast items.

The employees at each restaurant are always kind and inviting, making each restaurant an excellent place to eat to complement their food.

With their similarities come subtle differences, however. Owl Diner features a boxcar shape and has less seating than Rosie’s. Additionally, Rosie’s is a cash only diner.

Owl Diner is located at 244 Appleton St. in Lowell and is open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., except Sundays, when it opens at 7 a.m. Rosie’s Diner is located at 27 Vinal Sq. in North Chelmsford, less than a 15-minute drive from campus. Their hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays.

Lunch, dinner, and late-night

The best Asian foods come together in a melting pot on University Avenue known as Eggroll Café. With highlights such as bubble tea and bento meals and a bright interior atmosphere, Eggroll Café makes the perfect place for an afternoon lunch or dinner for two.

There are only two Eggroll Café restaurants in New England, and Lowell hosts one of them on University Avenue. Their prices aren’t exactly bargains, but their dishes are worth every penny.

Wings Over Lowell is your downtown destination for premium quality wings. A member of the Wings Over franchise, Lowell’s Market Street location is more than another chain restaurant.

“The customer service and the efficiency are great,” says Concordia Hall Resident Advisor, Kirvens Pierre.

Wings Over Lowell serves a variety of flavors of wings, as well as wraps and ribs, but one item takes special preference with Pierre’s taste buds. “The buffalo chicken wrap is the best, as far as taste goes,” he says. “I would recommend it to anyone.”

The restaurant caters to the late-night crowd, staying open until 1 a.m. on any given night.

Life just isn’t complete without pizza, so I would be remiss to leave Suppa’s out of this article. The University Avenue pizza shop might as well be part of UMass Lowell with its close proximity to North Campus, and it’s more than deserving of its prime real estate.

No other restaurant screams UMass Lowell pride like Suppa’s, with specialty subs including “the Riverhawk” and “Fox Hall.”

Suppa’s also combines ingredients on pizzas beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Their signature pizzas include the “Fat Chicken Pizza,” featuring chicken, mozzarella sticks, and French fries, and the “Big Mac,” which “tastes just like the sandwich,” according to their menu.

Suppa’s entire menu is available as late as 2 a.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and 11 p.m. every other night.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth…

If you’re looking for great frozen yogurt, you won’t have to travel very far. With two locations in Lowell, Sweet Kiwi has everything you’ll need to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Each location features a massive array of tart- and cream-based flavors, including but not limited to strawberry banana, passion fruit, cookies and cream, piña colada, and more that you can top with anything from cheesecake bites to Swedish Fish.

Sweet Kiwi’s variety doesn’t end with its frozen yogurt. Their palette includes fruit parfaits, smoothies, and waffle cookies – sandwiches made with frozen yogurt in between two thin cookies.

Sweet Kiwi’s two Lowell locations are at 4 Wood St. and 119 Plain St.

The Donut Shack and Top Donut take the best of breakfast and sugar and roll, bake, and fry them into one.

The Donut Shack may not catch your eye as you drive past 487 Westford St., but their doughnuts will put a stranglehold on your taste buds like no other.

Their space may be small and their hours may be short (5 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. daily), but their donuts are the best you can find anywhere before noon. At less than a dollar per doughnut, your blood sugar levels may not forgive you, but your taste buds and your wallet will.

For a wider array of options, Top Donut is here to rescue your morning all day long. From iced coffee to egg sandwiches to fruit pastries, Top Donut has you covered.

Top Donut’s quality and value can go toe to toe with Dunkin’ Donuts, Honey Dew, or Starbucks and win, so don’t forget to check them out when you get hungry.

Top Donut serves Lowell from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day from 700 Aiken St. and 603 Bridge St. A short walk from East Campus, your next quick breakfast or lunch break is a 10-minute walk away at the Aiken Street location.

Regina Alongi’s picks

Are you vegan? Do you want to eat healthy, organic food? Does delicious food make you happy? If you answered “yes,” or even “kind of,” to any of these questions, look no further than Life Alive.

Though some may be thrown off by the fact that this is a completely vegan eatery, that doesn’t change the fact that the food here is incredible. The typical go-to for a new Life Alive-r is the Emperor: “our velvety Miso Sauce, smothering cheddar cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, dark greens, shredded carrots, sweet corn, & tofu all over brown rice,” as described by their menu.

Branch away from the McDonalds and greasy pizza joints for something that will leave both your taste buds and digestive system happy! Open daily, your next organic meal starts at 193 Middle Street.

If you want the best authentic Mexican cuisine in the area, then salsa your way down to El Potro Mexican Grill. One of two locations – the other in Somerville – the Lowell restaurant is conveniently located in downtown on Merrimack Street in the location that formerly housed Mr. Jalapeño, adjacent to the new Last Safe and Deposit Company.

The restaurant décor is bright and inviting. Some food recommendations are: for an appetizer, nachos de pollo; for a dinner entrée, enchiladas al mole; and of course, for dessert, the traditional flan. Fun facts: they serve breakfast daily and every Wednesday night they have a live Mariachi band!

Connector Editor Regina Alongi contributed to this article.