As the semester begins to ramp up in momentum with the never ending homework assignments, work, sports commitments, and late night study sessions, students might soon find that the lunch line orange chicken and barbeque burgers don’t satisfy them until dinner.

Thankfully, a variety of restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores in the Lamorinda community are here to support Campo students who might be craving extra fuel and delicious nourishment after school and before their next activity. From sandwiches and tacos to quick bites, student appetites will surely be satisfied with these after school food recommendations.

Diablo Foods – The Deli

3615 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette, CA 94549

Established in 1968, Diablo Foods supplies its community members with local produce and specialty goods, advertising itself as the town’s “neighborhood store.” Yet while its large selection of unique, gourmet snacks can leave one feeling indecisive, the Diablo Foods’ Deli sandwich is a staple snack or meal to add to the after school food rotation when work or a long practice remains. The Diablo Deli offers fully customizable, 12 and 6-inch stuffed sandwiches at affordable prices with a free sandwich reward for every tenth sandwich you purchase.

With a variety of meats, cheeses, and breads to choose from, stopping by the Deli for a sandwich will give you the needed fuel pre-or post- your next event. Note that these sandwiches are fairly filling and that half a sandwich is recommended if you want to attend practice with a content stomach. While hot sandwiches cost a dollar more than set the price, biting into warm bread and cheese does make the meal all the more enjoyable.

La Chamba Taqueria

484 Center Street, Moraga, CA 94556

A 10-minute walk from Campo and an even shorter car ride, eating at La Chamba Taqueria after a long week of academics and activities is one of my personal favorite rewards. Flavorful tacos, burritos, plates, and bowls satisfy even the hungriest stomach. Paired with an appetizer of lightly salted chips and a Jarrito, personal experience gives me the credentials to tell you that this combination helps one reach paradise.

While I have an unchanging order of two crispy shrimp tacos and a Mandarin Jarrito, other members of the Campo community hold their own go-to La Chamba orders with similar sentiments.

iTea

1460 Moraga Road, Moraga, CA 94556

A long time Lamorinda favorite, iTea’s bobas, snacks, and entrees from savory to sweet are a post-anything must have. Whether your stomach is grumbling for a snack post-practice or you want to give yourself a sweet treat after work, iTea’s variety of unique specialty drinks are the cherry on top to a week’s worth of school grind.

Here, while I never fear experimenting with their variety of toppings and tastes, my personal go-to fluctuates between their dessert drinks “Fresh Mango Sago Dessert” and “Fresh Mango Pomelo Sago.” Both drinks are a mango lover’s dream: cold mango milk teas topped with mango sago and a plentiful serving of mango pieces. The pomelo version adds pomelo pulp making a tangy twist to the original drink. Another favorite of mine is the Matcha Oreo Creme Brulee: 24 ounces of matcha milk tea and oreo cookie, topped with oreo and creme brulee. For all its unique flavors, iTea differentiates from other boba spots with their “E Yakult Series,” a mix of a yakult probiotic drink and fruit tea. Clearly, iTea shows that there’s no limits when it comes to sweet tooth cravings.

While I’ve not yet explored what the full snack menu has to offer, I can affirm that their basil popcorn chicken does not disappoint. Big chunks of chicken seasoned with house spices and basil, the snack is customizable in spice level.

For all its pros, however, it would be worthy to note that customers should be ready to pay a few dollars more than traditional boba drink pricing.

Tangelo Froyo

384 Park St, Moraga, CA 94556

Another longtime favorite of the community, Tangelo Froyo offers Campo students an after school sweet treat. With timeless flavors and a large selection of toppings to choose from, the frozen yogurt shack caters to both the chocolate and fruit-loving enthusiasts. There’s no limit to flavor customization either, as I typically like to mix Tangelo’s Vanilla Bean with a fruit-related flavor such as their Valencia Orange.

Students should stay up to date with both the Tangelo and Campo Instagrams, as Tangelo sometimes hosts special deals for Campo students such as 10-20% discounts after special events such as Homecoming and sports games.

Special toppings one might take note of are their strawberry popping boba and mochi.

Lou’s Chicken Shop

376 Park Street, Moraga, CA 94556

Over the past four years of my post-finals season, elevated anxieties were always quelled after a warm bite into the garlic soy glaze chicken sandwich at Lou’s Chicken Shop. With tasteful unique takes on comfort food and a specialty in chicken, customers can order a variety of chicken-based meals from fried to grilled with an asian twist to accompany it.

The restaurant shows no fear of taking on unique, delectable flavors that satisfy the stomach when combined. Entrees such as the udon coconut chicken curry, udon yuzu miso chicken, and karaage chicken sandwich give every customer a variety of options to choose from. A tasty side, the smoked fries are seasoned with smoked paprika with just the right amount of seasoning on one to enjoy a second and third.

Note: Campo students might notice that these foods stray a little further from the typical price range of a Taco Bell Baja Blast or Starbucks Grilled Cheese. Food spot recommendations were focused on staying local rather than large chains, hence the reason for the price increase trend.