Whataburger

Located on Louisville Avenue, Whataburger is an easy-to-find restaurant. It is stationed beside a Neighborhood Walmart, giving shoppers a quick bite to eat after a potentially exhausting grocery run.

Sophomore pre-nursing major Kylee-Ann Dixon and I went around 9:30 PM on a Friday, a busy and potentially scary time to be in a restaurant. However, the building was kept clean, and other than a drink being out of stock, our order was out with little stalling.

Dixon ordered the 9-pc Honey Whatawings meal, a new one for her. The total came to $11.99.

“While not a flavor I’d choose again, the wings themselves were a great late-night snack,” Dixon said.

I regularly order at this Whataburger, so I got my usual—a double meat Whataburger meal. Unfortunately, cheese is an add-on cost, but I consider it a necessity. The patties were not too thick and fit nicely inside the bun. The cheese was hot enough to melt over the burger and a little bit of the wrapping as well. Additional toppings, such as lettuce and mayonnaise, were provided in what I would consider a good amount— meaning that it was not a messy hassle to eat around.

Breakfast is served from 11:00 PM to 11:00 AM, with the rest of the menu available 24 hours a day. While the meals might be a tad pricey, the quality of the food cannot be overlooked. Whataburger is a solid addition to your late-night cravings list.

Waffle House

A mile and a half can sometimes feel like a long distance, but does it really matter when it is 2:00 in the morning and you are craving an omelet? If you can look past the distance, the Waffle House just off Sterlington Road is perfect for you. It’s tucked up nicely next to a CVS, which, once you’re at that four-way light, is difficult to miss.

Sophomore social work major Lexi Castle has gone to Waffle House several times while she has been at college and considers it a highlight of her freshman year experience.

“The food is relatively cheap and it’s open at all hours,” Castle said. “I don’t go to Waffle House by myself, I go with a group for safety reasons…The night crew staff is also very interactive when you go with a group. They really make the entire experience of getting a late-night meal enjoyable.”

I have only been to Waffle House twice, and let me just say, I have yet to be disappointed. Surprisingly enough, I had not tried a waffle until last year when Castle and a few others took me with them on one of these escapades. Is it controversial to say that they are just textured pancakes?

Anyway, for this meal, I decided to try one of their hamburgers. The fun thing about Waffle House’s menu is that it includes taxes in the price, so these numbers are exact (minus the tip, which I have always given because the service is immaculate). I ordered a double Angus burger and soda, which came to $6.90.

With the atmosphere of a cozy Southern diner and the fancy glasses for drinks made, Waffle House felt like an elegant dine-in restaurant. The burger certainly tasted Southern, and something about watching it get cooked made it taste that much better. I put on most of the condiments offered, which was a nice feature. Overall, the experience was one I would willingly pay much more for.

Castle got her usual, a triple hashbrown smothered, covered and chunked, along with a soda. Her total was $4.50.

“Well, Waffle House has hashbrowns that aren’t like anywhere else,” Castle said. “The way they’re made is just perfect because you have a crispy side and a soft side. The cheese that I put on top makes it savory, along with the ham and onions.”

Waffle House is open 24 hours, with no time-sensitive meals. Be sure to stop by if you are looking to make some memories over some midnight hashbrowns.

Checkers

If you want to treat yourself after a long trek across campus, it would only be another five or so-minute walk before you came across Checkers.

Sophomore vocal music education major Helen “Pidge” Milam and I have gone to Checkers a few times throughout our two years here at ULM. Milam orders the chicken tenders and fries, which comes out to roughly $7.99.

“The fries are always really good,” Milam said. “I’m not a fan of how they cook their chicken, though.”

My order consisted of—can you guess?—a burger! I ordered the Big Buford Combo, which came out to $9.39.

I am not a big fan of the fries, but I can appreciate a good potato when I see one. The mouthwatering crunch of hot crispy fries with a juicy, well-cooked burger made the dining experience well worth the money.

With both a drive-thru and an outside ordering spot, for students who do not have access to a vehicle, being able to walk the five or so minutes off campus and still get the restaurant experience at odd hours of the night really sells the deal.

Checkers is open from 10:00 AM to 2:00 AM Sunday through Thursday, and 10:00 AM to 3:00 AM Friday and Saturday.