College budgets in North Philadelphia get stretched thin fast, and the easiest habit to fall into is either skipping real meals or defaulting to the cheapest fast food option regardless of quality. This is a straight breakdown of what different amounts actually buy at our kitchen, written for students at La Salle, Temple and the surrounding schools who want a real meal without blowing through a week's food budget on one order.
Under $10
Chicken Hibachi or Tofu Hibachi, $9.85. A full plate, protein plus two sides. The best value on the entire menu for a single, complete meal.
California Roll, $7.85. A light meal on its own, or pair it with a side for something more filling.
Chicken Tenders, 3 pieces, $7.99. Fourteen flavors available, which surprises a lot of first-time customers.
Between $10 and $15
Chicken and Beef Combo, $11.85. Two proteins for two dollars more than a single. The single best value-per-dollar order on the menu.
Chicken Bento, $12.85. Five components in one sealed box: hibachi, vegetables, rice or noodles, a four-piece California Roll, two dumplings and two spring rolls. For a student eating between classes or back in a dorm, this is the order that gives the most for the money.
Beef or Shrimp Hibachi, $10.85.
Between ten and fifteen dollars, the bento is worth calling out specifically. It holds up far better than an open plate if you are not eating it immediately, which matters constantly on a class schedule.
Stretching further
Add-ons instead of upgrades. Extra chicken at $2.95 costs less than moving to a combo, if what you actually want is more of one protein rather than a second kind.
Split a bento with a roommate. At $12.85 to $15.85, one bento with two proteins plus a side sushi roll split between two people is often cheaper than two separate single-protein plates.
Sides on their own are cheap volume. Fried rice or lo mein at $4.95, white rice at $2.95. Adding a side to a smaller order is a cheap way to make it filling.
What holds up for a delayed meal
Reheating is a real student concern, whether it is a microwave in a dorm or a shared kitchen on a schedule. Fried rice, lo mein and hibachi proteins reheat reasonably well. Wings, tenders and anything fried do not. Sushi should not be reheated at all, and is the best choice if you are buying now and eating several hours later.
Halal dining for a diverse student body
North Philadelphia's colleges and universities draw a genuinely diverse student population, and our entire menu is halal, with no pork served, stored or cooked anywhere on the premises. For students who have had to plan meals carefully around dietary requirements, that removes a layer of research most restaurants near campus do not remove.
Finding us near campus
We are at 101 E Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19120, in North Philadelphia, serving students near La Salle and Temple.
Student budget questions
Visit us
Flame Japanese Hibachi Philadelphia, 101 E Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19120. 215-344-6444.
