20 restaurants, grouped by area and by the kind of meal you're after.
By Matt Glick · Updated October 30, 2026
Most of State College's restaurants sit downtown, along College Avenue, Beaver Avenue and Calder Way, right across from Penn State's campus. A second group is spread along South Atherton Street and Westerly Parkway, and a few of the best-known names are a short drive out: RE Farm Cafe and Gigi's on the north side, and Happy Valley Brewing and Voodoo on Elmwood Street east of town.
This guide lists 20 restaurants with their address, the kind of visit each one suits and a link to the official website where we've confirmed it. Need coffee in State College first? That guide exists too.
Hours change often, so check each place's website before you go.
Places are chosen by the editor, Matt Glick, based on visits and local knowledge. Nobody pays to be listed. Labels like 'Our pick' are editorial opinions, not ratings. Spotted something out of date? Contact us.
Listed A–Z. Switch to "By area" to group them by part of town.
A seasonal New American restaurant on the second floor of 100 W College Ave, above The Corner Room. A downtown choice for a nicer dinner or a drink at the bar.
A noodle restaurant on East College Ave downtown. Quick, casual and inexpensive.
An Asian fusion restaurant on East Calder Way downtown. Suits a relaxed sit-down meal or a casual date.
A counter-service spot on East Beaver Ave serving globally inspired tacos and quesadillas. Quick and casual, so it fits into a busy day downtown.
A downtown bar with food on East Beaver Ave. A casual place for drinks and a bite with friends.
A noodle shop on East College Ave focused on Yunnan-style rice noodles. Quick and casual.
A pizzeria on South Atherton Street, south of downtown. A casual, family-friendly choice for pizza.
A bistro in the Weis Market plaza on Westerly Parkway serving Middle Eastern and Western dishes. It covers breakfast, lunch and dinner, so it fits most parts of the day.
A Southern-style restaurant on Cato Avenue on the north side of town. A sit-down dinner spot with a full bar.
A brewpub in a converted barn on Elmwood Street, east of town near Lemont. House-brewed beer and a pub menu in a relaxed setting.
A Turkish and Mediterranean breakfast and lunch spot in Hills Plaza on South Atherton Street. Known for Turkish breakfast spreads and börek pastries.
A Japanese restaurant on East Calder Way downtown. A sit-down option for sushi and other Japanese dishes.
A Sichuan restaurant on West College Ave downtown. Spicy regional Chinese cooking in a casual setting.
A farm-to-table restaurant on a working farm off Fillmore Road, north of downtown. The menu follows the seasons. Reservations are recommended through their website.
A Japanese restaurant at 206 W College Ave, with a second location at 100 S Atherton St. A casual choice for sushi near campus.
A downtown restaurant at College Ave and Allen St, in the Hotel State College building. A casual dining room for breakfast or an easy meal across from campus.
A burger-and-beer restaurant at Toftrees on the north side of town. Casual and roomy, and away from downtown traffic, which makes it an easy choice for families and game-weekend groups.
A traditional sit-down restaurant on East College Ave downtown. Works well for families and visiting parents.
A casual bar and restaurant inside The Nittany Lion Inn on campus. According to the Inn, it does not take reservations, so plan to walk in.
Voodoo Brewing's State College taproom, on Elmwood Street east of downtown. Craft beer with a food menu in a casual room.
Five parts of town. Click a name to jump to its full listing above.
College Avenue, Beaver Avenue, Calder Way and Allen Street: the walkable core across from campus. Park in a downtown garage and walk.
South Atherton Street and Westerly Parkway, south and west of downtown. Easier parking; you'll want a car.
Toftrees, Fillmore Road and Cato Avenue on the north side of town. A short drive from downtown.
Elmwood Street east of town, toward Lemont. A short drive from downtown.
For a slower dinner, pick a place with table service and book ahead, especially Friday and Saturday. Staying overnight? See where to stay in State College.
On home football weekends downtown fills hours before kickoff. Eat early, lean on counter service and book any sit-down meal as soon as you know your dates. Check upcoming events in Happy Valley for the schedule.
When you want a drink and a real meal in the same stop. The two breweries are on Elmwood Street east of town, so plan a designated driver or a ride.
Bigger tables need roomier dining rooms and a heads-up. For eight or more, call or book ahead, and expect longer waits on game weekends.
Weekend mornings get busy, so go early. Need caffeine first? See coffee near Penn State.
Between campus visits or before a drive home, these are the fastest ways to eat well downtown without a long sit-down.
Know a spot we should cover, or see something out of date? Tell us.
Get in TouchRestaurants open, close and change. If a listing here is out of date, let us know and we'll fix it.