When I was touring colleges as a high schooler, I always made my parents go to the cafeteria. Hello! Food was, and always will be, a top priority. I didn’t want to go to a school where I was going to starve! That being said, university dining is normally a hit or miss. They have one or two things that you think is great, then everything else is… meh.
On top of that, your first semester on campus, you only know of one or two places and go there over and over again. I was a confused freshman who was too scared to order a sandwich from ABP because I couldn’t figure out the lines. Not to mention the dining options that were tucked away in the corners of buildings that I didn’t even know existed. My nose has led me to many a delicious place on campus now that I’m in my second semester. But don’t just take my word for it! Enjoy the favorite breakfasts, midnight snacks, caffeine fixes, and dinners of people around Auburn’s Campus!
1. Panda Express: Orange Chicken
Terrell on the Hill has a ton of dining options, but none is more loved than Panda Express. And none in Panda Express is more loved than Panda Express’s Orange Chicken. Paired with any kind rice and eaten with a fork because no one can eat rice with chopsticks, the Orange Chicken is the fan favorite on the menu. Just hop in the security shuttle and ask for Terrell in the Hill!
2. Salsarita’s: Cheese Quesadilla with Guac
Vowed as a piece of deliciousness that ties with fair few, Salsarita’s Cheese Quesadilla is a favorite for many. Especially when you add guac. Who can say no to guacamole? Head over to Foy to experience the cheesiness.
3. API Trading Co.: Rice Bowl with Pork & Salsa
API focuses mainly on Latin American and Caribbean cuisines, and their Rice Bowl with Pork & Salsa is no exception. Found on the bottom floor of the Student Center, API is pretty hard to miss with the long lines and blue and orange logo.
4. Olo’s Sushi: Literally Anything
Not only are Olo’s workers really nice, they make a mean sushi. This is coming from a girl who didn’t even really eat sushi until college. The best part? They’ll make any combo you want! Spicy tuna rolls are a favorite of many, but no one, I mean no one, passes up yum yum sauce. Located on the second floor of the Student Center and in Village Dining, Olo’s is the go-to for sushi on campus.
5. Village Cub Stop: Iceez, Ice Cream, Fruit, and Veggies
The Village Cub Stop is normally the first thing you see when you walk in Village Dining. They have everything a failing college student needs for last minute fixes. Coffee, toilet paper, chips, NyQuil and Tylenol, etc. But most students’ favorites are the multi-flavored Iceez and the tubs of ice cream they offer. For the healthier students on the block, Cub Stop always has fresh fruit and veggies! They may come a little pricey, but hey, we aren’t all unhealthy!
6. Chicken Salad Chick: Everything
I had so many different suggestions for CSC that I basically had the whole menu. So, when you walk up to the counter, just make any combo, and it will normally turn out delicious! Fruity Fran, Sassy Scottie, and Classic Chick are always good picks! But let’s be real, I go for the chocolate chip cookies that ruin an otherwise pretty healthy meal. Just veer off the Thach Concourse towards Foy for Chicken Salad Chick!
7. Plains 2 Plates: Waffles
The first of it’s kind, Plains 2 Plates is the nation’s first campus dining option to receive a Gluten-Free Food Service certification. Everything inside that door is gluten free, made from scratch, locally grown, and absolutely scrumptious. P2P has become one of the top spots on campus, and hands down, the favorite thing on the menu are their waffles. Ask for the Loughridge, and you’ll get a fluffy waffle smeared with peanut butter and drizzled with honey. But if you ask for the Sweet Caroline, you’ll get another fluffy waffle dressed in Nutella and bananas. Don’t forget to ask for a water cup at checkout and choose between strawberry, cucumber, or lemon infused water. The bottom of Lupton Hall is where you’ll find Plains 2 Plates!
8. AU Smokehouse: Pit Nachos and Sweet Tea
Also in Lupton Hall (just on the other side) is the AU Smokehouse, and if you don’t like BBQ… go there anyways. Their barbecue is in true southern style and comes directly from the Auburn Meatlab! The Pit Nachos are spiced kettle chips, covered in their BBQ, drenched in cheese, and topped with your choice of handmade barbecue sauces. They also have sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, yummy mac & cheese, and crazy good sliders. I pray that you’re there early enough to grab a cup of sweet tea, because this tea is made with brown sugar, and is to die for! Go quick though, because they close at 3 p.m. daily!
9. Starbucks: Butter Croissant and Your Choice of Coffee
While I’m not much of a coffee drinker myself, everyone else is. And the best place for quick (depending on the line) coffee, is Starbs. But on the days where you’re stressed, exhausted, and worn down, pair your favorite iced coffee with a Butter Croissant. Flaky and tasty, these croissants and your coffee will definitely serve as the best pick-me-up! Second floor of the Student Center ladies and gents.
10. Wellness Kitchen: Whatever the heck they’ve got
Yes, it may be a little pricey, but it’s one of the best spots on campus! They always, always, always have something incredible on the buffet-style menu. Eat till your heart’s content when you step into Wellness. From fro-yo and smoothies, to order-your-own pasta, to different cultural cuisines, to some really sweet sweet tea, you cannot go wrong in the Wellness Kitchen. Plus, if you wanna see a couple athletes, without fail there will be a handful in there. Wellness is right across the street from South Donahue and Plainsman Park!
P.S. Tiger Transit now has a Supper Shuttle that runs from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to all major dining halls across campus! Check it out!
