A question that many freshmen have when arriving on Penn State’s campus is “What is the food here like?”
Well I am here to tell you that no matter what you enjoy feasting on, the dining options on campus will fulfill any craving or food preferences you have! There are five dining halls on campus and a variety of chains in the HUB, and I will cover the best of the best in each one!
North Halls
North is the only dining hall I did not venture to in my time dining on campus, and that is the case for most freshmen. They have the basic food options as the rest of the dining halls, as well as breakfast every morning and a salad station. However, I do not foresee most of you choosing North as your spot of choice, it may be fun to try with your friends on a whim one weekend!
South Halls
Redifer Commons is one of my FAVORITE places to eat on campus. (I even made the trek from West in a snowstorm just to get a panini) Although there is a buffet portion of the dining hall, what makes South so great to eat at is that the majority of choices are a la carte, meaning you can choose and customize several different types of food. There is a panini/wrap station, a grill with burgers, fries and wings, a salad bar, pasta bar, and even Mexican station that my friends called the Chipotle of campus. There is a late-night menu that is open until 11 in case you hunger strikes while studying, or you cannot make it to dinner during the regular hours. The prices are so cheap for a customizable meal, and it was great for when you and your friends cannot decide on what to get, you can all order the type of food you want! The coffee shop, Off the Ground, is some of the best coffee on campus and is quickly made. Another great factor of Redifer is the seating, with large booths and tables, it is a great space to meet up with friends to grab a bite to eat and study.
East Halls
East dining is the hub of freshmen dining, of course. Therefore, it is always packed. The buffet has the same typical menu items of chicken breast, burgers, fries, rice, and veggies that change up daily, and the food is pretty good. East is known, however, for having a REALLY good salad bar. It has a ton of options to choose from, allowing anyone to make a delicious and nutritious salad of their liking. The to-go station, Flipps, is also quite popular among students, as you can easily order greasy and yummy fries and sandwiches on a screen and it be ready to be devoured in minutes. East is also newly renovated to include PURE, Penn State's first certified kosher kitchen and food allergen-free dining operation. That’s right, allergen free! That means food with no dairy, eggs, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, gluten, and sesame. They even have dessert that is allergen free and PURE is open to anyone, even if you don’t have any allergies. The market/convenience store in East Commons is the biggest of all, and has basically any kind of food or drink option you could think of available to purchase with your meal points too!
West Halls
In my (maybe biased) opinion, the statement “West is best” is quite true! West has some of the best tasting food on campus, and rotates its menu every night while also keeping the staples of pasta, pizza, and Mexican always on hand. There is also a full vegan station that is separate from the other food, and can give those with vegan food preferences a peace of mind knowing they will always have a full meal, and it is quite tasty might I add. And I am sure you have heard about West Hall’s famous chocolate chip cookies! Kept in a warmer and made fresh all throughout the day, they are a cure to ~most~ of your stress, even if just temporarily. A favorite of many students is creating a cookie sundae with the creamery ice cream and toppings for a treat or an especially rough day. I have personally seen students smuggle out about a dozen cookies in a to-go container, though I would refrain from doing so to avoid getting caught stealing. They are just that good! There is a made-to-order portion named West Wing, where you can order a customized sandwich or burger, and I love their grilled chicken sandwich. West Halls is also the closest to engineering buildings, therefore most convenient and you will definitely see your fellow classmates there. I’m positive your mentors and envoys would love it if you invited them to eat on your meal plan in West Halls, as it is many people favorites (Invite Kayli Rentzel when the Southwest Pork Flat Iron Steak is on the menu and she will love your forever!) West also has it’s own coffee/smoothie stand too! Which is perfect for on the way to your favorite study spot! And they sell Irving’s bagels there too!
Pollock Halls
Pollock Halls is also busy with hungry freshmen. Open with a buffet for every meal of the day, there are tons of options. Most of the food choices are there every day, so a downside is that with the little rotation, the food can become repetitive. There is a large salad and fruit bar, as well as a combination of both comfort food and some healthier options, so you can choose whatever you feel that day. There is a ton of seating in Pollock dining, so it is an easy place to eat with both large and small groups of people! The convenience store, The Mix, is also getting renovated, and will have tons of snacks and made-to-go options for you to choose from as well.
Well, I hope that I was able to give you some insight into the many dining halls that Penn State has, and can help you decide where to dine during your first few weeks on campus! Happy eating all!
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