With the recent and sudden closure of the cafeteria, students have added their inputs on where to get a bite to eat near the Liberal Arts Campus.
The 2022 fall semester started off with a bang as one discreet email filled Viking student inboxes, stating that the Viking cafeteria will be without catering services for the foreseeable future.
This has left many students without an easy, accessible, and affordable spot to get a meal between classes.
Thankfully, the streets surrounding the LBCC Liberal Arts Campus have restaurants aplenty, and many students have some ideas for their favorite places to get something to eat.
After surveying students at LAC in the beginning of the semester we tried to get an idea of what restaurants the students are turning to, with an overwhelming number of the interviewees choosing the well known burger chain Jack in the Box as their favorite.
Taking into account not every student has a car or has extra income for some of the pricier options in our area this answer is surprising but makes a lot of sense.
Jose Perez’s favorite item was the Jr Bacon Cheeseburger, “perfect for the starving artist” he commented. At less than $5 with curly fries the meal definitely offers a good deal for the price.
Although Jack in the Box was the student standout you don’t have to travel far on Norse Way to find many delicious affordable options.
Spots like Playas Ceviche & Tortas, Village Road Pizzeria, Dale’s Diner, One Zo Boba/Myungrang Hotdog and We Love Pho offer diverse food options for students to visit when they want to grab some lunch.
A standout quick cheap bite is only a couple steps away at Village Road Pizzeria which offers full pies,slices, wings, and even a nice michelada if you’re in the mood. Their combo meal of a slice and a drink is only $5, or $10 if you decide to switch the drink for a cold beer.
Right across the street there’s a place that has two businesses operating collectively: One Zo Boba and Myungrang Hotdog.
One Zo Boba specializes in milk teas with boba, which are tapioca pearls, for a sweet snack while you’re drinking.
Myungrang Hotdog specializes in a Korean style of corn dogs, very similar to our U.S. version but instead of the classic breading you could get a panko crust or even a potato crust. You can get cheese with your dog or just go for an all cheese option.
For something a little heartier you can make your way down to Playas Ceviche & Tortas.
Their main offerings are ceviches–a raw seafood dish cooked by the acidity in lime juice–as well as tortas, a type of Mexican sandwich on a bread roll offering different kinds of fillings. They also offer vegetarian options of most of their items for a very affordable price.
For those who’d rather stay on campus than travel for a quick bite, the Viking Express will offer snacks and grab-n-go food, the campus has booked food trucks in the G lot, and the LBCC Bakery has also reopened.
There is currently no plan in place to reopen the cafeteria, until then, students will have to make do with limited options on campus or traveling off campus to look for a bite to eat.