As the spring semester kicks off at Long Beach City College, students are seeking healthy and affordable food options around campus.
The previous ‘Viking Express’ has been rebranded as ‘Campus Market,’ introducing a diverse array of culinary delights to the student body.
Whether students are seeking a quick bite between classes or a leisurely meal with friends, the Campus Market has them covered with options like sandwiches, salads and soups.
Similar to previous semesters, LBCC has reintroduced food trucks onto campus which are located in the main quad on the Liberal Arts Campus.
A main concern for students around campus is the affordability of these food trucks.
Louie Z, a worker for Pepe’s Red Tacos food truck which serves a variety of beef birria meals, says he believes their menu is “reasonably priced”.
Second year LBCC student, Julia Romero disagrees, “I paid sixteen dollars for a small, soggy burrito. Something like this should go for eight dollars.”
“Food trucks are a temporary fix until the Mobile Kitchens are up and running,” Robert Rapoza said, the Interim Associate Vice President of Administrative and Business Services.
The Mobile Kitchens are located in the main quad of LAC, and are expected to open late February or late March per Rapoza.
The Mobile Kitchens will be operated from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. which is not yet finalized. Offering meals for breakfast and lunch that range from the lowest of $7 to $12, with plates like pastries, croissants, chicken tenders and nashville hot chicken sandwiches.
Students can also find the Viking Vault which is a Basic Needs Program that offers free food resources to those in need. The food pantry, located at LAC in E-131, and Pacific Coast Campus in QQ-107 offers students groceries and snacks at no cost and no limitation of visits to the Vault.
Also provided at the Pacific Coast Campus is the newly reopened cafeteria, renamed, The Grill located in building GG open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
“The Grill is the previous cafeteria on PCC, Genuine Foods who also runs the previously known Viking Express, now The Market, also runs The Grill,” Rapoza said.
For students looking for a more intimate and sit down dining experience, the Bakery and Bistro is a popular destination located in the V building of the Liberal Arts Campus.
The Bistro is run by students in LBCC’s Culinary Arts department and serves food at a fine-dining, three course menu with a choice of appetizer or salad, entrée, and dessert.
While the Bakery is also run by students it offers grab and go items like pastries, cookies, croissants, coffee and muffins.
“We (the Bakery and Bistro) are not in it to make a profit, we want to provide affordable options to students,” Gene Carbonaro said, dean of Applied Technology & Culinary Arts
Both establishments will open March 5 with operating hours every Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. as those are the days the culinary classes meet.
With a limited number of food options on campus, students are questioning if the campus cafeteria will ever return to offer students a larger, affordable variety of food.
The cafeteria at the LAC has been closed since the COVID-19 pandemic which has yet to reopen, posing challenges for students seeking convenient and reliable food options.
While the introduction to the revamped Campus Market, food trucks, the Viking Vault along with the Bistro has provided alternative dining experiences, many students still seek the return of the LAC cafeteria.
“I was not at LBCC when the cafeteria was still opened but I can imagine how convenient it was for students to grab a bite and meet friends in between classes, I hope the administration can realize what is better for the students and offer a better selection of food and prices,” Jason Nguyen said, a first year LBCC student.
The cafeteria has yet to reopen at LAC since the building that it resides in will be demolished. The new building which is set to open in the summer or fall of 2027 will offer a fully operated cafeteria for students.
As the spring semester progresses, students remain to seek new food options on campus that are affordable, healthy and convenient.