With students returning to campus in a few weeks, many will be having their meals on campus. This article focuses on places to eat on the west side of Clemson’s campus, which consists of the Fresh Food Company Dining Hall, McAlister Hall, Cooper Library Starbucks and Chick-fil-A.
The Fresh Food Dining Company is the only dining hall on this half of campus and features two-story seating. Out of the three dining halls on campus, the Fresh Food Dining Co. has the most options, including different themed stations for each meal. The options are mainly buffet style. However, some sections do have made-to-order food, which requires a bit of a longer wait. Keep in mind that, while options are abundant during meals, there can be limited options in between meals. Because of the plentiful options, it is easy for picky eaters to find something they enjoy.
At the end of the dining hall, there is a Which Wich found in the P.O.D. convenience store. Which Wich is a make-your-own-sandwich place, where you walk in and mark your preferences on a brown paper bag. The food is tasty, but it can take a while to prepare after ordering, making it less desirable for a quick stop between classes. Which Wich is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., and on Fridays they are open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are closed on the weekends. The P.O.D., however, is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Hours for all dining locations are also available at clemson.campusdish.com
Right next to Which Which is Twisted Taco, a Mexican fast-food restaurant. This is a good option if you have a few minutes to spare and want Mexican food, since it is not often served in the dining hall. Twisted Taco accepts GrubHub orders, so you can skip the line. Twisted Taco is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with an early closing on Friday at 2 p.m.
Behind Twisted Taco is McAlister Hall, which is home to Bento Sushi, Raising Cane’s and Starbucks. Bento Sushi is a sushi place that serves a variety of Japanese meals like bento, udon and ramen. The menu has a list of customizations to choose from, so there can be a wait to get your food prepared. If you are in a rush, however, Bento often has premade sushi that you can self-checkout. Unlike the other restaurants in the area, Bento Sushi does not accept GrubHub orders, so if you want something other than pre-made sushi, it is best to not go if you are in a rush.
Raising Cane’s is arguably one of the best non-dining hall options on campus. It is similar to Zaxby’s and has a limited menu consisting only of chicken tenders, a chicken tender sandwich, fries, texas toast and coleslaw. It is a good option for a quick meal during non-peak hours; however, it can take more time than other options during peak hours. During normal hours, they accept GrubHub orders, which can lessen your wait time if you’re in a rush. In the Spring 2020 semester, Raising Cane’s also had a meal swipe exchange program every Monday through Thursday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., where students can exchange one meal swipe for a three-finger combo. (Hopefully they will continue this program in the future.) When choosing this option, always show up early as the lines can get very long. Students with unlimited meal plans are limited to a single meal swipe, but students with a block meal plan can use as many swipes as they would like.
There are two Starbucks locations on the west side of campus:McAlister Hall and Cooper Library. The wait times are consistently longer at the Cooper Library than at McAlister Hall. The McAlister Hall location offers the option for GrubHub order, while the Cooper Library one does not. The hours are longer at Cooper Library than at the McAlister Hall location. The Cooper Library location gives a more typical Starbucks atmosphere, but it can be extremely difficult to find somewhere to sit.
The last place on the west side of campus is Chick-fil-A. This is by far the busiest place on campus and usually has a line that trails to the back of the building. Most of the time, it goes by quickly; however, this is not where you should go if you are in a rush. They accept GrubHub orders, but there is a separate line for people waiting for their orders. Unlike most Chick-fil-A locations, this one does not offer delivery and neither does the one on Tiger Boulevard. The on-campus location also does not accept gift cards. They serve breakfast until 10:30 am, but cut off promptly at that time. Their hours are shorter than a typical Chick-fil-A: they are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, but then they remain closed until Monday morning.
That’s all for Clemson’s west campus, and make sure to tune in next week to find out your food options on the east side of campus!
