A Declassified Guide to Cornell Eats đ
đ CrĂšme Staff
Updated 11/17/2023
Best Collegetown Restaurants đ„
- De Tasty!!! Wonderful in a big group so you can order a lot. Make sure to get the wok-tossed chicken with chili peppers and the sauteed eggplant. And of course, bring friends so you can order a lot and share.
- Gangnam Station is a favorite of mine, with both Korean and Chinese dishes on the menu. It's a perfect place to catch up with your friends and has a substantial menu to choose from. The tang soo yuk (fried pork with sweet and sour sauce) is a personal fav.
- So Poong. Sometimes overlooked, So Poong serves Korean comfort classics like kimbap, army stew, cold udon, and so much more.
Most Delicious Coffee âïž:
When trying to use BRBs, I opt for a CafĂ© Jennie cold brew (with half and half). While I do occasionally dip my toes đŠ¶into Libe CafĂ©, CafĂ© Jennie is my default and is more consistent in flavor.Â
If youâre trying to escape Cornell Dining institutions, Gimme! Coffee in Gates is Goated (say that three times fastâŠ) While a little more pricey, their seasonal drinks and use of pebble ice makes it all the worth.
#1 Hidden Gem đ:
Tianjin foods!!! Itâs tucked away in a small mall area in the Commons and run by a very nice couple. No frills and no nonsense, the dumplings, wontons, buns, and black bean noodles hitâespecially if youâre missing home-cooked meals. đ
Best Value đ”:Â
Macâs Deli sandwiches or wraps. Completely customizable, they always are generous with the fillings and have a weekly special. It comes with a side of chips or veggies, making it a #balanced meal.
My favorite is their Italian Special and I always try to get the Ithaca Bakery roll.
Soupiest Soup đČ:
Zeus! As an A&S student I am a frequenter of Zeusâs coffee, pastries, and what theyâre most famous for: soups. All vegetarian and packed with flavor, Zeusâ soups rotate every day between options like Ratatouille, Mulligatawny, and Choklayâs Lentil. I covet groundnut đ„, which sounds weird but is a tomato-based soup with rice and peanut butter.
âšBonus: You can find all of Zeusâs soup recipes here!
Dim sum at Okenshields
Something I Like that no one Else will Understand:Â
Okenshields. Often described as âthe trenches,â or âterrible,â Okies has been a constant throughout my busy semesters. An old reliable, it provides options and is the most convenient for lunch or dinner when youâre camping in the Olin stacks (totally not speaking from personal experience).
Thursday night, Okies always has fried chicken (yummy), and Fridays are a hit as well with chicken tenders. While some may be skeptical, I truly have had some great moments with friends or chilled by myself in the most controversial dining hall on campus.
Our previous VP, Grace Wilkey đ, wrote a great article titled âI Love Okiesâ in our Spring 2022 edition. Check it out here (page 16).
Orange chicken burrito bowl at Terrace
Wild Cards đł:
Terraceâs Orange Chicken Burrito Bowl. I cannot emphasize this enough, everyone MUST TRY the orange chicken burrito bowl. At first glance, you may be confusedâwhy? Why must we make every food fusion? And let me tell you: just because. It doesnât seem like itâll work until you get to the front of the line, hand over your order slip, and ask for Boomđ„ Boomđ„ sauce (essential). Every Wednesday and Friday, Terrace serves this jewel, this pristine, immaculate emblem, and you can only hope that you get there before the line forms out the door. Just trust me on this one.
What are your favorites? Thereâs still a lot on and off campus that Iâve yet to try, and Iâm always looking for more. Let me know!
Be Right Back, BRBs!
As the semester comes to a close, prelims are wrapping up, and finals are around the corner. I find myself with no Big Red Bucks (BRBs) left to spare. If you're anything like me, the semester started with grand plans to be financially responsible and somehow ended with daily coffee runs and snacking habits your wallet never saw coming. But if you're among the lucky few with a surplus and nowhere to spend it, consider this your sign. As an experienced BRB spender, here is a comprehensive list of items I think were worthy of my purchases:
Cornell Runs On...
To the large majority of Cornell students who study late at night, I often wonder where their energy is coming from. Does snacking or sipping help students âlock in?â From Celsius enthusiasts to M&M loyalists, a diverse range of palettes was investigated to see what fuels late-night study grinds at Cornell. I polled a small sample size of 24 students and collected quotes from both sides.
Seasonal Delicacies at LâAbenFant in Dijon
This November, I visited Dijon, France. About 180 miles southeast of Paris, the city seems like a quaint village compared to the French capitalâs cosmic size. For lunch, we stopped by a popular restaurant called LâAbenFant. This restaurant specializes in vegetarian cuisine and changes its menu every day, so we were in for a real delicious treat.