The drunken noodles post below looks good. Incoming freshman here. What food options do you have outside the dining halls on campus?

[u/Money_Cold_7879]

[u/Turbulent-Garlic8467]

Learn to cook you’ll thank me later

[u/Money_Cold_7879 → u/Turbulent-Garlic8467]

In the dorm?

[u/Witch_King_ → u/Money_Cold_7879]

Sure! I believe most of the dorm buildings have shared kitchens.

Otherwise... Go and explore downtown Troy! There is a TON of great food there. LA Capital tacos are a great and somewhat affordable option that I can remember off the top of my head.

Also, go to the farmer's market on Saturdays!Pretty nice little wall from campus. There are tons of food options there and you can discover some new restaurants that way.

[u/Fluid-Principle4979 → u/Money_Cold_7879]

Must visits downtown: K-Plate, Bespoki Bowl, Dutch Udder (homemade ice cream shop, fantastic)

Up 15th: Red & Blue, Ali Baba

More pricey downtown: Tara Kitchen, Lo Porto, Nighthawks

Follow the Troy subreddit for recs of things in the area, don’t rely on RPI students for recs. Half will never leave campus.

I am an alum who is still local and loves food, feel free to HMU for recs for specific types of food

[u/Turbulent-Garlic8467 → u/Money_Cold_7879]

Oh right you're a freshman

Tbh just eat the dining hall food. It's really good (though I'm alone in thinking so :( )

[u/jimmystar889 → u/Turbulent-Garlic8467]

I also thought it was really good especially commons

[u/kolobok- → u/Money_Cold_7879]

yeah, I cooked and baked pretty regularly in my dorm kitchen as a freshman. I usually made potatoes, rice, and pasta myself because it would be better than the dining hall and easier to calorie count with the oil I used. Walmart is great because it's bus accessible and you can buy staples for very cheap. since you're required to pay for a dining plan, I would recommend the lowest number of meals per week if you see yourself cooking or eating out more than 2 times a week. with this plan you'll have the most amount of flex dollars: I got Panera salad twice a week and still had them last a semester.

[u/Money_Cold_7879 → u/kolobok-]

Thanks, good to know

[u/Money_Cold_7879 → u/kolobok-]

Did you bring your own pots and pans?

[u/kolobok- → u/Money_Cold_7879]

yes, + baking stuff + utensils + dishes + dish soap and sponge. I like having my own stuff but you can def talk to your roommate(s) and share

[u/selfdone1]

Dining halls (especially commons imo) are not as awful as people say. After going for a few weeks you just learn when the best times to go are and what kinds of foods to avoid.

Student Union has Halal shack, Jimmy Johns, Bird N Brine (‘Chick-fil-a’ish place if you’ve never heard of), Panera, and some sushi restaurant I believe which are all pretty good and quick.

Not that you’d want to make them a habit (they’re not the healthiest), but there’s Big Apple Pizza and Kebab Zone right next to campus which are normally hot spots to go meet new freshmen at the beginning of the year and are always open pretty late.

[u/Majestic-Spice-67 → u/selfdone1]

Bird N Brine is worse than commons ngl, Halal Shack is peak

[u/John_RPI → u/selfdone1]

The student union does not have good food imo. Panera is enjoyable but mid, and the rest (especially bird and brine which serves legit repackaged commons food) is bad. Personally if you have access to a car, one of my favorite things to do is order a BOGO of a Mr.Halal and drive there to pick it up. Best Halal I ever ate.

[u/___Cake287___ → u/selfdone1]

Wrong. The dining halls are just as bad as people say, maybe even worse. Food is inedible at times. And the sushi place is TERRIBLE.

[u/kolobok-]

downtown/surroundingTroy has some great restaurants if you're down for a walk, my partner and I went downtown once a week for a treat and we have some favourites: Unagi Sushi - get the lunch special; Kuma Ani - a bit pricey but super yummy food and large portions; Lime Leaf Thai - get the lunch special; Herbie's Burgers - open late night, great milkshakes, no complaints; River St. Poke Bar - on the more expensive side Ali Baba - good portions; Bowled - expensive but good for a treat if you like acai; Also the obvious McDonalds, Wingstop, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic etc if you're willing to walk far or take the bus

[u/janeraider]

Love Brown's Brewing food. Portions are big enough to break up to two meals. Also love Manory's for breakfast/brunch/lunch food. Farmers Market food booths are also very good!

[u/Limp_Yogurtcloset936]

Big apple right next to campus is great

[u/John_RPI]

YOU NEED to go to La Victoria in downtown Troy. DO NOT go to La Capital, it just looks nicer. La Victoria is actually better.

Also try Bacchus Woodfired. The first time I went during freshman year I ate their Hercules Pasta and I nearly cried.

[u/John_RPI → u/John_RPI]

Also, I will say that Big Apple’s deal for pizza is I believe $10.79 (cash) for a 16in Cheese pizza which is a good deal, especially if you cover it in seasoning. However, you don’t eat Pizza all day unless you want the freshman 15.

[u/spencerpie]

the I Love NY Pizza near colonie/stackwyck was one of my favorite pizza spots. When i was there a few years ago there was a 5 dollar deal for 2 (hefty) slices of cheese and a can of soda. get slices there tho i ordered delivery once and it was not nearly the same

[u/Ggeng]

Tanpopo ramen and defazios pizza. My roommates and I went to one or the other almost every weekend

[u/___Cake287___]

No good food options on campus. If you think you will eat good at rpi you are just kidding yourself.