Written by Layanne (she/her), student
As you prepare for university, you might be wondering what the food is like on campus. Where can you eat? What kinds of options are available? What if you have a food allergy or follow a vegan diet? How good is the food?
If you’re feeling unsure, you’re not alone! Food is one of the most common things students ask about. This guide breaks down what eating on campus is like at Waterloo, so you know exactly what to expect.
Where to eat at Waterloo
As a Waterloo student, you’ll never get bored of the food! With over 30 food locations across campus, there are tons of places to eat — serve restaurants, cafés, franchises, and lots of variety across residence dining halls and more.
Whether you’re craving something quick between classes, something healthy, or something familiar, the many eateries open throughout the day make it easy to find something that fits your mood and schedule.
My favourite part about eating on campus is having a food spot nearby, no matter where my classes are. ML's Diner is my go‑to for affordable, comforting meals and Chaska is great when I want something warm and flavourful, with their ice cream in a waffle cone as my go‑to dessert. Each place feels different, tastes great, and fits a student budget, there’s truly something for every mood.
If you ever want to venture outside of campus, there’s also plenty of great places to eat in the city, including the nearby plazas and Uptown Waterloo. Many of these spots are just a short walk or bus ride away, so it's easy to get around.
Food quality
Fresh, high-quality, and local ingredients are at the heart of Waterloo’s food approach. Waterloo's Food Services, the main food provider on campus, refers to this as “farm to campus fresh." “From bringing the ingredients in, to prep and cooking, it’s all done by our team. Our Executive Chef, Javier Alarco, oversees the culinary team made up mainly of highly skilled Red Seal chefs and cooks," says Nicole, a registered dietitian with Waterloo's Food Services. Most dishes are cooked from scratch each day, which means the options you see aren’t coming from packages, but rather prepared in-house.
Do students enjoy the food at Waterloo?
I genuinely enjoy the food on campus. I really appreciate the variety of places to eat, including the mix of familiar franchises and cafés and restaurants that are unique to campus. It makes choosing where to eat an easier and more enjoyable task, and the food always tastes good!
I’m definitely not the only one who feels this way. Many students share similar experiences and often talk about how much they value having so many options to choose from.
The best thing about the food at Waterloo is all the different options you can choose from! There's a different hot food menu at all the residences that changes every day, and many induction stations where you can make your own omelette for breakfast or choose what goes in your pasta. The wide variety of food available on campus means that you'll never get bored with your meals!
What you’ll find in residence dining halls
If you’re a first-year student living in residence, you’ll most likely find yourself eating most of your meals in a residence dining hall. Each residence dining hall offers a rotating mix of options to choose from which you’ll see on the daily menu. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find:
- Weekly induction stations with options like noodle bowls, curry, pasta, or stir fry.
- Build-to-order meals which include burgers, pizza, burritos, and poke bowls with plant-based and gluten-free options.
- A grill station offering halal, vegetarian and vegan options, plus in house made or gluten free buns.
- A four-week hot table rotation with plant-based and meat entrées, seasonal vegetables, grains, and a daily pasta feature.
- A daily salad bar with homemade mixed salads, seasonal vegetables, and fresh fruit.
Both the salad bar and hot food areas are self-serve, so you can mix and match to create your own unique meal combination. Talented residence chefs also prepare special themed menus throughout the year for holidays or theme nights like Halloween, Lunar New Year, and Valentine's Day, which are always a favourite among students!
Supports for dietary needs
Food Services supports dietary needs on campus. They have dairy-free, gluten-free, halal, vegan, and vegetarian options in all the residence eateries. They accommodate most priority food allergens and common dietary restrictions. If you are considering living in campus housing and have a food allergy or celiac disease, you are encouraged to complete the accessible housing application.
We offer introductions to the chefs for any students feeling a little unsure about the options available. It’s important that we maintain a relationship with any students who have a dietary need or are struggling to find options in the dining hall.
Everyone’s situation is unique. Food Services offers dietitian and chef-led dining hall tours for any student who needs assistance locating options that suit their preferences or dietary needs. They also encourage students to share their menu ideas and feedback so they can continue to offer choices that suit the campus community.
Healthy eating on campus
If you’re like me, you’ll appreciate knowing that healthy options are always available when it comes to campus dining. Food Services offer a variety of food and nutritious choices through their Fresh and Balanced program. With all the fruits, vegetables, proteins, and whole grains available every day, it’s easy to put together meals that fuel your day.
Overall, our goal is for students to be able to make informed decisions, to feel good about what they’re choosing, and to know that there’s always options available for them.
And of course, if you’re looking for some great healthy spots, I personally enjoy the refreshing smoothies at Jugo Juice and the fresh salads and bowls at EV3rgreen Café — they never disappoint!
How meal plans work
Meal plans at Waterloo use a declining balance system, so you only pay for the food you choose and have total control over your spending — almost like a debit card! Funds are loaded on to your WatCard each term, and you can add more money any time. Any leftover funds will roll over the next term as long as you remain a Waterloo student.
There are three types of meal plans at different costs, each designed to fit your needs and living situation:
Where can I use my meal plan?
Your meal plan can be used at any of the 25+ Food Services locations across campus. It’s a common misconception that students can only use their meal plan in the dining hall; however, your meal plan is accepted at any Food Services location on campus. This includes a variety of franchises, cafés, and vending services all over campus. If you are a University College student, note that you can only use your meal plan at your respective University College. You may add FLEX dollars to your WatCard if you wish to make purchases at Food Services locations.
Curious about the food offerings available at the University College residences? Check out reason number two in Ten reasons to join a University College!
Waterloo Food Services plays a key role in the student experience at the University of Waterloo, and they want to ensure that this experience is a great one for everyone in the Waterloo community. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact foodserv@uwaterloo.ca.
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