Eating on and around campus
The Rating System: The system of delicious points ranges from 1 to 10. 10 is the highest. 1 is the lowest.
Reviews
Richie’s Deli and Pizza (The huts next to the Tech Center): Even if the food wasn’t delicious at this well-known campus food stop, which isn’t the case (everything I have tried from there is terrific), Richie would manage to keep 99% of his customers with his friendly conversation and positive attitude towards every aspect of life. With a huge variety in foods and even a large vegetarian selection, Richie’s is a popular lunch destination for many students between classes. You can even order online, so if you are at the Tech Center and it’s cold or raining, there is no excuse for not grabbing something from Richie’s. Whether you crave a steak, or a veggie burger, a breakfast sandwich, or some of Richie’s curly fries, you can be sure of three things: 1) Richie will know your name by your second visit. 2) You will have money left to spend. 3) Your stomach and tastebuds will thank you. I give Richie’s 9 delicious points.
Esposito Dining Hall (commonly called J&H): In general, all-you-can-eat is a very appealing concept to the average college student. J&H is no exception. With students flocking from on and off campus to grab whatever is being cooked up for the day, J&H produces enough food to feed most of North Philadelphia. Occasional long lines (mostly around 12:30pm and 6:30pm) make for a frustrating situation when you still have your backpack or coat on, but the food is usually worth the wait. The food is inconsistent from day to day and students often refer to the day as a “good” J&H day, or a bad “J&H” day. It is amazing how the food at Temple University’s main dining hall can dictate the overall mood of the day. If you are in the mood for a wide variety of endless amounts of food and feel like waiting in line behind Philly and Temple Cops, who frequent the facility, bring a plastic bag to wrap up your left overs and head on over to J&H. J&H’s food quality varies from day to day, but overall it gets 6.5 delicious points.
Einstein Brothers Bagels (Walker Food Court SAC): One of the newer additions to Temple University’s array of food possibility. Einstein’s attract a large amount of people who crave a grilled chicken sandwich or a tuna melt. While the food is most often delicious, the line usually makes it a stop for those who do not have class for at least one hour. Plan to spend a minimum of 15 minutes in line during peak times: Breakfast (10:00), Lunch (12:30) , and Dinner (6:00). The long waits and often unfriendly service takes away delicious points from this hot commodity. I give Einstein’s 6.5 delicious points.
The Salad Bar at the Walker Food Court (SAC): By far the most disappointing aspect of the walker food court. You are almost guaranteed to go over meal-plan equivalency with the overpriced, pay-per-ounce, wilted lettuce, salad bar. The salad is not only disappointing, it usually leaves me hungry. I have tried it now and again on occasion, hoping to change my perception, but I have always reverted back to my beliefs…for a good salad, you are much better off going to Freshbytes, where a skilled salad crafter will personalize a large salad and get you your money’s worth. I give the Walker Food Court Salad Bar 3.5 delicious points, not because the salad is the worst that exists (although it sucks pretty bad), but because you can’t afford enough to ever enjoy what may be good that day.
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Koja Grille (Avenue North): For those who like Korean and Japanese, Koja is a real delight. Although the menu looks fairly limited, they will make you any noodle dish that you could imagine. The food is cooked right in front of you so you know that it is a clean facility. While you are waiting for your food, you can sit down at one of their tables, hang out with your friends, watch the always running funniest home videos on the plasma display, and drink a cup of roasted corn tea (on the house). This can be a bit pricey for a college student’s budget, but it is a great place for a first-date bibimbap or a birthday bulgogi. Since the food is great, they accept diamond dollars, have friendly service, and are now open until 11pm, I give Koja Grille 8.5 delicious points.
Koja Grille
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Nuaji Sushi Bar at the Walker Food Court (SAC): Hardly a sushi “bar”, but making sushi nonetheless, the employees of this hidden-in-the-corner gem produce about 500 packages of sushi a day. The quality is not that of POD, but the price is much less too. If you ask one of the sushi rollers to make you a custom order, it will be much fresher and thus, more enjoyable. Don’t plan on getting sushi if you are very hungry. You will find that the amount of money a package of sushi costs will leave you with nothing left to spend on your meal plan equivalency, except maybe a small cup of soda. The people who work here are friendly and definitely know how to make sushi. For a quick bite, grab a package of sushi out of the fridge, just be aware, the consistency of the rice is not nearly as good as the sushi in the display case or fresh from the bar. I give Nuaji 7 delicious points, but true connoisseurs of sushi may rate this “sushi factory” with a more skeptical palate.
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FreshBytes (Basement of Tuttleman): FreshBytes offers you a large amount of good quality salad for your meal plan equivalency. They also make decent sized and pretty good tasting sandwiches. While the health-conscious may enjoy a meal from here, don’t worry about packing on the dressing or cheese because you will probably burn off all the calories in the time that it takes you to get your salad. It’s not that the salads are made slowly once you order (during peak hours), it’s that the lines are long and there are only two people that work in this salad shop. For the quality of the salad and the convenience of accepting meal plans, I give FreshBytes 7 delicious points.
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Temple Garden (Chinese): Not much to say other than they will make anything, deliver anywhere, they are open until 2:30am most nights, and they are relatively inexpensive. The food is very greasy and you usually feel pretty disgusting after eating an entire meal from the Garden, however it is awesome! Word to the wise: It can take them up to an hour to deliver, so you are better off walking over with a few friends. I give Temple Garden 7.5 delicious points. I feel that they are very delicious, but use way to much oil in their cooking. WARNING: You may develop type II diabetes from drinking their free sweetened ice tea that comes with orders over $10.
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The Noshery: Located on Avenue North, The Noshery offers a wide variety of delicious dishes. From salads to sandwiches and from sushi to soups, there is something for everyone at this relatively new take-out/eat-in style restaurant. The Noshery offers delivery on campus and accepts Diamond Dollars. I give the Noshery 8.5 delicious points. Noshery fans be alert: The owner is expanding…look for the much anticipated Grub Hub this December.
1.
owlcory | April 10, 2008 at 3:26 pm
you need to review the crepe truck. best food around. that is not my opinion because it’s a well-known fact.
2.
futureowljoyce | April 12, 2008 at 3:35 pm
i want to try koja grille now. I love KOREAN FOOD…haha. Mostly because I’m Korean and love Korean food. I like the variety of your reviews. now…im going to get some food. haha
3.
owlmonica | June 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
review the SEXY GREEN TRUCK!! It’s up there with the crêpe truck!!
4.
George | June 23, 2008 at 11:02 pm
I love Koja Grille! You’re definitely on-point with that review. It deserves more than the 8.5 though. Definitely the best place to eat around Temple. I’m hungry just talking about koja.
5.
Kim Jung il | February 27, 2009 at 1:33 pm
from a Korean’s perspective, Koja grille sucks as$. their food is expansive, small portioned and full of MSG imho. my mom makes much better food than they do, and she doesn’t charge me $10 for a meal that is hardly fulfilling.
FYI soba noodle they have is actually a ramyun noodle. soba is made of buck wheat and is supposed to be black in color. buck wheat (soba)=healthy, ramyun noodle(fried) = unhealthy. this of course is just mho. but what do I know, I’m just a crazy dictator.