Campus Dining
Where to Eat
Dining Information
Dining Events
Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our special menu items including Grilled Octopus w/ Salsa Verde, Beef Ropa Vieja Tacos w/...
Chef Special - Seafood
Dive into our Chef Special event and savor the flavor of menu items such as Grilled Lobster Tacos w/ Slaw...
Brand Showcase
Stop by for the Brand Showcase and discover the surprise of which brand will be featured at our one-day only...
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Dining FAQs
Dining
Food Allergies / Special Diets
Are gluten free options available on campus?
Yes, numerous gluten-free options are available at each of the five dining commons locations. The online menu is a great resource for determining whether menu items align with a gluten-free diet. Allergens found in menu items are indicated on the online menu as well as on entree cards at the point of service. The top eight allergens, which includes gluten, are represented by individual icons on entree cards if found within a menu item.
Additionally, each dining commons offers a variety of supplemental, gluten-free items such as breads, pastas, cereals, snacks, and pizza. For more information, please visit the Gluten Free page and contact the Registered Dietitians Office through [email protected].
Meal Plans
General
How do I check my meal plan balance?
There are several ways a student can check their meal plan balance:
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Transact eAccounts app, downloadable through Google Play or Apple App Store
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eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan
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Penn State GO app > Dining > Penn State Eats mobile app *
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Penn State Eats web ordering *
* balance will only be displayed when an order is processed
The Campus Meal Plan level can be managed on eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan through 12:00 p.m. (noon) ET the last day of finals for the spring or fall semester. The system will display whether the student's account is eligible to be increased or decreased to a different meal plan level.
When a student's dining dollar balance runs low, add funds to the student's LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. Campus Meal Plan account holders can use LionCash and receive the same discounted rate that the Campus Meal Plan offers for qualifying purchases. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will transfer the required funds to cover the cost of purchase.
How does my meal plan work?
The Campus Meal Plan provides easy purchasing and savings for students who regularly eat meals on campus.
The Campus Meal Plan account is accessed via your Penn State id+ Card. Each time you visit a dining facility operated by Penn State Housing and Food Services, simply present your id+ card to the cashier, who will swipe the card through a reader. The reader will access your account, deduct the proper purchase amount, and display your new account balance.
Is the meal plan required, can I cancel it?
The Campus Meal Plan is a required purchase for students living on campus for summer (if applicable), fall, and spring semesters and cannot be cancelled. Students who live in on-campus apartments are not required to purchase the Campus Meal Plan.
The Commuter Meal Plan is available for students living in off-campus housing or living in an on-campus apartment. Any student who needs to make a change to their Commuter Meal Plan should contact their Commonwealth Campus Housing and Food Services Office, or the id+ Office at University Park.
Students who withdraw or end their relationship with the University after the semester has started may be eligible for a refund of remaining dining dollars and, for the Campus Meal Plan, a prorated refund of the base cost, within the timeframe outlined in the HFS Contract Terms, Conditions, and Regulations. Any refund will be credited to the student's LionPATH account or to the credit card used to purchase the meal plan.
The meal plan cannot be transferred or assigned to another individual.
What are the different meal plan discounts?
Campus Meal Plan account holders have access to the greatest discounts in on-campus dining:
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65 percent off cash meal price at all-you-care-to-eat dining commons at University Park and Behrend
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65 percent off cash price on prepared items* at residential food courts
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10 percent off campus price on prepared items* at specialty fast casual operations, such as Soup & Garden, Grate Chee, and Blue Burrito in HUB Dining at University Park, Bruno's at Behrend, and coffee shops at campus locations.
The Commuter Meal Plan and LionCash offer a 10 percent discount off cash price on the items and locations listed above. Additional LionCash discounts may be available at off-campus participating locations.
*prepared items are meals, snacks, and beverages that are made by Campus Dining staff. No discounts are offered on purchases made at nationally branded restaurants and cafes or packaged items.
What happens to my leftover dining dollars?
Campus Meal Plan
Dining dollars remaining at the end of summer session carry over to fall semester and dining dollars remaining at the end of fall semester carry over to spring semester, provided the student has an active Campus Meal Plan for the fall and spring semester, respectfully. Any dining dollars remaining at the end of the spring semester expire. The Campus Meal Plan is a required purchase for both fall and spring semesters.
The Housing and Food Service (HFS) Contract defaults to level 2 of the Campus Meal Plan, and can be managed on eLiving > My Info > My Meal Plan through the last day of finals for the semester. The system will display whether the student's account is eligible to be increased or decreased.
When a student's dining dollar balance runs low, add funds to the student's LionCash account instead of increasing the meal plan level. Campus Meal Plan account holders can use LionCash and receive the same discounted rate that the Campus Meal Plan offers for qualifying purchases. Indicate Campus Meal Plan when checking out, and the system will transfer the required funds to cover the cost of purchase.
Commuter Meal Plan
Commuter Meal Plan funds carry over from fall to spring regardless of whether a spring commuter meal plan has been purchased. At the end of spring semester, any funds remaining will expire.
LionCash
LionCash funds carry over year-to-year and available to spend while the student is an active Penn State student.
What meal plan options are available?
We offer three different meal plan options: Campus Meal Plan, Commuter Meal Plan, or LionCash funds. Review our meal plan comparison to choose the plan that best suits your needs.
Where can I use my meal plan?
Campus Meal Plan dining dollars can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus*, as well as at popular destinations at University Park such as Beaver Stadium, Bryce Jordan Center, Pegula Ice Arena, and Berkey Creamery.
Commuter Meal Plans can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus*.
LionCash can be used at ALL Campus Dining locations any Penn State Campus* and any participating merchant throughout Pennsylvania.
*Penn State Campuses offering Campus Dining locations: Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Berks, Behrend, Brandywine, Dubois, Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Schuylkill, Scranton, Shenango, University Park, Wilkes-Barre, and York