A Comprehensive Guide to University of Tennessee Dining Options

For students at the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville, navigating the diverse dining landscape can be both exciting and overwhelming. From traditional dining halls to trendy food halls and independent eateries, UT offers a plethora of options to satisfy every palate and dietary need. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the dining choices available to students, faculty, and staff, ensuring everyone can make the most of their on-campus culinary experience.

Introduction: A Growing Culinary Scene

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is continuously enhancing its dining options to meet the evolving needs and preferences of its diverse community. With the opening of five new restaurants on campus slated for the fall 2025 semester and the expansion of the Cumberland Foodhall in Hub Knoxville, students can look forward to an even wider array of culinary experiences. Whether you're a new student arriving on campus or a returning student eager to explore the latest offerings, UT's dining scene has something for everyone.

Traditional Dining Halls: The Heart of Meal Plans

UT boasts two main dining halls where students can utilize their meal plans:

Rocky Top Dining Hall: Located at 1917 Andy Holt Ave.
Stokely Dining Hall: Situated at 1311 Lake Loudon Blvd.

These dining halls provide a traditional all-you-can-eat experience, offering a variety of cuisines and options to cater to different tastes. Students with unlimited meal plans can enjoy repeated trips and unlimited swipes within the same meal period, making it a convenient and cost-effective choice.

Meal Plan Flexibility

UT understands that students have varied lifestyles and dietary needs. Therefore, Vol Dining offers a range of support to help students maintain healthy eating habits and address specific dietary requirements. Meal plans are designed to accommodate these varied lifestyles.

Cash Equivalency: This feature provides flexibility to your meal plan, allowing you to use your meal plan at select casual restaurants and markets (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) across campus.
Dining Dollars: A declining balance account, similar to a pre-paid debit card, that comes with your meal plan. Dining Dollars can be used at all Vol Dining locations.
Guest Meals: All meal plans include a certain number of guest meals, which can be used for family, friends, or yourself anytime throughout the semester.
Meal Plan Periods: UT offers three meal plan periods each day:
- Breakfast: Open to 10:30 AM
- Lunch: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Dinner: 4:30 PM to close

Your meal plan is conveniently located on your VolCard account, which is accessible through the GET app on your phone. Swipes cover meals in the dining halls and cash equivalency at retail locations.

New and Upcoming Dining Options

For students seeking fresh and innovative culinary experiences, UT is continuously introducing new dining concepts across campus. Here's a glimpse of what's new and coming soon:

Crust: Opening in Fred D. Brown Hall at 1817 Andy Holt Ave., Crust aims to be "the go-to spot for casual comfort food with a fresh twist," according to Vol Dining. This eatery specializes in personal pizzas and wings.
Hillside Café: Located inside the new College of Nursing Building, this café offers build-your-own breakfast sandwiches or omelets in the morning. For lunch, enjoy Mediterranean flatbreads, bowls, and pitas. The café also serves Starbucks coffee.
Keoke Coffee Bar: Expanding from a local food truck, Keoke Coffee Bar is opening a permanent location in Stokely Hall at 1311 Lake Loudon Blvd. In addition to coffee and energy drinks, the coffee shop will introduce dirty sodas to its menu.
Snackin' Wagon: UT is partnering with HT Hackney and Hackney Brands to create a new food truck stationed at the AMB Amphitheater outside Neyland Stadium. The menu includes a Nashville Crispy Chicken Sandwich and a deep-fried PB&J.
Traditions Deli: Located inside Volunteer Hall at 1525 White Ave., this new deli will feature stacked sandwiches, grilled cheeses, and custom hot dogs in an environment adorned with Vols memorabilia.
Vol Market: The Vol Hall's Provisions on Demand Market - or P.O.D. Market - is being rebranded to become a Vol Market convenience store with snacks, quick grab items, drinks, and essentials.

Cumberland Foodhall: A Culinary Hub

The Cumberland Foodhall, located on the ground floor of Hub Knoxville on the Strip, is a partnership between UT's food vendor, Aramark Educational Services, and the building's co-developer, Core Spaces. This food hall offers a diverse range of cuisines and dining experiences:

Zen Sushi & Wok: A counter-service concept offering sushi rolls, poke bowls, bubble tea, dumplings, and egg rolls.
Athenian Grill: Serving Mediterranean food, including bowls, wraps, and gyros.
Big Orange Grill: The second location for this UT concept, serving UT farm-raised beef burgers, chicken tenders, and Philly cheesesteaks. This is the third restaurant partnership with UT's Northeast Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center.

The Cumberland Foodhall accepts Dining Dollars, Flex Plan, VolCards, credit cards, and debit cards, making it a convenient option for all students. The food hall also features lockers that allow people to pick up food from Athenian Grill and Big Orange Grill.

Independent and Diverse Dining Options

In addition to the dining halls and new concepts, UT provides space for independent options, offering a diverse range of cuisines and dining experiences:

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Food Trucks: Food trucks can set up near Neyland Stadium or Circle Park, offering a variety of cuisines and quick bites. Students can use Dining Dollars and their VolCards to pay for meals at these locations.
1817 Taqueria: A Mexican restaurant moving to the Student Union next to Big Orange Grill, it previously operated in Fred Brown Hall. | 1502 Cumberland Ave.
Arena Cafe and Arena Deli: The cafe is a hot bar offering breakfast and lunch, while the deli offers sandwiches and salads inside Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. | 1600 Phillip Fulmer Way
Big Orange Grill: A newer concept featuring farm-raised UT beef and UT Creamery ice cream inside the Student Union. A second location will open in the Cumberland Foodhall. | 1502 Cumberland Ave.
Blenz: With locations at the Student Union and the Tennessee Recreation Center for Students, this smoothie bowl restaurant is perfect for students seeking something refreshing. | 1502 Cumberland Ave. and 2111 Volunter Blvd.
Chick-fil-A: The popular fried chicken chain has three locations on campus at the Rocky Top Dining Hall, Student Union and on the Strip. | 1917 Andy Holt Ave., 1502 Cumberland Ave. and 1659 Cumberland Ave.
Choolaah: A fast-casual Indian restaurant in the food court area of the Student Union. | 1502 Cumberland Ave.
Dippers: A fried chicken restaurant on the first floor of Hess Hall, which is ready for residents. | 1720 Melrose Place
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Students needing their bagel fix can visit two locations, one in the Art and Architecture building and one in the Mossman Building. | 1715 Volunteer Blvd. and 1311 Cumberland Ave.
K Brew: Offering an alternative to Starbucks, K Brew has two express locations in Fred Brown Hall and the Haslam College of Business | 1817 Andy Holt Ave. and 1000 Volunteer Blvd.
Mabel's: A cafeteria serving the agriculture campus in McCord Hall. | 2640 Morgan Circle
Orange Acres Cafe: The restaurant serves burgers, sandwiches and salads inside the Agriculture and Natural Resources Building on the agriculture campus. | 2431 Joe Johnson Dr.
Panda Express: A classic chain option for students in the food court located in the Student Union. | 1502 Cumberland Ave.
P.O.D. Markets: There are multiple convenience stores across campus in Clement Hall, Hess Hall, Hodges Library, the Humanities and Social Sciences building, Laurel Hall, Pendergrass Library, Rocky Top Dining Hall, Stokely Hall, Taylor Law Center and the Zeanah Engineering Complex.
Southern Kitchen: A classic restaurant for students living in Volunteer Hall, Southern Kitchen will reopen with a facelift for the fall semester. But don't worry; it will have the same Southern menu. | 1525 White Ave.
Starbucks: The international coffee chain has two locations on campus, one in the Student Union and one at Hodges Library | 1502 Cumberland Ave. and 1015 Volunteer Blvd.
Status Dough: A local doughnut shop, Status Dough satisfies students' sweet tooth with coffee to wash it all down at Volunteer Hall. | 1525 White Ave.
Union Deli: This deli option offers sandwiches, salads and soups in the Student Union. | 1502 Cumberland Ave.

Dining Beyond Campus: Exploring Knoxville's Culinary Scene

While UT offers an extensive array of on-campus dining options, exploring the culinary scene in the surrounding Knoxville area can be a rewarding experience. From local favorites to international cuisines, Knoxville has something to satisfy every palate.

Health and Wellness: Prioritizing Healthy Eating

Vol Dining places a strong emphasis on health and wellness, striving to provide students with nutritious and balanced meal options. The university offers a range of support services to help students maintain healthy eating habits and address specific dietary needs.

Additional Amenities at the University of Tennessee Medical Center

The University of Tennessee Medical Center offers various amenities for visitors, including dining options:

Garden View Eatery Cafeteria: Located just off the main lobby, this 600-seat dining room offers a wide selection of freshly prepared foods. Options include breakfast items, entrees, vegetables, a salad bar, fast food-type items, beverages, and desserts. The cafeteria is open from 6 AM to 2 AM daily and accepts cash, Visa, and MasterCard.*Note: The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a separate entity from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

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