Get to Know Charlotte Dining
Dine like a Niner! Here’s everything you need to know about dining at UNC Charlotte.
Dining Halls – the Best Deal on Campus
Two state-of-the-art dining halls make it easier than ever to get convenient, healthy and delicious food on campus.
Social 704 is in the Popp Martin Student Union at the heart of campus, a perfect spot to grab a bite between classes. SoVi Dining Hall is the hub of south campus and a favorite hang for students living in one of the many nearby residence halls.
To enter either dining hall, use a meal or pay the door rate with Declining Balance, a University spending account or credit/ debit card.
Once inside, enjoy all-you-care-to-eat buffet-style dining. Explore unique stations with a limitless variety of choices, like oven-fired pizza from Burning Stone, custom wok-cooked rice bowls from Bok Choy, comfort food classics from the Kitchen or house made gelato from the Sweet Shoppe.
Check dining hall hours and menus ahead of time with the Dine on Campus app. Just download the app and select UNC Charlotte from the list of schools to get started.
Retail Dining – Familiar Favorites and Charlotte Originals
There are more than 20 retail dining locations at Charlotte, including national brands like Chic-fil-A, Panda Express, Starbucks, Wendy’s and many more.
You and your friends having trouble just picking one spot for lunch? Check out the Cone Center, Prospector or the Popp Martin Student Union, where you can get food from one of many dining retailers and sit together in the cafeteria-style dining areas.
Running late for class and want to know what’s close? It’s easy to find dining locations near you with Charlotte’s dining map.
Pay at retail dining locations with Declining Balance, a University spending account or credit/ debit card. Track your DB and University account balances with the Transact eAccounts app, so you always know if you have enough for that Chic-fil-A combo.
Eating Out – Campus Food Trucks and Concession Stands
Not all Charlotte dining is brick and mortar! Check out a rotating selection of food trucks on campus, like Boba Tea Bar, Hot Boys Chicken or Marlie Q’s Caribbean Queen. Campus food trucks accept Declining Balance and University spending accounts as payment.
You’ll see most food trucks during the lunch rush in the courtyard beside Prospector or the CHHS quad, but you can check the full list of food trucks and schedules so you never miss your favorites.
You can also use your Declining Balance and spending accounts at University concessions at Charlotte events. And the options are no small fries! Grab a brisket mac n’ cheese from City BBQ or a fire braised chicken wrap from Norm’s Tavern while you cheer on the 49ers.
Mobile Ordering for Students on the Go
Skip the line and order food to-go with the Niner Diners Transact Mobile Ordering app. Choose from retail dining locations like Bojangles, Shake Smart, Thoughtful Cup and more. You can even order custom pizzas and burgers ahead of time from the dining halls.
Pay with Declining Balance, a University spending account or credit / debit card. Check the app for news like special menu offerings, limited-time deals and upcoming dining events.
Starship and Late Night Delivery
Starship robots deliver food and drink to anywhere on Charlotte campus, rain or shine. Whether a student is studying in the library, finishing up a report in their dorm, or hanging out with friends in the quad, they can take advantage of Starship delivery to get fresh food delivered right to them.
Students can also take advantage of Late Night Dining through Starship. Order late night options like tacos, burgers or mac’n’cheese after the dining halls are closed until 1 a.m.
Using Starship is easy – just download the Starship app and select UNC Charlotte from the list of universities. You can pay for Starship deliveries with Declining Balance, a University spending account or credit/ debit card. Can’t get enough of these convenient little robots? Check out meal plan options that include perks like free Starship deliveries!
Food that Fits – Allergies and Dietary Restrictions
Charlotte’s dining halls offer a variety of options for students with allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Nut Allergies
Both dining halls are nut-free, in that peanuts and tree nuts are never ingredients in our dining hall menus, including our hot stations, cold bars and bakery items. However, dining hall sandwich-making stations do offer individual packets of peanut butter and nutella. Also, bakery items made off-campus may be processed in facilities that also handle peanuts or tree nuts.
Students with nut allergies are encouraged to meet with our registered dietician to ensure they have access to healthy, allergen-free food in Charlotte dining halls.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options
Students can always find vegan and vegetarian offerings in both dining halls. Look for “V” for vegetarian and “VG” for vegan next to items inside the dining halls.
Enjoy hot items like tofu breakfast scramble, smashed black bean tacos or chickpea coconut curry. Make your own meatless meals at the salad bar with vegetarian proteins like marinated chickpeas, herb-crusted tofu and cooked farro, or head to the sandwich station to load up fresh veggies and creamy hummus on a whole-grain wrap. Don’t forget non-dairy milks in the breakfast section to add to your morning cereal or coffee. Check the menu before you go on the Dine on Campus app or website – just filter for vegan or vegetarian options.
Avoiding Gluten
Both Social 704 and SoVi Dining Hall have lots of options for gluten-avoiding students.
At Delicious Without stations, find hot meals or individual entrees and sides free of the top nine allergens, including gluten, wheat, soy and eggs. Check out the Avoiding Gluten Pantry for gluten-free waffle batter, gluten-free breads and designated toasters and waffle irons. Build your own pizza or pasta dish without gluten at the SoVi avoiding gluten hearth, or request a gluten-free bun for your burger at the Social 704 grill. Gluten-free prepackaged desserts are also available at both dining halls upon request.
Charlotte Greens, with a 100% avoiding gluten kitchen and menu, is a great spot to grab healthy grain and salad bowls for dinner. Meal plan holders can use one meal at Charlotte Greens every day!
Halal Options
All non-breaded chicken served in Social 704 and SoVi dining halls is considered halal. Students can also visit the Halal Shack in Upper Prospector for tasty bowls and wraps, all made with halal ingredients.
Good for You and the Earth – Sustainable dining at Charlotte
Charlotte’s dining team is committed to making our work more sustainable every year. Here are just a few of the ways that we promote environmental stewardship on campus.
Ozzi Containers
Reusable OZZI containers make it easy for students to take food from the dining halls to go, saving thousands of single-use containers from ending up in landfills every year. Pay for an OZZI container once, then continue exchanging it for free for the rest of your time at Charlotte!
- Buy a $6 OZZI container from the cashier at the dining hall register. You can pay with Declining Balance, a University spending account or a credit/ debit card.
- Load up your container with food from the dining hall and take it to go.
- Whenever you’re ready to return it, bring the container back to the dining hall.
- At SoVi: return the container in the OZZI machine by the entrance to SoVi. You’ll receive a token which you can exchange for a clean container at the SoVi register.
- At Social 704: exchange your used container for a new one with the register cashier
- The used container will be washed before it’s returned to the supply, so there’s no need for you to wash or rinse!
Preventing Food Waste
Charlotte is proud to be the first US campus to partner with Goodie Bag, an organization that helps reduce food waste while offering its users amazing deals on local food. Students can download the Goodie Bag app with their Charlotte email for the chance to buy “goodie bags” with leftover food and drinks from Charlotte dining halls, catering and retail locations at one-third of the normal price.
The dining team also works hand in hand with UNC Charlotte’s Office of Sustainability to compost food waste from dining halls, catering, football games and many retail dining locations.
More Niner Green Initiatives
Check out other sustainability initiatives like hydroponic grow towers, honey bees and teaching kitchens, all overseen by Charlotte’s Dining Services.