Among other changes by Ole Miss Dining intended to make meals more accessible, students can now use the Grubhub app to order at campus food trucks –– a change that has mixed reviews so far.
Students can order ahead of pick-up at various vendors across campus, however, there is not a check-in system available through the app for these food trucks.
When ordering food at locations in the student union, customers can place their Grubhub orders on the app. Once they arrive at the union, customers signal the app they are there, notifying the food service workers to start making the order. This is not the case at food trucks. Customers have to physically check in at the front window in order for their food to be made.
Alexis Tran, a Hotbox Hibachi employee, described the difficulties in integrating Grubhub into the food truck’s service.
“It’s definitely made it harder,” Tran said. “It took us a few days to get a real system working because we’re so used to writing on the boxes, and now the tickets are printing, and there’s not a limit, so we can’t gauge how many people are here.”
To order food at Hotbox Hibachi, students must place the order on their Grubhub apps. Then they must check in at the food truck in person in order for their food to be made. This is similar to other food trucks across campus.
“We also don’t have a check-in system, so people are ordering and coming an hour later,” Tran said “We’re making a whole bunch of boxes, and there are boxes sitting around that people haven’t received yet or claimed.”
Kenzie Hall, a junior journalism major, said she believes if food trucks were to follow the approach of student union restaurants, some of their issues could be resolved.
“I’ve only used Grubhub for Hotbox Hibachi, but you have to go to them to confirm your order before they start making it (when you order on the app),” Hall said. “You have to wait in line once you’re there, so ordering from class on Grubhub becomes pointless because it’s just as fast to wait in line and order it when you get there. If they did it like Chick-fil-A, with a check-in sign, it may be better. But as it is, it’s not worth it.”
Shadrach’s coffee truck employee Bella Kalil gave her perspective on the use of Grubhub.
“Honestly, it’s made it harder because now we have to explain to everyone that we’re not doing regular orders anymore, and most people don’t want to go through the trouble of downloading the app really quickly,” Kalil said. “Other than that, on our end, the system is easier.”
Grace Hitchcock, who works at The Tea truck, talked about the issues specific to trucks that serve beverages using Grubhub.
“It’s a lot different for us because we’re a beverage company. You know how at Starbucks you order ahead 30 minutes, and you get there, and it’s already melted? That’s kind of how we are,” Hitchcock said. “We’re also outside, so it’s just going to sit there and melt. It’s a little bit different for us to try to find a good system that works, but we’re getting used to it. I don’t want to say it’s better, but it’s not worse.”
Despite the food trucks’ struggles, many students have had positive experiences. Junior linguistics major Hailey Terrell compared the process of ordering with Grubhub to the previous method of ordering food.
“I would say it’s easier now because you don’t necessarily have to wait in line to order your food, so you can go ahead and get it over with,” Terrell said. “There’s still going to be a wait either way, though.”
Freshman exercise science major Abbott Crouthamel had never ordered from the food trucks before Grubhub, but she appreciates how the app helps her save time.
“I think it makes it a lot easier because I just came from my dorm, and instead of having to wait in line, it’s ready when I pick it up,” Crouthamel said.
Chip Burr, the resident district manager of Ole Miss Dining, shared that they are aware of some issues with the Grubhub app but said that the problems would be resolved soon.
“Now that our students have returned, the system is experiencing extremely high volumes,” Burr said. “Anytime a customer reports an issue, our team works closely with Grubhub to promptly resolve the issue, and we’re always looking for ways to improve the process. As class schedules settle and students begin setting their routines, we anticipate volumes will level off, and the process will become more intuitive.”
