The University of Mississippi announced the opening of four new dining locations for the upcoming fall semester on Thursday, Aug. 13. In an email sent out to students, Ole Miss Dining stated that one new food truck would be available on campus, while three existing eateries would be replaced with new options.
Chip Burr, the resident district manager at Aramark Higher Education at Ole Miss, said the new options will provide more types of food that students want.
“As our contracts with Steak ‘n Shake and Qdoba approached the end of their terms, we had an opportunity to explore emerging brands that better align with current student preferences,” Burr said.
Manila Skillet will continue to serve Filipino cuisine on campus through their new, stand-alone food truck. The pop-up restaurant, founded by chef Irish Fe Leigh, previously served food once a week on campus through The Farmstand food truck on Business Row. In a previous interview with The Daily Mississippian, Fe Leigh said that she prides herself on offering a truly Filipino experience for customers.
“When you get Manila Skillet, you know it’s authentic because it could be gourmet or fusion or just mixing whatever,” Fe Leigh said. “But I like people to get traditional, authentic food.”
Jonathan Kelchner, a senior computer science major from Lubboch, Texas, thinks Manila Skillet will be a welcome new food option for students and faculty alike.
“I loved the Manila Skillet when they came to the Farmstand, and I’m very excited that they have their own truck now,” Kelchner said.
Qdoba, a fast-casual Mexican restaurant in the Gertrude C. Ford Ole Miss Student Union, will be replaced with Choolaah Indian BBQ. Choolaah’s menu offers build-your-own bowls, wraps and traditional Indian sides, like naan and samosas.
“I’m a little sad that (Qdoba is) gone, but I’m excited to try the new Indian barbeque place,” Kelchner said.
With dishes like lentil dahl and paneer, Choolaah will provide a wider selection of vegetarian and vegan options for students. Popular Indian-American favorites, like chicken tikka masala and butter chicken, will also be available. Burr said that the decision to add Choolaah as an on-campus dining option was based partly on saturation in the market of Mexican cuisine throughout Oxford, since there are already over 20 restaurants in Oxford that serve Mexican food.
“Based on student feedback and research into the local competitive landscape … Choolaah emerged as a clear choice, offering healthier international cuisine with vegan, vegetarian, halal and gluten-free options,” Burr said.
Kelsey Sulzner, a senior integrated marketing communications and allied health studies student from St. Louis, believes there are positives and negatives to the change.
“When we give tours, it’s really helpful to incoming students to have name brand places. It gets students more excited when it’s like, ‘Oh, you can use your meal swipes on Qdoba,’” Sulzner said.
Steak ‘n Shake is set to be replaced with another burger joint chain, Smalls Sliders, which will offer sliders, waffle fries and milkshakes in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion. Burr described the replacement as an upgrade for students.
“Smalls Sliders was selected to enhance the burger experience,” Burr said. “The brand offers a modern, high-quality menu that aligns with student preferences, making it a strong addition to the campus dining experience while continuing to support basketball concessions.”
For many students, Steak ‘n Shake was a lesser-visited spot on campus.
“I actually didn’t go to Steak ‘n Shake very much, but there is a Smalls Sliders in my hometown, so I’m looking forward to trying that out here,” Kelchner said.
Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co., which served gelato in Weir Hall, vacated its space last semester. This semester, students will find The Cookie Nook in its place. Burr described this location, which previously hosted Blenz Bowls, as an ideal spot for experimentation.
“Since Weir Hall has long served as an incubator for emerging concepts … we saw an opportunity to continue exploring new possibilities for this small but impactful location,” Burr said.
Upcoming location The Cookie Nook under renovation in Weir Hall on Aug. 20 2026. Photo by Jack Kirkland.
The oft-forgotten location is convenient for all students on campus. For some students, a dessert store is a much needed addition to campus for post-exam rewards.
“I’m here for a cookie place. We need more sweet treats on campus,” Sulzner said. “I live on campus, so I love a close sweet treat.”
