Dear Scene,

It’s my first week on campus, and I’m beginning to realize that the dining options on the weekends are slim. It looks like BD, BD, or… BD. Help! I can only eat sweet potato fries from the Grille so many times, and I don’t have enough meal points to spend $16 for Cheerios.  I don’t have a car or a kitchen in my suite, and I’m overwhelmed by the options in the Loop. 

Sincerely, Famished First-Year

Dear Famished,

Welcome to WashU! Discovering on a Sunday morning that your only options for sustenance are a dry piece of French toast, wet sausage, or a clumpy egg from BD, a lukewarm egg bite from the Just Baked Bistro vending machine, or nothing at all is a classic first-year experience. Don’t fear! Many have come before you and have succeeded in weekend dining, and now we will impart that wisdom onto you. 

At the beginning of the year, the Delmar Loop north of campus may seem like the only feasible option for off-campus dining. The restaurants are varied in cuisine, price, and environment, and it’s a close walk or shuttle from the South 40. But there’s so much beyond Delmar! The South Campus Shuttle will take you to DeMun, the West Campus Shuttle can take you to Clayton, the Shopper Shuttle will take you to Brentwood. That’s not even considering all the places the Metro can take you. My point is, do not despair —  a burger from the Bistro Grille is not your only weekend option. I’ve laid out a list of popular spots, as well as shuttle and Metro routes, that will take you everywhere you need to go!

The Loop

The Loop is the classic option when it comes to first-year off-campus dining. Located a short shuttle or walk away from campus, there are a myriad of options to choose from. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Corner 17 was the first restaurant in St. Louis I ever tried. In October 2023, after a tour of WashU with my mom, I ordered the hand-shaved noodles with pork, and that has been my go-to order since. (You might be wondering why this item is no longer served in the hallowed halls of Olin Library. Don’t fret! The brick-and-mortar location of Corner 17 is located in the Loop, about a 15-minute walk from campus.) I’ve tried many of their dishes, but I will always choose the hand-shaved noodles, pan-fried bao, and the garlic eggplant. My favorite drink pairing will always be the passionfruit tea with boba, but this location has endless drink and dessert options to choose from.

Located a bit further down the Loop, Nudo House is a fast-casual pan-Asian restaurant that specializes in ramen, pho, and a variety of dishes that embody Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines. Much to my dismay, the restaurant transformed into a Sonic the Hedgehog pop-up (don’t even ask) from April 2026 to August 2026, so I couldn’t delight in the food over the summer. Thankfully, the pop-up was short-lived, and the real menu has returned. My absolute favorite things to get at Nudo House are the Nudo Banh Mi and the Tamarind Fried Chicken. (I don’t know what they put in that sauce, but it is like crack, I swear). Popular choices also include the Classic Nudo Ramen and the Papaya Salad. If the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Cafe decides to make a reappearance, Nudo House also has a location in Creve Coeur to satisfy your cravings. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest barbeque fan of all time. But I do feel like it’s the kind of food that when you have a craving, you need to fulfill it, and I’ve found that Salt + Smoke can do the job. Located smack-dab in the middle of the Loop, you can smell the aroma from the restaurant all the way to campus (okay, maybe not that far). My go-to is a Pulled Pork Plate or Sandwich, with a side of White Cheddar Cracker Mac. 

Last but certainly not least in the Loop, one of the newest restaurants (and now one of my favorites), is Kishimoto Mendo. Owned and operated by chef Steven Pursley, the new restaurant focuses on tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen. I recommend you start off with the Blistered Shishito Peppers doused in ponzu and topped with katsuobushi. For your main dish, I love the Aburasoba, a brothless noodle dish tossed in a seafood-infused oil and topped with pork belly, bamboo shoots, nori, and scallion. If you are looking for ramen, you can’t go wrong with the Gyokai or Tonkotsu Classic Ramen, as both are incredibly flavorful and filling. 

Clayton

One of the biggest things I learned about the shuttle during my first-year is that it takes you to so many places beyond the Loop! When I discovered the South and West Campus shuttles, my ability to get off campus increased tenfold. Here are some shuttle-able eateries in Clayton and DeMun.

If you’re okay with somehow seeing every single person you know at 9 a.m., Colleen’s in Clayton is the spot for you. Accessible by the West Campus Shuttle or a 20-minute walk from the 40, Colleen’s is a great weekend brunch option! The avocado toast and the breakfast burrito are my usual food options, and they make some of their own coffee syrups in-house. 

You have probably already trekked to DeMun to grab an obligatory welcome-week ice cream from Clementine’s (and if you haven’t, you should), but there is so much to explore in DeMun beyond that. If you keep walking to the end of the block, you’ll find Barrio, a fast-casual American restaurant that serves quick and easy bites. The Southwest Chicken Salad and the Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich are my two go-tos, and their seasoned, crinkle-cut fries are a must.

Skinker DeBaliviere 

Located a quick walk or shuttle from the East End, the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood is home to many upperclassmen at WashU. It is also home to two of my tried-and-true restaurants near WashU, Nami Ramen and Snarf’s.

Snarf’s might be my favorite sandwich location in St. Louis. My favorite hack is to order the Snarf’s Vegetarian sandwich (because I want avocado and sprouts), but add turkey (because protein, and also it is delicious). The best part is that you get rewards points for all your purchases, which can be cashed in for free drinks, chips, and even $5 or more off your next sandwich. (Can you tell my favorite thing is maximizing a restaurant’s rewards program?)

Nami Ramen is perfect for a quick dinner as it’s so close to campus and has relatively quick service. My favorite ramen is the Shrimp Tempura or Chicken Katsu, but the flavor profiles of their ramen are so varied that they really have something for everyone.

No matter what cuisine your heart desires, there are plenty of options to go around. Soon enough, you’ll be a master of the shuttle schedules, a connoisseur of walking routes, and an expert of non-BD dining options. Happy eating! 

Your friendly foodies