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We all love the award-winning dining halls on campus (my favorite being South Quad). The variety of meals, convenient hours, and plenty of desserts always make getting a meal between classes easy and tasty. But sometimes, it’s good to get some variation. Luckily for us, University of Michigan meal plans also feature Dining Dollars. With Dining Dollars, you can use your MCard to pay for meals all across campus, the amount depending on which dining plan you purchase. Whether you have 25 dining dollars a semester or 300, we all have to eat, and we all want to eat well. Here are some spaces in Ann Arbor that will give you a ready-made meal with just the swipe of an MCard.

Maizie’s

Located in the Michigan Union, Maizie’s is a great space to study with a warm meal. Hosting both a coffee shop, miniature corner store, and eatery, Maizie’s is a phenomenal alternative to the dining halls. Every day you’ll find a new variety of foods, as Maizie’s provides catering from a new local restaurant. From Taste of India to Jamaican Jerk Pit, you can use your dining dollars to explore plenty of new cuisines.

The Union 

Everyone loves to visit Central Campus’s Union to study. But did you know that the building also holds six different restaurants? Down in the Michigan Underground (Mug), you can find a Panda Express, Qdoba, Subway, and Wingsnob. Every semester, new BOGO deals can be found for students to use to their advantage. Up on the first floor, you can find a Panera and Sweetwaters that not only have great menu items, but they also have their own study spots for their customers.

Fireside Cafe

Central Campus isn’t the only spot with great restaurants worth spending Dining Dollars on. Up on North Campus, you can find plenty of great options. Within Pierpont Commons is the highly popular Fireside Cafe. Just like Maizie’s, Fireside Cafe is known for highlighting local restaurants from a variety of different cultural tastes. Whether it be sushi, barbecue, or Mexican cuisine, there is always something exciting to try. Even if you’re only looking for a small snack, Fireside Cafe has plenty of grab-and-go options from the Blue Market. Outside the cafe is a cozy study spot with comfy couches and even a warm fireplace, perfect for enjoying a meal while writing your midterm paper.

Pierpont Commons

Just like the Union, Pierpont Commons also has a variety of restaurants in its basement. While both buildings have a Panda Express, there are a ton of new options for students looking for a change of pace from the dining halls. At Pierpont, you can get a gyro at Great Greek Mediterranean, a rice bowl at Hibachi-San, or a nice coffee at Mujo.

The next time you’re on Central or North Campus, make sure to stop by any of these locations with your MCard to make the most of your Dining Dollars. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favorite restaurant.