Dining
The DeKalb and Sycamore areas offer a wide variety of food options to students. Hopefully this page will offer some great suggestions for any meal you may be looking for.
On Campus Dining Options
If you are on campus and interested in dining in one of the residence halls, you can find out about weekly menus and dining options.
Off-Campus Student Meal Plan
Off-campus/commuter students may apply for a Lite Meal Plan without having a Housing and Dining room and board agreement. Apply for the Lite Meal Plan.
Not wanting to carry cash? Use your NIU OneCard for all your food needs. Your OneCard can be loaded with Huskie Bucks that can be spent on food in a multitude of local food areas.
Best of all, the money can be refunded at the end of the semester, should you have some remaining. Visit the Huskie Bucks web site for more information, an up-to-date listing of locations accepting Huskie Bucks, and menus.
Here is a brief selection of Local Restaurants & Food Locations that accept Huskie Bucks!
- On campus residence hall dining - Stevenson, Douglas, Lincoln, Grant, Neptune
- Ellington's in Holmes Student Center
- BlackHawk food court
- Subway
- McDonalds
- Panera Bread
- KFC & Long John Silvers
- Pizza Hut (special lunch buffet!)
- Lukulos
- Q'Doba
- See the complete list
Salvation Army Food Pantry
The Salvation Army has an Emergency Food Pantry that services households living below the poverty level in DeKalb County. Each household is eligible to receive food assistance one time every month. The person receiving food will be asked to provide a photo ID and proof of DeKalb County residency. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday 9:00 am -12:00 pm and Thursday evenings from 5:00 pm - 6:45 pm. In addition to the Food Pantry, the Salvation Army has a program each summer to provide school supplies and backpacks to students entering grades K-12 in DeKalb County whose families are living below the poverty level. The Salvation Army has both a Thanksgiving and Christmas Assistance program as well as a rental, utility, and medication assistance program available all year long. For more detailed information about each program, you can call the Salvation Army of DeKalb County at 815-756-4308.
Check our News & Events page for special events featuring more free food!
Unemployment has passed 10% in DeKalb County. Foreclosure notices are increasing, and food prices are on the rise. These are contributing factors to creating a situation where many in our community are struggling to feed themselves.
The Voluntary Action Center is providing one "Community Meal" the first, third and fifth Wednesday of every month in the evening for free at the Senior Center at 330 Grove Street. The dinner is from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. They are for anyone in need. Please pass the word to anyone you may know in need of food. The meal is prepared by the Voluntary Action Center, which has a kitchen where they also prepare meals for "Meals-on-Wheels" for senior citizens in the area.