Two weeks ago, a new ramyeon station made its grand opening in the Foster Walker Market. Three futuristic ramyeon cookers, a mini fridge full of toppings, and a colorful collection of ramyeon quickly became a must-try.
The Compass Group is Northwestern University’s food service provider. Mary Belovich, the District Marketing Manager for Compass Group, shares that this was planned out since last year. The long-awaited project did not just involve Northwestern Dining; students were also involved. Belovich highlights, “We also talked to our student advisory council, which is a group of students who come together and just provide feedback on the dining program. And they shared that they would really enjoy it.”
Inspired by ramyeon stations in the suburbs and abroad, the new ramyeon station offers a unique dining experience that cannot be found anywhere else on campus. The station makes every ramyeon cooking experience a more interactive and fun one.
And thanks to that, now students can enjoy a hot bowl of freshly cooked ramyeon in the comfort of a nearby dining hall. Freshman Fiona Wu is also attracted to the convenience of the location. She shares, “Because I live in Plex, it’s convenient. In the winter, if I really don’t wanna go out or DoorDash food, then I’ll come back here.”
Boiling ramyeon attracts boiling interest from students. As of the afternoon of October 6th, 262 bowls have already been sold. And that comes with heated reactions from students. Wu thinks the ramyeon station is cool, but at the same time thinks the price is too high.
One bowl of ramen with toppings of your choice costs $10.99.Students can pay using their dining dollars, Cat Cash, or from their pocket.
Wu wonders if the price is reasonable for a ramyeon. She could get the same ramyeon for way cheaper if she buys one for herself. Although noodle places in Evanston are slightly more expensive, Wu thinks it is “not a huge difference.”
On the other hand, students also gave positive reviews, like freshman Cynthia Rodriguez. She mentioned that the fact that students can use dining dollars for the station comes as a huge advantage.
Only a few weeks in, the ramyeon station is, of course, not yet perfect. Sophomore Sophie Zhu recounts her experience making Buldak, emphasizing how they did not have a place to drain the water.
With burgeoning suggestions for improvement, Belovich encourages students to voice their opinions through joining the NU Dining Advisory Committee. Belovich invites the students, saying, “Anyone interested in food on campus, this is your space.”
As the school year progresses, Mary Belovich says the ramyeon station is just the beginning of new fun things that students should look forward to in Northwestern dining. With winter approaching, the ramyeon station will be a home for many.