Rice University Mobile Dining

My biggest problem with food trucks is tracking them down. With this spot you know a truck will be here, now which particular one, you gotta look it up. The night I went there was two trucks, a dessert one and a dinner type one. They offer 15 minute parking for other people who are not students but want to eat, but for the on campus students it providers something different than on campus food.

I’m so glad UH started bringing food trucks to campus, because the peer pressure got to Rice. They’ve relaxed their restrictions and jumped on the mobile food bandwagon. The trucks park weeknights 5:30 — 8:00 pm (so as not to compete with on campus retail dining during the day) in front of the Mudd Building, inside Campus Entrance 21 off of Rice Blvd. It’s 2 buildings behind Valhalla, for those who are familiar with the on-​campus grad student pub, so a great option if you’re getting your $ 1 beer on and you get the munchies. There is no seating near the truck (unless you count the temporary Designated Tobacco Use Area tent), so you may want to pick up your food then head back to Valhalla to sit. Wi-​Fi is available if you’re near enough to a building, on the Rice Visitor network.
Currently they’ve got a respectable rotation going: Oh My Gogi, Phamily Bites, Waffle Bus, Good Dog Hot Dogs and Firehouse Tacos. Personally, I’d rather they replace Firehouse with Bernie’s Burger Bus. But with Bernie’s recently raising their prices, perhaps it’s not a great option for poor grad students anymore. The lines have been growing steadily, maybe showing up right at 5:30pm is a good idea.
Most Rice students just walk over to the Mudd Building or take the on-​campus shuttle, but anyone with a valid Rice parking decal can park in the North Lot, right in front of the truck, after 4:00pm. Note: this is a convenient dinner stop after the Rice gym!
Access for non-​Rice people can be tricky. There are limited (like 5) 15-​minute spots in the Mudd Building U-​drive, but if you’re there too long Rice Police may ticket you. Even if you’re standing right there. Paid visitor parking is available in the North Lot, right in front of the truck, $ 1 per 12 minutes, $ 11 max. You could also park out by the Stadium which is $ 1, but then it’s a 15-​minute walk. If it’s too hot you can also ride the Inner Loop Shuttle from the Stadium and get off in front of Valhalla.
In other words, if you’re non-​Rice you probably won’t come by unless you have plans at Valhalla or have business on campus. But for those of us who live or work here, this is a long-​awaited victory. If only Rice Dining had listened to me a year and a half ago, we could’ve been the first ones instead of following U of H’s lead.