Students, faculty and staff have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of local food vendors this summer through UNO’s food truck series near the Bell Tower.
The weekly events bring rotating food trucks to campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., providing convenient lunch options and introducing members of the campus community to local businesses. Vendors scheduled throughout the summer include Shaara Halal Eats, Maria Bonita and Pim’s Thai.
One of the participating vendors, Shaara Halal Eats, was founded after co-founder Moula Begumshaik saw a need for a menu that could appeal to different tastes and dietary preferences in one place.
“Whenever we go outside with the whole family, it’s pretty hard to find a perfect halal food,” Begumshaik said.
Instead of visiting multiple restaurants, Begumshaik said the goal was to create a menu with options for a variety of customers.
“We have all ages [of] people,” Begumshaik said.
The food truck recently celebrated its first year in business and serves a variety of sandwiches, rice platters and halal dishes. Begumshaik said that customer favorites include rice platters, butter chicken dishes and falafel.
Shaara Halal Eats has previously visited UNO and returned this summer after successful experiences on campus.
“The response was huge, and it was good,” Begumshaik said. “We serve freshly to everyone. That is our main motto.”
For attendees, the food trucks offer a convenient alternative to leaving campus for lunch. Dr. John Bartle, a public administration professor at UNO, said he decided to stop by the food truck instead of leaving campus for a meal.
“I was hungry, it was lunchtime, I was thinking about going off campus, but then I remembered the food truck,” Bartle said. “I’ll just go and give it a try.”
Bartle ordered the lamb rice platter and said he had attended previous food truck events this summer.
“The food itself is good, and then I think it’s a lot of fun to just sit out here,” Bartiel said, “especially when the weather is good.”
The food truck series will continue throughout the summer near the Bell Tower. Upcoming vendors include:
June 23: Maria Bonita
July 14: Shaara Halal Eats
July 21: Maria Bonita
July 28: Pim’s Thai
Aug. 4: Shaara Halal Eats
Aug. 11: Maria Bonita
Aug. 18: Pim’s Thai
Dining and Cooking