Written By: Alina Stanczak | Marketing Dining Intern
As the new year rolls in, students roam campus with a new semester, new schedule, and new flavor! Beginning this January, the Local Flavor Program will welcome three new restaurants to rotate around campus: Maiz Cantina, Prime BBQ, and Pita Express. Catch all three at Maizie’s Kitchen in the Michigan League, and Maiz Cantina and Pita Express at Fireside Cafe in Pierpont Commons.
The Local Flavor Program brings Ann Arbor and other regional restaurants to campus Monday-Friday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., featuring different vendors each week, giving students a taste of off campus food right here! Stop by between classes with the convenience of using Blue Bucks, Dining Dollars, card or cash, to enjoy these great restaurants.
“We started with just a few vendors on one or two stations,” said Rich Beswick, Assistant Director for Retail Dining on Central Campus. “Now we have more than 15 active vendors and nearly enough to feature a different restaurant every day. Students love it, and our partners love being here.”
Being a downtown Ypsilanti staple, Maiz brings fresh Mexican dishes like tacos, burrito bowls, and traditional soups to campus.
“Expanding onto campus felt like the natural next step,” the Maiz team shared. “Serving students and staff while bringing fresh, flavorful dishes to their busy days made participating in the Local Flavor program an easy decision.”
Their recommended must-try? The burrito bowl! Customizable, hearty, and one of their most popular items. Maiz will also introduce a campus-exclusive Pozole entrée, a warm and comforting Mexican soup perfect for the winter months.
Also coming to campus, family-run and known for fresh Mediterranean flavors, Pita Express offers shawarma, falafel, and build-your-own pita wraps.
“It feels fantastic to bring our food directly to students,” the team said. “There’s nothing we love more than being part of someone’s day, whether that’s a late study session or being their go-to comfort food spot. It’s an honor.”
They’re especially excited for students to try their Chicken Shawarma Plate and the vegan Falafel Wrap, which has a loyal following at their main location. They’re also debuting a Maize & Blue Shawarma Wrap, featuring their signature chicken shawarma, house-made spicy feta spread, crisp vegetables, all wrapped up in a warm pita and available exclusively on campus.
Barbecue has long been one of the most requested cuisines from students, and Prime BBQ will now fill that gap on Central Campus with smoked brisket, pulled pork, and classic comfort sides. Beswick noted that strong demand and the popularity of barbecue vendors on North Campus made Prime a standout addition.
Since launching with just five vendors, the Local Flavor program has grown to include more than 18 restaurants from Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and beyond.
“Students love being able to grab their favorite local food without leaving campus,” said Beswick. “It brings convenience, variety, and a real sense of connection to the Ann Arbor community.”
Restaurant partners benefit too.
Pita Express shared, “We hope this partnership introduces students to authentic Mediterranean food in a way that makes them lifelong fans — even after they graduate.”
With five rotating Local Flavor stations across campus and additional vendors expressing interest, the program continues to expand each semester. Michigan Dining is exploring ways to streamline vendor applications and bring even more variety to campus.
As Beswick put it:
“Every semester, students ask us, ‘Who’s next?’ That excitement is what drives us.”
Whether you’re craving tacos, barbecue, or shawarma, the winter semester is serving up something new and delicious right here on campus. Stop by and give it a try!
