In collaboration with the Muslim Coalition for the University of Michigan, Michigan Dining serves a variety of menu items that are Halal certified and follow Halal practices in all dining halls. Dining staff follows extensive food handling and procurement practices to provide students with as many options as possible. In retail locations, Michigan Dining offers Halal options as well as partners with local vendors that offer Halal options.

To quickly identify Halal options, look for this emblem  on our online, digital, and dining hall menus. Halal certification is displayed in all dining halls and available to view upon request.

MDining provides in its residential dining halls and catering services beef, lamb, and chicken that are certified ‘Halal’. Due to the large variety of products we provide across campus from different manufacturers and vendors, we carry products from many Halal certifiers. Students can find Halal certifications posted in all of our operations and can ask staff if they are unable to locate them. We want students to feel confident in the food offered under the Halal label and believe transparency is a part of that confidence. We would be happy to revisit conversations about certification should national legislation and regulations or product availability change.

To read the most recent update on Halal meats click here.

Michigan Dining is proud to support students during their celebration of Ramadan. 

South Quad, Mosher-Jordan, and Bursley dining halls are open 7 am – 9 pm Monday through Friday as well as 7 am – 2:00 pm and 4:30 pm – 9 pm Saturday and Sunday throughout the observance of Ramadan. Students living in University housing with a room and board contract have several options for Iftar. They can dine in one of the open dining halls; they can use a meal swipe through our MDining To Go program to secure a reusable to-go container and obtain food prior to Iftar; or they can utilize Dining Dollars or Blue Bucks to purchase options at one of the retail units on campus. 

In addition, Residential dining units will have reusable boxes available through MDining To Go for students to obtain meals observed before sunrise. You can pick up a to-go box in any Residential dining hall the day prior to consumption and fill it with food for breakfast. There are many breakfast items available throughout the day including hand fruit, yogurt & granola, bread, and cereal as well as the menu being served when you obtain your Suhoor meal. Please notify the greeter at the entrance to the dining hall if you would like this option or ask for a manager if you need assistance.

Michigan Dining Retail features Local Visiting Vendors that offer Halal options. Palm Palace is available in Maizie’s on Tuesday. On North Campus, El Harissa is available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Fireside Cafe and Palm Palace is offered on Wednesdays in Fireside cafe.

For Catered events, students may contact Michigan Catering, and staff are available to assist in menu planning. 

MDining provides in its residential dining halls and catering services beef, lamb, and chicken that are certified ‘Halal’. Due to the large variety of products we provide across campus from different manufacturers and vendors, we carry products from many Halal certifiers. Our retail operations offer ‘Halal’¹ certified York Street to-go options, which are certified through Halal Transactions of Omaha. Students can find Halal certifications posted in all of our operations and can ask staff if they are unable to locate them.

Click the link to learn more about Ramadan and opportunity through meals, programming, as well as donating or volunteering to support these efforts.

¹ “Food that is permitted for consumption to Muslims is called halal. While certain foods, notably pork, can never be halal, other meats are acceptable so long as they have been killed in an appropriate way. The Islamic slaughter process is called dhabihah.” (Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of World Religions, Paul Fieldhouse, p. 30) In the United States, “foods that carry a halal symbol or label have been approved by an agency and are certified to be free of any forbidden components or ingredients.” (GFS) Food that is labeled as “zabiha” or “dhabiha” has passed through additional checks to ensure that all Islamic procedures have been followed.

Michigan Dining offers a variety of Kosher-certified menu items out of a kosher-certified serving area in the South Quad dining hall. The station is open during weekdays and is closed beginning at dinner on Friday, all day Saturday, and during holidays.

Holiday meals will include:

Friday, September 15, 2023 – Closed for Dinner – Rosh Hashanah Eve

Saturday, September 16, & Sunday, September 17, 2023 – Closed – Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 24, 2023 – Closed for Dinner – Yom Kippur Eve

Monday, September 25, 2023 – Closed – Yom Kippur

Friday, September 29, 2023 – Closed for Dinner –  Sukkot Eve

Saturday, September  30 & Sunday, October 1, 2023 – Closed – Sukkot

Friday, October 6, 2023 – Closed for Dinner – Simchot Torah Eve

Saturday, October 7 & Sunday, October 8, 2023 –  Closed – Simchot Torah

Saturday, March 23, 2024 – Closed for Dinner – Purim Eve

Sunday, March 24, 2024 – Closed – Purim

Monday, April 22 through Tuesday, April 30, 2024 – Closed – Passover

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find kosher-certified food on campus?

Michigan Dining has a kosher-certified kitchen located in the South Quad dining hall at 600 East Madison.

What are the hours of service?

Sunday – Thursday: 11:00am – 2:00pm and 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Friday: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Closed for Friday dinner, Saturday, and all holidays listed above

Can I be compensated for Passover/high holiday meal purchases at Hillel?

Individuals who self-identify at Hillel that live in a University residence hall with a room and board contract are eligible to be compensated for Passover meals and high holiday meals eaten at Hillel.

The compensation rate for 2023-2024 is as follows:

Lunch: $7.81

Dinner: $9.92

Students will need to ensure their participation during these meals is tracked by Hillel in order to be compensated. Any meals provided to the student for free by Hillel will not be reimbursed.

Who will be able to eat the options found in the Kosher kitchen?

All individuals that pay for a(n) meal plan or individual meal will be able to enjoy the options served out of the Kosher kitchen when they dine at South Quad. For info on single meal rates and options, please visit here. Off-campus students, faculty/staff, and community members are all welcome with the single meal option.

What is offered in the kosher kitchen?

The kosher kitchen is classified as a meat kitchen and super-glatt meats are served. There is no dairy allowed within the kitchen or service area. The daily menu can be found here under the “Kosher” heading and will only appear if the station is open.

Do you offer parve items in the dining hall?

Yes, parve items that contain neither dairy nor meat ingredients and are considered “neutral” are offered in all of our dining halls. A full listing of parve items can be found here but availability by dining hall may vary.

Who manages the certification for the kitchen?

The Kosher kitchen is supervised by a Mashgiach under the supervision of a Rabbi.

What if I can’t get to South Quad when the Kosher kitchen is open?

All students with a meal plan can request a kosher meal to go. Simply, complete this form by 4 pm the day before pick up and pay attention to what is available at the time you are picking up the meal.

Can I find kosher-certified options in retail locations?

There will be several kosher Blue to Go sandwiches and salads available for purchase. These items will be prepared in the Kosher kitchen, overseen by the Mashgiach, and labeled with the Kosher seal.  They can be found in the following retail locations: Fireside Cafe, Blue Market at Pierpont Commons, Blue Cafe and Market and Mosher-Jordan, Mujo Cafe, Berts Cafe, Maizie’s Kitchen and Market, Blue Market at Michigan Union, Blue Cafe at South Quad, and Blue Cafe at East Quad.

Where can I eat kosher when South Quad’s Kosher kitchen is closed?

Individuals who self-identify at Hillel that live in a University residence hall with a room and board contract are eligible to eat at Hillel for Friday dinner and meals on Saturday

I still have questions. Who can I talk to for more info?

Email [email protected] with any further questions.

Hillel

• Hillel partners with Michigan Dining for our residence hall students with room and board contracts during times our Kosher kitchen is closed. They also offer a wide variety of programming for Jewish students.  Please visit michiganhillel.org for further information.

Chabad House

• Chabad House Student Center offers a variety of kosher meal options during the week, Shabbat and other Jewish holidays.  Please visit jewmich.com for further information.