Alternatives to WCU Food

Off-campus Dining Options

"Wednesday Night: Unrecognizable Buffet at Brown! All-You-Can-Eat Mystery Meat! "

If you’re new to Western, you’ve probably wished for some sort of restaurant guide. I will provide a student’s perspective on four of the best, most accessible places to eat in Sylva: Ryan’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Sonic.

Ryan's

Ryan’s is a bit pricey for those of us on tight budgets, but it’s the closest you’ll get to good, hot home cooking around here. Ryan’s offers the most variety for your money. You can eat healthily or splurge on steak and potatoes and follow it up with cakes, cookies, and more. Ryan’s is occasionally very crowded to the point that the wait isn’t worth it, but you have to love the street-corner cow!

Wendy's

Wendy’s is your basic burger joint, but they’ve recently added a few dishes that expand your options. If it’s cold outside, there’s nothing like a cup of Wendy’s chili to warm you up. They have great chicken, too. Try it with the Southwest chipotle sauce. You can usually get dinner for two for less than twelve dollars, which is always a plus.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell is my favorite off-campus restaurant. You can get ten tacos for ten bucks if you need to feed several hungry people. You can’t beat that! If you enjoy fast food, Mexican-style, this is the place for you. It has a surprising amount of variety for a fast food place, and the service is always fast and friendly. Try the Mexican pizza! I highly recommend Taco Bell.

Sonic

Sonic is a great place. It has atmosphere. How many places can you say that about these days? Their slushes are awesome, and the food is always hot and quickly served. Sonic is a good choice for casual dating, too. It’s a fun place to eat and you can get good food any time of the day. I stop there for breakfast on my way out of town when I go home. Their breakfast burritos are out of this world.

I hope this guide has been useful and that it has provided you with a few tempting alternatives to the next mystery burger at Brown. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that there’s nowhere to eat off-campus. Sylvas offer options to fit every student’s tastes and budget.