Why a comforting meal can make you feel more at home in college.
A few days into MU’s 2023 Welcome Week, my friends and I found ourselves craving food that wasn’t from a dining hall. We decided to venture off campus and try Big Mama Chim’s Noodle House, a small Thai restaurant off Ninth Street.
Mama Chims felt less like a restaurant and more like a kitchen; seated at one of only a few tables, we could watch as Mama Chim herself cooked soups, sauces and noodle dishes. The food was warm, spicy and rich, comforting us during the difficult adjustment period of leaving home.
For my meal, I went with a classic: chicken pad thai, spice level 4/10. I would recommend it to anyone who visits Mama Chims.
As we walked out after finishing our meal, one of the employees gave us a message that I have carried through my freshman year thusfar: “If you’re ever feeling lonely, or just tired of campus food, come to Mama’s.”
This message, and the experience of visiting Mama Chims, exemplified the role of local restaurants in making Columbia feel more like home. In the first few weeks, as I adjusted to the many changing facets of my life, I found myself needing breaks in my routine to help keep me grounded.
I enjoyed the ease and consistency of campus dining, but every once in a while, I needed something different. Trips to Goldie’s Bagels, India’s House and Sub Shop were the perfect break.
In addition to their comforting food, these Columbia restaurants can function as a second home for college students. Home-cooked meals are essential to finding a sense of belonging, and for me, nothing is closer to a home-cooked meal in Columbia than a dish from a local restaurant. A scrumptious bagel sandwich from Goldie’s or a delectable Chicken Tikka Masala from India’s House comfort me in a way that dining hall meals cannot.
At Cafe Berlin, another Columbia staple, Marketing and Events Director Adrienne Luther Johnson referred to the restaurant as a “safe space” for customers. Finding a restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere and reliable dishes can give you a space to escape when everyday life gets difficult.
Visiting local Columbia restaurants can also give you a better sense of the Columbia food scene as a whole. Getting to know the food scene gives you a sense of place, making you feel more like a Columbia resident than an outsider. You get to know a fuller picture of a town that is not only confined to the MU Campus. Now, when friends or relatives come to town, I have many off-campus spots to take them for a meal. These restaurants help me bridge the gap between my original home and my new home.
While I try to use my meal plan and eat on campus as much as possible, I know I will be back at Mama Chims when I need to feel a little more at home.
Edited by Annie Goldman | agoldman@themaneater.com
Copy Edited by Sterling Sewell | ssewell@themaneater.com
Edited by Sophie Rentschler | srentschler@themaneater.com