MU’s newest dining hall, Sabai, will be closed from January 2014 to August 2014 due to Johnston Hall’s renovation, remaining open until the end of the Fall 2013 semester.

Campus Dining Services spokesman Michael Wuest said CDS has received lots of suggestions from students for Sabai’s renovation. After the renovation, the whole facility will be renewed, and students may see new menu items as well.

Ever since Sabai had its grand opening Sept. 8, it has been running the business with its original theme: serving authentic Southeast Asian foods to students.

As Sabai’s type of food might be a new experience for many students, there has been both positive and negative feedback from students.

Junior Nicholas Hoffmann said he likes to go to Sabai because the food is a nice change from the other dining halls. He said the possible cause that some of his friends never go back to Sabai is because they either do not make the right choice or they are not just familiar with the food.

“My friends that don’t like Sabai normally try something on the menu that is bad, like the big noodle bowl, and they don’t want to come back,” Hoffman said. “Some just don’t like the taste of the food, though, because they are too Americanized for their food consumption and they can’t handle authentic Asian food.”

Freshman Jacob Sanders said he likes Sabai’s food mainly because he gets bored of typical dining halls. He was especially impressed with Sabai’s effort to keep its authenticity.

“I like everything they have, especially the lettuce wrap,” he said.

When it comes to Sabai’s upcoming renovation, students agree Sabai needs to have more options for its menu.

Sanders also said there should be more items on the menu and also suggested that Sabai introduce Americanized additions to the menu.

“I think people don’t go to Sabai because they don’t know about its foods,” he said. “I would suggest that they create some more ‘Americanized’ Asian dishes while it keeps providing the more authentic foods.”

Ever since the dining hall opened, Wuest said Sabai has been trying to meet students’ expectations.

“Over the next year, you will continue to see more menu items roll out as we try different flavors, recipes, ideas and suggestions,” Wuest said. “When Sabai reopens after its major renovation, our menu will have two years of data so that we can offer the products and services that the Mizzou community wants.”