The newest addition to the Memorial Union Food Court brings students a taste of Philadelphia’s iconic, mouthwatering sandwich, right here in Ames. Zodiac Cheesesteak has officially opened for business, providing students with another option for meals on campus.
Zodiac Cheesesteak opened for business Feb. 5 in the Memorial Union Food Court, adjacent to Poco Picante. The new option fills the spot previously occupied by Yumburger, the classic American joint which sold hamburgers, fries and black bean burgers. Yumburger closed after the spring semester of 2022.
“The cheesesteak sandwiches offered on the menu in the dining centers had shown great popularity, so the decision was made to feature them as a standalone concept in the food court to expand the variety there, also considering the fact that there was currently no other concept like it on campus,” Campus Dining Food Services Manager Brian Reichert said.
Zodiac Cheesesteak comes as the second addition to the Memorial Union Food Court this year, following Sushi Do’s launch in September.
For those unfamiliar, a traditional Philly Cheesesteak features thinly sliced ribeye steak, cascaded in melted provolone cheese, topped with fried onions and laid upon a thinly sliced, toasted and buttered hoagie roll. Cheesesteaks are also commonly topped with ingredients like lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and a variety of sauces. Chili Cheesesteaks, also sold at Zodiac, feature the traditional sandwich topped with piping hot chili and other toppings like bacon and ranch.
“Students should know that they can build their own cheesesteak with either beef or chicken and load it with many topping options,” Reichert said. “We also feature a few signature sandwiches.”
The Zodiac Cheesesteak menu features three signature cheesesteak sandwiches: steak chili, chicken bacon ranch and buffalo chicken for $9.75. Students can also choose to build their own sandwich, also priced at $9.75.
In addition to its sandwiches, Zodiac offers extras including steak loaded fries, chicken loaded fries and chili loaded fries, ranging from $5.75-$8.75.
Tamizhselvan Udayakumar, Zodiac Cheesesteak employee and a graduate student studying human computer interaction said the steak chili cheesesteak has been the most popular student choice so far. He also added that his personal favorite is the chicken bacon ranch.
“It’s not very well known here yet, so it would be nice if more people knew we are here,” Udayakumar said.
Reichert said that the feedback they have received through the first month has been “overwhelmingly positive.”
Zodiac Cheesesteak remains open during Memorial Union Food Court hours of 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Fridays.
