Students move through the line and order their meals at the new Slim Chickens restaurant inside Wareham Court at the Skutt Student Center.
When students walked into the Skutt Student Center this semester, one familiar option was gone. Mein Bowl, the build-your-own stir-fry station, had closed — and in its place now stands Slim Chickens, a Southern-inspired chain serving chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches and wraps.
This move represents one of the biggest changes to Creighton University’s dining lineup in recent years. For some students, it came as a surprise, yet for others, it was a welcome update.
“I didn’t go [to Mein Bowl] that often, maybe once every other week,” College of Business sophomore Easton Yamane said. “I liked having Chinese food as an option, but I think Slim Chickens will be more popular overall — just not really for me.”
Popularity is a common theme among student reactions. Mein Bowl offered customizable rice, noodle and protein bowls, but many students said the quality was inconsistent.
“Sometimes the food tasted like it had been sitting out for hours,” College of Arts and Science sophomore Diego Vasconcelos said. “Slim Chickens feels fresher, and I’ve noticed the lines are even a little longer than Mein Bowl’s used to be.”
Vasconcelos said Slim Chickens stands out because it feels familiar while still offering variety.
“Honestly, I like Slim Chickens more than Mein Bowl,” he said. “Chicken is safe — you can’t go wrong with it. It’s like a mix between Chick-fil-A and Cane’s, with tenders, sandwiches, sauces … this will probably be my go-to.”
The restaurant, which has locations across the Midwest, offers chicken baskets, wraps, wings and Southern-style sides such as mac and cheese, fried pickles and Texas toast. At Creighton, many students say the mac and cheese bowls are already becoming favorites.
Employees behind the counter are also adjusting to the change. Chevonnie Reed, who works at Slim Chickens, said she enjoys the job and has already noticed strong student interest.
“Honestly, I think it’s a fun experience,” Reed said. “The chicken tenders are really good, and the mac and cheese bowls are popular too. The team here works well together, and it feels a lot more relaxed than other food jobs I’ve had, like Chick-fil-A.”
Reed also offered insight into why Mein Bowl may not have lasted.
“They said [it] wasn’t really doing enough, or maybe people weren’t cleaning good enough, or the food wasn’t always the best,” she said. “I never went myself, but I never saw a line there. People just didn’t go.”
Still, some students say the loss of Mein Bowl creates a gap in campus dining. With its closure, Creighton loses one of its few Asian-inspired food options, leaving behind mostly American, Mexican and sandwich-style restaurants. Vasconcelos said Panda Express could fill that role better.
“Whenever I go to Panda Express, there’s always a huge line,” he said. “It’s fast, it’s hot and people like it. That could work here.”
For now, Slim Chickens is drawing steady lines in Skutt. And while some students already prefer it over Mein Bowl, others say they’ll stick with other options.
Students say they’re curious to see whether it becomes a permanent favorite or just another short-term stop in Creighton’s rotating dining lineup.