by Elan Karoll 
Looking for kosher food at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign? Look no further than Cafe Sababa. Located inside the Cohen Center For Jewish Life (503 E John St, Champaign), this dairy restaurant serves hot lunches that are both delicious and cRc certified!
The menu is unique every day, chosen by chef Aaron Stevens. The chef usually serves his signature grilled cheese, veggie burgers, salads, and a daily special. Israeli food sometimes finds it way on the menu, including falafel and Israeli salad. Menu items are posted to Cafe Sababa’s social media profiles.
“The food is really great, and fresh,” says Annie Goldstein, a senior in LAS. “I am so glad we have kosher food right on campus, I just wish students could use their university dining credit to pay,” she adds.
The Yelp reviews are just as positive about the food:
Read Mark H.‘s review of Cafe Sababa on Yelp
Cafe Sababa is open 11:30am – 1:30pm, Monday through Thursday. They are closed on Jewish holidays (including Passover) and the week before Passover.
For more kosher food in Champaign-Urbana you have a few options. On campus, Illini Hillel and Illini Chabad offer kosher meals on Shabbat and at their events during the week. Allen Hall’s dining hall has a kosher food section, and the Ikenberry Commons offers kosher “a la carte” in 57 North. Off campus, Sinai Temple in Champaign has kosher meals on Shabbat. Many local grocery stores carry significant kosher selections, including County Market in Campustown, Schnucks in Champaign, and Schnucks in Urbana.