NYU has New York City's trendy cuisine. Tulane has New Orleans's delicious soul food. The University of Maryland has College Park cuisine, which is an art in its own. Everyone has their late night College Park eatery of choice, and it says a lot about them.
1. 7-Eleven or CVS
You're broke. All your friends wanted to get pizza, but your balance of $2.50 held you back. "But it's ok guys, donuts are fun too!" You force a smile as you eat your stale donut that is unnaturally bright pink and rivals Homer Simpson's donut of choice.
2. DP Dough
DP Dough is for people who don't care. You can literally buy pizza dough wrapped around bacon mac & cheese. You just don't care what people think. This calzone is made with a whole stick of butter? Watch me devour it in one sitting. You know what? Throw in a pint of Ben & Jerry's; we're all gonna die eventually anyway.
3. Pizza Kingdom
I strongly believe that every student at UMD should experience a jumbo slice from Pizza Kingdom after midnight at least once. You're either in your own or another person's social media post about how this pizza is "like bigger than my head." Are you really there for the food or photo op? Debatable, but I saw a guy with "SAVAGE" tattooed on his inner lip so the atmosphere is a huge plus.
4. Pizza Mart
You respect the art of the jumbo slice, but won't participate in Pizza Kingdom's chaos. There aren't as many Pizza Mart fans as other joints, but you guys are loyal. Extremely loyal. Ready to throw hands in the name of Pizza Mart. I respect that.
5. Slices
You think you're above everyone who chooses different pizzerias. You're probably from New York or New Jersey and won't shut up about how much better your pizza is than Maryland pizza. "But like, it's a mac & cheese slice it's not real pizza to begin with!" Yeah okay. You're also probably loaded so that you don't blink when you drop $4 on a nonjumbo slice and an overpriced $1 garlic knot.
6. Subway
You're not looking for atmosphere and you mean business. Most people crave pizza, Chinese food, and sweets. Not you though. You have to be that guy grabbing a footlong. Who craves sweet onion teriyaki at 1AM? You.
7. InsomniaCookies
You take the "treat yo self" lifestyle seriously because how else would you be comfortable dropping $8 on cookies in a college town? You enjoy the finer things in life and won't degrade yourself to questionable pizza and/or deli meats.
8. Wasabi
Like the Insomnia fan, you know how to splurge. Every roll is $5 or more, and you're most likely have more than one roll. We're looking at a $15 bill here. The 7-Eleven guy is weeping here counting change to buy a stale baked good.
9. McDonald's
There is no greater sense of camaraderie than the Route 1 McDonald's late at night. You haven't truly lived as a UMD student without ending up at McDonald's. You're with a large group of friends getting your McNuggets for the Uber. Or shuttle bus.
10. The 24 Shop
You're a freshman or an unfortunate sophomore who spent 84 years to get back home. After the hell that is the orange bus, you just want a f'real milkshake. You try to open the door, but forget it's past midnight so you're locked out. After trying to fight the door, you finally swipe in. The f'real milkshake machine is broken and the only Ben & Jerry's flavor left is Cherry Garcia. All the good chips are gone. The personal pizzas have already vanished. You settle on Oreos and cough up the 8 Terpbucks to the miserable employee who would rather be anywhere but here. Can you blame him? You trudge back to your dorm, go up to the door, and realize you forgot your swipe the 24 Shop. You're outside alone with your overpriced Oreos, dreaming of being able to afford regular Wasabi.