Where to Eat with Your i-Card at UIUC and How to Track Your Dining Dollars

Using Your i-Card

• Classic Meals are used for buffet-style entries at the dining halls—typically one per meal period.
• Dining Dollars function like cash and can be used at both dining halls and retail spots.
• Illini Cash, while being phased out mid-2026, is still accepted and works at all these dining locations.

Here’s where your i-card (linked with your meal plan, Dining Dollars, or Illini Cash) is accepted for dining across campus:

All-You-Care-To-Eat Dining Halls

Your i-card can be used at any of the four main dining halls:

• Ikenberry Dining Center (Ike)

  • Located on the 1st floor of the Student Dining & Residential Programs Building in Ikenberry Commons

    

  • Meal Hours:
    

  • Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/oLqFxrEzvuKju7c3A 
• Illinois Street Dining Center (ISR)

  • On the 2nd level of the Illinois Street Residence Halls

    

  • Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/YAjbXYBRVp8atMxm6 
• Lincoln Avenue Dining Hall (LAR)
  • Accessible via Allen Hall or the LAR entrance

  • Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JMKDrq8q9tdkkTET6 
• Pennsylvania Avenue Dining Hall (PAR)

  • On the bottom floor of Pennsylvania Avenue Residence Halls

    

  • Googme Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ir4zrLR4mzT7Acoo6 

These accept Classic Meals, Dining Dollars, or Illini Cash—all tied to your i-card’s account. 

Retail & Convenience Locations

Besides the major dining halls, these retail spots also accept your Dining Dollars or Illini Cash:

• 57 North—Located on the first floor of the Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP) in Ikenberry Commons, 57 North offers snacks, hot food, supplies and treats priced individually, similar to a convenience store. You may also order prepared foods to-go in-store or ahead of time using the Illinois app.
• The Caffeinator—Located on the second floor of the Student Dining and Residential Programs Building (SDRP) in Ikenberry Commons, The Caffeinator offers an assortment of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, smoothies, coffee drinks, teas and more.
• Corner Café—The newest addition to our retail locations, the Corner Café offers a cozy, inviting space inside Florida Avenue Residence Halls to enjoy a nice cup of coffee and a bite to eat. In addition to specialty coffee drinks, you can choose from a variety of teas and smoothies and fuel up with a fresh pastry, a featured entrée, or a healthy salad.
• InfiniTEA – Serves teas, drinks, pastries in ISR (Illinois Street Residence Halls)
• TerraByte – Convenience and supplies store in ISR

Reddit users confirm usage at some of these:

“You can use them at the convenience stores in Ike (57 North), PAR (Urbana South Market), and ISR (TerraByte); at the coffee-shop like places InfiniTea (in ISR)”

Do you want to know what menu will be served?

You can check the available foods at  https://web.housing.illinois.edu/diningmenus

The Illinois App puts your food at your fingertips! Get menus, nutrition and allergen information, dining hall hours, balances and reload your Illini cash!: iPhone App | Android App

How to Check Your Dining Dollars Balance

1. Log in to MyHousing

• Your Dining Dollars balance (along with Classic Meals or Illini Cash, if applicable) can be viewed through the University Housing website by logging into your MyHousing account. https://web.housing.illinois.edu/IlliniCash 

2. Use the Illinois App

• You can also check your balance using the Illinois app, which provides access to your Dining Dollars and other meal plan details.

3. Refresh for Accuracy

• If the balance doesn’t seem to update right away, try closing and reopening the app or website—sometimes it takes 20–30 minutes for recent transactions to reflect.