Library Mall

Such a great place to get a variety of food at an affordable price. It’s a great atmosphere, especially in the summer. There’s so much great ethnic food. I would recommend Caracas Empanadas, Banzo, and the Korean Taco food stand. Their used to be a Healthy Mexican Food truck but haven’t seen it recently. However, if it’s around thru have great tamales.

Very beautiful area with 8+ food trucks during the lunch rush and lots of benches to enjoy your food on! Surrounded by lovely gothic architecture to look at and tall trees providing shade… it can be a really serene place to relax. Of course sometimes there are events going on here and a random hardcore religious advocate shouting at the crowd.

I’m a big fan of FIB’S — Fine Italian Beef. The food is great and the cart brings back memories of time spent in Chicago. The meatball sub is the best I’ve ever had and a fellow worker, who’s a professed chili hot dog expert says that FIB’S chili dog is the best she’s had.
I recently found out that the owner of the cart donates to local homeless shelters quite often. Wonderful !

I could eat lunch here everyday for the rest of my life, and I am probably well on my way to doing just that. I was not sure to just review the carts individually, but like the Madison Farmers Market, I believe the whole collection of vendors is part of the experience.
The food carts are all placed on the space between the Library and the University Bookstore. Lunch in an outdoor setting and fantastic people watching, occasionally even music. One of the best days I had last summer was accidentally coming across a mariachi band while hunting for lunch.
And I never tire of the food. I can sample a new meal each day without trouble. By the time I go through everything available, a new cart is usually up and running and testing out the waters.
The longest lines are always at Buraka, Jamerica, and Sukhothai (when they are there). Which is fine, because I can get lunch quickly at my favorites the Local Stanley or FIB’s. FIB’s used to serve a meatball sandwich with balls the size of oranges. They’ve reduced them to the size of golf balls, which makes lunch slightly disappointing but is probably better for my arteries.
Be warned, currently the Library Mall has gaping hole across most of it where water main work is being done. And campus construction projects always last a long time, making a crowded space far more crowded.