Best Rated Student-Run Eateries in Buena Vista

Loco Moco, rissoles, sushi, and egg rolls are only a few of the various cuisines offered in the small town of Buena Vista, Virginia. The quiet community is quickly becoming home to student entrepreneurs from all around the world as Southern Virginia University’s enrollment numbers increase each year.

With the COVID-19 pandemic still present, some students have had fewer opportunities for conventional work and more opportunities for remote learning and employment. Innovation and entrepreneurship have quickly become the status quo, as student-run businesses are popping up under the radar, marketing through social media and word of mouth as students from across the globe bring their talents and taste buds to campus. Students have rated their favorite student-run restaurants in Buena Vista as the following:

Shaka Eats

The Shaka Eats team had a goal to bring their childhood experiences in the Islands to Buena Vista, Virginia.

Tia Vui (‘22), Niko Vui (‘22), and Kaipo Tagaloa (’21) are Samoan students, joined with Hawaiian-raised Joyden Madriaga (‘22). The four friends, according to Tia Vui, “were all brought up in different cultures, eating different foods.”

Their Polynesian blend of Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tongan influence features plates with chicken teriyaki, “Loco Moco”(Hawaiian dish consisting of rice, hamburger, a fried egg, and gravy), or orange chicken, with rice and mac salad.

Vui adds, “We just decided it would be a good idea to bring those different cultures together and share it with the people here in BV.” Shaka Eats only accepts pre-orders and meets on campus for more convenient pick-up.

Mama Blake’s

Matt Blake (‘21), owner of Mama Blake’s, says that his mom’s passion for Filipino food and culture was a prominent part of his childhood.

“Part of Filipino culture is that they like to come together to make food,” said Blake. “For any sort of event, we would all come together and make egg rolls, the filling, the wrapping… we would have these almost every other week growing up.”

Blake makes wontons, egg rolls and fried rice, modeled after the food his mom used to make for him when he was younger. Open six days a week, Blake has made cooking Filipino food for the community his full-time source of income. Delivery options are available for late-night study breaks.

Mountain Sushii

Not all student-run restaurants started as childhood experiences. Over the summer, Mountain Sushii was created by two Southern Virginia University students — Chiara Ballam (’21) and Donnell Solomon (‘22) — who just had a passion for making sushi.

Ballam says, “A lot of people drive like an hour to go to Charlottesville to get sushi…I figure if there’s sushi in town, a lot of people would like that…especially if it’s student-run.”

With lower prices than Lexington competition, Mountain Sushi attracts students with their California, spicy tuna, and spicy shrimp volcano rolls.

C&D Doces

C&D doces, portuguese word for candy, started in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, as Cole Porter (’24) served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Porter says, “Whenever I had to make my own food there, I had to learn how to make it.” Experiences in Brazil started Porter’s passion for Brazilian cuisine, and he quickly realized his friends back in the United States would want to try it too.

“I started by asking my friends what recipes they would want to try,” said Porter. “I felt like it was something really unique and really good to be able to share. I also wanted to learn how to run my own business, especially in a safe environment like college.”

What started off as Brazilian sweets has quickly become a larger menu of ground beef or ham and cheese rissoles, traditional Brazilian chicken stroganoff, and Brazilian fudge. With late-night hours and delivery options available, Porter supplies some of the only Brazilian food in the area.

Thanks to a diverse student body, cultures from around the world are represented at Southern Virginia University. Order from these student-run businesses on Instagram:

@shaka.eats

@mama_blakes_bv

@candddoces_bv

@6mountainsushii