• There are two typical collegiate dining halls on campus, one in Hill College House (on Walnut, between 33rd and 34th) and the other at 1920 Commons, at the base of the 38th Street Bridge. Both locations are "all you can eat" buffet-style, with a wide variety to choose from. To eat at these two locations, you must be on a meal plan, but as all Freshmen are automatically, that won't be a problem for you.
• The other more traditional-style dining hall is Houston Hall. I could show you it's location on a map, but I don't know its street address, if it even has one. At Houston, you can use Dining Dollars, cash, or you can charge the meal to your bursar account or pay with cash. They serve made-to-order burgers (and veggie alternatives, chicken burgers, and Philly cheesesteaks), pastas, pizza, sushi (!!!), soups, and made-to-order salads. They also sell bottled drinks, chips, and the like. Upstairs, you can get crepes! And next to the dining area, you can get smoothies and ice cream, or rent a DVD at the Video Library! A student favourite, no question. Be sure to go there on the prime Prospie Visitation Days, as they're likely to up the quality for the visiting parents. They had salmon when my parents visited.
• The "retail dining" is where I'm to be found most of the time. They have a Chick-Fil-A, a Subway, a Starbucks, and a Freshens smoothie counter. Also, it's right next to a commissary where you can buy snacks and other sundries like detergent. Like Houston, you can use cash, Dining Dollars, or bursar.
• The Cybercafe probably has an official name (Mark's Cybercafe?), but I don't know it. They have smoothies, sandwiches to go, fruit, yogurt, bagels, scones, etc. A good place to grab breakfast on the run. It's located in Towne, I believe, but the Engineering building is a bit confusing to navigate, so I think it's simpler to think of it as being in Levine. On the south side of Walnut between 33rd and 34th, it takes cash, Dining Dollars, or bursar.

• Cosi: very popular. Fantastic bagels (while college shopping, I joked that I would go to Penn just for their bagels), a huge variety of great sandwiches (I favor the Grilled Chicken TBM), delicious salads, soups, and more. Located right next to the bookstore at 36th and Walnut.)
• Moravian: I think it's still called Moravian. It's the food court at 34th and Walnut. They have a Quizno's, Pizza Famiglia, Taco Bell, and a smoothie/ice cream place.
• New Deck Tavern: An Irish restaurant by day, pub by night. Sansom, between 34th and 35th.
• Pod: trendy to the max. Very pricey, so a good place to go when the parents' are paying. Unforgettably delicious pan-Asian cuisine and an interior reportedly inspired by Kubrick movies (2001 and A Clockwork Orange). Great food and great ambiance. 37th and Sansom.
• Pizza Rustica: Fantastic pizza, with lots of creative and unusual toppings. The mere thought of their pizzas make me gurgle in gastronomic joy At the corner of 36th and Chestnut. Right next to Wawa!
• Starbucks: It wouldn't be civilization without it. Get your fix at 34th and Walnut.
• La Terasse: French food. Another place to eat with parents. Right down the street from New Deck Tavern on Sansom.
• Other places to eat on the East side of the campus: Bubble Tea (34th and Sansom), Auntie Anne's Pretzels (34th and Walnut), Penne (36th and Walnut).

• Ben and Jerry's: Needs no introduction. Located on 40th, between Walnut and Locust.
• Bucks County: A coffee house chain. Like Starbucks, but less Starbucks-y. There's one at 40th and Locust, and another at 34th and Sansom.
• Greek Lady: Americanized Greek food. Can be quite tasty. Their Greek Lady salad with lamb is excellent. A tad overpriced, but by no means outrageous, given that one portion could probably feed a small army. 40th, between Walnut and Locust.
• Izzy and Zoe's: A Jewish deli with fantastic sandwiches. Their corned beef reuben is the best I've ever had. They also serve great breakfast food, all day! Located on 40th, between Walnut and Locust.
• Marathon Grill: A wide variety of delicious food. They have a smoothie menu that takes up an entire page. A great place to go on special occasions, when Pod is out of the price range. On the corner of 40th and Walnut, next to The Bridge theatre.
• Philly Diner: Like an IHOP or Denny's, but a bit seedier. Walnut, between 39th and 40th. Serves all kinds of food you can't find anywhere else on campus, and serves breakfast 24/7!
• Q'doba: Decent Mexican food, for when my Inner Texan cries out for it. Located at 40th and Locust.
• Won: Pretty tasty Chinese. Really fast to-go service, or you can choose to eat in. 40th, between Walnut and Locust.
• Thai Singha House: Fabulous Thai food! 40th and Chestnut.
• Also: Chili's (38th and Chestnut), Cereality (37th and Walnut). And there are a couple of good Indian buffets around, but I can't remember their names. One is at 40th and the other is on 38th. I can't remember the cross-streets, but they're probably near Chestnut.

I personally don't visit them very often, but to many of my friends, they're indispensable. Another student has compiled a guide here, though it's a couple years out of date, so I'm not sure how accurate it is. Also, see her dining recs here.

• Fresh Grocer is pretty much your one-stop spot to shop (I love randomly using that phrase). They have pretty much everything you'll ever need. Located conviently for the High Rises at 40th and Walnut, across the street from The Bridge Cinema.
• CVS: Your standard drugstore, but with a sizeable aisle for sundries. Cereal, Ramen, Kraft macaroni, milk, etc. You get the picture. Locations at 42nd and Locust, 39th and Walnut, and 36th and Chestnut. They're building a new one next door to Moravian at 34th and Walnut, and it should be open by the time school starts.
• Wawa: No, I'm not kidding about the name. It's like a 7-11, I guess. They're a convenience store. They sell sundries, and also premade sandwiches. Locations at 38th and Spruce(?) and 36th and Chestnut, that I know of.

Deserves its own category. Place orders online for delivery or pick-up, for a huge list of great restaurants. A huge boon when it's freezing cold outside any you can't be bothered to bundle up and walk a few blocks to get something to eat. Izzy and Zoe's and Greek Lady are listed, as are a bunch of great pizza places (I favor College Pizza and California Pizza), ethnic restaurants (I'm a fan of New Number One [Chinese]). Explore! Your food will generally arrive in 20 min to an hour. It's often wise to buy food with a friend, as most of the restaurants have a minimum cost for delivery, but I get around that by buying several meals' worth of food at once, and relying on trusty mr. microwave to get me through. I can get 5 meals out of $15 worth of food. Not too shabby.

I only venture off-campus for dining on special occasions, but if you're craving some good ethnic food, there's a lot to be found in Philadelphia. Check out another student's guide here. A few years out of date, but there shouldn't be too much of a difference.