450+ Best Cafeteria Business Name Ideas (Ultimate List)

The cafeteria sometimes called a canteen outside of the United States, is often the only place to eat inside a school, hospital, or corporate building. Some refer to this gathering place as the lunchroom or dining hall, where people usually get their food, eat, and meet with classmates or coworkers.

Unlike a regular restaurant, cafeterias don’t have a waiting table staff to get your orders, but instead, pick up and pay your food via food counters or stalls. There are often food stations where customers can order pre-made food like cold sandwiches or served hot items like hamburgers or pasta. Customers are given empty container cups after paying at the checkout counter to fill out for their drinks.

Despite the convenience of self-serve counters, the “old” cafeteria within hospitals, schools, and workplace buildings has been synonymous with low-grade food. This is probably due to the fast preparation and volume servings these food services entail. However, a number of current cafeterias are bucking this trend by offering a more modern and healthy way of serving their food. Modern cafeterias provide the option of creating your own meal by laying out a variety of vegan, vegetarian, and protein-based meal options.

This updated spin on the cafeteria has led to a resurgence in the space. If you’re innovative and plan to put up one, you have to start with an inviting name. But don’t forget that the food served should match the name. In this article, we present you with some creative name suggestions you can use when naming a cafeteria.

Cafeteria Name Ideas

Thinking of a name to put into that startup cafeteria business? Look no further than the suggestions listed below.

• Simple Foods
• Creative Food Ideas
• Wrap N’ Roll
• Gather ‘n’ Grub
• Communal Kitchen
• Line Up Diner
• Banter Bites
• Chatterbox Cafeteria
• Social Supper Club
• Meeting Point Eats
• Group Grub Galley
• Mingling Meals
• Conversation Café
• Shared Spoon
• Buzzing Banquet
• Community Chow Down
• Line & Dine
• Table Talk Treats
• Collective Cuisine
• Friendship Feast
• Chat & Chew
• The Roundtable Refectory
• Social Sizzle Spot
• Green and Healthy
• Go, Grow, and Glow
• Food Variations
• Food Colony
• Smart Counters
• Food Choices
• Food As Fun
• Hype Foods
• Around the Counter
• Complete Package
• Nutri Stop
• Amazing Trays
• Food Chain
• #Cafeteria
• All In One
• Happy Plates
• Jungle Feast Café
• Courtside Bites
• Splash N’ Munch
• Community Corner Café
• Parkside Pantry
• Animal Kingdom Eatery

Related Reading: 25-Step Plan to Making Your Food Company a Reality

• Goalpost Grub
• Poolside Platters
• Central Park Café
• Urban Oasis Eats
• Safari Snack Shack
• Field Day Diner
• Aquatic Eats
• Neighborhood Nibbles
• Green Grove Grub
• Wild World Bistro
• Sporty Spoon
• Lakeside Lunchroom
• Recreation Refuel
• Meadows Munchies
• Zoo Zest Eats
• Game Day Diner
• Splashpad Snackery
• Pavilion Pantry
• Trailside Treats
• Leisure Lounge
• Arena Eats
• Community Kitchen
• Nature Nook Café
• Playful Palate
• Serenity Snacks
• Fitness Fuel Station
• Garden Grove Café
• Waterside Wharf
• Athletic Eats
• Parkview Provisions
• Eco Eats
• Wildlife Café
• Active Appetite
• Pavilion Provisions
• Grove Grub
• Habitat Hangout
• Rec Room Refresh
• Explorer’s Eatery
• Outdoor Oasis
• Trailblazer Bites
• Serene Scene Café
• Green Space Grille
• Urban Jungle Café
• Nature’s Table
• Incredible Diets
• Hearty Tummies
• Real Meals
• Quantum Cafeteria
• Cafeteria Charts
• Via Cafeteria
• Cafeteria Unlimited
• Snap Cafeteria
• Sunny Side Cafeteria
• Cafeteria Street

Hospital Cafeteria Name Ideas

Cafeterias are often found in hospitals, ready to serve employees, patients, and visitors alike. If you’re planning to open inside this health care facility, here are some appropriate name ideas.

• Vitamin Cafe
• Healthy Eats
• E.R. (Entrée Room)
• Recovery Food
• Emergency Break
• Doctor’s Orders
• Hospitality Food
• Prescription Meals
• Diet Rehabilitation
• Gastronomic Delights
• Rehabilitation Area
• Operating Tables
• EMS (Exciting Meals Served)
• ICU (Impressive Chefs Unit) <– Proud of this one.
• MRI (Most Requested Indulgence)
• Foodology Department
• ICU (Intensive Cooking Unit)
• GI (Gastro Intensive)
• ENT (Emergency Nutritional Team)
• EMT (Epic Meal Time)
• RX (Refreshments Xtreme)
• Prescribed Nutrition
• RN (Requested Nutrition)
• Digestive Juices
• Food Ambulance
• The Food Ward
• Health Care Provider
• Nutritional Value
• In and Out Patient Diner
• The Staff Cafe
• Healers’ Haven
• Caregivers’ Cafeteria
• Medicinal Meals
• The Nourishing Nurse
• Recovery Room Café
• Flat-line Cafe
• Wellness Diner
• The Health Hub
• Healing Harvest
• Prescription Plates
• Nurse’s Nook
• Doctor’s Diner
• Patient’s Pantry
• Therapeutic Thyme
• Medic’s Munchies
• The Recovery Refectory
• Lifesavers’ Lunchroom
• Wellness Café
• Heartbeat Bistro
• Care Café
• The Healing Hearth
• Hospital Harmony Eatery
• The Comfort Cafeteria
• Serenity Suppers
• The Caretaker’s Kitchen

School Cafeteria Name Ideas 

These names aim to capture various elements of the school environment, from learning and growth to the playful nature of school life.

• Brainfood Bistro
• Lunchbox Lounge
• Pupil’s Pantry
• Knowledge Nosh
• The Learning Lunchline
• Educators’ Eats
• Schoolyard Snacks
• Scholars’ Supper
• Study Break Café
• Grow and Dine
• Classroom Café
• Academic Appetite
• Teacher’s Treats
• Recess Refuel
• Kid’s Corner Kitchen
• Teen Treats Tavern
• Young Minds Menu
• The Cafeteria Club
• Lunch Lady Land
• Student’s Choice Café
• Apple for the Teacher Eats
• The Report Card Resto
• Homework Haven
• Playground Pantry
• A+ Eats
• Quiz Cuisine
• The Learning Lunchroom
• Brain Break Bites
• The Grade A Grille
• Lunchtime Learners
• School Spirit Snacks
• Study Hall Eatery
• Campus Cuisine
• Little Learners Lunch
• Student Union Eats
• Genius Grub
• Classroom Chow
• The Clever Cafeteria
• Bell Break Bistro
• Blackboard Bites
• Recess Restaurant
• Chalkboard Chow
• Playground Platters
• Education Station Eats
• The Scholar’s Spread
• Elementary Eats
• Midday Munch
• The Student Stomping Ground
• Pencil Pusher’s Pantry
• The Honor Roll Refectory
• Bookworm Bites
• The Brainy Banquet
• Fuel for Thought
• The Edible Education
• Wisdom’s Window Café
• Clever Canteen
• Lunchtime Learning Lab
• Young Achiever’s Eatery
• Academia Appetizers
• The Thoughtful Thali
• Hallway Feast
• Learning Lunch Lab
• Educational Eats
• The Busy Bee Café
• Intellectual Indulgence
• Nutrition for Knowledge
• The Enlightened Eater
• The Principal’s Plates
• The Smart Snack Spot
• The Campus Cookery
• The Study Snack
• Scholars’ Snack Shack
• The Knowledge Nibble
• The Classroom Cookout
• The Academic Eatery

University Cafeteria Name Ideas

• The Scholar’s Spread
• Campus Cuisine Corner
• Degree Diner
• Magna Cum Munchies
• Bachelor’s Bistro
• Masters’ Menu
• Faculty Feast
• Professors’ Pantry
• Summa Cum Supper
• Phi Beta Bites
• Diploma Delights
• Campus Commons
• The Study Snackery
• Grad Grub
• Varsity Victuals
• Mascot Meals
• Thesis Thali
• Ivy League Eats
• Grade A Grub
• The Union Eatery
• Major Munch
• Freshman Feed
• Cap and Gown Café
• Student Plaza Plates
• The Academic Appetite
• Lecture Hall Luncheon
• The Campus Cookhouse
• The Seminar Supper
• Alumni Eats
• Campus Chapters Café
• Pizza and Professor’s Place
• Salute to Salad Spot
• Bookworm Bites
• The Lab Lunch
• Mascot Munchies
• Collegiate Cuisine
• Student Success Snacks
• The Campus Culinary Club
• Campus Legacy Café
• The A+ Cafeteria
• Honors Hall Eatery
• The Lecture Lounge
• The Campus Grove Grill
• The Final Exam Eatery
• The Campus Quad Café
• The Study Hall Bites
• Undergrad Eats
• The Campus Crossroads
• The School Spirit Spot
• The Honor Roll Hangout
• The Scholarly Slice
• The Campus Courtyard Café
• The Freshman Fork
• The Diploma Diner
• The Varsity Vegan
• PhD Provisions
• Campus Legends Diner
• The Graduation Grille
• The Syllabus Snack Bar
• The Textbook Tavern
• The Campus Trolley
• The University Uptake
• The Matriculation Menu
• The Student Union Spread
• The Library Bites
• The Athletic Eats
• The Grade F Diner
• The Freshmen Feast
• The University Oasis
• The Campus Collage
• The Mascot Manor
• The College Kaleidoscope
• The Student Plaza Platter
• The Academic Archway
• The Campus Carousel

Mess Hall Name Ideas 

• Sergeant’s Supper Spot
• Barracks Banquet Hall
• Brig Bites
• Chow Line Central
• Cellblock Chowdown
• Mess Duty Diner
• The Boot Camp Buffet
• The Guard’s Galley
• Private’s Plate
• Fortitude Feast
• Marching Meal House
• Enlisted Eats
• Lockup Luncheon
• Discipline Diner
• The Mess Sergeant’s Table
• Rank and File Refectory
• Troop Treats
• The Iron Bar Inn
• Soldier’s Spread
• Camo Cuisine
• The Drill Dining Hall
• Barricade Buffet
• The Cell Chow
• The Mandatory Menu
• Ration Room
• The Last Resort Restaurant
• Cadet’s Cafeteria
• The Solitary Supper
• The Mess Deck
• Bunker Bistro
• The Brig Bistro
• Warden’s Welcome
• Battle Bites
• The Chow Hall
• Inmate’s Inn
• Prisoner’s Platter
• Armed Forces Eats
• The Chowdown Bunker
• The Penitentiary Pantry
• The Basic Training Buffet
• The Lockdown Lunchroom
• The Grunt’s Grub
• The Chain Gang Grille
• The Duty Dish
• No Choice Nosh
• The Service Spread
• The Cellblock Café
• The Bivouac Banquet
• Inmate’s Intake
• Barracks Brunch
• The Deployment Diner
• The Conscript’s Kitchen
• The Jailbird Joint
• The Commissary Kitchen
• The Minimalist Meal
• The Chow Line
• The G.I. Grub
• The Basic Mess
• The Trench Tray
• The Penal Platter
• The Dine & Drill
• The Sentry Supper
• The Boot Bite
• The Barracks Bites
• The Mess Kit Kitchen
• Guard’s Grub
• The Big House Buffet
• The Ration Room
• Limited Luxuries Luncheon
• The Cadence Cafeteria
• Prison Provisions
• The Detention Diner
• The Drill Hall Dining
• The Convict’s Cuisine
• The Fort Feast

Office Cafeteria Name Ideas

Every office building must-have a place where employees can gather, relax, and eat during a day of work. Employers have found these places to be good for the bottom line since they keep employees in the building instead of leaving the work-site to pickup a meal. We’ve come up with some creative names you can use for your staff cafeteria below.

• Break Time!
• Meeting Place
• Executive Meals
• The Boardroom
• The Pinnacle
• The 11th Floor
• President’s Choice
• Overlooking Cafeteria
• The Dining Room
• The Office Café
• Team Goals
• The Top
• Corporate Larder
• Hungry Tummy
• Outside the Box
• Going Forward
• Synergy Cafeteria
• Touch Base
• Raising the Bar
• Pipeline
• Food Staples
• Paper Clips
• The Corkboard
• Promotions Cafeteria
• Corporate Cafe
• The Boardroom Bistro
• Synergy Supper
• Power Lunch Pavilion
• Business Bites
• The Innovation Eatery
• Teamwork Tavern
• Goal Getter’s Grille
• The Executive Eatery
• Collaborative Cuisine
• Strategy Snack Bar
• Office Oasis
• The Networking Nook
• The Productivity Pantry
• Success Suppers
• The Brainstorm Buffet
• The Meeting Point
• Ambition Appetite
• The Corporate Kitchen
• The Deadline Diner
• Efficiency Eats
• The Briefing Bistro
• Achievement Alcove
• The Breakroom Banquet
• The Goal Plate
• The Taskforce Table
• The Visionary’s Venue
• Peak Performance Pantry
• The Enterprise Eatery
• The Motivation Meal
• The Startup Stop
• The Workday Café
• Team Table
• The Corporate Corner
• The Office Orchard
• The Boardwalk Buffet
• The Growth Grub
• The Industry Inn
• Progress Plaza
• The Aspire Attic
• The Cubicle Café
• The Conference Room Cookery
• The Professional’s Plate
• The Leader’s Lunchroom
• The Skyline Snackery
• The Business Brunch
• The Corporate Commune
• The Office Oasis Eatery
• The Working Lunch
• The Ambitious Appetite
• Corner Meals
• Corporate Countertops
• Food Gallery
• The CEO Balcony
• Director Food Court

Canteen Name Ideas

Did you know that cafeteria and canteen are interchangeable terms? These words were caught between the British-American language. The British call it canteen, while American English has used the term cafeteria for places to eat. As such, these interchangeable name suggestions can also be used for your startup cafeteria.

• Win-Win Canteen
• Summertime
• Laugh Out Loud
• Viral
• Food Fest
• Abundance
• Selections
• Study Canteen
• Canteen Empire
• Dream Canteen
• Radiance Canteen
• Feast Factory
• Mealtime Mecca
• Eats Emporium
• Chow Chamber
• Snack Shack
• Dine Den
• Munch Manor
• Culinary Cove
• Nibble Nest
• Savory Spot
• The Hungry Canteen
• Gourmet Grove
• Pallet Palate
• Tuck-In Tavern
• Flavor Fort
• The Foodie Foyer
• Sizzle Station
• The Lunchbox Loft
• Sun Valley Canteen
• Canteen Hut
• Metropolis Canteen
• Canteen For Life
• First Canteen
• Beachside Canteen
• Canteen Haven
• Snacks Galore
• Dine-In
• Goodies
• Munch Bunch
• Meal Time!
• Chow Down
• Have a Bite
• Happy Tummy
• Snack Time
• Next Level
• The Food Guys

Funny Cafeteria Name Ideas

They say that laughter is a universal language. As such, a funny name can appeal to anywhere you decide to open. In this section, we’ve attempted to organize names that fit into this category.

• Chew Chew Train
• Tummy Boy
• Action Jackson
• Mystery Meat Café
• Guess-What Grub Hub
• The Suspicious Stew Spot
• Questionable Quiche Corner
• The Chew & Regret
• Risky Biscuit Buffet
• Cafeteria of Last Resort
• The Dubious Dish
• Tummy Troubles Tavern
• The Leftover Lounge
• Dicey Dining Hall
• The Sketchy Skillet
• Hesitation Hash House
• The Food Fiasco
• Guess-It Gourmet
• The Odd Ladle
• The ‘Maybe It’s Edible’ Eatery
• The Mysterious Morsel
• Wary Diner’s Delight
• Potluck Purgatory
• Brave Bite Bistro
• The Unidentifiable Feast
• The Flavour or Favor
• The Haphazard Hotplate
• Leap of Faith Lunchroom
• The Iffy Ingredient Inn
• Grin and Bear It Grille
• The Cafeteria Conundrum
• Dare to Dine
• The ‘What Is It?’ Café
• Bland Banquet
• The Mediocre Mealhouse
• The Food Gamble Galley
• The Suspenseful Spoon
• The Daring Dish Diner
• The Culinary Coin Toss
• The Gastronomic Guess
• The Cafeteria Concoction
• The Surprising Spread
• The Unusual Eats Emporium
• The Hopeful Bite
• Gourmet Guesswork
• The Cafeteria Roulette
• The Risky Repast
• The Unpredictable Platter
• The Questionable Cuisine
• The Puzzling Palate
• The Dubious Deli
• The ‘Good Luck’ Lunch Line
• The Cafeteria Adventure

Related Reading: Unforgettable Turkish Restaurant Name Ideas You Can Use

• Starducks
• Bread Pit
• Chickpoint
• The Last Supper
• MacDonuts
• Eats Good to Go
• The Fried of California
• Ken Afford
• Ice Bucks
• Let’s Do Eat
• Nacho Fast
• Steak Side
• Tom Cruz Grill
• Wok Man
• Wrap and Roll
• Meating Place
• Bean Der Cafe
• Five Thirsty
• Brewer Than Brewed
• Meatropolis
• Eatscetera
• Stick for More
• Dish Man
• Eats A Date
• FoodCast
• TwEater
• EatsTaGram

Tips for Naming a Cafeteria

Not your ordinary cafeteria food.

Just like any other startup business, there are certain ways you can do to determine how you can come up with your unique business name. A lot of businesses use their own names to stand out from the crowd, while some use catchy names or phrases to have a good memory recall among its consumers. If you’re not settled with the idea, here are some tips you can do to name that startup cafeteria of yours.

• Based on Mission Statement. Your mission statement embodies your values and an expression of who you are. Incorporating your mission statement into your cafeteria business name will reflect among your customers who you are and what you’re ready to share them. It may be in a form of paying homage to a person who is known to have made an impact on others or probably creating awareness about a certain cause.
• Location-Based. Probably you’ve noticed that some eating places name their restaurants or cafeteria where they are based. This has been done to remind people where they’re located since most of us ask where a certain establishment is located when we’re trying to recall something we’ve been to. This eliminates the process of people searching for where you are located.
• Use Catchy Names. Using catchy names such as funny ones will surely get everyone’s attention. Catchy names also create instant brand recall, making your cafeteria a top of mind among your customers. Just be sure that the menu you served will live up to your cafeteria name. You may refer to the name suggestions we’ve come up with earlier in this article.
• Recognition. It is also a good idea to pay homage to what building you’re cafeteria is located. Cafeterias located inside known or historical buildings can tag along with your cafeteria on being remembered by your patrons. If the hospital you’re located in is named after a saint, try to play off it if that’s appropriate. It can also create instant brand recall in your cafeteria.

One last that thing that you should keep in mind is that this industry has been impacted by the global pandemic. Prior to 2020, you could expect the larger food contract industry that includes cafeteria businesses to grow. Instead the industry is projected to shrink by 9.5%.  This is largely the result of COVID-19 related precessions. With more employees working from home and less visitors being allowed in hospitals, it really cuts into the profitability of these businesses.

Longterm these food service businesses will return and flourish again, but in the coming months and even years, you should proceed with caution before opening this sort of business. If you’re serious about starting a food business, we encourage you to join our exclusive newsletter with 40,000+ food and beverage entrepreneurs. You’ll also get our Food Business Startup Kit immediately when you sign up.