As a senior, so much of my future remains in flux. What am I going to do after I graduate? What is it going to feel like when I graduate? Will I even graduate?

Amidst all this uncertainty, there’s only one institution that I can rely on to be consistent every day of the week. That’s right—the HUDS soup bar.

As both a soup connoisseur and an individual whose brain is basically soup at this point (I know it’s only four weeks into the semester, but I said what I said), I consider myself uniquely qualified to rank our dining halls’ brothy offerings.

I will not be providing opinions on the Chili/Stew Bar, nor will I be judging any soups not offered in a standard upperclassmen dining hall within the past week. All evaluation is independent of my prior experiences eating food apart from HUDS meals. Grading follows the new 20% + 4 standard.

Buffalo Chicken Soup - F Tier

This is a sauce someone accidentally poured into a soup warmer. Better than I remembered, but that’s not saying much. To be clear: I wouldn’t refuse it if directly offered, but I’d never willingly seek it out myself.

Black Bean Soup - D Tier

The beans are slightly undercooked, and the body a tad oversalted. This soup feels like it belongs in a steam table pan behind the glass barrier of a Chipotle-style serving line. It can go well with rice, on occasion. Don’t hold your breath, though.

Chicken Noodle Soup - D Tier

A touch salty for my taste, but nothing objectionable. Decent texture, and a classic for a reason. However, there’s clearly some je ne sais quoi it’s missing. Perhaps some ginger and turmeric? Actual chicken flavor? Love? Whatever it is, it’s important.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup - D Tier

I find it consistently oversalted and, perhaps my personal bias is coming on a little too strong here, but I’m skeptical of any soup whose primary ingredient is cheese. But, more than that, this soup’s ranking comes from the fact that its namesake broccoli is more often undercooked or overcooked than not. I don’t like playing texture roulette!

Italian Meatball Soup - C Tier

A decent, brothy fallback, though often more watery than I’d like. In addition to the inconsistency of its flavor, the logistics of ladling this soup keep it firmly in the “C” category. I don’t want to go hunting for meatballs.

Lasagna Soup with Chicken Sausage - C Tier

This soup lives up to its name. It truly tastes like liquid lasagna—which hits when it hits, but this soup’s one-note nature means my enjoyment varies too much based on my mood for it to rank any higher.

White Bean and Escarole Soup - C Tier

Frankly, quite a bit better than I remembered. A largely enjoyable texture (though the escarole might not be to everyone’s taste) and well-seasoned to boot. I don’t know how else to describe it other than “tired barista with a warm smile but sad eyes.”

Cream of Jalapeno Soup - B Tier

A more recent addition to the soup rotation, I believe. I find it generally well-seasoned, though my particular batch was a touch on the saltier side. Overall, a balanced flavor and a widely acceptable level of spice. I’d give it an A, but its cream base makes it too rich for my regular consumption.

Lentil Soup - B Tier

Another soup I found myself enjoying more than I remembered. A surprising standout of my personal Soup Week™. It’s got a good flavor, an enjoyable texture, and feels like a pretty substantial soup without being weighty.

Tomato Basil Soup - B Tier

You know what you’re getting—it’s like if marinara sauce had a fun hat. And honestly? That’s fine. I’m feeling generous!

Clam Chowder - A Tier

I’ve had a lot of clam chowder in my life. If I were making a clam chowder-specific tier list, this iteration would be a fair bit lower in the rankings. However, we’re looking at HUDS soups, and so the HUDS’ New England Clam Chowder is—in context—an excellent choice.

Roasted Vegetable Soup - A Tier

I feel like a little creature from Redwall when I’m drinking this soup. “A” for vibes, as well as a genuinely nice flavor and texture combo.

Sweet Potato Chipotle Soup - A Tier

This soup has a good consistency—thick but not heavy!—and I do enjoy the mild heat. A dependable and pleasant flavor profile, but missing just a touch of something that would bring it to S tier.

Kale Soup with Uncured Chourico - S Tier

I love a good, brothy soup. The flavors are just complex enough to be interesting but not so much that it feels like an event. The first time I had this soup was a revelation in terms of what a HUDS soup could be. The only issue I have is that the doneness of the beans can be inconsistent. Talk about texture roulette.

There you have it, folks! I hope that my Soup Week™ reflections will help you in your times of need. Feel free to put my ranking to the test and try all 14 soups yourself this week. Or, better yet, just take my word for it.