ALHAMBRA, Calif. – A local school district is serving food options as diverse as the student body.

The Alhambra Unified School District debuted a global food bar this year at all three district high schools. In addition to traditional meals, students now also have the choice of ramen noodles, nachos, and pho.

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Senior Food Service Manager Rudy Molina says this year the nutrition department decided to select dishes that reflect the cultural tastes of students in a district that is majority Asian and Latino.

“When I first started, I been working here for about 28 years now and the meals have changed from basic friend, burgers, sandwiches, and it’s gotten a little bit more complex,” Molina said. “We have a pho bar, sushi, we make pizzas, so we’ve evolved greatly since I’ve been here.”

The change helps friends from different ethnicities break bread.

Kaitlyn Lam, who is Vietnamese American, enjoys sharing pho with Samantha Wu, who is Chinese American.  

“The broth they make feels homemade for me,” Lam said. “And it’s good that other cultures and races get to also try pho.”

The pho costs just over $3 for paying students, and is also available for students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

Students at Alhambra High, Mark Keppel High and San Gabriel High all have the global food bar.