Blaring music, rows of chattering students eating lunch, and a noticeable scent of hot grease wafting through the air — Lower Manley is bustling once again with the return of Twisted Taco.
Twisted Taco replaced Slutty Vegan on March 17, a popular fast food vegan spot owned by Pinky Cole, known for its creative branding, tasty burgers and “hooker” fries. While Slutty Vegan was in operation, Lower Manley lost its usual buzz—there was no music, crowds were scattered, and lines were minimal at Slutty Vegan, especially compared to Starbucks.
Zoe Allen, a senior English major at Spelman College, noticed the stark contrast in student engagement between Slutty Vegan and Twisted Taco.
“The first couple of weeks it was funny and cute with the phrases they had, but when people realized the cost, $10 for a burger was not effective for a college student. It was dead. Slutty Vegan had a good two weeks, Twisted Taco has had a good month – it is packed. The line was crazy, they had to put in a conveyor belt to make sure the line did not interfere with the other establishments,” said Zoe Allen.
In August 2023, as a part of a new partnership with Spelman’s dining company, Bon Appétit, it was announced that Slutty Vegan and Ace Susi would open in Lower Manley following a renovation. Slutty Vegan was already popular on social media for its creative branding, vegan options, and celebrity appeal.
However, with an average price of $10 for a burger—without fries or a drink— the vegan restaurant struggled to attract students on campus. For college students on tight budgets, spending that much on a meal was not feasible. Additionally, the restaurant catered to vegans and Spelman does not have many students who identify as such.
According to a Black Enterprise report from February 2025, the decision to close the Spelman location was made by Slutty Vegan itself, not the college.
Twisted Taco reopened on March 17 after students returned from spring break. Its popularity was immediate as lines were formed around Lower Manley during typical rush hours. Unlike Slutty Vegan, Twisted Taco offers affordable and customizable menu items. Students can choose from protein options like veggies, ground beef, chicken and plantains and build burritos, bowls, quesadillas and more.
With prices starting as low as $4 for a la carte items and meals ranging from $8 to $12 before tax, Twisted Taco provides more food at a reasonable cost. Students appreciate meal combo options and the flexibility of customizing their orders without exceeding their budget or meal swipe allowances.
Allen also pointed out price differences between the two restaurants, emphasizing Twisted Taco’s better value for students on a budget.
“I just paid $10 for two tacos with chips and queso. Compared to Slutty Vegan, that’s one burger. A chicken tender basket is $8 and that’s a meal and more food. Slutty Vegan was not doing that . Fries were $3. That’s crazy. Their desserts were vegan desserts,” Allen said.
The closure of Spelman’s Slutty Vegan sparked heated social media discussions on food insecurity on college campuses, the value of supporting Black-owned businesses, and how to balance both. While students appreciated having a well-known Black-owned brand on campus, affordability and flexibility appear to matter more to students.
One user on X, (formerly Twitter) wrote: “You’re talking about college students. Spelman has a name but if yall think everyone on campus has money you’re crazy. I started at Spelman HOMELESS…”
Another user posted, “Spelman voting Slutty Vegan off their campus was smart because why are you asking college students to buy a $20 burger…vegan burger at that. They should have adjusted their prices for those kids, lol.”
On Instagram, one commenter wrote, “Kids need comfort food on campus that is affordable.”
Chyanne Elyse Robinson, a senior English major and commuter student, explained why she didn’t visit Slutty Vegan often:
“As a commuter student with no meal plan, the prices were too high for me,” she said “Paying $15.00 for a burger and it has no fries, or a good meal exchange option if my friends were allowing me to use their meal swipes, it is not plausible for someone going through that.”
A Spelman student, who requested to remain anonymous, recounted her experience treating her Morehouse brother to lunch at Slutty Vegan:
“In my experience, Slutty Vegan was expensive and unreasonably priced for college students. I treated my Morehouse brother to lunch at Slutty Vegan and our two orders were 20 percent of the allocated dining dollars.”
Nigella McConnell, a senior English major, said she didn’t mind Slutty Vegan but prefers Twisted Taco’s return:
“I didn’t mind Slutty Vegan, but I only got one thing off the menu. It’s good to have more options at a better place. Moving forward, I would like to see Spelman dining listening to student concerns more. I feel it will further improve the dining experience for on-and off-campus students. Twisted Taco is a prime example of this.”
Slutty Vegan’s departure raises larger questions about Spelman’s dining priorities. Many students have voiced concerns about Spelman’s dining options, particularly regarding meal exchange flexibility and the overall accessibility of food on campus. Moving forward, students want the administration to prioritize their dining partnerships to match their financial budgets and dietary needs.
Moving forward, students hope future dining options will prioritize affordability, variety, and their voices.
