Imagine my amazement and wonder, then, when I set foot on UCSD for the very first time and basked in the cornucopia at my fingertips. A Subway, at my school! Indian food, a full market, a Panda Express - I’d really love to tell you that besides the whole world-renowned education thing, the wide variety of food options had absolutely no bearing on my decision to attend, but I’d be lying through chopstick-chomping teeth.
As the fall quarter sped on I miraculously lost weight, thanks to my newly-active lifestyle (more on that later), but I kept an appreciation of eating well at school and a comprehensive list of the best places to grab a bite, which I’ll now share. (Note: I'm a vegetarian, and some of you might be too, so I'll try to point out meatless options where I can.)
Price Center is the most popular and well-known dining establishment on campus – it was likely your first campus destination during Admit Day, and houses the most "corporate" food vendors. Burger King (24-hours most days), Subway, Rubio’s, Panda Express, Tacone, Bombay Coast, Santorini’s, Croutons, Round Table, Tapioca Express, Shogun, and Yogurt World all call it home, and they’re all delicious - but you’ll be doing yourself a great disservice if you don’t check out the other fantastic options tucked away throughout our lovely school.
(Of special note in Price Center is the Sunshine Market - it's pretty much a 7/11, with friendlier staff and quicker service. I especially love grabbing some inari [sweet tofu with rice], a bottle of tea and maybe a snack from their formidable selection.)
The most popular alternative for students looking to “buck the trend” of big-brand eateries would probably be the Co-Op. Co-op is short for cooperative, which means that the establishment is wholly owned and operated by its patrons - in this case, the student body. Both food-based co-ops (the first is simply known as “the Co-Op”, and the second is the Che Café) serve up fresh, hot, delicious and nutritious vegetarian and vegan food at highly competitive prices. They’re not just environmentally-conscious eateries, but vibrant communities with a lively stream of regulars.
The lucky transfer students living in the Village will get to know this very soon, but for the rest of us: don’t avoid the dining halls! Contrary to high-school cafeteria stigma, the several school-operated eateries peppered throughout campus offer an amazing variety of high-quality food that puts most UCs – and many restaurants- to shame. With recurring themes like Meatless Mondays and individual perks like a sushi station (Café Ventanas), better-than-Chipotle burritos (Goody’s), a frozen yogurt stand (Ocean View Terrace), rotisserie chicken (Plaza), a steady stream of pizza (Foodworx) and the best breakfast sandwiches in the world (Warren’s own Canyon Vista), you’ll never grow hungry – or, more importantly, bored.
Did you know that UCSD has its own performance lounge? The Loft, a hip and trendy nightclub/venue that features many up-and-coming artists is known as Zanzibar Café by day, where it serves classy-but-affordable fare like sandwiches, burgers, Italian sodas and great little meals like gourmet mac ‘n cheese or vegetarian chili with cornbread (for only $5!)
After you head into ERC to watch the Tritons kick butt at RIMAC Stadium, don’t forget to stop at Home Plate, a sports bar-themed grill offering sandwiches, burgers and salads – I’ve heard the seared tuna is especially delicious.
Speaking of bars – and this is going out to the over-21 folks only here – Porter’s Pub is surprisingly legit for being an on-campus watering hole. The wide variety of beer on tap and the very decent food draws you in; the concert stage, karaoke, trivia, and open mic nights get you to stay. Tell Steffan, the owner, that Adam Powers sent you – either good things or bad will happen at that point, depending on whether or not I’ve paid my tab that week.
If you’re a java hound, you’ll be relieved to know that you’re rarely more than a few steps away from a cup of coffee. There are independently-operated carts scattered around the colleges, the Bookstore has Perks, Price Center has Espresso Roma and the Sunshine Market, each of the dining halls serves it… but the best, passionately assured by my friends, lies at Art of Espresso, a permanently-stationed cart on the other side of Mandeville Hall (at the Nobel/Arriba shuttle stop). All of the above locations also serve tea, bagels, pastries, and a variety of other delicious things.
And then there are the off-campus options that are mere minutes away, and easily-accessible via shuttle so you don’t have to give up your parking spot: BJs, Islands, El Torito, Rock Bottom Brewery, TGIF, and more are practically at the tips of your toes.
And that’s all the food I’ve found so far - to reward you for getting to the end of this entry, I’ll let you in on a little secret that few know: Every Wednesday, a group of local monks come to school and set up shop in the Old Student Center (above the Co-Op), toting giant tubs filled with crazy delicious curry, rice, and assorted Indian food, most of it vegan and all of it incredible. For the price of a single meal anywhere else, they’ll permit you to fill up a Tupperware container and nosh for days. You’re welcome.
Now get out there and eat! – I mean, learn!
Adam Powers
Transfer Orientation Group #3
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