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San Diego State University - Campus Dining

Campus Dining:

B-

(explain this grade)

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Quick Stats

Freshman Meal Plan Requirement

Yes - A freshman meal plan is only required for students living in on-campus dorms. Freshmen living off campus are not required to have a meal plan.

Off-Campus Places to Use Meal Plan

  • None

Average Meal Plan Cost

$3,000 per semester

Student Favorites

  • Rubio’s
  • Panda Express

24 hour Dining

  • None, although there are a few locations near campus.

Other Options

  • Aztec Center also has a Starbucks that is open late, which hosts jam sessions, live music, and poetry readings.

College Prowler Take

Your on-campus dining experience all depends on your personal tastes. San Diego State offers a plethora of fast food options and not much else. There is only one dining hall as opposed to the 10-plus locations of fast food outlets. If you are a healthy eater, it will be quite difficult for you to satisfy your appetite here at SDSU. There are no really healthy alternatives except for the Salad Bistro, which sometimes carries less than fresh ingredients. Sub Connection is perhaps the best option for those looking to eat something relatively healthy. A few of the restaurants do not accept meal plans and that can be a hassle for students living in the dorms. If you’re a fan of chain restaurants, you’ll probably be happy eating on campus. If you’re not, you’ve got to either sacrifice your current eating habits or bring your food in from off campus.

The Dining Hall facility is rather nice, and the food it offers is above average, granted that it is produced in masses. Some of its selections include pizza, BLTs, omelets, waffles, and cereal. The selection of fast food is decent, but there is not much else besides it. The Commons offer all the fast food choices that you would find driving down the suburbs, not to say that’s a good thing. Once you’ve eaten at a place a few times, you’ll quickly grow tired of it. Eating at the same places day after day will definitely induce a loss of appetite. San Diego State would greatly benefit from fresher food and a stronger variety of dining alternatives. Another dining hall located closer to the heart of campus would also offer a lot to students who are looking for an alternative to fast food.

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Students Speak Out

Love your school more than free food? Hate your school more than term papers?
Somewhere in between? Show the world what YOU think of YOUR school:

Anonymous says:

The food on campus is awful! Aztec...

The food on campus is awful! Aztec Shops has a monopoly on all of the restaurants, which does not make for very diverse food choices.

Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

There are many good places to eat...

There are many good places to eat on campus except for the Cuicacalli dining hall. Panda Express is probably the best place on campus. Other good places include Sub Connection, Sbarro’s, and a few more. The Dining Room at Cuicacalli is mediocre at best.

Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

The food is pretty good, and...

The food is pretty good, and there’s a large variety of places you can eat. The Dining Room is pretty good and they have a different menu every night. Everyone loves breakfast night because it has got the best food. While not the best, the foods here is no worse than at any other school.

Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

The food leaves much to be...

The food leaves much to be desired. I live on Taco Bell because it is the best that I can afford. Everyone seems to love the Panda Express’s Chinese food, but I cannot be spending five dollars a day on lunch. There are few food choices that are affordable, let alone good or healthy in any way.

Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

The food on campus is decent. I...

The food on campus is decent. I like Sub Connection and Panda Express the most. The dining hall is quite crowded during lunch hour, and eating there can be quite a hassle.

Campus Dining
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Dining Halls

Panda Express
Chinese, sushi
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Betty’s HotDogger
Hot dogs, salads, sandwiches
Across from South Art Building on Avenue of Arts
Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–4 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Grill
American
Cuicacalli
Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.–11 p.m.

Juice It Up
Smoothies, fresh juice, healthy snacks
East Commons and West End Plaza
Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–2 p.m.

Daphne's Greek Express
Greek
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
Mexican
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m.

Salad Bistro
Create-your-own salad
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Salad Sensations
Salads
Aztec Center
Monday– Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Sbarro
Italian
Aztec Center
Monday Thursday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Sub Connection
Subs
West End Plaza, East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Taco Bell Express
Mexican
West End Plaza
Monday–Thursday 10 AM–7 PM, Friday 10 AM–2 PM

Just Chill
Frozen yogurt
Aztec Center
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Aztec Markets
Market
Aztec Center, Cuicacalli Suites, East Commons, University Towers, West Commons
Varies by location

So-Cal Chicken
American, grilled chicken, salads, wraps
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Vinnie’s
Italian, pasta, pizza, sandwiches
East Commons
Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

The Dining Room
Buffet-style
Cuicacalli Suites
Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10:15 s.m.,11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Starbucks
Coffee, pastries, tea
Aztec Center, College Avenue, West End Plaza
Monday–Friday 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m. (may vary by location)

The UT Grill and Market
Buffet-style
University Towers
Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.–8 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.–9 p.m.

Did You Know?

San Diego State University has five Aztec markets located all around campus. If you need to go to the store but don’t want to travel far, the Aztec Markets are perfectly convenient.

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Brennan Wasan
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Major: Communications

Life without music could never be imagined.

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