Stanford University
- Campus Dining

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Stanford University - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler5.00

Campus Dining

Quick Stats

Average Meal Plan Cost $5176 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Residents of specially designated University residence halls must participate in a meal plan.
Student Favorites: Campus Dining Hall Ricker Dining
Student Favorites: Campus Restaurant/Vendor
  • Ike's Place (Call in your order because the line is always an hour or more.)
  • The Treehouse
Student Favorites: Breakfast Food on Campus Make-your-own-omelet bar
Student Favorites: Lunch/Dinner Entrée on Campus
  • Chicken Caesar wrap
  • Pad Thai
Student Favorites: Late-night Snack on Campus "Tri-Plate" from Lakeside Dining includes chicken fingers, fries, and cheese sticks for $6.

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Stanford’s on-campus dining should be given credit for what it manages to do right. In the case of the dormitory cafeterias, food is generally high quality. The fruits and vegetables are appropriately Californian and excellent. Lunches are usually interesting, with both healthy and unhealthy options. Dinners tend to be less exciting, but still hearty and nutritious. Anyone can get tired of the dining hall after several months of it, but there are ways to keep it interesting. Try some different sandwiches at lunch, and avoid the dining halls on Saturday nights when they serve the tired Italian meatloaf—go out with some friends instead.

The biggest problem that students have with Stanford Dining is that participation is mandatory. If you live in a dorm, you have to get the meal plan. If you have a medical or religious reason for not being able to participate, you must go to great lengths to prove it, then you must pay around $350 per quarter to opt out of the meal plan. If you have a strange schedule and miss a lot of meals, Stanford Dining will try to help you, but they still make you participate. If you choose to get the smallest meal plan available, you will only save five to eight percent off the price of the largest meal plan. Most students snicker whenever the colorful posters around campus remind them of Stanford Dining’s slogan: “It’s all about you.”

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Stanford Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at Stanford University

victorbsv

'15

Mathematics

5.0
A+

Lots of Variety

Overall, Stanford has some incredible dining options. You will always find something you like, whether it is at the salad bar, the mexican corner, or the asian buffet, most dining halls cater for all tastes. There are definitely lots of options for vegetarians and vegans as well. Stern Hall (generally mexican themed) has the reputation to be the worst dining hall, but even that has a decent selection every day. Wilbur Hall is great, and their Asian food attracts people from all over campus. The new dining hall, Arillaga is great as well, and puts a lot of emphasis of healthy dining and on making the food look really nice. Indian food sunday at FloMo is quite good (as far as western standards go) and if you have friends at the Row, youa re in for a treat (get invited to their dining halls, they have their own chefs and their food is great)!

The one must visit place is definitely "Ike's" sandwich place in the engineering quad. Their sandwiches on their signature Dutch Crunch bread are absolutely mouth watering.

Jan 17, 2012

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Campus Dining at Stanford University

Kisho3

'15

Psychology

4.6
A

Yummy Food!

I really love the dining hall food. There are some students who complain about the food, but I would have to say the dining halls provide us a variety of foods to choose from. The quality of the food is excellent! Unlike many other colleges where the food options tend to be more fast-food orientated, Stanford has many healthy food options. The salad bars are great. There are chicken breast upon request. Brown rice, roasted vegetables, stiry-fry, fruits, so many options! Some dining halls may have more variety than others, but overall you are bound to have something nourishing to eat. This may not apply to more picky individuals though. There's also a dining hall for people who are allergic to nuts.

Dec 30, 2011

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Campus Dining at Stanford University

smartsoprano

'13

Biology

4.6
A

Healthy Options and Flexible Meal Plans

Stanford is all about sustainable food and provides lots of options for types of food and there is variety at every meal. A new dining hall just opened on east campus (where most frosh live) that is beautiful and full of healthy food. Stanford, for the most part, tries and succeeds to provide its students with a variety of options that are healthy and flavorful.

Oct 01, 2011

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Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining None
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money None
Special Options During lunch hours, a truck parks behind the student union. For $5 you can fill a container with as much pan-Asian food as possible. It’s enough food to split with someone.
Did You Know?
  • Many places on campus are open late at night to fulfill your study-hunger needs. Most of these places are open until 2 a.m. and have multiple options, such as milkshakes, smoothies, fruit, chicken fingers—you name it, they have it. And if not, they will find a way to make it.
  • Ask for the "Breakfast Sandwich" at The Axe & Palm Café at Old Union. It's not on the menu, but it's heavenly and really cheap.
  • The lunch sugar cookies at Ricker Dining are phenomenal.
  • There are no words for the weekend brunch cinnamon rolls at Lakeside Dining—delicious!
  • Thursday panini days are the best!
  • The best chicken and lamb gyros on campus are at Olives@Bldg.160.
  • Stop by The Café at the Arrillaga Alumni Center and get a homemade ice cream shake. They have many gourmet ice cream flavors like caramel pistachio, cookies and cream, and mint chocolate chip.
  • Stanford, like the entire state of California, is basically smoke-free. You cannot smoke inside any restaurant or even in bars.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Arbuckle Café
Location: Graduate School of Business
Food: Global dishes, grab 'n' go items, sandwiches, smoothies, soup and salad bar, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Arrillaga Family Dining Commons
Location: Escondido Road and Arguello Way
Food: Healthy

The Axe & Palm Café
Location: Old Union
Food: Burgers, fries, salads, sandwiches, shakes
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 a.m., Saturday 12 p.m.–2 a.m., Sunday 5:30 p.m.–2 a.m.

Beckman Bistro
Location: Beckman Center, basement
Food: Breakfast, burrito bar, chili, hot dogs, sandwiches, snacks
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Branner Dining
Location: Branner Hall
Food: All-you-can-eat, bistro, dessert, grill, pasta, salad bar, soup, vegan and vegetarian options
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

Bytes Café
Location: Packard Electrical Engineering Building
Food: Breakfast, burgers, pizza, salads, sandwiches, soup
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The Café at LKSC
Location: Li Ka Shing Center, School of Medicine
Food: Breakfast pastries, hot lunches, salads, sandwiches, soups, Starbucks coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m.

The Café California Bistro & Wine Bar
Location: Arrillaga Alumni Center
Food: Bistro, grill, sandwiches, soup, sushi, wine bar
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

CoHo
Location: Tresidder Union
Food: Coffee, paninis, pastries, tea, and full menu
Hours: Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–12 a.m.

Cool Café
Location: Cantor Arts Center
Food: Salads, sandwiches, soups, sweets; also serves alcoholic beverages
Hours: Wednesday 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Coupa Café @ Green Library
Location: 571 Escondido Mall
Food: Breakfast foods, coffee and hot chocolate, crepes, paninis, quesadillas, salads, soups, wraps
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Coupa Café @ Y2E2
Location: 473 Via Ortega
Food: Breakfast foods, coffee and hot chocolate, crepes, paninis, quesadillas, salads, soups, wraps
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.

Cubberley Café
Location: Cubberley Education Building
Food: Salads, sandwiches, other hot lunch items
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

The Dish at Stern Dining
Location: Stern Hall
Food: Deli, paninis, pizza, salads, sandwiches, snacks
Hours: Daily 9 p.m.–2 a.m.

Express Lunch
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Grab 'n' go items, Peet's coffee and tea, salads, sandwiches, soups
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–4 p.m.

Florence Moore Dining
Location: Florence Moore Hall
Food: American, breakfast, Doner kebobs, Italian, salad bar, vegan, vegetarian
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–10 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 5 p.m.–8 p.m.

Fraiche Yogurt
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Fresh and frozen European-style yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 12 p.m.–9:30 p.m.

Ike's Place
Location: Huang Building
Food: Sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Jamba Juice
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Smoothies, snacks
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

Jimmy V's Sports Café
Location: Arrillaga Family Sports Center
Food: Breakfast and lunch
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m.

Lakeside Dining
Location: Lagunita Hall
Food: Breakfast, entrées, grill, late-night snacks, pasta, pizza
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 5 p.m.–7 p.m.

Latenite at Lakeside
Location: Lagunita Court
Food: Asian, hamburgers, milkshakes, pizza, quesadillas, salads
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 9:30 p.m.–2 a.m.

The Law School Café
Location: Crown Quadrangle
Food: Breakfast pastries, coffee, salads, sandwiches, snacks, soups
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Manzanita Dining
Location: Manzanita Dining Commons
Food: Barbeque, entrées, grill, pizza, salads, vegan, vegetarian
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

The Market at Munger
Location: Munger Graduate Residence, Building 5
Food: Baked goods, coffee, gelato bar, grab 'n' go items, groceries, produce
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Nexus
Location: James H. Clark Center, South Wing
Food: Breakfast, entrées, salads, sandwiches, snacks
Hours: Monday–Friday 8:30 a.m.–10 a.m., 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

Olives@Bldg. 160
Location: Wallenberg Hall
Food: California, Indian, Mediterranean, and Thai cuisines
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

Peet's Coffee & Tea
Location: Clark Center
Food: Coffee and tea
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–6 p.m.

Ray's Grill
Location: Graduate Community Center
Food: Appetizers, burgers, entrées, salads, sandwiches
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 8 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 8 a.m.–12 a.m., Sunday 9 a.m.–11 p.m.

Ricker Dining
Location: Ricker Hall
Food: Grill, peanut-sensitive options, salads, soups, vegan, vegetarian
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

Russo Café
Location: Munger Graduate Residence, Building 4
Food: Deli, organic, pizza, salads, soups, Starbucks coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Stanford Bookstore Café
Location: Stanford Bookstore, Upper Level
Food: Baked goods, coffee, smoothies
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Stanford Farm Stand
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Fresh produce
Hours: Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Stern Dining
Location: Stern Hall
Food: Breakfast, grill, Latin American, pizza, salad bar, salsa bar
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–10 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–8 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–1 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

Subway
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Breakfast, salads, sandwiches, soups
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Thai Café
Location: Jordan Hall
Food: Thai
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2:15 p.m.

The Treehouse
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Burgers, pizza, Tex-Mex, vegetarian
Hours: Daily 10 a.m.–12 a.m.

Union Square
Location: Tresidder Memorial Union
Food: Asian, barbecue, grill, pizza, salads, sandwiches, sushi
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–4 p.m., 7 a.m.–11 p.m.

Wilbur Dining
Location: Wilbur Hall
Food: Asian, breakfast, pasta, pizza, vegan, vegetarian
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 5:15 p.m.–7 p.m.

Yost, Murray, and EAST
Location: Yost, Murray, and EAST halls
Food: Deli, entrees, salad bar, vegan and vegetarian options
Hours: Monday–Thursday 12:15 p.m.–1:15 p.m., 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m., Sunday 10:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., 5 p.m.–6:30 p.m.

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