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University of California - Irvine
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University of California - Irvine - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Campus Dining

A-
Where does this grade come from?View all Campus Dining rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites Brandywine

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

On-campus dining at UCI is not exactly the Four Seasons, but then again, what college food really is? Yes, after months of the same food from the same menu, dining options can get really old really fast. However, many transfer students at UCI agree that the food on other campuses is not quite as good as the food here. One obvious benefit of on-campus dining at UCI is that there are not only dorm cafeterias (Pippin, Mesa Commons), but also the commuter and faculty cafeterias that serve some decent fast food, like Brandywine. Unfortunately, however, those places aren’t covered by your dining card and can be a bit pricey for many college students. Eventually, though, students might get sick of eating on campus and will have to dig into their pockets. Before this happens, though, try eating at Brandywine, which most students agree is about the best the meal plan has to offer.

If after trying all of the on-campus options—which you will probably accomplish in less than a year—you’re still famished for more, then you can always take on a low meal plan and walk to the University Town Center (UTC) and get some decent food. In-N-Out, Del Taco, and Taco Bell are all student favorites. Although many students gripe and complain about the repetitiveness of the dining hall menus, most will admit that UCI students have it better than students from other colleges.

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UC Irvine Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at University of California - Irvine

sggoren

English '14

4.6
A

Plenty on Campus and Off

Lots of good places around campus, if a bit pricey.

May 16, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of California - Irvine

cutellamas

Japanese Language and Literature '14

4.2
A-

A Great Variety

UC Irvine has a variety of places that you can go to to eat, for example, Pippin, the main dining hall, has lots to offer. If you aren't satisfied there, there are also many other restaurants/coffee shops around campus that you can go to.

May 06, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of California - Irvine

crobles14

Political Science and Government '12

3.8
B+

Good Food Options but You Need a Car to Get Even Better Food

University Commons used to provide good food back in my first two years at UCI, but now it seems the food has hit a new low. There are good options nearby: Panda Express, Subway, Quizno's, Wahoo's fish taco, Sushi, In-n-Out, Lee's Sandwhiches, pho. But these can get old really quickly. They do accept flex dollars and meal plans on the on-campus stores. But you really need a car to explore more food options. The good thing is that UCI now provides shuttle services for free to the District shopping center on Saturdays (Costco, more Sushi, Five Guys Burgers, and many sit-in restaurants). Very good Peruvian food can be located in neighboring Lake Forest, but this really does require a car. Also there's The Hat in Lake Forest, a good burger/pastrami place. In all, food can get repetitive, but there are better options out there if you ahve a car.

May 03, 2012

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Page 1 of 14
User rating for University of California - Irvine - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 40 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining None, but Cornerstone Café is open 24 hours during finals week.
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money None

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Anthill Pub & Grille
Location: Student Center
Food: Pub food
Hours: Monday 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Tuesday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-12 a.m., Thursday-Friday 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

BC’s Cavern on the Green
Location: Between Steinhaus Hall and Schneiderman Lecture Hall
Food: Deli, Italian, Mexican, salad bar, snacks
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Bene’s Pizza Pasta
Location: East Food Court in Student Center
Food: Pasta, pizza
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Bistro By The Bridge
Location: Humanities Instructional Building
Food: Hamburgers, hot dogs, snacks
Hours: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Brandywine
Location: Next to the Middle Earth basketball courts
Food: American, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Thursday–Friday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

C3 (Convenience Store)
Location: Social Science Plaza A
Food: Coffee, grab-and-go items
Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.

Café Espresso
Location: In front of Reines Hall
Food: Coffee, pastries, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–2 p.m.

Café Med
Location: School of Medicine at West Peltason and Academy Way
Food: Salads, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Cornerstone Café
Location: UCI Student Center
Food: Baked goods, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–9 p.m.

Cyber A Café
Location: Arts Plaza
Food: Coffee, pastries, salads, sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m.

Los Nietos
Location: Outside administration building on Ring Mall
Food: Asian, Mexican
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Mesa Commons
Location: Mesa Court housing complex
Food: Buffet-style
Hours: Monday–Wednesday 7:15 a.m.–9 a.m., 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Thursday 7:15 a.m.–9 a.m., 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7:15 a.m.–9 a.m., 10 a.m.–7:30 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9:30 a.m.–2 p.m., 5 p.m.–7:30 p.m.

Organic Greens-to-Go
Location: East Food Court in Student Center
Food: Salad
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Phoenix Grille
Location: Between Social Science Hall and Engineering Tower
Food: Bagels, burritos, grill, snacks, sushi
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–3 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Pippin Commons
Location: Middle Earth housing complex
Food: Buffet-style
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:15 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7:15 a.m.–2 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.

Quiznos
Location: West Food Court in Student Center
Food: Sandwiches
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Rice Garden
Location: West Food Court in Student Center
Food: Asian
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Starbucks
Location: Next to the bookstore
Food: Coffee, pastries
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.–12 a.m., Friday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Tortilla Express
Location: West Food Court in Student Center
Food: Mexican
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The UCI Bookstore Convenience Store
Location: UCI Student Center
Food: Snacks
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

University Club
Location: Between Physical Sciences Plaza and Engineering ICS plaza on Ring Mall
Food: Friday barbecues, full service dining room
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–7 p.m.

Wendy’s
Location: West Food Court in Student Center
Food: Fast food
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m.–10 p.m.

Zot-n-Go Market
Location: Student Center
Food: Convenience store
Hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.

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Name
Tracey Xuan Nguyen
Hometown
Hawthorne, CA
Major
Business Economics

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