Buy our guides
Read our blog
Login Register

University of California - Riverside
- Off-Campus Dining

RT
Currently attending or alumni?
Review this school!
Are you interested
in this school?
Yes, let this school know
Maybe, bookmark for later
No, get better matches
Saving your decision
Yes
Maybe
No

Your information has been sent to this school through our partnership with .

This school has been saved to your schools list.

This school has been removed from your recommended schools list.

For your next recommendation, check out .

Jump to a section:

Grade
Quick Stats
Student Author Overview
Student Reviews
Student Polls
Facts
Listings
Take A SurveyWrite A ReviewUpload A PhotoLink Up A VideoWrite The Guide
University of California - Riverside - Off-Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.08

Off-Campus Dining

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

Comparable Schools' Off-Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Student Favorites
  • Applebee’s
  • Del Taco
  • Fugu’s Sushi Grill
  • Jilberto’s
  • Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
24-Hour Dining
  • Baker’s
  • Carl’s Jr.
  • Del Taco
  • Denny's
  • Jack in the Box
  • Santana's Mexican Food
Best Asian
  • Life Café
  • Sushi Asahi Japanese Restaurant
Best Breakfast
  • Denny's
  • IHOP
Best Coffee
  • The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
  • Starbucks
Best Dessert Denny's
Best Healthy
  • Quiznos
  • Subway
Best Late-Night
  • Del Taco
  • Denny's
  • Santana's Mexican Food
Best Mexican
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill
  • Santana's Mexican Food
Best Pizza
  • Domino's Pizza
  • Marcello's Pizza & Pasta
  • Pizza Hut
Best Wings Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
Best Place to Take a Date
  • California Pizza Kitchen
  • The Cheesecake Factory
Best Place to Take Your Parents
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • The Old Spaghetti Factory
Other Places to Check Out
  • Alberto's Mexican Food
  • Berry Sweet
  • BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
  • Boba Café
  • Burger King
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Claim Jumper
  • Coco's Bakery Restaurant
  • Crepe Shack
  • Elephant Bar Restaurant
  • Extreme Pita
  • Farmer Boys
  • Frostbites Crepes & Frozen Delights
  • Fugus Sushi Bar & Grill
  • Hooters
  • In-N-Out Burger
  • Jafang Pizza
  • Juice It Up
  • KFC
  • Little Caesar's Pizza
  • McDonald's
  • Mediterranean Palace Grill
  • Mi Tortilla Mexican Grill
  • Mongolian BBQ
  • Oishii Sushi
  • Pacific Cabin Sushi
  • Panda Express
  • Papa John's Pizza
  • Round Table Pizza
  • Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill
  • Shakey's Pizza Parlor
  • Smokey Canyon BBQ
  • Starfish Sushi
  • Sushi Station
  • Taco Bell
  • Taco Station
  • Tapioca Express
  • Templo Del Sol
  • Wingstop
  • Yogurtland

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Unlike on-campus dining, there is a myriad of restaurant options outside of UCR. Dining areas immediately surrounding the campus are fast food or short-order places, like Del Taco and Fatburger. Sit-down restaurants are located farther downtown or part of shopping areas like the Galleria at Tyler and Riverside Plaza. The best places, however, are those little holes-in-the-wall that require a bit of searching but have the greatest culinary payoff. Mexican restaurants are, perhaps not unsurprisingly, of the greatest quantity, though you may need to rely on some good word-of-mouth to find the most authentic and/or worthwhile ones. Usually, size is an indication of price, but the reward is a vast variety of food options and a unique atmosphere, such as California Pizza Kitchen and the Old Spaghetti Factory.

For those who'd rather enjoy an alternative to standard fare, most restaurants offer kosher, vegetarian, and healthy options, though typically these are only available in sit-down or short-order places—not fast food joints. In short, there is a near unlimited supply of off-campus dining—it's just a matter of price, location, and motivation.

See how you stack up against students who were accepted to this school . . .And calculate your chances!Register to get started

UC Riverside Student ReviewsWhat's This?

Sort by:

Loading...

Off-Campus Dining at University of California - Riverside

xiledsoviet

'15

Political Science and Government

3.1
B-

Food on Campus

You get the choice of panda express, express sushi, italian, and a sandwich shop. Dining halls are good but all these are generally expensive. I'd rather walk to the UV to get some cheap food

Feb 02, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Off-Campus Dining at University of California - Riverside

emek00

'13

Business Administration and Management

5.0
A+

Lots of Good Food Off Campus

There is a fatburger right across the street. Dennys, carls jr, yogurtland, rubios, starbucks. Nearby is a mcdonalds, bk, kfc. So overall there is alot to choose from.

Jan 26, 2012

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate

Off-Campus Dining at University of California - Riverside

Judyh201

'14

Sociology

4.6
A

Buzzin' Cafe's. HOTSPOTS

As a second year living just a few miles off campus, knowing where to eat is KEY to my survival as a college student. There are enough boba cafe's around the area. The cost of the food is not too bad, but for those who are looking for In-n-out/Chipotle it is quite a drive. Those are the two placed that I could think of that have food worth the price and the two places that we are missing. There are some places that have the student discounts, but they never ask. Clearly because everyone who eats there is a student. There are a bunch of asian places to eat. I wish there were more activities to do and more places to go to study and lounge around opposed to the lively boba cafes blasting radio music. For a college city, I would think there would be more libraries and quiet food places and cafes.

Dec 16, 2011

Comment actions: Rate
Report as inappropriate/inaccurate
Page 1 of 11

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the off-campus restaurants on the following topics

How would you rate the diversity of off-campus dining options?

Facts

Did You Know? Many restaurants near the UCR campus offer discounts to UCR students with a valid ID.

Grocery StoresWhat's This?

Food 4 Less
3900 Chicago Ave.
(951) 369-9434
www.food4less.com
Daily 6 a.m.–12 a.m.

Ralphs
5225 Canyon Crest Dr.
(951) 784-3123
www.ralphs.com
Daily 6 a.m.–1 a.m.

Smart & Final
3310 Vine St.
(951) 341-8230
www.smartandfinal.com
Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.–7 p.m.

Stater Bros. Markets
2995 Iowa Ave.
(951) 686-1032
www.staterbros.com
Daily 6 a.m.–11 p.m.

Restaurant ListingsWhat's This?

At Thai Café
Food: Thai
1223 University Ave.
(951) 684-2968
Price: $5–$10

Baker's Drive-Thru
Food: Fast food
5396 Mission Blvd.
(951) 787-8151
www.bakersdrivethru.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Baker's has a vegetarian menu!

Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar
Food: American, wings
12450 Day St., Moreno Valley
(951) 653-9464
www.buffalowildwings.com
Price: $8–$15

California Pizza Kitchen
Food: Italian, pizza
3540 Riverside Plaza Drive
(951) 680-9362
www.cpk.com
Price: $10–$30
Cool Features: Known as "CPK" in local lingo

Carl's Jr.
Food: Fast food
1250 University Ave.
(951) 686-3745
www.carlsjr.com
Price: $3–$8
Cool Features: Open 24 hours

The Cheesecake Factory
Food: American
3525 Tyler St.
(951) 352-4600
www.thecheesecakefactory.com
Price: $10–$20

Chipotle Mexican Grill
Food: Mexican, fast food
3525 Riverside Plaza Drive
(951)779-1962
www.chipotle.com
Price: $3–$8

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
Food: Coffee, tea
900 University Ave.
(951) 827-7270
www.coffeebean.com
Price: $3–$8

Del Taco
Food: Mexican
1255 University Ave.
(951) 781-9781
www.deltaco.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Four tacos under $1!

Denny's
Food: American
1245 University Ave.
(951) 684-6171
www.dennys.com
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Open 24 hours

Domino's Pizza
Food: Pizza
4012 Chicago Ave.
(951) 788-4141
www.dominos.com
Price: $8–$15

Fatburger
Food: Fast food
1223 University Ave.
(951) 779-0237
www.fatburger.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Many options are available when customizing your burger.

The Flame Broiler
Food: Korean
1201 University Ave.
(951) 276-0014
www.flamebroilerusa.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: This location has "Spicy Seeded Sauce," a distinct flavor that differs from their traditional "Spicy Magic Sauce."

Getaway Café
Food: Pizza
3615 Canyon Crest Drive
(951) 786-3606
www.getawaycafeucr.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Very close to campus, Getaway is a popular hangout for UCR students.

IHOP
Food: American, breakfast
1320 University Ave.
(951) 369-4028
www.ihop.com
Price: $8–$15

Jack in the Box
Food: Fast food
3886 Chicago Ave.
(951) 786-3974
www.jackinthebox.com
Price: $3–$8
Cool Features: Open 24 hours

Koreana Grill BBQ Buffet
Food: Korean
10051 Magnolia Ave.
(951) 688-9000
Price: $10–$15
Cool Features: One of the only all-you-can-eat Korean buffets in Riverside.

Life Café
Food: Asian
1242 University Ave.
(951) 686-6688
Price: $5–$15

Marcello's Pizza & Pasta
Food: Italian, pizza
7024 Van Buren Blvd.
(951) 776-9711
marcellospizzapasta.com
Price: $10–$30
Cool Features: Check out the website for coupons!

The Old Spaghetti Factory
Food: Italian
3191 Mission Inn Ave.
(951) 784-4417
www.osf.com
Price: $10–$15
Cool Features: All décor is train-related.

Ono Hawaiian BBQ
Food: Hawaiian
2721 Canyon Springs Parkway
(951) 656-6188
www.onohawaiianbbq.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Self-serve condiment section

Pizza Hut
Food: Pizza
1485 University Ave.
(951) 276-3307
www.pizzahut.com
Price: $8–$15

Quiznos
Food: Sandwiches
1201 University Ave.
(951) 328-9215
www.quiznos.com
Price: $3–$8

Ray's Pizza
Food: Pizza
1201 University Ave.
(951) 274-4700
www.rayspizzariverside.com
Price: $8–$15
Cool Features: Offers delivery options

Santana's Mexican Food
Food: Mexican
1450 University Ave.
(951) 686-3966
www.yvsantanasmexicanfood.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Carne Asada fries are their specialty.

Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro
Food: American
3639 N. Main St.
(951) 369-6030
Price: $10–$15
Cool Features: European décor: cathedral ceilings, old wood floors, etc.

Starbucks
Food: Coffee, tea
1201 University Ave.
(951) 274-9605
www.starbucks.com
Price: $3–$8

Subway
Food: Sandwiches
1242 University Ave.
(951) 782-9434
www.subway.com
Price: $3–$8

Sushi Asahi Japanese Restaurant
Food: Japanese
2955 Van Buren Blvd.
(951) 637-1313
Price: $10–$30
Cool Features: During lunch hours, you can sit at the bar and order straight from the chef.

Ten Ren's Tea Time
Food: Chinese
1400 University Ave.
(951) 686-5591
www.tenrensteatime.com
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Also has an authentic boba/tea room

Tio's Tacos
Food: Mexican
3948 Mission Inn Ave.
(951) 788-0230
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: The restaurant building is built entirely out of recycled parts.

Vinam Pho Restaurant
Food: Vietnamese
1201 University Ave.
(951) 784-4290
Price: $5–$10
Cool Features: Also offers Chinese dishes

Buy The Guidebook

Buy a hard copy of "UC Riverside 2012: Off The Record"

Read more about the book . . .Add to Cart

Buy the eBook:

AmazonBarnes & NobleGoogleSmashwordsDownload the FREE Printable Summary (PDF)

Most Recent Student Author

College Prowler guides are in the hands of students throughout the entire process. Because you can't make student-written guides without the students, we have students at each campus who write, edit, and survey their peers for every guide that we publish. Thanks to our most recent student author at UCR

Name: Hayley Cruz

Hometown: Riverside

Major: English

Grad Year: 2013

see all student author bios > Become a student author to help update the guide for this school

Find a college

Find a major

Scholarships

Reviews

Company

Buy College Prowler school guides in our bookstore Get the real scoop on what it's like on campus and see what school is the place for you!

How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. Please note that the information presented on this site is updated periodically, but may not be the
most recent information available for a particular school. For additional information we encourage you to visit school websites or contact the schools directly.