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Off-Campus Dining:

A-

(explain this grade)

Comparable Schools'
Off-Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Best Pizza

  • BJ's Pizza

Best Breakfast

  • IHOP

Best Healthy

  • Jamba Juice

Best Wings

  • Pat and Oscar's

Best Place to Take Your Parents

  • George's at the Cove

College Prowler Take

Since the first thing on many starving college student’s minds is where their next meal is coming from, it is reassuring to know there are so many delicious places to eat around campus and farther afield. You can find almost any type of food just minutes away from campus. Everyone agrees large chain restaurants are always a safe bet and have a great selection. La Jolla is known for its lack of fast food, so be prepared for a big check if you plan on eating out in La Jolla.

For those of you a little more adventurous about your food choices, many students say that some of their best meals have come from finding smaller restaurants on side streets. There are tons of cafés and sandwich shops lining the streets of Pacific Beach and Mission Bay. There is great Mexican food available in San Diego all day, everyday. The consensus around UCSD is that there is nothing better than a burrito or carne asada nachos for a study break, after a party, or before class.

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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:

San Diego and La Jolla have...

San Diego and La Jolla have excellent restaurants everywhere. My favorites that are within walking distance to campus are Rock Bottom Brewery, George’s at the Cove, and Chevy’s.

Off-Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

Off campus, there are tons of...

Off campus, there are tons of restaurants within a few miles from school, especially bar-and-grill type places like Islands and Trophy’s. There is also a chain of super-fancy steakhouses called Donavan’s.

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Anonymous says:

UCSD is in the middle of a lot of...

UCSD is in the middle of a lot of good dining choices. Within 10 minutes of campus there are so many restaurants. We have Rock Bottom Brewery, El Torito, California Pizza Kitchen, Pickup Stix, Pasta Bravo, and Islands. Every place is good, and if you do have a car, there are plenty of little Mexican and Asian restaurants all around.

Off-Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

There are no actual restaurants on...

There are no actual restaurants on campus—just fast food. However, really good dining is not too far away in downtown La Jolla. There are nice but pricey restaurants.

Off-Campus Dining
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Anonymous says:

There is just about everything you...

There is just about everything you could want in San Diego as far as dining. A good spot to eat if you want cheap Mexican food 24/7 is Roberto’s. You need to try In-N-Out; it’s the best fast food Southern Cal has to offer. You can find almost anything here if you look.

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Facts

Other Places to Check Out

  • Chevys
  • Chipotlè (Mexican)
  • Cold Stone Creamery
  • Donovan's Steakhouse (Steak)
  • El Torito (Mexican)
  • Marble Slab Creamery (Ice cream)
  • McDonald's (Fast food)
  • P.F. Chang's (Chinese)
  • Papa John's (Pizza)
  • Pasta Bravo (Italian)
  • Sammy's Woodfired Pizza Kitchen (Pizza)
  • Trophy's (Sports grill)

24-Hour Dining

  • IHOP

Grocery Stores

Ralph's
8677 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 597-1550
Daily 24 hours

Trader Joe's
8657 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 546-8629
Daily 7 a.m.–11 p.m.

Restaurant Listing

BJ's Pizza
Pizza, pasta, salads
8873 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 455-0662
Price: $8-$15
The Pizzokie—a pizza made out of cookies and ice cream.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m–12 a.m.

Buca di Beppo
Italian
705 Sixth Ave., San Diego
(619) 233-7272
www.bucadibeppo.com
Price: $10-$20
Servings come in family sizes and passed around on giant platters.
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

California Pizza Kitchen
Specialty pizzas
3363 Nobel Dr., La Jolla
(858) 457-4222
www.cpk.com
Price: $8-$15
Pizzas with any topping imaginable.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Flame Broiler
Chicken, beef, and vegetable teriyaki bowls
8867 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 587-8989
Price: $5-$10
Not much selection, but tastes great.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–3 a.m.
www.flamebroilerusa.com

Fred's Mexican Cafè
Mexican
1165 Garnet Ave., San Diego
(858) 483-8226
Price: $3-$8
Taco specials on Taco Tuesdays.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 12 p.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 12 p.m.–2 a.m.
www.fredsmexicancafe.com

George's at the Cove
Fine dining
1250 Prospect St., La Jolla
(858) 454-4244
www.georgesatthecove.com
Price: $15-$25
Ocean views at the bar and the restaurant.
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

IHOP
Breakfast
856 Grand Ave., San Diego
(858) 274-9764
www.ihop.com
Price: $5-$10
You can try different kinds of pancakes and syrups.
Hours: Daily 24 hours

In-N-Out Burger
Hamburgers, fries, shakes
2910 Damon Ave., Pacific Beach
(619) 274-1287
www.in-n-out.com
Price: $3-$8
California's best fast food.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–1 a.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Islands
Burgers, sandwiches, salads, fries
3351 Nobel Dr., La Jolla
(858) 455-9945
www.islandsrestaurants.com
Price: $5-$8
Never-ending chip and salsa bowls
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

Jamba Juice
Fruit smoothies
8657 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 625-2582
www.jambajuice.com
Price: $2-$5
Healthy snack
Hours: Monday–Thursday 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 6:30 a.m.–11 p.m., Saturday 7 p.m.–11 p.m., Sunday 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

Pat and Oscar's
Italian fast food
8590 Rio San Diego Dr., San Diego
(858) 295-6200
Price: $5-$10
Their bread sticks are delicious.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 10:30 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
www.patandoscars.com

Pick Up Stix
Chinese
8707 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 552-1566
www.pickupstix.com
Price: $5-$8
Freshly made, fast Chinese food.
Hours: Monday–Thursday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 10 a.m.–11 p.m.

Roberto's Taco Shop
Mexican
3095 Clairemont Dr., San Diego
(619) 276-0305
Price: $3-$8
Friendly service.
Hours: Daily 6 a.m.–2 a.m.

Rock Bottom Brewery
Grill, American
8980 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 450-9277
www.rockbottom.com
Price: $8-$15
They brew their own beer!
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

T.G.I. Friday's
American
8801 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla
(858) 455-0880
www.fridays.com
Price: $10-$20
Happy hour!
Hours: Daily 11 a.m.–2 a.m.

Taco Motion
Mexican
1313 Garnet Ave., San Diego
(858) 274-8931
Price: $2-$5
Located next to the bars in Pacific Beach; perfect for a late-night snack.
Hours: Sunday–Thursday 8 a.m.–2:30 a.m., Friday–Saturday 8 a.m.–3 a.m.

Did You Know?

You can drive five minutes in any direction and find great, cheap, Mexican food. If Asian food is more your style, head toward Convoy Street—it is filled with all kinds of Asian food shops, restaurants, Boba bars, and karoke

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