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University of Southern California - Campus Dining - Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler3.85

Campus Dining

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

Comparable Schools' Campus Dining Grades:

Quick Stats

Meal Plan Available? Yes
Average Meals/Week 21
Average Meal Plan Cost $6100 per year
Freshman Meal Plan Required? Yes
Student Favorites
  • Baja Fresh
  • Carl’s Jr.
  • Parkside Dining Hall

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Campus dining receives more positive feedback than negative, depending on where you go. Convenience plays a big part in on-campus dining, and you are never too far from the nearest place to eat. The food at EVK is never very healthy or tasty, but servings are enormous, and the food is very consistent, while Parkside serves a variety of foreign foods and food with different ingredients than people are used to. Meal plans that allow for freedom of discretion are considered to be the best. Most students in New and North Residential Colleges eat at EVK, but some people make the cross-campus trek to Parkside, which many view as the better dining hall. Most students in apartments cook food and order out on a regular basis. Everyone else varies between deliveries and campus dining.

The great lunch secret on campus is at the Galen Center behind Heritage Hall. Most think it’s specifically for athletes or just don’t even know it’s there, but anyone can eat there during lunch. You can only use your discretionary account, but it’s more than worth it. The booths are big and comfortable, and there are large screen televisions all around with baseball games and live ESPN feeds. The food is the best part, with dishes ranging from turkey wraps to hefty taco salads. If you are looking for a quick bite to eat between classes, try the Tutor Café or Popovich Café for a variety of healthy and delicious sandwiches.

 

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Southern California Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Campus Dining at University of Southern California

daniellalollie

English '14

2.7
C+

Food Is Expensive

I had a meal plan my first year of college but it was too expensive so I decided to just eat super market food for my sophomore year. On days that I did not have time to go shopping for food and ran out I was forced to buy food on campus. It is extremely expensive. Things like Baja Fresh and Panda Express offered regular meals that would amount to $10. Food on campus is good but not THAT good.

May 15, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Southern California

AlbertWChang

Biological Sciences '15

4.2
A-

Parkside Restaraunt

The food here, compared to the other residential dining hall (EVK) is much better. I like their daily specials, especially on Fridays which are the hot wings. Overall, the food is great - there's nice variety, and they even have a gluten-free station for vegans/vegetarians.

Apr 16, 2012

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Campus Dining at University of Southern California

MLA7792

Acting '14

3.5
B

Quick Cafes and Dining Spots- Existing but Not Ideal

Our campus generally has a nice spread of dining options. The food is great and our student center is conveniently located directly in the middle of campus. However, the food is overpriced and the hours of the dining spots are very short, only open during the hustle and bustle of the day. When you want a place to relax in the evening after class and get a bite to eat, there are not many options. I have never been to a dining hall, so I cannot speak on behalf of them.

Apr 12, 2012

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Page 1 of 13
User rating for University of Southern California - Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 39 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate campus dining on the following topics

Facts

24-Hour Dining Trojan Grounds
Off-Campus Places to Use Flex Money None
Special Options There are vending machines scattered across campus, the best of which are in the main lobby of Taper Hall. There will sporadically be restaurants or fast food chains that come on campus to advertise their newest food product, and there are occasional farmers’ markets in Alumni Park.
Did You Know?
  • The National Association of College & University Food Services holds an annual Dining Awards contest in which USC placed second for 2002.
  • The famous food fight in the classic college film Animal House was filmed on location at a USC dining hall.

Dining Halls & Campus RestaurantsWhat's This?

Baja Fresh
Location: The Lot
Food: Mexican
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Betty Crocker/Seattle’s Best Coffee
Location: Commons
Food: Bakery items, coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Café 84
Location: Café 84 Dining Complex
Food: Café 84 Pizza, Casa Italian, the Grill, Jamba Juice, Krispy Kreme, salad bar, Starbucks, Wok Krazy
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Carl’s Jr.
Location: The Lot
Food: Burgers
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Colombo Yogurt
Location: The Lot
Food: Frozen yogurt
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

EVK Residential
Location: EVK
Food: All-you-can-eat cafeteria, including stations for grill items, hot entrees, Mexican, a salad bar, vegetarian cuisine, waffles
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.

Galen Center
Location: Heritage Hall
Food: Gourmet pizza, salads, sandwiches
Hours: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Jamba Juice and Starbucks
Location: Café 84 Dining Complex
Food: Coffee, smoothies
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–9 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

La Salsa
Location: The Lot
Food: Mexican grill
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Law School Café
Location: Basement of Law School
Food: Breakfast, lunch, grab 'n go selections
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

LiteraTea
Location: Doheny Memorial Library
Food: Grab 'n go sandwiches and snacks, tea
Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–3 p.m.

The Lot Marketplace
Location: The Lot
Food: Convenience store
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Main Street
Location: The Lot
Food: Convenience store, also offering continental breakfast, ethnic foods, kosher, salads, sandwiches, soups, sushi, vegetarian selections
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m.

Malibu Subs
Location: The Lot
Food: Sandwiches
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Parkside Restaurant
Location: Parkside
Food: All-you-can-eat cafeteria and made-to-order ethnic food, including Americana Grill, Eurasian Kitchen, The Grainery, and the Greenery
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10:30 a.m., 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m., Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.–10 p.m.

Popovich
Location: Marshall School of Business
Food: Café items, quick meals
Hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.

Red Mango
Location: The Lot
Food: Yogurt
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Rice Garden
Location: The Lot
Food: Chinese
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m.

Submarina
Location: The Lot
Food: Subs
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Trojan Grounds
Location: Birnkrant Residence Hall
Food: Bakery items, coffee
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–1 a.m., Saturday–Sunday 9 a.m.–11 p.m.

Tutor Café
Location: School of Engineering
Food: Deli sandwiches, grab 'n go items, Peet’s coffee, salads
Hours: Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–9 p.m.

Upstairs Café
Location: The Lot
Food: Restaurant-style variety
Hours: Monday–Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Wasabi Sushi
Location: The Lot
Food: Sushi
Hours: Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Wolfgang Puck’s Express
Location: The Lot
Food: Gourmet salads, Italian
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

Zao Noodle Bar
Location: The Lot
Food: Asian, stir-fry
Hours: Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

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Hometown
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Major
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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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