University of Southern California
- Off-Campus Dining

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University of Southern California - Off-Campus Dining - Off-Campus Dining - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Off-Campus Dining

Quick Stats

Student Favorites
  • Chano’s Drive Inn
  • Tommy’s Original
24-Hour Dining
  • Del Taco
  • Denny's
  • Diner @ the Standard
  • Jack in the Box
  • The Original Pantry
  • Subway
  • Tommy's Original
Best Asian Anywhere in Chinatown
Best Breakfast Denny's
Best Healthy Subway
Best Pizza Papa John's
Best Wings Wing Stop
Best Place to Take Your Parents
  • Café Stella
  • Hard Rock Café
Other Places to Check Out
  • The Cheesecake Factory
  • Diddy Riese
  • El Pollo Loco
  • Grand Lux Café
  • King Taco
  • McCormick & Schmick's
  • McDonald's
  • Morton's Steakhouse
  • P.F. Chang's
  • Panda Express
  • Pasta Roma
  • Pete's Burgers
  • The Ragazzi Room
  • Rainforest Café
  • Taco Bell
  • Viztango Café
  • Wahoo's Fish Taco
  • Wendy's
  • Yoshinoya
  • Zucca

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

LA natives are famous for appreciating the finer things in life—family, safety, security, and a good burrito—and the quality of food you will find here is fitting for a population of satisfied customers. If you are driving, there are countless restaurants to choose from. Beverly Hills and Hollywood have some of the fanciest restaurants in the world, along with a slew of less-exclusive, equally good places to eat. The coastal towns, just 20 minutes west of campus, offer a wide selection of less expensive, more casual restaurants. Chinatown, just north of downtown LA, is famous for Dim Sum and other Asian delicacies.

Downtown LA has always been regarded as offering little more than skyscrapers and a few old-fashioned sandwich shops, but times are changing. Ciudad, Zucca, Morton’s Steak House, and the California Pizza Kitchen have turned downtown into the nearest point of interest for students who want to go out for a meal. L.A. Live, Los Angeles’s attempt to be more like Manhattan, now offers a variety of new restaurants that will gradually open in the years to come. For the foot soldiers who seek something within closer proximity to campus, there aren’t any fancy restaurants, but there are still a number of places to get a good meal. Bistango Café, La Barca, Chano’s, and Pete’s Burgers are some restaurants specific to the immediate area. Although none of the restaurants around campus are stellar, everyone seems to be happy with off-campus dining.

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Southern California Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Off-Campus Dining at University of Southern California

caligirl27

International Relations and National Security Studies '14

4.6
A

Variety, Variety, Variety!

Being in the heart of LA really helps when it comes to finding a diverse dining experience. There are the grocery stores within 1 mile from campus, fast food chains everywhere, and finer dining in both Downtown and further away in Hollywood, Pasadena, etc.

May 14, 2012

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Off-Campus Dining at University of Southern California

rhall1994

Communication and Media Studies '16

3.5
B

Off Campus Eating

Not much off campus, some cheap places to eat but the best places will be on campus

Apr 16, 2012

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Off-Campus Dining at University of Southern California

aguilar28

Acting '15

3.8
B+

SC Food

cost is good. Trojan plan helps a lot. get discounts for showing ur sc card. a lot of Chinese

Mar 30, 2012

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User rating for University of Southern California - Off-Campus Dining is 3.5 out of 5 based on 43 user reviews.

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?
  • Discounted lunchtime menus are available at many restaurants throughout LA.
  • For an authentic Mexican treat-of-a-drink, try a horchata. (You aren't going to find it served on the East Coast.)

Grocery StoresWhat's This?

Ralph's Market
Adams and Vermont
(323) 732-3863

Smart & Final
Across the street from Kapriellian Hall
(323) 733-5875

Restaurant ListingsWhat's This?

Bucca di Beppo
Food: Italian
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal Studios Citywalk
(818) 509-9463
www.bucadibeppo.com
Price: $15-$25
Cool Features: Each dish is designed to be eaten by two or more people, so even eating with a group of friends will feel like you are eating at home with your family.

Café Stella
Food: French
3932 W. Sunset Blvd., Silverlake
(323) 666-0265
Price: $20-$40
Cool Features: This French restaurant is a great place to take a date and has a classy feel that is great for all occasions. Enjoy Los Angeles’s weather and sit outside, where you can enjoy a delicious meal under the night sky.

California Pizza Kitchen
Food: Pizza
121 N. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles
(310) 854-6555
www.cpk.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: Offers an interesting menu, such as Thai chicken, original BBQ chicken, and Jamaican jerk chicken pizzas, as well as old standbys like pepperoni and traditional cheese.

Cha Cha Cha
Food: Caribbean
656 N. Virgil Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 664-7723
www.theoriginalchachacha.com
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Sangria is amazing, as is the jerk chicken and plantains.

Chano's Drive In
Food: Mexican drive thru
3000 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(213) 747-3944
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: This is the original Chano’s with a drive-in for a quick grab and go. The food is very good and very cheap. A common place to go grab a bite to eat after partying on the Row.

Chez Jay
Food: Steak and seafood
1657 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica
(310) 395-1741
www.chezjays.com
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Known as a celebrity “dive” or hangout throughout its history.

Chipotle
Food: Mexican
3748 S. Figueroa St.
(213) 765-9068
www.chipotle.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: This Chipotle is in the Tuscany Apartment complex.

Ciudad
Food: South American
445 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(213) 486-5171
http://www.ciudad-la.com/
Price: $10-$25
Cool Features: An all-tapas menu on Sundays from 5 p.m.–9 p.m. and Spanish wine by the glass. Regular menu changes daily, reflecting what's best at the market.

Del Taco
Food: Mexican American
2735 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
(213) 744-1706
www.deltaco.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: Signature fish tacos, and made-to-order burritos, such as Tacos Del Carbon (corn tortillas, grilled steak or chicken, Anaheim chili sauce, cilantro and diced onions). If not in the mood for Mexican, cheeseburgers are on the menu as well.

Denny's
Food: Diner
University Village
(213) 765-0612
www.dennys.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: It stays open 24 hours and has free Wi-Fi for customers, making it a good place to go eat during an all-nighter.

Diner @ the Standard
Food: Diner
8300 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
(323) 650-9090
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Separate menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

El Cholo
Food: Mexican
1121 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 734-2773
www.elcholo.com
Price: $10-$20
Cool Features: Signature tamales cooked right in their corn husks. Great margarita menu; mix is sold in restaurant store.

Electric Lotus
Food: Indian
4656 Franklin Ave., Los Feliz
(323) 953-0040
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Tandoori specialties, as well as an extensive wine, beer, and champagne menu.

ESPN Zone
Food: American
1011 S. Figueroa St., LA Live
(213) 765-7070
www.espnzone.com/losangeles
Price: $15-$25
Cool Features: On top of the great food, the TV room features huge screens playing a multitude of sports games. Before, during, and after your meal, you can also enjoy the sports-themed game room upstairs for even more fun.

Fatburger
Food: Burgers
4070 Marlton Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 299-2447
www.fatburger.com
Price: $2-$8
Cool Features: Wrapped in paper, served on plastic trays and dripping with toppings—these burgers are definitely fat.

Hard Rock Café
Food: American
1000 Universal Studios Blvd., Universal Studios Citywalk
(818) 622-ROCK
www.hardrock.com
Price: $15-$25
Cool Features: Just like any other Hard Rock, it offers a variety of burgers and plays classic and contemporary rock music. On top of this, Citywalk offers a lot to do after dinner, so it is a great place to take a date or your parents.

In-N-Out Burger
Food: Burgers
119 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale
(818) 409-1921
www.in-n-out.com
Price: $2-$8
Cool Features: The ingredients used at this popular California chain are all incredibly fresh and you can taste the difference. Try a burger or your fries “Animal Style” to get caramelized onions and special sauce. There are other “secret” orders you can make as well.

Jack in the Box
Food: Fast food
4353 S. Figueroa St.
(323) 235-4345
www.jackinthebox.com
Price: $5-$10

La Barca
Food: Mexican
2414 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 735-6567
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: $2 drink happy hour draws in mobs of USC students. Happy hour: Monday–Friday 3 p.m.–8 p.m., except Tuesday until 10 p.m.

Lala's Grill
Food: Argentinean
7229 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 934-6838
www.lalasgrill.com
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Fast service, and they give you bread and dipping sauce at your table.

Mandarette
Food: Chinese
8386 Beverly Blvd., Beverly Hills
(323) 655-6115
www.mandarettecafe.com
Price: $10-$20
Cool Features: Take-out menu.

The Original Pantry Cafe
Food: Diner
877 S. Figueroa, Los Angeles
(213) 972-9279
www.pantrycafe.com
Price: $8-$15
Cool Features: Serves breakfast all day. Restaurant receives 2,500–3,000 customers a day.

Papa John's
Food: Pizza
2222 S. Hoover St., Los Angeles
(213) 743-5999
www.papajohns.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: Fast delivery.

Subway
Food: Subs
University Village
(213) 745-4868
www.subway.com
Price: $2-$8
Cool Features: This Subway offers all of the great and healthy foods it is known for, but this one comes with an added feature: it is open 24 hours a day, making it a healthy alternative for late-night snackers.

TOGO'S
Food: Sandwiches
3619 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles
(323) 730-2900
Price: $2-$8
Cool Features: A student favorite for USC students because it's cheap and healthy.

Tommy's Original
Food: Burgers
2575 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
(213) 389-9060
www.originaltommys.com
Price: $5-$10
Cool Features: World-famous chili cheeseburgers.

Wing Stop
Food: Wings
2280 S. Figueroa St.
(213) 745-9464
www.wingstop.com
Price: $5–$20
Cool Features: There are five other locations around Los Angeles.

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Hometown
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Major
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