Savoring the Flavors of UCLA: A Guide to Blaze Pizza and On-Campus Dining
UCLA offers a diverse culinary landscape with a variety of on-campus restaurants, ranging from well-known chains to unique UCLA eateries. Among these options, Blaze Pizza stands out as a popular choice for students and visitors alike. This article explores the on-campus dining scene at UCLA, with a particular focus on Blaze Pizza, its menu, and prices, while also providing insights into other dining options available to students.
A Culinary Tour of UCLA's On-Campus Restaurants
ASUCLA (Associated Students UCLA) boasts a wide array of dining locations scattered throughout the campus. From quick bites to full meals, there's something to satisfy every palate. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular spots:
Epicuria at Ackerman: An offshoot of the popular dining hall Epicuria at Covel, this restaurant offers a taste of student life with its pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and salads.
Kerckhoff Coffeehouse: A hub for students seeking a caffeine fix and a study spot, Kerckhoff Coffeehouse serves coffee, pastries, and a comforting grilled cheese and tomato soup combo. This is UCLA’s first coffee house is where campus culture and coffee collide, since 1975. Located in the historic gothic tower, at the center of campus, this location is a favorite meeting place for students, staff, and visitors alike. Kerckhoff Coffeehouse offers Sum One coffee which strives to encompass the quality, sustainability methods, and story that bring people together through the taste of exquisite coffee.
Northern Lights Cafe: Located in the north campus, this cafe offers coffee, freshly pressed paninis, and customizable poke bowls with vegan and vegetarian options. The Caprese at Northern Lights got bumped up in price.
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Blaze Pizza: Located in the Court of Sciences Student Center, Blaze Pizza allows customers to create their own personal pizzas with a variety of sauces and toppings.
Veggie Grill: For those seeking plant-based options, Veggie Grill offers an all-vegetarian menu with burgers, wraps, and salads.
Jamba by Blendid: This unique smoothie-making robot allows customers to customize their smoothies by adjusting the amount of ingredients.
Cafe 451: Named after Ray Bradbury’s famous novel, “Fahrenheit 451,” Cafe 451 is nestled in Young Research Library where Bradbury wrote his famous novel. Conveniently located next to the extensive study space of Young Research Library, this café offers a cozy place to study or to refuel with a quick bite.
Fusion: Featuring rice bowls with choice of shrimp, pork, chicken or tofu with a side of vegetables.
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Wetzel’s Pretzels: Fresh-baked pretzels served hot!
Greenhouse: Soup and salad bar, healthy snacks and drinks. Menus are rotated on a weekly-basis.
Music Cafe: Music Cafe is located in Ostin Music Center, 1st Floor. A favorite spot for music lovers and artists. Located in the newly renovated Ostin Music School, near the iconic inverted fountain.
Cafe Synapse: This elegant little restaurant is designed as a place for the researchers and doctors of the Gonda Center and MacDonald Laboratories to connect with each other.
Subway: Quick and fresh!
Read also: Exploring the Alumni Pizza Menu
ASUCLA also provides meal plan users with tickets that can be used at any ASUCLA restaurant, offering a $9 discount.
Blaze Pizza at UCLA: A Closer Look
Blaze Pizza is a popular destination for pizza lovers on the UCLA campus. The restaurant's appeal lies in its customizable personal pizzas, allowing customers to choose their preferred sauce, toppings, and crust.
Blaze Rewards Program
Blaze Pizza offers a rewards program called Blaze Rewards. Members gain access to exclusive deals, rewards, and even free Blaze items. By signing up for the program, customers can earn "Flames" with each purchase, which can then be redeemed for various rewards. The Blaze Pizza app allows users to track their Flame balance, access available rewards, and utilize a personalized check-in code.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Options
Blaze Pizza caters to a variety of dietary needs with its vegan and gluten-free options. The restaurant offers Original, House-made Gluten-Free, and High-Rise dough options that are all vegan. Additionally, they provide spicy chorizo (vegan) and vegan cheese (soy-free), along with a wide selection of vegetables. For those seeking to reduce gluten intake, Blaze Pizza offers three gluten-free crust options: Original GF Dough, Cauliflower, and Keto. However, it's important to note that cross-contact with wheat-based flour is possible in the restaurant, as the same oven is used for all crust options. Customers with celiac disease or high gluten sensitivity should carefully consider their dining choices.
Fresh Ingredients and Preparation
Blaze Pizza emphasizes the use of fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their dough is made in-house daily from unbleached flour, filtered water, extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and a touch of sugar. The restaurant avoids using chemicals and additives in their dough preparation.
Menu Prices and Swipe Value
While the convenience and variety of on-campus dining are appealing, it's important to consider the cost. In recent times, rising menu prices at UCLA restaurants have outpaced the increase in swipe value, potentially impacting students' purchasing power.
At Blaze Pizza, signature pizzas and build-your-own options generally fall within the $13-$15 range. Because menu item prices were already above the previous swipe value, the move to a higher swipe value does little to bridge the gap.
Beyond On-Campus Dining: Exploring Westwood's Culinary Scene
While UCLA's on-campus dining options are plentiful, there are also several off-campus eateries in the Westwood area that are worth exploring. Here are a few popular choices:
CAVA: A Mediterranean restaurant offering customizable bowls and pitas with a variety of ingredients.
Tocaya: A modern Mexican restaurant with a focus on fresh, healthy cuisine.
Prince of Venice Pasta & Pizza: An Italian restaurant known for its handmade pasta.
Ami Sushi: A sushi restaurant with a wide assortment of Japanese delicacies.
Kitchen United Mix at Ralphs: A unique concept featuring multiple restaurants within a Ralphs grocery store.
tags: #blaze #pizza #ucla #menu #prices
