A Bruin's Guide to UCLA Dining: Fresh, Flavorful, and Diverse Options
UCLA is known for its academic excellence, vibrant campus life, and, notably, its exceptional dining scene. Consistently ranked among the best in the nation, UCLA's dining services offer a diverse range of options to cater to every palate and dietary need. From traditional dining halls to cozy cafes and food trucks, Bruins have access to a culinary landscape as diverse as the student body itself. UCLA Dining prioritizes fresh, top-quality ingredients sourced from trusted suppliers, ensuring every meal is delicious and nourishing while supporting a healthy campus community.
On-Campus Housing Resident Meal Plans: Fueling Your Success
For students living in on-campus housing, meal plans are integrated into the housing contract, providing a convenient and cost-effective way to access the university's dining facilities. Meal plans are selected when accepting the housing offer and making the initial contract payment. Students can upgrade their meal plan at any time during the quarter. Downgrade requests for an upcoming quarter must be submitted by the Sunday before the quarter begins. Changes can be requested via the Housing portal, free of charge.
When choosing a meal plan, consider your class and work schedule, and when you'll be near the residence halls to eat conveniently. You may also want to consider if you commute home every weekend or if your classes are scheduled for most of the day.
Meal Plan Options for On-Campus Housing Residents
UCLA offers a variety of meal plan options to suit different eating habits and lifestyles:
- 19 Premier: This flexible plan offers a set number of meals at the beginning of each academic quarter. Unused meals carry over from week to week and can be used at any time during the quarter for extra meals and snacks for you, your friends, or family. All meals must be used by the end of the quarter.
- 19 Regular: The most cost-effective plan, designed for students who wish to eat in the residential dining facilities most of the time. This plan provides for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Monday through Friday, as well as brunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Meals not eaten during the week cannot be accumulated or saved and do not carry over from week to week. The 19 Regular allows only one entry per designated meal period.
- 14 Premier: This plan provides the same flexibility as 19 Premier, but it is designed for residents who generally go home on the weekends or who prefer to skip breakfast. The same carry-over privilege with 19 Premier also applies to 14 Premier.
- 14 Regular: This plan provides 14 meals per week. Meals that are not eaten during the week cannot be accumulated or saved. The 14 Regular allows only one entry per designated meal period.
- 11 Premier: This plan provides the same flexibility as the 19 Premier and 14 Premier, but it is designed for residents who generally only eat one or two meals per day. The same carry-over privilege with 19 Premier and 14 Premier also applies to 11 Premier.
- 11 Regular: This is the most basic plan for students who are not on campus during weekends or for those who eat only one or two meals a day. As with the 19 Regular and 14 Regular, meals that are not eaten during the week cannot be accumulated or saved.
Dining on the Hill: A Culinary Adventure
Living on the Hill means being surrounded by some of the best college dining options in the country. UCLA consistently ranks at the top for campus food, and once you try it, you'll see why. There are two main types of places to eat: all-you-care-to-eat dining halls and grab-and-go boutique spots, most just steps from your dorm.
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All-You-Care-to-Eat Dining Halls
The "big three" dining halls - Bruin Plate, De Neve, and Epicuria at Covel - offer buffet-style meals with rotating menus.
- Bruin Plate (B-Plate): Leans fresh and health-forward, with dishes like herb-roasted veggies, seasonal grains, and lean proteins. An amazing place to get a refreshing omelet for brunch. Always come here in the spring for the freshest strawberries and frozen yogurt. A healthy staple on the Hill.
- De Neve: A reliable comfort food stop, with pizza, pasta, chicken tenders, and themed nights. De Neve is one of those places where you’ll always find something that will fill you up and leave you wanting more. De Neve celebrates the amazing diversity of foods inspired by North, Central and South America.
- Epicuria at Covel: Serves Mediterranean-inspired cuisine with fresh pastas, pizza, and roasted vegetables.
You’ll swipe in and enjoy unlimited servings during each meal period.
Boutique Dining Spots
For something more casual and customizable, UCLA's boutique dining spots on the Hill have you covered. All of these locations accept meal swipes and offer mobile ordering through the UCLA app for added convenience.
- Bruin Café (B-Café): Think cozy vibes with made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, and salads, plus soups that hit the spot on chilly days. They also serve up a solid lineup of smoothies, specialty coffees, and rotating dinner specials with global flavors. B-Café was one of my favorite places to get a sandwich and a smoothie before heading out for a long day on campus. Comfortable, casual dining.
- Café 1919: Always will have you covered with paninis, mini pizzas, fresh salads, and gelato. It’s tucked into Delta Terrace and perfect for when you want something warm, followed by a sweet treat.
- Rendezvous East: Your go-to for Asian-inspired takeout - sushi bowls, ramen, curry, and boba drinks. Come here so often and have tried almost everything. They have some pretty good deals with their noodles and sushi combo, which I would get when I was really hungry. Great deal for lots of food. Asian-style noodles, sushi and boba.
- Rendezvous West: Latin-style comfort food like burritos, tacos, and burrito bowls, all customizable and made fresh. Weekday specials keep things interesting, but the real star is the weekend steak quesadilla. Personally I am more of a fan of Rende West. The burritos are next level and always satisfy my cravings. All of your Mexican favorites: tacos, burritos and quesadillas. The service is fast and considerate. Would recommend this Taco Bell!
- The Drey: One of the newer spots on the Hill, the Drey is all about fresh, ready-to-eat meals - entrées, salads, and snacks that are easy to grab and go. They also have a wide drink selection, including agua frescas, coffee, and tea. This is one of my favorite places to get a quick bite before hunkering down and putting in several hours of studying. The Drey is a globally inspired restaurant that serves fresh, natural, and healthy lunch and dinner options that are made with the best ingredients.
- The Study at Hedrick: A chill hangout for early mornings or low-key evenings. You can build your own sandwich, pizza, or salad, and pick up snacks like parfaits, fruit cups, and protein plates. In the mornings, there is a bagel sandwich option with a huge variety of pastries and baked goods. Freshman year we would always end up here after a wild Thursday night out on the town. The sandwiches alone make this place the best grab and go place on the Hill.
- Feast at Rieber, or the Spice Kitchen: More than just a dining spot, the Spice Kitchen is a rotating, pop-up-style experience that reimagines Asian dishes with a creative twist. Led by Chef Michael, it’s perfect if you want to try something bold, flavorful, and totally different from the usual. Although it's only a limited menu this year, Spice has been consistently serving great food and continues to give students another level of depth when it comes to what is available on the Hill. Whenever I see that Spice is open, I 100% make sure to stop by and get a bite. Treat your senses to the flavors and aromas of Asian cuisine at The Spice Kitchen at FEAST. The Spice Kitchen is a pop-up style concept that features a rotating menu served at a single platform.
Where to Eat on Campus: Exploring Culinary Hotspots
Even if you live on the Hill, chances are you'll need to grab food in between classes. UCLA offers a variety of dining options all across campus - from cozy cafés and quick-service spots to full dining halls. Whether you’re grabbing a coffee between classes or sitting down for a meal, most locations accept BruinCard meal swipes, making it easy to use your meal plan wherever you go.
Central Campus Hotspots
Some of the main hotspots are right in the heart of campus.
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- The Bombshelter: A south campus staple with Blaze Pizza, Subway, and Pete’s Coffee - to name a few - and it’s always buzzing with students on the go.
- Blaze Pizza: Individual pizzas made with fresh ingredients and your choice of classic flour or cauliflower crust! Cheap personal pizzas that come out hot. It's even better if you get there right as they're taking the pizzas out of the oven! Sometimes they have a bunch sitting out waiting for takers. The specials change every day, so you never know. The pizzas fill you up and you don't need to spend more than $4 woo-hoo! What distinguishes this Blaze from every other Blaze is the fantastic service! My server took so much care making my pizza, asking if I was satisfied with the portions, etc. This can probably be attributed to the fact there was no line behind me…but I really appreciated the service.
- Subway: Quick and fresh! My favorite subway location. The staff are nice and work fast on the sandwiches. They generously fill extra vegetables whenever someone asks. The drink station is clean and has a lot of options.
- Pete's Coffee: This place gives you a decent fix. Not the best, but not the worst coffee. Also, the workers are all students here, so they are all really nice and courteous. They make sure to ask you what type of milk you would like and offer suggestions for when you are feeling adventurous!
- Ackerman Union: Houses a bunch of favorites like Epicuria at Ackerman, Wetzel’s Pretzel, Panda Express, Carl’s Jr., and Sambazon açaí bowls. It’s convenient for grabbing a meal between classes or meeting up with friends, but it does get crazy busy around midday.
- Epicuria at Ackerman:
- Wetzel's Pretzels: Fresh-baked pretzels served hot!
- Panda Express: Gourmet Chinese food, from orange chicken to spring rolls. This spot constantly delivers.
- Carl's Jr.: Charbroiled burgers, chicken sandwiches, chili fries, shakes and a lot more! This place has saved my poor hungry soul many times! I've tried the bacon cheeseburger, a hearty mess of ‘I don't want to know what I'm digesting.’ There is also the constant contender, the teriyaki burger, always packing a one-two with its sweet pineapple and its savory patty. Finally, I often get the spicy chicken sandwich.
- Sambazon: Featuring gourmet salads and sandwiches, plant forward bowls and tasty treats!
- LuValle Commons: A hidden gem, offering Jimmy’s coffee and pastries, Epazote Mexican Grill, Fusion, Burger Assembly and All Rise Pizza.
- Northern Lights Café: Tucked behind Rolfe Hall, is a cozy escape with good vibes, a cozy fireplace and some underrated paninis and fruit cups - ideal for a study break. In the Northern Lights food court, there is a section called "the lighter side." Here, they offer a variety of proteins and vegetable sides. Proteins include rotisserie chicken, salmon and other fish. Sides include vegetables, carrots, mashed potatoes and rice with veggies. Featuring breakfast/lunch paninis and soup. Customizable poke bowls, available as vegan/vegetarian options.
Other Notable Dining Locations
- Anderson Cafe: Gone are the days of Il Tramezzino with the newly renovated and renamed Anderson Cafe. Located just down the steps from the new Marion Anderson Hall, this location is also perfect for those attending an event at Royce Hall. I stopped by today for a cup of coffee and was pleasantly surprised to see that they now serve Starbucks coffee and some of their most popular drinks, such as a very berry hibiscus. The staff was pleasant and informative, and our drinks came out quickly.
- 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.
- Cafe Med: Serves a wide variety of offerings such as sushi, breakfast favorites, salads and sandwiches. I love coming to Cafe Med. I typically order the breakfast quesadilla which includes as many veggies as I like, egg, cheese, hash browns and salsa. The portion is huge and it only costs $3.93, which is a bargain for Westwood.
- 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. Paninis and omelets never disappoint. Shout out Deb the best chef at UCLA and Alex the barista whose personality shines on the darkest days. Definitely give them a try!
- Curbside Grill: Fish tacos and many more freshly prepared Mexican offerings right off the grill. Oh man I can't say enough good things about this food - the flavors, the way the food is cooked, very tasty, melts in your mouth. The staff was so friendly and helpful too. We will definitely be coming back to eat the best fish tacos out there. I wish I could give six stars.
- Greenhouse: Soup and salad bar, healthy snacks and drinks. Menus are rotated on a weekly-basis.
- Kerckhoff Coffeehouse: 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. UCLA’s first coffee house is where campus culture and coffee collide, since 1975. This is one of my favorite coffee shops on campus. It’s very beautiful. This place has lots of tables and outlets along the pillars. It’s a nice place to gather and discuss homework, projects or study for any upcoming exams.
- Music Cafe: 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.
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center Cafeteria: Guests at the cafeteria may stop by for a delightful and aromatic cup of freshly brewed coffee or a skillfully prepared meal at any of the six meal stations including: the grill, pizza, hot entree, exhibition cooking, deli bar, and soup & salad bar. A great hospital cafeteria! It can get pretty crowded during lunch but lines move relatively quickly. There's indoor and outdoor seating. A wide variety of food throughout the week. I really enjoy the sandwich bar at lunchtime. My favorite is the grilled chicken sandwich which has a great sauce with avocado and a pickle on the side. I've also seen signs of their famous bread pudding. Hope I get to try it out some day! Place is delicious! You can tell the cooks really enjoy what they’re doing. Have tried a variety of different items and haven’t been disappointed. Their veal pasta is amazing. I am in love with their risotto and broccolini. Their tiramisu is too good!
- The Study at Hedrick: Brewed Public Domain coffee, espresso drinks, pastries and sandwiches. I'm here way too much. But I just can't help it. Decent prices, open early hours. I highly recommend their spinach and feta tortilla wrap, which comes with feta cheese, spinach, egg white and sun dried tomatoes in a huge green tortilla - IT IS AMAZING, to say the least. Ask the cashier to heat up the wrap for you (trust me). In terms of coffee, I stick to the nonfat vanilla latte.
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