Transcript of Podcast #21:On Campus Dining Options & Options Close to Campus
In Attendance: Aimee Jiang (she/her), Elsie Yi (she/her), & Hugo Sanchez Hernandez (he/him)
Aimee: Welcome everyone to another episode of the GIC podcast. Today, we’re talking about dining options, more particularly ones that are in like good walking distance to campus. I think especially in your first week here, as you’re settling into your place, it can be hard to have all of the things you need to cook, and it’s a lot of kind of budgeting that you have to do around, making sure that you have all the pots and pants and silverware and things so we’ll talk about some things that maybe you want to eat when you first get here, or maybe on a busy day, you want something quick and easy. We’ll go over some of those other options as well. My name is Aimee Jiang. I’m the International Student Support Officer for Graduate Division, and I am joined by two of our GIC mentors today, and I will have them introduce themselves.
Elsie: Hi, I’m Elsie. I’m about to be a second year master’s public health student. And I’m super excited. I’ve eaten a lot on campus and around campus and I love that everything can be super convenient, just walking. You don’t have to drive or figure out transportation for the most part.
Hugo: Hi, everyone. My name is Hugo Sanchez Hernandez, I’m a six year Ph.D. student in the Psychological Science Department and I’ve yeah, I also love to eat around here, too. So I’m excited to join this podcast
Aimee: I regularly forget my lunch. And I don’t have a car, and so I also try and find quick things on campus. Although there are quite a few places on campus i’ve yet to explore. So I’m excited to hopefully maybe learn about some good places to eat. But I think the most common place that I run into students, and probably one of the places we’ve talked about and multiple other podcasts, especially around grocery stores and places to buy things, is what we call UTC, but it’s also known as University Town Center. It’s got a variety of food options that also range in more affordable pricing. So what are some of the most affordable places to eat at UTC?
Hugo: Definitely, I would say some of the most affordable are probably some of the general ones that we see everywhere, which is you know, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, In-N-Out. Now, of course it’s always packed, and that doesn’t change, regardless of when one goes to In-N-Out. So unfortunately I have not found out the spots where, when In-N-Out is the least busy. I feel like it’s always busy. But yeah, I think those are probably some of the most affordable spots there. And of course, I think Chick-Fil-A is also, is also one of them.
Elsie: I second, that yeah, like In-N-Out, is really good pricing. I find that if you go at like really awkward times. It’s not too much of a wait, like around 2 pm. Because most people are done eating, or they haven’t started yet. But another place I like is Le Dip (long name Le Diplomate). They do sandwiches like bahn mis and they have a good happy hour deal. So I would really recommend going. I think it’s like 1 to 3 pm, Monday through Fridays. And then I think, Goji Grill, it’s also pretty good. It’s like around $9 for a bowl, and it’s pretty filling. You get a bunch of different sides and you can choose either getting 1 protein or 2 proteins. So it’s pretty nice.
Aimee: Yeah, I think I’ve been to Luna Grill as well, and it seems to be like pretty reasonable pricing for the amount of food that you get, and they have some vegetarian and vegan options which I always appreciate. I think Chick-Fil-A, I don’t eat at Chick-Fil-A, I’m allergic to chicken, so it’s definitely not a place for me to go to, but my husband eats there a lot, and he uses the app, and I think you can get points kind of like you would at some other places. I go to Nektar a lot which has like smoothie bowls. It is not super easy pricing, like it is definitely more expensive than it should be. But I use their app so that I can purchase things to the app and gain points and then get free things, and I think the Chick-Fil-A app has that as well. I don’t know about the other fast food places, but I know the Chick-Fil-A one does. There isn’t a Mcdonald’s over there, but Mcdonald’s does, too. So if you’re looking for ways to save check and see if there’s an app because budgeting in grad school is very important. Grad school is expensive. What other kinds of restaurants are there that maybe offer more like nutritious, healthy options. I know we talk about affordable places in the U.S.tend to be more of those fast food that we brought up, which tend to be a little greasier, heavier and we don’t want to be eating those all the time. So some other healthy options?
Elsie: I really love Mendocino Farms like their avocado quinoa salad is really good, and I don’t like quinoa for the most part. It’s more like a crouton for me. And I also like their not some fried chicken sandwich. Like it’s not actually fried, but it kind of has the same texture and crunch and the couscous side is also really good, too.
Aimee: Yes! Their couscous is one of my favorite things. It’s vegan, and it’s delicious.
Hugo: Yeah, no, I think that, that is what I think. If I was to say like a favorite restaurant just in terms of the food quality. I think Mendoncinos is probably number one, because yeah, everything there’s delicious, the couscous is so popular. I think I’ve not introduced it to anybody who dislikes if they all fall in love with it. And then they also have really like delicious banh mis. Their vegan bahn mi. I’m like huge fan of as well.
Aimee: Soo good!
Hugo: They used to have an Impossible Burger Queen (It was called La Reina Impossible Burger), it was like a vegan burger. I think they took it off unfortunately but it was the most delicious thing ever, so I really hope that they bring it back at some point.
Aimee: I think that was seasonal. They have an impossible burger taco salad right now. That is pretty good as well. I’m trying to think, I think definitely Mendocino for the quality and the like it feeling like it’s healthy and nutritious, and like packed with good things. I think it’s definitely one of the most, it’s not super cheap, but it’s definitely one of the most budget friendly in terms of like the quality that you get. There’s also, what is the salad place? I’ve gotten, there’s like a Mediterranean salad that I’ve gotten at some. It’s right by Trader Joe’s next to the really expensive brunch place. I can’t think of the name right now, but there’s like a another place, that kind of looks like a sit down restaurant. But you go up to the counter and you order and it’s got a lot of vegan, vegetarian options. It is way more expensive than I think it should be, but it’s pretty good if you’re looking for like a healthy salad. One other, It’s not a restaurant, but one other place I go for quick meals when I forget my lunch is just Trader Joe’s. They have like a to-go meal section that’s got soups and wraps and salads and sandwiches. And I am frequently found in that part of Trader Joe’s, because I do forget my lunch a lot, and that’s quick and easy, and generally decently affordable as well. I think there’s there’s quite a few other restaurants. I just recommend people walk around UTC when they get here and see what else is out there. And what maybe fits any dietary restrictions that people have. Outside of Mendocinos, which I do think is probably the most popular place. Are there any other places that you both go to, or that you know other people go to in UTC?
Elsie: I think the place you’re talking about is TenderGreens.
Aimee: Yes! TenderGreens! That one.
Elsie: I do also like you mentioned Nektar. I like acai bowls from Blue Bowl. It’s like on the other side. It’s not super price friendly. But it tastes really good, like it tastes like ice cream, but it’s just all fruit. So it’s kind of nice.
Hugo: Thats awesome. I heard, I had a friend text me to the day, saying they wanted to try this amazing acai bowl, acai place. And they said oh, it’s a place right there at UTC and then I saw what they’re making and then like these look like really out there acai bowls like they look, but yeah, that does not look cheap in the slightest. But I really want to try it out. I have not unfortunately, I will say another place, that I do like, which people might not think is healthy when they hear about it is Chipotle. It’s just it does have like so many different bowls and salads. Like burrito bowls can be very nutritious and and pretty healthy for the most part, compared to other fast food places, and I think it’s also cheaper pricing than Mendocino, so I think Chipotle is another good, good option.
Aimee: Yeah and they definitely have a lot of gluten free and vegan and vegetarian options. They’ve got like a I think it’s a tofu like sofritas. That I’ve had that’s kind of salty, but also really good. But a lot of their food is pretty fresh, and they do, I use their app a lot when I like, order something, especially if I have a really short break, and I order something from there for pick up because you can get like free chips and drinks, and if you go there enough you can eventually get a free entree. So I think that’s definitely a good option. That, the acai smoothly bowl place that you talked about is definitely, always has a lot of people sitting outside of it eating things that look very healthy and nutritious, and especially during the summer, when it’s hot, I feel like those are some really great places to go. There are 3 boba spots, because college students live off of caffeine and sugar when we are trying to get through things. And I have actually been to all 3 of them because I have a sugar addiction, even though I’m no longer in college. I think I got it in college. I’ll just blame grad school for my sugar addiction. But which of the 3, do you think? Have you guys been to them? And do you think there is a specific one that is better?
Elsie: I’ve, I’ve actually also been to all 3 of them. I think it kind of depends for me. I think Cha for Tea is really good for like fruit teas, like their mango green tea is really good.
Aimee: So good!
Elsie: It can be a little sweet for me sometimes, though, so I like to adjust the sweetness. And I think Sharetea is really good for milk teas. Pink Pig I didn’t love that much. It was really icy and kind of watered down when I had it so, but I also just like had it once. It might have been a one off thing. So I guess it’s sort of like a toss up depending on what I’m craving.
Hugo: See, I kind of agree with, I’m more of a milk tea person so I love Sharetea. I love the different, they also have like a like a, smoothie or like uh, i’m forgetting what its called.
Aimee: It’s more like a slush.
Hugo: Yeah like a slushy thing that’s a really good. You can also modify the sweetness levels, and I think even when I modify them at Cha for Tea, it tends to be too sweet for me. I do keep it to Sharetea. I haven’t been to Pink Pig, unfortunately, but I think I’ve also heard similar things, so it doesn’t make me too motivated to go. I’m not sure.
Aimee: Yeah, I will say a Pink Pig, I would agree. I think it tends to be more watered down. I’ve gone twice because I thought I would give them a second chance. And I do think it was mostly ice, and I wasn’t looking for something that was more like a slushy, which is what it felt like, even though it’s not what I’ve ordered. Sharetea, I will agree milk tea here is really good. I like that you can adjust the sweetness there. Cha is my favorite. I get their mango green tea with fruit jelly, which is just lychee jelly. It used to be called lychee jelly, and for some reason they changed the name to fruit jelly. I thought, okay, then they added more fruits, and I didn’t want it. So I went like a year without putting it in and then turns out it was the same exact thing. So it is just lychee jelly. I also do, though, like Cha for Tea’s milk teas. They have a Thai tea that is pretty good, and when it’s cold, because it does get cold and rainy here sometimes, I get their hot almond milk tea. I will say, though I do adjust the sweetness a lot, and they’re boba is really good, like the chew on it is good, but I I find it too sweet. I think it’s a brown sugar one that just is too much for me most days. But also a delicious option if you’re looking for a very sweet way to wake yourself up. We have a couple of other boba places near campus, but I would say, these are the 3 that are definitely walking distance that I see students at all the time. Do not be surprised if at peak times of the day, or just like throughout the day, Cha and Sharetea have super long lines. I’ve waited a long time at Cha for Tea, sometimes I’ve ordered online just because I walked by and was like, nope, there’s no way but I still want my tea. So you can order online from them as well (online prices at most places tend to be a little higher but some apps like UberEats may have deals for restaurants or order pick up that might save you money). We talked about some of our favorite meals and dishes at some favorite spots. But are there any other dishes that you would recommend, or meals that you can think of that stand out?
Elsie: There is actually a Korean sandwich, toast sandwich (it’s called Flippoly), place across from Sharetea. It’s not healthy in the slightest, but it tastes really good, and it’s super filling. It’s like a crazy amount of egg in it and cheese, but you can also adjust for any dietary restrictions. It’s about $10 a sandwich, but it’s like, it’s massive, like, it’s like the size of my face basically.
Hugo: I think I, one thing we haven’t Eureka is like super popular to at UTC, and it’s more of like the only, it’s kind of like the sit down restaurant with like a very chill laid back bar vibe and it’s like the only spot that’s like that at UTC so it that’s really popular. Of course it’s, it’s not, tt’s more of a sit down spot, but it’s not like that much cheap, like that cheap. I do, I recommend I love their brussel sprouts and their mac and cheese balls, I think as starts those are some of the best I’ve ever had. So if anybody goes there, please I recommend that strongly.
Aimee: Yeah, I think there’s a there’s a Chinese food place. Can’t remember what the name is called over by, I think it’s over by Eureka, that my husband’s gone to a few times and, and has enjoyed (its called Northern Cafe). I think outside of Mendocino’s, their vegan banh mi is definitely, I get their vegan banh mi like the half one, and then I get the spicy curry couscous on the,as a, as a side cause I, if I go and just get the couscous, I wish I got the banh mi. If I get the bahn mi. I wish I had the couscous, so they do it half and half, where you can get a like a half a sandwich and a side. So that is my always my go to order. I, I definitely think Nektar is probably the place I go to next the most I haven’t gone to Blue Bowl because I don’t, I just I think I already had points on Nektar, and I just keep going back to the same place. But they have a dragon fruit smoothie that is called the Pink Flamingo, and it’s not, it’s a really beautiful color, but it’s also really delicious and so that’s always good option. And they change their menu for like fresh things pretty often. So when it’s more like seasonal stuff, you’ll see different things on the menu. There’s also pizza (Ray’s & Blaze). There’s Slapfish. There’s a couple of coffee shops. Dunkin Donuts, Dunkin donuts if you need a doughnut and coffee, and then Pete’s Coffee, I think, is the other coffee place, there’s like a big chain coffee place over there and then Target does have a Starbucks. So lots of different options over there, like I said earlier, you should definitely explore on your own, because there are too many places for us to sit here and go through all of them. But there are lots of things constantly coming in and going out over there, too. So you definitely want to see what’s available. Campus Plaza (known by many students as Alberton’s Plaza. We will use both names in this podcast) is another common place that I hear students going to. I think it’s particularly close to certain grad housing options. So I think a lot of students go there for Albertson. But there’s also some restaurants and Hugo it sounds like you’ve been over there, maybe a little more often. Could you talk about some of the restaurants that offer maybe some like nutritious and healthy options?
Hugo: Yeah, definitely, I think 1 one that definitely has some it’s Asian Box. I know that one is more like a cross between, like a sit down, and like a fastfood spot but some of their salads i’ve gotten there a few times, and they have signature boxes that are, i’ve tried like a few, and they’re all pretty good. That’s like a good option, I know. Even though it’s not, you know that, depending on people’s perception of healthy there is like a vegan burget at The Habit, which is like not healthy overall. But I, I’m a big fan of that one. So I recommend that, too. And there also another popular spot there is like Taquiro Taco Patio (currently closed) which is It’s kind of like different burritos and different tacos. It’s mixed, usually they people have like mixed opinions on that spot, even though I’ve liked what i’ve had in the past. But that’s also another good option there. Of course, in addition to things that are definitely not healthy at all, which is like Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza which is delicious.
Aimee: So good! So some not nutritious options as well. But also, I’ve heard there’s some places for like sweets and desserts over there any recommendations or spots that you’ve heard of?
Hugo: Yeah, I know I saw. I I think the biggest one for me is Saffron and Rose. It’s Persian ice cream really delicious flavors, like they have, I haven’t seen some of those flavors anywhere else and I I just think it’s like fantastic, I think. Everything i’ve tried here has been delicious. So I, if there’s like the best spot there in the entire plaza, and then choose the quality of the food and taste. I would say it’s Saffron and Rose persian ice cream definitely super recommended it.
Aimee: Yeah, i’ve heard that one from a lot of people.
Elsie: Yeah, they’re fig ice cream is really good. And it comes with like a little biscuit cracker, too. It’s like fun to eat.
Aimee: That does sound delicious. Any, you’ve talked about a couple of places that you’ve gone to, that you like. Is there a favorite spot in Campus Plaza that you go to?
Hugo: I think the most consistent one might be Habit, just because of their vegan burger. That’s the most consistent one. I, I do, you know frequently visit there. There’s a, there’s a larger Starbucks there, so UTC doesn’t have it Starbucks, in itself. It has a Starbucks inside Target, but if anybody wants to also just relax, and like study, theres also a much larger Starbucks at Albertsons Plaza that’s kind of good to go to. There’s also, there’s also Del Taco, as well on as another option which contrast to Taco Bell, which is at University of Town Center. So it’s kind of funny that they’re always kind of like the competition like that. But those are a few other spots that I sometimes frequest but I know it’s like much easier, and some times more options at UTC. But Albertson’s Plaza still has a few, a few good eating spots as well.
Aimee: I always forget The Habit is over there. They have some pretty good salads, and one thing that In-N-Out doesn’t have is, I really like grilled mushrooms on burgers. So you have to go to 5 guys or The Habit to get grilled mushrooms on your burger. So it’s always a good option. Yeah, I’ve been to that Starbucks, because sometimes I like to work outside of my home or outside of my office and just get outside and maybe get some more sunshine and so they have some good spots there with more windows than my office has. But yeah, I think that Starbucks is definitely bigger, and that’s bigger than I think the biggest coffee shop in UTC would be, Dunkin and they’ve got some outdoor seating, not indoor. But they do have more outdoor seating. Pete’s has some indoor seating and outdoor, but it is kind of smaller. So I think, if you want to sit down at a local, not local, a coffee shop that is close to campus. I think that Starbucksin Campus Plaze would definitely be the best place to go. We also have quite a few options on campus most of the time, they during holidays and summer, and the hours are kind of weird. Sometimes they’re completely closed but we do have in the student center and some other places around campus, some options. So how many food courts are there, and what kind of food options could we expect at those places?
Elsie: So I know of 3 food, food courts. 2 of them are like right next to each other in the student center, and one has a Panda Express and Subway, and like Wendy’s and they’re all pretty packed during like peak hours. But it’s really convenient if you’re nearby, and then the food court next to it also has, like a Jamba Juice and other like quick options. I think there’s like pasta and then in between that has, like the pub, the Anthill Pub, where you can also get like entrees, appetizers. Their stoner tots are really good,s o I recommend that. And over, if you go to the Social Sciences area, there’s the Phoenix Food Court and they have Einstein Bros Bagels, and they also sell like burgers and sandwiches as well. So that’s a pretty great place to be, if you’re a nearby. And then there’s a new engineering building, and they have a Garbanzo like Mediterranean Fresh place. I’ve never actually been, but I’ve always like seen it, and I’ve always wanted to try it, so I’m sure they’re pretty good, too.
Aimee: I went to Garbanzo, so I used to teach English in Denver, I did for a summer, and Garbanzo was a like a fast Mediterranean place that I used to go to there all the time, and I was bummed when I came back to California, and we didn’t have one, and I didn’t realize until someone brought it up the other day that it had just opened on campus. So I’m very excited to go. It’s been like probably 10 years since I’ve gone, so I don’t, I don’t know how good it is, but I’m excited to try, because I do remember enjoying it, and I love that Mediterranean food tends to have some healthier options. So we do have a lot of food options on campus. I think there’s also a Wahoo’s like fish Tacos in the student center one. I’ve seen the signs for it, but I haven’t actually been into there. I’ve just seen a lot of students going in there and see all the signs but you can definitely find a lot of different options ranging in healthy or not so healthy on campus and lots of coffee shops as well, that sometimes have light snacks. Outside of the food court options. There are also dining halls. And so how does eating at a dining hall work? And like buying the swipes to get in, how does that work?
Elsie: So you can just buy the swipes like directly when you enter but it is kind of like expensive, I feel like, so you can also buy swipes off of undergraduate students. They tend to have meal plans and extra swipes, so they’ll sell it throughout the year. I usually wait until the end of the year, because they kind of need to get rid of it. So they sell it for super cheap like this past quarter, I managed to get 2 swipes for $2, so I got like a dollar for a swipe and you can like bring Tupperware and grab like some cookies before you leave for later and that’s like through a Facebook group called UCI meal swipes and you can also like, apply for emergency swipes through UCI Basic Needs as well. So those are a couple of options.
Aimee: And the dining halls. It’s kind of like like a buffet style, right like, there’s just options kind of out, and you go up and you get, however much you want when you’re there. Correct?
Elsie: Yeah. And they always have like a vegan station, and a salad station. So there’s a bunch of healthy options and it changes like every day. So if you for some reason go like a bunch of times. You won’t, you won’t necessarily get tired of it. You’ll have different options.
Aimee: That’s good. I spent a lot of my undergrad time eating cereal at the dining hall, for whatever meal of day I was there, for it was always still cereal and I eventually did get tired of that, so I’m glad that they have a good variety of options. And then I kind of mentioned this a little bit, but we do have a lot of coffee shops, cafes on campus, and also I know there’s at least one place where you can go in and buy like quick things like drinks and stuff as well. Can you talk about those a little bit?
Elsie: Yeah. So I know there’s. I believe, 3 Starbucks is on campus, one in the Student Center by the bookstore, one in the Business School, and one by the School of Biological Sciences. And they just sell like the usual drinks and snacks and stuff and there’s another cafe coffee shop by Physical Sciences like where the new engineering building. It’s sort of in a tent. I think it’s called Java City, but they also have, like a bunch of drinks, and sandwiches, and I really like their water. They keep like a giant like water station, and it’s like really ice cold. And it’s really nice to refill your bottle and then you can also go to Zot N Go for any quick bites. It’s right by the student center they have, it’s like a convenience store basically, they have hot food and just snacks and there’s another version of Zot N go, but it’s smaller by Social Sciences as well. So you have all those places to check out for snacks and drinks.
Aimee: I recently went over to the Art Building and found out there’s another hidden coffee shop over there. I think it might actually be another Java City coffee, over by the Art Building. Once you like cross the bridge. So if you’re an art student, there’s a coffee shop over there as well. But I think that’s, that touches on, you know the majority of things that we have on campus any last thoughts on food in the area, places you recommend, or just tips for getting out and trying things.
Elsie: Oh, you actually just reminded me. There’s also a Java City coffee shop in the Engineering School as well that I forgot to mention. Yeah, it’s kind of tucked away, too, though. Yeah.
Aimee: We live on caffeine. Lots of coffee shops. And lots of different places to eat around campus, too. I mentioned this in one of the, they’re all blending together one of the other podcasts. I mentioned that one of the cool things is to be able to go to like UTC or to different places on campus and grab different meals. You and your friends, and then kind of sit down together and have a meal together. But you’ve had all your dietary restrictions and budget restrictions met by buying or bringing your own food together. So there’s lots of outdoor spots to sit and and eat together. Hugo any last thoughts from you?
Hugo: Yeah, I think one thing to also keep in mind is, there are a lot of like little markets like across campus, like I know the one I usually go to, especially if I want something quick, super cheap, you don’t want to go through like ordering at like a restaurant. I know there is one like post to go social science tower by there by, like the fountain. So there’s like some of those around campus, too, in case anybody wants, or even just wants chips or something. You know, packaged that you want to buy to just in the spot. So those are also some good options as well.
Aimee: yeah, I think one last thing is, sometimes you’ll have a there’s a bunch of booths out on Ring Road, generally over by the student Center and Aldrich call, and sometimes it’s like student clubs, that sell food or snacks and that’s always kind of fun to see what people have available. I’ve seen bahn mis, i’ve seen Tacos. I’ve seen all sorts of things over there. So it’s always worth if you’re walking through there, and you were planning to go get lunch somewhere. It’s always worth kind of seeing what they are and being able to support a campus organization in, in their efforts to continue their club. So thank you both for joining me today. I think this is a helpful conversation like I mentioned earlier, when people first get here to be able to find something as they’re settling in. I know when I’m jet lagged, the last thing I want to do is cook food, and especially if I don’t have the right silverware or pots and pans, and so I think this will be helpful for that, but also throughout your time as a grad student, being able to just get off campus and not have to cook and worry about dishes for the day. So thank you both for joining me.
Elsie: Thank you.