When we dropped my older sister, Sinchana Holla, off at UC Irvine, our family got a few meal vouchers to try the food at one of the dining halls on campus. As a vegetarian, I was pleasantly surprised by how many options were available. Here’s my honest review of everything I tried at the UCI Dining Hall:
Alfredo Pasta 7/10
The pasta was creamy and well-cooked, though it could’ve used a bit more seasoning. Still, it was warm, comforting, and a solid choice.
Salad with Croutons 10/10
As soon as I saw croutons, I knew this would be a 10/10. Simple but good. The vegetables were fresh, and the croutons were crunchy. There was a wide variety of ingredients to choose from.
Fries 10/10
I would literally eat any fries because I love them so much. They’re crispy, salty, and addictive. Not too greasy, and they tasted fresh.
Chocolate Chia Pudding 7.5/10
This one surprised me. It didn’t look appetizing, yet it was rich, healthy-tasting, and had a nice texture.
Soft Serve 9/10
The classic soft serve! Smooth, sweet, and the perfect dessert. There were three flavors to choose from, my favorite being strawberry.
Chocolate Chip Cookie 9/10
Warm and gooey. Nothing too special!
Coconut Boba -1000/10
Possibly the most horrible thing I’ve ever drank in my entire life. If synthetic was a drink, this would be it. I had to spit out the boba pearls after.
Overall, I was impressed with UCI’s dining hall food, especially with how many vegetarian-friendly options there were. Everything tasted fresh, and I liked how there was a mix of healthy choices and fun treats. The servers were also so sweet and listened to your special requests.