Cafeterias near Orange, CA

“Just spent 25 days here as a patient with access to the full kitchen menu and most of the cafeteria menu.

I don’t eat meat (except for fish) and if I’m being honest, the straight kitchen menu is rough. 1 week in I could not physically eat the salmon because it was so dry it rubbed my tongue raw. They do have an impossible burger, and the staff were very accommodating with changes and substitutions (Shout out to Marta, Katherine, and a few others who made a great effort to make sure I received what I ordered). My favorite breakfasts were probably the biscuits and gravy, lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberries, and yogurt with granola and fresh fruit.

The real gem here is the cafeteria, and the daily rotation of themed menus. While it was frustrating that those menus were always missing some items (Mac & cheese, I’m looking at you) having access to the additional variety really made such a difference in my appetite and interest in food. The chile rellenos, coconut curry salmon, pasta with marinara (better than the standard kitchen pomodoro), sides like mushrooms and peas, fingerling potatoes, cilantro lime rice all help spice up the regular kitchen menu.

There were signs that the kitchen was under construction, which may be why some of the menu items were cut.

Overall, the food program here is great. The people who bring the food to patients (Hi Priya, Enrique, Olmer, and so many others) generally have great energy and take a lot of pride in what they do.

I feel very lucky to have landed here for my medical care, and I think the food (and all the kitchen and delivery staff) was a big part of why my treatment has been so successful so far.“

“Most of the time, they have a good selection of food that tastes decent. They occasionally host event days featuring special dishes, which is a nice touch. However, it gets very busy around lunchtime, which is inconvenient because I often have to sit outside where there are many flies. Overall, the meal plans are quite expensive for the quality of food provided; in reality, you are paying for the convenience, with the ‘all-you-can-eat’ aspect being a nice bonus. My suggestion would be to add more indoor seating and rearrange the layout, as it is currently quite disorganized. Some areas become way too crowded, making it difficult to navigate through the space to get food during peak hours.“

“My brother goes here so I came to visit once in a while. It's pretty great for a school restaurant. They've got lots of options. Decent pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and desserts. They've also got a salad bar, vegetarian section, and an international section that switches up the options every day. I'm not sure about eating here every day, but once in a while for a casual meal is nice.“

“I would say this is the better of the two dining halls, in terms of food offerings but especially atmosphere. There are almost always more options here than Brandywine, though the food quality is usually equal. The atmosphere is much better with tall ceilings, large windows, and plenty of sunlight compared to the almost cavernous Brandywine. If you don't have a meal plan, it's probably not worth it to come here since it costs $15 per meal, unless you are very hungry. Try the lomo saltado if they have it.

Vegetarian options: They usually have a dedicated vegan selection and another "plant-forward" offering“