Sometimes it’s hard to break out of the same old food routine, especially if you are crunched for time in between classes. There are so many options that you just may not realize or once you get there, you just have no idea what to order. Here’s a list of the five best food finds at USC!
1. Urban Espresso
This food truck is USC’s best-kept secret. Every weekday, starting at 7am, you can find the Urban Espresso food truck sitting outside University Gateway Apartments, either on Figueroa or West Jefferson. The nicest people will greet you, ready to promptly take your order. They have a variety of different breakfast and lunch foods, along with amazing coffee. My absolute favorite drink is the Dirty Chai, which is just a normal chai with a shot of espresso. Urban Espresso is the perfect stop on the way from the row or your apartment for some great eats before class.
“The breakfast burrito is amazing because you can put whatever you want in it. It’s my go to before class.” –Adele Cohen
2. Ground Zero
Maybe not as secret as I would like, Ground Zero is home to the best specialty milkshakes around. They are the best comfort food after failing a midterm, and even the best reward food after acing one. A few fan favorites that I have heard about are the “Cup of Joe” and the “Midnight Show.” This is definitely the spot if you feel like a little indulgence. Though they do not take USC dining dollars, Ground Zero is worth the extra few bucks! Ground Zero is completely run by students and you can find student advertisements on their massive bulletin board every day! Often on Monday nights, Ground Zero is home to upcoming artists practicing their skills at open mic. Students sing, play instruments, recite slam poetry and perform improve comedy acts. These open mic nights act as some of the best entertainment around USC- and it’s free!
3. Taco Truck at the Row
This is a weekend favorite, specifically past the hours of 12 am. The taco truck usually parks itself in the middle of 28th. Honestly, nothing can beat the fact that you can get three chicken tacos for $5 right outside the nearest party.
“The taco truck is amazing. Insider tip: try ordering a coco quesadilla.”-Coco Pidgeon
4. The Lab
The lab is the perfect place to chill out with your friends while eating some good food. Just like Ground Zero, the Lab provides the best comfort food like burgers and sandwiches. With couches to lounge and chat with friends on, you can spend hours at the Lab just getting drinks or eating food. They constantly change up the menu but there are a few staples that are delicious like the Lab Burger and the Chicken sandwich. Find alumni and huge groups of USC students watching games on the multiple television screens on any given night. Whether it be volleyball, basketball, football or baseball, you can always find USC fans bonding over a great game and even better food.
“The sidewinder fries are the absolute best.”-Hanna Kiani
5. Law Café
Law Café is sneakily located in the basement of the law school. Pretty much an unknown spot, the law cafe is also a really good place to study. A popular order is the sushi bowl. A typical sushi bowl has salmon, rice, avocado, seaweed, spicy mayo and a bunch of other unknown tasty stuff. This is a great option if you’re about to endure hours on end of class. It is super filling so your stomach won’t be grumbling while your teacher is lecturing.
“It’s healthy and very filling and the law cafe is also a really good place to study because no one really knows about it.”-Monica Brendsel