Following a new policy that went into effect at the beginning of the school year, meal swipes are only valid at certain ASUCLA locations, and only during lunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) on weekdays. Though the swipe value was increased to $10, prices were also raised at most restaurants and coffee shops. So it can be a struggle for students on regular meal plans, who can only use one swipe per meal period, to purchase a fulfilling meal from these on-campus dining options.
If that sounds like you, don’t worry — we’re right there with you. After spending fall quarter avoiding ASUCLA at all costs, fearing high prices and small portions, we decided to find out if there are any locations where you actually can get your bang for your buck. Good news: there are plenty of ways you can get creative and maximize the value of your meal swipe, if you’re willing to sacrifice some of the deluxe offerings for more practical alternatives.
Central Campus
Sambazon
Find yourself far away from the Hill’s Bruin Café, unable to satisfy that açai craving? Part of the ASUCLA restaurants on campus is Sambazon, specifically located at Ackerman Union – Level One.
However, be prepared to spend a bit more than a meal swipe, depending on your menu item. Sambazon does have one option for under $10, which is their regular-sized coconut mango açai bowl, priced at $9.50.
That said, if you’re craving a larger size or a greater diversity in toppings, you’ll have to spend more than a swipe, opting for either two swipes or paying the leftover difference. When considering any additions, the most you can expect to spend at Sambazon is $14.50.
Wetzel’s Pretzels
Across from Sambazon is Wetzel’s Pretzels, where you can find warm, fresh-baked pretzels. Lucky for you, all of Wetzel’s items are under $10, meaning you can guarantee a quick snack or a small meal using a single swipe.
Wetzel’s offers a variety of items not just limited to pretzels, including Bitz in different flavors, the Wetzel Dog and several more items. Depending on the food item you choose, you can also secure a fountain beverage all in one meal swipe. This is the perfect place to go when you need a quick stop for a snack!
Lollicup
Neighboring Wetzel’s Pretzels is Lollicup, where you can have a taste of tapioca on campus. Lollicup primarily serves bubble tea drinks, while also serving some other beverages and basic teas. Lollicup maintains consistent pricing, with its beverages being under $8, not including add-ons, making it a swipe-friendly location. This is a location you can visit if you have a sweet tooth and feel like you need to satisfy that craving through a cold, refreshing beverage.
Greenhouse
Greenhouse is an iconic ASUCLA location, located in the center of Ackerman Union, Level One, tucked into a semi-circle consisting of several stations. Greenhouse offers weekly themed specials, drawing from different cuisines from around the globe and promising healthy meals and food items.
Be careful, though, as with the wide range of options at the various stations, your bowl fills up quickly. Even though you might feel like you did not take much food, the price of the bowl can shock you at the weighing & paying station.
In most cases, you’ll have to spend more than a swipe, with the price usually amounting to two swipes worth of food. If you see yourself feeling spendy, then you should consider Greenhouse as an option where you can obtain a diverse bowl of food to fuel your day.
Monica Hinojosa, a second-year ecology and evolutionary biology student, is a part of the ASUCLA staff and frequents Greenhouse often for lunch. When asked about the number of swipes she has to use, she said, “Greenhouse’s weighing system causes me to end up having to use more than one meal swipe.”
When asked to further comment on whether she thinks the meals are worth that extra swipe, she says, “I don’t think that using two meal swipes is worth the meal that you get… It’s too much.”
Taco Bell
As ASUCLA’s newest restaurant taking meal swipes, Taco Bell has quickly become one of the most popular lunch spots on campus. Located in Ackerman Union, Level A, Taco Bell offers students with a familiar favorite meal that can be supported by their dining plan.
Maximizing meal swipe value can be hard as the menu is surprisingly restrictive. Only two combos can be purchased under the $10 swipe limit: Three Crunchy Tacos Combo (Regular) and Three Soft Tacos Combo (Regular). Valued at $8.69, both combos include a large fountain drink along with a fulfilling meal.
Taco Bell has other options if you don’t mind paying a little extra out-of-pocket. All other Taco Bell combos — including the Crunchwrap Supreme, Burrito Supreme and Chicken Quesadilla — exceed $10 at the price of $10.49. Students should be cautious as upgrading either three taco combos to Supreme increases the price to $10.49.
For many students, the appeal of Taco Bell lies in avoiding that extra payment altogether. Kyle Nguyen, a first-year molecular, cellular and developmental biology student, said “I usually just get the three crunchy tacos combo so I don’t have to deal with the hassle of bringing out my card.”
South Campus
Blaze Pizza
Part of the appeal of ASUCLA restaurants is their convenience, even though you can’t order ahead of time like at locations on the Hill. The Court of Sciences is infamous for long lines throughout the day, and Blaze Pizza may be the worst culprit. Even outside peak lunch hours, it’s common to find yourself waiting behind a dozen people building their custom pizzas, topping by topping.
The bigger issue, however, is price. Blaze’s primary menu items, such as the one-top ($10.75), two-top ($11.75) and “Build Your Own Pizza” ($14.00) all require a second swipe or additional payment. Furthermore, alternative crusts like high-rise, gluten-free, cauliflower and keto can add $3 to $4 more. While Blaze Pizza does offer unlimited toppings, the reality is that students using the meal plan can’t take full advantage without paying extra.
Blaze can still be appealing if you prioritize customization over convenience. But if you’re trying to turn a single swipe into a filling lunch, Blaze can be quite a splurge—and one that comes with a hefty wait.
Bomb Shelter
Serving smashburgers, sandwiches and southern-style chicken, Bomb Shelter seems like the perfect place to maximize the calories you’re getting for your cash. All of their entrees are under $10, with the most expensive item — the four-piece chicken tenders and fries — clocking in at $9.79. If you don’t mind getting out a second card, you can combine their signature smash burger ($6.99) with either a soft drink or fries ($3.29) for only an extra $0.28 over your $10 swipe.
Add-ons, however, do add up quickly. The regular smash burger is only a patty, pickles, and onions; your prototypical burger with lettuce and tomato, marketed as “deluxe,” will cost you $7.49, and cheese is additional. Their vegetarian option, which has the same toppings as the regular except with a Beyond burger patty, is a whopping $2 more expensive, meaning those who want meat alternatives can’t use their swipe for anything else in addition to their entree.
Your best bet is to go on a Friday, when Bomb Shelter runs its $6 special of a two-piece chicken tender basket and soft drink for only $6. At that price, you’re able to buy an extra serving of fries to share with a friend, or even throw a beef patty on top of your tenders, if that’s what butters your biscuit.
But don’t forget that, like Blaze Pizza, Bomb Shelter consistently has a queue of 10-15 people, even outside of peak lunch hours. While the line moves fast, you can end up waiting a long time for your order to be prepared. Here’s a tip: if you’re in a rush, order the chicken tenders. They come out almost immediately, so you’re paying the same price as a smash burger for faster service and the satisfaction of skipping the line.
Coffeehouses
Kerckhoff
If you’re looking for a one-swipe meal at Kerckhoff, you’re probably out of luck. Their grilled cheese and tomato soup combo is $12.29, already far above the value of your meal swipe. You could opt for just a sandwich or a soup and throw in a small soft drink, landing you a few cents below the $10 cut-off and likely disappointed with your meager meal.
But you can get a pretty decent one-swipe bite with a coffee on the side, if you’re not too hungry and craving a kick of caffeine. Most pastries are below $4, meaning you can afford a sweet treat and a medium or large-sized specialty drink — the size will depend on your drink of choice, though you can usually be assured that a medium will keep you under your spending limit. Vegans, be warned that milk substitutes will run you an extra $0.79, which may put you over $10 and have you pulling out your credit card to cover the difference.
Jimmy’s Coffeehouse
Menus and prices are fairly consistent across locations, though quality isn’t. While we loved the mocha we got from Jimmy’s Coffeehouse, the muffin was small, dry and disappointing compared to the muffins from Kerckhoff.
To be fair, Jimmy’s is more well-known for its Korean donuts; however, they are significantly more expensive than the regular assortment of pastries, meaning you may have to sacrifice your drink if you want to try their Dubai chocolate donut special, priced at $6.99. The same goes for the specialty menu items at other locations, like the ube and pandan cookies at Kerckhoff and Music Cafe.
It’s not impossible to get a good meal deal at an ASUCLA restaurant, but it’s certainly less convenient than they would have you believe. Not only do you have to scout out the menu and plan your combo beforehand to ensure you’re staying under the $10 swipe credit, but you may also have to stand in line before and after ordering, making you reconsider if you should’ve just sprinted to De Neve instead.
While the menu offerings are decent and provide a wide range of dining options, not many are as filling as take-out meals from the Hill and are more suitable as snacks than substantial lunches, especially considering the limited portion sizes you can afford with a single swipe.
If you’re in a time crunch and find yourself craving a sweet or salty pretzel or an earthy matcha latte, make sure to check BruinLife for tips on how to maximize the value of your swipe when you do visit ASUCLA locations!
