UC San Diego is known for its vegan-friendly dining environment, but recent closures have left students with fewer fully vegan options. According to the university’s Food and Dining Campus Initiatives webpage, Roots and Plant Power Fast Food were highlighted as key vegan dining establishments on campus, along with the student-run Food Co-Op.
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As of Spring 2026, Roots in John Muir College and Plant Power Fast Food, previously located in the North Torrey Pines Living and Learning Neighborhood, have both closed and been replaced by Slices at Pines and K-Central, which do not offer vegan cuisine. This leaves the Food Co-Op as the sole fully vegan dining option available to students.
While some dining venues on campus provide vegan items like avocado toast and plant-based poke bowls, many students feel that these single options do not compensate for the absence of dedicated vegan restaurants. Third-year student Lilia Lopez-Arango expressed concerns about the reliability of accessing vegan meals, stating, "Even if other places have vegan options, there’s still the possibility of cross-contamination, and a lot of the options are just things like pastries or drinks instead of a full meal."
Second-year student Lois Woo explained that the closures complicate meal planning, particularly for those with dietary restrictions. She noted, "The wait at select dining halls with very limited options makes it difficult to plan my day. I end up just eating snacks at lunch… I should be able to use the dining plan like everyone else at dining halls."
The loss of dedicated vegan establishments has had wider implications, especially for campus programs like orientation week that previously relied on these restaurants for inclusive food options. Orientation leader Samay Ramachhita pointed out that although the team found alternatives, the closures made it more challenging to meet diverse dietary needs and restricted students’ choices on campus.
Despite these changes, UCSD continues to advocate for plant-based eating as part of its sustainability agenda. An April article from UC San Diego Today noted that all campus dining locations offer plant-forward options, with 57% of the meals being vegetarian or vegan. The article also highlighted the environmental benefits of a plant-based diet.
Lopez-Arango criticized the university, saying, "It feels like the school is going back on their word… taking back these options feels very contradictory to that and discouraging less students to practice this."
For students with dietary restrictions, UCSD provides dining accommodations. They can schedule consultations with dietitians from Housing Dining Hospitality and register with the Office for Students with Disabilities for further support.