By: Maddie Walsh ‘20

If you’re growing tired of going to the same fast food places on Figueroa over and over again, then it’s time for you to check out Mercado La Paloma. It’s a food court-style market with a number of restaurants and small shops offering everything from vegan Ethiopian food to traditional Yucatan cuisine, and it’s only two blocks away from campus! The food isn’t even the best part. Mercado La Paloma is a project overseen by the Esperanza Community Housing Corporation whose goal is to “promote business-ownership opportunities” and “living wage jobs” while building a stronger community. On the second floor of the building there are non-profit offices and spaces for classes and community meetings. So, when you go to get some delicious food, you’ll be supporting a great cause, as well! Keep reading to learn more about the restaurants waiting for you there.

By: Ayman Siraj ‘18

The other day a friend and I broke into conversation regarding how our eating habits had changed suddenly in junior year. I personally used to cook most of my meals my sophomore year but that all changed this year. I had no clue how to cook, I used to watch YouTube videos and cook my favorite dishes. In the beginning they were bland and probably only palatable to my taste buds because my conscious would beg me to do justice to the hard work I had put into cooking my meal. I steadily improved my cooking to a point where I have friends come over for meals sometimes. Let me define sometimes at the rare weekend where I wake up on a Saturday morning and don’t have a panic attack on all the work I have to get done.

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

With Spring in full effect here is an updated checklist for must-try brunches. So grab your friends and brunch away at some of the newest and trending restaurant. Don‘t forget to bring along that Instax camera to capture that Instagram worthy #foodporn.

By: Samantha Romero ‘16

You’re rushing to class only once you are re there an annoying stomach grumble reminds you that you forgot to eat breakfast again. We’ve all been there!

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

Let me guess. You have always wondering what Thanksgiving dish you are. Isn’t that why we take all of those BuzzFeed quizzes? I suddenly had to know what song from Justin Bieber’s new album matches the closest with my personality.

By: Emily Young MA ‘16

dineL.A. is a special dining event that takes place every summer showcasing some of Los Angeles’ finest restaurants through a selection of specially priced prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus. The restaurants highlight the diversity of culinary experiences in Los Angeles with over 350 restaurants participating in dine.L.A.

By: Paul Samaha ‘17

Yes, being on a gluten-free diet can suck at times. I personally was diagnosed with Celiac Disease about four years ago, and haven’t intentionally had gluten since. There are a vast number of reasons why some people don’t eat gluten (Celiac Disease, allergy, intolerance, preference, etc). But the good news is that being gluten-free at USC is not only possible, but it’s actually quite simple. I know that there will be a good amount of incoming freshmen in the fall that had the same questions I had when I entered USC… “what are my gluten-free food options on campus?” Well, thankfully, there are a lot of convenient options for us glutinos at ‘SC; no one even realizes my diet is different from theirs. To help you find your meals on campus, I have sufficiently compiled this guide for you!

By: Judy Lee ‘17

Trojans can’t be expected to fight on (or study on) without eating on first, right? Thank goodness these food places are here to save us (hyperlinked for your perusal):