Dining Services kitchens emphasize freshly prepared food that is healthy, appealing, and interesting to all types of diners, as exemplified by the special salsa made from a refreshing combination of ripe tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and chiles . Twelve facilities , located throughout campus, offer unique settings, casual environments, indoor and outdoor seating, and some of the best views on campus. The warm and informal atmosphere of each location encourages meeting people and dining with friends, or sharing a table with a book and lecture notes. Floor to ceiling windows fill the room with natural light, and open onto a shady courtyard overflowing with vibrantly colored flowers surrounding patio tables. Dining facilities serve various combinations of breakfast, lunch, and dinner on weekdays and brunch and dinner on weekends and holidays.
All units encourage input from students and are responsive to their suggestions .
Meal plans are redesigned each year to respond to student input and needs, and to provide the maximum amount of flexibility. Students can use their Meal Plans in any UCSD Dining Services facility . A Meal Plan is mandatory for residence hall students and optional for apartment residents. Some of the Meal Plans are available on a quarterly basis to students living in campus apartments or off-campus . A large percentage of Dining Services employees are students.