Roots
La Jolla
About Roots
Roots offers a spacious and cozy atmosphere perfect for studying or enjoying comfort food in La Jolla. As UCSD's only dedicated plant-based dining hall, it provides excellent vegan options alongside healthy choices that delight even non-vegans with flavorful dishes like black beans and rice. The com...
Roots offers a spacious and cozy atmosphere perfect for studying or enjoying comfort food in La Jolla. As UCSD's only dedicated plant-based dining hall, it provides excellent vegan options alongside healthy choices that delight even non-vegans with flavorful dishes like black beans and rice. The commitment to sustainability is evident through reusable plates and composting bins. While service can be busy during peak hours, the warm environment and high-quality ingredients create a welcoming experience for solo diners and groups alike. Located near campus, Roots stands out as a standout culinary spot where every meal feels fresh, ethical, and deliciously satisfying without relying on fillers found elsewhere.
What Customers Say About Roots
Roots is a vegan restaurant on the UCSD campus that receives high praise for its flavorful and satisfying plant-based options. Customers rave about the burritos and the 'fish' tacos, noting that the food is surprisingly delicious and doesn't always taste vegan. Some find it overpriced and difficult to access due to parking.
Popular Dishes
Best For
Tip: The black beans and rice are an inexpensive and filling side dish that is very flavorful and a tad spicy.
Features
What to see nearby
Data from Wikidata
Explore the area around Roots
Roots is located in La Jolla, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.
Historical Heritage
- Casa William Black-SDM-W-12 Locus A (CA-SDI-4669) (A 588m) — place in California listed on National Register of Historic Places Lugar inscrito en el Registro Nacional de Lugares Históricos
Parks & Gardens
- Muir Field (A 218m) — park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
- Marshall College Field (A 379m) — park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
- Revelle Plaza (A 481m) — park in the United States of America
- Matthews Quadrangle (A 674m) — park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
- Warren Mall (A 718m) — park in the United States of America
Other Points of Interest
- Q118668272 (A 325m) — building in San Diego, United States of America
- Biblioteca Geisel (A 518m) — main library building at University of California, San Diego
- UC San Diego Library (A 533m) — academic library
- University of California, Sally T. WongAvery Library (A 737m) — academic library building part of the UC San Diego Library
Data from Wikidata
Frequently asked questions about Roots
Roots La Jolla Reviews
I LOVE ROOTS. As a vegan there are little to no other options on campus in terms of food. So appreciative of the designated plant based dining hall. I eat there basically everyday and I’m so hyped that they change the menu every academic year.
I LOVE ROOTS. As a vegan there are little to no other options on campus in terms of food. So appreciative of the designated plant based dining hall. I eat there basically everyday and I’m so hyped that they change the menu every academic year.
What the? This is basically the best restaurant on campus? All the other restaurant food are kind of... meh? Like they put slightly too much filler into their food. However, the food here actually made me feel something. I ABSOLUETLY LOVE THEIR BURRITO!!! THERE IS ACTUALLY CONTENTS INSIDE!!!!!!! Just, maybe don't get the pasta if you aren't a died-hard vegan, but a lot of stuff on here is REALLY good.
Very spacious area which is a great atmosphere to study in. The food is always amazing and I love that they have a composting bin and reusable plates! I recommend trying the black beans and rice because it is an inexpensive and filling side dish that is very flavorful and a tad spicy.
Best vegan food anywhere! Too bad it's on UCSD campus but at least Muir is somewhat normal.
Still an all vegan menu!
What the? This is basically the best restaurant on campus? All the other restaurant food are kind of... meh? Like they put slightly too much filler into their food. However, the food here actually made me feel something. I ABSOLUETLY LOVE THEIR BURRITO!!! THERE IS ACTUALLY CONTENTS INSIDE!!!!!!! Just, maybe don't get the pasta if you aren't a died-hard vegan, but a lot of stuff on here is REALLY good.
Very spacious area which is a great atmosphere to study in. The food is always amazing and I love that they have a composting bin and reusable plates! I recommend trying the black beans and rice because it is an inexpensive and filling side dish that is very flavorful and a tad spicy.
Best vegan food anywhere! Too bad it's on UCSD campus but at least Muir is somewhat normal.
Still an all vegan menu!
Pleasant and cozy, if a bit small. Service can be a bit slow due to the number of orders but that's to be expected from the only pure vegan place on the UCSD campus. The food is good and flavorful. I don't really recommend the desserts since they're a little mediocre but they're still solid if you really need a sweet.
Very good - changed my opinion about vegan places. The food here is excellent. I am a total carnivore but I love Roots because they serve tasty food that for the most part doesn't taste vegan. My favorite item is the "fish" tacos because I can't even tell they aren't fish and they taste really good. All of the food is fresh (you can see them making it in the morning) and the staff is super nice. Overall it is a great distraction from the bore that Pines can be sometimes. There is lots of available seating and it's a good place to study while you eat.
Pleasant and cozy, if a bit small. Service can be a bit slow due to the number of orders but that's to be expected from the only pure vegan place on the UCSD campus. The food is good and flavorful. I don't really recommend the desserts since they're a little mediocre but they're still solid if you really need a sweet.
Very good - changed my opinion about vegan places. The food here is excellent. I am a total carnivore but I love Roots because they serve tasty food that for the most part doesn't taste vegan. My favorite item is the "fish" tacos because I can't even tell they aren't fish and they taste really good. All of the food is fresh (you can see them making it in the morning) and the staff is super nice. Overall it is a great distraction from the bore that Pines can be sometimes. There is lots of available seating and it's a good place to study while you eat.
This is not a restaurant that is easy to get to for non students. Parking is a nightmare. The menu is QR code only, and it's not updated at all. They did not ask if I wanted it for dine in or take out. When my food was ready, I asked if I could get to go boxes, they charged me $5 PER BOX. They don't have any other sauces other than a chipotle sauce and ketchup. They don't have regular fries, only sweet potato fries. The "Chicken tender basket" had 3 small tenders and the rest was all sweet potato fries. Top it off, the food was mediocre at best. The Chicken sandwich was 2 small chicken tenders, and barely any mayo. Workers were not friendly. Terrible experience, will not be going back. There are so many other amazing vegan restaurants out there, I don not recommend this place.
This is not a restaurant that is easy to get to for non students. Parking is a nightmare. The menu is QR code only, and it's not updated at all. They did not ask if I wanted it for dine in or take out. When my food was ready, I asked if I could get to go boxes, they charged me $5 PER BOX. They don't have any other sauces other than a chipotle sauce and ketchup. They don't have regular fries, only sweet potato fries. The "Chicken tender basket" had 3 small tenders and the rest was all sweet potato fries. Top it off, the food was mediocre at best. The Chicken sandwich was 2 small chicken tenders, and barely any mayo. Workers were not friendly. Terrible experience, will not be going back. There are so many other amazing vegan restaurants out there, I don not recommend this place.
Being a first year student I had high expectations for this place. Being a vegan I have tried a multitude of restaurants and products and unfortunately I’m not impressed. I don’t recommend getting anything on the menu with fries unless you like sweet potatoes. I do recommend the chicken sandwich if you are desperate however plant power isn’t too far of a walk from roots!
The food was really bad and overpriced for what it was. My friend ordered a grilled cheese with tomatoes on it but was given no tomatoes. The rest of the food was really tasteless. It also too around 25 minutes for our food to be ready.
The food was really bad and overpriced for what it was. My friend ordered a grilled cheese with tomatoes on it but was given no tomatoes. The rest of the food was really tasteless. It also too around 25 minutes for our food to be ready.
Being a first year student I had high expectations for this place. Being a vegan I have tried a multitude of restaurants and products and unfortunately I’m not impressed. I don’t recommend getting anything on the menu with fries unless you like sweet potatoes. I do recommend the chicken sandwich if you are desperate however plant power isn’t too far of a walk from roots!
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9545 Scholars Dr N, La Jolla, CA 92093
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9545 Scholars Dr N, La Jolla, CA 92093
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park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
park in the United States of America
main library building at University of California, San Diego
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park in San Diego County, California, United States of America
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