The most perfectly located grocery store in America opened on May 19. At the intersection of College Avenue and Lindo Paseo, in the southeast corner of South Campus Plaza, is a gleaming new Trader Joe’s. Students had already left for summer break, so they don’t yet know the glory of this proximity to amazing food and drink from around the globe, plus free daily samples of treats like spicy gochujang-favored almonds, or mango and sticky-rice spring rolls.
More recently, on August 21, the California-based Eureka! opened on the north end of the plaza. This “All-American Scratch Kitchen & Craft Bar” specializes in gourmet burgers and American classics with a twist, such as Mac N’ Cheese Balls with beer cheese sauce and Fresno chiles, or Falafel Tacos. They also have 40 craft beers on tap – 22 are permanent, 19 are from local breweries, and one is from Redlands, in homage to the home of the first Eureka! restaurant, in northern California. The 3,000 square-foot outdoor patio overlooks the park next door, and will no doubt be a popular gathering place after live music or sporting events on campus.
Coming soon to South Campus Plaza is Which Wich Superior Sanwiches, Broken Yolk Café for breakfast and lunch, and Epic Wings N Things.
Not new but certainly exciting is the Viejas Arena on the west end of campus, with its continuous line-up of live entertainment events. At the ticket office, students can also get discounted theme-park tickets to SeaWorld, Legoland, the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly the Wild Animal Park), Six Flags Magic Mountain (Santa Clarita), Knott’s Berry Farm (Buena Park), and Universal Studios (Los Angeles). Transit passes (trolley and bus) are also available, as are AMC theater tickets good for movies that have been in theaters for at least two-weeks.
The Aztec Recreation Center (ARC) has world-class facilities — a state-of-the-art gym plus classes ranging from yoga and spin, to kickboxing and kayaking. Across the street is the Aztec Aquaplex with a 20-person spa and two large outdoor solar-heated pools — one with a gently sloping “beach entry” and the other with an inflatable obstacle course. There are also tennis courts next door.
On the east end of campus, the Conrad Prebys Student Union is yet another epicenter of fun, with the ARC Express satellite fitness center, and the Aztec Lanes bowling and games center with 12 bowling lanes, five professional-grade billiards tables, two professional-grade table tennis tables, and eight big-screen TVs.
For adventures beyond SDSU, the on-campus trolley is a quick and easy way to get to the Mission and Fashion Valley shopping centers, as well as watch SDSU football games at Qualcomm Stadium.
Additional Area Restaurants
- The Daily Grind – A popular family-owned breakfast café (til 4 pm) with college-friendly prices.
- Woodstock Pizza – A college favorite with great pizza, pints, and events such as Trivia Tuesdays at 8:30 pm.
- Trujillos Taco Shop – This is a late-favorite, with unique burritos such as the Sigma Pi — a carne asada- or pollo asada-stuffed quesadilla wrapped in a giant burrito with French fries, guac, salsa, and sour cream.
- Yogurtland – A mere mile away, this after-school hotspot has decadent frozen-yogurt flavors and fresh toppings plus a student discount.
- Bangkok Poco Thai – Enjoy fantastic Thai and Asian Fusion food at affordable prices. Don’t miss the weekday lunch special.
- Bistro Sixty & San Diego Desserts – Homey digs and a patio for simple upscale eats, from pasta to truffle fries, plus desserts and wine.
- PHO Fifth Avenue – Traditional Vietnamese cuisine, from banh mi sandwiches to Pho noodles soups, plus smoothies and boba teas.
- Just Sushi To Go – Don’t let the name fool you. You can eat in at this cozy, super-fresh sushi spot.Welcome back and enjoy the fall 2017 semester at SDSU!
When students worldwide attend the American Language Institute (ALI) at San Diego State University, they are enrolling in an institution that ranks high in America for its achievements and distinctions.
