I will admit, that there are not many things I enjoy more than a giant plate of pasta. I am a big foodie and in my freshman year, one of the things I missed most about home was enjoying almost any new food I could think of. Unfortunately, while USC dining halls are better than most, they do not compare to a home-cooked meal or a cool new restaurant. One of my goals going into the second semester of my freshman year was to try to find new places to try food in LA, which has an incredible variety of restaurants and cultures.
I have found that the best way to explore LA is to find, and try, new restaurants all over the city. Los Angeles is a very diverse ethnic and cultural city, so there are so many different places to try. In addition, USC students can ride free on the metro, which has several stops right outside of the campus gates!
Often, I’ll scroll through Instagram Reels and come across a new food spot that piques my interest. When I see it’s in LA, my excitement kicks in, and I start planning my next food adventure—usually with classmates in tow! I have explored restaurants in Korea Town, Little Armenia, and Japan Town among many other areas of LA. Some of my favorite restaurants have been a stuffed garlic bagel shop only a short metro ride from USC, a fantastic sushi restaurant in Japan Town, and a Brazilian steak house that is also only a few minutes from campus.
While traveling to these restaurants, I accidentally stumbled across other unique parts of LA including farmers markets, thrift shops, and celebrity sightings in Hollywood. My top tip for incoming USC students (or anyone considering applying) is to remember that USC isn’t just a campus—it’s part of the vibrant, diverse city of LA. Whether you’re here for food, culture, or adventure, there’s always something new to explore! I have only been able to return to a few of my favorite restaurants because my list of new places is so extensive!
(p.s. you can see this lovely view of USC from the air if you sit on the right side of the plane flying into LAX)