UC Berkeley
B+
UC Berkeley has made progress towards its sustainability goals in food procurement, but has room to improve. Currently, 30-35% of Berkeley Dining’s entrées are plant-based, and it has committed to making 50% of its entrées plant-based by 2027. To move towards this goal, the dining halls administer a “Plant-Forward Recipe Challenge” for chefs and students twice a year. The university offers many vegan desserts, but students have requested more vegan protein options. UC Berkeley has experimented with but scaled back a plant-based dining hall.
68.58%
of yearly food purchases are on animal-based products.
2
formal commitment(s) to reducing food-related impact on the planet.
1.0
plant-based mains served at dinner on average per week at each dining hall.
3/5
labeling & naming quality rating
Vegan Lentil Bulgogi Bowls
Vegan Apple Pie
Hot Dogs: Vegan and Meat Option
Breakfast Bar
Rice Bowls Sign
Rice Bowls: Meat and Plant Based
Testimonials and Reviews
Find out what people have to say about UC Berkeley's plant-based progress.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
The mung bean patties, breakfast beyond patties, tater tots, fruit section, pasta bar, are all great options that Berkeley dining has. I love the beyond burgers and vegan hot dogs at the grill section too! I wish there were more vegan options and the signage was better. Sometimes the vegan options aren't labeled as vegan. I think there are a lot of things that they could easily make vegan and just change a couple ingredients.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
I enjoy the topsilong tofu and the soyrizo tacos and would enjoy having more of those. I also wish the labels, especially at foothill would be more correct because sometimes I got food that I thought was vegan but had milk or cheese in it. I would also enjoy more vegan desserts.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
I generally avoid Foothill because they have very few vegan options, I have also seen at least 3 times at Foothill where non-vegan items are labeled as vegan, having the "VG" label and including "allergens: milk" or "allergens: eggs". At the crossroads "grill" section, the hamburgers are good but when there is pizza, the lack of any vegan option from that station is annoying. Lemon Grass is generally good but only sometimes has food labeled 'vegan.' I would love more vegan options, especially if I knew that any dining hall would have a good vegan menu.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
I'm really fond of Berkeley Dining's plant-based options, especially all the tofu dishes you make (I *love* tofu). One of my friends finds the vegan chicken substitute to be a little unappetizing, but I don't mind it. I really think animals would appreciate it if we had fewer meat options. I'd be willing to pay an extra $500+ per meal plan if they were meat-free -- maybe other students would too. Thanks for asking for feedback :)
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
There needs to be different cuts and ways of cooking Tofu. Some plant-based dining should also be reoccurring from day to day, instead of changing the menu every time. I would love to see Tofurky and Beyond Meat chicken tenders! Also, vegan pizza!!! And I would love to see the garlic bread more often. I would also love to see some vegan mexican options like being able to make tacos of rice, beans, and soyrizo.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
They are not bad, but there should be more cooked vegan options. More fruit would also be very nice.
Anonymous
Berkeley Student
More plant-based milk options (oatmilk!), and dessert options.