Food Options for Patients and Visitors

Food Services manages all cafeteria, catering and patient meal services, offering a range of healthy, nutritious food for patients, visitors and staff.

Executive Chef Rodney Fry has cooked at a number of fine dining and prominent restaurants and country clubs. He is continuously developing new menus and focuses on preparing locally sourced, plant-based, antibiotic-free and sustainable dishes.

Patient Meals

Patients choose their meals from a seasonal, cooked-from-scratch menu, and food is made to order in our kitchens. Registered dietitians also provide nutritional counseling to hospital patients on a referral basis.

See meal times below:

UC San Diego Medical Center, Hillcrest
Phone: 619-543-3420

• Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.
• Lunch: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Dinner: 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Jacobs Medical Center, Thornton Pavilion and Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, La Jolla
Phone: 858-657-6470

• Breakfast: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Lunch and dinner: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Café Services for Visitors

Visitors are welcome to dine in our cafés and cafeterias.

Arbor Café at Hillcrest Medical Center – First Floor

• Open daily, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Cove at Jacobs Medical Center – First Floor
(also serves Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center and Thornton Pavilion)

• Open daily, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m

Come On In! Café at Moores Cancer Center – Second Floor

• Open Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Vending Machines

Food and beverage vending machines are located in the hospital cafés and are accessible 24 hours a day. Beverages, snacks, sandwiches, and microwave-ready meals are available. In addition, we have added healthy items to our vending operations, including fresh fruit, yogurts, salads, and healthier versions of typical snack items.