Operated by The Irvine Company, University Center offers students at the University of California, Irvine a wide range of dining and shopping options, connected via a walkable/bikeable bridge to the campus across the street. Nearly 30 restaurants include American basics – Breakfast Republic, Blue Bowl Superfoods, Chick-Fil-A, Dunkin’, In-N-Out Burger, Peet’s Coffee, and the like – plus Asian and Australian spots such as California Gogi Korean Grill, Cha for Tea, Fast Hotpot, Gelatissimo, Iro Sushi, Karē Japanese Curry, Northern Cafe, Sharetea, and Yogurtland. Stores include The Drop, Miniso, Sanrio, T-Mobile, a mini-Target, and a full-sized Trader Joe’s, collectively covering needs for necessities, clothes (including alterations) and toys, while service shops range from an Amazon dropoff center and Chase bank to FedEx and USPS, several health-related clinics, and various beauty salons. Regal Cinemas also operates a six-screen movie theater, still known as Regal University Town Center (UTC) – the plaza’s original name.
Parking at University Center is free and spacious, though sometimes a little tricky to navigate given the structures of adjacent campus housing roads, as well as overflows of drive-through traffic for Chick-Fil-A and In-N-Out into their parking lots. Space-specific time limits apply, and restrictions on UCI parking are posted everywhere, as the university charges for parking in its own lots and garages.
