University of San Diego Opened Korean Barbecue Restaurant
The Q launched on campus this September, offering students interactive dining with rotating gas stoves.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Dining Out
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The University of San Diego opened a new Korean barbecue restaurant called The Q on September 8, 2026. Located within the La Paloma facility, the eatery provides students with an interactive cooking experience.
Why it matters
The opening brings a specialized international dining option to the campus environment, expanding the variety of available meal choices for the student population.
The Q operates Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays starting at noon. Students can pay for their meals using campus cash, dining dollars, or a credit card.
The players
University of San Diego
This private Catholic university is a major higher education institution located in San Diego.
The Q
This is the new Korean barbecue restaurant operating on the University of San Diego campus.
La Paloma
This campus facility serves as the host site for the new dining establishment.
The details
Patrons at The Q use rotating gas stoves to prepare a menu featuring meat, vegetarian options, rice, kimchi, cucumbers, and pasta salad. To accommodate the new installation, existing outdoor picnic tables at La Paloma were relocated.
Timeline
The Q officially opened on campus on September 8, 2026.
Culture Shift
This development mirrors the National Association of College & University Food Services dining diversification trend, which sees schools moving away from traditional cafeteria models toward experiential dining. It reflects a growing institutional focus on meeting the varied culinary expectations of a modern student body.
Students must reserve time slots through the Get Mobile app and sign a physical waiver at the register to participate. The shift in layout at La Paloma may also affect students who previously utilized the area for outdoor seating.
The takeaway
Students looking to utilize this new dining option should prioritize mobile reservations to secure a spot during the limited afternoon hours. The experience requires a proactive approach to scheduling and safety compliance due to the open-flame cooking equipment used on-site.
Further reading
For more information on the local culinary landscape, visit Dining Out.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The USD Vista.
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