This post was updated Oct. 19 at 11:26 p.m.

Bruin Bowl, a residential restaurant serving global cuisine, has reopened in De Neve Plaza after nearly four years.

Bruin Bowl – which closed after fall 2021 due to staffing shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic – is now open every Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., a UCLA Dining spokesperson said in an emailed statement. The restaurant offers a weekly rotating menu with Mediterranean, farm-to-fork and Indian cuisine options, they added in the statement.

The reopening comes as UCLA Dining rebuilds its staffing levels following the pandemic, the spokesperson said in the statement.

“Now that staffing has stabilized, UCLA Housing-Dining has reopened the restaurant to once again provide students with a convenient, healthy, and globally inspired dining experience centered on fresh ingredients and diverse flavors,” the spokesperson said.

Meal swipes are no longer accepted at non-ASUCLA-operated restaurants – such as Panda Express and Veggie Grill – starting fall 2025, UCLA Housing announced in a July 24 email. However, restaurants on the Hill accept meal swipes throughout the day.

[Related: Non-ASUCLA restaurants to stop accepting meal swipes starting fall 2025]

Another UCLA Dining restaurant, Feast at Rieber, temporarily closed and relocated to De Neve Plaza because of a rat infestation in spring 2025, but the residential restaurant has reopened since.

[Related: Rat infestation leads to relocation of Feast at Rieber]

For Maddy Laviolette, a third-year human biology and society student, Bruin Bowl is a long-awaited addition to UCLA dining, she said.

Yancy Wang, a third-year mathematics of computation student, said he enjoyed the Oct. 17 Mediterranean-themed menu, especially the lamb meatballs. Compared to other dining halls he often visits – such as Bruin Plate and De Neve – the quality of the food at Bruin Bowl was “just as good, if not better,” he added.

However, Wang said he feels the portion sizes at Bruin Bowl are smaller than those at Feast and Rendezvous East. He also said he hopes to see Bruin Bowl advertised more through larger signs and online menus.

Erica Ro, a third-year environmental science student, said she appreciated the variety of toppings and proteins available.

“I can’t complain,” she said. “It has everything I wanted in a bowl.”

While Ro added that she enjoyed the food and the convenience of Bruin Bowl, she said she wishes it were open during lunch hours. Sofie McMichael, a third-year anthropology student, agreed that the restaurant should extend its daytime hours, especially because the bowls are easy to take to-go.

UCLA Dining said in the emailed statement that it plans to extend Bruin Bowl operating days beyond Fridays as it hires additional staff.

But even with limited hours, Wang said he plans to keep Bruin Bowl on his radar.

“I would definitely come back,” he said.