For UCLA students juggling packed schedules, dwindling meal swipes and an ever-present craving for something quick, fast food has wiggled its way into everyday life.

While UCLA boasts dining halls ranked first in the nation, Bruins still find themselves drawn to the glowing signs of In-N-Out Burger, Chick-fil-A and Chipotle Mexican Grill – not just for a meal but for the moments that happen around it. Ethan Xin, a first year computer science student, said two factors determine where he ends up on any given night: how close it is and what he is craving. He added that when everything costs roughly the same, price no longer matters. Xin also said for him, fast food is really about the experience.

“I’d say I do it (get fast food) with friends most of the time because I view it as more of a casual thing, whereas if you’re going out to get fast food, it’s less about the quality of the food versus the vibe,” Xin said. “I see it as a social gathering.”

Nihanth Dangudubiyyam, a first year mechanical engineering student from Kansas, said if fast food suddenly vanished from Westwood, he’d miss the memories from experiences more than the meals.

“I go to fast food with friends after the gym, or if it’s 11 o’clock and we want to feel adventurous,” Dangudubiyyam said. “If fast food were gone, my friends would have one less thing to do, and it would kind of impact how we spend our time together.”

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Logan Person, a first year electrical engineering student who works at the Westwood In-N-Out, said the restaurant transforms completely as midnight approaches. He added that the four minutes between 12:50 a.m and 12:54 a.m, right before closing at 1:00 a.m, bring a particular kind of chaos due to the proximity to the fraternity houses.

“During those times, it’s even more autopilot than ever, because it’s autopilot mixed with a little bit of fear mixed with speed,” Person said. “You know that you have to go a little bit faster, you know that you’re trying to get over it without being too panicked, so you have to regulate your emotions a little bit.”

Person said the divide between California natives and out-of-state students becomes obvious when they order at In-N-Out.

“There is a sort of loftiness that Californians have because they always want to show off to people,” Person said. “They’re like, ‘Oh, I know this secret, this super niche combination of things that you can get.'”

Sophia Pham, a second year psychobiology student said for students who grew up in-state, In-N-Out isn’t just a burger joint, it’s nostalgia of social culture as well.

“I feel like out-of-state people want to try it because it’s a Californian thing, but since they didn’t grow up with it, they’re not like ‘I’m craving In-N-Out now,’” Pham said.

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On the other hand, Dangudubiyyam said he’s not buying into the California hype. In Kansas, they introduced a Whataburger and he said he thinks Whataburger is actually better than In-N-Out.

Dangudubiyyam added that he gravitates toward the newer fast-causal spots, the ones nicknamed “slop bowls,” because they at least feel fresher. He said spots like Cava and Chipotle Mexican Grill are still calorie-full, but at the same time have vegetables.

“I actually like the slop foods a lot because that’s the stuff that has the fresh ingredients, as opposed to traditional fast food where the fries are really salty or oily,” Dangudubiyyam said.

Shruti Balaji, a second year molecular, cell and developmental biology student, said when she’s running between interviews, volunteer shifts and meetings, fast food is the answer that doesn’t require planning.

“It’s really easy to grab a quick bite and go,” Balaji said. “It (Cava) makes me feel healthier. But it’s probably not.”

Person said students try to be health conscious during the day, ordering protein style burgers and smaller portions, but he doesn’t think anyone’s really fooling themselves.

“At the end of the day you’re still at In-N-Out, so you still chose the fast over the most healthy option,” Person said.

Person added that, though health might factor into the equation occasionally, what really draws students back is the social reason, that it is cheap and if everyone wants to eat at the same place, they all can afford to come along.

“I got into it (fast food service) because there’s a low barrier to entry and people like fast food,” Person said. “I guess it is sort of a flex to say that I work at the Westwood In-N-Out. So there’s a social motivation.”