Bella Pita UCLA

Andrew Jacobs

Based on reviews I've read my expectations were definitely higher than what I experienced today. First impressions are crucial for a business, but I couldn't even tell the place was open since no one was manning the register or visible in the kitchen. The inside was dark, and the salad bar frankly looked neglected and possibly unsanitary. Still, despite every instinct to leave I tried not to judge a book by its cover and opted to stay. A man finally saw me and took my order, but his overall demeanor was not exactly warm and fuzzy. I ordered a chicken plate which came with said chicken (more on that in a moment), rice, and...black beans??? That last item was a very, very strange choice for a Middle Eastern restaurant. The chicken was supposedly cooked to order but did not taste fresh and was badly under-seasoned. No joke, I'm praying I don't get sick. The salad/condiment bar is free for customers but based on reviews from the recent past (and the empty trays) it has clearly been cut back. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, picked turnips, sliced pepperoncini, and the processed sliced pickles you put on burgers (i.e., not the authentic Middle Eastern pickles). There was also a variety of sauces in squeeze bottles. You also get a few pita triangles, but in the 5 minutes it took me to get home they'd already dried out to the point of being crackers...that was a first! Speaking of once I got home, when I opened the container there was a pool of oil and/or butter at the bottom. That's a huge gross-out thing for me. So all of this set me back over $17 after tax and tip. I know every restaurant's costs - and thus prices - have gone up recently, so I wasn't expecting fast food prices. Still, the food didn't come close to justifying what they charged. I'm not sure if it's inflation, the pandemic, or both, but this place unfortunately oozed corner-cutting. Maybe I simply ordered the wrong thing, but not a repeat for me and I wouldn't advise a first visit for anyone else. Despite the mostly good reviews there are far better similar restaurants in the area at that price.

Antonio Jones Special Educator

I've been in LA for a month and this is by far the worst customer service I've experienced. Not only was his tone and body language unprofessional, he rushed me to take an order. I've never been there and was studying the menu. Each time I added something, there was a problem. I ordered a falafel, fries and coke. 🤷🏿

Ruby Zhao

I feel like this place has got more expensive than it used to be when I was a student at UCLA. Still, food is delicious and the free toppings/dressing bar is awesome. Chicken wowshi, lamb wowshi, falafels are very good.

Christopher Collins

Great food but total nonsense with menu prices. Actual prices are more expensive. Poor guy at the counter has to explain, says "Manager won't change it." Management here is taking advantage of students. Veggie bar is awesome. It's a shame.