Core

There are two different Core restaurants, one in the main student union AND ON Unilocal, and a second one at the Park Student Union which IS NOT ON Unilocal. I added an entry but has not gone «live» yet. Not sure why, it’s not like rocket science to walk 10 minutes and see for one’s self.

I just had to pay extra for chicken and avacado which is fine… Except I almost broke my tooth on a giant bone in the chicken and then the avacado IS STILL FROZEN! So I just paid more for a toothache and avacado ice cubes. Thanks core.

I needed something healthy on a work trip at U of A and a customizable salad was just what I needed.
It’s pretty simple — you get in line, tell them what you want in the toppings bowl (protein and cheese are extra), and they mix it with your salad, add dressing, and you’re all set. The line goes pretty quickly, even during the lunch rush.
As one Unilocaler mentioned prior, the portions are a bit small, so you’d need something extra if you’re hungry.

Portions are TOO small for the price
When you pay extra for meat, they give you no meat

Not bad for a campus eatery. The line can be long, but always moves fast, and there is a happy hour, which means half off the $ 6.75 salad bowl. The perfect place for an animal-​free meal while bustin’ a move at the U of A.

This is (now) my favorite place to get lunch before class. As the name implies, it «feeds the core» with good stuff. This is a SALAD place — so if you are into salads; stop reading.
Haha. Just kidding. No, if you don’t regularly like salads, this might change your mind.
First off, you come in and get in line. You have so many varieties to choose from — from tomatoes and mushrooms to grapes (GRAPESSSSSS) and mangos. There are also choices like chicken, steak, and shrimp. There are also nuts and chips (if you really desire), four types of greens to choose from and so many dressings. Basically, you get to put as many or as little into a small bowl and fill it up to the top rim.
Now, this is usually my main go to options:
Mushrooms; carrots; cherry tomatoes; black, pinto, kidney beans and chickpeas; corn; chow mein noodles (adds a little crunch to my taste buds); sprouts; bean sprouts; grapes; mangos; avocado (cost a little extra); grilled tofu (also a little extra); coconut; flax seeds (I believe they are whole); spinach; mix greens; peanuts; and almonds.
Okay for the dressing: Sweet and Spicy Honey MUSTARD (YUMMMM-​O)!!
TIP: ask to put the dressing on the side because they put a lot in like several tablespoons (I usually put it on the side and dab my fork in the sauce cup if I want some. The salad is sweet enough with the grapes (:D) and mangos.
There are other things too. Example: a whole refrigerated section with grab-​n-​go salads, sandwiches, etc. They carry soups, too.
OHHH! If you don’t like the salad idea, you can put it in with white or brown rice. I see people do that so that can be an option (I don’t usually get it because I am trying to watch my carb intake for now). If you are not like me, then GO FOR IT!
The student workers there are pretty nice; not too bad. No complaints or complements except they try to be as fast as they can because lunch time is prime time for them and the line is LONGGGG!
They get a 4 star primarily because the salad alone costs about $ 6.75 more or less and if you add stuff; your amount grows! My bill normally comes to about $ 9 – 10 bucks depending if I want steak one day or tofu the other.
It’s cute because on the wall, there are little screens that would tell you about the health benefits of certain food items; keeps you occupied while waiting in line… I know it does to me: D.
Anyway, if you are a UofA student or just someone passing by UofA and craving something healthy yet delicious; try this place out and let me know: D

Very sad lettuce lives here. Brown, limp, wilted. However, this is pretty much the only place to get a decent (non-​prepackaged) salad on main campus. Hop on a catran and the med school cafeteria has a self-​serve salad bar that’s good and not that expensive but that may be out of the way for many.
Core has a lot of topping choices (wide array of beans, veggies, nuts) including some more deluxe options that increase your price (like tofu). Other than that, salad goes by weight. My salad only included salsa, kidney beans, corn, and mushrooms (atop some spring mix) and came out to eight dollars. Ouch. I could have Choice (best salads in the world!!) for about that much. And for that amount of money, Choice gives you about 2X as much salad as Core does.
Core: a perfect example why monopolies are frowned upon.