Assessment of the nutritional status of cerebral infarction (CI) patients is important because their nutritional status influences disease outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of CI patients using the scored patient‐generated subjective global assessment (PG‐SGA) and to investigate the relationship between the quality of diet and life based on their nutritional status. 73 CI patients were recruited from Kyung Hee University Oriental Medical Center in Seoul, Korea from May to July 2007. The subjects' PG‐SGA, dietary diversity score (DDS), dietary variety score (DVS), diet quality index‐international (DQI‐I), and stroke‐specific quality of life (SSQOL) were investigated. The patients were classified by PG‐SGA categories as well‐nourished (26.0%), moderately malnourished (49.3%), or severely malnourished (24.7%). The DDS and DVS were significantly lower in severely malnourished patients. The DQI‐I was significantly greater in the well‐nourished group. The SS‐QOL was significantly lower in the malnourished group. Quality of diet and life were significantly correlated with their nutritional status. In conclusion, PG‐SGA is a useful nutritional assessment tool for CI patients with stable vital signs. The well‐nourished patients demonstrated better diet quality, as well as better quality of life.