Evolution

Evolution is a true gem for anyone seeking exceptional plant-based cuisine. As someone who values both vegan and gluten-free options, I was glad to discover this restaurant that offers both. The kitchen clearly takes pride in making everything fresh from scratch, and you can absolutely taste the difference in every bite. While the interior seating is limited, the atmosphere actually adds to the charm of the dining experience. The staff are knowledgeable about the ingredients and care about ensuring every guest has a great meal. Don’t skip dessert! Their gluten-free vegan desserts are absolutely divine and prove that dietary restrictions don’t mean sacrificing your indulgences. Evolution has mastered the art of creating delicious, wholesome food that happens to be vegan. Highly recommend for vegans, those with gluten sensitivities, and really anyone who appreciates freshly prepared food. I plan to be returning soon!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Enjoy eating more plant based foods.

I've always been a fan of this place. This is the first time since they've moved that I've been here (great upgrade btw). First time ordering this sandwich and definitely will be the last. One piece of lettuce, soggy so-called "bacon" tempeh that had ZERO flavoring.... Very very disappointed. $13 spent on this is not it!! I really hope this is not the quality that they are putting out due to their upgrade. Wish I had a better review.... I was really looking forward to an enjoyable meal, which did not happen.

Jackie is the rock star of the place! She is the nicest person who cares about the customers and the business. I can't say enough good things about Evolution Fast Food. As a vegan, finding truly satisfying and delicious options can sometimes be a challenge, but Evolution absolutely nails it. Their vegan fish taco is hands down the best in town – I'd even go as far as to say it's the best I've ever had, vegan or otherwise! The "fish" is perfectly flaky and flavorful, and the toppings are fresh and vibrant. Beyond the tacos, everything I've tried there has been fantastic. The service is always friendly and efficient, and the atmosphere is casual and inviting. If you're looking for incredible vegan food, especially an unforgettable fish taco, Evolution Fast Food is a must-try!

I’ve been here two times and I think it’s safe to say that this place is pretty awesome! I highly recommend the Fuego Burger and if you’re up for something new, there is a Crispy Chk’n & Pesto that is really good as well. While they aren’t pictured with this review, the Buffalo Fries tasted amazing as well.

Never thought I would be giving Evolution 2 stars, but here we are unfortunately. I used to love this place when it had a drive-thru and I returned several years later to see that they removed the drive-thru completely (and possibly moved locations?). Now it is no longer the hole-in-the-wall place it used to be (in a bad way) and is a shared business with Donna Jean, another vegan restaurant. It's small inside as most of the indoor space is for Donna Jean. There is outdoor seating but we just ate inside being the only customers at lunch time. Unfortunately this is where it goes down hill. Me and my girlfriend ordered burritos and they were automatically cut in half (for "Presentation" I'm guessing), but this is a red flag for me. Staff seemed unenthusiastic to be there and the vibes were a little off so we took most of our food to-go. We were up-sold on some fries because it was some sort of "combo" which I'm sure ended up costing more. The "ketchup" we got for the fries was basically like if someone just cracked open a can of tomato paste and called it ketchup. $43 for 2 burritos (which were small portions, cut in half), some fries and 2 fountain drinks is a bit steep to say the least. Overall I won't be returning here and recommend Plant Power over Evolution.

Decent restaurant overall. The BLTA sandwich was pretty good although I wasn't a fan of the Pozole soup. I took a star off because they don't have a lot of indoor seating and it took a while for my order to come out. I would still recommend dining here though.

Ok, the vegetable wrap I had was absolutely delicious yet healthy! It was so very tasy! Huge! I was stuffed! Customer service was okay. I ordered inside. I had to wait for someone to come to the register to place my order. Someone eventually came out telling me they'd be with me. That's not so much the issue. It was dry customer service and not very welcoming. However, I truly enjoyed the food!

Delicious plant based food, staff is nice and food is tasty. I ordered the bacon burger and it was fantastic. Definitely recommend this place

I was walking around the city with my boo and we decided to pop in here for a snack. We ordered the chocolate banana smoothie. All of their food is pretty generic but packed with a twist! Our smoothie came with tahini in it. It was delicious. Inside was clean and they have a dining patio out back. It's a little bit hidden but cool. They also have fun graffiti art on the exterior of their space. In the waiting area it's plentiful with plant life. Great customer service. It's a short walk from Balboa Park and close to one of the bridges across Maple Canyon Trail. If I'm in the area again, I'd be eager to taste more of their food. Happy eats!

Great atmosphere at this place! First time here and it did not disappoint. Friendly staff members plus a quality filled menu. I got the classic beefy burger, chicken tender and fries. AMAZING! I chose patio seating and it was the perfect ambience for the perfect meal. Great vegan and vegetarian sections on the menu. If you're in the Balboa area, check them out! Pure goodness. Thank you Evo team for a great meal

Always the best food every time we come here!! Chili cheese fries & milkshake on point

I really enjoy the breakfast burrito on the weekends. It's great when your super hungry because it's very filling. I love the milkshakes here, strawberry being my favorite. I also enjoy the carne asada fries , better than the real thing ! Service is also great , I love the patio space private but surrounded by cool art and plants

Plant based fast food restaurant with the drive thru. Evolution really looks like a hole in the wall and it has pretty sizable menu. Restaurant does not have the best appearance although the food is good. Burgers and good while Buffalo chicken fries are amazing. Carne asada fries were nothing special. Equally so was the lack of many dessert choices.... Service was good - but not terribly fast. I would say Evolution is somewhere between 3 and 4 stars and rounding up for novelty approach!!!

3.5 stars. My husband has always liked this place because of the BLTA wrap. We hadn't been back in a long time. So recently we went back and my husband got the BLTA and I got the salad. My husband initially was disappointed because his BLTA came as a sandwich instead of a wrap. But the main thing was that while we both love tempeh - the tempeh here this time was very mushy despite being obviously browned and crisped on the outside. The inside was so soft and mushy and mealy. It was weird. Maybe it was an off day?

I used to be a regular but the quality of the food is so inconsistent! It's disappointing because as a vegan I try and support these kinds of businesses but they make it hard. Their food can be cold, their fries aren't even cooked all the way through and one time I found a piece of metal in my beefy burger patty. Service is good but the food can be a hit or miss and I'm done gambling with evolution fast food.

I got the chicken burger with pesto and mozzarella. The texture was perfect and the patty was thick! The fry's left much to be desired and they only had the "healthy" version go sodas which are not my favorite. The burger really hit the spot. Will make another trip out

Ok, I'm going to preface this review by saying we didn't actually try any of the food here. We just ate brunch after we flew in from San Diego airport and we were looking for a sweat treat. So, we decided to come here and order some vegan milkshakes. The milkshakes here were fantastic. I almost felt like asking if there was real milk in them! Also, the blueberry cheesecake was sensational. When dairy is your enemy there are a lot of things in life you get used to not having. This place allowed those of us with dietary restrictions to feel like everyone else and enjoy a few of our favorite sweet treats. Thank you so much Evolution!

Falafel was burnt as coal, hummus was an odd color, flavor not great. Also, hair in the box.

I needed to brush off my buzz and this spot was a hop, skip, jump away. Here was my experience. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking and plaza parking. I came on a Monday evening an hour before closing and it wasn't too bad. Seating: Initially I thought it was a grab-and-go place but I turned the corner and there was a actually a dining room with room for maybe 40 people or so. Feels: It's in DTSD and not too far away from Balboa Park. The spot itself is decorated with creative mural designs and plants. I dig the hip-hop music like QTip playing in the background. It's a pretty spacious place to lounge out. Great for families, friends, or a simple food adventure. FOOD: Bacon Cheese Fries + Chicken (Recommend) Wow! The cheese is very deceiving as the appearance and aesthetics looked like regular cheese. Bacon was well seasoned to provide some nice crunchy and savory flavor. I asked for fried chicken to add a feel of protein to it. The fries were solid, crunchy and fulfilling. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Chef Adam and Josie are awesome! Friendly people with pleasant interactions TL; DR OVERALL: 4.5 Stars. Awesome! I need to come back for more. I enjoyed the selections, food was delicious, and the experience was pleasant. Whether you're vegan or not, this is a good spot to grub out. I look forward to coming back here again. TIPS: * Check their website for daily/seasonal specials.

Come on Yelp. Number 11 in the nation? This isn't number 11 in the city (not even the county) of San Diego. We got their most popular items: California burrito - wayyyy to salty, couldn't taste anything else. Disgusting. Buffalo chicken sandwich- only taste we picked up was spice, nothing else. No flavor, just spice. Evo burger - huge ginormous bun with a tiny patty. Not good, even if it was its lost in the bread. Evo fries - the only thing that was good, but how do you mess up fries with thousand island dressing? You can't, it's good by default. Come on Yelp, please rethink this Number 11 in the nation! Golly...

Drive thru - efficient. Right in their small parking lot. Order and pull up to wait a bit for your food. Pumpkin shake - yummy!! It was made where you can actually taste the pumpkin (not talking about the spice). California burritos - omg, one of the best. At first I was bummed there wasn't any hot sauce or salsa, but after getting into the burrito - tasting the guacamole, the spices, it is super satisfying. My bf has been aching to get these burritos for the past month and we finally made it. He would prefer eating this burrito every week than our local taco shop. He is mostly vegetarian and does not normally prefer whole wheat burritos. This says a lot!

I usually get the California burrito here, but decided to try the breakfast burrito today. wow! just awesome!

I walked in here on a Sunday night and the food came out pretty quick. The location is clean, the dining area is cute, and the bathroom was clean. The chocolate shake was pretty good 4/5. The fries were okay, nothing special and needed a dipping sauce. The California burrito was just okay, 3/5. I wish it had more avocado and spice. The chicken wrap was also okay, 3/5. It was just bland. Overall it's was okay, maybe I didn't try their best menu items because I have heard people love this place.

Enjoy the burritos, looking forward to trying more items on the menu. Outdoor seating available. Unfortunately I haven't been able to order them yet with Uber eats.

I've heard great things about this place and had high hopes coming here for the second time and bringing a friend, but the experience was lack luster at most. . We looked over the menu & both decided on veggie burgers. My friend ordered the black bean patty, fries and a vanilla shake. I got the Evo burger with the house made tempeh patty also with fries and a hibiscus tea. We both agreed everything was alright. . You'd think forgetting to take pictures of our food the flavors would be unforgettable, but they were bland. Tempeh is marketed as a bacon replacement and my sandwich was not reminiscent of any crisp, savory strips. My friend said the black bean patty was plain and that she's had better veggie burgers elsewhere. The highlights were definitely the fries with the rosemary, garlic salt seasoning and the milkshakes & drinks. The fries are warm and thinly sliced and I love the house made ketchup. They don't use the cleanest brand for milks, but the shakes are rich and sweet. . The space has really cool artwork and a large outdoor covered patio with tons of plants and and an artsy feel. There are two restrooms with a code and wifi with a password. The staff did their job, but they all look like the Addams Family versus the Brady Bunch they were polite, but you can see on their faces they don't want to be there. That demeanor is consistent with both of my visits thus far. . We often hear the third time is a charm, I want to see if their vegan chick'n sandwiches, wraps, sides & desserts live up to the hype. . Update - So my friend vomited after eating here and there was also a long, black hair in her burger. She mentioned it to the staff and they made her a new one, but that still didn't stop her from puking. I was able to eat what I ordered and kept it down, however it did NOT sit well in my tummy the next day. I wanted to try them again, but the fact that the small view of the kitchen from the ordering counter looks like a dungeon entrance is probably why the food & service is mediocre. I really enjoy the market they have here a couple Tuesdays every month, but unfortunately I will not order food from Evolution again.

I am NOT vegan but I have cravings for this spot. The flavors are different but the DRIVE THRU service is super fast wow. Try the side tortilla chips, you won't regret it if you eat them hot. Game changer!

When I arrived I pulled up to the drive thru but didn't know I had to place the order ahead of time so I parked and went inside. Once inside I then placed my order. The carne asada fries had more guacamole than anything but they were good. The portion is more like a small so I would advise to order something else. The lemonade was delicious.

Tried the buffalo chicken sandwich today and cookies & cream shake, both were DELICIOUS! 10/10 will be coming back to try more items.

I'm embarrassed to admit how often I go to Evolution Fast Food. I typically order the chicken sandwich and Evo fries. The portion sizes are generous and the price is reasonable. The evo fries are delicious and unlike anything I've ever had. Service is quick and reliable. The parking lot is small so I try to only use the drive thru. They are right across the street from Balboa Park and next to an awesome brewery if you want a drink with your meal.

Excellent lunch wraps (some with whole wheat tortillas, others a cabbage wrap - all very good), lovely private outdoor patio, and AMAZING soft serve chocolate (oat milk based) ice cream. (If I lived in San Diego I'd be making the ice cream a daily habit....).

I don't normally eat fast food, but this is a great exception. I like the tempeh burger with chickpea salad. The tempeh burger taste more flavorful than regular beef burgers so that's saying a lot. That chickpea salad has bell peppers in it and it is a great side. The churro cheesecake is made out of cashew cheese, so the consistency is very similar to regular cheesecake. I highly recommend getting that for dessert.

I really wanted to give this 5/5 but the customer service is terrible. Ordered online and they told us they didn't receive the order. We waited in the car for 25 min for them to then complete the order and they never told us it was ready (after they said they would call us). Food tastes great but if you're sensitive to unhealthy food then this will trigger you pretty quickly. Portions are not as big as they look in photos. Food 5/5 Atmosphere 4/5 Cleanliness 5/5 Customer service 2/5 Speed 2/5 Price 4/5 Outdoor seating? Yes Wheelchair access? Yes Restrooms? Yes

so blessed to have a delicious vegan fast good joint in SD! The first time I tried this place by accident- and I fell in love. Buffalo Chick'n sandwich is my go to here! I sub for a wheat bun (taste better imo) & add vegan ranch. So fire! Their fries are also great, including their chili cheese fries! If there is one thing you want to try here it's definitely the Buffalo chick'n sandwich; I've brought non-vegan friends here and they too are a fan of the sandwich. Highly recommend trying this place!

Fantastic! Super friendly service and great food! I had the fuego burger with black bean patty and a house made lemonade. The burger was absolutely delicious and I enjoyed every bite, the sauce was fantastic and the spice level was perfect, the black bean patty was very flavorful, I loved it. The house made lemonade was soooo yummy I had to get a second one before I left! If you have time be sure to eat in their back patio which has a bunch of beautiful luscious plants and a great vibe, highly recommend!

I used to really love this place. The food is still great, however every time I've come in the last 5 years they have messed up my order. EVERY. TIME. If I only order 2 items they forget the fries. Today I went in with my family and they forgot fries, didn't give us ketchup then gave me a burger on a gluten bun. It took forever to get the corrected burger and by the time I got it the rest of my family has finished their meals and we're ready to leave.

Upsetting experience First here is the good - it is vegan. The black bean taco would be higher rated IF they had a warm tortilla; it was cold. They skipped the lettuce we asked for - even on the ticket. The chili was so so - we wouldn't order it again They won't offer you one you have to buy the two and you can't mix and match the types (black bean/fish/pollo and carne Asada) (of course plant based) As I usually do I took photos. As we were waiting a guy (manager Juaquin) comes out calling the name on the credit card we used and saying hey did you take photos of my staff?! He was very aggressive toward me and my young daughter. No problem to say hey we prefer no pictures of our staff ...if you could make sure your review you don't show staff, we'd appreciate it. There were so many ways he could've been direct but kind and gentle. He came across harsh, rude and intimidating. It was unneeded aggression. I recommend he put up a sign that says no photos or no photos of the staff. Or perhaps only photos of the menu allowed. I have no problem with that policy but it was the delivery that was very aggressive and put us off this place. Staff at ordertaking could be a little bit more knowledgeable about what the ingredients are. A number of reviews and in the questions section, express a lack of information on the ingredients, what are the oils, what are they using to make the protein (is it heavy wheat) ... For me I will never go back.

I love that they are a vegan restaurant in the middle of San Diego! That being said, there is room for improvement that I think will make them a really great niche market in the food super city that is San Diego. Service was good. We went through the drive-through because we were exhausted after trekking the zoo. It was quick and easy to order. There wasn't that crazy of a wait considering the food is made to order. We made it right in time before the dinner rush. The menu was simple but had ample choices and we tried a great variety of foods. We ordered a California Burrito, Evo Burger, and smoothies (Strawberry Goji and 2 Pineapple Mango). The smoothies are great! They're very refreshing and aren't pumped full of sugar, which we appreciated. The burger was also very pleasant. I will say the California Burrito was both "a hit and a miss" as someone mentioned previously, depending on the bite. My main critique was the "carne asada" in it was very heavily seasoned without much else added to balance it out. I felt like I needed more French fries in it to distract from such a strong aftertaste. It's worth a try if you're on the hunt for Vegan options, but I would definitely suggest planning ahead what to order off the menu as it is sort of a hit or miss right now.

Service was bad, food took too long (20+ min for 2 items), forgot our dressing, didn't give us a receipt, small portions, no utensils. Definitely don't recommend. Not worth it.

California burritos, fries, and shakes? What's not to like. I've never tried going through the drive thru but it doesn't seem the quickest as I see customers waiting a little. They have shaded patio seating past the hallway with the bathrooms which is where I've taken my food to enjoy.

Menu vegan fast food right next to Donna Jean & some other good places to grab a drink Some vegan snack offering as well, brownies, peanut crispies, and a smattering of choices of flavored popcorns

I love treating myself to some tasty vegan fast food on a lazy Sunday! I prefer to call in my order and pickup (they have a small parking lot), but they also have a drive through. My go-to is the black bean burger with mozz and pesto. But I also love the Buffalo chicken fries and a shake!

Evolution is literally one of the best restaurants in SD! A gem of SD and deserves the 11th burger ranking! Their burgers and "chicken" sandwiches are excellent. I always crave them! I can't recommend trying them enough. The reason I'm taking a star off is the price. I understand vegan ingredients aren't cheap. That being said, my order of 2 sandwiches and fries was 30 dollars which I think is extremely costly for a drive through. Making a meal more affordable or at least adding a combo price for a sandwich with fries would be great!

Stopped by this place last minute on a Monday night to grab something quickly. I ordered the pesto mozzarella chicken wrap and let me say, it was delicious!! I opted to turn this wrap into a meal and get fries and a drink. Given the quality of the food, quick service, and friendly staff, the price is right and I will certainly be coming back! Also uploading a picture of their cheesecake menu as this stood out to me since I love cheesecake and look forward to trying this next time!

Do NOT eat here. The food here gives me diarrhea and has made me sick. Had the black bean cheese burger with no onion or tomato a couple times. The flavor and texture was not great this time around than when I tried the black beans in the past. Too much seasonings and not enough salt. Also the patty crumbled and fell apart. Tldr; Service isn't great. Food isn't good. Diarrhea and allergies. Honestly a health hazard.

Can't resist stopping by every time I'm in San Diego. The veggie burgers here are possibly the best I've had anywhere! It's extremely casual and I love the patio in the back -- and most of all I love how it's barely changed over the years. Good, reliable fast food that's all plant based. What more could you want??

Amazing food. Don't let the look of the restaurant from front back you away!! Amazing food and cozy back area to sit and enjoy burger, smoothies and desserts.

Delicious fries The wait time sometimes frustrates me lol but yummy fresh fries I do return for them when I'm craving them

Don't let the grungey front distract you, the food is excellent, as is the service. There's a lovely exterior seating area in the back as well!

VEGAN FAST FOOD with a Drive-Thru!! This place is incredible and filled with amazing staff. I'm a big fan of the steak chimichurri sandwich, Fried chicken wrap with honey mustard, and the BLTG (the Chipotle sauce is banging!!) Everything is fresh and made to order and the perfect amount to fill you up.

I'm not generally into junk food, but Evolution's black bean patty with mushrooms and Swiss on a gluten-free bun hit the spot! Fast, no-nonsense service. I ate on the quiet, shaded, dog-friendly back patio. I've only got three weeks total in San Diego, so am trying to try everything on my list before going back for seconds, but I have been back already once. 1,000% more delicious than it looks in the photo, which absolutely doesn't do it justice. Parking lot and drive-thru option.

As a meat and cheese lover, I was (probably expectedly) a little disappointed. The 'cheese' had a weird funkiness to it that kind of made it smell off. The patty didn't have much flavor. I was kind of hoping for something like a beyond meat... That being said, it's a really cool concept of a restaurant. I want to try their other items and the fries were good!

They really are fast! The salad with imitation chicken was a quick and easy snack - definitely not a full meal for me, but that's ok and what I was looking for! My boyfriend enjoyed the burrito, and I liked it more than the salad. This is some of the best and most convenient vegan food I've ever had! I'm glad that they have expansive menu options that would suit anyone, even those who aren't typically looking for plant based foods.

The service was amazingly friendly and the location is pretty good by Balboa Park. However my girlfriend got a food allergy. It is still hard for us to narrow it down as we tried sandwiches shakes and drinks

Orders placed in person are always precise and great food. Never fails when I order online. But in this case, quantity is small and dressings were missing, fries were undercooked. I live in escondido so it's quite a commute, so I will not order online again. My $12.00 salad had hardly any spring mix and no dressing.

Plant Power is one of my favorite places to get a quick bite, but their sister restaurant at Evolution misses the mark. I've eaten here over a dozen times for the past few years and the menu and quality have gone down significantly. They changed my favorite burger, removed the guacamole and added chipotle aioli PLUS cheese on it. Gross. On more than one occasion, the mods I request are overlooked. The best thing here is the strawberry shake. Please go back to making the Fuego burger with guac - it is now ruined!

Came here for a quick sake / lunch . The short woman who took my order literally was smirking at me for so odd reason to which I have no idea . Totally felt uncomfortable as I ordered. Placed my order and with In minutes of receiving it was half cold & half hot . This place use to be really welcoming now it seems a little off especially with workers who don't align with the holistic way of what this place is or stood for . I'll go to the big box guys now "Native Foods" support local right ? No thanks especially when the local places drop the ball on the locals .

Their grilled veggie wrap was decadent and delicious! The iced tea was marginally weak. Drive thru was efficient. The staff-service was adequate but lacking in thoroughness (walked away before questions and transaction was actually completed- but lacking is becoming a norm everywhere isn't it?). I would eat there again.

With a 100% vegan menu I had to give this place a shot! I ordered the grilled veggie wrap, chili cheese fries, kombucha, and mushroom Swiss burger. All were very yummy and what I would expect from a vegan fast food place as I have tried a couple of them. I thought it was cool that you could choose from a few different vegan patty options (black bean, meaty ect.). Next time I want to try the California burrito because I've heard it's one of their best items!!