Northside Shack - North Park

The acai is delicious and wonderfully sweet. They serve it in generous plates. While the parking lot can get busy, you’re likely to find a spot if you’re patient. There are also four outdoor seats available if you’d like to enjoy your meal on-site.

10/10. absolutely amazing! from the bowl itself to the customer service to the vibes in the shop (I love the stickers, signs, and community sketchbook). my bowl was delicious, and sizable even for the mini. the toppings are unlimited and literally falling off! my pineapples weren’t ripe— it was nobody’s fault, so I asked for banana as a replacement and they were so quick to “swap” it out for me. it’s dangerous for it to be so close to my house, I will be back 🥰

When you get your bowl they also give you a plate.... You know your acai bowl is LOADED. A medium would fill you up for a day. Definitely consider getting a large and share with someone. Seating is very limited. They have a couple chairs outside the shop facing the parking lot. That being said, you should really come and grab it to go. It's the best deal in town with the most fresh fruit you can get. Parking is very limited.

Hands down the best acai bowl I’ve had in San Diego. The coconut sorbet is absolutely divine and the best addition to an acai base! Northside Shack loads your bowl up with fruit and other fun toppings! We did not order ahead but our order took only 5-10 minutes to make even though they were quite busy. There’s not really any great place to sit and eat so I would definitely recommend taking your food to go!

Low rating is because of the positively hare-brained layout of this business. It should be takeout ONLY because there isn’t a single place to actually eat. I got an açaí bowl, which despite being $20+ was excellent. But, when you find yourself in this scenario, you will immediately look to find a table to eat at (most people I know prefer to eat their açaí bowl before it melts into just a crunchy smoothie). That’s where the joy of your fresh tasty açaí bowl comes to a grinding halt. There are several tiny seats for children (why they prioritized toddler seating over a table for adults is beyond me), a few other chairs inside and a large bench/wall for sitting upon, and a few seats outside. But there is not ONE TABLE at this absurd establishment. If you’re just getting smoothies, great. You can sit anywhere and relax and sip your smoothie. But have you ever tried to eat an açaí bowl that is stuffed to the brim, or even with the tasty fruit piled high? If so, you know that there is usually very limited room for stirring, and the bowl will often sort of self-destruct in the process. This is particularly true here since, to be fair, they generously add the freshly sliced fruit well above the rim of the container. But attempting to eat an açaí bowl like this, while standing up, is utter madness. They have AMPLE space for tables, yet instead chose to fill it exclusively with chairs. The same is true outside: lovely seating area, with NO TABLES. Three stars purely for the totally illogical interior design. If you claim to support dine-in, you have to actually give your patrons a place to eat. I wasn’t even able to get my açaí bowl home without several pieces of fruit falling off the top of the bowl in the car on the way home, adding to the annoyance of my visit here. If you want a place where you can buy an açaí bowl and actually EAT IT THERE, I highly recommend Rad Habits in South Park.

The bowls are amazing but it takes forever for them to be made, even when they’re not that busy. Also, only one menu is available right before the register, so the line takes awhile too because most people don’t know what they’re going to order until they’re first in line. Nowhere to sit and eat either. A lot of head scratchers here.

I was so surprised by variety of toppings in an Acai bowl. I ordered a small bowl with half Coconut Sorbet, half Acai, and all the toppings. The bowls are such a fillful satisfaction. Everything was fresh, high quality, and absolutely delicious. Overall, It's a bit pricey but great value. The only thing I have to say that we had to wait almost 30 mins for two bowls, although there were just around 2 or 3 customers at that time...

The acai bowl is delicious (one of the best I’ve had), however it can take upwards of 30 minutes by the time you receive your food on a weekend which is just absurd. Popped in while we were strolling around North Park and was flabbergasted at our wait time. Not a quick spot. Also wish they had a medium because the small is too small to split with my partner and the large is just so impractical to eat since the container is so tall and narrow. I’ll definitely give it another try but I hope the service improves and whatever process they have going on in the back with the high school workers improves.

Love the service, portions and quality. The workers are always welcoming by greeting me with a smile. I usually get my orders to go and I order them online. They always match the time listed on the website. Never have to wait more than I expect. I make sure to always visit when I go to San Diego. Til next time!

Wow these acai bowls are amazing. We also had the oatmeal. The pile of fresh fruit on top is what distinguishes this placed from others. The dining space is very small and parking is limited, so best for take out.

One of THE BEST acai places I've had in San Diego. I always try to get close to the acai bowls in Hawaii, and this is as close as you can get. I love the variety of toppings they offer and the different bases they have. They also stack their toppings so you are getting a bang for your buck! Parking in the lot is pretty tight, so we try to find parking in the neighborhood. We typically go on the weekends or right when they open to avoid any rushes. They do online ordering as well. We have done takeout from North Park to Mission Valley and it is still good and not melted at all! A must try if you haven't already!

I absolutely love this place. Always come here when I want an acai bowl in San Diego. LOADED with fruit and so delightful to eat.

This is a busy establishment. The parking lot is small. And the drivers are nice. The staff member taking orders on Sunday was truly a queen. This place is sooo busy--there is in person ordering and pickup. Their patience to deliver quality bowls and smoothies is extraordinary. I was quoted my wait was going to be 20-30 mins and I felt it was closer to less than 10. I looked through some cool books while waiting. I ordered the Sexy Aphrodisiac per the staff member's recommendation. And I basically inhaled it. I'd like to come back to try their acai bowls.

This is our third northside shack. We always get the same a small pitaya/coconut bowl with all the fruits, all the dry toppings and peanut butter. The service was slow even though I ordered ahead of time but was worth the wait! The fruit was abundant and so fresh and ripe. We are from Mesa, Az and without fail we have a bowl every morning of vacation. Nothing in Arizona compares!

I got the medium custom acai bowl with half pitaya half acai and all the toppings except for grapes. I love how all toppings are included in the price and you can see how my bowl ended up being so loaded that stuff was falling out!! I went during an off-hour so it was not busy at all and staff there were very friendly. There's no seating, so this is a grab and go type of place. Acai bowls are so expensive in the first place so I'm very picky about it but this place was well worth it :)

So happy that this gem has popped up in north park with parking. Located in a small shopping center next to Mr. Moto pizza. The small parking lot does have people coming and going especially running in to grab a fruit/veggie drink or açaí bowl to start off your day filled with fruity goodness. They seem to be extremely popular and sometimes have a wait of 10-15 minutes for your bowl. They do wrap each bowl as they are stuffed to the brim and only have bench seating in the windows and 4 seats outside. So this is more of a pick up and go kind of spot with no tables. On a stupid Al sunny day this is perfect way to kick start or pause in the middle to feed your soul with healthy goodness. TIP the menu is online or tapped to the register. I suggest you look before you meet the register as it's a fast pace line. Everything was so fresh and perfect while enjoying the sunshine and walk around the neighborhood! Enjoy!

Lovely vibe and experience! Hot tip: if you're deciding between two smoothies, chat to the staff and they might be able to help you blend two! I was between the Mega Mushroom Horchata (with brain-healthy lions mane, heck yeah) and the Cold Brew smoothies, and the helpful girl up front helped me combine cold brew in the mushroom smoothie. I also grabbed a local San Diego kombucha from the fridge case - LXB Lemon Peppermint. It was super refreshing and healthy - has added blue spirulina, and ZERO added sugars!!! Unheard of in a grocery store brand. My friend got a large açaí bowl, which was plenty for leftovers the next day. Love such a healthy staple with friendly staff - thanks all!

First time at Northside Shack. There is a small parking lot, but you have to pay to park. There is street parking, but you also have to pay to park. We went during an off-hour so there was no line. My partner and I shared their $17 large acai bowl with all the bases and toppings. I love how toppings are included in the price and they do not skimp out on any ingredients. They fill the bowl over the top which we love to see. We also added peanut butter to our bowl and it was yum! It felt refreshing to eat and the fruits seemed fresh. They give you a paper plate to put under your bowl because the toppings will definitely come off once you start eating. I will definitely be coming back here whenever I am back in SD.

Açaí was good. Not too sweet, not too artificial. Skip the mango coconut, even though it was recommended we all kind of found it just ok. The protein one was very heavy, creamy and cinnamony. It was good but not wow. Next time just go with the açaí.

I had a hankering for an acai bowl, which I had last week in Escondido, and it helped my body recover from a wave of fatigue that hit me the week before. Looking on here, I found this place in the middle of North Park. Its list of fruits for their bowls really appealed to me. I'm not crazy about pineapple, but mixed in with other fruits, I don't really mind. It's pretty basic inside the shop. There aren't any tables or a proper seating area, which I think is a small demerit. And it seems like the majority of their customers give off a young hipster vibe, though that can be said of most restaurants and cafes in North Park these days. The large container to hold my coconut sorbet "bowl" was more like a large cup. With that much fruit, it really should've gone with an actual large bowl with a wider base so that it can hold both the sorbet and the fruit. It was literally falling onto the plate when I unwrapped it. Having something like that also makes it difficult to drive with so that it doesn't spill out everywhere. It was still good, though. It hit the spot. Having the coconut sorbet instead of the Acai kind of dents the strong fruity and citrus flavors. What I don't understand is burying the sliced bananas at the bottom of the "bowl."

This spot is a must! It's a cute walk up and order store located in north park. I got a build your own acai bowl and it was a huge portion. The service is usually fast and you can call and order ahead as well. Endless choices here from smoothies to acai and even juices. I come here often and highly recommend their tasty acai bowls packed with tons of fruit.

3.5/5 - Northside Shack in North Park has a small parking lot, but is convenient to walk to if you're in the area. Their acai bowls are packed with fruit toppings, and have plenty of drink options. There are no tables inside, but a couple of outdoor patio chairs to sit and enjoy. The mini bowl is $10 but a good size if you don't want an entire bowl. You can mix and match the bowl bases, and they offer online and phone orders. Takeout is interesting - the bowl and toppings are covered in plastic wrap and given in a plastic bag.

What a gem!! Wish I still lived in San Diego. I would come here all the time! I was visiting for a work conference and needed my açaí bowl fix. This place really hit the spot! The service is quick and pleasant. Very welcoming workers and space. I loved being able to sit against a window to enjoy the socal sunshine. The bowl was generously filled with fruit and acai. Couldn't ask for anything more. I highly recommend a visit.

10/10 The açaí bowl was LOADED with fruit! They definitely give you your moneys worth and the cashier was super nice with helping find something, since I've never really had açaí before! Totally make the visit if you're in the area :)

We've been coming here FOREVER for their amazing acai bowls but have been coming more often for their smoothies. Each one slaps! Highly recommend their Stressed one. It's sweet but flavorful. Vitamin C is the citrus thing of your dreams. Think an orange Julius! All in all just a perfect spot for breakfast whatever that may be. This is family ran and you can always tell that it's managed with care. Everyone that works here rocks. Parking - there's a little parking lot attached and although it can be busy just hold a moment and you'll get a spot.

One of my all-time favorite açaí bowls. A small bowl is $15 which is on the pricier side for sure, but they offer unlimited toppings, so of course I go ham with the toppings every time. I got practically every fruit option they offer and the açaí base and it was pure bliss. The fruit is always so ripe and fresh, I have yet to find another spot that sources such perfect fruit. If you are in a rush, definitely order ahead because you will be waiting 15-20 minutes for your bowl order. This is the ideal healthy treat pick-me-up.

The best açaí bowls ever!!!! They don't skim the fruit. It is so packed with fruit, it's crazy haha WORTH the price and wait!! Order online ahead if you can though. The açaí is soooo creamy and perfectly sweet.

Love their bowls and their smoothies. I'm trying to copy tha protein smoothie at home. It's sooo good!

I got a small bowl with peanut butter, it was $16 which is crazy to begin with. They had at least 6 employees behind the counter and it took them 20 minutes to make the bowl, we had enough time to go to the Mexican place near by order and get the burrito and still have to wait a while when we came back. Not only did we wait 20 minutes but the girl gave me someone else's bowl, that was basically a fruit cup and barely had any açaí and coconut sorbet in it. It was extremely disappointing after waiting forever to get such a crappy, expensive, not worth the calories bowl. There's plenty of açaí shops around, don't go here.

I waited 25+mins... for an açaí bowl because they gave my bowl to someone else. Sigh disappointing. The girl before me was also upset. And sadly people couple of ppl after me for their orders even for theirs before she dianllt made my new order... they made new for me after waiting 25mins. How great. Upsetting.

It was very clear on the order ACAI/ PITAYA but I received coconut/pitaya. Excessive Granola in my opinion.

Best açaí bowl I've had! The fruit was so fresh, and the açaí was the best texture I've had.

We ordered an açaí bowl and a smoothie. I was so impressed with how loaded the bowl was with so many fruits! They had so many options to choose from which was great. The ambiance is cute and doesn't really have seating. The service was great as well and they were kind and fast. Would go back!!

Parking is free and they have a parking lot. You get to build your own acai bowl but if you want peanut butter or almond butter it's an extra charge of 2 and 3 dollars. There's hardly any seating inside which is why I would give them one less star.

I was recommended to have this on our trip to San Diego. Part of me was still skeptical walking in that I didn't go for a Mexican style breakfast, but after having this, I no longer cared. The worker was super sweet, helping us out when ordering, especially for newcomers. I love how seamless it was to order an açaí bowl, as you just needed to choose a base, and you can choose up to 2 too! All the toppings already come with it! I got the small Bowl ($14) with Acai Sorbet and Pitaya Sorbet. It was my first time trying a pitaya bowl, and as much as I enjoy the acai, the pitaya offered a different kind of flavorful and refreshing taste. There was an amazing variety of fruits, all so fresh, especially the mangos! I was worried I would just be eating straight sorbet after getting the fruits on top out of the way, but there was still enough to accompany the bottom base! They also provide a plate with the bowl, which was much needed for fruit spillage. They don't skimp here in packing a lot of fruit into the bowl! Highly recommend for a quick nutritious breakfast!

I LOVE acai bowls and was pleasantly surprised by Northside Shack's variety of toppings. The bowls are expensive, as many are these days, but the large ($17) was great to share between two people. You can have as many bases (acai, pitaya, or coconut) as you'd like with unlimited toppings. There are some additional toppings available for a cost, and adding peanut butter for $2 was very worthwhile. Peanut butter complements the fruit so well and there was plenty in the bowl. There was a bit of a wait as the bases may be blended fresh and it was busy on a weekend around noon. There aren't any tables but a few benches and chairs outside the shop. The North Park Mini Park is a couple blocks away if you're looking for a picnic table. They gave us a plate with our to-go packaged bowl which really helped catch the many toppings piled on top of the large bowl.

Never disappoints! I come here everytime im in town... always a hitter!! fresh and so much flavor. you won't regret it!!

There is a tiny parking lot but I ended up finding street parking a short walk away. Parking is rough in north park. Ordering a bowl is pretty simple you choose a size, a base, toppings, and add ons. It is a bit pricey but they really are some of the best açaí bowls around. They pile on the toppings so it's like a fruit salad on top of your açaí bowl.

This was our first time at the Northside Shack - North Park. We usually go to the location in Point Loma. But since we were closer to this location, we came. The acai bowls were amazing, as we have come to expect and they were able to get our order out relatively quickly considering they were getting busy at the time in the morning we were there. The staff answered any questions and provided recommendations for those who may not be familiar with ordering an acai bowl. The only thing that is tough there is the seating. There is not a lot of seating, so you will either need to take it go, or be on the look out once someone gets up. Regardless, I do highly recommend this place!

The way they fill up the bowls past the brim is enough to give this place 5 stars. As east coasters, this 100% fulfilled our idea of the perfect Acai bowl!!! Staff is really nice. Parking is free for customers. And the ingredients were tasty and fresh :)

The girls that work there are smoking hott!! It's worth the wait to hang out in there and the new girl she looks like she's from Brazil or s America wowowow

Love this place! The best açaí bowls around and they deliver! Always fresh with a ton of fresh fruit and can always add extras. When we stay in Point Loma-would always walk up to this spot. And glad to see they have a place in North Park. We were staying in Little Italy this time-so location was perfect for delivery. Highly recommend if you're in the area-worth the price.

Hands down the best acai bowl I've had in San Diego. The coconut sorbet is absolutely divine and the best addition to an acai base! Northside Shack loads your bowl up with fruit and other fun toppings! We did not order ahead but our order took only 5-10 minutes to make even though they were quite busy. There's not really any great place to sit and eat so I would definitely recommend taking your food to go!

Northside Shack has the best acai bowls ever and I'm grateful for their second location in North Park! I think it's the granola they use and the assortment of fresh and sweet fruits that I am addicted to. They are pricy for their bowls, however, the quality of them and the presentation of the bowls are reasonable once you try one. I tried the trio of bases: coconut, pitaya, and acai. It's sort of like a sampler and I enjoyed each one! My faves have to be the coconut and acai. The bowl was stacked with fresh berries, mangos, grapes, kiwi, pineapple, and shredded coconut. Such a great treat that I'll choose over ice cream any day!

Small parking available. Definitely better than the other location where there's only street parking. Same great taste and awesome wait staff. Small indoor seating available. Nicely decorated. Modern. This was our first time at this location and won't be our last.

this is hands down the best acai i've ever had! i love the acai base and i usually get fully loaded toppings. it's incredible value for the price, and they always give a lot of fruit! service can be a bit slow - if you order there, it might take 20-30 minutes for you to get your order. i always like ordering online ahead of time and picking up my order! the storefront is small, but they have some chairs outside to enjoy your acai. parking lot is small. overall, would highly recommend!

Listen to the ladies behind the bar - the recommendations are fantastic. I had some wicked blue concoction that was just so tasty - and a bit energizing. I was shocked I didn't need my afternoon caffeine fix. The bowls look amazing and are very popular. It's not uncommon to see a group outside the shack eating açaí bowls. And they are massive. Gonna have to come back for one of those!

I absolutely LOVE Northside shack! The açaí bowls are always loaded with the freshest of fruit and perfect proportions of granola to base. I love adding almond butter too. The fact that you get UNLIMITED toppings is also my favorite! It's my absolute go to when wanting a fresh and filling açaí bowl in SD!

This place is absolutely amazing! The staff is very friendly and helpful with answering questions. Just a warning that there isn't a lot of room if you want to sit inside. I ordered a mini bowl consisting of açaí, pitaya, and coconut bases, with all of the toppings. All of the bases were delicious and had an appropriate level of sweetness. The fruit was perfectly ripe. I also liked that the toppings were all included in the price. It was a great value for the price, and if I ever come back in town, I will make sure to stop by.

My favorite açaí in San Diego. Best quality fruits and the coconut and pitaya are an amazing combo. Workers are always super nice and they have some seating inside. This location is a bit roomier than their other one in Point Loma.

A new favorite in San Diego! I love dragonfruit as the base and have only seen it in 'y favorite spot in LA. I had to come here when I heard it was also in SD. The small was $14 and the large is $16 but the only difference is the amount of base - the fruit volume is the same in each size (fills the cap). I got the small and it was absolutely delicious. My bowl was half açaí, half pitaya, and just about all the toppings they offer. What impressed me the most was how ripe, sweet, and fresh the fruit was. In my humble opinion... It is hard to get all 10 fruits offered ALL ripe at the same time. Skills! Also, don't sleep on the grapes. I thought it was strange as a topping and I am so glad I tried it.

It's truly the best açai I've had! I love the size options, the flavour, the pricing, the fact that I can choose three different bases. It's all perfect!

The biggest açaí "bowl" I've ever gotten! This was only $16!!!! I don't know about you but here in Cali I'd say that's a pretty good price! This bowl was filled over the brim with fresh fruits, granola, peanut butter, and of course açaí. It was so refreshing and sweet. I definitely had to share this because as you can see it's a VERY LARGE serving. If you are in the San Diego area, I highly suggest giving them a try!

Absolutely obsessed. My go to is a large pitaya bowl with all the toppings (except coconut depending on my mood). Toppings come included, but they do have a few "premium" toppings for an extra change. This bowl is already packed so I haven't really paid attention to what else I could add. They have smoothies/blended creations as well if you're feeling anti-spoon. The staff is friendly. I'd suggest ordering on the phone or planning for it to take 5-20min for your bowl depending on how many orders are in front of you. They cut everything fresh- that takes some extra time, but makes it so everything is super fresh. They have a second location in Point Loma that was just on Yelp's Top places to Eat in SD and I'm so excited that they have an OSide location coming soon! It's good to see them grow! They raised their prices (like most restaurants in the area have had to do this summer.) I think it's still worth the $$ and also worth any wait. I'll be back!

The yummiest fruit bowls ever. They taste even better than they look which always blows my mind because look how gorgeous this is!

The açaí was super good and a huge portion for the price! I got a size large and it fed two people. There was a ton of fruit and you can choose all of them if you want! Although, I wish there was seating inside. Overall, great experience!

I always end up coming back to this spot in SD for a good açaí bowl fix!!! There is a small parking lot but also has a good amount of street parking. They have 3 sizes- mini ($9), small ($14), large ($16). They have 3 bases- açaí, pitaya, and coconut. There is an ample amount of fruits to choose from as well as some dried toppings. You can choose up to as many toppings as you wish!!! There are also additional toppings such as peanut butter, almond butter, goji berries, etc for a few dollars more. We got the mini size and it honestly was so filling because they top it off with so much fruit!! The bases are perfectly sweet, and the fruit taste so fresh!! This place honestly has the best açaí!