The Whole Bowl Cincinnati

I'm friends with the owner and I've yet to try his restaurant out but I wanted to make today the day to do and I'm glad i did!! I was greeted warmly by the gentleman working there and I mentioned to him that it was my first time. He then proceeded to give me the full run down of what sort of food is served. Very knowledgeable! When I told him I was wanting to try out the new Flammabowl he gave me a small sample of the sauce just to see if I wanted to have it on my Insatiabowl AND IT IS INDEED A VERY DELECTABLE SAUCE!! I immediately made my decision! Afterwards he told me that there will be a food truck at the Clifton fest which I may check out! The food is very welcoming and light on the stomach! An equal balance of all of the ingredients mixed into one bowl. Rest assured I will be a returning customer!!

The new "Flammabowl" variant that comes with spicy secret sauce packs just the right amount of heat. Whole Bowl is always good and filling, it's nice to have a new twist on things.

Streetside bean and rice take out, with friendly welcoming service. I appreciated this delicious meal with a dairy and gluten free option for my daughter. Lots of toppings, good selection of hot sauces, reasonable price, and great taste!

The Whole Bowl on Ludlow. Wow! Fast! Fresh! Healthy! 9 ingredients! Fantastic, warm, simple vegetarian bowl! Tiny window right on the sidewalk. Takes 30 seconds to order and in a minute you are on your way to a culinary vegetarian hug❤️! You can order ahead online if needed. Must visit if you are in the area. Warning. Parking is not easy. You can stop at the curb - at the risk of getting a citation. Beware. A CVS is across the street. Enough said. 5 ⭐️ Whole Bowl!

Minimalistic menu with only one item - the whole bowl. It contains rice, beans, salsa, olives, sour cream, cheddar and avocado. You can exclude anything out of it. They come in 2 sizes. I love the bowl. It tastes extremely good and is healthy too. The service is good too. I have been here multiple times and so far I never had any issues. My go to place for a healthy meal

Lovely salad bowl and great to have alternative drink options for meal deal like kombucha

Absolutely love this place. The service is always welcoming and warm. Whole Bowl has just 1 entree- which you can customize based on toppings. The food is filling, fresh, affordable, and convenient.

With only one item on the menu (aka the whole bowl), they do it remarkably. The bowl was simple yet packed with flavor, filling while leaving me with sustained energy afterwards. The instiabowl size was also amazing value, perfect for sharing between two people. It’s worth noting that they only have two outdoor seats available, with takeout as the best way to enjoy their food.

This is a great affordable healthy food option. Simple menu, always fresh, friendly service.

They're not kidding - they serve ONE THING. The gent in the window made this clear and talked my rookie self through it (thank you). I got the smallest size (bambino), which was plenty for a middle aged mom, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a good combo of good ingredients, and you can spice it up with a hot sauce or any of the other options on the table outside. There are benches nearby where you can perch and enjoy your bowl. Four stars because I was hungry sooner than I thought I would be - it's tasty and filling at the time, but burned off too fast. Maybe not their fault but I'd like more protein. (concur with the note to ask for more beans and less rice... oh, and I would not call this Mexican, though it's a lot like a burrito bowl!) Easy win if you want quick, wholesome, and good.

Highly recommend! My hair stylist actually spoke of this place and ordered from here while I was there. She let me try a bite and it was delicious! This place has a simple menu and because of that everything is amazing. It is technically more vegan forward and no meat proteins. I thought was odd but when I ordered my bowl everything just tasted perfect in unison together. As recommended from my friend I got extra tali sauce with my bowl. I ordered the big bowl (brown rice, beans, cheese, cilantro, sour cream, avocado, & black olives) with no salsa. Amazing. I didn't actually visit the restaurant because I got it delivered to me - so I can't speak on the location. I will say this is something I will definitely order again while I'm in Cincy! This bowl was filling and worth the price! Give it a try! I will say the picture doesn't give it justice but once you take a few bites and mix it up - so good! Also they always fill it up to the tip top!

Vegetarian never taste so good! I feel like I can eat twice as much when the food is healthy! This cones with 2 sizes , no meat and you can personalize the toppings. If you go in Clifton , it's a walk up window and plenty of parking. I was lucky enough to run into them at the Wyoming festival . I was thrilled like a kid in a candy store. Customer service was great they are efficient . The best part is they are consistent so spare your self and get the large . They have the best fillings .

I was in the area about 10 mins away and this showed up as a healthy option so I went. Small menu for sure, if you want a Mexican bowl though it's pretty good! I got the meal deal that comes with dessert, drink and side of chips. I appreciate any healthy food option. I ordered and it came out fast, good service. Would be nice if you could eat there, but it's really just a to go place with 1 outdoor table. That's ok though, I'd come back! granted don't live in Cincy

I remember when I was in Portland years ago and stopped at The Whole Bowl. It was a cold November day, and I just walked away feeling like I ate a warm hug, just like the bowl says. It's basically just black beans, rice, avocado, cheese, olives, cilantro, sauces, and other things that just make taste so freaking good. So when I'm in Cincy and see that the Whole Bowl is also here?! I had to go. It's in Clifton, where UC is. It's just a walk up stand. There are a couple small tables in front along with sauces available. I honestly just picked it up and ate it while I walked up and down the neighborhood. The service was quick. Server wore a mask while making it. So, I appreciated that part. I can't comment on the ambiance because it wasn't a sit down place. The price is hard to beat- like $9-10 I think, I got the 16 oz cup, and it was so filling. Oh how I missed this place. It's a must eat for vegetarians/vegans in Cincy.

Delicious and healthy menu for those seeking healthy sugar free gluten free smoothies and bowls.

I grew up in the madisonville area before the big change.. I seen a fair amount of restaurants come & go.. to say the least I hope this is one that stays! when they say "whole bowl" I'm pretty sure they mean w whole bowl filled with warmth & love. It's nice to eat something that's not gonna weigh you down at the end of it.

First time and the taste is incredible. The Whole Bowl is my new guilty pleasure. I couldn't wait to enjoy my Big Bowl so I suffered the flies and sat outside to indulge. Flavors are bursting. If needed you can add sauces like Tabasco or Sriracha. One minor adjustment - next time I'll ask for more beans and less rice.

This visit was ordained. I was able to pull up in the 10 minute temporary parking spot right in front of the storefront. There was no line so I walked right up to the window. (As an aside, no line meant that I almost tried to walk in the door, not understanding that customers can only use the window). The cashier was completely focused on me so he talked me thru my order and went to make it right away. I was back inside my car and eating in probably 5 minutes. The bowl has many of my favorite flavors: cilantro, olives, avocado, cheese, etc. I was pleasantly surprised by the olives because they weren't listed on the sign...but I love olives so no complaints here! They were out of the vegan hot chocolate so I couldn't try it. Opted for boxed water. I'd like to go back and be stopping in route to home so I can pour my bowl onto a plate and mix everything up better.

Nothing tops it, so good! Easy to become a regular at this place. 10/10 would recommend.

It's the fastest place ever for a reliably delicious (and healthy) meal. 75 seconds and done. Cheaper than chipotle.

A great place to grab lunch as a vegan! It truly is comfort food, and quick to grab as it's just a walk-up window. The menu is very small but the food is not something to get sick of fast. Great kombucha as well.

Whole Bowl is slowly revolutionizing healthy, cheap food options by making it taste so good! My friend in Portland would always gush about this place and I had to try this little eatery in Cincinnati. And I was SHOOK! That tali sauce is a KILLER! Rice, beans, avocados, tali sauce, sour cream, cheese, olives, cilantro; all blended into this massive amazement. You can have the bambino or the big bowl, and it would satiate you. This is completely gluten free, and you can skip the dairy in case you are vegan or lactose intolerant. The other thing that impressed me was that they didn't give plastic forks, but disposable wooden ones. Though I'm not sure if the bowl or the lid was biodegradable, I shall see or ask the next time I'm there!

A good fast option for a vegetarian grain bowl. Super simple, but tasty. Could not be easier to order, as they only have one item on the menu: The Whole Bowl. It comes in three sizes and they do offer drinks and some cookies as a dessert, so you can make a small combo meal. I ordered two biggest size bowls ($7.99) with extra sauce ($0.50) and avocado ($0.50). When you order online, 15% tip is automatically added to the order. It is only carry out and it only takes a minute to get the food, so no real need to preorder. The bowls come in more of paper cups. The largest ones were really huge! I had more than enough for a lazy dinner and lunch next day. The brown rice with sauce is topped with cheese, cilantro, beans and avocado. There is an option to veganize it. Simple and good.

I had this delivered to work for lunch and overall it was really good. The service is basically one type of bowl in three different sizes but there is no meat included. It's really simple and healthy option for lunch. It was priced similarly to Chipotle and felt lighter (not as much oil).

You truly wouldn't expect this meal to be as delicious as it is. The ingredients are so simple, however, it just works. Totally recommend. Tip: add hot sauce to kick it up a notch!

Is it possible to actually eat at Whole Bowl? It's not really like an actual restaurant. This is literally a hole in the wall. It has a simple menu. Many options for vegans and others. It has about the simplest menu you can get. It has only one choice. The Whole Bowl is the only item on the menu. It comes in the regular size, the Big Bowl, which is $6 for a good amount. They also have a bowl that serves 10 people, and it's massive. It has many items to mix in to the bowl. These include avocado, beans, greens, rice, sauce, and seasonings. Whole Bowl is very fast. For the quality it's also cheap. Very healthy while being tasty.

My salad started falling out of the bottom of the container. It was then I realized I'd gone to Hole Bowl instead. Then I puked. Shouldn't have gone to Hurl Bowl. I wanted to love this place and the service is really nice and the concept is good, but the products really don't do it for me. I don't consider this food to be particularly healthy - in fact it was more of a fake Mexican Tex-Mex salad bowl than an actual healthy salad bowl. The price isn't too bad and considering the comparative lack of options and Cincinnati and considering how friendly the guy was, I'm happy to give 3 stars. And if the moon is out, skip this place and go to Howl Bowl.

We are up here visiting some of our family. After landing at the airport they suggested Whole Bowl for a quick lunch. It's only a to-go place. I ordered the Big Bowl to share with my wife. I have to say it was very satisfying & surprisingly tasty. I don't know what is in their sauce that they call 'tali', but it was great. Lots of rice& beans& greens & avocado & salsa make up the bowl. I can see why it's popular.

Love the walk up window feed em' and street em' concept. There is only one table outside for eating and no inside eating at all. I have to admit I was skeptical to try this place. I was about 50% sure this food was going to be bland and uninspiring. I was wrong, the food here is so delicious and full of flavor. Being that I am trying to convert to 100% vegetarian, this meal was a winner. There are 3 different bowl sizes (big, bambino, hyperbowle) and 9 ingredients (black olives, sour cream, cilantro, brown rice, salsa, black/red beans, tillamook cheese, avocado and tali sauce) to choose from. I opted for the big bowl minus the olives, cheese and sour cream. The tali sauce (lemon garlic flavor) definitely makes this dish. Healthy, hearty and wholesome sums up this place. I am a fan and will definitely be back.

Awesome vegan food! If you really want to tantalize your taste buds, then your in for a treat! She is the nicest person you'd ever want to meet and the food was heavenly!

Flavors are very good. The ingredient ratio is inconsistent. The bowl I got yesterday was over 90% rice. There was less than a fourth of a cup of beans. Tasty, but not filling enough for the price or as a complete meal.

This place is truly the option for a quick and healthy meal. Whole Bowl is a literal hole in the wall and it's main meal is a bowl full of brown rice, beans, cheese, olives, avocado, sour cream, cilantro, and tali sauce. It always hits the spot and it is super affordable, coming in at $6.50 for the medium size bowl. I highly recommend the medium bowl because the smaller bowl, to me, is not fulfilling enough and the bigger bowl is just a lot of rice and not a lot of any of the other ingredients. That is my main reason for not giving it a 5 star. I wish they would proportioned out their other ingredients to match the size of the bowl. Regardless, it is a great vegetarian option and the combined flavors of it all are superb. It comes with a lid and a wooden spork which you can take and eat at the nearby Clifton Plaza. One of my favorite places to go to in Clifton!

overall simple menu, and delicious. extremely filling, which I was shocked by, because the portion seemed small. Great flavors. Honestly better tasting than chipotle, plus I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie, I swear I have been craving one every day since. A great stop to eat outside on the tables nearby and enjoy Ludlow.

Love the concept. Very simple menu with different sizes bowls choose from. It has some cream and good flavors. Relatively healthy, but filling. Rice beams, cilantro, tali, cheese, sour cream, salsa and avocado. Prices are reasonable- $6 for the normal size bowl. Fairly quick turnaround once you order too.

I loved this for a quick lunch option! I got the 16 oz big bowl (without sour cream) which was loaded to the top. I ended up mixing mine with some greens, salsa, and salmon at home for an even bigger big bowl! I even had enough left to repeat the same meal for dinner (which I am a huge fan of doing). I think they'd do well to expand their menu options. Great service, efficient, delicious food, and eco friendly! I'll be back!

Doesn't get much better than this! Simple, delish, vegetarian, quick, healthy. This place has yet to let me down!

I was really surprised by this place. Hipster location, only one item on the menu, and no real place to go- just a stand. But wow, delicious. They are a walk up style place, with nothing but a window to order from, some wooden popsicle stick forks, and a two person table the size of a pizza pan. They offer one "item" with nine parts. Seven of nine are vegan, and I had them with all seven. The large, or Big Bowl, is only $6. It isn't huge, but a decent portion, and mildly filling (I eat a LOT). The only disappointment was the employee. He looked like he hated his life, and had zero enthusiasm or charisma. I wasn't expecting high fives and cartwheels, but he had the same energy level as Windows Speech, with as few words used as possible.

You can always depend on whole bowl. They have a simple menu that is consistently delicious. This is a tiny little window on Ludlow Avenue in Clifton that's been around for about three years now. Their menu is based around a few different sizes of a simple bowl that has beans and rice and curry sauce and avocado and olives and a couple other items depending on your preference. It's simply freaking delicious and fairly healthy whenever you're looking for something that's hearty and filling but not going to make you feel like crap afterward. Newer to the menu I got to try their Matcha chai drink which was really good and obviously use high-quality ingredients. It seems like this restaurant is very focused on giving consumers good quality food to put into their bodies. I appreciate how simple and consistent the food from this restaurant is. It's just great to know that you can rely on getting pretty much the same experience every time and the staff is always nice person. There are some times where there's quite a line because it's usually run by one person and things can get crazy around lunchtime. I would highly recommend this to anyone who's looking for a filling but nutritious meal on the go.

I have to start off with talking about TALI. SAUCE!!! Soooo delicious and a very unique sauce to add to things! Would love to have it with everything. The ingredients were fresh, tasty and I love the hot sauce selection. A great, quick and healthy selection in Cincy. I brought it home and ate it with some tortilla chips! Highly recommend.

I am not vegan. I'm not vegetarian. Don't get me wrong, I love me some veggies, and I eat a lot of them. But damn if I don't love meat too, so I'm not exactly Whole Bowl's target demographic here. Fortunately, I am a fan of delicious food - and they definitely deliver that! Their food is clean, flavorful, and tasty. Though there's little heat or spice, I enjoy the bowl's for the flavors and sauce that is included, especially if I add a bit of chicken or meat to get the protein count up. However, both times I've had this with my girlfriend we've both left with the same impression 0 the food is wonderful, but even with the "big bowl" we're still unsatisfied with the amount.The cost is relatively high, to reflect the quality of the ingredients, but to pay that price and still be hungry, I end up feeling like I'd rather go to any of the surrounding restaurants instead. If you've got limited dietary preferences this is a spot to try, but otherwise it's a bit of a novelty. So I'm going to be perfectly honest - I wrote the first half of this review after the first time I tried it... and it was the way I felt at the time. Yet the more I've tried it over the past year I have found that I really like it. Don't get me wrong, I still have to supplement for protein with chicken or beef jerky, I still wish they were a little cheaper OR a little more food, but I'm a big fan of the flavor now. I can respect their businessmodel, ethical practices, and definitely co-sign the food.

Was in the area and wanted to try this place since I've heard great reviews from those round Clifton's Gaslight district. They're in their third year of business. It's very intimate and simplistic. You approach the window and choose which of the nine options you'd like in your bowl. Decided to get everything in the bowl. The taste was kinda like a vegan Sante Fe chili or whatever. I got the Big Bowl Deal Meal which came with tortilla chips, a drink, and dessert made from a friend who worked at the bakery that used to be further up the street. It's a nice, healthier alternative.

When looking for a healthy option, this place hit the spot! The bambino was just the right size and so flavorful. I will be back.

It's like a vegetarian burrito bowl! I had the veganized version with brown rice, beans, olives, avocado and salsa. The secret ingredient of this simple bowl is the tali sauce, it's so tasty! The big bowl is 16oz, it looks small but so filling! If I live in Cincinnati I'd be a regular!

A good vegan/all round healthy option, terrible service and/or poorly designed app? I have been a customer for the duration (5 years+) started using the app recently. Walk up has always been sketchy on wait time as one could expect based on time of day. Today using the app which related a 10 minute wait, got there just at that 10 minute window only to be told that the order had not been started and the girl working there went on to complete another order(placed right then). So the app is rather pointless if the worker just services the window traffic. The worker was borderline rude as well. I won't be back. Not looking for special treatment just a reasonable expectation from the app and better customer service.

I'm a glutton for simplicity, what can I say. Nowhere else, not even the Chipotle's of the world, can you get THIS much consistency and reliability of quality. Today I was served by Emma, who must be a magician because she made this bowl in like 40 seconds. The avocados are perfectly ripe. Rice, cooked to perfection, decently tender with just enough moisture. I asked for light olives, and so it was. Everything else was so perfectly balanced to create a homogeneous delight that filled me up for the night. Truly blissful to the last bite, as it was last week, the week before and every time I've been to this restaurant since I've lived here. A can't-miss on Ludlow. Inspired.

Whole Bowl is all about simplicity and I like it that way. A walk up window on the main drag in Clifton, you walk up, tell them what you want in your bowl, they quickly put it together and slide it out to you. That's it! As a chipotle addict, I remember seeing WB pop up on yelp, reading the menu and thinking "well, it looks good, but it sounds like it would be dry" ... WRONG. Get the tali sauce for something really unique and spectacular; a dairy-free oil based sauce with a garlicky kick. I normally beware of oil, but I absolutely cannot turn down tali sauce. Please note that "recreations" of this sauce online all seem to include cheese, but the sauce that WB serves is totally vegan-friendly. On mine, I got rice, beans, cilantro, olives, avocado (you get extra avo if you decline cheese and sour cream!) tali and salsa. Outside of the window is a small table containing wooden cutlery and a few types of hot sauce and sweet chili sauce. I added a little bit of sriracha to the top of mine, my boyfriend opted out of any sauces. We walked down the street to a public seating area and dug in: OH. MY. GOD. We both stopped and looked at each other after taking our first bites, in total shock that something with such basic ingredients could have such a strong flavor. So fresh, too! We were both blown away, it was so much more than we were expecting. I live 40 minutes away, but I was so impressed that I actually returned two more days in a row for lunch. On the third day, we spoke with the owner who enlightened us on their Portland beginnings and how they always wanted to return to their 'nati roots. They are also hoping to expand, and to that I say: DO NOT SLEEP ON HAMILTON. We would love to have you up here! And the thought of having you within walking distance of my home is pure ecstasy.

I had Whole Bowl last night with my brother after not having been here in a long while. I had forgotten how delicious this place is. First off, I love the simplicity of it... there's no need to look at the menu... you're ordering a whole bowl (All bowls are nut, gluten, wheat, hydrogenated oil and guilt free and come with brown rice, black and red beans, avocado, cilantro, black olives, Tillamook cheddar, sour cream, salsa and Tali Sauce). If you read this list of ingredients to me, I'd feel pretty "meh" about the prospects of enjoying it. However, after one spoonful, I was quickly reminder how freakin' delicious it is. I have to imagine that it's the secret "Tali" sauce (named after the founder) that really pulls it all together. I could not stop eating it and soon scarfed down my whole bowl (no pun intended). I also had the treat of trying one of their chocolate chip cookies which was amazing (slightly underdone texture with a TON of chocolate chips. I was in heaven. As I type this review, I'm contemplating running back up to grab more this week! Well done, Whole Bowl!

This is the one thing in the world I could eat literally every single day. I'll never get tired of Whole Bowl. Love it

This delicious, guilt-free, feel-good hope-in-the wall place is one of my favorite places to eat in Clifton. For $6, you get a large bowl of rice, beans, avocado, special sauce, cheese, olives, and cilantro. Chipotle but better IMO. The wooden spoon is a fun utensil to eat with as well and it's environmentally friendly. It is walk-up only but there are a few little tables out front to eat. My favorite thing to do is to take my WB to the park across the street and a few blocks down, close-ish to the fire station. Street parking. The owner is very kind and friendly. The concept came from Portland and has an easy-going healthy west-coast vibe with it. Great value. Clean kitchen. Cant be beat. I'm a fan.

If there is something from Cincinnati that I would like to recommend is WHOLE BOWL! It is a restaurant that offers healthy food, prepared with the highest standard of quality. The first time I tried this food I was impressed. Please do not forget to go! You'll love it... I guarantee you.

I am a fan of Whole Bowl, and have to stop myself from going here every week or more than once a week (it's happened before). I live in Clifton so it really could not get any more convenient to eat a filling, vegetarian meal from Whole Bowl. I really appreciate that is vegetarian and shows non-vegetarians that you can be satisfied with a meal with no meat. Go figure?! I get my whole bowl regular size with all the fixings and I add cholula on top. I know others don't appreciate the yellow thali sauce but I appreciate the combination. Whole Bowl, please don't go anywhere, and please don't change.

Pure flavor. A food truck without wheels. Layered flavor. Delicious. Any time I need something good on the fly I'll stop by.

We wanted to try something different so we drove up to Clifton to have a bowl. This is a walk-up order take out joint... but they have lids if u need one. If you like rice and beans you'll love their bowls. Not a lot of ingredients to pick from but tons of beans and rice You get brown rice, black beans, olives, cheese, sour cream , avocado and chives, no veggies. The sauce is pretty good and you can add sweet chili sauce or siracha. Good customer service. I'm not a big carb person so I don't think I'll be back.

Great GREAT food! I loved this place. Food is fresh, on point, with great flavor and healthy! Great option if you do not want to cook but want to be healthy

This place is so good! I usually eat like a rabbit but I inhaled this meal. I wish they would have had the vegan sour cream when I went but it was still really good.

Not gonna lie, when we first read about the Whole Bowl before it opened, we laughed and thought, "They offer ONE thing? And it's basically rabbit food? How hipster!" But now? They're the ones who should be laughing, because our family gets Whole Bowl about once a week. It IS sort of like eating a hug (per their slogan) because it's warm and filling and feels good for you. Even our baby/toddler likes it. Also, this take-away window model is so perfect for the Ludlow business district. Hope to see a few more businesses run with this concept!

Simple and speedy! It's just a walk up/carry out window with one menu item but it really hits the spot. In good weather there is one small, two person table out on the sidewalk as well. It's an easy meal on the go but pro tip, I love to get it, pop a lid on and take it into the esquire for dinner and a show. (possibly frowned upon by the theater? But I'm always sure to get a drink there to support their concessions too!) There is only one menu item but it's really filling and if you want to be healthier or don't like an ingredient you can modify what all goes in, the ingredients are clearly displayed on a nice infographic sign so you can be sure what's included is safe for your diet. They have a great selection of canned and bottled drinks available as well. Wooden sporks, lids and various hot sauce options are out on the street in a cart for you as well. I really do crave this flavor filled bowl quite often. It's an easy, fast, cost friendly dinner on the go in a great location on Ludlow near lot's of public seating.