True Food Kitchen

Can never go wrong with True Food Kitchen! One of my favorite restaurants.. that just happens to be a chain :) Most people don’t know the founder is a doctor.. and he strives to offer an anti-inflammatory menu with seasonal, fresh ingredients This location is massive. Tons of open, airy space with high ceilings.. and LOTS of seating Quality is consistent with the brand. Feel-good eats that taste great Highlight will always be the seasonal dessert: sweet potato pie! Graham cracker crust.. no refined sugar.. guilt free perfection

Grilled sustainable salmon is nicely grilled on the outside with a savory flavor, while the inside remains moist. There was no fishy taste, making it easy to enjoy. The grain rice served with the salmon has a good texture and pairs well with it. The snap peas were not overcooked, so they stayed crisp. Personally, I prefer them more cooked, so that part was slightly disappointing. Light, but suitable for a proper meal.

This place was really quite impressive: came with a friend because there was a really amazing promo that we found, but left wondering when I would like to come back. The staff was professional and courteous, and it was significantly spacious. I honestly would recommend coming back here, even without the promo code.

For a reliably healthy and satisfying lunch, this spot is a fantastic choice. The portion sizes are decent without being overwhelming, and the quality of the food makes it a go-to for a midday meal. The kale salad was a definite done right... prepped so that there was no trace of bitterness, just fresh, crisp greens. The turkey burger was equally impressive; it tasted wonderfully homemade, with great flavor and none of the overly salty taste you often find elsewhere. The fresh brewed teas are a nice touch, though it was a shame the green tea wasn't available so early in the day. Service had a bit of a slow start, taking a moment to get to the table after we were seated (11:00 a.m.) However, these are minor points for an otherwise excellent and healthy lunch experience. An easy go to if in the area.

I had a very disappointing experience at True Food Kitchen on 10 November 2025. My friend and I waited about 45 minutes for a table — which was understandable since we didn’t have a reservation. But after being seated, we waited another 30–45 minutes for our food. When our meals finally arrived, we found a live bug moving in our salad after just one bite. The manager blamed it on “prewashed packages” and said the bug “wasn’t local,” rather than taking real responsibility. She offered to have the chef prepare something else, but it was already late, and after seeing a bug in our food, neither of us felt comfortable eating anything. She then said she wouldn’t charge us for our meals — but immediately followed it by asking whether we had ordered anything else, like appetizers. That felt extremely strange and out of place given the situation. She offered a gift card, which arrived today. It was only $50 and didn’t include a single apology or note. For a restaurant of this size and reputation, that’s unacceptable. Between the long wait, poor handling of the situation, and lack of accountability, this was honestly one of the most disappointing dining experiences I’ve had.

Loved it! Had one of the pizzas and the grilled cauliflower and this fruity drink called the hangover. Little bit pricey but worth it in my opinion. A date night would easily be $100+ but I would consider it. The service was very good. The outside seating area where I sat wasn't busy at all as neither was the inside dining area. I'll definitely come back again!

I recently placed an order through Uber Eats from this establishment, which I visit regularly. While the app seemed to require me to select a salad, it still displayed my usual order with fries. When my order arrived, I received the All-American Burger with a side salad instead of my usual fries. I called the restaurant to address the issue. The first representative I spoke with was not very attentive, so I asked to speak with the manager. Unfortunately, the manager focused more on questioning how I placed the order rather than resolving the problem. He repeatedly mentioned having control over refunds, blamed Uber, and cited a “system glitch” to justify the error, rather than offering a solution. Even when dining in, service can be slow and inattentive, even on less busy days. This establishment should improve both their service and responsiveness to customers.

Been a big fan of True Food Kitchen for a long time now! First time trying this location and the food was delicious as always. I could live off the edamame dumplings, so yummy! Shout out to the manager Antoinette who was super kind and personable. She went above and beyond to make sure we had a great dining experience.

Went in to celebrate my wife's birthday and we had ginger margaritas with fresh ginger juice. I'm not usually one to like ginger but this was a different experience. My wife and I shared a pizza, chopped salad and hummus. We will be back. I don't remember our servers name, but she brought my wife a chocolate cake and even surprised me. The host must have mentioned her birthday and it really made for a special dinner.

Had to do a big pick-up order and the team was amazing and super helpful. Soleil & Antoinette went above and beyond. Not to mention the food was fantastic. 10/10

We used True Food catering for my best friends 60th birthday party. Everyone loved the brussel sprouts and korean noodle bowl with tofu. Some of our friends are not eating meat and had never tried tofu, nothing but compliments. Cannot wait to come into the restaurant and eat something new!

We've been coming here for the past decade and more consistently the past couple years and it's time I write a review again to just shout out the wonderful chefs managers, hosts, servers and all staff that we encounter when we visit making each visit so special. To Rie the hostess, your smile starts our experience before we even start the check in process! You see us coming and it makes us feel so special and feel welcome. Michael (Stutts) your hospitality is unparalleled in how you go above and beyond for us with a smile and maintaining such a positive attitude with all of our modified orders. It lets us know how genuine you are in your care for us and others. TFK is so lucky to have you. Grant & Antoinette, thank you for the check-ins and small talk. You make us feel sooo VIP. The fact you make time for us while running a busy restaurant really makes us feel special. Martin - with several issues we've encountered over the years - we met you because you recognized we were regulars and personally came out to apologize - who does that?!?! I feel like you and the team of Chefs go out of your way to ensure perfection every time and we are so thankful for those detailed touches :) There are so many others to name....we thank you for the great service all around as it's not just the food that we come back for....we can't imagine our TFK life to be without every single one of you who contribute to our experience.

Food - The burgers and salads here have well thought out ingredients that create unique and enjoyable flavors. There is a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing the food is organic and locally sourced so you don't have to worry about some weird-cancer causing pesticide being in your food. Service is good! I came in hangry and irritated (long day) and was admittedly short initially with Maddie, our server. Despite my attitude she remained friendly, professional, and attentive to me and my table. Ambiance - Spacious interior with rustic decor. The kitchen is separated by a glass half-wall allowing people to see their food getting prepared.

True Food Kitchen champions organic quality, guilt-free, health-consciousness menu items, and it shows. True Food Kitchen sets a certain expectation coming in: plenty of outdoor seating filled with natural decor, an open bar, pristine silverware, and servers that welcome you in with a smile. However, the food is lackluster and you are quickly reminded where you are eating. First off, the menu has something for everyone, which may be the kitchen's biggest disadvantage. From pizza to burgers to poke bowls to salads to curry to sandwiches. It is a scattershot of a menu. Just because the menu descriptions include long words, percentages, and trademarks does not mean it'll taste better! We got the salmon (a whopping $30!) and the buffalo chicken sandwich ($20). Smaller portions for the price. The chicken was so "healthy" it almost felt synthetic. Like a chicken patty you would get from a school cafeteria: no texture, no juice, no sauce. The salmon was fine; the sauce was the best part which had a dominant fresh basil flavor. I left wanting more. And as a college student, I found that I am definitely not the target audience for a place like this. Know what you're signing up for, and maybe you'll be less dissapointed as I was.

Here's what surprises most people when I take them to True Food for the first time, you can do a half order of several items. So let's say you want to try both the Teriyaki Quinoa bowl and the Mediterranean salad but can't decide, don't worry, you can do a half order of each for half the price! I like True Food, it's a solid and completely seed oil free! I have never had a bad meal here. I can tell you this though, if you want to avoid the lunch rush, show up at 11:30. Once 12 hits there's a line and a wait. You'll be surprised, if you are in the Mission Valley area give it a try! Hazel and Tom were great! I had the salmon entree and I subbed the vinaigrette for olive oil and lemon squeeze.

Went in tonight for Valentine's Day. We made a reservation on Open Table for inside. They sat us outside. We ordered two of the festive drinks. They arrived not mixed. We didn't have any silverware on the table so once they brought them over we were able to stir the drinks and they were better. It was over an hour to get our food, but we expected a wait with the holiday. I ordered the shrimp entree. The shrimp were so over cooked I couldn't get them off the skews. I ate 2 of the 8 shrimp and they were like hokey pucks. My friend ordered the poke bowl. She said it was good. But they only had tobacco and chula hot sauce. They have an Asian forward menu so was weird they don't have Asian hot sauces. We had to ask for water. Staff were hard to flag down for the duration of the meal. Over all quite disappointing.

Had such an amazing experience and it all started with our server, Mel! She was fun, energetic and very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was incredible. But I have to tell you the experience with Mel made it that much better. The turkey lasagna was sooooo good. Thank you true food management for hiring such great staff such as Mel!

True food is supposed to be a clean healthy fruits well every time I come here and get something it always comes out burnt or salty so try this place again. Haven't been here in many years because the last time I got the butternut squash spaghetti and it was just so salty it was an edible service is always great here. Ambience is fun food not so much. My lasagna came with the top layer completely burnt. Then they put cheese on top of that burnt layer and then kind of melted it and served it like that. Amazing. I'm not sure if you can see the pictures but truly this I will not be going back to true foods again.

Love this place! Ambiance is very organic! Spacious and clean. I didn't get the name of our server. She's awesome! Passionate of her work. I was observing her, she's very attentive to her customers. Love the food. Mostly are gluten-free but very flavorful, and lots of selections.

The food was delicious. The service was very very very slow. Our drinks took about 40mins to arrive. The staff were unapologetic about the delay. There is an amazing outdoor fire pit on the patio. The location is great with easy parking.

Came in by myself today and ended up having such a great experience, all thanks to Shelley. Dining alone can sometimes feel a little awkward, but she made me feel completely comfortable right away. She was warm, attentive, and just the right amount of engaging without being overbearing. Checked in at perfect times, gave great recommendations, and had such an easy, genuine vibe. Honestly, she turned what could've just been a quick solo meal into something I actually enjoyed and slowed down for. That kind of service really stands out. Will definitely be back and would love to sit in her section again.

Our server Vera was so sweet and attentive! We often come to True Foods. Love the quality and variety of food here! Atmosphere is nice and cozy too!

2 take aways from eating at this place. 1) remember it's supposed to be healthy foods. Healthy has its own flavor and process. If that's what you're into then 2) This was amazing. I really like the semi outdoor open air dining area. The drinks were really good. They have many choices. The service was just as amazing. Our server was very nice. It's a vibey upscale-ish place you can take a date. Nothing you order here will make you heavy.

Shelley was amazing!! She was very attentive and friendly...and personal! She gave us our space, but checked in at the perfect times. Was knowledgeable about the menu. She was fab!

Was in the area and decided to come in for dinner. Had all Happy Hour offers for our meals, we chose the hummus with flatbread for our appetizers and we had the spinach mushroom pizza as our main. Also ordered a side kale salad. The pizza was just as delicious as we had remembered from last time and kale salad as well. The hummus app was new to us and it was so good! It was just the right amount of spicy and we practically licked the bowl, lol! Did not catch the name of our server but she was pleasant and responsive through our stay. Come by if you're in the area, good food and drinks here and plenty of room for larger parties as well. Cheers!

I'm sad to be updating my review with a lower rating as I love True Food and have frequented this location and the UTC one more times than I can count. We came here about two months ago with friends. They messed up multiple of our orders. My friend specifically asked for her steak well done and it was obviously undercooked. The knife that came with my steak had a huge neon blue glob on it. Upon notifying the waitress I was told it was leftover dishwasher detergent?! Eww. Our waitress was nice and understanding and both dishes were remade without issue. I love true food and everything they stand for including clean ingredients, and more recently going completely seed oil free. The food is *usually* good. Over the last few years we've had other issues arise with this location and they have been nice about it but I feel like this last time was the last straw for me. It feels like they don't have consistent standards and the experience overall has been declining.

Set your expectations to a 5 or 6 and this place will be a 10. I've been here once before, 7 years ago. Health is what comes to mind. From the patio you stare at Cheesecake Factory and your dreams are crushed. This place is legit though if you're seeking balance and tasty. We have a baby sitter twice a week so coming to the mall, spending 1 hour+ eating and 1 hour shopping is not a fruitful investment. Come here for snacks, a soda and you're set. We grabbed guac and the Edememe dumplings. Sounds weird but both were immensely satisfying, and quick. I'm not a soda guy but I got sparkling water with pomegranate juice. Delicious. We were in and out of here in less than 35 minutes for $45 bucks. Staff is pretty friendly with a nice odd touch. North park like but with a sprinkle of professionalism, beautiful patio as well. It's not a date not spot, it's zero a man spot, but there's something special to it. I'd check it out if you're curious!

Great fresh food and amazing customer service. Vera suggested a couple of entrees and they were all delicious.

Nice ambiance. Food is great. And service is always excellent. Tom and Liv are absolutely AWESOME! I keep coming back every week.

Came in on a weeknight, was seated very quickly and the staff were all very kind. The restaurant is very open concept, modern industrial type theme, could be a good date spot. We ordered apple lemonade and dragon fruit pink lemonade, both were absolutely fabulous and refreshing. For our entree, we got a turkey burger with fries, and a grass fed burger lettuce wrapped with kale salad. The kale salad was my favorite part, but the burger wasn't super stand out. I ordered it medium and it came out well done, the sauces that came in the burger were decent enough to keep it from being dry. The turkey burger was also just okay, tasted like it was a frozen burger, and the fries were sad, only redemption for the fries was the sauce that came with them. Overall, I'd like to try some other things on the menu since I appreciate the mission of the restaurant, maybe the burgers just aren't the stand out wow part of the place.

Mikhalia was an amazing server and the chicken tenders and Brussels sprouts were fire!

Nice tables with cool lighting and a modern vibe. Burgers are impressive. Jambalaya Pasta served aldente, overly seasoned w/ chili powder and under salted, imo. Disappointing service. Tried to ask for salt, after the first bite of pasta, but couldn't even make eye contact w/ a server. Abandoned. Water glasses empty.

After seeing this restaurant for many years and eating at every restaurant around it, a group of friends, and I decided to give it a shot. The restaurant prides itself on its healthy approach to cooking and organic ingredients. The decor of the restaurant is very modern with a high roof, contemporary lighting, and industrial touches in some places. The table seating ranged from booths to tables with metal chairs that gave the room a hip vibe. Tables were nicely spaced and there was ample seating. The outside patio was more of the same with a huge fire pit. The menu was somewhat extensive and included salads bowls, pasta, pizza and hamburgers. You're likely to find something on the menu that will appeal to you. My group tends to enjoy entrées with bold, robust flavors. If that's you, this is not the place. Think subtle flavors and healthy ingredients. The plate presentation was good. Some of the menu items my group ordered included jambalaya pasta, butternut squash soup, grass-fed burger, lasagna al pesto and chicken parm. The parm had to be returned because it wasn't quite right, but the server's customer service recovery tactics were top-notch and met our satisfaction. We also ordered mashed potatoes which was a hit with everyone at the table. In general, we would score the food in the middle of the scale. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the most memorable meal either. It was sufficient enough to complement a pleasant evening with friends.

We stopped by this place for lunch during our convention. The place is super spacious and we decided to eat outdoors. It was not too hot there is a covering above us. We both had the true trio special and it was exceptional. The dragon fruit lemonade was not a winner for me however. The Mediterranean wrap is light and paired well with the fresh salad. We went there twice and I'll say the service the 2nd time was not as quick and attentive. Just a thought on busier days, you may have to wait a bit for service.

12 bucks for fries with 3 sauces with parm Cheese. You can make your own at home and will taste better. They looked nothing like advertised and were cold to the touch. The server was also struggling here. Management needs to do better here with staff or having a wait time

Such excellent, clean, healthy flavorful food. The Ancient Grain Bowl and Ahi Tuna Bowl were superb. And Mel G, our server, was a ray of sunshine, present service. Thank you!

On a quick lunch break my friend suggested True food as she raved about the quality and healthy bites. As the summer days warm the sky the outdoor patio was a wonderful option. The yellow awning did change the coloring of the photos so don't mind that. I decided on the lunch trio consisting of a drink, entree and a side to pair along all for $19.50. After some deliberation I decided on the pink dragon fruit lemonade, Thai basil chicken wrap and the seasonal mar We stopped in for a quick bite and ordered the trio combo Thai basil chicken wrap, passion fruit lemonade, and seasonal market salad. To be honest, the wrap was extremely dry and the lemonade was overwhelmingly tart, with the sharpness of the lemons overpowering any balance of flavor. The salad was decent, and portion-wise, the trio offered good value for the price. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. Our server barely interacted with us, and we watched multiple tables be seated, served, and leave before our food even arrived. Nearby, we overheard a waiter sincerely apologizing to another table, explaining the restaurant was in transition, awaiting a new head chef, and that quality had recently declined. We tried to stay optimistic, hoping it was just bad luck for the neighboring table but sadly, we left feeling similarly disappointed. We also noticed other servers engaging with guests, explaining menu options and offering recommendations, something we never experienced and that might have changed our order entirely. That said, we've enjoyed this place in the past and aren't ready to write it off. We're hopeful that with the arrival of the new head chef, the restaurant will bounce back and we can return to the dining experience we used to love.

Shelley was the best!! So attentive and on it with getting us through our meal! Also...LOVE her positive spirit!!

We made reservations but got in quickly! We were grateful they had us outside under a heater since my nephew was a little chilly. I'll always choose True Foods when I want to eat healthy, tasty food. Here's our honest review of the food: *Chicken Tender plate with ranch (4.5/10. Dry) (no pic) *Burger all American (light on calories, 7/10) (no pic) *Edamame dumplings (8.5/10) *Thai shrimp lettuce wraps (8/10) *Teriyaki bowl with tofu (9/10) (no pic) I miss their edamame guacamole with those large chips. I'm drooling even thinking about how good it was! I'd sell one of my non-essential organs to get them to bring it back.

I greatly recommend this restaurant because of the delicious food and service but what made my experience. better was the service by our waiter Mikhalia.

Meh, this restaurant was somewhat disappointing. The design and layout is beautiful. Very large dining spaces, outdoor patio seating, and beautiful restroom. We had a group reservation for 8 to dine after an event. We arrived with 1 additional guest and they cancelled the reservation on Open Table, instead of acknowledging it and adding another diner. This complicates the Open Table process for users. Due to the new addition to our dining party, we were told that it would be 10 mins before we could be seated. So, several in our party went to the bar. We were at the bar for about 15 mins and noticed that 2 in our dining party were missing. As we went into the restaurant to look for them (we assumed that they were using the restroom, etc.) we spotted them at a table, seated. They told us that they were seated by the hostess and that they had been there at least 5-7mins. No one from the hostess team came to retrieve the rest of our party of 7 from the bar. In the meantime, we missed ordering fully from the Sat & Sun Brunch until 3p menu. We ordered and the food was okay. I ordered Pesto Pasta and a side if Kale salad. My pesto pasta was not green, but yellowish, and not rich. My kale salad was fresh and minimal on flavor. I believe that they have a good mantra of real ingredients and no fake stuff that they serve. Other things ordered: Grass-fed Burger with sweet potato hash side, Turkey Burger with potato side, hummus plate, and a few other items. Overall, the food was okay, and to me lacked some flavor. My horchata matcha cold beverage was good. I feel like it is made with real ingredients so that this may be why it was a but on the bland side to me. I will try again and get the salad that I was craving next time; I am sure that the salads are probably delicious.

The food was excellent! the air fried fries, the Asian wild caught salmon, lasagna al pesto and the pizza is always great! Malia our server was professional, efficient, and friendly! Thank you for your great service. Love this restaurant for the healthy food and great and friendly service!

Hazel took my order and made the whole experience easy and enjoyable. Super friendly, quick, and just had a great attitude. You can tell she actually cares about the people she's helping, which makes a big difference. Left in a better mood than I walked in--definitely appreciate that kind of service.

Arrived at around 7pm on a Friday night. There were open tables but we had to wait 15 minutes before we were seated. Also took a while before the waitress arrived. My guess is they're short staffed. Appreciated that we were asked about any food allergies after placing our orders. Food took quite a while to arrive. Started with the cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Took a long time to come. They had to remake it as they included the pistachios when there was a nut allergy in our group. They were good veggie dishes. I ordered the turkey burger with the kale salad. The salad didn't have much flavor but I enjoyed the burger. Hubs and SIL went with the American burger and they both liked it - good flavor and weren't greasy. SIL ordered the sweet potato side but didn't care for them. Kiddo ordered the Margherita pizza - she said it was ok. The spritzers were a bit light on the juice but refreshing. Ordered the flourless chocolate cake and cookies for dessert. Didn't try the cookie but the cake was light and not too sweet. Like the cacao nibs for the added texture.

Horrible Service and horrible food .. manager seemed uninterested in our issue as well . Definitley will not come back !

Been here 2x, the 1st time service was horrible as I had to walk in the back to find someone to seat us. And then when I got someone he said he was going off shift in a few minutes. Not a great first impression. At least the food was good. On the 2nd visit it was a 180 degree turn as service was attentive and food was also great. No complaints and it sounded as if my first visit was just an off night. For sure will be back!

Our Waitress Donna is really sweet, the food & drinks are deliciou, will return some day

Food: fresh, made to order, delicious and wonderful plant based options. Service: Shelley greeted us with a smile our entire meal, she made sure all was well and that we were satisfied.

Vera was great and the food was delicious! we will be coming back because the food is great, happy hour is great and the atmosphere is inviting and friendly!

The food was excellent and our server Shelley was even better. She has waited on us before and she remembered what we liked to drink and brought it to us without even asking and it was exactly what we wanted. We sat outside by the fire ring and had a great evening. Thank you Shelley.

Shelley is a fantastic server and took great care of our party of 7. She made sure we had everything we needed!

excellent service from Shelley! she served us with a smile!! Shelley was attentive, fast and efficient. Great service from her.

Ordered two pizzas and a chicken Parm for pick up. Both pizzas had raw dough. Since both pizzas are pretty small , I would say this isn't worth the price.

Great food, drinks & vibes. Our server, Donna was the BEST, Moscow Mules were amazing, and fries were good AF!

Shelley our server was amazing! She was attentive and helpful. The ambiance was perfect for after a long work day. Overall the food was good, satisfying the tummy and the tongue.

I was truly disappointed in the food and service. It took forever for the server to come to our table. She never came to refill our drinks until way after our drinks were empty. I ordered the turkey burger. It was not a hand made patty, in fact, it was machine made and hard as a hockey puck, with no flavor. $22.00 is way overpriced for what I was served. The french fries it came with, were small broken pieces, end of the basket and barely edible. My husband ordered the jambalaya, it was tasteless, watery and lacked flavor. Just because a restaurant is organic and hormone free does not mean the food has to be tasteless. Once again, a very overpriced dish. We will not be returning nor will we recommend this restaurant.

Dinner last night Very Friendly employees. Welcomed in by the hostesses Food server was very kind, and attentive. Food was delicious. Had the seasonal market salad, which was delicious. The only comment is that the carrots were not cooked well enough. They were very big and were crunchy and not cooked well enough. The ancient grain bowl was delicious. And the edamame dumplings were great. The only problem was that the food took a long time to come. It was about 30 minutes until our dinner arrived. Other than that , great experience