I have been a regular here for the past 3 years. I'm terribly disappointed with the customer service and will probably not be coming back. I got into a debacle with the woman at the cash register. She told me what I ordered was not on the menu when it clearly was on the menu above me. I have always ordered the same with no issues. Me: "can I have a quarter pounder burger." Woman: "we don't have quarter pounders here." Me: "yes there are, it says it on the menu." Woman: "no we don't. yeah, you need to choose on of the burgers on the menu. There is three patties to choose from." Me: "yes, I said a quarter pounder burger. It literarily says burger on the menu." Woman: "you need to choose a burger. There are no quarter pounders here." Me: "it says it in the menu. One slash four. Quarter pound." Woman: "you mean the patty?" Me: "yes the patty." Woman: "so you want the burger?" Me: "yes" Woman: "a burger?" Me: "yes" I can tell she was frustrated with me and was giving me attitude. I just canceled my meal and asked for my money back which the process was long too. As a canceled I can tell and hear the woman and the other staff talking about me, glancing at me, and rolling their eyes at my direction. I got my money back and left. Another incident like this happened to my partner and a couple of my other friends. I tried to ignore it because the food is so good but I just can't anymore. The food is amazing and I'm going to miss the homemade ketchup and fries :( PREVIOUS REVIEW As a meat eater, I am ready to come again and again! Not only did I keep driving by but I have heard many good reviews so I finally decided to come by. Atmosphere: When you drive up you see two huge menus on the side of the building for drive through orders. Parking lot is pretty small but was able to find parking quickly. Walking into the building you are greeted by a huge sign saying that everything is 100% meat free. There is a section with refrigerated ready to go food to pick up. (Sandwiches, vegan desserts, sodas, coleslaw, and condiments). Beneath the windows are stool sitting areas. There are three pitchers of unsweetened tea and a pitcher of lemonade. In front there are two cash registers with a blown up menu above you. To get to the patio their are two all gender bathrooms. In front of the restrooms are fliers of different events happening around San Diego. The outdoor sitting area (patio) has plants surrounding the seating area. A water fountain is placed off center of the room. Many of the seating areas has couches instead of chairs. Above you are strings of lightbulbs going across the room. (Got a homey feel). Ordering: Staff was friendly ordering. Took a star way because I had to wait quite a while for my food. (10-20mins) Food: I ordered a "angus" burger meal and was the best vegan burger I have tasted! The burger had an celery after taste to it which threw me off a bit. However, that helps reinsuring me that the burger is fresh. Burger came with a fresh homemade bun with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, and pickles. Homemade French fries are crisp and well seasoned. (A bit sweet tasting, curly fry texture). The homemade ketchup is the best, savory and not too sweet. Who knew vegan food tasted this good! read more

Evolution Fast Food - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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I went to Evolution today, Sunday at 12:12 pm. This was my second time here and after 10 minutes of waiting at the counter to order they finally took my order. They were super nice, but definitely waaaaay understaffed. I finally ordered the California burrito and chili cheese fries which was roughly $13.90. I waited for 45 minutes and finally got my food. It was nice of them to thank me for waiting, but the fact that I waited 1 hour to order and get my food is ridiculous and I definitely would have just gone to a sit down restaurant if I was going to burn that much time waiting. I was very sad when I bit into my California burrito because it was over salted and over seasoned and I only ate a quarter of it before I threw it away. I hate wasting food, but they put so much pepper on it that my mouth was on fire and not in a good way. I can tolerate hot and spicy food very well, but they were definitely heavy handed on the seasoning on this. The small parking lot was full and the drive through was full as well since the service was so slow and people in the drive through weren't getting their food or orders taken. There is meter parking available though and it's free on Sundays. I will definitely not be returning. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Chili Cheese Fries and California Burrito - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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....). read more

In my opinion, any vegan burger joint should automatically get 5 stars, however, that would not accurately represent each restaurant on its own, but this place comes pretty darn close. Location is great, in heart of the Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego and by everything, however I did find it easy to miss the location because of the size and also there's no big sign screaming "I'm Evolution Burger, over here!", so if you've never been you might wanna drive a little close when you're getting close. Not much parking space either. Customer service is friendly, cashier was helpful in giving me tips on what's the best sellers as it was my first time. However, she did get my order wrong, I intended on getting the burger with "bacon" but she rang me up for a regular hamburger, thankfully I was not charged the extra price for it though! I won't knock customer service for that little mistake but definitely should be more mindful next time when ringing customers up. Now to the food, one cant seemingly go on and on about describing your typical "burger" expect the fact that it's vegan of course. I do love the fact that they offer different patty types since not everyone is keen on eating mock meat. The burger was indeed tasteful, not the absolute best vegan burger I've had, but still tasty. I'd prefer a softer bun though, but just my opinion. I can't tell just yet if this will be my staple vegan burger joint, however I'm glad that the option is there for me when I am needing a burger fix! read more

I ordered food from here at 6pm to be delivered and GrubHub called me to say they were closed at 7:30 even though they are open until 8pm. Now it's too late to order anything and both this restaurant AND GrubHub just gave terrible service!!! read more

I've been hearing rave reviews about Evolution. Maybe it was an off day for them (or me), but I only liked 1 out of 3 items: 1. Bacon cheeseburger with tempeh. My burger (sandwich - yes, they gave me 2 slices of sandwich bread vs a real burger bun). It came up quickly / 5 mins. Good and satisfying! It lived up to its name despite the lack of burger buns! 2. Probiotic Passion Smoothie: It arrived 20 mins to make post bacon cheese (sandwich) burger and it was sadly, a disappointment. Tart, bitter and just not good. The staff had some issues balancing the food orders, cashier, etc... So there was no one manning the smoothie station. I would be more forgiving, but the smoothie was not worth the wait or $7. 3. Key Lime Pie: This item was a to-go item, and was just --- okay. Would love to give this place another try, especially since they have so many vegan options, but for now -- 3-stars. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Tempeh, cheese and all the toppings! - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Came here on a Sunday after being hyped-up from a few friends. I was excited to revisit vegan food after a bad experience and the menu looked amazing. Ordered a California burrito and chili cheese fries and proceeded to wait 45 minutes...for a burrito and fries. Definitely NOT "fast food". There were people in the drive thru who got stuck because the people in front of them didn't get their food on-time. Probably would have gotten food faster going to the sit-down restaurant next door. The burrito arrived and looked great but ended up being over seasoned and way too salty. The chili cheese fries were good but definitely not worth the wait. The staff were very nice but they seemed understaffed or managed poorly. read more

After coming here for a while, it seems like the prices have gone up, and the taste compared with the price it seems like you can get better from other places [Plant Power Fast Food seems like a better alternative, and for the same price might as well go to Eve Encinitas]. Although it got knocked down by a star, it's still a decent place to try to see if you like it and if you're in the Balboa Park area. I like the shakes more at Plant Powered but the shakes here are good too! read more

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Awesome to find a drive through vegan restaurant! It was my first time here but a client of mine referred me here for the Buffalo fries and a smoothie! It was absolutely delicious, I wish I would've ordered a side of their ranch bc it was so good!! The strawberry Goji smoothie was light and refreshing but I didn't feel the size was worth the price. I'll be back to try more things! read more

Evolution Fast Food - Buffalo fries - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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This was awesome! Get you some! The food was fresh and fast. I'm not vegetarian but my wife is and she found this place.

VEGAN + FAST What else do we want? Everything is delicious and the service is always kind and mellow. Thank you read more

Long time customer at Evolution. Went for drive through today, had the most disappointing experience.... What happened to the chicken sandwich? It's terrible... so dry! I ordered with Bacon, Swiss and ranch and the whole sandwich was still dry! The worst was the actual "chicken" patty, definitely different from before. Me and my friend couldn't even finish it... The Yerba Matte didn't have much flavor like before, cup was full of ice with barely any drink. Don't waste your money/time. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Extra dry chicken sandwich - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

Delicious food and the best part is, you can feel good that no animals were harmed for your meal. Not only that, it is also much healthier for our planet. Look into the lives of factory farmed animals, and the environmental damage caused by it, and you may decide to try a plant based diet. Becoming vegan was the best thing I ever did, and I've never felt healthier. read more

Evolution is the best Vegan fast food place that I have tried in San Diego. They are always busy, so it's obvious they are doing something right. Despite that, service is fast and efficient. Bonus points for variety! There are so many different styles of food here, and it's all delicious. I've tried nearly everything there. If you're feeling like splurging on fast food, do yourself a favor and swing by this place - get yourself some animal style fries, a burger, a Cali burrito or a "steak" sandwich. If you're trying to eat healthily, they even have raw vegan options - the raw street tacos are incredible, and the nut-based taco "meat" mixture is really quite impressive. It should also be mentioned that their prices are beyond reasonable. The point of this story: this place rules and you should try it! read more

This place is amazing! Really great vegan food that foodies will love! We went for national burrito day and got some California burritos and loved it so much! read more

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. read more

Really good raw burger, I appreciated the raw cabbage wrap for the burger because usually dehydrated raw foods are really dense to begin with, so a refreshing and crisp bun is very much appreciated. The flavors and sauces were all great, def a nutrient dense meal. The concept is great as it's a fast food drive-in but all vegan, your comfort food burgers and shakes, PLUS raw options! And all a lot cheaper than the places next door. So that's a plus. There is a bit of a wait so it would be advisable to call ahead and place your order. I have yet to try their other foods but look forward to some time. One thing I can't get my head across is how the wraps and foods in the fridge section have so much carbs and added sugars. read more

Food was great. Didn't wait long. Maybe 6 mins. Outside dining but with a sort of inside feel. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Outside dining - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

Such a great place! Being vegan, it's hard to find food that's quick, easy, affordable, and delicious. Plant power fast food is all of that!

Why am I not giving this place 5 stars.......because it honestly is absolutely delicious. CONS: It is EXPENSIVE...like all "plant based" establishments. The parking is beyond ridiculous...good luck finding a SPOT The pricing...I mean (see my review for PLANT POWER) that place has a smidge better of pricing The wait....do good things really come to those who wait? Only outdoor seating...like I am always cold. The fast-food spot for vegetarians and vegans all around San Diego...MMMMMMM. This place and Plant Power are like almost head-to-head but Plant power wins because it is slightly cheaper and a few more other reasons, ANYWAYS... I do not want to take away from their creative menu options and how delicious the food actually is. I love the carne asada fries, not even joking like if you blind-folded a true carne asada carnivore, they might not be able to tell the difference....and they have GUAC. Pure, delicious guacamole. The dessert options, definitely in love with the cookies. ONE bite and I was in heaven.... read more

Evolution Fast Food - "Carne" Asada nachos - Chicken sandwich and class burger - TOO DIE FOR - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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The new chicken tastes so bad and has a strong disgusting smell to it that doesn't go away

I'm a total carnivore when it comes to food but I also love eating good food and I trust my vegan friend knows what good food is since he also loves to eat! So this is my first time ever going to a vegan place for vegan food like veggies and fake meats. When I first arrived, the place looked like a typical taco shop in SD except it's in Hillcrest, wasn't a taco shop, and had a big sign that said VEGETARIAN. Hillcrest parking usually sucks major balls but they actually a lot for parking and it was just enough for their customers. I've heard some strange reviews about fake meats in the past about it being gross and such but after today's meal; I beg to differ. I ordered a South of the Border Burger and it was YUMMY. The Chicken Tenders were probably my favorite! Even though it was fake chicken and the texture was a little different, it was still delicious! I wouldn't've even known it wasn't chicken if someone just gave me one without saying anything! The batter used for the chicken was really good and had just about the right amount of crisp to it. Another thing I tried were the Sweet Potatoe Fries. I didn't want to try this at first because I do not like sweet potatoes at all. I've always loathed it and I don't like anything sweet but I stuck one in my mouth anyway. I guess fried and salted anything tastes good. haha I loved the Sweet Potatoe fries. I could still tell it was sweet potatoe, but I wasn't grossed out like usual. Last but not least was the Salad Buffet. There was a variety of veggies, cucumbers, and seaweed. It was good but not amazing. I thought it was just alright. I wish I got more of the guacamole and veggie meatloaf. THAT was yummy. The mash potatoes and gravy were just like any other in my opinion. Nothing amazing about it. I've had better salads and mash potatoes. However, I do like that if you get the takeout box ($10.50) it could feed 2-3 people. So you can split the cost and it's cheap! read more

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The food is hit or miss, but once you find a hit it's good. Unfortunately, I have to give them such a low score because it's impossible to order. Their online website menu does not match their "online order" form menu. "Animal Fries" on the site, "Evo Fries" on the order. Are they the same? Impossible to know because there is absolutely zero description on the order form. Ordering tacos? No way to pick your protein, so you just have to write it in the notes and hope they see it and aren't out. Easy solution: CALL THEM. Oh, that's right. They don't answer the phone after multiple tries. I've given them too many chances. Decent food if you can manage to get your hands on it. They don't seem to even be trying. read more

I'm not vegan BUT this is by far one of my favorite vegan fast food restaurants. I always get the Buffalo chicken sandwich, fries and a shake. So yummy! I would just double check their hours - the ones they have posted online don't match up with their standard hours when you show up. Happy eating! read more

Mushroom Vegan Burger with added jalapeños was phenomenal. I ain't vegan, but the food was bomb.com. Burger patty was well seasoned, cheese tasted real, and the crunchy af fries made our post ride meal worth it. Minus one star cause the food took a while to come out. I got Mine in 10 minutes but my friends waited another 10 minutes for theirs. read more

This establishment has a drive-thru and a walk-in area, I didn't experience any issues with a wait, but it wasn't crowded when I went on a weekend. This place is more of a counter-serve place, the only thing that could be fast are the drinks/smoothies, but even that could be a toss up if it's crowded. The staff was nice and the menu has a variety of things, so it could take a moment to decide. I decided on the carne asada street tacos (it's soy tho), and there's only two of them in the dish...and it comes with guacamole and salsa. I added fries and the lemonade. I will say the tacos looked good and are presented well, but they weren't hot, nor barely warm. For vegan tacos, they were good though. The fries were okay, not the hottest or freshest, seasoned lightly, but were like clumped together in the bag, almost smooshing them. The lemonade is light on flavor, it's not sweet nor tart. Overall, this place is okay, but am unsure if I would want to return. read more

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I am not vegan, nor do i ever want want to be that guy with the bumper stickers and purple hair. But this place is DELICIOUS - i got the chicken wraps multiple times and love it. I also love to ruin my runs by getting the milkshakes here. Just wish they had more locations nearby. read more

Great presentation and it definitely tasted very healthy. I don't like beans but somehow thought it was a good idea to try a black bean burger. To my surprise, I didn't completely hate it. So if you do like beans - you will like it! read more

Evolution Fast Food - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

The best! Love getting to have a burger and fries while still feeling good and able to move afterwards! The black bean burger was delicious, so was the EVO. The animal style fries were perfection. I'd like to come back to try the fish filet and the chicken sandwich too! read more

My favorite things are the Cali burrito, chicken chipotle sandwich, and tenders! Love all their food though. A strawberry shake is a must try also! read more

Evolution Fast Food - Strawberry shake, Cali Burrito, Chicken Chipotle Sandwhich - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

EFF has been on my list of places to try for quite some time and today was that time. We ordered a South Of the Boarder burger (black bean) on a GF bun, sweet potatoes fries and the passion (probiotic) smoothie- YUM! The burger was quite tasty and I'm certain it's even better on regular bread (that's not an option for me), the sweet potato fries are delish and smoothie was great too! Definitely coming back. Parking lot is small but there is street parking. Drive-thru or order inside and have a seat in their covered or open patio areas. 2 Bathrooms/changing table Service was pretty quick, considering we went at a peak time and the staff were friendly. Gluten free options are available on a quiet a few items and are conveniently marked on their menus. read more

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Food was amazing! Chimichurri carne sandwich was very flavorful and very filling. They loaded that baby up with lots of veggies and meat. Fries were fresh and extremely crispy. California burrito did not disappoint. Picked up a side of ranch for 50 cents and let me tell you, it was so delicious. Parking is limited but we didn't have a hard time finding a spot. Received our food within minutes. Overall, Evolution did not disappoint! read more

Evolution Fast Food - Chimichurri sandwich with a side of fries - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Not vegan nor vegetarian but I gave this place a try as my aunt loves the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. We split the sandwich, carne asada tacos, and a side of fries. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and the Carne Asada Tacos because they tasted soooo good! The meat was delicious and flavor packed. I definitely want to go back and try the Mushroom Burger/Black Bean Burger. read more

First time here. EVO BURGER w/beef, fries both were so good. I would order again. I got their kombucha on tap triology flavor and I loved the combination. Chicken tenders w/buffalo sauce was good. It had the texture of tempeh, I really enjoyed it. But don't expect a crunch texture for the breading. It also came with a ranch, which had a thicker texture than I was used to but still good. I believe their ketchup isn't made out of tomatoes either but maybe beets? Overall worth trying and I would definitely come back! read more

Very disappointed with my experience here. I ordered the Evo Burger with a black bean patty, along with a side of chili cheese fries, and both items were not great. The burger was very dry and overall a mess, and the fries had a funky aftertaste that did not sit well with me. On top of that, the customer service was mediocre, as it was very apparent that the cashier did not want to be there. Additionally, there were 2 seating areas- one with wooden benches and nice decor, and one with a lot of plastic chairs and glass tables that seemed to not have been cleaned for hours. If you're sitting outside and waiting for your name to be called, good luck, because the cashiers just scream the name before eventually giving up. Overall, a mediocre experience that makes me question why so many people think this place is extraordinary. read more

So unfortunately I needed to update this review. I really liked it the first time I tried it but this second time I ordered a meal with cheese in it that put my in an ambulance. Most people would not have to guess what's in their cheese or food because most places list it, but unfortunately my health was at risk and I ended up with extra doctor bills due to his "cashew cheese", left unlisted. It is a common allergy to be allergic to nuts and to not have that listed next to the chili cheese fries was not good on this business. Their food I'm sure taste fine but health is more important. I called in right after and they picked up the phone saying "we are closed", luckily I got the guy on the phone a few seconds later To tell me about what's in time meal that that caused this unfortunate event. Not a good experience. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Yummy warm burrito! - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

If you're looking for a fast food fix, but want it a little healthier, then Evolution is the right place for you. Their service is great, the burgers and wraps are delicious and they really do know how to to cook up some fries. read more

If I could give this place a negative star I would because they literally charged me for something I ordered and then didn't even give it to me when I picked up the food. I am so angry !!!!!!! Who does this??? The guy at the front literally didn't even look like he was aware of what was going on in the store. Like he was high or something. Now wonder they missed the most expensive thing on the menu. Will NEVER come back. read more

Evolution Fast Food - This was the rest of our food. - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice little vegan place in Banker's Hill area near balboa park. Delicious mushroom and Swiss burger--it was juicy and great flavor. My husband had the carne asada burrito and it was also delicious. Tried the Carob and date shake with my burger which was scrumptious! They have a drive thru but there is also a nice garden patio with plenty of good seating and very pleasant ambiance. The cashier was good; she was patient answering our many questions since it was our first time here. You order at the counter and they call your name out from a speaker when food is ready for you to pick up at the counter. They have a very big menu so we will have to return to try them all. So far, we recommend this place for fast vegan food! We will return again soon! read more

I came in here and met who I thought was the owner. I told him it was my first time and asked for recommendations. He was ecstatic to tell me about the place, the all organic ingredients, some popular items and they've been around for seven years so their passion still shows. I ordered the California burrito first. It was awesome. It was marinated in some "spicy" marinade but honestly my tolerance is pretty high and didn't feel the heat at all. It did bring a nice taste to it though. There were fries and "meat" in there. It just satisfied my craving for a vegan burrito. I was disappointed of how small it was though. So ordered more since I was still hungry and got the burger and fries. The burger has a choice of three patties and I picked the black bean patty. I should have chosen one of the other two because it tasted just like it was described, straight up black beans. It just wasn't cutting it for me when you think of a hamburger. I'd go back here again to try another burger with a different patty and almost definitely come here for a vegan California burrito. read more

Evolution Fast Food - Began California burrito with about four baby bites. - Vegetarian Near Me - San Diego, California

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