Meal box mania is OVER for me and I am sick of cooking. While I have moved on to gardening, that ain't gonna take care of my hungries. So when my good friend, Rue Mapp (look up @outdoorafro) mentioned this place on her FB post I decided to check it out. I can't eat just anyone's food so it took me a day to research and I decided to try a few meals. Okay...I'm in. I had the fish and chips and while they were a bit soggy from the long ride home (shout out to my little delivery grandbaby) the taste was clean and wonderful. I got the bowls and the general's chicken (that will be dinner) and a few sides to check out. Really satisfied so far. I would appreciate a bit more seasoning and will ask for extra spicy next time. The portions were appropriate (not too big or small) and the 1 entree fed my man and I for lunch (I think it was 2 generous sized filets). Good, healthy, food. read more

TLDR Come if you: Want a casual but hipster/modern order at the counter restaurant with healthy vegan/vegetarian options as well as meat! Location/Parking: Right across the street from the 16th Mission Bart Entrance. The area is slightly shady because of that, but for the most part safe in the day and getting increasingly (and unfortunately) gentrified. Wait: No wait at 12pm at the counter on a Friday Atmosphere: Modern and organic-looking seats and wooden tables. I guess the word to Menu: A lot of creative veggie and nut-forward options! They have super yummy choices anywhere from Cuban Bowls, Meatloaf, Salads, to Asian bowls and Zoodles! I also appreciate that they do have meat. I definitely need my meat protein fix, but came with a vegan friend. Got my chicken on the side and we were able to share our food to try everything! Food: My friend and I both shared the Cuban Bowl and the Zoodles with Cashew Cream Sauce. Both were super delicious! The Cashew Cream was very creamy and tasty over the textured Zoodles though there was absolutely no dairy. I love and appreciate things that are well seasoned even when it's supposed to be "healthy" (why sacrifice taste for health when you can have both?!). The Cuban Bowl was both hearty, filling, and light. The avocado added some needed creaminess, and the bowl itself was also well-seasoned. I also surprisingly enjoyed the plantains in it, which were not dry and starchy. Service: Standard order at the front service, but the workers are pretty friendly. Price: A bit pricier than most lunches at ($10+) for most things (without adding on sides such as meat), but definitely worth it if you have dietary restraints or want to eat something less heavy and full of veggies. Overall: Would definitely come back if I was around the Mission for filling and well-seasoned casual food! Especially with those that are vegan, vegetarian, or need to be gluten-free! read more

We got the power bowl and general tso chicken bowl from here. The power bowl was really delicious - there were so many favors and textures that blended well together from acidity of pickled onions, crunch of quinoa and sunflower seeds to sweet potatoes and walnut spread. The general tso chicken bowl on the other hand was not good. The rice was stale, the chicken was dry and breading felt old. The sauce which was like a sweet soy sauce dressing, was not enough for all the rice (also, too much rice compared to the rest of the ingredients). I do not recommend this bowl. There were a lot of other bowls that were similar to the power bowl which I still want to try again though. read more

Got a take out order on weeknight. The ordering process is online and pretty user friendly. We got the Cuban bowl with chicken, make your own bowl with chicken, brussel sprouts and rice, plantains. The quantity was sufficient and everything was flavorful. The chicken especially had a nice garlicky thyme flavor and was juicy. The rice was great and complimented the chicken. The Cuban bowl comes with other ingredients like beans and a few slices of avocado. Only thing I can complain of is brussel sprouts. They were very oily, so much that the oil had pooled at the bottom of the bowl. If you are averse to eating oily foods then steer away from the brussel sprouts. They have a complete list of sides including the kale slaw which is delicious. We will try it out again for their other offerings. read more

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It's pretty pricey (~$17 for a bowl during lunch), but worth it, to me! It's tough to find keto-friendly places; usually I've been settling for a bun-less burger loaded with cheese and bacon. Not that I'm complaining. But I felt like I needed a break from clogging my arteries, and Kitava fit the bill with their riced cauliflower. I did get the butter coffee, though. I also got the Cuban bowl with the riced cauliflower (extra $2) and, what the hey, I went all out with the pulled pork add on (extra $4). Yes, it was no Mc Donalds value meal, but the quality of the ingredients were second to none and the portions were pretty big so I was able to save some for dinner. I also got to taste the chicken pesto salad, which was good when freshly served, but after a few hours in the fridge it smelled like it spoiled (as pesto usually does to me). Even though it's one of their popular items, I'll pass on the salad next time. But for sure, I am definitely coming back to this one-of-a-kind, help-me-I can't-cook-for-myself healthy hipster establishment! read more

Kitava - Ugh why is everyone trying to be healthy when IM trying to be healthy - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came around noon with a friend, and the place was essentially empty. The specialty bowls are quite expensive, especially if you add protein or make substitutions, but there are cheaper options if you just want something to fill you up. Taste is good, but not anything to blow you off your feet. The main draw of Kitava is it's story, and that should be your deciding factor as to whether or not you pay the relatively hefty price. The brussel sprouts are really good though! read more

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Kitava is my favorite restaurant in SF (and I've lived here over a decade). It's the best of the best for allergy-friendly, gut-healthy food. I've meant to write this for a long time. I've been eating here since it opened and their delicious, GF/DF food has gotten me through some really tough stretches. After a parasite wreaked havoc on my health, I first switched to the low FODMAP diet (an arduous diet to track) and later was able to just do gluten-free and dairy-free. Kitava works for all kinds of special diets and their entire menu is GF/DF. It's so relaxing to know that anything I order will be safe. Plus, they don't use inflammatory seed oils and their meat is pasture-raised and/or free-range. They are about seven steps ahead of most restaurants. I'm a loyal fan of their Cuban bowl with pork and their multiple veggie options (brussels sprouts and sweet potato, yum!). Their fudgy cassava brownie is so good and it's super fun to get breaded GF General Tso's chicken sometimes. Every dish I've tried has been flavorful and well-made, and I often notably feel restored the next day. That's how nutritious it is. So grateful to Kitava for leading the conscious food movement, and for being a tasty bastion of allergy-friendliness. Highly recommended!! read more

I like this place a lot, personally id come here again and again because the dishes are good and healthy. That being said, the dishes still taste healthy, so if you're the type of person who doesn't like healthy food or food that tries too hard to be healthy, this probably isn't your go to place. That being said if you want yummy food that you don't want to feel bad about putting into your body or be worried about digesting, this is your go to place. read more

Kitava - General Tso's Chicken, Pesto Meatballs, Cauliflower Rice, Trumpet Mushrooms, chicken Chocolate drink - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you are in the mood for healthy eating and are in the mission, this is the place! It's directly across from the 16th St/Mission BART station, which makes it extremely accessible. They serve a variety of healthy foods/bowls. I think they use local produce. I just remember that sustainability was mentioned in their menus. In regards to their drinks, they do serve Kombucha on tap. They have a variety of bowls but you can pick your sides as well to tailor it however you want. Things are on the pricier end but the portions are quite large. After eating, you take your bowls and drop it off at its designated spots. If I remember correctly, there were also vegan dessert choices? read more

This place was super good! I love a location with options. Also, very cute bathroom sign. I'd definitely come back here. read more

Kitava - Bathroom signage - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

So delicious, so filling, & very affordable! I had the Cuban bowl & the Fajita bowl, which are both equally as delicious! Both were vegan prepared. The avocado mash and taro chips were so yummy & in my opinion guilt free!! I plan to take Muni here to study and have dinner, inside is spacious and has a cafe/ study zone vibe :) read more

Kitava - Cuban bowl, sub jasmine rice for cauliflower rice - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We ordered the Cuban Bowl (without meat) and it was really good! The sweet plantains combined with the zesty kale slaw and beans was a fantastic combination! It's a pretty healthy bowl too and we really enjoyed it. I will definitely be ordering it again. We ordered to pick up through Yelp and our order was ready when we got there. Staff all had masks and it was very smooth, I picked up the order and was out in less than a minute. Definitely a good place to try if you're looking for a nice bowl that's tasty, light and healthy. read more

The food is so healthy and tasty! The service is good; the folks who with here are friendly.

Came here a couple times this past summer when I stayed in SF, and my apartment was a huge fan! The delicious, hearty, vegan meals here are really good, and the perfect post-workout meal. I've tried the Cuban bowl here, and the sweet potato curry one, both of which had good flavors and made for a filling dinner. Would definitely recommend as a casual healthy meal in the Mission. read more

Kitava - Curried sweet potato Bowl - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is very convenient to find,located near the Bart station. The place is clean and beautiful. Kitava has some amazing food. Their foods are pretty healthy and delicious. I definitely would go there again. Their price is reasonable and affordable. read more

Yum! I was starving found this place near where I was. I got the tikka masala and added chicken to it. YUM!!! Really delicious, clean eating. Probably could eat here everyday. If you're looking for a healthy eat in a fast-casual setting, definitely check this place out! Want to try the Cuban bowl next time. read more

Man this is one of my go to!! I'm literally at the restaurant 2-3 times per week. CUBAN BOWL with cauliflower rice is soo satisfying. The beans, slaw, plantains with added crispy brussel sprouts. They have Kombucha on tap and it's delicious (I wasn't a kombucha fan prior to this) the ginger lemongrass. Ask for a sample! My only complaint is that on more than one occasion the plantains were not ripe and they took trumpet mushrooms off the menu. Staff is friendly, neighborhood is sketch and parking sucks but worth the trip read more

Kitava - Cuban Bowl Crispy Brussels Sprouts - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

Trying to find low carb meals at a restaurant isn't easy. This place nailed it. Many offerings of keto meals. Zoodles, meatballs, we ordered 2 dishes and 2 more to go. Deli style service. Order up front and they bring it to you. Very friendly. Ambiance was great once you're inside. Outside not so much. I'll be back. read more

If you're looking for new food ideas that are healthy and delicious then you've come to the right place. These are the very best "clean and lean" healthy food in the mission. read more

Kitava - Delicious Keto cookies - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I ordered the Spring Noodle Bowl, so good, so flavorful. The green goddess dressing is fresh & tasted delicious.

Fancy little place. Good food. Been there a while back with the family and only now writing this review. We each ordered different dishes and shared family-style. Loved all that we ordered. I hope they survive the Covid era. We'd love to go back. read more

Great place for strict diets such as paleo, whole30 & AIP!!! I am on a anticandida & aip diet and was in SF overnight, thank goodness I found this gem! It was so delicious! My husband got pesto meatballs (which smelled so yummy) I got 100% grassfed beef meatballs with cauliflower rice, and I asked for kale salad without vinaigrette, instead olive oil with lemons as dressing! That was so delish! It filled me up until dinner, since the meatballs were decent size, price is right! I had to come back the next day for breakfast! I got: bone broth to start, waited 30min then got chicken with raw kale, avo & broccoli as a side. Yum yum! They first messed up, and forgot to add broccoli & kale, then they added kale with vinegrette, then I let her know and she made sure it was remade! I'm glad, they added an extra avo for their troubles :) I'm happy and want them to take their time, I don't mind the extra 5-10 minute wait as long as I get what I order and my body is happy! I can't wait for covid to subside for their full menu & try the taro chips with avo mash. & much more! Keep this up y'all! I'm a fan read more

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I ordered delivery on Saturday night. The food arrived in a timely manner and everything tasted good. However, 12 hours later I became extremely ill. It got to the point where I had to visit the doctor, who confirmed that I did have food poisoning. I ordered a Cuban Bowl (vegan) and the chocolate chia pudding (vegan). This was the last thing I thought would make me sick. To investigate further, I came onto Yelp and saw they have an 88/100 health score for various infractions, such as improper sanitization and not holding food at proper temperature. I can't say for sure what got me sick. It could have been someone who did not wash their hands, or someone who did not properly clean the surface they chopped my vegetables on, among other possibilities. I have never experienced this kind of pain in my life. My intestine is severely inflamed. It hurts to walk. For your own safety, I would steer clear of this restaurant. I like the food here, but after this traumatizing experience, I will never eat here again. read more

Amazing! Loved all of the flavors and quality ingredients. Generous portion sizes, great service and good energy. Highly recommend for anyone wanting good food focused on QUALITY. It's really hard to find restaurants who source locally, organic and grass fed ingredients but who also limit the use of highly oxidized seed oils. Loveeeee this place!! Thank you for coming to SF! read more

Kitava - Power bowl with avocado mash - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

I get food delivered from Kitava at least once a week. Highly recommend if you're craving nutritious food that feels soul-warming and satisfying. I always get the Cuban bowl with pulled pork and extra kale slaw (instead of beans). I also get the general Tso's chicken bowl with quinoa. These meals are consistently delicious and healthy. Unfortunately I live far away, so I opt to do delivery (Doordash) rather than visiting in person. It's not easy for restaurants these days, and I want to get the word out about my positive experiences. So here's a long overdue review of how much I enjoy Kitava. Thanks for creating tasty and healthy food! read more

I got delivery here from Grub Hub for the first time and holy moly, it was DELICIOUS!! I can't remember the last time I got food delivery and didn't regret it because my body usually feels so shitty after unanticipated sneaky unhealthy oils and such. It is so wonderful to have a restaurant that is dedicated to quality ingredients like this in EVERY INGREDIENT in the dish, instead of just the selling point item. This is my new favorite place!!! (PS got the beef make your own salad with Brussels, broccoli, with coconut tumeric sauce and extra sauce of romesco, then a side dish of chicken broth, and a keto bar for dessert ) read more

"Aww f*** how'd I let myself get brought to a health restaurant?" ::gets handed a menu, eyes immediately find the drinks section:: Oh AND there's no syzzurp? What in the world is even happening rn. I keep forgetting the word FITFAM starts w "fit". Guess that's wtf I get for finally attending my boxing homies' weekly group dinner. More like FMLFAM. Nah jk luh this crew. Yeah so we had a blast. My GENERAL TSO CHICKEN was ait. Either way, as of now seems this place is a weekly staple for me. BYOB tho? ...? loljk read more

I ordered to go. It was very quick. Food was good but as you can see on the picture the presentation wasn't great. I'd recommend improving on that. Great service though read more

Kitava - Sweet Plantain Bowl - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

This time I ordered a power bowl through Doordash and was delicious! All the ingredients were fresh and their flavors meshed well together. For me, the portion was enough for my lunch and dinner read more

Kitava - Power Bowl Takeout/delivery via Doordash - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm such a kitava convert! When first hearing about the concept I was definitely skeptical... how can something that is lacking so many key ingredients (gluten, lactose, soy, etc) be tasty? Well... it was DELICIOUS! Beautiful space as well. I like how you order at the counter, pay, and then sit. It's fast casual and a great lunch spot. I ordered the General Tso's Chicken and loved it!! read more

Kitava - Spacious seating - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A healthy low carb haven! The food: Mix n match bowls are EPIC (try the pulled pork). The crispy brussel sprouts are some of the best I've ever had. And they have bone broth. Oh come on! Who else HAS that?!? Location: 16th & mission, VERY convenient, but easy to walk right by Interior: peaceful, relaxed vibes & CLEAN Staff: VERY kind, patient and fast table service Bottom line: WORTH it read more

Kitava - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

Ordered delivery from here for lunch today. My doctor has had me going gluten free and dairy free for the past few months, and it's definitely been a struggle. Ordering out can be especially difficult, so I was really excited when I found this place on DoorDash. I ordered the Cuban Bowl with no meat, the chicken nuggets, and a can of the strawberry vanilla sparkling tonic. CUBAN BOWL: I was a little pleasantly surprised at the portion size. It's a little bigger than I thought I would get. Healthy restaurants with good ingredients just sometimes cost more. I eat smaller meals than the average person, so I'll probably get 1.5 meals out of this. Flavors absolutely delicious in every component. I loved the plantains so much! Would definitely order again and try out the cauliflower turmeric rice. CHICKEN NUGGETS: It has been a very long time since I've gotten to eat something close to crispy, fried chicken, and these nuggets really filled the drumstick-shaped hole in my heart. So delicious and crispy. Also not such a big portion size that I hated myself after devouring it all. SPARKLING TONIC: Strawberry vanilla was a really interesting flavor, but honestly really liked this drink to wash everything down. Only 3g of sugar and nice and bubbly, so it checked my boxes. read more

I found myself here on a Saturday night when a restaurant down the street that I planned on eating at had a 1.5 hour wait for a party of two. Since waiting outside in the cold didn't seem particularly enticing, we instead walked to Kitava after doing a quick search on Yelp for gf/df options nearby. So glad we did! We were able to get a seat immediately, though there were enough people in the place to give off a good dinner time vibe. The first thing I noticed was how friendly the staff was. Like honestly they seemed like genuinely good people. We ordered the grass-fed beef meatballs in pesto sauce, the cubano bowl, a turmeric almond milk drink, green tea, and, for dessert, a brownie and an almond cookie. The meatball dish felt like a home cooked meal that I didn't know I needed. It was so warming and tasty. Rich but not over the top. Simple flavors but blended nicely together. The cubano bowl (which wasn't mine but I had a little) had really nice pulled pork. Not at all greasy which can be hard to find. Both dishes were super filling and generously portioned. I think the brownie was probably tastier earlier in the day, but to be fair we ordered it at 8:30 pm, half an hour before closing. The almond cookie was really good and I'd definitely get it again. The turmeric drink was delicious and the green tea was as expected, green tea. So yeah, all in all a great experience. I'll definitely return! read more

Kitava - Pesto and meatballs - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

the power bowl has a very powerful effect. Delicious and Nutritious. win win all around! service is good and place is clean.

I love the range of menu here and how balanced the food is. I'm not on any healthy diet, just an average person who knows when my body wants cleaner foods that's not a cold plate of salad. And Kitava has everything from pesto meatballs to veggie bowl. I got the veggie Cuban bowl and was delighted it was warm. The plantains were tasty, I liked the beans, the rice was okay, the kale slaw was a bit tart for my taste, the avocado half was healthy, and everything added up to a nourishing, satisfying meal. I'd definitely try their other items. read more

This is my second impression of Kitava, I have only been one previous time. I am currently doing a keto diet and eating out is really difficult when following this diet. However, Kitava makes this extremely easy! If you are following ANY restrictive diet--I definitely recommend you come in and try this place out! The person at the front desk was extremely helpful. I let them know of my restrictions and they were happy to assist me. They recommended the seasonal Pumpkin Gnocchi, I couldn't believe it was keto friendly. They were able to go over the ingredients with me so I ordered it. It was absolutely DIVINE. The flavors were all there and it was very filling, I only ate half of it and saved the rest for later. Kitava's pricing definitely varies. The dish I got was $13 which I thought was a fair price, especially for the area and the quality of food. This place uses very fresh, high quality ingredients and this is definitely an example of making healthy food more accessible. They also had a few discounted meals--I'm not sure if this is the norm for them but it was definitely appreciated. All in all, if you want great service, high quality and healthy food at a fair price, Kitava is definitely a destination for you! read more

My bf and I tried the General Tsos chicken and pork shoulder Cuban bowl. We're on a low carb diet atm so we substituted for cauliflower turmeric rice and it was DELICIOUS. I also had a side of the pork shoulder which was different than the one in the Cuban bowl because this one was drenched in a broth type soup which tasted amazing, it was full of flavor and the meat melted as soon as I bit into it. Great food here esp when you're trying to eat on the healthier side. Also 0 photos bc we devoured it so fast read more

Loved it! Can't believe it's my first time! As a vegetarian, my options are limited. I had a bowl and added trumpet mushrooms. Super fresh and delish. The staff! The cashier was super friendly and was genuinely having a good time - because the rest of the staff was super positive and fun. Food came SO FAST! Kid friendly, queer, delicious. I'll be enjoying this place again. read more

Kitava - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

I didn't know healthy food can taste great! Ordered small portion of pork & plantain and replaced rice with cauliflower rice. Price is also great! read more

Kitava - Pork & plantain - Gluten-Free Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazinggggg vegan options. The brocolli curry and cuban bowl is wonderful I'd pick the cuban bowl if you had one choice, and if you're sharing buy these two! You can get cauliflower rice instead or white rice to make it healthier read more