I need to get into the habit of taking a picture before I stuff my face. Any way, Roots is an awesome addition to the Oakland restaurant scene. It is busy majority of the time, and today the line was out the door due to the volume of people that go there. It was nice out so I couldn't complain. Once you actually order your food, it's very fast pace. I chose the Mayweather (which I am addicted to) and it was whipped up in a matter of seconds and then I was on my way. This place is almost like healthy fast food, and it's also reasonably priced. I paid 12 dollars for my bowl and a Spindrift and the bowl usually last two meals depending on how hungry I am. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Half eaten Mayweather ^.^ - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Tried Roots the other night for the first time for dinner. Was excited to see this new, quick and healthy option land in Oakland. The menu includes your pick of either a salad or grain bowl, various protein options (tofu & sautéed mushrooms as veggie options), and tons of fix-ins. You can also build your own salad or bowl if you so choose. They have tons of dressing options and all allergens are clearly labeled on the counter where you order, so great I didn't need to ask a million questions. Portions are really big, I seriously barely made a dent in my large salad. Workers were quick and we were in and out in no time. Nice addition to the food scheme in Oakland. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Delicious salad! - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

*Disclaimer: The rating is more like a 4.5 If you're in Oakland and looking for a healthy dinner that's quick and tasty, Roots is the place to go! Firstly, I love how friendly and accommodating the staff are. I am not really a fan of goat cheese, so I always substitute it for 2 other ingredients and the workers never grumble or give you attitude. Instead, they are very understanding and even give recommendations if they're not too busy! Secondly, I love the portions. If I'm starving, I can kill one bowl no problem. But if I'm not too hungry, one bowl can last me two pretty satisfying meals! (Although some of my friends disagree with me on this). Whether you're eating a whole bowl to yourself or saving half for later, I'd say the price ($9-11) is pretty decent considering how fresh the vegetables are, how many ingredients to into one bowl, and how much food they give you. Thirdly, the inside has been very clean every time I went. I love the seating they have available downstairs. And there are outlets! Lastly, the food just tastes so good and it's a great, healthy option on campus. I'm so glad Hello Bistro isn't the only salad place available to us. I highly recommend the Mayweather. The reason I give this place 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I think the protein can be pretty dry - especially the chicken. I suggest substituting the chicken with BBQ tofu instead! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Mayweather with chicken (substituted goat cheese with chickpeas & corn!) - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been here a few times now and they don't disappoint. I love the fresh, natural ingredients to choose from. There are many pre-made bowl options, but I always opt for the create your own to get exactly what I like. Definitely better than Chipotle as far as healthiness, but it's a little more expensive. Overall, good food but a little pricey. I like going here every once in a while! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Create your own bowl - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I love the northern bowl, but it's not on the menu online, huge bummer. It's so good! The ingredients are fresh and delicious.

Had food delivered. Unbelievably fresh. Huge portions. Wish there was one in the South Hills! Excellent!

Such nice workers and staff!!! I love the environment, ambience, and overall vibe. Food is nicely cooked and nicely flavored. Super healthy and yummy! Bag design is super cute! Will definitely be back for more! Def recommending it to others!! The service is super fast and speedy! read more

I really enjoyed the Mayweather it consisted of Kale, root rice, sweet potatoes, beets, grilled chicken, and goat cheese with a lemon tahini dressing. It was so delicious, everything was fresh and made to order. The store was clean and customer service was great I will definitely be back. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Mayweather - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

LOVE Roots. It's one of my go-to places to grab a quick bite in Oakland. Now due to COVID, they have transitioned to a take-out or delivery model. I love that they have healthy yet EXTREMELY tasty and flavorful options. Their pre-made bowls are all excellent, but I usually just stick with the make-your-own bowl option. Everyone who works there is extremely nice, and makes the experience at Roots all the more wonderful. read more

Roots is a great option for delivery or takeout if you're in the Oakland area. I've always had quick service and fresh food when ordering delivery from here. They have a number of signature salad and grain bowls, as well as the option to build your own. I absolutely love the tamari signature salad bowl. It has a base of brown rice and kale topped with red miso tofu, roasted broccoli, red onion, carrots, pickled jalapeños, red cabbage, and toasted almonds. It's tossed in their miso ginger dressing and I tend to add Acadian mix (their salad blend) as well as sriracha and a squeeze of lime. This bowl tastes light and fresh while still feeling hearty and filling. The mix of textures and flavors ensures that each bite is as tasty and interesting as the last. I would highly recommend this place! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Tamari signature bowl. - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This was definitely my go-to place for a meal during my years at Pitt. I love the Southern bowl and the Roots bowl. Their BBQ tofu is amazing and a must have! read more

Ordered from here via Doordash for a group outdoor picnic. I really like that they labeled bowls with everyone's names so that it was easy to tell the food apart I got a custom BBQ tofu bowl (with lemon tahini dressing, cucumber, corn, and feta cheese). It was super good! I really like how the tofu was well-flavored at a little crisp Great spot for a healthy lunch read more

Warning: The main takeaway is... just because it looks healthy, doesn't mean it is. almost every single thing on the menu uses highly toxic, extremely inflammatory seed oils such as canola, soy and sunflower oil. This includes the chicken, beets, sweet potatoes, remarkably the broccoli and mushrooms and ALL dressings. Until it is replaced with something suitable like olive oil, avocado oil or cooking is done in tallow or butter, I will be avoiding them. For the price, how can you cheap out so much on the dressing? Nothing natural about using machine lubricants to cook vegetables and in your salads. Ridiculous. Very Misleading and unethical business practice. Opposite of healthy. May as well be eating at mcdonalds. Thanks for contributing to the epidemic of chronic disease in this country. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Ingredients - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Oh my my...how have I missed this place? I stayed in Oakland overnight because of snowstorm during rush hour. Thought for a minute to get take out from the hotel but smartly decided to take a short walk instead. Super helpful friendly service. And the bowl was fresh healthy crunchy goodness. What's not to like about roasted Brussels sprouts, roasted beets, kale, grains, almonds and probably the best chicken I've ever had in a bowl or salad? So fresh! The quality of everything was perfection. As I was leaving, a couple of team members were decorating. One called out to thank me for coming in. That was such a welcome touch. I'm so sorry I've not come in until now, but Roots has a new fan for life. Thanks to Becky for the recommendation. Looking forward to next time. read more

I've never been disappointed by Roots! They are fast, simple, and healthy. Triple threat! My go to is a grain bowl with mushrooms, spinach, cucumber, and other great veggies. It isn't impossible to come by other places that offer a similar experience, but I am always happy to swing by a Roots when I come across one! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I tend to think of the relationship between Roots and Hello Bistro as complementary rather than rival. As the two healthy options in Oakland, they share a lot of commonalities: large portion, made to order, many topping options to customize. But as the late comer, Roots has its own strength that exceeds Hello Bistro. Although Roots does not have the unlimited topping options as HB do, it does have higher quality one. You can taste the difference in your first bite. For example, I'm a huge chickpeas fan. While HB's chickpeas taste like straight out of can, Roots' are well-seasoned and flavorful. Other toppings are also worth trying: the roasted broccoli is soft and almost creamy, definitely a lot better than the raw broccoli across the street. Roasted potatoes are another my favorite. They are in small cubes and soft, sweet and flavorful. And as everyone else has been talking about: the BBQ tofu is an almost-guilty-pleasure in this healthy eating salad bar. Crispy shell covered in sweet BBQ sauce, but underneath the shell is the soft chewy tofu you're familiar with. But I also need to point out that compared with the amazing tofu, the chicken is a little bit dry and bland, not as exciting as the HB's three flavor options. In summary, if you like the idea of DIY salad but also have some insecurity about your own skills in picking topping, maybe Roots is a better choice for you. You can go wild in HB, and sometimes maybe too wild. But in Roots, their crafted toppings are not going to let you fail yourself too badly. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Made my own salad bowl with chicken - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Really great grain bowls. I love going for lunch (either by myself or with a friend or two) and I always get the El Jefe, with grilled chicken, swap the kale for spinach, and the works (lime juice and tabasco) SO GOOD! It's super filling and it honestly lasted me for 3 meals because of how much you get in one order. For drinks, they have a few selections at check out but I love the bottled Black Tea Lemonade! Everyone on staff is always so kind and fast with getting orders out. Lines are usually long though, especially on weekends so I would recommend ordering ahead. There's a cute seating area downstairs that has a few tables and chairs for small groups of people. Overall highly recommend, especially if you're a fan of chains like Sweet Green - it's the best Pittsburgh equivalent by far! read more

Roots is probably on of my favorite go tos! Always fresh and nice healthier option when I'm not feeling like cooking! So many great combos to choose from and are always extremely quick to order from apps. I can't say enough good things. The portions are massive and can usually split It into two meals which is a great deal to me. Recommend trying this place out! read more

This is such a wildly popular spot, I think I ordered wrong or maybe went on an off day. I got the Tamari bowl and was bummed because the tofu was overdone and pretty tough to chew. It kind of ruined the bowl. I thought they could have added a touch more of the ingredients in the bowl too. It's a large bowl, but was mostly the salad mix. It's supposed to have cucumbers, lime pickled onions, red cabbage, pickled carrots, egg, and almonds with a carrot ginger dressing. I also would have preferred more dressing, as it was on the light side. They don't ask you how heavy you want the dressing, which is what I like about Hello Bistro. I'd definitely give it another try, I like the concept and think again, could have been an off day or just not the bowl for me. read more

Absolutely amazing salad and ingredients are fresh you can tell they put a lot of detail into making it and results are Perfect I ordered online went to pick it up easy and lady that was there super nice and attentive ! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I've been here many times before. Especially at Pitt while I was in undergrad I went about twice a week. I loved going after class it was relatively affordable and healthy. My bowl contains brown rice, spinach, corn, carrots, pita chips, chicken, and cilantro lime sauce. They have many options and everyone can find something. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Create your own - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I think this was the best salad I've ever eaten. Portions big enough to eat again the next day. I'm all about the healthy eating and this place was absolute top notch. I'm not kidding this salad was out of this world. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Excellent and perfectly portioned meal. Great for when you want something healthy but really satisfying. I built my own but their set options also looked really good. Everything tasted fresh. I picked BBQ tofu for my protein and it didn't disappoint. I will say seating here is a bit lacking - two seats by the window or basement seating but this food is better as takeout anyway! read more

I'm obsessed with Roots. I have to limit myself from eating it everyday because it's that good. I get the El Jefe because I love the corn and bean mixture, ask for "the works" (Tabasco and lime squeeze)! I personally think Roots is a better quality in comparison to chipotle so if you like that style of food, definitely give their bowls a try. Such a good option when you want something quick but not super greasy and unhealthy. 10/10 recommend! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - El Jefe & The Balboa - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

YUM! Ordered from here via Uber Eats with a friend last weekend. It was such a great experience. I ordered the Balboa bowl and my friend got the Roots bowl. We were both pleasantly surprised by the size and taste of the food! There was such a great portion of protein on these bowls that we each turned them into two meals - a lunch and dinner portion for the same day. I'd definitely order from here again, and may not stray from the Balboa bowl! Delicious and fresh ingredients! read more

I love it! Get the Balboa bowl! Very friendly staff as well. You are able to build your own bowl also.

This place is great for college students. The pricing isn't bad for the quality and amount of food that you're getting. I knocked a star off because sometimes my order gets a little messed up, but it's still correct enough that I like it. If you're looking for a greasy meal, this isn't the place. Not a place that I'd go everyday, but I love coming here when I'm in the mood for a good, hearty salad. read more

Great place for healthy bowls! One of the things that I sometimes complain about Pittsburgh is that there isn't enough salad bars or healthy options, so I'm really happy about this place! You can customized your bowl and it is fast and on the go. One thing I hope is that they offer delivery service, especially because parking in that area is horrendous. Other than that, I highly recommend this place if you're trying to eat healthy and if you're in a hurry! read more

Roots is my and my husband's favorite place for "fast" food. It's fast, tasty and you feel a lot less guilt eating here. The concept is a build your own bowl, similar to, say Chipotle. I was apprehensive about trying it out at first. Lookin at the menu, I was worried it would taste too healthy and wouldn't be enjoyable. Boy was I wrong!! Our favorite item to get is the Roots Bowl and either add chicken or bbq tofu. Also good is the southern. We absolutely love the roots rice, which both items have in common. The combination of ingredients in their bowls are phenomenal, but of course you can customize everything to your liking as well. My only complaint is, I wish there were more locations! read more

My new favorite place to get a healthy, delicious, and filling meal! I'm a big fan of a make your own salad place, but this is definitely the best option in the Oakland area. The greens are always looking fresh and tasting amazing, and every other ingredient in the line is just as good. This is a place where you can tell the prep work takes a lot of time, there's a lot of work going on in the background that we can't see, but you can definitely taste it. I like to do a build your own bowl with spinach and a little bit of brown rice as the base, though a little expensive, the resulting salad is always massive and to me, very worth the price. Not to mention the service is absolutely fantastic, the staff are really friendly! Definitely try, if you're looking for a great salad, this is the place. read more

Like Piada, this is a fast-but-healthy food chain. It offers a variety of "bowls" based on greens and/or grains dressed up with meats, mushrooms, tofu, and different veggies and sauces. I'm trying to eat fewer carbs and more greens, so I gravitate to the kale-based bowls. You can order from the menu or make your own. Portions are more than sufficient, and prices are fair. Its popularity is evident in the line that can reach to the door during rush times, but the many staff keep things moving. There is a little seating by the door on the main floor, and there are more tables and chairs downstairs. Good place for a small group (up to 4-6). Single-sex bathrooms in the basement, if I remember correctly. read more

Have recently been getting the mayweather w bbq tofu. It's so good and the workers are always willing to customize it to my preferences. It's my favorite meal to eat out and it's worth the money! read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - The Southern with kale as a primary base - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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The food here was awesome!!! I look forward to going back because I enjoyed the BBQ tofu

This place is so great! I wish it existed when I went to Pitt because I feel like it would have definitely helped me get more vegetables in my diet. The layout is really similar to a Chipotle but they make your bowl SO fast. We got the Mayweather salad and the Mad Bowl. Both were fantastic. I got the bbq tofu and also the mushrooms in mine and my boyfriend got the tofu also. We both aren't vegetarians but trying to eat less meat. I will say I liked the mushrooms way more. Maybe I'm just not a tofu person but it didn't even really taste like bbq too much to me. But I loved the mushrooms so I'll definitely get those next time and no tofu. Also both were filling and I didn't completely finish mine! So it was great to have leftovers read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - Top Mayeather bottom Mad bowl - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Fantastic mix of flavors, satisfying, enough for two meals My son recommended Roots to us and we are very happy we tried it despite the line extending out the door at lunch time. The line actually moves pretty quickly, and there is plenty of seating downstairs. The first time I tried the Lil Bob Cobb subbing in lemon tahini dressing, and my husband had the Mad Bowl. Although we are not fans of kale, they do it so well that we found ourselves preferring the kale base to the spinach (which tended to disappear into the rice). My son says he always gets one that comes with tofu, and indeed The Southern was outstanding, particularly the bright notes from the pickled red onions and the roasted broccoli, and hearty bites of tofu, cheddar cubes and chickpeas. The BBQ tofu and mushrooms are very flavorful and more satisfying than the somewhat tough chicken; you should give the tofu cubes a try if you are unsure! The BBQ tofu has a pleasing color, a nice meaty texture but tender inside, and a great flavor. Next time I will try the miso tofu and determine my favorite(s). Definitely enough food to eat half and save half for another meal, making this a true bargain at $8.15-$10.25. read more

Roots Natural Kitchen - The Southern. - Salad Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Roots is the place to be if you want to grab a healthy meal to go or to dine in. They provide quick (imagine a Chipotle assembly line) and friendly service. After a weekend of eating non-stop, comfort food, my friend and I stopped here for lunch to order some healthy clean, whole foods. We got the El Jefe ($9.75+tax) which comes with a foundation of brown rice and kale. Topping included red ions, charred yellow corn, avocado, pita chips, and usually chicken but I opted for the vegetarian option of BBQ tofu. The food was very good and we had a lot of leftovers. They are very accommodating of your dietary needs so don't be afraid to ask for substitutes. read more

Amazing food selections, fresh and inviting options that really make it easy to eat healthy. In a world that is filled with fast food, unhealthy cuisine... more places like Roots are needed to keep us on the right path. It's nice how every menu item can be ordered as a salad... we can all use some more plants into our pie hole! Trust me, you'll be very pleased with the friendly staff, enticing menu and quick service. read more

Roots have become my favorite lunch spot since it's opened. I love it from my first bowl and now I get my lunch here almost every week and sometimes many days a week. I never knew that healthy food, especially salad, could be this delicious!! I was never a fan of kale until I have it at Roots! They chopped it to small pieces and their kale is so crunchy. Also topped with many toppings in a generous amount, especially protein. And I think that is one of reason why Roots standout among other salad places and be liked by many people, including me, because of their generous portion of protein. My favorites from-the-grill are BBQ tofu and chicken! And of course everything tastes so good. Many ingredients has been prepped well and seasoned before tossing into your bowl so that really makes their salad better than other places. Because they don't put bland ingredients and rely only on the dressing for the flavor. The amount of the dressing they put is also the perfect amount (for me at least) but of course you can always tell them if you want less or more. You can always substitute any ingredients as you wish too but I usually go for a custom bowl. Staff are super friendly! The space is quite clean, modern and stylish. The price is so reasonable. 5 Stars!! Hope you keep your standard! read more

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Just left because when we walked in, the staff said they were out of rice and that it would be ten minutes. 15 minutes passed by, and we were told that it would be another ten minutes until they had rice. We saw the manager snickering to herself about "ten minutes" and we assumed that the new estimate was also a lie and we might be waiting longer. Sucks to be still waiting in that line. read more

I had the el Jefe with kale as the base. It was so flavorful and good. It came with grilled chicken that was also seasoned well. There was additional seating and restrooms downstairs. I love that the bowls are made of paper, not plastic. The forks appear to be plastic, though. I wish the had a larger drink selection. Kombucha would be good. Anyway, I'll be back for another healthy and incredibly tasty lunch next time I'm in Oakland. read more