4.5/5 This is a really nice place: high ceilings, nicely decorated, lots of air flow. Our waitress (Sarah) was very helpful and friendly, and the service in general was great. I love the menu- sooo many healthy, fresh options, and they list the calories and protein. I wanted to like the edamame dumplings more than I did. The poke bowl was yummy. I left feeling full and nourished by healthy food. read more

I was in Austin Texas and my friends and I stopped at a true foods kitchen. We were terribly let down BUT the owner reached out and gave us gift cards and said that was just a bad night and to please give true foods kitchen a second shot. So we did. This time is was much better. The Brussels sprouts were great and fresh. Pizza was good, and burger was good! Only complaint I had was my fry's were really soggy and honestly just didn't hit. But the food and service at the friars Rd location was great! I would recommend this cute and relaxed place for anyone who wants to get a bit to eat before or after shopping in the mall! read more

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Terrible service, took an hour and a half to get our meals...we were the only table for the first 30 mins! We had two young kids and the server never checked in, asked to refresh our drinks or if we needed anything. Manager came by after complaining about the time and said sorry and we were up next - 3 tables got served before we got our food. Never going back!!! read more

Omgosh so yummy. We had the edamame dumpling and seasonal chicken skewers so go try them neooowww. Place is a vibe and our server Sara was pleasant and fri. Will be bac read more

Lynnae was our server this time in, friendly and polite. We ordered a Green Goddess mousse & crudite as an appetizer and shared the All American grass fed burger with a Kale side salad. So yummy! The appetizer was delicious, vegetables very fresh and the mousse was creamy (would have liked a little more, lol) and the almond garlic crumble....SOOOO Good!! Ambiance was a bit loud (large party behind us) but they soon quieted down once their food arrived. True food Kitchen definitely one of my favorite restaurants on a regular! Come check them out! read more

True Food Kitchen - Mediterranean Hummus Platter, V - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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yummm! their sourdough pizza is so immaculate down to the crust!! we got the mushroom one and it was so good!! i liked how there was also spinach and caramelized onion! the cheese wasn't too heavy either, it was lightly creamy and had a lemony flavor. the salmon was a good quality salmon, not fishy nothing crazy but i am sensitive to fish and i gobbled this up! seasoned well and the rice pilaf was good! but the sauce it came with didn't mesh well with the rice and fish, too vinegary. we also got the poke bowl and the sauce that it came with was super good!!! read more

True Food Kitchen - pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Perfect spot for all the "healthy" eaters. Their menu has a great variety--from salads and bowls to burgers and full entrées--so there's truly something for everyone. It's nice that they don't use seed oils, and even their fries and chicken tenders are air-fried, which is a nice touch. Lots of vegan and vegetarian options as well. We tried the kale salad with grilled chicken and the grass-fed burger--both were flavorful and made with quality ingredients. The kale salad was tangy and had a good amount of Parmesan and Garlic. The space itself is great too, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. The service was just as enjoyable--our waitress was sweet and attentive, even though I didn't catch her name. read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Happy Father's Day. We arrive to enjoy a brunch with the children and the weather was perfect. We were lucky to have Vera as our server who was an outstanding service provider from start to finish. The drinks on the other hand was a very big disappointment. I ordered a bloody Mary and what I received was a small glass full of Ice with maybe some vodka with tomato color. There was little room for the olives because of the ice. A couple of swallows and the ice remains. If I was offered another drinks I would have suggested no ice and maybe some Bloody Mary. The food was delicious and about the same price of the red coloured drink I had. read more

True Food Kitchen - Ranchers Hash - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

The food is always amazing and we got the best service.... The nicest, bubbly and very knowledgeable waiter (Gio) and the management... best lunch place read more

True Food Kitchen - Sangria and passion fruit margarita - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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The food was good first time I have ever tried this place and I was happy with the experience. I wish they had more drink options but the drinks we did get were good. The service was a great experience as well. She was helpful and attentive. The only negative part was the chicken strips. They were air fried and flavorless they had burnt parts to them. And the only flavor you were picking up is the burnt. It's definitely a casual vibe but great for stepping in for a quick restaurant experience. read more

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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. read more

True Food Kitchen - Grilled Sustainable Salmon, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

I sat on the lovely fully covered patio and ordered the Poke bowl and a Lavender matcha iced latte. Service was prompt and very friendly. They had nice glasses of water on the table, tasted clean. Poke bowl was very well done and filling. Had a side of fries, air fried and excellent. The tea was perfect as well! read more

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Our server was one of the best I've ever had. She was genuinely happy and helpful. We had a party of 11 without a reservation and they quickly accommodated us. The restaurant is large with indoor and outdoor options. The food is clean and whole, and I felt healthier after eating my Ancient Grains Bowl. My wife had the same thing. But it also left us wanting for more flavor and a bit more sauce. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Went in on a Monday night and sat out on the patio. Milla took care of us and recommended the watermelon salad, ancient grains with salmon, and the new raspberry peach crumble dessert. Honestly, she nailed it. Everything was super fresh and flavorful, and the dessert was so good. Great service, good vibes, and a perfect night on the patio. Can't wait to come back. read more

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! read more

True Food Kitchen - Better than Blanco, mucho. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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. read more

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Really enjoyed the edamame dumplings and spinach & wild mushroom pizza on happy hour!!

We just had a fabulous dinner here, we didn't even plan to eat here but the food smelled so good from the outside, Emily waited on us and what a great personality and exceptional service from her, most of all my wife and I enjoyed talking with her as well. We had no idea about this place and we relied on Emily to help us choose our meals. We started with wine, excellent, then the American Cheeseburger, this blew our mind how delicious it was! We will be back for this again! We also tried a Margarita Pizza with sourdough crust it was also delicious and not filling, very tasty. This will be our go spot from now on when shopping at the Mall or whenever we get that craving for a great meal! Thank you Emily for a great afternoon experience, your new friends from Dallas, TX now new residents of San Diego read more

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. read more

True Food Kitchen - Interior - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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. read more

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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 read more

True Food Kitchen - Air fry French fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

The food was wonderful, especially the desserts! Loved the atmosphere and all the gluten free options. Shout out to David Arredondo for being such a cheerful and attentive server. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

True Food Kitchen - Ancient Grains Bowl, V - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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My faaaavorite place to go for healthy food. Especially because I am gluten free. My favorite menu items are the hummus with gluten free pita (there is something on the hummus they have to remove but the staff is SOOO good with dietary restrictions/allergies so they know what to remove). They have many other gluten free options as well as vegan/dairy free/nut free, the list goes on. Service is also incredible! Hosts are the sweetest, servers are AWESOME (I love Milla and Michael!) The servers are so attentive and quick with anything you need. Outside has heaters so that's a plus. This has to be one of my favorite restaurants and DEFINITELY my favorite restaurant at the mall. read more

True Food Kitchen - Hummus - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

True Food Kitchen - Gluten free pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

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Overall the food was disappointing. It seems that the kitchen has very little quality control so I do not recommend eating here if you have allergies or other dietary concerns. We ordered the spaghetti squash and honey carrots and Turkey Burger with cheesy potatoes. Both left me wishing I would have eaten somewhere else. I found several seeds in my squash and so much rubbery cheese and the carrots tasted like they had been sitting and waiting before being served. The burger was dry and over salted. The prices seem high and the service was slow. The drinks were decent but also seemed overpriced. read more

Saturday, 3-01-2025: My youngest sister arranged this family meetup in celebration of our parents' 65th wedding anniversary. There was eleven of us in attendance. Reservations were made in advance so we were seated right away. This place is impressive. It's a unique, classy aesthetic with both an industrial and rustic vibe. It is rather spacious as it also affords outdoor dining. Our server was adequate. He wasn't overly friendly but he did provide as we requested. Perhaps our big group overwhelmed him. Their menu also offered brunch options since it was 11-ish. Everything looked so good and so healthy! My hubby got the pepperoni pizza and I opted for the Korean Bowl with antibiotic free chicken. We enjoyed the food, ambiance, and each other's company. It's definitely worth a return! read more

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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. read more

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None of the food here was any good. Our table had the grass fed burger which was dry, a vegan burger which had way too much sauce and really gross vegan cheese on it, a Chinese chicken salad that didn't really have much of a dressing but more of chunks of grated orange peel and a pepperoni pizza that was mostly just sauce and barely any cheese or pepperoni. They charge extra for fries with all of the burgers which is not clearly stated on the menu. One person ordered the peach/raspberry crumble for desert and it had some sort of weird stem in it that would have nothing to do with the fruit in the crumble and then an ice cube and also an ice cube in the middle. Why is there an ice cube in a warm crisp desert? Makes no sense. Server had a bit of an attitude when asked about it. I would not recommend this restaurant. Was a waste of money and not a very nice birthday lunch for my daughter. read more

True Food Kitchen - Pepperoni pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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My day of San Diego sunshine was met with a wonderful experience as I found myself at True Food Kitchen in the Fashion Valley Mall. The restaurant felt warm and welcoming with cute tunes on the speakers and a pleasant color pallet in the dinning room. My server Shelley was great and helpful with the menu. I ordered the Butternut Squash Soup to start with a Jasmine Pearl Tea to drink. The soup was rich in flavor and was a grand beginning to my meal. The main course was the Grass Fed Burger with the famous Kale Salad on the side. Delicious to the last bite with the umami and mushroom flavors till the end. Finished my meal with a Shelley suggestion of the carrot cake. So tasty and a great balance of sweet and spice. read more