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    True Food Kitchen

    4.2 (3.4k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    TRUE FOOD KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - True Food Kitchen

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    Burger
    Michael A.

    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!

    Ranchers Hash
    Douglas G.

    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.

    Mariam R.

    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.

    Hibiscus sparkling soda
    Courtney M.

    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.

    Poke bowl
    Sean O.

    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!

    Grilled Sustainable Salmon, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
    Nathan L.

    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.

    Poke
    Heather D.

    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.

    Half orders of the med chopped salad and teriyaki Quinoa bowl. Full order of the inside out Quinoa burger.
    Ali S.

    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.

    Lasagna
    Vivian M.

    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.

    Hummus
    Skyler M.

    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.

    Guac in wheat chips
    michelle s.

    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.

    Spicy Panang Curry
    Serli N.

    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.

    Better than Blanco, mucho.
    Peter T.

    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!

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    Page 1 of 86

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    Ask the Community - True Food Kitchen

    Is this location dog friendly?

    Yes. Two outdoor patio spaces. Always dogs there

    Looking to go here for dinner, Saturday night. Is casual dress appropriate? Should I make a reservation?

    You can make a reservation via OpenTable and I would recommend it especially weekends. Very casual yet sophisticated spot...enjoy!

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    Urbane Cafe

    Urbane Cafe

    4.4
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    I've been to Urbane Cafe on Napa Street several times now, and it has quickly become one of my…read morefavorite lunch spots in San Diego. Every meal I've had has been fresh, flavorful, and consistently delicious. You can really tell they use quality ingredients. I also have to mention the cookies--they're a must! I get one every single visit, and they're the perfect way to end the meal. The customer service has been excellent every time I've been there. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the manager always goes above and beyond to make sure customers are taken care of. It's rare to find a place with both amazing food and outstanding service, and this location definitely delivers. I'll definitely keep coming back!

    #ChimichurriSteak sandwich was hands-down one of the best I've had. The tri-tip was packed with…read moreflavor, and everything from the chimichurri to the feta and cranberry aioli just worked perfectly together. The craft sodas are next level too, especially the Shirley Temple and black cherry definitely worth trying. My favorite Shirley temple they are made with cane sugar which is a major plus for me . What really stood out though was the customer service super friendly, welcoming, and the place was clean all around. Also, a nice touch: they keep the cookies on a warmer right up front, so when you grab one it's fresh, soft, and perfectly gooey. They also offer catering and event catering, which is a huge plus perfect for corporate events, parties, or any gathering. It's that kind of fast, easy, fresh, comforting food , salads and sandwiches,that just works for a crowd. Overall, five stars. Great vibes, great food, and definitely worth checking out. Definitely happy and excited to try more menu items ,I'll be sure to add more pictures of the sandwiches and salads when I do. Definitely 5 stars :) #FoodieFinds #GreatService #CateringServices #EventCatering #CorporateCatering #PartyCatering #WeddingCatering #CateringNearMe

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    Cilantro Chicken Salad
    Cilantro Chicken Salad
    Seared Ahi Tuna Bowl
    Seared Ahi Tuna Bowl
    Refreshing Agua Frescas and Lemonades

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    Refreshing Agua Frescas and Lemonades

    True Food Kitchen - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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