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    Active Culture

    4.5 (171 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Active Culture Takeout or Delivery

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    ACTIVE CULTURE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Recommended Reviews - Active Culture

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    Reviews With Photos

    Guac and chips
    Angelin R.

    Another fabtastic meal. I swear, this is my go to- for togo. For dine in. For soft serve. For salad. I freaking love the food here. Service is always friendly. Pro tip- add the veggie patty to salad and always order chili togo.

    Aiten H.

    Nice location with plenty of parking and seating. Lots of menu options. I came in for a late morning snack. Ordered the avocado toast which came with chips and salsa. Next time I'll try one of their many salad options.

    Miguel F.

    We decided to try this place since it is in the way to one of our destinations on our mini vacation. The fact that they have vegan options for my wife, and 50% off everything on Fridays, it was hard not to give it a try. We brought our little dog so we sat at a table in the outdoor dining area. The food was great! I had a bowl, my wife had a veggie burger and my Mother in law had a salad! We each had. Try of each others food and everything was delicious and fresh! We also had shakes for dessert! This place has a good thing going on and we can't wait to try it again! It would be great if they opened a location in San Diego!!

    Rimma B.

    I got the Bay bowl and was very happy with it. The tartness from the apples was so refreshing! Very healthy and clean, the grains fill you up and keep you full. I wish they had more beverage options.. Pricing was steep but otherwise happy with our visit!

    Jonathan T.

    The name made me feel like what they serve is supposed to resemble what someone with a healthy and lively lifestyle eats, so I was all for it. It is also relatively easy to find, and they are next door to a coffee shop. I got Active Culture's hummus quinoa salad and it was pretty good. To be honest, I didn't need the sauce because it was not lacking flavor and did not set off any "dry" warning bells haha. They were also kind enough to show me where everything was, as if they knew it was my first time there. It's also not that far from my location. Score! I will be back.

    Rebecca C.

    Ordering from Active Culture is always a treat. This is one of my favorite food spots in Novato. I've had the wholesome bowl, not your mama's nachos, eastern trade winds, the bay bowl, the potato tacos and the breakfast bowl. I highly recommend all of them. I don't feel guilty whenever I eat here and they don't skimp on flavor. They also have açaí bowls, tasty shakes and froyo! The service is always great. They are tucked on the side of the Pacheco Plaza shopping center next to Marin Coffee Roasters and Boca Pizzeria. There is plenty of parking. Be sure to sign up for their e-newsletter because they have several discounts and specials every month.

    Breakfast Bowl
    Sophia O.

    Even for a carnivorous person like me, I love this place. This breakfast bowl packs a lot of flavor and is filling. I also love their acai bowls & soft serve.

    Acai bowl - Bountiful Bowl (Medium) with peanut butter added
    Marlys J.

    Active culture has quickly become my go-to spot for breakfast. I have become a creature of habit and always order the bountiful bowl with peanut butter. It is so delicious, healthy, and refreshing. They have lots of vegan and vegetarian options available on their menu. Warm bowls, acai bowls, smoothies, breakfast, frozen yogurt, and local beers/wines. They have some indoor seating as well as a lovely patio. On the weekends, there is typically live music playing outside the venue. The patio is dog-friendly and there are typically a few dogs around. The staff has always been friendly and accommodating. The store is always clean and spotless, even the outside patio. So happy to have this spot so close to home!

    Mary V.

    A family-owned, fast, casual café offering delicious healthy eats made with love! Think acai bowls, savory meal/grain bowls, salads, smoothies, and more. Plus beer and wine! Are you Vegetarian? Vegan? Gluten-free? They've got you covered with their plant-forward menu! Order at the counter for dine-in or take-out. There's a menu on the wall, but grab one of the laminated menus at the counter to browse the full selection of offerings. Sit inside or sit outside on their patio (in the nice weather, the wall opens for an indoor/outdoor flow). There are crayons for kiddos, or kids at heart. Sit back, relax, and enjoy! I went in recently on a drive back from SF. Service was friendly and helpful, and my to-go food was ready super quickly: Bay Bowl Organic brown rice, prosciutto, aged gouda cheese, apple, dates, basil, lemon vinaigrette | GF, SF I swapped quinoa for the brown rice, to increase the protein. This salad is a harmony of savory and sweet, and I want another as I write this! It was lightly dressed and it tasted great when I got home 40 minutes later. If I lived closer to Active Culture, this would be a regular stop. Cheers to delicious, healthy eats!

    Wholesome bowl

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    2 days ago

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    3 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    6 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Abbi B.

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    Photo of Wai M.
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    10 days ago

    Lovely staff. Wonderful healthy fare. Beautiful comfortable space. Salads are bomb. Great choice if you have any dietary concerns.

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    4 months ago

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    2 days ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    Abbi B.

    Thanks for your review and support Rebecca!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    5 months ago

    Great food and nice environment. The açaí bowls are sooo good. You feel good after eating here, the food is healthy, clean and fresh!

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    6 months ago

    Delicious, fresh, healthy food. This was perfect as my friend has a number of food allergies. Also a great location just off the highway.

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    3 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

    The veggies were fresh. The service was friendly. I would come back if I had an opportunity.

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    10 months ago

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    4 years ago

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    8 months ago

    I'm not a vegan but this place has some great offerings. I even liked the chili without any meat in it.

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    1 year ago

    Love their açaí bowls. They are really well balanced. Make sure to get cocoa nibs. They have local promotions often

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    4 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    2 years ago

    Food was great! Variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options. Meat options as well.

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    4 years ago

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    Abbi B.

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    10 months ago

    Great spot for healthy and tasty food with a casual yet comfortable atmosphere. Huevos rancheros is a favorite.

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    10 months ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Active Culture

    Barefoot Cafe - Calamari

    Barefoot Cafe

    4.4(1.2k reviews)
    6.1 mi
    $$

    The food was absolutely amazing, the service was fast even though it was a hopping Saturday night,…read moreand the chefs were zipping through orders. Tye, our server, was friendly and kind and on top of refilling waters, offering drink suggestions, and grabbing to-go boxes before we even asked for them! I had the chicken parmigiana, which was light and flavorful, and the steamed spinach that went with it was delicious (and I HATE cooked spinach, but gave it a try and actually enjoyed it for the first time ever!) The andouille sausage that was served with the pesto risotto was smoked and you could really taste it, and the spicyness was just perfect. The pesto sauce was heavy on the pine nuts in the best way. It wasn't oily or heavy on the basil or garlic like a lot of pesto sauces can be, and that left the risotto so light and almost citrusy. My cousin had the harvest garden dish, and they were stunned by how delicious it was. As a vegetarian, they are particular about their veggies, but everything was 'perfectly cooked'. At the end of the meal we were surprised by the panna cotta with the fruit remoulade, which we devoured in like three minutes haha! We really enjoyed all of the food, the service, and the ambiance. We only wish we lived closer, but might make the 90+ mile trip from Sacramento just for the amazing food now and then.

    stopped by for a quick bite after a long day of hiking and taking our doggies for an adventure. I…read moreordered the pesto fettuccine & had plenty of leftovers for me to take home. We sat outside the restaurant on the patio with plenty of shade. The service & staff were awesome, patient, and brought our dogs water unprompted. Such a thoughtful gesture. We also tried some corn bread at the time which was devoured by my husband, he was a big fan. Also ordered a margarita, was delicious, balanced, & crisp/refreshing. the bathrooms were clean, the dinner crowd was coming in as we were leaving & it looked lively. hoping to stop by again for future trips. 5 stars from me & the doggo

    Photos
    Barefoot Cafe
    Barefoot Cafe - California scramble

    California scramble

    Barefoot Cafe - Table setting

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    Table setting

    Himalayan Kitchen - The Himalayan mix platter!

    Himalayan Kitchen

    4.8(275 reviews)
    6.9 mi
    $$

    Came for dinner on a Wednesday night and it was almost a full house! As we ate, more people came…read moreand all tables were filled except one. What a popular place. I can see why because their food is delicious. Fiancé and I got their momo platter (4 each of the veggie, pork and chicken momo), chicken kabob, and chicken thukpa (noodle soup). We have never had thukpa before and it was pretty good and warming. Perfect on a chilly night. Momos were juicy, and beautifully wrapped. The chicken kabob came out sizzling and was quite juicy. Their portion size is great. We even had some leftovers for next day. Service was fast and friendly. Was impressed there were just two people waiting tables/taking orders for a full house. Food came out quick and there were even a couple takeout orders while we were there so they definitely managed the flow quite well. Would definitely come back if I'm in the area again.

    Unlike most good Indian restaurants, when you walk in here you're not going to come out smelling…read morelike spices. That might not be a great thing though because the food just didn't have enough flavor for me. To be fair, maybe it's a difference between Indian and Himalayan food, I'm not really sure. I think it might work for people who would enjoy Indian cuisine if the flavors were more subtle. Service was friendly and everything was prepped well, it just wasn't for me. I wish I would have noticed the dumplings on the menu before ordering or that the staff would have pointed them out, because I would have liked to try them and I'm not sure if or when I'll be back.

    Photos
    Himalayan Kitchen - Set up for party

    Set up for party

    Himalayan Kitchen - Customer fav. Pork Ribs

    Customer fav. Pork Ribs

    Himalayan Kitchen - Christmas day

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    Christmas day

    Active Culture - vegetarian - Updated May 2026

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