I came in as their menu meets a lot of mine and my child's dietary restrictions. I ordered the roasted cashew soft serve. It was really good. For $6 I would think the cup would be filled up more than what I got. Maybe it is a lot and I'm just used to seeing more? The place is very clean and minimal to moderate loud which is great. I'll try coming back to try other menu items if I'm in the area. read more

Kitava - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

I was genuinely excited to try this new healthy spot in my neighborhood, but the service didn't match the welcoming vibe of the space. When I arrived with my daughter, we weren't greeted, and the staff member seemed bothered by our presence. The décor is lovely, and we settled in to wait for our food. When it was brought to us, I thanked the server, but there was no response or friendly acknowledgment. This was at 11 a.m. on Friday. Unfortunately, I did not have the same experience as other people on here when it comes to customer service. read more

Kitava is the best. Great food, service and clean atmosphere. Evolved ceasar + salmon the bests. Brunch is 100. Soft serve ice cream amazing. read more

We came back for brunch. Once again, the food was great! Our kids loved the pancakes! It seems like a little bit of mochi pancake texture. The blueberry compote surprised me and is not overly sweet. The butternut squash fritters were delicious! Also had a build your own bowl, which was great as well. read more

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Warm and nourishing. Kitava is such a healthy option for dinner. I created my own bowl with salmon, rice and 2 veggies and it was about $21 and not the largest piece of salmon, but again... so healthy. The place is big, bright and well designed. You order at the front or from your table by phone and they bring it to you. The cucumber water was fresh and delightful and self-serve. Pricey, but healthy is wealth and I'd rather pay a few bucks more for plentiful of healthful options. Maybe not the most flavorful, but again... healthy. I read more

Was excited to try Kitava as my wife is strict gluten free. Unfortunately. Disappointed. While the chicken nuggets are splendid and I did like the fries, the fingerling potatoes were inedible, cold, slug like (see photo below). Some were shriveled and hard, others chewy like old gum but tasting of nothing but rosemary. I mentioned it to the front counter person . While totally pleasant, She said she'd check with the manager, but no results or refund or substitution after waiting. The uncooked chocolate chip cookies need a renaming . Add in the ala cart pricing pricing which makes any salad a 25$ cost with a protein and small portions and sadly it's a fail for me read more

Kitava - Inedible Fingerling potatoes were both over cooked and undercooked at the same time . - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

I'm leery of fast- casual restaurants, I like to eat healthfully and with good quality ingredients, but Kitava offers both! I'll admit I haven't tried a bowl yet, because I am obsessed with their sides and small plates. The miso eggplant is phenomenal, the cauliflower and hummus both exceptional. One day I'll try new things! The searing area is light, roomy and clean. 5 stars for the category read more

I never made it here when it was Boss Burgers, but it was probably for the best since my occasional carnivorous cravings would've increased my red meat consumption. That's what makes Kitava a welcome presence in this space. I've happily patronized their original Mission location (review: https://yelp.to/fIpNlGxiIC) and their outpost in North Oakland (review: https://yelp.to/sbMKWwWm7M), so I already knew how healthy the food was going to be. I was glad to see a lot of dining space in here, including roomy booths. On my first here, I tried the $14 Kimchi Mushroom Bowl, a hearty delight with chimichurri mushrooms, kimchi, roasted asparagus, arugula, and wild rice mixed in chickpea miso dressing (Photo 10). Made with coconut sugar, the $4.50 Dark Chocolate Brownie (Photo 6) was a guilty pleasure, and the $4 can of Ollipop Classic Root Beer was surprisingly satisfying. It provided a healthy alternative to soda. On a follow-up visit, Jamie W and I came here for lunch. He was conscientious and went with the $14 Guac & Greens Salad, a healthy mix of farmer's greens, roasted zucchini, black beans, red cabbage, pickled onions, and guacamole, topped with cassava tortilla strips and jalapeno lime dressing (Photo 9). He was quite pleased. I had the heartier $16 Sesame Chicken Bowl with crispy, breaded chicken. They sat on jasmine rice with charred broccoli florets, sesame togarashi, and chopped green onion, accompanied by ginger ponzu sauce (Photo 8). Even though mine had a higher calorie count, it was quite delicious. We split the $4.50 Chocolate Chip Cookie which was plainly gluten-free but still satisfied our need for something sweet (Photo 7). Solano Avenue has an impressive variety of worthwhile eateries, and Kitava will definitely be part of our rotation. FOOD - 5 stars...I think they've perfected their healthy recipes over the years AMBIANCE - 5 stars...really spacious, usually not busy SERVICE - 4 stars...pretty cordial TOTAL - 5 stars...this mini-chain is really holding up well RELATED - Exploring Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/NTHwFpRbbS read more

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Exciting news for Solano Ave. with a Kitava location opening. We've ordered to-go before from this specific location, but finally had the opportunity to taste in-person. Def. have been a fan of Kitava since the Buck Wild Brewing days ~ thankful it's back closer in the East Bay (there's an Oakland location too!) Love the look/feel of the restaurant ~ clean, minimal, all the positive vibes while you're eating clean as well. I love the flavored water and I'm a sucker for a warm bowl. Convenient, mixing in all the food groups, and health forward. This go-around we did the Sesame Chicken Bowl which comes with charred broccoli, crispy chicken in cassava flour breading, jasmine rice, served with a ginger ponzu sauce on the side. With avo added, perfection (although that's extra, but would be a great permanent addition). We did a side of the crispy chicken (a healthier nugget), sweet potatoes, and charred broccoli for the kiddo. A win all-around. Service is quick and efficient ~ this is a fast casual location where you order at the register, grab your number, meal is delivered to you, and you bus your table upon exit. FYI, for those looking for a different dinner approach. Adding this spot to our monthly "where should we go" nights ~ love the mission, love the food philosophy, and company values. I guess I love the bowls so much I wish there were a few extra scoops per serving, but maybe that's the parental hunger in me ;) Metered parking can be tough on Solano, but not impossible. Just noticed they have Brunch now as well ~ Butternut Squash Fritter Tacos are calling our name! read more

Kitava - Sesame Chicken Bowl - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

I've ordered delivery from here many times now and also popped by! Food: all around amazing! My faves-- Power bowl Fries with ranch Chicken nuggets with chipotle sauce Green juice All so fresh and delicious!! Atmosphere - so bright and full of light. Nice furnishings, really welcoming!! Definitely a place I can hang out in and feel my mood lifting. read more

Came here for dinner. And we each had a sesame chicken bowl. Very tasty and satisfying, I only wish the serving size was bigger! We had the brownie and chocolate chip cookie too, neither were my favorite. Service is easy. Order at kiosk or at register. Take a number, find a seat and they'll bring the food to you. Service was friendly. Clean and bright spot. I know my GF-free friends would appreciate this place. Looking forward to coming back. read more

Kitava - Inside - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

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We love this place and I'm so glad they opened up one in Albany. Its our go to lunch spot after hiking at Tilden. There salads are fresh and all ingredients go well together. read more

Kitava opened in Boss Burger's space. Similar infrastructure. Change of seatings, decor on walls. Menu similar to Oakland. No table service. Order at counter or kiosk. Food/drinks brought to table 10ish minutes. Bus own trays. Pricing up $1 + 5% health surcharge. Business robust. Business model working. Offerings: signature bowls & salads, drinks, beers, wines, desserts, snacks, kombucha, hard cider. Bites: kimchi mushroom bowl(14) -wild rice blend, argula, kimchi, & soy-free chicken pea miso dressing were evidently fresh & 'Liz, they were outclassed by the main ingredients: -braised thinly sliced chimichurri mushrooms exuding much Unami & juiciness. -roasted thinly diagonally sliced young asparagus juicy & crunchy. *Fwiw decided not to mix ingredients in one clumb. Ate each ingredient individually and dipping each into miso dressing. Singular best. **tastes better than power bowl previously are. 5 stars worthy quality/guantity read more

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What I like most about this place is the aesthetics. Very cute, bright, woodsy. My food was good! Only concern was the rice could have been made better & if we can have a non-cucumber water self-service option? I would love to come back and try other things. read more

We've enjoyed the delicious food by delivery and takeout. I would dine in with friends/family as well, or sit alone at the long bar table facing the window along the sidewalk. Also, there are big concrete tables outside with umbrellas for shade. This is a stand out spot on Solano Ave. read more

A very pleasant surprise! If you are someone (like me) who does not typically go for these type of health food/salad places, I would say to give this one a try. Twice I've orders the herb ranch salad with crispy chicken, and twice I have devoured it. The dressing is creamy but tangy, and there's enough to fully coat the whole salad. There's also enough textural intrigue from the radish and croutons so the dish feels very balanced. The egg is overcooked but not very noticeable in the context of a salad. The crispy chicken is surprisingly moist on the inside, and the outside is crispy enough. But the crispy brussel sprouts truly live up to their promise, they are almost like brussel sprout chips and come with what I think is a cumin aioli. The salads are reasonably priced before adding a protein, but a protein really is needed for most of them to feel like a true meal. So yes, it ends up being a fairly pricey salad, but that is to be expected of this sort of place. Also, if you are not a dressing person, make sure to tell the cashier you want your salad completely plain, as they automatically add a little lemon juice & oil otherwise. Order at the counter and food is brought to the table. Water and silverware is serve yourself. The large windows bring a lot of light into the space and it's quite a pleasant spot to hang out and enjoy your meal. read more

Kitava - Herb Ranch salad with Crispy Chicken - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

The food is healthy and delicious, and the atmosphere is generally very Feng Shui. The one thing I must mention that is in need of more attention is the issue with flies. Take-out orders, you're probably fine. The issue I have is that i like to study and eat, nibbling on some food and writing - yet this location always has at least one little gnat or fly trying to insert itself into my green goddess dressing. You see a bunch of them at the self bussing station. Generally speaking the Bay Area doesn't seem to have that many bugs... but they've certainly found a home in this location. Its a shame, because I'd probably bring someone here with me to eat on a regular basis if I wasn't afraid of grossing someone out. The staff are really good. I think they just need to do some troubleshooting on the insects. I noticed someone else mentioned this and I'll second it: SWEETGREEN is the spot! You get more food for the money. I still like Kitava, however. read more

Kitava - The main reason I cannot give 5 stars - this place has a problem with flies. - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

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Located on Solano ave, this place opened up and it's definitely worth giving a try! It reminds me of SweetGreen, but much better service and food! They offer a lot of indoor seating and inside it was very much a chill atmosphere. Everything you order here is very fresh! I will say that it is a bit on the pricy side, but worth it. You can customize your bowl or even just order a premade bowl that is also super delicious. read more

Clean, bright, lovely place! The food is fresh, plentiful and reasonably priced. Friendly staff at the front desk. Somehow I forget to go there regularly. I'm about to set a monthly reminder read more

Certainly good healthful and tasty food but I feel like the portions could be larger. If you look through the pictures, you will see that most of them show the plate/bowl like only half filled. I went here last night and this was my experience too. For the price being charged, the least they could do is not skimp out on the customer. read more

"I had an incredible meal here! The chicken soup was easily the highlight--absolutely delicious and a must-order. My friend and I shared the cauliflower bites and fried plantains, both of which were flavorful and cooked to perfection. My friend loved her custom bowl, and the takeout was just as good. I brought home the paprika chicken for my husband and a salmon plate for myself; both were hits! I'm such a soup fanatic that I'll definitely be back for another bowl soon. Every dish coming out of the kitchen looked phenomenal." and I love that it's a whole ingredient. No fake shit. read more

It's very convenient to order online and customize your bowl! A solid dinner option for families when everyone feels like something different. I've been twice now for takeout and both times the order has been exactly correct, can't say that for every place! read more

UPDATE 5/16/26: The owner reached out to me right away, in a very gracious manner. I look forward to eating here again. I will be trying some other things on the menu. As I said, I love the idea of this place and really want it to succeed. Especially at its new Solano location. I spend lots of time on Solano because I live and work nearby. And I eat out often. UPDATE 5/13/26: I forgot to mention yesterday in my review that I liked the portion sizes. I disagree with the people who say the portions are too small. Most restaurants, in my opinion, give us too much food, which I think contributes to the obesity epidemic. (And I don't exclude myself from that afflicted population.) To those who say that it's too expensive for the amount of food you get, I say that operating a restaurant that prepares and serves healthy, fresh food and pays its staff well is an expensive enterprise. I support them in their endeavor and hope they will succeed. 5/12/26: I love the idea of this place, and I like the ambience (although the wooden benches are pretty hard and could use some cushions -- but I know that likely goes against their "keep it simple and easy to clean" aesthetic). So, I was excited about all the healthy gluten-free options on the menu and excited to eat here for the first time today. But I am not impressed so far. I did a BYO BOWL. The Picadillo beef sounded so good in the description! But it tasted like the dry ground beef from a cheap taco. (I thought it was going to be chunks of beef in a deliciously seasoned broth!) The fingerling potatoes and sweet potatoes were dry and pretty nondescript. The wild rice blend was OK. Given how dry and tasteless (or unpleasant in the case of the ground beef) everything (other than the rice) was, it was impossible to improve it all with the small amount of dressing that comes in a separate container. (I chose jalapeño lime dressing, and liked it a lot.) I will return and try other things on the menu because I'm so excited about the menu being gluten-free and using such healthy ingredients. I will update my journey with this restaurant as it continues. The service, by the way, was lovely. The music is calming and beautiful. I appreciate the (what I think are) big, acoustic sound-absorbing "tiles" on the ceiling. They are even making bearable the screaming toddlers who recently came in. (I'm glad their parents are feeding them healthy food.) read more

Sadly, I am lowering my review to 3 stars. The dish I loved above has been so inconsistent! Spongey eggplant, cold broccoli, inconsistent chopping of chicken. I thought I found my dish but I am back to square one. Nice people work there, nice vibe, decent seating, but both east bay locations are very inconsistent. read more

I love ordering kitava online in the city, so this was nice to sit and enjoy my bowl. Always fresh, super filling, and quick. Also located near tons of other shops and things around. read more

Healthy, easy option on Solano with great customizations. We love having the free kids night available on Tuesday and the easy seating options. This is my family go to for getting something fast and healthy. read more

I love the food here and the folks that work here are so kind and lovely. Beautiful atmosphere and location as well!

Delicious, presentation was not appealing by the time it was delivered. Not sure if it was badly treated in transit.... They were responsive to some suggestions I made for a bowl with an ingredient separator that might make it look a little less like a bowl of indeterminate expensive not easily identifiable foods read more

Truly enjoyed my service and food here. Ambiance was quaint and lovely. I will definitely be back. read more

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Love this place! The foods are flavorful, healthy, and just straight up YUMMY! It's spacious and I love the natural lighting inside. Also, the manager, Mia (hope the spelling is right), is super cool! They also have a rewards program so don't forget to look into it. read more

We're so happy to have Kitava in Albany! The food is fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. We had a great experience dining in. The space feels welcoming and relaxed, perfect for a casual meal with family or friends. A special thank you to Maya, who took our order, she was incredibly kind, patient, and helpful with the menu. Her warm attitude really made the visit even better. We'll definitely be coming back again soon! read more

Amazing customer service and a lovely environment for the family. Been coming to this restaurant weekly, and I've never left without a smile on my face!!! Can't miss Kids Day, weekly on Tuesday. Come swing by! read more

Kitava - Chill day with lil bro. - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

100% gluten free restaurant with delicious food. I ordered the sesame chicken bowl and my husband got the paprika chicken protein plate with an additional side of brussel sprouts. The person at the counter was very nice and helpful about answering our questions. I will be back even though I live an hour away. read more

I live so close that I end up ordering here at least 3x a month. I always get the same BYOB. They are all really nice and I'm glad they give health insurance to employees- very cool! I don't mind contributing. I would like to say that I think the food has gotten quite a bit saltier and that's too bad. Makes it less healthy!! My son is also of this opinion. I'd like to be able to ask for less salt when ordering, but I order online. Let me know if I could call first! read more

One of the best additions to Solano Ave. Fresh, light, customizable, great variety. Loved the Citrus salad and can't wait to try everything else. Interior is airy yet cozy. read more

I was going pleasantly surprised today by Kitava Kitchen! I opted for the plantain bowl with an added beef protein and fried brussel sprouts. Just so you know I'm a bonafide plantain and brussel sprouts snob and the offerings from Kitava did not disappoint! On the contrary they were extremely tasty and well done-the brussel sprouts especially! The service is great and the dining room is sunny and airy with a large scale wallpaper on the main room wall accented with warm wood tones of in the furnishings. My bowl was enough for two meals! Can't wait to come back! read more

As huge fans of the Kitava Mission location, we weren't at all surprised to find we loved the new Albany location. The food was predictably wonderful in keeping with its predecessors. If anything, it's a step up since it is designed to feel more like a full restaurant albeit with the ease of counter service. It's brighter and more spacious and you don't have to ask for water or a bathroom code! As a minor side note to the chefs, the ratio of kale to cabbage in the kale slaw is a little disappointing. Given the name, I'd like to see more green and less purple. Additionally the amount of char on the broccoli is inconsistent. When adequately cooked, it's my favorite broccoli out there, but sometimes it's all crunchy stalks. That said, the lemon vinaigrette is reliably great and carries the dish. But I'd appreciate greater attention to detail across the various restaurants. Also not a big deal, but the woman at the front confirmed we were eating in, but our food was brought to us for takeout. Even so, when Kitava is at its best, it is tough to beat. read more

Kitava - BYO Bowl with kale slaw, cauliflower rice, charred broccoli and lemon vinaigrette - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

Clean and spacious! Absolutely LOVE the plantains, so sweet! Got the sesame chicken bowl and substituted jasmine rice for the wild rice (+$2) food came out fast and staff are very kind. read more

Kitava - Sesame Chicken Bowl - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

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So nice to have a clean, well run, health food alternative in the neighborhood. You order and they bring the food to you, then you bus your plates. The remodel is clean and modern. They even put acoustic tiles on the ceiling so it's pretty peaceful inside. read more

Kitava - Yummy chicken bowl - Gluten-Free Near Me - Albany, California

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It was okay. I didn't think the food was great. The staff was very nice and the place was clean.