During the last year of the five-and-a-half decades my mother lived in Athens, she survived a serious medical crisis and endured the sale of her longtime home and preparations for a move to my brother's city. A chaotic period, and when my brother and/or I were in town to help out with these exhausting and time-consuming tasks, finding quick, reasonably priced, somewhat healthy, and hopefully tasty food was challenging indeed. I unfortunately didn't discover Maepole until 2025, but it nicely ticked off those boxes. Maepole is basically a "fast casual," Southern-inflected "bowl" place, with a much heavier emphasis on the nutritious and fresh than is typical of traditional Southern cooking. You start with a base, just like at Chipotle or Cava--greens, sweet potatoes, or quinoa, etc.--and top with veggies or salads, and, if you prefer a protein, you can add chicken, pork, or tofu. Or you can just go full-on veggie plate. Top with a flavorful sauce; my favorites were the spicy avocado and lemon herb. My general impression of the food quality was that it wasn't quite at the five-star level some of the time--veggies weren't always cooked to perfection, for instance--but the general experience and value, as well as the bold flavors, argue for bumping this rating up to five stars. Plus, every time I think about Maepole, I sure wish my current city had an option like it. read more

First time here and recommended by a colleague. I was a little concerned about dining out in Athens during a busy Saturday afternoon but fortunately the N Chase location is perfectly tucked away, distant enough from the downtown area. I was 3rd in line and pleasantly surprised + pleased. Think Chipotle meets Chopt (the salad bar ). Fresh ingredients. LOTS of mix and match options OR preset menu items. And just as many drink options, including locally made kombucha. I ordered the winter salad and low country plates. With the exception of the turmeric ginger dressing (a little too zesty for me) and the hoppin John salad (hoppin John OR salad ... not both ) EVERYTHING was delicious. I enjoyed the salad way more than I thought I would. The spicy avocado dressing is YUMMY! The greens were cooked to perfection - another shocker. The edamame crunch, tofu and crunchies were just as delicious. I will visit the Atlanta location just to try the fritters! A wonderfully healthy and scrumptious delight ! read more

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Best $17 bucks ever spent on a plate , fast & you can taste the flavor like a home made meal highly recommend read more

Maepole - Why is the sweet potato so good ? Lol - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Service was swift and friendly. Food both looked and tasted fresh. Even the music was pleasant. Very affordability priced. 4 full pick yer own from 4 columns choices. All delicious. Nice variety. Also clean and healthy by all appearances. Recommended. read more

My best friend and I were in town visiting her daughter at UGA. We decided to try a restaurant that doesn't exist back home. I'm giving it 4 stars because the food is healthy and fresh. Flavor however, is lacking. I was underwhelmed. That's the only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars. I didn't realize the broccoli would be cold. That also threw me off. It was empty when we arrived and we were served immediately. The environment was a bit stale but only because the place was empty. If you enjoy minimal seasoning, you will love it here. I liked it, but I didn't love it. read more

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Fun little restaurant that feels very beachy? and happy, great vibes. The food is super fresh and flavorful, superisingly the tofu is what bumped it to 5 stars for me it's very high quality! read more

The guy that made my bowl took an already small scoop of meat for my bowl, then shook some of it out, putting about two small strands of beef on my bowl. Then, I ordered the Mac and cheese chicken cup, which he filled half way before ringing up my meal and charging $22, and then the audacity to have a tip option on the screen made me laugh out loud. Total scam place. Can barely get protein read more

This is a local chain that has a second location in Athens and one somewhere in Atlanta. It's a fast casual bowl place, but unlike a lot of these it really emphasizes Southern style flavors. It's also notably vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Indeed, in addition to green or grain options to start my bowl, various side options that were mostly plant-based, I had two very different protein options. Considering the tofu which was described as being flavored with nutritional yeast and tamari, I thought that this would either be really basic or mouthwateringly delicious. It turns out that it was lightly blackened and quite addictive. My kale and bean salad were also quite good. This is a nice place to eat inside or outside. The parking lot is small and was quite busy while I was there but there are no other businesses immediately around and there are other parking spots. My big negative was that the salad I started my bowl with was really not much, and the size of a bowl for the price was not quite what I'd hoped, particularly for this being in a college town. The stuff in the bowl was interesting and delicious and quite good for most diets. read more

Maepole - Tofu with Black Bean Salad (served cold) and Kale Salad (served cold) over Salad Greens - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Like a healthier Chipotle! Lots of delicious, fresh options! My bowl was so delicious! I loved the unique combination of flavors and unique offerings. The only thing that I didn't love was the peach tea. read more

Maepole - Bowls - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

We got it delivered while visiting Athens, so I couldn't speak to what it's like there. The food was really good. I like that the menu clearly lists the ingredients and what is vegan or contains allergens. read more

This was an amazing stop for Vegan take out while we were in Athens. I came for moral support, but I was also intrigued as to what Vegan options are available. Apparantly the Fritters Plate is the best one. After some hesitation and needing to read the various choices, I ordered the Pork Plate. Two scoops of a mashed sweet potato and a macaroni and savory long cut green beans and the pulled salty pork is heaped on top. A nice looking 'to go' bowl. I wanted my sauces on the side and received a scriracca red blend, and an oily Ginger concoction. The red one is much better. Maepole is a great sounding name for serving up comfort foods. A quick use of a clean RR and we are back on the road. I had a filling Maepole meal once we got home. read more

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This place is like a Chiptole but healthier. From mostly vegan and veggie options with alternatives like chicken and pork, you can't go wrong here. I placed an online order and picked it up and the only reason I knocked a star was because they messed up my order. It would have been okay if I had not been picking up for my co-workers. They gladly fixed the issue and I got to keep the wrong order too. I love their chicken, sweet potatoes and their brussell salad! I did not care much for their mac and cheese, it seemed a little sour. I will be back to try more options. read more

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We love this place and have it at least once a month. Favorite thing in the menu (when in season) is the braised greens. YUM! Never a bad meal. Generous portions and friendly staff. Other favorites are the sweet potatoes, beef, pork, beets, spicy avocado sauce and honey sriracha sauce, broccoli salad. The dining area is always clean and organized. read more

I love this place! Real, healthy food at a decent price, and served quickly by friendly people. Since I moved to Georgia four years ago, I have had trouble finding healthy food at a restaurant, and it has been very frustrating. I will eat here at one of their two locations every time I come to Athens! read more

Excellent food as usual! The meal was very healthy and tasty. I ordered the sweet potato, green beans, chicken, and Mac and cheese. I plan to return the next time I'm in Athens read more

I love the location on Chase Street! The food is healthy yet filling! The staff is friendly and helpful! The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming! Overall when I'm tired of feeling sluggish and gross from eating on the go, I turn to Maepole! For the same price as fast food I can have fresh, quality nutrition! read more

Eating the boxcar again w chicken instead of pork, tasting great as always. Will always choose this over the fast food that I have by my work read more

Maepole - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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One of my favorite places to eat! The food is always fresh, healthy, and super flavorful. Portions are generous, and I love that I can feel good about what I'm eating. A go-to spot for a satisfying, wholesome meal! read more

Great customizable bowl options. Clean and reasonably priced with a smile on the employees face

I've been a consistent customer at Maepole for the last two years and have had nothing but positive experiences. I've recently begun to sit outside on their patio to eat (I used to just take it to go) and the ambiance is great. The vibes are like a pleasant coffee shop but instead of coffee it's healthy, reasonably priced food. I've ordered a variety of things from their menu and have never had an issue with it. The only menu item I found to be average was their tofu, but that may have been a one time thing. I would definitely recommend Maepole if you're looking for a casual environment to chow down on good healthy food. read more

Maepole - Vegetable and Chicken Bowl - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

If you love southern comfort food you'll love this place! The braised chicken is delicious as well as the veggie options ! Their sauces are fantastic! I love the honey Sriracha sauce and don't forget to top off your bowl with the crunchies ‍ I'm drooling just thinking about it . I do t have a photo bcs I eat my meal quickly read more

Maepole is goated. Fav easy spot on ath for healthy fast food. I always get the protein box with chicken, sweet potato, and one of their seasonal sides. Add the kruchies on top! read more

Food great concept unlike any other. Natural food is the best thing. Service is fast and simple.

Best and healthiest quick food ever. Consistency and great customer service plus you'll feel great after eating here.

I was super excited to get to try this place after hearing so many good reviews! I got the bowl with brown rice, red cabbage, macaroni and green beans! It was such a filling meal and definitely left me feeling full, without any guilt! The food is super tasty and seasoned with spices like turmeric and lots of ginger! Every bite was fantastic and like an explosion in my mouth. I wasn't the biggest fan of the red cabbage, but I'll definitely try something like the tempe next time. Super good option if you want to eat something filling, healthy, and delicious. Can't wait to go back and see what else Maepole has to offer! - has a good amount of vegan/vegetarian options read more

Maepole - Macaroni, green beans, cabbage - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

SOOOOOOO GOOD!!! I have so many food restrictions and intolerances and it is so refreshing knowing I have somewhere I can genuinely eat at. I can't have gluten, soy, and dairy, which can make it very difficult to find places where those ingredients aren't hidden in the food. read more

Yummy! Went this past Sunday and got two winter salads with chicken, a few drinks and a cookie. Cute, good outdoor space and yummy food. We'll be back for food variety, especially on a nice day to enjoy the outdoors. Indoors felt a little stark industrial. The beverages were good to try but not a must have. The cookie tasted good but healthy good. As a gluten free girl it is nice to get even a healthy cookie. read more

Maepole is a top 10 Athens restaurant. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it if you're a tourist here-- the location and interior aren't particularly impressive-- but if you're a local definitely add this place to your lineup. the food is amazing, and leaves you feeling like you've had a healthy nutritious meal. More importantly, the value is AMAZING as far as "healthy and fresh" meals go. $13 or so will fill you up. Athens is lucky to have Maepole, and I'm excited to try out the Atlanta location next. read more

The food is sooooo good. Southern comfort but takeout! Service is quick and portion is large. read more

Maepole - Brown Rice Salad Greens Mac & Cheese Chicken SIDE OF TURMERIC-GINGER VIN Cola - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The food is really good, service is geat,and the ambiance is great. I am addicted to the hibiscus drink can't go with out lol.

Great food Great service Great ingredients Great location Great spot for vegans and meat eaters Number over on my list all the time! read more

3.7 | I enjoyed this place. we're on Whole 30, so I was super glad to find these options were healthy and tasty. I probably wouldn't come back off Whole 30 as much when I can have more options, and because the menu is a bit limited when you compare it to a UpBeet or Sweet Green, but if you're looking for something healthy, and fresh, and you're in Athens, this is a great option. I got the Fresh Prince and subbed some of the items, and added avocado. their parsnip potato hot dish was flavorful but a bit too salty for our taste. I liked the shaved brussels mix, and the cauliflower rice was satisfying with the chicken and added potato. I also enjoy mixing cold and hot foods, I just find it more appealing for a satisfying dish. overall a solid option for a person with some dietary restrictions or just looking to eat clean, but not the most expansive menu and options if compared to other places in the same style of food. read more

Maepole - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Definitely not your normal food. Paid 9.00 for what they said was two sides. Was not good. Won't be back. read more

Food is a 3 since covid, but unfortunately service is a 1 (one). - because other than the cook who prepares the food,, there is basically no service, in my opinion. Food- Known for healthy options, the vegetables are usually their main draw. On the day we visited, most were good -however, the sweet potatoes and the spicy avocado sauce were mashed or blended to a paste The mixed veggies had many green peppers The green beans with onions were good. You choose a base, topping, and sides so you can go vegetarian if you like, or do a meat or chicken topping. SERVICE 1/5 practically Non-Existent. Although the website says you can order online, we did not read anywhere that you can ONLY order online-even if you are physically at the restaurant. There are signs when you walk in that say to download their app and order. With 6 people, ( servers? ) chatting behind a counter 12-16 feet away-No one spoke to us. We had to download an app, then order and pay online. One person did ask after a few minutes if we wanted to use a credit card -too late to be helpful-then he walked away before we could ask questions. No one acknowledges receiving your order. No one notifies you when it is ready. When the food is ready they do not deliver it to you. They set it on a shelf inside and you check periodically to see if your foil box is ready. No questions asked about whether there is anything else you need. Servers behind the counter continued to chat and ignore us. (Even delivery services put forks snd napkins with your food- not here) I can totally understand how this system developed because of Covid and people social distancing-but Other restaurants have managed to develop a system behind plastic sheeting & requiring masking for both servers and diners, and were able to continue communication. In my opinion , if you are 12-16 feet apart and both masked, servers could greet you when you enter, ask if there's anything you need help with, or if your food is OK --without being contaminated. Our experience was - this was much like buying a deli meal in a grocery store where you don't see the people making it ; they don't talk to you; you pick up a foil box with food; and you just pay, basically, like self-checkout at a grocery store. A Couple near us had difficulty with the app on their cell phone and had difficulty getting the attention of the pre-occupied servers to let them know that they had a question. Since I have past experience being a waitress,, I usually tip very generously, but I actually wondered how the servers could expect a tip when basically all they had done was put the cooked. food in a foil pan. No beverage refills ate offered. You get your own beverages and your eating utensils. You clean up your own table and dispose of your own trash. Facility: I Do appreciate that they have managed to have outdoor tables during Covid.There are a few umbrellas and some tables are shaded, And there's a small covered porch area. Parking is somewhat Limited and very tight quarters. read more

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The food is great here. The service is good and it is so nice to sit outside and enjoy their wonderful food!

Displaced from Augusta, GA due to Helene. Got into a fight with my girlfriend and of course decided to overhaul my life overnight. Decided on here for dinner for something refreshing and healthy. I ordered the plate- Quinoa, Brussels slaw, broccoli, chicken and the lemon herb vinaigrette... baybee. This was almost everything I needed it to be. Cool, healthy, filling and a ton of veggies. The only complaint I really have is the sodium. According to the site the combo I chose has over 1000mg of sodium. So definitely be cognizant of this if you have issues with blood pressure. You can google "maepole nutrition" if you can't find it directly on the site. N/A on service. This was a delivery. N/A on ambiance because again... this was delivery. read more

This place is amazing! The food Is fast, fresh, and delicious! They're also following safe guidelines for covid. Great outdoor patio, best lunch I've had in a while! read more

Maepole - Build your own - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

If you are lacking some veggies, go here and load up. It's chipotle-stye, where you go down a line and pick the bases, proteins, and sides. I got a base of brown rice and salad. The salad had a really light vinaigrette. I picked chicken as the protein and it was well-seasoned. I also got green beans, kale salad, and the Sriracha honey sauce. The sauce and chicken was recommended by the worker. She said it was their most popular. I liked the sauce. Overall, the bowl worked well together and I felt satisfied. I was trying to be healthy and not get the Mac and cheese, but honestly I caved and went back and got some. It is definitely the tastiest side. The kombucha tastes strong and is definitely an acquired taste. I also tasted the broccoli, but it was burnt to crisp. Parts of it was black. Some of it didn't seem edible. If you are craving a healthier meal, come here and give it a try. read more

Maepole - New American Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I love this place! Veggies change seasonally which can suck when you find a favorite. But everything is delicious. One time I went there the rice was undercooked, but that is one instance out of the dozens of times I have gotten food from here. I'm sure if I had eaten in and told them about it they would have replaced my bowl or refunded me. A great healthy option when you want yummy food and don't feel like cooking. Service is always quick and friendly. The outside deck is great if you want a place to chill out and study. read more

Beware! Of the Maepole on Chase st. I was a frequent customer and overall really enjoy the food. However about 2 months ago I got food poison..and spent all evening throwing up among OTHER symptoms of food poisoning. I haven't returned. When and if this bad experience fades I will go the Epps bridge location. read more