Eloy Y.

The Garden State is known for its diverse culinary scene, offering a wide range of dining options to cater to every palate and dietary preference. For health-conscious individuals, finding an establishment that offers delicious and nutritious meals can be a rewarding experience. Located at the Riverside Mall in Hackensack, True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven culinary experience. Each of their kitchens has an executive chef at its helm, crafting wholesome, intentionally sourced ingredients into flavorful creations open for brunch, lunch, and dinner. The reservation was easily made through OpenTable. Upon entering as first-timers last night, my partner, our friends, and I were greeted by the host and stepped into a spacious room over 6,000 sq. feet nicely filled with patrons, a bright and airy room full of greenery with a welcoming vibe. Our table was ready by the window. Outdoor dining is available, weather permitting, with a massive patio with bright yellow umbrellas. Their clearly labelled seasonally rotating menu has a heavy focus on healthy eating, featuring burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, and entrees with vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-friendly options.  They have a full bar with wine and beer selections, plus specialty craft cocktails. As a starter, we decided on the Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Edamame Dumplings to share. For our mail meal, we opted for Grilled Salmon, All-American Burger, Spaghetti Squash Casserole, Chicken Parmesan and a side of Honey Roasted Carrots. We washed them down with Pomegranate Spritzer with Tito Vodka, Stella Artois, Rose Sangria, and Grapefruit Martini. The food was delicious, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor, using the best ingredients. One can taste how light and fresh each dish was. The meal felt filling without feeling overly stuffed. The staff was friendly and attentive. Our server, Jorge, was extremely professional and offered us some great recommendations. We had an amazing dining experience, and it stands out as one of the rare locales suitable for family gatherings, friend hangouts, or romantic dates.

Diana A.

Today I had a day off from work and ordered delivery from True Food Kitchen. It was my first time ordering here. I ordered a burger with perfectly cooked meat. It came with arugula, a caramelized onion and mushroom topping on a seeded bun; side: This time, I chose mashed potatoes with cheese. Let me tell you about my experience: The meat was juicy and delicious, the bun was soft, fresh and very interesting. The combination of everything in the burger was exquisite. The portion was just right for me. I didn't leave a single bite... I'm a huge fan of mashed potatoes, and these were incredibly tasty. I give this place a 10 out of 10. I hope to visit them in person very soon. Thank you so much to the whole team. Keep up the excellent work. Congratulations and blessings!!!

Ruthie R.

The service and dishes at TFK have been consistently good at their locations. The same holds true for the Hackensack, NJ location. I love that they offer delicious food with high-quality and clean ingredients! Surprisingly, I went with my family on a Sunday afternoon for lunch with an Open Table reservation and it wasn't crowded at all. We ordered the following: APPETIZERS Guacamole Edemame Dumplings ENTREES 3 x Grilled Sustainable Salmon Grass-Fed Burger with Air-Fryer fries BEVERAGES Iced Green Tea (not shown) Hot Green Tea Everything was delicious, as usual... and Grilled Sustainable Salmon is my favorite dish at TFK. We were able to request less salt on my father's salmon dish without a problem. TFK is very good at accommodating people with dietary restrictions. TIP: When you order the Air-Fryer Fries, make sure to eat them right away while hot. If you wait, they will get soft and will lose its crispness.

Jose P.

If you want healthy, flavorful, and filling dishes, come to True Food Kitchen. As soon as you enter, you'll take in the clean, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing interior. I will ALWAYS only start with their Iced Shakerato (organic espresso and brown sugar). I cannot recommend this drink, enough. Yes, even in the winter! We started with the Edamame Dumplings (white truffle oil, dashi, Thai basil, sesame seeds), Charred Cauliflower (medjool dates, harissa tahini, dill, mint, pistachio), the Seasonal Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (garnished with sage). All these starters were consumed within seconds, were at optimal temperatures, and the sauce that covered each cauliflower was exquisite. The entrees were: Ancient Grains Bowl (organic grains, miso sesame glazed sweet potato, charred onions, snap peas, portobello, avocado, pistachio pesto, hemp seeds, turmeric) and the Chicken Tender Plate (four tenders served with simple salad). The Grains Bowl was packed with healthy and tasty ingredients and the Chicken Tenders were only lightly battered, soft to chew, and came with four large pieces. I will, most definitely, be a happy return customer to True Food Kitchen and it's HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Ohhhhh.... ONE MORE THING AND PLEASE, KEEP IN MIND.....one of the reasons I visited was for the Chia Seed Pancakes, but their brunch menu is ONLY served "during weekends," from open until 3:00 PM.

Chris E.

THE GOOD ---------------- + Solid food that was better than our 1st experience here years ago. ++++ Edamame Dumplings - This shareable starter came with only 5 pieces. Would have definitely appreciated if it were 6 or 8. They were a bit flimsy and fell apart quite easily, but truffle oil gave it good flavor. ++++ Roasted Brussels Sprouts - Loved the mix of various ingredients in the starter - roasted wild mushrooms, sliced red peppers and the ginger soy glaze on everything. Good portion for a starter. ++++ Spinach and Wild Mushroom Pizza - Lots of spinach, roasted wild mushrooms and a dollop of lemon almond ricotta on each little slice. Portion was of a personal pizza and it was cut into 8 mini slices, but it was a decent pizza. Better than I anticipated it would be. ++++ Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl with Shrimp - Big portion and quite tasty. The quinoa brown rice blend was seasoned and flavorful. A lot of different ingredients mixed in too, like diced up broccoli, bok choy, crunchy snap peas, pickled shiitake and rainbow carrots. ++++ Kids Cheese Pizza - Surprisingly was the same size as the Spinach and Wild Mushroom Pizza! Two toddlers can definitely share this, but if you have a bigger kid then it's perfect for one. It was a very simple pizza with tomato sauce on it, but very easy to consume considering its simplicity. ++++ Kids Teriyaki Bowl - Arrived in a medium size bowl, but was essentially the kid-size version of the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl. Had the same ingredients and same delicious flavor. ++++ Flourless Chocolate Cake - Delicious! A scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream was placed on top of the cake, but this was the perfect ending to our meal. + Great service by the staff. ++++ Food came out promptly and our water was refilled when needed. Our kid dropped their fork and napkin and an employee IMMEDIATELY came by to replace it! ++++ All of the employees were very friendly. + Fantastic interior space ++++ Huge restaurant with plenty of tables and seats for group and solo diners ++++ Decor is modern and clean ++++ Kitchen is open for all to see and huge! + Bathrooms include a family room + Plenty of parking at the Riverside mall where this restaurant is located. + Allows for online reservations. + Directly connected to the high-end Riverside Mall, so you can take a stroll inside after your meal. THE NOT SO GOOD ---------------------------- - Nada. MIXED THOUGHTS --------------------------- = Nada. RANDOM OBSERVATIONS -------------------------------------- = Despite being fairly busy on a January Friday evening, there were still PLENTY of tables and seats available due to the sheer size of the restaurant.

Dolly C.

- Parking was difficult to find on a Friday evening in the shared Shops at Riverside mall lot--competing with other diners and navigating around piles of leftover snow from the blizzard a week earlier - The restaurant is easily accessible both from the outside and directly from within the mall - Modern, open, spacious, and clean with casual, chill vibes; nice views of the open kitchen and chefs at work - Impeccable service with very attentive staff; friendly, efficient service - Food was mostly enjoyable: the edamame dumplings had good flavor but a mushy overall texture; roasted Brussels sprouts were very tasty and nicely elevated with a squeeze of lime; the teriyaki quinoa bowl with the shrimp upgrade was flavorful and came with eight plump shrimp--quinoa was moist and well-seasoned; the spinach and wild mushroom pizza was thin and nicely cooked with plenty of toppings for a relatively small pie, though it was served warm rather than piping hot; kids enjoyed both the kid's cheese pizza with savory tomato sauce and the kid's chicken teriyaki bowl, though the chicken was slightly dry; the flourless chocolate cake was rich and decadent, but the portion was quite small - Major plus having a separate family restroom

Brenda R.

We had a wonderful dining experience at True Food Kitchen. We started with the guacamole, which was fresh and delicious. For our meals we had the Chinese Chicken Salad and the Teriyaki Quinoa Bowl with chicken--both were full of flavor and absolutely delicious. We ended with the flourless chocolate cake for dessert, which was the perfect sweet ending. Our server, Adriel, was fantastic. He knew the menu really well and gave excellent suggestions that helped make our meal even better. He was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience truly enjoyable. Highly recommend!

Steve L.

From the moment we arrived, we knew we were in good hands, with Kristen at the helm of the ship keeping everything running smoothly. Our server Anthony, was attentive, and knowledgeable, immediately putting us at ease especially when it came to our dietary restrictions and allergies. He took the time to listen, explain options, and ensure everything was handled correctly, which made the experience feel both comfortable, personalized and seamless. It was clear that Anthony is well trained and supported, ensuring service to be smooth and consistent throughout our visit. He explemfied what you look for in a dining experience. The food came out perfect with all of our modifications and it is always an inviting and relaxing environment. As someone who runs businesses and leads people, what stands out most is Kristen's consummate professionalism and leadership. She is present, observant, and intentional. While Anthony delivered personalized, thoughtful outstanding service without ever being intrusive. You can feel the trust and confidence she helps instill in the staff, and it translates directly into a positive experience for guests. The coordination between Anthony's attentive, and tailored service with Kristen's steady leadership shows strong operational standards. This is the kind of management and level of service and partnership that should be exemplified across all restaurants. When a server puts patrons first in the way Anthony did shows with the combination of managers and staff working in lock step, elevates the entire restaurant and leaves a lasting, positive impression!

Virginia T.

Met a friend for lunch. We had tasty, filling. fresh dishes for lunch. Perfect place for a healthy option. I was surprised by the dumplings because they were a bit runny and flat, but they had a delicious taste. The hummus and pita were delish! Our server was not very knowledgeable nor attentive, but I think she just lacked some training. Perfect space with beautiful ambience, located right within Riverside Square Mall. Can't go wrong with munching and shopping.

Nehal A.

We were at TFK for a Sunday lunch. Of course due to Blue Collar law the mall was closed, still the restaurant was almost full. They still have the wonderful amazing greenery appearance throughout the restaurant. We started with edamame dumplings. This was a wonderful dish, as the dumplings had some delicious fillings. For entree I got the Salmon , a very nicely cooked filet, that also came with bunch healthy veggie ingredients and smoked grains. The burger my wife had was also excellent. I was little disappointed with the kid's plain pizza that my daughter had. It was really plain, could have had more cheese and thicker/tastier/baked crust. Our server was wonderful. Service was good. I was able to use my InKind app to pay the check and earn 20% cashback for the whole meal. Amazing!!

Wei H.

Came for Sunday lunch, always love how green and garden-like inside. Nice and spacious seats. Clean bathroom. We had edamame dumplings soup, burger, salmon and kids pizza. Soup is ok. Interesting texture with the dumplings. For the burger, the patty itself is great but the buns are cold. The service is great. She was very attentive and friendly. Overall great place for lunch!

Viviana Z.

I tried this spot for the first time after a friend recommended it, noting that they do not use seed oils and offer hormone proteins. I'm a big fan of a good bowl, so I was happy to see several on the menu. I ordered the teriyaki quinoa bowl with salmon added. The combination of fresh veggies (especially loved the picked shiitake), Asian-inspired flavors, and the perfectly cooked salmon was absolutely delicious and very filling. I also ordered a margarita, which was nicely balanced and refreshing. My friend went with the seasonal market salad and added steak. She really loved how the apple cider vinaigrette paired with the medjool dates and honey-roasted carrots -- a great mix of sweet and savory. She also an iced lavender matcha latte. After some back and forth she was told they ran out of some of the ingredients. She instead chose coconut ice cream which she shared was also delicious. The service was excellent from start to finish, and the space itself is beautiful, large and airy, with high ceilings that make it feel even more open. Overall, a great experience with healthy, tasty options.