Steak salad and steak low quality usually have good experience but tonight not good Rest of meal good Squash dish a favorite read more

Amazing service! We loved the margherita pizza. Our server Vinny was totally attentive and friendly. Really enjoyed our time at True Food Kitchen! read more

Food was interesting. Chicken tenders (high in protein) were very dried out. Kale salad was pretty tasty. The poke bowl was also interesting. Had odd ingredients like mushrooms and beans. Service was great and punctual. read more

My day of San Diego sunshine was met with a wonderful experience as I found myself at True Food Kitchen in the Fashion Valley Mall. The restaurant felt warm and welcoming with cute tunes on the speakers and a pleasant color pallet in the dinning room. My server Shelley was great and helpful with the menu. I ordered the Butternut Squash Soup to start with a Jasmine Pearl Tea to drink. The soup was rich in flavor and was a grand beginning to my meal. The main course was the Grass Fed Burger with the famous Kale Salad on the side. Delicious to the last bite with the umami and mushroom flavors till the end. Finished my meal with a Shelley suggestion of the carrot cake. So tasty and a great balance of sweet and spice. read more

Terrible service, took an hour and a half to get our meals...we were the only table for the first 30 mins! We had two young kids and the server never checked in, asked to refresh our drinks or if we needed anything. Manager came by after complaining about the time and said sorry and we were up next - 3 tables got served before we got our food. Never going back!!! read more

Food was okay, I had the Steak and Frites. The fat on the steak was way too much for my liking but their hummus is very good. Our server however was amazing and attentive, I didn't get her name but whoever was working 4/30 in the patio from 4:30-5:30pm, please give her some recognition, I would try this restaurant again based off service alone. read more

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. read more

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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. read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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. read more

True Food Kitchen - Grilled Sustainable Salmon, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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Overall the food was disappointing. It seems that the kitchen has very little quality control so I do not recommend eating here if you have allergies or other dietary concerns. We ordered the spaghetti squash and honey carrots and Turkey Burger with cheesy potatoes. Both left me wishing I would have eaten somewhere else. I found several seeds in my squash and so much rubbery cheese and the carrots tasted like they had been sitting and waiting before being served. The burger was dry and over salted. The prices seem high and the service was slow. The drinks were decent but also seemed overpriced. read more

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. read more

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The food was delicious. The service was very very very slow. Our drinks took about 40mins to arrive. The staff were unapologetic about the delay. There is an amazing outdoor fire pit on the patio. The location is great with easy parking. read more

True Food Kitchen - Ancient Grains Bowl, V - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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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! read more

True Food Kitchen - Better than Blanco, mucho. - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

2 take aways from eating at this place. 1) remember it's supposed to be healthy foods. Healthy has its own flavor and process. If that's what you're into then 2) This was amazing. I really like the semi outdoor open air dining area. The drinks were really good. They have many choices. The service was just as amazing. Our server was very nice. It's a vibey upscale-ish place you can take a date. Nothing you order here will make you heavy. read more

True Food Kitchen - Gluten free pizza - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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Was in the area and decided to come in for dinner. Had all Happy Hour offers for our meals, we chose the hummus with flatbread for our appetizers and we had the spinach mushroom pizza as our main. Also ordered a side kale salad. The pizza was just as delicious as we had remembered from last time and kale salad as well. The hummus app was new to us and it was so good! It was just the right amount of spicy and we practically licked the bowl, lol! Did not catch the name of our server but she was pleasant and responsive through our stay. Come by if you're in the area, good food and drinks here and plenty of room for larger parties as well. Cheers! read more

True Food Kitchen - Mediterranean Hummus Platter, V - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Nice tables with cool lighting and a modern vibe. Burgers are impressive. Jambalaya Pasta served aldente, overly seasoned w/ chili powder and under salted, imo. Disappointing service. Tried to ask for salt, after the first bite of pasta, but couldn't even make eye contact w/ a server. Abandoned. Water glasses empty. read more

True Food Kitchen - Interior - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

We stopped by this place for lunch during our convention. The place is super spacious and we decided to eat outdoors. It was not too hot there is a covering above us. We both had the true trio special and it was exceptional. The dragon fruit lemonade was not a winner for me however. The Mediterranean wrap is light and paired well with the fresh salad. We went there twice and I'll say the service the 2nd time was not as quick and attentive. Just a thought on busier days, you may have to wait a bit for service. read more

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12 bucks for fries with 3 sauces with parm Cheese. You can make your own at home and will taste better. They looked nothing like advertised and were cold to the touch. The server was also struggling here. Management needs to do better here with staff or having a wait time read more

True Food Kitchen - Air fry French fries - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

On a quick lunch break my friend suggested True food as she raved about the quality and healthy bites. As the summer days warm the sky the outdoor patio was a wonderful option. The yellow awning did change the coloring of the photos so don't mind that. I decided on the lunch trio consisting of a drink, entree and a side to pair along all for $19.50. After some deliberation I decided on the pink dragon fruit lemonade, Thai basil chicken wrap and the seasonal mar We stopped in for a quick bite and ordered the trio combo Thai basil chicken wrap, passion fruit lemonade, and seasonal market salad. To be honest, the wrap was extremely dry and the lemonade was overwhelmingly tart, with the sharpness of the lemons overpowering any balance of flavor. The salad was decent, and portion-wise, the trio offered good value for the price. Unfortunately, the service left much to be desired. Our server barely interacted with us, and we watched multiple tables be seated, served, and leave before our food even arrived. Nearby, we overheard a waiter sincerely apologizing to another table, explaining the restaurant was in transition, awaiting a new head chef, and that quality had recently declined. We tried to stay optimistic, hoping it was just bad luck for the neighboring table but sadly, we left feeling similarly disappointed. We also noticed other servers engaging with guests, explaining menu options and offering recommendations, something we never experienced and that might have changed our order entirely. That said, we've enjoyed this place in the past and aren't ready to write it off. We're hopeful that with the arrival of the new head chef, the restaurant will bounce back and we can return to the dining experience we used to love. read more

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We've been coming here for the past decade and more consistently the past couple years and it's time I write a review again to just shout out the wonderful chefs managers, hosts, servers and all staff that we encounter when we visit making each visit so special. To Rie the hostess, your smile starts our experience before we even start the check in process! You see us coming and it makes us feel so special and feel welcome. Michael (Stutts) your hospitality is unparalleled in how you go above and beyond for us with a smile and maintaining such a positive attitude with all of our modified orders. It lets us know how genuine you are in your care for us and others. TFK is so lucky to have you. Grant & Antoinette, thank you for the check-ins and small talk. You make us feel sooo VIP. The fact you make time for us while running a busy restaurant really makes us feel special. Martin - with several issues we've encountered over the years - we met you because you recognized we were regulars and personally came out to apologize - who does that?!?! I feel like you and the team of Chefs go out of your way to ensure perfection every time and we are so thankful for those detailed touches :) There are so many others to name....we thank you for the great service all around as it's not just the food that we come back for....we can't imagine our TFK life to be without every single one of you who contribute to our experience. read more

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Had such an amazing experience and it all started with our server, Mel! She was fun, energetic and very knowledgeable about the menu. The food was incredible. But I have to tell you the experience with Mel made it that much better. The turkey lasagna was sooooo good. Thank you true food management for hiring such great staff such as Mel! read more

True Food Kitchen - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

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After seeing this restaurant for many years and eating at every restaurant around it, a group of friends, and I decided to give it a shot. The restaurant prides itself on its healthy approach to cooking and organic ingredients. The decor of the restaurant is very modern with a high roof, contemporary lighting, and industrial touches in some places. The table seating ranged from booths to tables with metal chairs that gave the room a hip vibe. Tables were nicely spaced and there was ample seating. The outside patio was more of the same with a huge fire pit. The menu was somewhat extensive and included salads bowls, pasta, pizza and hamburgers. You're likely to find something on the menu that will appeal to you. My group tends to enjoy entrées with bold, robust flavors. If that's you, this is not the place. Think subtle flavors and healthy ingredients. The plate presentation was good. Some of the menu items my group ordered included jambalaya pasta, butternut squash soup, grass-fed burger, lasagna al pesto and chicken parm. The parm had to be returned because it wasn't quite right, but the server's customer service recovery tactics were top-notch and met our satisfaction. We also ordered mashed potatoes which was a hit with everyone at the table. In general, we would score the food in the middle of the scale. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't the most memorable meal either. It was sufficient enough to complement a pleasant evening with friends. read more

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The Bartender with a mustache looked at my valid ID and said "nice fake." I'm in my mid-20s and the ID was real. I understand bartenders have to verify IDs, but there's a professional way to do that without being unnecessarily accusatory or rude. The interaction left a bad impression. Will not be eating at this franchise again. read more

We made reservations but got in quickly! We were grateful they had us outside under a heater since my nephew was a little chilly. I'll always choose True Foods when I want to eat healthy, tasty food. Here's our honest review of the food: *Chicken Tender plate with ranch (4.5/10. Dry) (no pic) *Burger all American (light on calories, 7/10) (no pic) *Edamame dumplings (8.5/10) *Thai shrimp lettuce wraps (8/10) *Teriyaki bowl with tofu (9/10) (no pic) I miss their edamame guacamole with those large chips. I'm drooling even thinking about how good it was! I'd sell one of my non-essential organs to get them to bring it back. read more

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Our server Vera was so sweet and attentive! We often come to True Foods. Love the quality and variety of food here! Atmosphere is nice and cozy too! read more

True Food Kitchen - Ancient grains bowl, pizza, and delicious drinks! - New American Near Me - San Diego, California

Meh, this restaurant was somewhat disappointing. The design and layout is beautiful. Very large dining spaces, outdoor patio seating, and beautiful restroom. We had a group reservation for 8 to dine after an event. We arrived with 1 additional guest and they cancelled the reservation on Open Table, instead of acknowledging it and adding another diner. This complicates the Open Table process for users. Due to the new addition to our dining party, we were told that it would be 10 mins before we could be seated. So, several in our party went to the bar. We were at the bar for about 15 mins and noticed that 2 in our dining party were missing. As we went into the restaurant to look for them (we assumed that they were using the restroom, etc.) we spotted them at a table, seated. They told us that they were seated by the hostess and that they had been there at least 5-7mins. No one from the hostess team came to retrieve the rest of our party of 7 from the bar. In the meantime, we missed ordering fully from the Sat & Sun Brunch until 3p menu. We ordered and the food was okay. I ordered Pesto Pasta and a side if Kale salad. My pesto pasta was not green, but yellowish, and not rich. My kale salad was fresh and minimal on flavor. I believe that they have a good mantra of real ingredients and no fake stuff that they serve. Other things ordered: Grass-fed Burger with sweet potato hash side, Turkey Burger with potato side, hummus plate, and a few other items. Overall, the food was okay, and to me lacked some flavor. My horchata matcha cold beverage was good. I feel like it is made with real ingredients so that this may be why it was a but on the bland side to me. I will try again and get the salad that I was craving next time; I am sure that the salads are probably delicious. read more

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Got a take out salad, the box was half empty. Not really worth the price & didn't have much flavor. Would try dining in & a different menu item. read more

Came in on a weeknight, was seated very quickly and the staff were all very kind. The restaurant is very open concept, modern industrial type theme, could be a good date spot. We ordered apple lemonade and dragon fruit pink lemonade, both were absolutely fabulous and refreshing. For our entree, we got a turkey burger with fries, and a grass fed burger lettuce wrapped with kale salad. The kale salad was my favorite part, but the burger wasn't super stand out. I ordered it medium and it came out well done, the sauces that came in the burger were decent enough to keep it from being dry. The turkey burger was also just okay, tasted like it was a frozen burger, and the fries were sad, only redemption for the fries was the sauce that came with them. Overall, I'd like to try some other things on the menu since I appreciate the mission of the restaurant, maybe the burgers just aren't the stand out wow part of the place. read more

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Arrived at around 7pm on a Friday night. There were open tables but we had to wait 15 minutes before we were seated. Also took a while before the waitress arrived. My guess is they're short staffed. Appreciated that we were asked about any food allergies after placing our orders. Food took quite a while to arrive. Started with the cauliflower and brussel sprouts. Took a long time to come. They had to remake it as they included the pistachios when there was a nut allergy in our group. They were good veggie dishes. I ordered the turkey burger with the kale salad. The salad didn't have much flavor but I enjoyed the burger. Hubs and SIL went with the American burger and they both liked it - good flavor and weren't greasy. SIL ordered the sweet potato side but didn't care for them. Kiddo ordered the Margherita pizza - she said it was ok. The spritzers were a bit light on the juice but refreshing. Ordered the flourless chocolate cake and cookies for dessert. Didn't try the cookie but the cake was light and not too sweet. Like the cacao nibs for the added texture. read more

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True Food Kitchen, Fashion Valley, April 14, 5:34 PM. Shelley was superb! Pleasant, thoughtful, attentive. We thoroughly enjoyed being served by her. And her lovely beaming smile read more

Been here 2x, the 1st time service was horrible as I had to walk in the back to find someone to seat us. And then when I got someone he said he was going off shift in a few minutes. Not a great first impression. At least the food was good. On the 2nd visit it was a 180 degree turn as service was attentive and food was also great. No complaints and it sounded as if my first visit was just an off night. For sure will be back! read more

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Tonight the hubs and I had a fantastic meal. We were welcomed and asked if we wanted inside or outside seating. We were seated immediately. I ordered the market salad with chicken. It was moist and delicious. Had the tribute cab with it. Hubs had the all American burger and the wild IPA. Our server Marcus was incredibly attentive and kind. The restaurant inside was clean and open. Although it is slightly cold inside it was still a great date spot. read more

Great fresh food and amazing customer service. Vera suggested a couple of entrees and they were all delicious. read more

Food - The burgers and salads here have well thought out ingredients that create unique and enjoyable flavors. There is a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing the food is organic and locally sourced so you don't have to worry about some weird-cancer causing pesticide being in your food. Service is good! I came in hangry and irritated (long day) and was admittedly short initially with Maddie, our server. Despite my attitude she remained friendly, professional, and attentive to me and my table. Ambiance - Spacious interior with rustic decor. The kitchen is separated by a glass half-wall allowing people to see their food getting prepared. read more

I love this place!!! So happy to eat healthy food that tastes good. Soleil was our server and was so attentive and informative and friendly! Thank you for a wonderful experience. Btw, get the chicken tenders!!! read more

Saturday, 3-01-2025: My youngest sister arranged this family meetup in celebration of our parents' 65th wedding anniversary. There was eleven of us in attendance. Reservations were made in advance so we were seated right away. This place is impressive. It's a unique, classy aesthetic with both an industrial and rustic vibe. It is rather spacious as it also affords outdoor dining. Our server was adequate. He wasn't overly friendly but he did provide as we requested. Perhaps our big group overwhelmed him. Their menu also offered brunch options since it was 11-ish. Everything looked so good and so healthy! My hubby got the pepperoni pizza and I opted for the Korean Bowl with antibiotic free chicken. We enjoyed the food, ambiance, and each other's company. It's definitely worth a return! read more

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