10 Local Healthy Food Spots in San Diego
Is eating healthier on your list of New Year’s resolutions after a month of holiday indulgences? If so, we’ve got the ultimate guide to local restaurants, juice bars, and cafes that specialize in delicious and nutritious eats.
1. CAFE GRATITUDE
Located in Little Italy, Cafe Gratitude is the ideal spot for people looking for healthy food in San Diego before catching a flight or for a weekend brunch with friends. Café Gratitude’s ‘I Am Renewed’ raw juice and meal plan cleanse revitalize body, mind, and spirit, are gluten-free, and feature seasonal plant-based ingredients.
Little Italy
1980 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 736-5077
2. TOCAYA ORGANICA
San Diego is known for its Mexican food, so Tocaya Organica follows suit with a healthy spin to modern Mexican fare. Tocaya’s menu includes fresh salads, bowls, tacos, burritos, and more, and also caters to many different dietary preferences and needs — such as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. Some local faves are the Tocaya Salad and Fajita del Rey Bowl.
La Jolla — UTC Mall
4301 La Jolla Village Dr. #2003
San Diego, CA 92122
One Paseo
3725 Paseo Place Ste. 1070
San Diego, CA 92130
3. PARAKEET CAFE
Parakeet’s mantra is that food tastes better when it’s real, when it’s prepared with love and when it’s shared. If you’re looking for healthy food in San Diego, this restaurant has it all — including an all-day menu with avocado toast with beet-cured salmon, quinoa bowls, turmeric lattes, and probiotic mimosas, and carefully selected wines and beers to compliment the healthy goodness on your plate. They have something for every type of eater to gather around their table for a meal with fresh ingredients you can pronounce — bring your favorite health-conscious, non-dieters, vegans, vegetarian, paleo, keto, and gluten-free eaters to enjoy a delicious meal.
Little Italy
1680 India St, San Diego, CA 92101 • Little Italy
(619) 255-1442
Additional locations: Coronado • Del Mar • La Jolla • La Jolla Cove
4. LOVING HUT
Just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s not delicious. Loving Hut, inspired by Supreme Master Ching Hai’s advocacy for vegan living, has a wide selection of Asian and western fusion dishes to choose from, including fried rice, spring rolls, lemongrass tofu, a bbq sandwich, and much more! San Diegans love this restaurant so much; there are three locations!
City Heights
4745 El Cajon Blvd #102
San Diego, CA 92115
Additional locations: North Park • Mira Mesa
5. CIVICO 1845
Civico 1845 boasts the title of the first restaurant in California to include a full vegan – Italian menu … and boy, does it not disappoint! Located in the heart of Little Italy, this restaurant focuses on Calabrian-style food. A new generation of Italian cuisine – fresh, light, and authentic. By using proper cooking techniques, their flavors are natural and pure, and the menu pays homage to the owners’ southern Italian roots and reflects what’s being served in Italy today.
Some of the fan favorites are their vegan lasagna, vegan tiramisu, lobster ravioli, and squash blossoms.
Little Italy
1845 India Street
San Diego, CA 92101
6. NORTHSIDE SHACK
No trek for healthy food in San Diego is complete without picking up an acai bowl. As San Diego experts, no bowl is better than the ones at Northside Shack. Pick from either an acai or pitaya base and order your choice of toppings. You can also enjoy smoothies, coffee, oatmeal, teas, tonics, and much more!
Point Loma
1255 Rosecrans Blvd
San Diego, CA 92106
Additional location: North Park
7. SWEETFIN
Sweetfin was made to provide healthy, flavorful poke bowls with premium, fresh ingredients. Whether you want a signature bowl or want to build your own, Sweetfin takes all the familiar flavors of sushi and puts them in an easy-to-eat, portable, customizable, and affordable bowl.
Their menu is 100% gluten-free, and we are vegan and vegetarian-friendly.
La Jolla — UTC Mall
3705 Paseo Pl Suite 1100
San Diego, CA 92130
Del Mar — One Paseo
3705 Paseo Place #1100
San Diego, CA 92130
8. CHOICE JUICERY
We have many “choices” to juice it up in San Diego, but you won’t be disappointed with this healthy pick … Pick up sushi, smoothies, bowls, gluten-free toast, or crafted almond milk to go at this light and airy juice bar chain. If you’re trying to get it right in 2023, try Choice’s one or three-day juice cleanses. All of their food is made with organic ingredients, never processed, real food, and non-GMO.
430 Carlsbad Village Dr.
Carlsbad, CA 92008
9. LOTUS CAFE & JUICE BAR
If you’re in the Encinitas area looking for some healthy and tasty vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free cuisine, Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar has you covered. This much-loved Encinitas spot has been a go-to for healthy San Diego food for well over a decade. Enjoy everything from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as drinks like ginger and wheatgrass shots … and on-tap kombucha!
10. KINDRED
Last but certainly not least is San Diego fan favorite … Kindred. The restaurant/bar was the first of its kind in the county when opening its doors in January 2016. Heavy metal and all-vegan food collide at this South Park establishment. Enjoy weeknight drinks or a boozy brunch on weekend mornings. A few of the favorites we’ve tried are the vegan grilled cheese and tomato soup, their caesar salad, the bbq jackfruit sandwich, cauliflower steak, beet risotto, and more. Some of the must-have drinks for the holiday season are the Honeyed Wilderness (bourbon, apple brandy, amaretto, walnut, salted caramel, lemon, and apple blossom bitters) and the Cosmicpolitan (gin, orange peel liqueur, cranberry, rosemary, lemon, and sparkling rose).
But, if you’re in the mood for sushi, then be sure to read our list of the best sushi in San Diego. But if all that healthy food has got you hankering for local pub grub, head to the best Irish bars San Diego or the top sports bars downtown San Diego.
No matter your health goals for 2023 or your dietary preferences, San Diego has a healthy spot waiting for you to dig in and enjoy a meal with friends and loved ones, on your own, or on the go … sans the guilt. And, if you’re looking to walk off some of those holiday pounds, we’d love to have you on our San Diego Beach Neighborhood Tour or San Diego Walking & Sightseeing Tour!
Written by: Melissa
Melissa hails from San Jose, CA, and has been a San Diego local for five years now after a 10-year long pit stop in Los Angeles. In L.A., she began her writing career crafting digital content for a wide range of clients, including The Real Talk Show, Sharon Osbourne, Hank Azaria, Time Life, and Cardinal Financial. She’s excited to be able to use her passion for writing to introduce people to some of the best spots in San Diego, many of which she has already frequented or has on her ever-expanding list of things to do … In her spare time, she enjoys taking her puppy Milo to all of the best dog beaches in SD, grabbing a glass of wine or a cup of joe at new places, and hosting watch parties for The Bachelor/ette TV show.
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