Native Foods Cafe

How sad that this location closed before I got to finish my review!
We had a really great time here, service was nice and the reason to get us through the door.
I was with my husband who enjoys meat with every meal and they talked him into giving Native Foods a chance and he loved it!
He had the chicken club and I stole a bite, so tasty!
Love the breading they use!
Prices and portions are fair as well.
I had the gyros and loved it as well.
We had a side salad and fries, both very tasty.
I love that all sauces are made from scratch as well, makes SUCH a difference!
Glad that there are still a few locations around, but I will miss this one as I shop in the area all the time!

So sad this location has CLOSED!
It was such a convenient spot for me. I will miss it.

I came with my mom for lunch on my birthday and ordered the Chicken, Bacon, Avo Club and the Grilled Chicken Twister Wrap with Chipotle sauce. Both of these came with a side, and we both chose the seasoned fries.
The Chicken, Bacon, Avo Club was delicious, there was a lot of flavor, and didn’t taste like I was eating fake chicken. It came on a ciabatta bun, with whole grains on it. The seasoned fries were perfectly crunchy, with a good amount of seasoning all over it. My mom’s twister wrap was delicious as well, as there was a lot of vegetables in it. I thought that the tortilla wrap overpowered the actual filling though, but overall it did taste good.
Normally, when I come here, I order the twister wrap, or the chicken run ranch burger, but the chicken, bacon, avo club is definitely on my top try list here.

I was pleasantly surprised by this place. I’m a meat lover through and through, but I’ll give anything a try and I was with a vegetarian friend. I got the twister wrap with grilled «chicken» and chipotle sauce and a side salad. For what it was, I was actually impressed. This place has some of the best sauces I’ve had in a long time! I would go back solely for the chipotle sauce! My kids also approved… they agreed with me on the sauce, they both absolutely adored the ranch dressing.
Oh, and the staff was really great. The guy taking our order was super patient since we’d never been there, and very helpful!

I am a person who loves bacon, hamburgers, and tasty Asian dishes. But any chance there is to try a good vegetarian restaurant, I’m on it! This time, my husband was out of town and I jumped on the chance, because I wouldn’t want to hear him say again (and again) that vegetarian food is just gross.
I would’ve heard an ‘I told you so’.
I ordered the Greek Gyro bowl. It LOOKED like gyro, I was impressed, but it did not taste like it at all. The bowl was tasteless with quinoa and tons of veggies, and the seitan gyro was just meh. If not for the lemon-​garlic dressing, which was excellent, it would’ve been inedible for me. Too bad there was only one small container of lemon-​garlic dressing, the other was apparently hummus, but had the consistency of a salad dressing. It did not taste like hummus, and I barely used it.
Halfway through my salad, the lemon-​garlic dressing was gone, and I had no choice but to stop eating. I almost wished I had gotten another entrée.
The best thing was actually the Watermelon Fresca. It was SO refreshing, I had another refill while waiting for my take-​out order! Bordering on too sweet, I just added more ice.
Because of the good reviews on the Blueberry Lavender Lemonade, I sneaked a bit in between refills, and did not like it as much. It tasted like flowers. Not a fan.
Albeit, the so-​so meal, the staff was nice, and the restaurant appeared clean.
Better than Rutabegorz and The Green Tomato Grill, but not enough for me to eat vegetarian food regularly.

I absolutely love Native Foods. All my non-​vegan friends are always pleasantly surprised when I bring them here. Sadly my last experience was not as good… due to customer service and food quality. Of course this bums me out big time!
On their menu I have a few go-​tos and sometimes I’ll try something new from there. What I’ve learned over the years is that their salads are not work the money. So you wont see me ordering a salad here. Plus, I mostly have to order salads at all vegan friendly establishments, why would you want a salad when you have so many other options to choose from?
Back to my disappointment of a lunch, upon entering the only cashier was taking a phone order. Which isn’t the problem. The problem is that another cashier walked over, she looked it him with the «you should help out this customer look» and he walked away. THEN he came back over only to answer a call and take another phone order. OK. When the first cashier got off the phone she left to go tell the cooks something, then I finally ordered a normal go to — the crispy chicken wrap with ranch. Usually I am always completely happy with this choice. Yet this time it wasn’t so happy. The ranch was so watered down it was spilling out of the bottom and made the wrap taste gross. When I picked up the second half, it was already completely covered in watery ranch. It just left me really annoyed. Also, I am confused about the rewards card. I have come in at least 6 times and have yet to hear anything about my rewards points. Shouldn’t something have hit by now?

Not great. Their portobello burger was soaked and dripping in the oil from the pesto. I remembered they used to give a full mushroom cap. Not its just a few slices of portobello. The fries weren’t great, the seasoning on them was off putting. The new peach dessert has soaked carrot cake. It needs to be dry, it tasted like sludge.
But their peanut butter parfait is still perfection. Their watermelon fresca is the bomb.

A very interesting vegan restaurant. I ordered the native chicken avocado club. Overall it was a good sandwich, but I probably should have got the «meat» grilled instead of fried. It was a little too crunchy and extremely hot initially.
The atmosphere of the restaurant is very casual and the staff are wonderful. Treated me very nicely since it was my first visit. They also came by plenty of times to see how the food tasted.
In conclusion: It is a fun restaurant concept with everything being meatless. Staff is cool, prices aren’t too ridiculous, and if you play around with the menu you will find something that suits you perfectly I’m sure. I’ll need to did it when I go back.

I normally like the food here but got food poisoning from the nachos today. This place is right across the street from my work so I am here at least once a week. I’m a little disappointed about the food quality now and will be more cautious in the future if my coworkers or roommates want to eat here.
Update: I called them and they told me they would give me my money back. I’ll have to try it first and get back to this post.

First, I’ll have to admit. Vegan and Vegetarian is not how I prefer to eat my meals. My meals usually surround itself around some sort of animal protein, slaughtered by a butcher, who then carefully cuts each loin and rib, and area of the cow or pig of some sort… so vegan is not my first choice of any meal, not even appetizers or dessert… but a friend of mine loves this place, and since she’s vegan, I guess I had to try.
Located in the district right next to the AMC Theater, is a small restaurant with it’s logo of a giant «native-​looking» fork (whatever that means) on both corners of the building. The worker told us to order and sit right down and they would bring us the food. After we looked over the menu we discussed how there are a lot of items where they try to imitate other things, which is cool I guess for the person who is trying to ease their way into this type of lifestyle. Very good move by all standards.
We ordered the club sandwich, the native nachos, and sweet potato fries. While the burgers sound good, I have a small fear of ordering these type of «fake-​versions» of these dishes. If my friend had ordered it, i’d taste it, but I’d feel horrible if I ordered a whole thing and didn’t enjoy it.
The Club sandwich was surprisingly good. Just THINK tofu bacon, and you’ll be fine. You start thinking «why doesn’t this bacon smell like Porky the Pig?» you might set yourself up for disappointment. The nachos were good, its actually hard to believe this is vegan, but I could eat this any time.
Lastly, if you cook sweet potato fries right, you can’t go wrong… and these are real good. So Kudos to that Native foods!
All in all, it’s a great place, and some of their menu items intrigue me. I guess i’ll have to try this place again… right after a big burger that bleeds, topped with some Babe… oooh is Slater 50/50’s around?

I have the Native Foods cookbook and I have enjoyed everything I’ve made out of it. When I finally dined at the restaurant I was please to see that it was a very casual environment. Very eco-​friendly looking, clean and bright. I ordered the fish tacos and my friend ordered a burger. While my food was good, it was completely forgettable.
I will return, but I will order something different. They have an extensive menu with items that I want to try and even in California, tasty vegan eateries are hard to find.

Well, after several years of going to Native Foods I think this was one of the last or very infrequent times I will return. The menu has changed drastically –eliminating an entire wing of healthier vegan options such as kale, salads, tempeh, gluten free, etc. There are literally three entrée salads on the new menu that are so calorie dense that I find it impossible to frequent Native foods without packing on the pounds. I’ve been vegetarian/​vegan for about 20 years and it seems like Native Foods has become a «junk food» vegan heaven or the vegan McDonald’s equivalent. No more kale salads or healthy tempeh alternatives. RIP Jerk Kale Salad and Macro Bowl. Some of the few items I could eat and still loose weight and tasted delicious.
However, if you don’t struggle with maintaining your weight or need a very occasional fix for vegan junk food, Native Foods is the place to go. Definitely Delicious –but not very nutrient dense nor plant strong in any way whatsoever…
Do not FOOL yourself. Vegan isn’t always healthy and Native Foods is a perfect example of that right now (notice how nutrition facts are no where to be found –not even online. Even Carl’s Jr. has a nutrition calculator online and calories on their menu)
Native Foods has become Foreign Foods to me –no longer real, processed beyond recognition as being plant based, littered with deep fried faux meats. A sad day. I also just read that Tanya Petrovna is no longer running the show at Native Foods. That might explain all of this. At least I still have her original cookbook for a taste of healthy vegan food.
Other annoying changes:
No more Salsa Bar
No more Lemons or Mint at Drink Station
No more lavender lemonade
No more delivered silverware and napkins –really!!? You have to get your own near the water area and half the time the napkin holder is out of napkins.
Run out of featured dessert on community day way too early at around 12:30PM!
No more homemade tasting pico de gallo salsa!
BBQ Native Chicken on Mexican Cobb salad is pretty nasty and not Mexican tasting at all!

Great food that is well seasoned and very well presented.
I am not a vegetarian but probably could be with this food! Me like very much!

Visiting California and since we loved NFC in Chicago we tried it at this location. The seitan sandwich was yummy, my Greek bowl was great but they missed the sauce on top so it was very dry and boring.
We had a great brownie and a chocolate chip cookie. Nice customer service. Just really missing the sauce in my bowl was a disappointment.

My FAAAVORITE vegan restaurant!!! I’ve been coming to Native Foods for about 9 months now. I’ve been to this location, the Costa Mesa one, San Diego as well as the original in Palm Springs. They all have a different feel/​vibe to them as well as size. This is one of the bigger ones I’ve been to, and the staff has always been great.
I’ve never had anything on the menu that I didn’t enjoy! I really enjoy the Saigon Rolls for appetizer, and some of my favorite entrees include: Rockin Moroccan bowl, Bistro Steak Sandwhich and the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger. My favorite desserts are the Oatmeal Crème Pie and the Peanut Butter Parfait. Also, the watermelon fresca is super refreshing!
Only downside is that sides are not included. The sweet potato fries are so good, and I’ve always loved all of their soups tho! They do however have a special Monday through Friday, each day being a different entrée, where you can pick a side for free to add.
Don’t let the slightly high prices turn you away. The fresh, healthy food on top of great service makes up for it. And I usually always share a meal and leave full, so you’re getting bang for you buck.

First time visiting Native Foods — my Vegan friend brought me here. I was excited to try it as I had heard good things and read good reviews.
The service was fast and extremely friendly! I ordered the Twister Wrap with a side of fries. On my friend’s recommendation, I also ordered the key lime pie. The wrap was delicious and filling! If I hadn’t known it wasn’t real chicken inside I wouldn’t have been able to tell! The fries were seasoned and delicious with the side of ranch my friend suggested.
I tried both the lavender lemonade and the watermelon Aqua fresca — I thought both were delicious! I preferred the lavender lemonade but could see how the watermelon would be very refreshing after a workout or something.
And the key lime pie for dessert … Oh the key lime pie! Hands down the best key lime pie I’ve ever had (sorry Grandma!). I would come back again JUST for that key lime pie.
Found a new favorite place!

Who doesn’t adore Native Foods Café?
I have been a loyal Native Foods fan for years now and when I found one this close to me, I was ecstatic (especially now that the Fashion Island location is defunct). Native Foods Café has a diverse menu of Vegetarian items that will blow you away in the flavor department yet keeps you fitting into your clothing.
The OC Raw Chopper is possibly my favorite Salad on earth. Inexplicably fresh greens and a half of an Avocado are served with a light, bright and citrus based dressing that I could eat daily. Other notables include the Classic Deli Reuben (you will not believe there is no meat in this sandwich), the Twister Wrap, the Yo Taco Amigo Salad and a Lemon Dill Potato Salad that is a must-​order side regardless of what you get as a main dish. I have yet to order something I did not care for and I always leave fully satisfied thanks to the large portions.
The drinks are works of art as well! Check out the Watermelon Agua Fresca or Lavender Lemonade and see for yourself!
Native Foods Café offers a wonderful Loyalty program that rewards you with free meals as well as Daily and Seasonal specials to keep the menu fresh feeling. My only complaint is that they tend to tinker with the menu and at times omit their best offerings (RIP Indonesian Noodle Salad… and what were you guys thinking when you tried to ditch the OC Raw Chopper only to bring it back a few weeks later??? It is your best Salad!). Outside of occasional gaffes with the offerings, Native Foods Café is a total winner and I will be back within a week or so.

Never fails me.
Go to the counter and order. They’ll bring it to you. Not a vegetarian? Try the food and be surprised on how good it is.
Must Eats:
*Native Nachos
*Yo Amigo Salad
*Twister Wrap
*Oatmeal Crème
It’s so filling. Hands down way good. Similar to Veggie Grill but I feel like it’s a better selection.

I love the food here, not because it is vegan but rather because of how great the food taste. The preparation of the food here is really interesting, in that many of the flavors that they combine I usually wouldn’t have thought up of.
I like the bowls the most as I think they have the best combinations of flavors in a dish that is both filling and appetizing. I’m not such a big fan of the burgers as I feel it’s just a sandwich with a big block of protein in the middle and if I wanted something like that if just get a burger elsewhere.
I like this location a bit more than the one in Costa Mesa, it is located in the Tustin District so there is plenty of parking and the atmosphere feels more welcoming.

Dining at this place always makes me feel better about my foodie adventures since everything here is not only vegan, but also gluten-​free! *
I highly recommend coming here for their specials. My favorite is their Portobello and Sausage burger, which comes with caramelized onions, pomodoro, sweet roasted garlic, creamy pumpkin pesto and mayo! It’s under $ 10, and if you come here on Saturdays, they have this selection as their special which means it comes with a free side!
I’ve tried their seasoned fries and sweet potato fries. Both are great! They also use organic ketchup, which is also another great thing. As for drinks, I highly recommend that you get their lavender lemonade. (it’s their trademark drink!) It’s refreshing and fragrant. They also serve iced tea, watermelon fresca, and hibiscus tea, but I thought those were just okay.
But other than that, this is a great place for those who want to have healthier options for meals. Be sure to register for a free membership card so you can rack up points for either free desserts, appetizers, etc! =)

I’ve had takeout from here a couple of times, and have enjoyed the two sammiches I’ve had tremendously. Sister wanted to try eating in though, so we did.
Now, if you’re a hard core meatatarian, you might be a bit too biased to really enjoy this place, much like a vegetarian or vegan isn’t going to really love the surf n’ turf platter from any other given restaurant. But for what it is, ie. tempeh, seitan, or tofu, it’s damned good.
I used to be an omnivore, but health, and a strong compassion for animals in general led me to the vegetarian path, where I feel better all around. And while I typically enjoy, my mostly plant based diet. there are times when a hot pastrami sammich sounds amazing, and Native Foods caters to that craving beautifully.
Seitan, or ‘wheat meat’ can be shaped and seasoned in so many ways, and the good folks at NF know just the way I want my deli reuben sammich. piping hot, on thick cut rye bread, with a pickle spear on the side. It may not taste exactly like its fatty cow-​derived counterpart, but it does satisfy my cravings, and make me come back for more. The unsweetened blueberry iced tea is awesome to, highly recommend.
Sister had the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger, which I like a lot too, and she loved it, along with a luscious side of sweet potato fries.
We left stuffed and unable to order one of their tasty looking desserts. Next time, NF, next time.