Guide to the Best Healthy Restaurants in San Diego
Since a plan to eat healthily is one of the top resolutions each year, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best healthy restaurants in San Diego to find locally sourced, organic, and GMO-free food that is as good as it is good for you.
After indulging in excessive amounts of holiday goodies for the last month or two, your body will thank you for visiting one or more of these restaurants and filling up on nutritious food!
Parakeet Cafe – Del Mar, La Jolla, Little Italy, Coronado
When it comes to putting together dishes that are both incredibly healthy and delicious, we don’t think you can do better than what you’ll find at Parakeet Cafe. We find ourselves here so often, you’d think we owned the place. Alas, we don’t. That honor is held by husband and wife duo Jonathan Goldwasser and Carol Roizen, who became obsessed with the healing power of real food when their daughter was battling a frightening disease, and experiments with diet became a key part of her recovery (🙏🏻). While you’re there, be sure to try one of their wellness lattes made with adaptogenic herbs and mushrooms, organic, herbal teas, and local kombuchas.
Flower Child – Del Mar
With a slogan of “healthy food for a happy world,” Flower Child promises to serve locally sourced fresh food. Their salads are loaded with veggies, like kale and avocados, and their bowls offer a well-rounded meal with ingredients such as quinoa, brown rice, and ancient grains topped with veggies and more. Their plates offer a choice of sustainable salmon, all-natural chicken, grass-fed steak, and organic non-GMO tofu paired with an assortment of healthy sides, like roasted butternut squash, spicy Japanese eggplant, and Indian spiced cauliflower. Flower Child has items for practically every diet, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free.
True Food Kitchen – UTC and Mission Valley
The menu at True Food Kitchen changes with the seasons to offer the freshest ingredients. You can look forward to dining on tomato and arugula pizza, cashew pad thai, or a spicy chicken pita at lunch and dinner or visit during brunch hours to try the new nutrient-packed sunrise bowl, which includes organic sunny-side-up eggs, ancient grains, sweet potato, grilled portobello, avocado, hemp seed, and cilantro pumpkin seed pesto. Regardless of the season, you’ll find an assortment of dishes that cater to vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets. If you still want a diverse and customizable menu, the Chipotle menu is sure to satisfy your taste buds with its flavorful Mexican-inspired dishes.
Kindred – South Park
Calling all vegans! Kindred is a not-be-missed vegan hotspot that boasts a menu full of veggies and flavor that even non-vegans can enjoy. Try the Memphis BBQ jackfruit sandwich, beer battered palm tacos or wizard bowl, which has maple spiced carrots, butter lettuce, crispy tempeh, poblano tahini, beets, candied pecan, tofu crumble and champagne vinaigrette. You could also stop by for brunch and try their banana bread French toast or tofu scramble. If you’ve been toying with the idea of living the vegan life, this spot might inspire you to give a try in the new year.
Trilogy Sanctuary – La Jolla
Yoga, meditation, and some bomb food? Sign us up. Trilogy Sanctuary is a vibrant wellness center in La Jolla serving the community several different healthy lifestyle options with their indoor and outdoor yoga studio, rooftop vegan and organic cafe with catering, an eco-boutique, and an event venue. Their food is all vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and with no refined sugar – and most importantly, tastes amazing. Our go-to’s include cauliflower crust pizza, savory breakfast crepe, falafel tacos, and the superfood acai bowl. They even have delivery options…no excuse not to eat healthy!
Cafe 21 – Gaslamp and University Heights
Cafe 21 offers locally grown organic ingredients and hormone-free meats for a farm-to-table dining experience that encourages you to eat healthy. By focusing on made-from-scratch meals and adding bursts of flavor, Cafe 21 promises both healthy and delicious plates. Visit for brunch to try one of their cast iron omelets, like the garden with herb-roasted veggies, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella, and goat cheese, or the chia seed yogurt parfait. At dinner, you can choose from dishes like the grilled pear salad, spaghetti squash and shrimp or slow braised short rib.
Local Greens – Point Loma and Solana Beach
If you dream of having your pick of fresh veggies, Local Greens is the place for you. While you could choose one of their pre-selected combinations of salads, wraps, and bowls, you can also create your own masterpiece by choosing from organic greens and grains and topping it with an assortment of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, meats, cheeses and more. There are so many choices for fresh ingredients that it’s impossible to list them all. Just trust us and take a peek at their menu online. You could try a different combination every day and never run out of healthy options.
Goodonya – Encinitas and Kearny Mesa
Goodonya believes that it’s important to know where your food comes from and strives to serve an almost completely organic menu. If they can’t get the ingredient organic, they make sure that it’s at least GMO-free. Stop by for breakfast and try the Greek scramble, avocado toast or breakfast burrito, which features housemade organic salsa. The lunch menu includes items like the probiotic salad and an assortment of salads and sandwiches that are filled with nutrient-rich ingredients. Need a protein boost? Check out their protein shakes too!
Here’s to good health!
Make our guide to the best healthy restaurants in San Diego a part of your regular dining routine and make it a year of good health.
We wish you a happy and healthy new year!
