True Food Kitchen is one of few restaurants that my friends and I are willing to drive through heavy Santa Monica rush hour traffic for. Whether you have a dietary restriction or not, True Food wins everyone over with their delicious, healthy cuisine. The restaurant’s concept is unique too as every item on the menu corresponds with an “anti-inflammatory” diet. In Layman’s terms, the food is nutritious and your body will thank you for it. The restaurant’s philosophy is best summed up in their mission statement: “we want you to feel better, live longer, and make your mouth happy in the process. It’s honest food that tastes really good.” Well said, True Food Kitchen… I couldn’t agree with you more…
At True Food Kitchen, it’s easy to be gluten free. In fact, the majority of the dishes are already gluten free, and the dishes that aren’t can be prepared GF no problem. All of the pizzas, including the butternut squash pizza (which is made with walnuts, arugula and smoked mozzarella), can be substituted with a GF crust. One stand out menu item is the inside-out quinoa burger, which uses quinoa patties instead of burger buns. Unique and flavorful! All sandwiches and burger items can be made GF as well, as GF buns are available. My favorite part about the menu is that the salads are not your run-off-the-mill Caesar and Waldorf; the salads at True Food play with ingredients like jicama, mulberry and dates. The GF street tacos will never disappoint, and the spaghetti squash casserole is a GF take on the comforting Italian dish. Lastly, it would be a crime not to mention the flourless chocolate cake on the dessert menu. The cake was served with vanilla ice cream, almond butter and caramel; needless to say, it was devoured within seconds.
The Los Angeles location of True Food is located at the end of the Third Street promenade, tucked into a corner of the mall. Although the atmosphere is rustic and casual, it is definitely worth sitting down and enjoying your meal. True Food values health and wholesome ingredients, uses a farm-to-table approach, and is a must-try for everyone in the area. I’ll definitely be back again soon!