The Place: Native Foods Café, located at Bridgeport Village.
Ensalada Azteca
Have you heard of Native Foods Café? You probably have if you live in California. Native Foods Café is a vegan version of a healthy, fresh, food chain. They have a few locations around the country (most of them in California) and I've only recently discovered them (though I'm a little embarrassed to admit how many times I've eaten there already).
Twister Wrap with Native Chicken
Their menu is huge and they have lots of foods that mimic meaty foods like the Classic Deli Ruben and the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger. I can't eat the meat substitute stuff because it's made with soy and/or wheat but I hear it's really good and tastes a lot like the real thing.
A different special every day
Native Foods has their gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free items listed on separate menus. That makes it so much easier for people like me. All I have to do is pick something that's listed on all three menus and I am good to go! My favorite thing is the Roasted Chile Taco Trio, by the way...
Pizza Fingers with Native Cheese
They have a kid's menu, too. My younger kid devoured the Pizza Fingers the first time he had them, but the second time he had them he discovered we were at one of "my" restaurants and he balked. Can you believe this? It's getting rather ridiculous.
Chocolate Good Luck Cupcake
He didn't balk at the chocolate cupcake, though. Go figure. But he didn't finish it either (nor did his sister) because he said it was too sweet. I really don't understand these people.
Watermelon Nectar with Agave and Mint
The wait staff is so incredibly friendly and helpful and happy that you almost can't believe it. And this place has almost completely satisfied my cravings for Chipotle. I love Chipotle but everything is cooked in soybean oil so I can't eat there anymore...
Enjoying the food in the sun outside
If you happen to have a Native Foods in your area, give it a try! It's perfect for a quick, yummy, vegan meal in a world where that's almost impossible to find.
