For those seeking healthy dining options in and around Highland Park, the culinary landscape offers a diverse array of choices. From vegan sanctuaries to restaurants emphasizing fresh, locally sourced ingredients, there's something to satisfy every palate while aligning with health-conscious lifestyles. This guide highlights some of the standout establishments committed to providing both delicious and nutritious meals.
Vegan Delights: Tane Vegan Izakaya
Tane Vegan Izakaya presents a unique dining experience, celebrating sustainability and the art of vegan cooking. Founded by Chef Kin Lui and environmental activist Casson Trenor, this culinary sanctuary offers a diverse plant-based menu inspired by Japanese cuisine. The chefs skillfully blend fresh, locally sourced ingredients with authentic Japanese techniques to craft dishes that are visually stunning and delicious. From sushi rolls and tempura to ramen and small plates, each item is thoughtfully prepared to showcase the vibrant tastes and textures of plant-based cuisine. Tane Vegan Izakaya is more than just a restaurant; it's a community hub where guests can gather to share meals and connect over a mutual love of food.
American Heritage with a Focus on Community: Dunsmoor
Brian Dunsmoor’s namesake restaurant, Dunsmoor, represents an ongoing exploration of American heritage cooking. This restaurant prioritizes the community around it, expressing the extensive research that has informed Dunsmoor's cooking for the last ten years. The full menu is available at tables in the dining room, at the chef's counter, and at outdoor tables. The wine bar, accessible either through the restaurant or via its own door, serves a limited menu of raw and larder items.
Fresh and Inventive: True Food Kitchen
Located in Pasadena, True Food Kitchen is a go-to place for healthy meals. Customers praise it for offering "healthy and delicious food," "great healthy menu selections," and a "varied and inventive menu." The restaurant is applauded for catering to diverse dietary needs and serving "fresh food" with "quality taste."
Live-Fire Cooking and Seasonal Ingredients: Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery
Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery is a neighborhood oasis that showcases live-fire cooking with seasonal ingredients behind an adorable cheese shop that offers unique and thoughtfully curated artisan cheeses and renowned provisions. Agnes offers many opportunities for celebrating a wide variety of occasions, with spaces for large parties, an open kitchen, a darling outdoor patio, and a beautiful marketplace. The Cheesery offers several stunning products worth sharing with all of your friends and family during the holidays, including large format cheese, meat and crudité platters, tinned fish, delicious gifts, and freshly baked treats. Agnes also offers catering for parties and family get-togethers.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Quality and Freshness: Nick's South Lake Ave
Nick's South Lake Ave is a healthy restaurant that offers a variety of nutritious dishes. One reviewer praised their "Very fresh produce - asparagus fries, and Quinoa & kale salad." Another review highlighted the "Salmon cooked to perfection" and a "kale and quinoa salad perfectly balanced." The restaurant is dedicated to offering the highest quality food, making it a healthy choice for dining. Jeanette, a verified diner from Los Angeles, raves about Nick's, stating, "I love Nick's! I've been to many of their locations and I always have a good meal and the selection is really good. I had the Thai salad and it was absolutely delicious. My guest had the Caesar salad and liked it. We had the Affogato for dessert and it was fantastic!"
California Cuisine Inspired by Diverse Food Cultures: Majordōmo
Majordōmo, from Dave Chang and Momofuku, serves California cuisine inspired by the different food cultures present in Los Angeles and the bounty of Southern California products. In a sleek, industrial setting with a sun-soaked patio and full bar, Majordōmo offers various ways to dine for groups of all sizes. Executive Chef James Bailey highlights California’s bounty through knockout large format dishes like whole plate short rib and smoked bo ssäm to a constantly changing roster of bings & dips.
Mediterranean Flavors: Café Santorini
Nestled in the heart of Old Town Pasadena, Café Santorini has been delighting guests since 1993 with its refined Mediterranean cuisine and inviting ambiance. Housed in a charming brick building, the restaurant offers both cozy indoor seating and a romantic rooftop patio perfect for al fresco dining under the stars. The diverse menu showcases flavors from Greece, Italy, Morocco, and beyond, featuring signature dishes like grilled calamari, beef brochette, and Moroccan lamb shank.
Coastal Cuisine with Innovative Techniques: Pez Coastal Kitchen
Chef Bret Thompson, with experience both in the U.S. and abroad, brings his expertise to Pez Coastal Kitchen. Joined by his wife Lucy Thompson-Ramirez, they have left an indelible mark on the Los Angeles dining scene with their previous ventures, including the beloved Pez Cantina and LA Burrito Co. in Montebello. At Pez Coastal Kitchen, Chef Bret’s focus shifts to innovative techniques such as curing, smoking, and specialized dry-aging of seafood which will be a distinctive feature. The menu at Pez Coastal Kitchen reflects the culinary team's commitment to excellence, offering a tantalizing array of appetizers, chilled seafood, crudos, family-style entrees, exceptional sides, and innovative desserts. From Chilled Beets with hazelnuts to Whole Fried Fish and decadent desserts like Warm Chocolate Butterscotch Peanut Butter Cake, each dish is crafted with precision and creativity.
Northern Italian Fare: Gale's Restaurant
Gale's Restaurant is a totally local Pasadena spot for delicious Northern Italian fare, tucked away from the tourist chains in Old Town. Couples, families and friends that seem to have just finished a day outdoors snuggle among the brick walls and small marble tables, drinking cocktails and wine from elegant Brighton goblets. Start off with Bruschetta, Burrata Salad or Gale's Simple Salad and then move on to the country-style Tuscan steak or one of the house made ravioli specials. For dessert, don't miss the Tiramisu or Gale's iconic Coconut Cake. The wine list is a favorite among the guests for it's variety and excellent value.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Venetian-Inspired Small Plates: Bacari GDL
Bacari GDL is a Venetian-inspired small plates restaurant featuring Mediterranean-influenced dishes by Chef Lior Hillel. This is the 3rd restaurant of Kronfli Brothers, a family-owned, growing group of restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Alongside the delicious tapas, they offer a rotating curation of small-production wines and eclectic beers, unique craft cocktails & mocktails, and they are also known for their one-of-a-kind 90-minute open bar special. The team provides warm hospitality in a comfortable, intimate indoor lounge by the bar or in a spacious, breezy outdoor patio.
Bright Bowls
Want to make healthier dining choices, but don't want to sacrifice your tastebuds? Bright Bowls is here to not only help you reach your healthy eating goals, but will make sure you actually enjoy it! Each bowl consists of organic, carefully-sourced, nutrient-dense, gluten-free, dairy-free, protein-rich, and vitamin-packed ingredients. These bowls will leave you feeling full for hours, satisfied, and brighter! Want to eat your bowl on the go? Bowls are also available as smoothies. Bonus: in addition to bowls and smoothies, Bright Bowls has a wide menu of gluten-free and dairy-free snacks, treats, and baked goods for when you just want a nibble.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution