Orange County, my true "home," boasts beautiful beach cities like Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Corona Del Mar, along with fantastic restaurants for enjoying healthy meals while soaking up some vitamin D. As someone who is gluten-free and prioritizes quality ingredients, I'm always on the lookout for the best healthy food spots in the area. I've been driving back-and-forth between Los Angeles and Orange County a lot lately. My parent’s are based just north of Los Angeles and my brother is in Orange County, so I seem to be splitting my time between both spots. This is the ultimate guide to all-around healthy restaurants in Orange County! I will continually update this post as I find more places! This guide does not include restaurants that offer a select few options for gluten-free or vegan items-I will include those places in a different post.
Must-Try Healthy Restaurants
Here are some of my favorite healthy restaurants in Orange County, offering a variety of options for different dietary needs and preferences:
True Food Kitchen
Located in Fashion Island, True Food Kitchen is a great place to rest and recharge after a day of shopping, errands, or beach time. They have a wide selection of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, as well as grass-fed animal proteins. The menu is seasonal, so even if you go all the time, it’s always fresh and nourishing.
Cafe Gratitude
Cafe Gratitude is a 100% plant-based, organic restaurant where you always leave feeling better than when you arrived. Perhaps it’s because you order your meal as an affirmation (“I am free and vibrant”), or perhaps it’s because all the meals are packed full of nutrients - like a turmeric latte! I was down in Orange County this past weekend and hit up the new (and gorgeous!) Cafe Gratitude location in Newport Beach. It’s a stunner for sure. And while I’m not vegan, I’m gluten-free and prioritize quality ingredients, which Cafe Gratitude delivers on. Next time you’re in Orange County, you can hit them up, grab a healthy meal and go walk along the sand.
The Beachcomber
The Beachcomber is my absolute favorite breakfast spot in all of Orange County! The restaurant is literally on the beach, and listening to the waves crash while enjoying brekkie is always a great way to start your day. A couple of hints: wear flip flops and make a reservation. Oh, it’s also a great post-hike stop if you’re up for an early morning Crystal Cove hike.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Paul Martin’s
While Paul Martin’s is nestled in the Irvine Spectrum Shopping Center, this restaurant is anything but typical mall food. The menu is built on locally grown, organic, and seasonal foods, and everything is made from scratch (even the sauces). That’s a bonus if you need to alter or modify a dish, which they’re always happy to do.
Gulfstream
Gulfstream is owned by Hillstone Restaurant Group, which also owns R+D Kitchen, Bandera, and Houston’s - other OC favorites of mine. But I find myself always going back to Gulfstream for the broader seafood menu and outdoor patio vibes.
New and Noteworthy Spots
Here are some newer additions to the Orange County healthy food scene that are definitely worth checking out:
Flower Child
Flower Child, recently opened in Newport Beach, offers countless healthy options. They have locations in Texas, Arizona, Georgia, and more! So, it is a chain, but there’s nothing wrong with that when the food is healthy and tastes good! They have a beautiful outdoor patio, plenty of seating inside, the cutest decor and interior, refreshing drinks (get the strawberry lemonade!) and a grab-and-go and takeout station! Their menu has dietary friendly labels: vegan, gluten-free, vegetarian, organic. You can choose from their bowls, salads, or build your own plate with a protein and two sides-there’s even a kids menu! My favorites are the strawberry fields salad with tofu (their tofu is really good here!), vietnamese crunch salad, and glow bowl (sweet potato noodles). The noodles are a bit on the crunchier side, and I was expecting more of a soft zoodle texture, but they were still good. Their gluten-free desserts are all delicious as well: lemon cake, brownie, cookie, and pudding! YES I have tried them all-I have a sweet tooth. Everything here is made from scratch with fresh, local ingredients. What I love about Flower Child is that they can offer dietary-friendly options without sacrificing the flavor and taste!
Urban Plates
I was so excited when Urban Plates opened in Aliso Viejo-it's a shorter drive for me than the location in Irvine. My family and I went for our Friday-night-out dinner. There was a line out the door and it was a little chilly, but it moved quickly. We were greeted upon entering through the door too! I ordered the coconut green curry tofu with veggies and half brown/white rice. The line server was friendly and said they usually don't do half and half, but he let me order it that way. It was delicious! It got cold as I was eating it though, but still tasty! The portions are awesome- I got a lot of tofu cubes. I also shared sides of colorful carrots and roasted Brussels sprouts with my mom-those were yummy, and the seasoning was on point. My meal left me feeling so full (but the good, healthy kind of full, not the oh I just ate a huge burger and fries kind of full). I also tried the coconut almond chocolate cookie. They get their food from organic vendors and there are plenty of healthy options to choose from: salmon, chicken, tofu, salad, vegetables, and more.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Vibe Organic Kitchen and Juice
Yay more healthy food! I picked up lunch after a hair cut in the same plaza. This place is a newer addition to the plaza. I had a tough time choosing what to order because everything sounded so delicious! I ended up ordering the Roots bowl. It is flavorful and I totally recommend it; it has avocado, squash, beets, carrots, black beans, and greens/rice/quinoa topped with a chipotle-aioli kind of sauce. I chose half greens half quinoa (gotta keep down the carbs, am I right?). The portions are perfect for the price, and it leaves you full-the clean, satisfied full. I also recommend the Morning Buzz smoothie-it has cold-brew coffee, almond milk, maca, and bananas and tastes like a dessert (without the guilt!). Inside is a modern, orange vibe, and the interior design is inviting. It is expensive though. Smoothies are about $9 which is the same as getting one of their lunch or breakfast items. There's also a case with kombucha, coconut yogurt, and other drinks. This place is organic, plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free.
butterleaf
Located in the new TRADE Food Hall, butterleaf is a vegetarian vendor that serves burgers, sides (like avocado bombs) and bowls. I ordered their bowl and didn't know half the stuff that was in it until I received it. It was amazing-the best vegetarian meal I have ever had, and it filled me up too! I did half purple rice (it tastes like brown rice) and half quinoa, and it was topped with avocado, radish, beets, sautéed kale, cooked carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, and more! The service is friendly and quick, and the prices are great for the amount of food you receive. The only downsides are: they do not take cash and do not have tap water-only water bottles. If you haven't heard of TRADE food hall, it is a little food court right next to the Irvine Towers and a bunch of other business buildings. There are about 10 vendors and they are like individual booths, but in a wall. Anyways, the parking is HORRIFIC. Well, at least not for the business people who can just walk right across the street. I came at noon and it took me 30 minutes to park. First I drove into their parking and it was full, so then I circled around and drove to the back, but those were all business spots. So then I found another plaza with a ton of open parking and I parked there. As I was walking out, the sign said PRIVATE PROPERTY, so I hopped back in my car and drove over to IHOP to see if there were any parking spots over there, but it was customer parking only. Finally, I found visitor parking somewhere that was a free one hour. Phew!
Embracing Healthy Habits in Orange County
It may sound cliche, but there’s no better time of year to get back to your roots (literally!). With the health-conscious community so prevalent here, Orange County may be the most convenient place to hard-launch a new diet. We know most restaurants can make dietary accommodations, but we would rather avoid the waiter’s eye roll by dining at eateries with like-minded philosophies. Ease into new habits with the good stuff: we’re taking decadent charcoal waffles and delightful potato pizzas at the best healthy restaurants!
Fine Dining and Plant-Based Options
Fine dining is no longer just for steakhouses. Let us introduce you to Taste of Beauty, a multiple-course experience of thoughtfully plated plant-based foods that honors both your body and Chinese tradition. The interior is as tranquil as a lotus garden, with an atmosphere that’s refined, elegant and fresh.
Unique Cafes and Organic Bowls
The visionaries behind Parakeet Cafe, Carol and Jonathan Goldwasser, know the power of food as medicine and pass the plate to health gurus and non-dieters alike at their Newport Beach cafe, making it one of the best healthy restaurants in the area. Start with a mushroom latte or sparkling mimosa (if that’s on your January diet!) and follow up with all-organic brunch bowls. The activated charcoal waffle is like dopamine for your body and mind with its silky in-house Nutella drizzle. Organic Tree’s nutrient-dense remedies and veggie-forward plates are Dana Point’s hidden gem. Best known for fresh-pressed juices and elixirs, Organic Tree is a quaint juice bar across from the harbor that makes for a convenient meet-up. Power lattes, gut-friendly sandwiches and vibrant bowls make it easy to eat the rainbow! In harmony with the all-natural menu, Organic Tree’s interior is modest with simple sage green walls and wooden counters.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
Fast-Casual and Customizable Options
Flower Child’s charismatic interior is as colorful as their menu, which is chock-full of options for every eater. Whether you’re a meat eater, vegan, paleo or keto, there’s something on the menu for everyone to enjoy. Hence, Flower Child is the perfect fast-casual restaurant for families and large parties. Everything from the ginger vinaigrettes to almond ricottas are made in the 100% scratch kitchen. Everyday Eatery, situated in the heart of Irvine, stands out as one of the best healthy restaurants in the area, ideal for a post-workout or pre-work breakfast. The restaurant’s interior exudes a whimsical charm, featuring playful murals that elevate your mood even before your first sip of coffee. Influenced heavily by New Zealand cuisine, the menu primarily offers vegetarian selections, with clearly labeled gluten-free options. A standout dish is the Morning Market Scramble, a classic that consistently delights.
Vegan Delights and Plant-Based Innovation
Mornings of settling for a muffin as the only vegan pastry to accompany your morning coffee are over. Perfectly flaky croissants, without butter? You better believe it! Freesoulcaffe’s lineup of vegan options make eyes twinkle and taste buds tingle. Their goal is to help people live a more conscious life through their plant-based scratch kitchen. They even bake their own graham crackers for cheesecake crust! What started as a food truck is growing into an empire of plant-based “treat-yourself” restaurants in SoCal-our favorite being Seabirds in Costa Mesa. The hip, bohemian-inspired brunch, lunch and dinner spot specializes in global cuisine. Seabirds is best known for its tacos, and a right-of-passage has to be the beer-battered avocado variation. Proceed with caution: the chaffle is also dangerously delicious! Essentially the new cronut, this waffle and churro hybrid helped put Seabirds on the map.
Goop Kitchen and Active Culture
A newsletter turned into a viral lifestyle brand, Goop is the passion project of award-winning actress Gwneyth Paltrow. Everything on the menu is gluten-free and made without processed sugars or preservatives. We know the Costa Mesa warehouse is an unamusing front for an LA-inspired take-out kitchen, but the beach is just minutes away, and Goop makes for the perfect picnic. You can self-order at a kiosk, but save a step and order online. No one appreciates the simple things like Active Culture. Serving up raw foods that take you back to your roots, Active Culture’s menu of wholesome bowls and wraps are anything but basic, thanks to their OG and slammin’ sauces. This wholesome hotspot boasts life-giving lunch items and views of the Pacific from the charming cottage cafe. Gaze at Laguna Beach gallery walls while waiting for your bountiful bowl, and do yourself a favor: don’t skip the frozen yogurt!
Alternative Healthy Options
Below are a few established, heart-healthy brands in Orange County that I’ve “paired” with newer restaurants possessing comparable characteristics to lead you down a path of variety.
If You Like Cava, Check Out Sweetgreen
With six locations in O.C. (Mission Viejo, Laguna Niguel, Irvine [Woodbury], Irvine [Barranca], Costa Mesa and Anaheim Hills), Cava’s cafeteria-line method of ordering has allowed diners to view ingredients before committing to anything. This Mediterranean-style Chipotle gets the job done and has been doing so around here since 2016. As much as I prefer Mediterranean foods like nutrient-dense falafel, roasted eggplant and spicy feta, these same flavors would eventually bore me. Cava also serves optional animal proteins for those who do not lead a meat-free lifestyle. Sweetgreen would solve my Cava issue with local storefronts at Irvine Spectrum, Tustin and Huntington Beach. Mexican, Italian plus Asian and American flavors and ingredients provide much needed variety; my current go-to Sweetgreen dish (when I’m not crafting my own meal) is a miso-glazed salmon protein plate that includes pickled onions, nori sesame seasoning and spicy cashews. Like Cava, Sweetgreen provides more than one animal protein for interested eaters. Touch-screen ordering in Huntington Beach currently replaces cashiers receiving and ringing up orders. Workers could now focus on quality control and assist with ordering inquiries. Behind the counter, newer technology is mostly self-sufficient in order fulfillment - except when it comes to replenishing ingredients. Inputting an order and then watching it being assembled by a machine feels like something out of the recent “Wonka” remake. “Our focus is always on elevating the quality and integrity of our food by partnering with trusted suppliers to better serve our guests and community,” said Jonathan Neman, CEO and Co-Founder of Sweetgreen. “We’re thrilled to welcome this community to their newest Sweetgreen home for a taste of the fresh, quality and thoughtfully sourced ingredients.”
If You Like Veggie Grill, Check Out Vibe Organic Kitchen
Veggies, grains and other plant-based ingredients are manipulated to resemble the likeness in texture of chicken, beef or even fish at Veggie Grill before being factored into grain bowls, appetizers and sandwiches. When VG launched in Irvine in 2006, it was a success and (at the time) I considered it a baseline for similar fast-casual restaurants. Sweetheart fries and a Santa Fe Chick’n sandwich were my usual meal there. Like the menu at Cava, I grew tired of Veggie Grill’s menu and stopped going. Note: Oregon-based Next Level Burger recently acquired Veggie Grill and is now referred to as Veggie Grill by Next Level as of January 2024. It may be worth checking out in the next few months to see if newer dishes have boosted the menu. For the past few years I would drive by Vibe Organic Kitchen and Juice upon leaving Moulin in Newport Beach (with newer locations in Costa Mesa and Dana Point), wondering if/when I should give Vibe a chance. We met up for a late breakfast/early lunch at Vibe and by the time we departed, I wished I had tried its menu sooner. We devoured brekkie tacos stuffed with cauliflower scramble, a Mediterranean bowl with black lentils, and an avocado Caesar wrap; this was washed down with a turmeric tonic shot and Ironman smoothie. Vibe Organic Kitchen is the type of menu I seek during times such as Lent or after returning from vacation. There’s more than enough variety offered, and I plan to return the next time I’m in the area for a meal. Although Vibe has been around since 2017, it’s still new to me.
If You Like Seabirds Kitchen, Check Out The Plot
I still remember Seabirds as a popular food truck. When this vegan kitchen on wheels transitioned into a Costa Mesa brick-and-mortar inside The LAB Anti-Mall, the hip, stationary location suited this brand. Was Seabirds Kitchen doing well enough for it to expand into a South Coast Plaza vacancy down the street? The short answer was no - although I think being temporarily closed in its newer location due to the pandemic had something to do with it. My favorite items were the tacos, especially the beer-battered avocado ones. Coincidentally taking over a previous vegan dining room named Native Foods, The Plot is an Oceanside-based mini-chain of meatless wonders across the street from Seabirds, at The Camp. It has received San Diego Magazine’s “Best New Restaurant of the Year” in 2020, among other accolades. The Plot is unique in that it even maintains its own garden to grow some ingredients used in the brand’s three kitchens. It’s also the only spot out of the six I have yet to dine at (something I plan to fix sooner rather than later), so my recommendations aren’t available. Responsibly sourced ingredients make up the bulk of an eclectic menu - I’m eyeing Plot’s goddess salad, biscuits and gravy, and a ”Spam” kimchi bowl.
Green Tomato Grill: A Vegan and Vegetarian Haven
Are you a vegan in Orange County? Southern California is becoming a haven for health-conscious food lovers, especially those who follow plant-based diets. With a growing number of options, you no longer have to settle for uninspired meals when dining out. One spot that stands out for both quality and convenience is Green Tomato Grill. Known for our commitment to fresh ingredients and healthy fast food, we offer one of the top spots for vegan and vegetarian food in Orange County that’s both nutritious and satisfying!
Why Green Tomato Grill is the Best for Plant-Based Healthy Fast Food
At Green Tomato Grill, we believe that healthy eating should never mean sacrificing flavor. That’s why we offer a variety of plant-based options that cater to every taste. Our menu is designed to provide fresh, wholesome meals using local ingredients that fuel your body, while also being environmentally friendly. From hearty vegan bowls to satisfying vegetarian wraps, we’ve got it all. Our mission is to provide food that not only tastes great but makes you feel great too.
Vegan in Orange County: Fresh, Flavorful, and Fast
If you’re fully plant-based, you know how challenging it can be to find meals that hit the right balance between taste and health. At Green Tomato Grill, our vegan options are crafted to offer delicious flavor profiles that will satisfy even non-vegans. Whether you’re grabbing a quick meal between errands or dining with friends, our vegan selections will leave you feeling full and satisfied.
Vegetarian Food in Orange County: Wholesome Choices for Every Palate
For those who follow a vegetarian diet, finding the perfect meal can sometimes feel limited. Luckily, Green Tomato Grill offers a wide range of vegetarian options that don’t disappoint. From our signature salads packed with fresh veggies to hearty bowls featuring grains, beans, and rich sauces, there’s something for everyone- plus, almost every item on our menu can be customized to accommodate any plant-based diet. Whether you’re in the heart of Orange County or looking for vegetarian food in Huntington Beach, our menu has you covered.
Healthy Fast Food for Vegetarian and Vegan Diets in Orange County
Fast food has earned a bad reputation over the years, but we’re changing that. At Green Tomato Grill, we’ve redefined what fast food can be by offering healthy, freshly made meals that you can feel good about eating. Our approach to healthy fast food in Orange County means that whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, or simply looking to eat cleaner, you can find something on our menu that meets your needs. With options like grain bowls, fresh salads, and char burgers, we make it easy to eat well, even when you’re in a hurry.