Tempe, Arizona, and the surrounding East Valley and Phoenix areas, offer a vibrant and health-conscious dining scene that caters to a wide range of dietary preferences. With an increasing focus on wellness and nutrition, many restaurants in this region provide menus brimming with fresh, wholesome ingredients, ensuring a delightful experience for those seeking healthy dining options. These establishments prioritize locally sourced produce and innovative, nutritious dishes, including vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. From vegetable-forward creations to protein-rich meals crafted with health in mind, diners can explore a diverse array of flavors in various ambiances, from casual to upscale. Here's a guide to some of the best healthy restaurants in and around Tempe, Arizona.
Vegan and Vegetarian Delights
Tempe is home to several restaurants dedicated to plant-based cuisine, as well as establishments that offer extensive vegan and vegetarian options.
Desert Roots Kitchen: After more than a decade of serving house-made vegan delights in her Tempe cafe, Leslie Robin moved Desert Roots Kitchen into a new shared space with Rainbow Bliss Botanicals. The menu changes daily, offering a vibrant selection of leafy salads, ancient grains, veggies, dips, and wraps.
Drink Me! Tea Room: This Alice in Wonderland-inspired tearoom offers an immersive afternoon tea experience with plant-based and gluten-free treats. Enjoy a wide variety of teas and Special-Tea Cocktails, paired with savory sandwiches, scones, and sweets, all vegan and gluten-free. The tearoom also hosts themed menus and events throughout the year.
Green New American Vegetarian: This 100% vegan restaurant serves delicious comfort foods, both American classics and dishes with an international twist. Po-boys, crisp salads, and noodle bowls are made with fresh, vegan ingredients, including vegan cheeses and mock meats. Gluten-free options are also available.
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Loving Hut: Family-owned and operated, Loving Hut offers creative plant-based dishes that defy any single style of cuisine.
Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen: Picazzo’s serves modern Italian cuisine with a focus on fresh vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and meat dishes. With over 40 vegan and vegetarian options, including bowls, pizzas, and pasta, this restaurant is a standout.
Juice Bars and Superfood Bowls
For a quick and healthy meal or snack, Tempe's juice bars and superfood bowl shops are excellent choices.
Nekter Juice Bar: Each juice, smoothie, cleanse, açaí bowl, and snack is all-natural, raw, and vegan (skip the whey protein boost).
The Bodhi: This nutritious fast-casual spot offers bowls, salads, smoothies, and fresh-pressed juices with vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
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Berry Divine Acai Bowls: Soft-serve açaí piled high with fresh fruit makes for the perfect summer superfood combo.
Nautical Bowls: This spot offers a range of sweet, frozen, superfood bowls with options like pitaya, mango, coconut, blue majik (spirulina), açaí, chia pudding, or cacao.
Pure Green Juice Bar: Located downtown, Pure Green Juice Bar offers protein-packed options and superfood-filled choices.
Qwench Juice Bar: This gem offers a variety of juices and is conveniently located near Tempe Town Lake.
Mediterranean and Southwestern Flavors
Tempe's culinary scene also includes restaurants that blend Mediterranean and Southwestern flavors with a focus on fresh ingredients.
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Feta Cowboy: From the owners of Pita Jungle, Feta Cowboy blends the best of Mediterranean and Southwest cuisine in a fast-casual atmosphere. Bowls, pitas, and burritos invite you to choose from signature combinations or build-your-own.
Hummus Xpress: Chef and owner Eddie Hantas crafts made-to-order Mediterranean bowls, plates, and wraps.
Globally Inspired Cuisine
Tempe's diverse culinary landscape offers a variety of globally inspired options, with many restaurants focusing on fresh, healthy ingredients.
Cafe Lalibela: This restaurant offers authentic Ethiopian cuisine that is also free of gluten, sugar, nuts, and preservatives.
The Dhaba: Inspired by roadside dhabas in India and Pakistan, The Dhaba serves Punjabi-style cuisine with influences from Persia, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
Hachi Ramen: Owner and chef Bradley An lived in Hawaii, Japan, and China before moving to Arizona. He tested 20 ramen noodles before selecting the perfect style for his menu and spends two days cooking the chashu and 16 hours perfecting his tonkotsu broth.
American Cuisine with a Healthy Twist
Several restaurants in Tempe offer American cuisine with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients and creative preparations.
The Henry: The Henry offers a healthy dining experience with dishes that feature fresh, farm-to-table ingredients and healthy combinations. The 'Sprouts & Squash' salad, made with roasted Brussels sprouts, maple-glazed butternut squash, and kale, is a popular choice.
MAD Greens: MAD Greens offers fresh, healthy, and delicious made-to-order salads, grain bowls, juices, and wraps.
Original Chop Shop: This spot offers "just feel good food," including protein shakes, fresh juices, sandwiches, and salads.
Perfect Pear Bistro: Perfect Pear Bistro is known for its inviting atmosphere and modern take on American comfort food, including panini sandwiches, fresh salads, flatbreads, and pasta dishes.
Engrained Cafe: This Four-Star Certified Green Restaurant was created with sustainability at its core.
Sushi with Vegan Options
For sushi lovers, Tempe offers options with creative and extensive vegan menus.
Blue Sushi Sake Grill: Known for having one of the largest vegan sushi menus in the country, this spot features over 15 unique maki rolls, specialty dishes, and nigiri options.
Sushi 101: Sushi 101 has been known as the place to go for vegan options. The vegan menu includes rolls and nigiri offerings.
Brunch Spots with Healthy Choices
Tempe boasts several brunch spots that offer healthy and delicious options.
Alter Ego: Located inside Canopy by Hilton Tempe Downtown, Alter Ego offers a notable brunch menu with bold flavors in a modern setting.
Crêpe Bar: Crêpe Bar offers modern sweet and savory crêpes, small plates, cocktails, and specialty coffees, using seasonal and high-quality ingredients.
Neighborhood Services: Located inside Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU, Neighborhood Services offers elevated comfort food and house-made cocktails with a rotating seasonal menu.
Over Easy: This retro-meets-modern brunch spot is bright and cheerful.
Snooze: Snooze features a "plant power section" on its menu, including a Buddha bowl, a sweet potato veggie mash-up, and a tofu scramble.
Fine Dining with Fresh Ingredients
For a more upscale dining experience, Tempe and the surrounding areas offer several restaurants that focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and innovative cuisine.
Tarbell's: Chef Mark Tarbell's "Neighborhood Restaurant for the Nation" offers curated, farm-to-table dishes and classic comfort food in an elegant space.
LON’s at the Hermosa: This restaurant offers award-winning, globally inspired Arizona fare on a spacious patio or by one of the fireplaces, using bold flavors and compelling combinations.
Beckett's Table: Beckett's Table emphasizes seasonal American cooking with dishes like grilled cheese with roasted tomato soup, pork osso buco confit, and herb-rubbed roasted chicken.
Terra Tempe Kitchen & Spirits: This elevated concept inside The Westin Tempe offers exceptionally crafted cocktails and menu items.
Top of the Rock: Perched atop the buttes with sweeping views of the Valley, Top of the Rock offers an unforgettable dining experience.
Other Notable Restaurants
Moxies: Located in Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, Moxies offers a trendy and lively atmosphere with a globally inspired menu.
The Ends: Inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s food travels, The Ends invites guests to experience a restaurant about friends, weekends, and traveling.
The Stockyards: Established in 1947, The Stockyards has been serving hand-cut aged steaks and prime rib for 70 years.
Bar Capri: Bar Capri brings the warmth of an Italian home in a beautifully decorated and intimate space.
Ghost Ranch: Ghost Ranch is a local-favorite restaurant in Tempe for its Southwest-inspired cuisine.
Hundred Mile Brewing Co.: This brewery offers small-batch craft beer, a seasonal menu, and a spacious patio.
Filthy Animal: This restaurant brings a daring new edge to Tempe’s dining scene with rich textures, glamorous chandeliers, and an open kitchen.
tags: #healthy #restaurants #Tempe #Arizona