Kansas City's culinary scene is booming, and it's easier than ever to find restaurants that cater to a healthy lifestyle. Whether you're looking for plant-based options, organic ingredients, or simply a nutritious and delicious meal, Kansas City has something to offer. This guide highlights some of the best healthy restaurants in the city, offering a variety of cuisines and dining experiences.
Enjoy Pure Food + Drink: A Mission Farms Gem
Located in Mission Farms, Enjoy Pure Food + Drink is a go-to spot for a quick and healthy meal. It's conveniently located next to workout classes, making it easy to grab a bite to eat or snag one of their juices in the mornings. They prioritize clean, plant-rich, and highly nutritious food and drinks, striving to use organic produce and wild-caught fish whenever possible.
Must-try items:
- Metabolizing Juice: A refreshing and revitalizing juice blend.
- Great Catch Bowl: A flavorful and satisfying bowl packed with nutrients.
- Take on the World Bowl: Another delicious and healthy bowl option.
- EVOLVE: Clean, plant-rich, and highly-nutritious food and drink to keep you nourished throughout the day.
The Mixx: Customizable Salads and More
The Mixx is known for its diverse selection of salads and customizable options. With multiple locations throughout Kansas City, it's a convenient choice for a healthy lunch or dinner. The Mixx also has a great juice bar and kid-friendly options, making it a great place for families. Jo Marie, the owner, has added specialty menus to cater to Whole 30, Paleo, Keto, Vegan, and Gluten Free eaters. Plus, she eliminated all canola oil in her restaurants back in 2014 in favor of olive, sunflower and sesame oils- a huge deal in the restaurant business.
Must-try items:
- Chisaya Mama Salad: A flavorful salad that can be customized with your choice of protein, such as salmon.
- Soup of the Day: A rotating selection of seasonal soups.
- Insalata Brassica: A hearty and flavorful salad.
- Santa Fe Chicken Salad: A Southwest-inspired salad with grilled chicken.
T.Loft: Filling Bowls and Energizing Juices
T.Loft boasts three locations in Kansas City, each with a cute and inviting atmosphere. Their bowls are designed to be filling and provide fuel for the day. In addition to their food menu, T.Loft also offers a variety of juices.
Must-try items:
- Spicy Chicken Bowl: A flavorful bowl with chicken, celery, avocado, carrots, quinoa, blue cheese, and buffalo sauce.
- Alive & Alert Juice: A green juice blend for an energy boost.
- Extreme C Juice: Another green juice option packed with vitamins.
Unbakery & Juicery: A Place for Experimentation
Unbakery & Juicery is a unique spot that encourages trying new things. With a wide variety of juices and clean, delicious meals, you can't go wrong with any of their options. The atmosphere is also worth checking out. Filled with natural Vitamin D, friendly faces, and some of the cleanest eats in town, this little spot is a go-to for lunch on the go.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Must-try items:
- Remade Tuna Poke Bowls: A flavorful and healthy twist on a classic dish.
McLain's Market: Sweet Treats and Healthy Lunch Options
While McLain's is known for its sweet treats, their Overland Park location also offers breakfast and lunch with the convenience of a drive-thru.
Caffetteria: A Modern Twist on Traditional Meals
Caffetteria is a newer addition to the Kansas City dining scene and a sister restaurant to The Mixx. They put a spin on traditional meals, sourcing all their ingredients locally. The restaurant's interior is also beautiful.
True Food Kitchen: A Plaza Hotspot for Healthy Cuisine
True Food Kitchen recently opened in Kansas City on the Plaza, taking over the old Plaza III space. The restaurant offers a beautiful space and an amazing menu focused on fresh, seasonal ingredients. At True Food Kitchen, the menu is carefully crafted so that every bite and every refreshing sip serve up big flavor, an abundance of fresh ingredients and a taste of the unexpected. Their artisan chefs create crave-worthy classics alongside a steady rotation of seasonal offerings that take advantage of naturally ripe fruits and vegetables so their flavor is full and their nutrients, rich. Creative, hand-crafted beverages built around seasonality, quality ingredients and simple preparations complement every occasion from brunch, lunch, dinner and, of course, dessert.
Must-try items:
- Poke Bowl: A fresh and flavorful bowl with a variety of ingredients.
- Grass-fed Steak Tacos: Tacos with high-quality, grass-fed steak.
- "For the Table" App: A shareable appetizer with kale guacamole, herb hummus, black olive dip, heirloom carrot, cucumber, and pita.
Whole Harvest Kitchen (WHK): Plant-Based Goodness
At WHK, they serve 100% plant-based, whole-food meals that are as satisfying as they are nourishing. They believe eating well shouldn’t mean compromising on taste. They offer a variety of options, including bowls, sandwiches, and pizzas, all made with plant-based ingredients.
Must-try items:
- The Veg Head Sandwich: An 8-grain bread stacked with avo mash, hummus, cucumber, tomato, peppers, sprouts, pickled red onion, pickle, and a little ranch love.
- The Harvest Wok Bowl: Split pea-fu, beluga lentils, and farro.
- The Three Sisters: Corn, squash, and beans.
- Thai Curry Bowl: Cozy, colorful, and full of flavor.
Modern Market Eatery: Fresh Flavors and Feel-Good Perks
Modern Market Eatery is committed to serving chef-crafted bowls, crisp salads, and toasted sandwiches made with real, clean ingredients. With a focus on bold flavors inspired by the farmers market, they offer a variety of options to satisfy any craving.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Other Notable Healthy Spots in Kansas City
- Cafe Gratitude: One hundred percent plant-based and organic, as well as locally supplied when available, this little spot makes my body and mind feel its absolute best.
- Happy Gillis Café and Hangout: Their dedication to supporting local, eating seasonally, and ingredient quality makes them one of the favorite breakfast, brunch, and lunch spots in town.
- The Russell: A collaboration between chef Amante Domingo and culinary entrepreneur Heather White, The Russell on Main is where Kansas City returns to its rustic roots.
- Evolve Paleo: Based in Paleo beliefs, Evolve also offers Whole 30, Keto, and other ready-to-grab meal options. The Blackened Chicken Salad with their homemade Paleo Ranch has to be a favorite.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
tags: #healthy #restaurants #Kansas #City