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A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

27 Healthy Austin Restaurants That Won't Make You Hate Life

Grain bowls, salads, roasted vegetables, vegan fare, and much more

by Sommer Brugal Updated Jan 2, 2019, 12:32pm CST

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A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

| Kate LeSueur

by Sommer Brugal Updated Jan 2, 2019, 12:32pm CST

After a few weeks of overeating and indulging in treats, it’s time for truly healthy meals. Keep your eyes and stomachs aimed at hearty grain bowls with roasted vegetables and hummus, salads chock-full of fresh produce, and post-workout juices that energize and detoxify. Luckily, there is no shortage of healthy fare in Austin.

Take a look through Eater’s updated guide to Austin’s healthiest restaurants. Pick up a salad at Baby Greens’ drive-thru, stop by the Beer Plant for plant-based bar foods, enjoy brunch staples from Café No Se, store that yoga mat at Flower Child for grain bowl and cold Kombucha, indulge in great bowls from Honest Mary’s. This update includes Cava and Better Half.

Keep up the healthy eating trend with juices, salads, vegetarian and vegan fare, gluten-free dishes, paleo-friendly spots, and, for those sweet cravings: special diet desserts.

If a go-to healthy food spot missing from the map, let Eater know in the comments or through the tipline.

With updates by Nadia Chaudhury.

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Flower Child

The bohemian-inspired Flower Child offers healthy food that focuses on gluten-free, vegetarian, and organic ingredients. Choose from custom salads, grain bowls, soups, and wraps for your meal and pair it with a cold beverage. The space includes a seasonal iced tea and lemonade station and offers Kombucha on tap. There's a second location in downtown Austin too.

Open in Google Maps

11721 Rock Rose Ave, Austin, TX 78758

Flower Child’s salad

Mad Greens

The Colorado-based salad chain brings along mixed greens and vegetables to Austin with several locations around town. Opt for salads or any of the other dishes: paninis, wraps, soups, and fresh-pressed juices.

3100 Esperanza Xing Ste 130, Austin, TX 78758

Visit Website

Salad at Mad Greens

Honest Mary’s

The fast-casual grain bowl restaurant focuses on fresh ingredients, from rice to vegetables to proteins.

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9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

Visit Website

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

Baby Greens

Baby Greens serves salads and wraps from its drive-thru. Packed with fresh veggies, any menu option is bound to please. Choose between grilled chicken breast, grilled tofu, or walnuts, and add that to any salad or wrap for a protein boost.

Open in Google Maps

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

Baby Greens’ salad

Picnik

Cooking up mostly paleo-friendly dishes, Picnik is a progressive restaurant that offers healthy options like the banh mi chicken wrap, spaghetti squash lasagna, and bone broth. Find a limited menu at its two trailers on South Lamar and East Cesar Chavez Street.

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

Visit Website

Picnik’s Harvest Hash

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Snap Kitchen

Snap Kitchen prides itself on making fresh food with no GMOS, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. You can browse options by category, dietary needs, protein, or simply what you’re craving. Snap favorites include the spaghetti turkey bolognese and the bison quinoa hash.

Open in Google Maps

4616 Triangle Ave Ste 200, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Brisket hash at Snap Kitchen

The Steeping Room

With healthy dishes like garden vegetables, hummus, healthy bowls, salads, and sandwiches, the Steeping Room’s menu is just as inviting its afternoon cup of tea.

4400 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

Visit Website

The Bangkok bowl and tea at the Steeping Room

The Beer Plant

It’s all about plant-based eating over at the Beer Plant, which focuses on fermented items like breads, pickled vegetables, and cultured vegan cheeses and butter. Order bar food favorites like buffalo cauliflower wings, nachos, or the Blacksmith Burger for an different gastropub experience.

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3110 Windsor Rd, Austin, TX 78703

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Beer plant’s crispy buffalo cauliflower

Cava

Of the newer fast-casual Mediterranean restaurants that opened up in Austin, it’s Cava that delivers with great build-your-own bowls of salads, grains, and pitas with all sorts of hummus spreads and more. Plus there are locations in downtown and Westlake.

2426 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78705

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Cava’s food

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Austin Daily Press

For an enjoyably healthy meal, Austin Daily Press’ array of sandwiches, like the caprese, the falafel, or the Lucy, a lemongrass braised pork torta with sriracha, aioli, onion, sweet and hot pickles, cilantro, and mint, will do the trick. Or, skip the sandwich entirely and opt for one of its fresh salads.

1900 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702

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Sandwiches at Austin Daily Press

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Better Half Coffee & Cocktails

Throughout the neighborhood cafe’s menu are healthy gems, like the soothing brothy greens and grains bowl with optional tempeh, green chopped salad, and even tater tots made with cauliflower.

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406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703

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The greens and grain bowl at Better Half

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Blue Dahlia Bistro

Inspired by lighter, French-influenced fare, Blue Dahlia’s menu is full of small bites, tartines, soups, and salads. This east side staple creates simple, yet tasty dishes using fresh, local, and organic ingredients.

1115 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702

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A salad at Blue Dahlia Bistro

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True Food Kitchen

True Food Kitchen delivers up what it considers “honest food,” which means vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dishes like the beet bruschetta, the ancient grain bowl, or the sustainable seabass.

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Seaholm, Austin, TX 78701

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A fish dish from True Food Kitchen

Koriente

Escape the hustle and bustle of Red River and Dirty Sixth by heading over to Koriente for a healthy, Asian-inspired dish. The Korean restaurant uses minimal oil, sugar and salt, and no MSG. From curries and bibimbap to warm miso soup, all dishes are fresh and delicious.

621 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78701

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Bibimbap at Koriente

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Blenders and Bowls

Austin’s acai café specializes in smoothies and bowls that feature the superfruit, Each bowl comes loaded with vitamins and antioxidants in the forms of organic granola, fruit, and honey. It doesn’t hurt that it’s pretty, too.

206 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

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Acai bowls at Blenders and Bowls

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Casa de Luz

The restaurant and educational community center focuses wholly on macrobiotics. With a new menu daily, guests can enjoy vegan, organic, and gluten-free meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

1701 Toomey Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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Dishes at Cada de Luz

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Bento Picnic

For a quick-and-easy meal, head over to Bento Picnic’s kiosk within the Austin Bouldering Project. Bento's food philosophy covers what it deems as the five elements of tastes, colors, and techniques, for Japanese-style meals that are healthy, fresh, and pretty. Boxes range from curry, noodle, rice, to garden.

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979 Springdale Rd #150, Austin, TX 78702

One of Bento Picnic’s bento boxes

JuiceLand

It’s never a wrong move to visit JuiceLand. The extensive menu includes thick smoothies, fresh juices, boosters, and an assortment of vegan meal options. It’s easy to end up trying a little bit of everything.

1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704

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One of JuiceLand’s burritos

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Veracruz All Natural

Veracruz All Natural’s migas are some of Austin’s best. Known for its fresh tacos and salsas and the homemade tortillas and chips made daily, the taco trucks and restaurants does authentic Mexican food right.

1704 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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Migas tacos at Veracruz All Natural

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Mr. Natural

Mr. Natural offers Tex-Mex with a twist, offering a variety of classics like enchiladas, flautas, and tamales that are gluten-free, non-dairy, vegan, or vegetarian. The menu also offers smoothies and juices made from never-frozen ingredients.

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1901 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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Chilaquiles and a spinach-pineapple agua fresca at Mr. Natural

Curcuma

Another vegan trailer, Curcuma emphasizes superfoods in its dishes from turmeric milks, butter coffee, bowls with mung beans, chia puddings, and more.

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2207 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

Bowls from Curcuma

Counter Culture

With dishes like the mac and cheeze and a Philly seitan sandwich, Counter Culture offers some of Austin’s best vegan comfort foods. Don’t forget to look over the dessert menu, where the dishes are sweetened with dates.

2337 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702

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A sandwich and salad at Counter Culture

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Conscious Cravings

The vegan trailer, with two locations (the other up in Mueller), is all about plant-based wraps, filled with spiced chickpeas, wheat protein nuggets, barbecue seitan, tofu in various styles, and more.

1311 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

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The chimichurri seitan wrap at Conscious Cravings

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Fresa's Chicken Al Carbon

Fresa’s South First location makes for an ideal alfresco healthy meal. It’s perfect for large groups or customers with dietary restrictions. The menu offers wood-grilled meats, homemade tortillas, and a variety of grilled vegetables. Try the Yucatan-spiced chicken or the power bol.

1703 S 1st St, Austin, TX, 78704

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A bowl from Fresa’s

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Cafe No Sé

Café No Se serves cafe staples with West Coast flare. The menu includes favorites like avocado toast with a soft-boiled egg, the shredded kale salad, and the autumn bowl. Seafood options include yellowfin tuna, ora king salmon, and grilled shrimp.

1603 South Congress, Austin, TX 78704

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A salad at Cafe No Se

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Bouldin Creek Café

Located in South Austin, Bouldin Creek serves delicious vegetarian and vegan foods in its down-to-earth café. Try the vegan enchiladas or the ruby reuben — these dishes will leave both meat eaters and veggie lovers fully satisfied.

1900 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

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Tacos at Bouldin Creek Cafe

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Vinaigrette

Vinaigrette takes the traditional salad bar to a new standard. The salad bistro offers a variety of savory, sweet, or balanced salad entrees made from locally sourced ingredients, including the owner’s own farm out in Bastrop. Pair the salad with healthy soups, side, or opt for a hearty sandwich instead.

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2201 College Ave, Austin, TX 78704

One of Vinaigrette’s salads

Poke Poke

Poke, roughly cut sashimi grade ahi, can be ordered with or without rice, and is mixed with sesame oil, white and green onions, and sesame seeds. Include ingredients like kale and fresh ginger for an added boost, or choose Poke Poke’s lighter option, the Aloha bowl. There's a second location out in Allandale.

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3100 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704

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Poke Poke’s poke

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Flower Child

11721 Rock Rose Ave, Austin, TX 78758

The bohemian-inspired Flower Child offers healthy food that focuses on gluten-free, vegetarian, and organic ingredients. Choose from custom salads, grain bowls, soups, and wraps for your meal and pair it with a cold beverage. The space includes a seasonal iced tea and lemonade station and offers Kombucha on tap. There's a second location in downtown Austin too.

Open in Google Maps

11721 Rock Rose Ave, Austin, TX 78758

Flower Child’s salad

Mad Greens

3100 Esperanza Xing Ste 130, Austin, TX 78758

The Colorado-based salad chain brings along mixed greens and vegetables to Austin with several locations around town. Opt for salads or any of the other dishes: paninis, wraps, soups, and fresh-pressed juices.

3100 Esperanza Xing Ste 130, Austin, TX 78758

Visit Website

Salad at Mad Greens

Honest Mary’s

9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

The fast-casual grain bowl restaurant focuses on fresh ingredients, from rice to vegetables to proteins.

Open in Google Maps

9828 Great Hills Trl Ste 300, Austin, TX 78759

Visit Website

A grain bowl from Honest Mary’s

Baby Greens

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Baby Greens serves salads and wraps from its drive-thru. Packed with fresh veggies, any menu option is bound to please. Choose between grilled chicken breast, grilled tofu, or walnuts, and add that to any salad or wrap for a protein boost.

Open in Google Maps

1508 W Anderson Ln, Austin, TX 78757

Visit Website

Baby Greens’ salad

Picnik

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

Cooking up mostly paleo-friendly dishes, Picnik is a progressive restaurant that offers healthy options like the banh mi chicken wrap, spaghetti squash lasagna, and bone broth. Find a limited menu at its two trailers on South Lamar and East Cesar Chavez Street.

4801 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756

Visit Website

Picnik’s Harvest Hash

Snap Kitchen

4616 Triangle Ave Ste 200, Austin, TX 78751

Snap Kitchen prides itself on making fresh food with no GMOS, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. You can browse options by category, dietary needs, protein, or simply what you’re craving. Snap favorites include the spaghetti turkey bolognese and the bison quinoa hash.

Open in Google Maps

4616 Triangle Ave Ste 200, Austin, TX 78751

Visit Website

Brisket hash at Snap Kitchen

The Steeping Room

4400 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

With healthy dishes like garden vegetables, hummus, healthy bowls, salads, and sandwiches, the Steeping Room’s menu is just as inviting its afternoon cup of tea.

4400 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78756

Visit Website