Whether you’ve decided to detox, diet or get on a health kick for 2017 it doesn’t mean that you can’t still dine out in style. From vegetarian and vegan, to raw food specialists and juice bars – even nutritional ‘rock star’ poke gets a nod – we’ve rounded up some of the best restaurants with fine, healthy cuisine in San Diego.
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12 Health-Focused Restaurants & Juice Shops in San Diego
Eating clean never tasted so good.

Lean and Green Cafe
Enjoy health-focused, farm fresh eats in this eco-chic café, which boasts plenty of ‘thoughtfully sourced’ breakfast and lunch items, like power bowls, salads and wraps filled with fresh, organic veggies and assorted proteins. There are juices, smoothies, and protein shakes too, plus oatmeal, acai and fruit-filled sweet bowls. Orders can also be placed online at both Lean Green’s Sorrento Valley and La Jolla locations.
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Ranchos Cocina
While this popular home-style restaurant serves a variety of traditional eats it’s perhaps best known for its vegan and vegetarian versions of classic Mexican dishes. Burritos, tacos and tostadas come stuffed with everything from lentil, avocado and cheese, to vegan carne asada, chipotle tempeh and even wild caught salmon. There are some killer combination plates, sopas and salads too; all made with sustainable ingredients from locals farmers markets.
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Garden Kitchen
With an emphasis on fresh ingredients sourced from local farms, all dishes are made with love at this charming Rolando eatery. The menu changes daily, but some recent plates include an eggplant caponata crostini with red bell pepper, pistachio & dill pesto, pickled “rat tail” radish, and ‘power greens cold fighting soup’, made with four rustic greens, ginger, garlic, eureka lemon & jalapeño. Don’t miss happy hour from 3 – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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Plumeria
Classic Thai dishes get a vegetarian makeover at this budget-friendly eatery. Open for lunch and dinner, all entrees come in under $10 with the option to add vegetables, non-GMO steamed/fried tofu or vegetarian chicken, beef and shrimp to its many assorted entrée options. Standouts include the tuna flower cups, Ka Pow spicy noodles, and pumpkin curry with mock duck.
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Choice Juicery
At this sleek Carmel Valley juice bar you will find gluten-free, dairy-free, and plant-based delights, including fresh bottled juices, milks and elixirs, protein bowls, parfaits, and salads. Don’t miss the superfood banana bread ($3.50), sprouted vanilla almond milk with date and English lavender ($8), or the quinoa ‘sushi’ made with avocado, marinated Portobello and sesame ginger miso dressing ($10).
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Veggilish
Conveniently located downtown Veggilish is a great place for a quick grab-and-go bowl based meals made with GMO-free, gluten-free and organic ingredients where indicated. Menu standouts include the zucchini soup (which often sells out by lunchtime) and, of course, the build your own bowls ($6 small, $7.50 large) with a choice of salad, quinoa or pasta base, plus veggie and protein toppings of your choice – we hear the salmon and cilantro jalapeño sauce are pretty bomb. Check in on Yelp for a free hibiscus drink.
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True Food Kitchen
There are hearty bowls filled with ancient grains and your choice of protein, salads, stuffed sandwiches, and paleo-friendly pizzas, plus entrees including a seasonal spaghetti squash casserole at this Fashion Valley go-to for quick and quality health-conscious fare. You’ll find health-forward juices, teas and refreshers on the drinks menu too, plus a selection of guilt-free cocktails, like the citrus skinny margarita.
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Cafe Gratitude
Breakfast, lunch, happy hour and dinner menu offerings include everything from a garbanzo flour frittata quiche to macrobiotic bowl topped with adzuki beans, sea vegetables and kimchee at this 100% plant-based hotspot. Libations include teas, tonics and wellness elixirs; plus smoothies and dairy-free coffee drinks. Round out your meal with dessert, like the gluten free berry cobbler toped with delicious coconut ice cream. For those really looking to kick start their health goals in 2017, all juice detox packages are 50% off throughout January.
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Greenfix Organic Smoothie
Some say the best green smoothie in San Diego, farmers market favorite GreenFix is the perfect way to incorporate more greens into your diet if you don't have the time (or inclination) to eat them firsthand. Cold blended to retain the fibers - but not cold enough to kill off nutrients and enzymes - if you can’t stock up at their Ocean Beach retail location, GreenFix offers $5 delivery as far as Encinitas and Rancho Sante Fe with a $25 minimum order. Pro Tip: Bring your own 32-ounce bottle ($10) for refill and receive $1 off every time.
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Trilogy Sanctuary Cafe
From organic oatmeal and buckwheat breakfast burritos, to house-made corn tortilla tacos stuffed with quinoa chorizo, plus spaghetti squash tossed with homemade pesto - aerial yogis and visitor alike can enjoy a wealth of organic, vegan, raw and gluten-free bites at this soulful rooftop café. You’ll find detox programs, fresh cold-pressed juice, and superfood smoothies made with coconut and almond milks, matcha and more to nourish mind and body.
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Poki One N Half
The San Diego love affair with Hawaii’s famed raw fish salad shows no signs of slowing down in 2017, and for a legitimately healthy lunch (or dinner) poke makes a good choice. Lower-mercury picks such as salmon with a fiber-fueled base like brown rice, plus seaweed and veggie heavy toppings help maximize nutrition, bump up your omega-3 intake and minimize the calories. Try Poke One N Half’s regular size bowl with salmon, cucumber and mild sauce.
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Project Juice Hillcrest
You’ll find organic, plant-powered food including the superbly yummy gluten-free avocado toast, plus ‘nut mylks’, smoothies, and assorted acai bowls at this modern juice bar in the heart of Hillcrest. Grab & Go meals include veggie spring rolls and a Mediterranean bowl with chia falafel. There are multi-day juice cleanses – ranging from green and citrus based to blended varieties - weekend recovery packs, plus pantry items like granola, sprouted almonds and superfood blend supplements for at home use.
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