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Vegan
American
Fast food
Take-out
Fusion
Small chain of vegan restaurants originating from Southern California. Offers a menu of sandwiches, veggie burgers, bowls, salads, and others. Order at the counter and food is brought to your table. This one est. 2012. Now offering 'Plant-Based Proteins' check app for more details and to place an order. Reported closed October 2023.
106 Reviews
First Review by lisamoshop
Troktagon
Points +179
(EDITED 7/2016) - They've changed, and gotten worse - Edit
ORIGINAL POST
Read moreFast, convenient, inexpensive, and vegan. How could you go wrong? I've liked everything I've ever had here, and I've been here many times. They have a good rewards program - $10 off for every $200 you spend.
Some of their dishes can be a bit heavier/too oily compared to what I'm used to with vegan food, especially because most have fake cheese or meat. In fact, we didn't go here for the first year we live in Boulder because we didn't realize it was vegan. We had seen the menu outside and everything seemed to have chicken in it. Their bowls are more of the lighter, fresher vegan I prefer with kale, grains, and veggies, and they are fantastic!
EDITED 7/16
------
My wife and I have stopped going here. They're gone almost completely to mock meats and vegan junk foods. Everything is too oily and heavy now. They send us a BOGO coupon every Wednesday yet we've never used them. Not even worth going anymore, even if one of our meals is free. I think they only deserve 1-star but I can't give that since Happy Cow won't allow it for a completely vegan restaurant.
Updated from previous review on 2016-07-22
Pros: Inexpensive, Fast
Cons: Oily, Heavy, No fresh veggie options, all based on fake meats
Guest
Jdclark08
Points +84
fantastic - Edit
I probably had the best vegan meal ever here! I had the chicken club and it was amazing. The nachos are to die for. I will be back!
Read moreGuest
sdeleon10
Points +65
Fast food option - Edit
This is a nice fast food option for vegans and vegetarians. The line ends up being a lot like Chipotle's, which is long but that's fine with me. The food is good, I got a bowl both times I went. I will say that the tofu was horribly seasoned and I barely touched it. The rest of the bowl was awesome though. I also think there needs to be more variety to what a person ordering Gluten Free can order, but that's unfortunately the case at most restaurants.
Read morePros: Quick, Healthy Faster Food
Cons: Tofu Unseasoned , Variety of GF Options
Guest
Twee G
Points +187
perfect quick healthy tasty conscious food - Edit
A five for fast slow food. A four for overall vegan across America. Right on. We were in San Diego last month at a Native Foods there and it was the perfect fast slow casual our family needed. They hit it out of the ballpark. My two girls and husband devoured it all. Including the peanut butter parfait and cookie sandwich desserts and awesome drinks!
Read moreGuest
sufirehorse
Points +105
Never Again - Would rate zero if possible - Edit
I originally rated them as mediocre but now they are terrible. The food always sounds promising but lacks flavor, the quantity of food for the costs is poor and the menu is heavy on mock meats. Even my teen son didn't like it when we went recently to participate in a fundraiser and to give NF one last chance. We both were unimpressed and left with stomach aches as the food sat like rocks for hours. The food there is so processed it's minimally flavored junk food. We will not be going back again as we prefer real food with a pleasant taste.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday July 11, 2015
Pros: Friendly staff
Cons: Over processed Junk Food, Low quantity of food vs cost
Guest
JordanFlewelling
Points +34
THE place for vegans in Boulder - Edit
Before Thrive came along, this was the only all-vegan restaurant in Boulder. I've never had something I didn't enjoy here! Amazing chef, and they often have cooking classes and community events! Wonderful, kind and fast service, amazing food. Even your meat-eating friends are sure to love this place!
Read moreGuest
m@earthville
Points +10715
A winning formula - Edit
We've eaten at the original Native Foods in California, and we're happy to have them in Boulder and Denver now and the Boulder location did not disappoint. The food was very well prepared on all three of our visits.
Read moreWith a diverse and inventive menu of healthful items using some organic ingredients, very warm and attentive staff, a relaxed and spacious environment, and reasonable prices considering the quality of the food, we find Native Foods to be one of the most recommendable restaurants in the Boulder and Denver areas.
A few specifics:
• Twister wrap is tasty and filling.
• Butternut pesto polenta bites are a great appetizer or light meal.
• Sweet potato fries and regular "seasoned fries" are surprisingly scrumptious, with perfect texture.
• The desserts are divine.
Service was friendly and helpful. Even though it's a counter-service establishment, they do look after their guests quite well.
They also have a frequent diner card that gives you free stuff after a certain amount of purchases.
There's ample free parking in the lot.
The only thing that would make it better is even more organic and local ingredients.
We'll be back!
Enjoy :-)
Updated from previous review on Tuesday February 03, 2015
Pros: delicious, varied menu, all vegan!
Guest
Ellenkm
Points +979
Native Foods is always great! - Edit
We've been to Native Foods in California and DC and are always pleased. Old fans should know it's not the original owner, but it's still great. They also have all vegan beers and wines.
Read moreGuest
Tomie Rogers
Points +40
Vegan Dining at its Finest! - Edit
Happened to find this on the mobile Happy Cow app while traveling to Estes Park CO. Just reading the menu options had us anxious and excited, and we were not disappointed. They call this chain "fast food vegan". Everything is made from scratch, from their tempeh to "chicken". It was delicious. So much so, we ordered our dinner to take back to our cabin. I had no idea this place existed but now that I do, I will travel 3 hours to eat there again!!
Read morePros: Excellent food, Friendly staff, Extensive choices
Guest
Pociolka
Points +25
Great lunch spot - Edit
I go here for lunch when I crave a filling portion size and protein. Everything I've had so far was really good, and the price is right. I think the portobello sausage burger and scorpion burger would satisfy even meat-eaters. For a healthier option you can have steamed kale with sour kraut and tempeh. It's not a fancy dine-out type of place; it has more of a chain fast-food-ish feel to it, but a has very tasty food.
Read morePros: Filling portions, Very tasty, Good value
Cons: Chain restaurant feel
Guest
Umapuma
Points +35
They Probably Have What You Want - Edit
I am a vegan who misses meat and cheese sometimes and am thrilled to have the taste and texture of wings, chili, nacho cheese, Italian meats, chicken and the like. They do an amazing job, have lots of super healthy meals featuring vegetables and their desserts are quite tasty. I go to Native in Boulder every year on my birthday.
Read morePros: wine and beer too!, always very friendly, meat eating in-laws even like the food
Cons: a little casual?
Guest
clcphoto2007
Points +40
A piece of heaven! - Edit
I was traveling in the area and came across Native food. As a vegan it's hard to come across a good restaurant and even a restaurant that's 100% vegan. I wish I could've tried everything on the menu. My husband I share the nacho plate and Buffalo wings and chipotle chicken sandwich and their brownie for dessert. Everything was fabulous I don't think I've ever been so stuff after a meal. I can't wait to come across one of these again. This was a nice little treat.
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Vegan American food, So many options!
Cons: Need more locations
Guest
HappyCowKeown
Points +166
ALL VEGAN casual dining. - Edit
This is our go-to restaurant in Boulder for food to satisfy kids and grown-ups alike. The menu has burgers for my husband (Scorpion and Mushroom are his 2 favs), glorious bowls or salads for me (proper veg-head) and chicken nuggets for the kiddos (we add steamed kale). An entree each is enough. although the sweet potato fries with chipotle sauce are a must as a side or bowl to share. As a health-nut veg-head I do crave comfort food at times and this is the place for it! I like their zucchini bread for dessert and the kiddos like the cupcakes mainly because of the RIDICULOUSLY tall faux-frosting. You get a free refill on your soy chai. Also, Tuesdays and Wednesdays (mostly) you get a free dessert with an order of an entree and drink. We've eaten here over 20 times with non-veg friends and family and they like it too! If you sign up for their rewards program they give you $10 towards a meal on your birthday and $10 for every $200 cumulatively spent. They send occasional emails detailing cooking classes (quarterly) - the classes are well worth attending for recipes, giveaways & vegan cooking tips.
Read morePros: good prices, big portions (especially the bowls), Everything is vegan - even the 'chicken'
Cons: cafe-style/informal (make a line, pay, wait), busy (only because it's so good)!, frosting is ridiculous!
Guest
teafour2
Points +221
Too good to be true? - Edit
Hands up, my review is coloured by being a Brit; lots of our vegan restaurants - which are a huge novelty in themselves here - serve grains, vegetables and stuff that sounds healthy, we just really don't have this type of restaurant in the UK. To be truthful, we looked at the menu we very nearly left ('Chicken in BBQ sauce? Where's the vegan food?!') not realising of course that EVERYTHING is vegan. Having had that revelation, the novelty of american style vegan food meant we ordered way too much: a starter each, a main each, a pudding and a shake each. The food came quickly, they were big portions, and to a Brit it was all pretty cheap. All the food tasted good, with a mix of textures and styles, and the staff were very helpful. The only thing I could criticise was that the layout means you sit very close to others, but this is a tiny price to pay for the overwhelming choice and tasty food.
Read morePros: choice, big portions, cheap (for me)
Cons: a bit crowded
Guest
surfaces
Points +180
Unexpected - Edit
Oddly good food for the most part, 3 of 4 meals I've had were 4.5/5, one (a greek gyro quinoa salad) was maybe 2.5/5 for lack of flavor. Strange fast-casual corporate-feeling atmosphere—but I don't dine out very often, so maybe I'm uniquely caught off-guard. Menu is heavily weighted toward fake-meats, which I am somewhat uninterested in (even if made in-house)—I prefer my plants as they are, less processed. Wish Native Foods had a wider variety of legumes and beans in place of the "chicken". Still, I would definitely go here again when in Boulder.
Read morePros: Great taste, medium variety, Good price/portions, for Boulder, Daily special adds free side order
Cons: Fake-meat reliant, Odd insincere corporate atmosphere, "Too friendly" staff?
Guest
fondducoeur
Points +1167
Large Menu, All Vegan - Edit
This is the second Native Foods I have visited (the first in Chicago) and my opinion is the same. The food is not the most flavorful vegan fare I have eaten, but there is a large menu (burgers, bowls, appetizers, desserts, etc), it is pretty good, and it's all vegan. This time around I had the Sesame Kale Macro bowl (tempeh, ginger sesame sauce, steamed kale, sauerkraut, brown rice, cucumber salad) which I enjoyed quite a bit. My husband got the Scorpion Burger (tempeh w/chipotle sauce, avocado, veggies) and was less pleased as it was kind of bland and I couldn't taste the chipotle on it at all. We split and order of Native Chicken Wings w/ranch, which were good, and we both enjoyed the desserts we got to go (I had the carrot cream cheese cupcake and he got the peanut butter parfait). It's great to have a chain of fast-casual vegan restaurants and I hope they continue to expand (hopefully to my home town of St. Louis!). I would not hesitate to hit up another one I happen to come across.
Read morePros: Large Vegan Menu, Great Native Chicken Wings, Vegan Desserts
Cons: Dishes can be a bit bland
Guest
DougMcCallum
Points +44
Good all vegan menu - Edit
The food is good (not great) and gives an option when shopping in Boulder. I would prefer to see some non-fake-meat/tofu options on the menu for protein. Lots of good "real food" alternatives out there. Other than that, it has been good the couple of times we've been.
Read morePros: Good food, All Vegan
Cons: A little pricey, Too much dependence on meat substitutes
Guest
Gopala108
Points +5790
Vegan Restaurant in Boulder - Edit
I'm happy that we now have a vegan restaurant in Boulder. This place is one of my favorites w/ a changing daily special and friendly service.
Read morePros: All vegan, Lots of variety, Friendly Service
Cons: They sold out of the vegan lasagna once
Guest
saysuan
Points +142
Native Foods - Edit
Went to Boulder especially to try this restaurant and were not disappointed. Just wish they would open in Northern California where we have an abundance of wonderful vegan chefs but few affordable vegan restaurants. Hope that will change.
Read morePros: Delicious food, Great prices, Nice vibe
Cons: None in Northern California
Guest
Gabe
Points +117
Not too shabby - Edit
It's nice that some place has opened in town which has more or less filled the niche that was left empty when VG Burgers closed. I haven't been impressed by all the dishes I've tried, but others are great (I like the Meatball Sub, the Twister Wrap, and the Reuben). Desserts and beverages are tasty too. Service is usually fairly prompt, including takeout, though sometimes they make mistakes if you customize an order. Other than that, the only complaint I have about service is that certain servers (including [I think] the manager) can come on a little too strong, e.g. be so helpful and enthusiastic it's exhausting - but I'm the kind of person who really prefers a hands-off approach when someone is serving me food. The decor is also pretty tacky. Regardless, it's worth the trip because it's the only fully vegan place in town with palatable food.
Read morePros: good selection, all vegan, quick service
Cons: parking sucks at peak hours, staff can be *too* helpful, please pay someone to redecorate
Guest
monicalsmith1
Points +98
Great food great prices - Edit
All vegan and all amazing. We had the portobello sausage burger, oklahoma bbq "burger", and meatball sub, with lentil soup, fries and sweet potato fries. The pesto sauce on the meatball sub and sausage burger was divine!
Read morePros: Great food, Great fast service
Cons: Parking can be tight
Guest
KasloColorado
Points +51
Incredible variety, great service - Edit
The entire menu is vegan and there's quite a variety to choose from. I've tried the nachos, meatball sub, curry, mac and cheese, cupcakes, and cheesecake. The cupcakes are amazing! Light and fluffy cake with an artful tower of creamy not-too-sweet frosting. The carrot up cake with cream cheese frosting is the best. Oh, and the portabella burger was not my favorite due to an unusual patty, but you can't please everyone, all the time. The service really is exceptional. The staff have all seemed to be in a genuinely good mood, each time I've visited. There is no shortage of awesome vegan options in Boulder, but this restaurant is absolutely the best fast, casual dining option for vegans.
Read morePros: All vegan, Variety, Great service
Cons: I can't help but eat too many cupcakes.
Guest
HappyGFV
Points +28
Pure heaven! - Edit
Every single town and city should be required to have a "Native Foods" so I could travel and have wonderful food everywhere I go!
Read moreGuest
initfortheanimals
Points +20
All Gluten, All Soy, All Hype - Edit
This place is your typical "tell you what you want to hear" establishment.
Read moreThey need to be honest about the food they sell, the staff and management are totally uninformed about ingredients, foods containing gluten, or GMOs.
I've been here several times since they opened, half of the items on the menu "aren't available", other items that are labeled as "gluten free" are not, the food is MEDIOCRE at best.
They claim "local", what a joke! I challenge Native Foods to show Boulder what exactly they are sourcing that is local, I guarantee that nothing they serve is local, they even told me that the soy/gluten meat that they use is made in a factory in California.
I'm glad that people can get a vegan option while they are at the mall, but all these local claims from a Chicago/California based corporation are a bit insulting.
If you live in Denver, just stick with Watercourse, its better food, and at least
they are a real local business.
Pros: vegan, wait staff
Cons: food, dishonest , non local
HappyVeganMom
I've noticed several gluten-free options on the menu. Are you claiming that these items actually contain gluten and the business is knowingly lying to customers? If so, please provide details. Also, which half of the menu was unavailable and on which date? I have been here several times and have not experienced anything being unavailable.
Read moreThis is one of the only all-vegan restaurants in Boulder. If you are "in it for the animals," please provide all the facts when disparaging a vegan venture. VG Burger has recently been replaced by a chicken wings restaurant. It would really be a shame if this restaurant met the same fate.
Guest
lisamoshop
Points +28
XL Portions of Most Delicious Veg Food in Boulder - Edit
So far I've tried Native Foods' chicken wings (awesome!), Soul Bowl,(delicious!), Native Nachos (magnificent!), strawberry parfait (no dairy! wait, wha?) and of course their housemade drinks (watermelon, and lavender lemonade). Everything has been fantastic, mouth watering, fresh, flavorful, and 100 percent vegan. Portions are huge, so part of today's lunch will probably become tonight's dinner. Good thing, because the prices can run upwards of 25 dollars for an appetizer, entree, drink and dessert. If youre budget conscious, skip the appetizer, but don't skip desssert!
Read moreOne more thing: The decor is great, bright and cheerful with lots of seating available and a gorgeous mural to gaze at while you eat. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is very cheerful.
Pros: huge portions, best vegan food around, great atmosphere
Cons: a little pricey
Guest
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