Vegan
American
Fast food
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Catering
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. Casual setting in a unique, yurt-like space with inside and patio seating. Relocated from 2937 Bristol St. Reported closed October 2023.
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350 Clinton Ave, Costa Mesa, California, USA
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Last update on 02 Oct 2023 by Veganbloke
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100 Reviews
First Review by juliotnunes
TFlink
Points +119
Quick, Healthy, Affordable - Edit
It's hard to go wrong at Native Foods. I've memorized their menu; I've been there so many times over the years. Portions are filling and prices are reasonable. This is a great fast-casual spot, and they actually have healthy options that taste amazing. My favorites (with sauces on the side): BBQ Chicken Salad, Chili, Soul Bowl, and the Twister Wrap. Desserts are terrific as well. The oatmeal cookie pie! So good! Seasonal cupcakes and the peanut butter parfait are also crave-worthy.
Read moreIf you live nearby, take advantage of the loyalty program. I've received several free meals from this. Also, Wednesdays are buy one entree, get one free!
Pros: Quick, Dependable, Healthy
Cons: Tough Parking
Guest
sambee
Points +135
AMAZING vegan Mexican food - Edit
First of all, this location is great. It's in a place called The Camp. The whole place is super green and sustainable and super cute, I just loved the vibe. I've heard parking can be tough, but we went around 11:30 and there were a bunch of spots.
Read moreI ordered the Baja Tacos with a side of regular fries and my mom ordered the native chicken, bacon, and avo club with sweet potato fries. We also got an order of guac, chips, and salsa to start. The guac, chips, and salsa were very good. We both liked our fries. But the meals were the best part. My mom is an omnivore that eats regular chicken and bacon on a daily basis so the fact that she loved this meal is saying a lot.
Let me get to the tacos. I was hesitant to get these because the few times that I've tried tempeh I was not a fan. However, I am SO GLAD I gave these a shot. The flavoring and texture was absolutely amazing. The sauce was phenomenal. Overall they were just amazing. I already want to go back.
They also have boxed water which is my favorite and eco friendly so that's a plus.
Pros: Amazing food, Friendly staff, Nice vibe
Cons: NONE
Guest
yeseniayoung
Points +33
my fav vegan restaurant - Edit
I've only been vegan for a year and I don't get out too much I've tried maybe 10 different vegan restaurants and this one is my favorite one!
Read moreThere was one entree I wasn't too fond of and that was their fish tacos, everything else I've tried has been really good.
Pros: good prices, you can place your order online , they actually have a children's menu!
Cons: parking can be difficult
Guest
Hellokitty0325
Points +28
Yummy Food - Edit
Yummy food, good prices, the only problem will be parking but everything else is good.
Read moreGuest
socalRob
Points +231
Vegan fast-casual chain: it's hard to complain - Edit
The food is very flavorful at Native Foods, which is helped by the world-class sauces. Ranch, chipotle, etc are often hard to come by for vegans, but these are the real deal.
Read moreGet yourself a reuben here and thank me later.
Between the two major vegan fast-casual chain restaurants, this one is the winner.
Guest
Glennielover
Points +31
Great Casual Place to Eat - Edit
This place is AWESOME! The menu is HUGE with alot of varieties of food! My favorite is the Oklahoma "Bacon" Cheeseburger! You guys have to try it! Omnivores will love this place as well!
Read moreAlso good service, and friendly staff!
Pros: Delicious mock meat dishes
Guest
veganmonster
Points +272
Great vegan good! - Edit
If you can find parking, this is a great chain restaurant. The hot chai is a must!! Sometimes, the food is better than other times, not always consistently great but mostly always enjoyable.
Read morePros: all vegan, hot chai, lavender lemonade
Cons: finding parking
Guest
Veganbloke
Points +2285
Nice Native Foods Outlet - Edit
I think the yurt set up is pretty cool ( I find the supposed 'alternative culture' of The Lab and Camp is a little underwhelming). Great all vegan food options that most meat heads would probably be okay with. Menu seems a slightly shorter than other NF places I've bee too but not an issue- guess they have less food prep space here and the options are more than enough (I often get 'analysis paralysis' in places with more than one vegan option...)
Read morePros: It's in a YURT!, Serves beer
Guest
yourmoderndayhippie
Points +214
Not my favorite Native Foods - Edit
Unfortunately this place was a bit of a disappointment, I've been to several Native Foods and this one is my least favorite. The atmosphere is great and it's set in a really cool area but the food left a lot to be desired. Not very flavorful and not very fresh.
Read morePros: atmosphere
Cons: Unimpressive food
Guest
40-Year-Old Vegan
Points +73
It's just okay... - Edit
I love that this place is vegan and I hate to say anything negative about any plant-based restaurant,but I'm never really overwhelmed with the quality or flavor of the food. It's good, but not great. I don't go out of my way to go here. They have a good variety of foods but nothing that is memorable enough to make me want to return.
Read morePros: all vegan, good variety of foods, friendly staff
Cons: nothing really memorable about the menu
Guest
maplemag
Points +75
Not what it used to be - Edit
This place has just gone down hill since Chef Tanya stepped down. The food is all processed and heavy, lots of faux meats used. Service isn't the greatest either. Native foods has lost touch with its roots, so sad...
Read moreGuest
autismcaregiver
Points +69
I would like foods that use no refined oil. - Edit
Please make foods that have no refined oil used in their preparation. Please use whole grains and no sugar.
Read moreGuest
ronitw
Points +689
Nice place, nice location - Edit
Had a good lunch of portobello mushroom burger, salad and sweet potato fries. Friendly place, good food.
Read moreGuest
GeorgeR
Points +96
Tasty Food, Good Service ... but the parking! - Edit
The food at Native Foods tastes great! I've eaten there on and off for several years, and the flavors are wonderful. Except for the salads and bowls, I'm not too sure that they are healthy - but then, they aren't claiming that they are - just good, and vegan.
Read moreThey've made some changes over the years - one positive one is that gluten-free items are now listed directly on their menu (you used to have to ask for a separate menu). You order at the counter, and they bring your food to you - which I don't like because I don't really like standing in line, and if I want something else, I don't want to have to go back in line, plus I never know how much to tip. Regardless, that is the routine here.
The parking used to be great, but then something happened about a year ago and now the lot is almost always full. Street parking isn't an option, so two of the last three times I've tried to eat at this shopping center, I've decided to go someplace else because of the parking.
Back to the food - most of the food here is focused on fake meats, which are in the sandwiches, salads, and bowls. They are great, but that seems to be the focus. I used to get the sandwiches a lot, but then it hit me that eating bread with tempeh isn't really very healthy - so now I get the salads or bowls - and they are great.
I just wish they could do something about that parking!
Pros: Good tasting food, Large variety
Cons: Parking, Counter service, Parking
Guest
CalebWalker
Points +28
best mock meat dishes - Edit
I don't eat the fake meat and dairy alternatives. They just are not any good and I love fruits and veggies. Ran into this place and tried the Soul Bowl. Wow, the fake chicken was excellent. My wife got the portobello and sausage burger. It too was amazing. So much flavor. I certainly wish I lives near one of these stores.
Read morePros: flavor, price, service
Cons: not at my house
Guest
vegankiwis
Points +316
A great vegan restaurant - Edit
Despite being in an unpleasant surrounding area, this Native Foods makes up for it. Great food, as are all the Native Foods restaurants. The building is inside The Camp and is a cute area which was cool.
Read moreWe've been there almost weekly, and highly recommend it. Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburgers with Native Fries are amazeballs. This chain is definitely one of the most redeeming features of Orange County!
Pros: 100% vegan, socially conscious, freakin' delicious!
Cons: in Southern California
Guest
valleys and sea
Points +101
unfortunately gone the bigger-means-better route - Edit
i've been eating at native foods for years, since the days of only having the palm springs locations. they were great, being a vegan restaurant at a time when there were a lot fewer of them than there are today. though since then, i've decided it's just not a good experience eating there anymore.
Read moreover that time i've seen the sides disappear and the prices rise - though this is pretty consistent other places as well. and i've had experiences of servers (palm springs is table service) forgetting to place our order and then offering not even an apology, just gruffly putting a dessert list in front of us and telling us to pick something - which might also be an isolated incident. but the worst part of it all is with their expansion has come douchey manager types offering to 'buy me a new watermelon tea' and just the upselling in general. they're clearly going the bigger-means-better route, but it's just created a nasty businesslike atmosphere. something that i tend to like about vegan restaurants and that i liked about native foods is just not there anymore. didn't think i'd miss the days of stoned kids taking my order here, but i'd welcome them back in a second over staff running around and hurriedly trying to ring me up too.
overall, the food tastes great - though tends to be a lot of starchy not-exactly-healthy fare - and i think it's great that vegan places can attract non-vegans and flourish in the first place, though because of how this place has declined and become pretty growth-oriented, i would recommend looking into other nearby places that are still small businesses and not onboard with the fast-paced high-efficiency upselling marketplace vibe.
Pros: food tastes great, good locations
Cons: too many douchey upselling experiences, high efficiency has replaced quality
Guest
vegan_ryan
Points +3865
Best of all Native Foods locations, so delicious! - Edit
I would rank this as the 2nd-best vegan restaurant I've ever been to, after Foodswings in NYC. This place is delicious, fresh, friendly, has tons of options (and all of them are great!).
Read moreThe layout, seating, decorations and whatnot are also really cool.
There aren't enough good things to say about this spot, so just go here.
Pros: All-vegan, Plenty of parking, GREAT food
Cons: None
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Great Space and Food - Edit
I had read about this place on happycow, and here's my Native Foods - Costa Mesa review.
Read moreNative Foods rocks. There are currently a handful of locations in southern California.
My husband and I have eaten just about every thing on the menu. While we don't like every dish (we have some favorites), we are impressed with the originality and the creativity behind the food and the whole Native Foods concept. It's all vegan and organic.
This particular space is architecturally unique. The restaurant is housed in a space shaped like a large yurt (round). A round counter in the middle of the room is surrounded by booths all around the edge. There is also a nice little patio space outside.
Kudos to Tanya Petrovna, the lovely creator, chef, and woman-in-chief. She holds the recipe for the best tempeh, seitan, tofu, and pizza. Recommended when in the area.
Pros: yummy, like fast food but better, organic
Guest
Salgar08
Points +33
Too far away - Edit
We've e-mailed them nicely but they flatly refused to deliver their crunchy Native Chicken Wings with Ranch, (please bring back the) Philly Cheesesteak or even the Good Luck Cupcakes to Dapto, NSW Australia. They told us to "eat peace". I tried it but I'm still hungry and want to sit at the fire pit table with some chili cheese fries and a pale ale. Originally from Tennessee I didn't have many vegan resturaunt options but when we fly back from Australia my wife and I always try to make it to Native Foods if we can.
Read morePros: Varied Menu, Firepit tables, good comfort food
Cons: Bloody tollroads , Kayaking to Japan
Guest
pinkbubble
Points +74
FANTASTIC! - Edit
I can't say enough about this place. My only complaint is that there isn't a location close by me! Very affordable for the quality of food and quantity. I love that the sides are extra so you have the choice of getting it. Nice atmosphere, and helpful staff. I need to make a trip back here just to stop here again!
Read morePros: GREAT food, nice place, ALL vegan
Cons: not close by!
Guest
jamber79
Points +376
So good! - Edit
Love this place! Staff is always friendly and helpful, they have a nice outdoor patio as well as inside seating, and the food is great! Gets very busy around peak hours like lunchtime. The chicken run ranch is a favorite of my meat eating friends and me as well. The meatball sub is great. Friends who have tried the pizza and items made with sliced seitan were not impressed, but they really liked the other two sandwiches i mentioned. You have to try the vegan ranch, its identical to the real thing!
Read moreGuest
SoledadMoretti
Points +77
The Best! - Edit
Native Foods is the best vegan place I've been.
Read moreI dream on having a Native Foods near my hometown.
Nice place, very fast serving, plenty of options, beautiful dish presentation, delicious, healthy, ethical food.
Pros: taste, fast, all vegan
Guest
·X·
Points +18513
Get the Oklahoma Cheeseburger! - Edit
This location is certainly different than the others and in my opinion it's almost hidden. We drove past this place several times and just never found it. Finally I just called them and they told me the trick. This NF is a circular restaurant, it's pretty neat. We (me and 3 non-veg's) ordered at the counter and awaited our food at out booth. I ordered my favorite, the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger and my friends ordered the Chicken Run Ranch Burger, a Twister Wrap, and a Spicy Meatball Pizza. Everyone loved their meal - and those 3 non-vegans said they'd go there on their own because they loved it so much. When we finished we couldn't resist the tasty looking cupcakes. Let me tell you, the rose infused cupcake was to die for. I think Native Foods is not my favorite vegan chain restaurant - lucky me because I was told (and I confirmed) that three locations are opening in Chicago this summer, hooray!
Read moreGuest
soylatte
Points +27
Exceptional & Original Vegan Eats - Edit
I traveled all the way to Costa Mesa just to try this place twice in this same week. The food here is really worth it. I tried the rueban sandwich, in which I am thoroughly impressed. Nothing was missing from this deli classic, aside from the cruelty if you know what I mean. I also tried the sweet potato fries which were crisp and not overly greasy. They were delicious! I took a bite of my boyfriend's "Chicken Run Ranch" burger, which leaves nothing to be missed of the real deal.. in fact I think this food is better.
Read moreOn my next trip I tried the nachos which were half off for happy hour. They were a huge portion which was more than enough to share with my boyfriend. Covered in original cheeses and plenty of soy-meat with lots of beans, gauc, veggies, etc... it was exceptional. I also ordered a portabello sausage burger, which if you love garlic and mushrooms you can't miss this.
The drinks are 2.50 and you get unlimited refills on their watermelon fresca, Lavender Lemonade, and Iced tea, which are all super great! I drank so much of the watermelon drink and I loved it. The first restaurant I have ever been to that doesn't serve the normal fare of nasty soda pops.
Overall, I love this place and wish there was a location in the Inland Empire. The portions are a good size, but I wish the prices were a couple dollars cheaper on the meals.
Pros: Decent Portions, Nice Staff, Friday Happy Hour
Cons: Expensive, Can Be Crowded
Guest
Colby
Points +103
Fresh and Ultra Tasty! - Edit
On my recent vacation to southern California, I had the pleasure of trying out Native Foods for the first time (the Costa Mesa location). My boyfriend had raved about the food during his previous trip to the west coast, so I was anxious to see what all the fuss was about. To my delight, he didn't exaggerate! I loved the Ensalada Azteca, specifically... the service was top notch and speedy. During my nine day stay in Anaheim, we went to Native Foods five times! Chef Tanya knows her stuff, that's for sure.
Read morePros: all vegan, speedy service, friendly staff
Guest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
Different looking location - Edit
While we have been to Native Foods many times, this was our first time at this location. It's located at The Camp and the whole shopping center is eco modern and funky. The restaurant is actually shaped like a Mongolian tent which made for odd shaped booths which really were not big enough for our party of five, so we sat outside on the patio area instead.
Read moreWe all had just been to the Animal Acres' Compassionate Cuisine event the night before and spoken with Chef Tanya (who kindly gave us all $5 gift cards!). We told her we were coming for the new reubens today. Three of us got those while Dirk went with the special of the day: portobello sausage burger since it came with a free side of the lemon dill potato side (the rest of us had to upgrade for it). Our friends' daughter got the new roasted vegetable pizza which looked just divine. We all enjoyed the reubens, but our friends really liked the quesadilla as an appetizer. They had the chicken wings as well. We went with the new nachos which were extremely filling. We all took desserts to go as well...rose cupcakes, chocolate cupcake and cheesecake. Yum yum and more yum!
While the food is the same yummy stuff as the other locations, I didn't particularly care for the lay out here due to the shape, but you can never go wrong with Native Foods!
Pros: yummy comfort foods, easy parking
Cons: building lay out
Guest
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