True Food Kitchen - Pasadena

We’ve eaten here several times and always like it. But tonight the service was way off - one item had to be sent back and the replacement came so late that everyone else was on dessert by the time it came. The manager did make it up to us by discounting the check, but it was frustrating.

Thoroughly enjoyed True Food. The menu has a wide variety of dishes. Food well prepared and presented nicely. Good flavors. Highly recommend!

Loved the flavors! I even got my 9 yr old nephew to eat brussel sprouts and mushrooms! Can't wait to try more items next time. Service was quick and staff were friendly. Having valet service was convenient also. Friendly attendant.

True Food Pasadena has a policy with reservations I've never seen anywhere else. We had a 5:45pm reservation and already the three staff at the hostess table appeared very overwhelmed and they made us wait almost 15 minutes before seating us. They said the restaurant gives customers a 15 minute window for a late arrival on a reservation and they assert the same right for seating us. Apparently a reservation no longer means a table is reserved. There was a distinct absence of a customer friendly attitude.

We have dined here so many times and it is a favorite place of ours, unfortunately, we did not have a good evening or service. I hope it is a one-off and eventually we will go back.

We decided to try out this place after walking past it a couple times for awhile. We really enjoyed our meal. Started off with a butternut squash soup that was delicious and a roasted brussel sprouts appetitzer that was little too burnt but we just pulled away the black leaves and enjoyed the rest.

My wife had the fish tacos which was very tasty with the pickled jicama and I loved the margarita pizza which had nice crispy crust.

We finished up with a creamy chia seed pudding that we also enjoyed that as well. Also tried their sparking antioxidant tea that was very refreshing. Service was courteous and very attentive. We will definitely come back to try the other offerings on their menu.

The NOISE level is annoying .
Breakfast options are served only on the weekend , and that is a real disappointment.
Great to have True Foods in Pasadena !!

Fabulous food, ambiance, staff! Can't wait to go again!

I would have given 5 stars overall but service is always slow.

It was very loud even though the place was half empty. It was hard to enjoy a nice conversation with my friends over brunch. The waitress was okay, nothing special. Didn’t check up on us very much. I ordered the steak tacos and they were the worst I’ve ever had. The meat was grossly cooked. It didn’t look burned but it tasted burned and very dry with no seasoning. I liked the taco toppings but that was it. The tea was horrible too. My friends seemed to enjoy their meals and the cauliflower appetizer was good. Not brunching here ever again.

This place keeps the flavors so simple but so unexpected and delicious

Had a business lunch and they were very accommodating about putting us in an area that wasn’t loud. Love everyone here and the food is always flawless. The gluten free pita is actually better than the regular!!

Vanessa was our server and she was beyond excellent. She made our night with her attentiveness, knowledge, ability to address allergic request and she was very personable.

The food , as usual, was delicious, but the experience was made by her service.

Thank You Vanessa.

Good service. But food is overrated.

food is excellent, service is AWESOME, the waiters are wonderful happy people which brings good vibes in the restaurant and makes the ambiance so pleasant. Keep up the nice work. I love this place. I am there almost once a week.

Relaxed setting with easy-going customer service. Food was delicious, and seasonal, with interesting flavor combinations.

Many choices of fresh, well presented dishes of good portion size. Something for everyone! Good wine selection, too. Lovely open atmosphere. Both outdoor and indoor seating make it comfortable whatever your preference.

Great staff too!

One note - the staff does not seem to quiet young children who are unruly. That's a shame.

Overall, our dinner was very good. It was an beautiful night to sit outside and service was friendly, helpful, and attentive. Our appetizers, the edamame dumplings and roasted Brussels sprouts, were delicious. I wasn't really a fan of the ginger margarita - i felt the sea buckthorn overpowered the tequila and ginger. For our entrees, we had the cauliflower polenta and thai coconut sea bass. Both were good but did not live up to the expectations set by the amazing appetizers. The flourless chocolate cake and squash pie finished off the dinner on a high note... very, very good. We will definitely be back.

True food kitchen in Pasadena reliably provides good service, healthy ingredient-conscious food that is also great tasting. This weekend’s experience was outstandingly wonderful 100% because of the service we received from Amanda. She is genuine, thoughtful and a very skilled communicator. One of my friends is very needy and can even be abrasive. I’ve never seen someone handle her as artfully as Amanda did. She should be a trainer for True Food Kitchens, or restaurants everywhere. I would come back every week if it meant we could be served by her. Thank you for a great experience!

The very personable and solicitous server was mostly MIA and managed to mess up one of the orders, but, he was able to successfully arrange to lower the music (speaker right over our patio table). But we loved the food and will come back.

Anniversary

Outstanding, healthy food. Superb service. Extremely attentive staff. We NEVER had to ask for anything. The noise level was bit high. Not so noisy for socializing, but perhaps for a business lunch - which is what we were there for. Great vibe. Casual but super professional staff - well above the norm.

We all got there on time and asked for something in the shade. They sat us at a high table which was fine. After 10 minutes we told the hostess that no one had been to our table yet and she said she’d send our waiter right over. No one came for ten more minutes and she said she’d be back with water then take our drink order. We received our water from another staff member but the waitress didn’t come back for another 10 minutes. We were there for half an hour before we ordered drinks. Once we got our drinks she finally came back for our food order. By the time our food arrived it was cold and we had to remind them that we’d ordered an appetizer which came soon after that. I’ve been there numerous times and had great experiences there but this was not one of them. Very disappointed but willing to give them another chance.

Love the food and our female server! Took my daughter-in-law and her Mom for lunch. We had a lovely time!

The Food is always good, the kitchen is slow , we ordered very basic dishes it took 40 min.
Ran out of Glasses and brought us plastic cups which I found unacceptable.

Incredible organic food. With a lot of special diets, no one sacrifices their special requirements for the “house salad”. Absolutely delicious, every bite. It’s super loud inside, and outside can be painfully sunny, but under an umbrella their outdoor area is perfect.

Must have been an off night. Really bad. The food is usually very good. It took FOREVER to get anything...drinks, water, food...and the food when it did come was cold and bland. Good thing the True Food in PA has always been enjoyable or we would just never go again. Ugh!

Love the patio - loud inside

I love the indoor/outdoor California vibe, plentiful portions, healthy and hearty ingredients, tasty flavors, and friendly, seamless service. So... pretty much, I love everything about True Food Kitchen.

We sat outside because there was a VERY loud group inside. We liked the patio but it was a little chilly and the fire pit wasn’t working. But this Angeleno survived! 😉 That was my reason for 4 on ambiance instead of 5. Otherwise, a GREAT experience. This was my first time dining at this incarnation. I’ve been a bajillion times over 30 years at this location. I hope this one stays! I’ll be back!

The server was “training “ another server/ waitress on a Saturday night. Combined with it being busy and looked full to capacity, it took a long time for our server to acknowledge us,or take our order. The food took its time getting to us but was delicious as always. The courtyard experience is wonderful. We will return. Loved the new fall menu; the kale Cobb salad was shared as an appetizer and we thought it was delightful. The my friend order the seasonal fish dish and I had to go with a favorite the inside out quinoa burger with 1/2 kale and sweet potato sides. To begin with a refreshing hangover RX and end the meal with the decadent flourless chocolate cake and vegan vanilla ice cream on top.

We didn’t have a server assigned to us and we were almost forgotten. Little disappointing because we go at least once a month.

Food is very bland. Server was super nice and ambiance is also nice. . But I would not go back for the food. Also price was way too expensive. Lunch for two girls cost $140.00

Great food, slow service and as always very slow to get drinks and wine

I’ve been to True Food a lot and usually they are quite good. I asked for the bison burger well done and it came out quite pink. I’d canceled an order of Brussel sprouts that still weren’t out 7-10 minutes after the burger. When I sent the burger back, the server offered to bring out brussel sprouts on the house. Ironically, the second burger still made it out again before the brussel sprouts. I was grateful I didn’t have to pay for the brussel sprouts as I only ate one bite. They were supposedly roasted brussel sprouts but weren’t like any I’ve tasted. I didn’t like the sauce. It was very thick and gooey. Finally, there were many tiny black flying bugs around the booth/table. It took me a while to figure out that they were also on the wall behind the booth. I pointed them out to management and she said they had just had their plant person come last night and switch out some plants so maybe they were related to that. The burger I finally got that was well done was delicious.

For a healthy meal, you won't be disappointed at TFK. I have eaten at this restaurant many, many times. All of my meals have been excellent, tasty and most of all--a healthy choice. The fall menu has just come out--you must have a slice of the squash pie!! OMG! The servers are always welcoming, friendly and attentive. This is a first-rate quality establishment that you must experience. Your tummy will thank you!! Enjoy!

We love eating on the patio and look forward to the Fall menu changes.

I always love eating at TFK but we had the worst waitress this time! Hoping it's not a switch in management because I've been there many times and had nothing but impeccable, friendly and efficient service. This time it took us probably 20 minutes to get drinks after ordering - the appetizers arrived first. Water glasses weren't filled, she never checked on us and the bill arrived and was taken for payment before we even got our coffee. She honestly asked "should I give you more time?" when my companion was taking a few *seconds* deciding between glasses of wine when they were out of her first choice. SMH. Food is always good here and I love that you both eat well and walk away feeling well. I am very much hoping the service experience was a one-off and we can continue to come here for a nice meal.

We have been here many times and like it for it’s healthy flavorful options, reasonable prices, fun atmosphere (especially on the patio). I would normally give five stars all around for a casual dining restaurant experience. This was Labor Day, and they were a little off. Food was ok, sides were served luke warm not hot. Hostesses at front seemed overwhelmed — restaurant at 5:15 was not filled yet people were waiting for tables. We had 5:15 reservation and were seated at 5:30. Not awful but not great.
We will go again, just perhaps not on a holiday.

Great food and service! Glad I made a reservation even for the first hour of service - became full very quickly! Indoor dining room was loud - needs more sound dampening acoustic materials to reduce noise.