Healthy Eats in Newport Beach for 2024
If you’ve managed to stick to your new year’s resolutions, kudos to you! For most, January is a month dedicated to detoxing and finally putting that gym membership to good use. So if shaping up and eating clean appeals to you, this handy healthy dining guide will help you stay on track as we continue into the new year. From farm-to-table restaurants to grab-and-go juice bars, let this list be your guide to good, clean eating in Newport Beach.
Farm-to-Table
Loved for its rotating seasonal menu and fresh ingredients, True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island is a must-try if you’re in the mood for a hearty, healthy meal. The restaurant accommodates all types of food allergies and preferences, and it just released its winter menu, which is chock-full of cold-weather delights, like the Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Seasonal Harvest Salad and Southwest Bison Sausage Pizza.
Nobody does farm-to-table quite like Lido Bottle Works. Executive Chef Joel Gutierrez takes pride in using sustainable and locally sourced ingredients in each dish—many of them are even sourced from the restaurant’s on-site garden! Grab a table at this waterfront locale and enjoy fresh eats like Chef Gutierrez’s Curried Beef Meatballs, Apple & Kohlrabi Salad and their Lido Catch, which changes daily and features locally caught fish.
For a healthy lunch with a side of harbor views, make your way over to Lido Marina Village’s Malibu Farm. This chic restaurant not only boasts a clean, minimalist aesthetic, but it has a menu to match! Each dish—whether it be the Baked Coconut French Toast for brunch or the Miso Tahini Salmon for dinner—is crafted with fresh produce and proteins sourced mainly from small farms.
Just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy an upscale dining experience. Farmhouse is a cozy restaurant in Corona del Mar surrounded by lush foliage and rustic accents, making it an ideal spot for an intimate sit-down meal. Whether you’re grabbing lunch with a friend or popping in for a cozy date night, you’re sure to love Farmhouse’s curated menu of fresh, seasonal selections.
Sit-Down
Boasting a classic cafe menu full of fresh eats, Zinc Cafe & Market in Corona del Mar is an ideal pitstop for anyone traveling up or down Pacific Coast Highway. The space features a charming vine-covered patio as well as an adjacent market full of grab-and-go goodies. Everything served here is vegetarian-friendly—from the huevos rancheros to the black bean chili and mushroom dijon burger.
Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, paleo or just hungry, Flower Child can accommodate any and all dietary preferences without skimping on flavor. The restaurant boasts a colorful, eclectic interior, and if that’s what gets you through the door, the menu of hearty bowls, fresh salads and tasty wraps will surely make you want to stay.
Café Gratitude is the name, and organic, plant-based food is the game. If you’re vegetarian, vegan or simply want to eat more veggies, this sprawling cafe is the place to dine. The food menu takes diners from breakfast to lunch to dinner, showcasing dishes like the Housemade Tofu Scramble and Raw Basil Pesto Kelp Noodles. In terms of drinks, there’s everything from cold-pressed juices and smoothies to immunity-boosting lattes and iced teas.
When it comes to south-of-the-border fare, the options aren’t always health-conscious. Newport Beach’s Gracias Madre, however, offers a variety of Mexican dishes you can feel good about eating! With a selection of gluten-free and plant-based options, like their Fuerte Crunch Wrap and Chipotle Barbacoa Tacos, you’re sure to find something to nosh on without feeling guilty. This Mexican hotspot is sure to help you stick to your 2024 resolutions.
Grab-and-Go
For a healthy snack on the go, EarthBar on Westcliff Drive is an easy stop if you’re in the mood for something nutritious and refreshing. Choose between smoothies like the Blueberry Bliss or Detox Greens, or opt for a piece of avocado toast. EarthBar also sells supplements, pressed juices and immunity shots too!
Fuel your day with a trip to Jan’s Health Bar! This fast-casual restaurant in Corona del Mar offers a variety of health-conscious food options, including juices, smoothies, salads, sandwiches, wraps and bowls. For lunch, we love the Tsunami Bowl, Jan’s Fresco Wrap and Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich. Be sure to pair your pick with a juice or smoothie, like the P.B. and Kale made with peanut butter, strawberry, blueberry, banana, kale and fresh apple juice.
Vibe is an all-organic restaurant that serves plant-based juices and eats that’ll have you saying, “New year, new me!” Stop by in the a.m. and enjoy tasty dishes like the Breakfast Bowl, Smashed Avocado Toast or Overnight Protein Oats, or pick up one of their salads or bowls for lunch! Vibe also offers a menu of smoothies and juices packed with organic fruits and veggies.
Written by: Kaylin Waizinger
