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My first experience dining at True Food Kitchen was in San Diego, California. I posted some photos on my Instagram stories and left wanting to return especially for their amazing drink menu. Crystal saw my Instagram posts and commented on how she loved the decor. Fast forward two years later and now I have an adorable fur baby Zooey and Crystal was in town visiting me in Los Angeles.

I immediately made reservations at TFK for an outdoor dining experience so that Zooey could join us. I read several reviews that TFK in Pasadena had the best all-around atmosphere both indoors and outdoors and that their customer service was superb.

First Impressions

We parked right next door on a corner street and as soon as we turned the corner, we saw a pretty large crowd of people standing in front of the reception table. Luckily, we had reservations and we were able to immediately sit down at the requested table outdoors. I was so happy that we got a great table and that the staff was so happy to see Zooey dine with us.

The eco-chic design and open concept made the environment so welcoming and relaxing whether you were dining inside or outside. The decor outside was very cozy and some areas had a comfy sofa style seating arrangement. There was ample shade and for the cooler days, there were heating lamps sprinkled throughout the space.

A Menu That Treats All Guests As Individuals

Whether your health-conscious or not, the menu is friendly for all kinds of diets. TFK has amazing healthy meat entrees, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. They are very open to food customization and will accommodate your needs to create a dish that’s ultimately “Your Way”. So if you are a selective with your ingredients, there is no such thing as a picky eater here.

They also use seasonal ingredients, so the items we ordered may not be on the menu when you go since they rotate every 2-3 months.

Creative Craft Cocktails & Refreshers

If you are a fan of fresh drinks, TFK has amazing craft cocktails and refreshers. I actually wouldn’t mind just coming here to have some fresh drinks at the bar with Zooey. There are so many unique and healthy drinks that it’s fun to try a variety of them. The Refreshers don’t have any alcohol and many of them are beneficial for you like the “Medicine Man” or “Dr. Weil’s Wellness Shot”.

Citrus Skinny Margarita - Organic Tequila, Cucumber, Mint

Sparkling Antioxidant Tea - Green Tea, Pomegranate, Butterfly Pea Flower

Crystal ordered a Citrus Skinny Margarita from the Craft Cocktails section and I ordered the Sparkling Antioxidant Tea from the Refreshers section. The Sparkling Antioxidant Tea consisted of green tea, pomegranate, and butterfly pea flower and to be honest I had no idea what a butterfly pea flower was and thought a flower was going to be in my drink. So when I mentioned this to the server, she explained to me that they use a butterfly pea flower powder that is dissolved into the drink.

The powder has a red-blue color, which is what gives it the vibrant purple shade when mixed with the green tea. I have never heard of this flower and apparently it has a high content of anthocyanin which is an antioxidant. For example, fruits like raspberries and blueberries are packed with anthocyanin. I love that I learned about a completely new plant and the drink was both delicious and refreshing.

Health Conscious Food

TFK was inspired by the idea that food should make you feel better and not worse. Ever eat out and feel horrible afterward? I always regret it when I get that gross feeling after a meal and is the reason why I hardly ever eat out unless I am traveling or have guests visiting me. The vision and belief are that delicious dining and conscious nutrition is possible without sacrificing flavor.

Herb Hummus

Cucumber, organic tomato, onion, olive, feta, lemon oregano vinaigrette & house-made pita

I’m a huge fan of hummus and ordered something on the lighter side as I didn’t have a huge appetite. I make my own hummus at home, so I can be pretty picky about the flavor and the consistency. The hummus I ordered was beautifully blended and the organic cherry tomatoes were super juicy. I especially loved that it was topped with red onions and cucumbers.

Korean Noodle

Sweet potato glass noodle, pickled shiitake, organic spinach, rainbow carrot, bean sprout, & toasted sesame

Cyrstal is a huge fan of both sweet potato glass noodles and sesame. Sweet potato glass noodle is pretty much flavorless, so the noodles pretty much soak up the sesame flavors. The noodles are a chewy and light texture that is made from sweet potato starch. They are naturally fat-free and low in calories, making them a healthy choice especially for noodle lovers. The flavors of the dish all blended beautifully, but we both agreed that it was a tad on the spicy side.

Final Thoughts

We both enjoyed our dishes and loved our cozy table outside on the patio in a shaded spot. The service was outstanding and everything we ordered was seasoned and presented beautifully. Zooey was comfortable and everyone was super dog friendly and loved greeting her. I’m hoping someday TFK will have a dog menu for our fur babies.

Dog Bakery in Old Town Pasadena

Since Zooey was being so patient, we decided to treat her to some dessert that was just down the street from TFK. The Dog Bakery is an adorable boutique with super friendly service. As soon as we walked in, one of the employees offered Zooey a treat and she loved the attention. The bakery had such a fun arrangement of baked treats and they even offered custom cakes and treats for birthdays. We ended up ordering Zooey an Animal Style from the bakery and then grabbed a frozen banana yogurt to take home. It’s definitely a fun stop after your meal at TFK.

TFK Locations

We dined at the Pasadena location; however, they have restaurants nationwide with several locations coming soon. We’re really looking forward to the TFK opening coming soon to Tampa, Florida in midtown. Make sure to check if your location is dog-friendly.

True Food Kitchen
@true_food_kitchen
ADDRESS: 168 W Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91105
PHONE: +1 626-639-6818
* Currently Open for Patio Dining