CARLSBAD and LA JOLLA/UTC.  Veggie Grill is pushing plant-based, whole food in an important direction – convenience.  The locations are carefully selected in high traffic areas, the service is swift, and the menu is constantly improving.

In fact, things change so quickly that this is my second post on Veggie Grill!  (Click here to read my previous post!)  This new post celebrates and highlights that (1) Veggie Grill opened a new location in Carlsbad and (2) Veggie Grill recently came out with a new Mindful Living Menu that provides customers with even more healthy options!

Veggie Grill realizes that customers are concerned with more than just the calorie count of their food – they also want to know if a dish is nutritious!  As a result, the Mindful Living Menu goes beyond the traditional counting calories and educates the customer on the vitamin and nutritional content of the dish.

Bombay Bowl:

My first pick was the Bombay Bowl, made from herb roasted veggies, super grains, steamed kale, and cannellini beans that are then topped with cilantro green curry sauce with coconut milk, almonds, and hemp seeds.  Quite simply, I loved this bowl.  The grains, kale, and beans provided a great base to while the curry, coconut milk was creamy and flavorful.  And the almonds added the perfect amount of crunch!

What’s the nutritional profile of this dish?  590 calories, 17 grams of protein, and an entrée that is high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids!

BBQ Tempeh Plate:

Are you a vegan who prefers gluten-free options?  The Mindful Living Menu has you covered.  I tried the BBQ Tempeh Plate made from organic, blackened tempeh, caramelized onions, house made BBQ sauce, super grains, and coleslaw.

Since becoming vegan, I have not experimented much with barbecue sauce.  So I was surprise how much I liked this dish.  The caramelized onion and BBQ sauce on top of the tempeh made the experience reminiscent of eating ribs – except better, because there were no ribs!

I also decided to dig into the coleslaw.  I have never enjoyed the mayonnaise-drenched soggy veggies in traditional coleslaw.  However, Veggie Grill’s Cole Slaw was completely different – I could taste the crisp cabbage underneath the dressing.  Not to mention it further fuels the nostalgia for barbecue!

And it’s not just a comfort food menu item.  The BBQ Tempeh Plate with Supergrains has 650 calories, 30 grams of protein, contains all of the essential amino acids, and has a ton of fiber!

Quinoa Power Salad:

Finally, I tried the Quinoa Power Salad made from quinoa, kale, avocado, fresh fennel, cannellini beans, romaine, carrots, almonds, currants, and mint and then topped with citrus dressing and hemp seeds.  The salad was light, but with a symphony of tastes from the various herbs.  I particularly liked the citrus dressing.  This is the perfect thing to order when you don’t want to weigh yourself down.

Also, this salad has an awesome nutritional profile.  It has 690 calories, 15 grams of protein and is an excellent source of Iron, Potassium, Selenium, Magnesium, Thiamine, Vitamin B6, and folate!

Veggie Grill makes it easy to order!  Simply place an order with a cashier, receive a number order, and wait for your food to be brought to your table!

Veggie Grill’s Carlsbad location has a variety of comfy booths available for their customers.  The red walls and printed hanging lights bring a cheerful air to the restaurant.

There is also a great outdoor patio area for those looking to enjoy sunny San Diego.  You’ll be comfortable no matter where you end up!

La Jolla/UTC:

4353 La Jolla Village Drive

Suite, H28

La Jolla, CA 92122

858.458.0031

Carlsbad:

965 Palomar Airport Road

Carlsbad, CA 92011

760.438.0034