Native Foods Café Comes to North County Jan. 29

After being in the works Native Foods Café will finally open its doors Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Encinitas Village shopping center off Encinitas Boulevard and El Camino Real. 

The casual, vegan eatery delivers salads, wraps, sandwiches and burgers—and most meals with a drink will run you about $13.  You can get a sneak peek at some of those entrees in the photo gallery attached to this story. 

The menu aims to satisfy vegans and carnivores alike with culinary creativity. In fact, at first bite most diners probably wouldn’t be able to tell that’s actually mock chicken in their wrap. And the nachos come piled high with all the fixings you’d expect—only that’s not ground beef on top, it’s flavored seitan (a meat substitute made from wheat), but again, it’s a subtle difference in flavor.

Dessert offerings include everything from peanut butter parfaits to thick-as-brick brownies and cakes. A handful of organic beers are also available.

If you have dietary restrictions, there are some dishes that are nut-free, gluten-free, and soy-free.

Keeping with its vegan roots, Native Foods Café is also big on giving back to organizations that promote compassion for animals and the environment. Past recipients include the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, Elephant Sanctuary, and Animal Acres.

Founded in 1994 by chef Tanya Petrovna, Native Foods Café has grown to become a national chain jeadquartered in Orange County and with locations in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Los Angeles, Portland, and Chicago.

As the Encinitas grand opening date nears, the restaurant plans to host a celebration and offer special promotions, so check back with Patch for updates.