Top 5 Healthy Eateries Around Cincinnati, OH

A nutritious meal can invigorate you and help you have a productive, joyful day. Whether you’re feeding a growing family or just yourself, it’s important to find opportunities to eat balanced, wholesome meals. Fortunately, Cincinnati has plenty of options for convenient salads, bowls, and juices, and we’ve gathered some of the best for you. Here’s our list of the top five healthy eateries around Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Whole Bowl

Locals love The Whole Bowl, a walk-up counter for a quick and easy lunch that vegetarians and vegans can enjoy alongside omnivores. They offer three sizes, including the Bambino Bowl, the Big Bowl, and the Insatiabowl. You can order any bowl vegan, and all bowls come without wheat, gluten, nuts, or hydrogenated oil. Bowls come with:

• Black beans.
• Red beans.
• Brown rice.
• Black olives.
• Cheddar cheese.
• Salsa.
• Sour cream.
• Avocado.
• Cilantro.
• Tali Sauce.

You can get corn tortilla chips on the side, and drinks like kombucha, matcha lattes, and vegan hot chocolate are served. For a sweet treat, order a chocolate chip cookie or chocolate-covered macaroon for after. You can even get the cookies vegan. With a simple but adaptable menu and friendly counter service, The Whole Bowl is a stress-free healthy lunch spot. The Whole Bowl is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day but Sunday. Park near friends, pop open your spacious Toyota trunk, and enjoy a car picnic outside this grab-and-go eatery on your next lunch break.

Olive Tree

Olive Tree is a Cincinnati-based Syrian restaurant that uses fresh ingredients and draws inspiration from Middle Eastern tradition. Flavorful chickpeas, zucchini, pistachios, and eggplant are central in most dishes, as well as meats like lamb. To begin, enjoy a fresh dip like summac hummus with lemon, garlic, and olive oil, beet dip with tahini and lemon, or damascus taquia, a different hummus with Aleppo pepper and cumin. Favorite entrees include the vegetables, which feature onion, squash, tomato, eggplant, and saffron rice in a spiced sauce, and the shysh lamb, which features flavorful grilled lamb with sides of rice and salad.

Locals also enjoy the Olive Tree’s sweet treats, so consider finishing your meal off with a baklava or a pistachio warbat. The Olive Tree is open Tuesday through Saturday at their Oakley Kitchen location, and on Saturdays, you can also visit them at Findlay Market. This family-owned restaurant cooks their dishes from scratch and selects spices, sauces, and ingredients carefully to offer rich, flavorful dishes that capture the tradition of Syrian cooking.

Rooted Juicery & Kitchen

Photo via Flickr by Robert Gourley

With four locations scattered across Cincinnati, Rooted Juicery & Kitchen helps Cincinnati locals get their vegetables in, whether you prefer to eat them or drink them. Menus vary a bit between locations, but options include:

• Regular and gluten-free bagels with avocado toppings, vegetables, cream cheese, or carrots sliced like lox.
• Superfood oats with almond butter, blueberries, and chia seeds.
• Salads with fresh vegetables, fruits, and dressing.
• Grain bowls in styles like Mexican and Thai.
• Gluten-free macaroni and cheese or pesto pasta with brown rice noodles.
• Brownie and caramel bars.
• Raw pie slices.
• Vegan cupcakes in flavors like cookie dough and strawberry crunch.
• Smoothies in a variety of fruity and sweet flavors with optional healthy add-ins like protein powder, chlorophyll, and hemp seeds.
• Smoothie bowls.

They sell 2-ounce vitality shots that aim to offer wellness benefits, creamy Mylk juices, plant-based green juices, lemonade juices with natural flavors, and fruity blended juices. You could also opt for something simpler with detox water or probiotic water, or you could opt for Cincinnati-brewed cold brew coffee. This vegan-friendly locale is great for an energy boost if you’re feeling sluggish, a morning beverage to kick-start your day, or a bowl of greens for a lunch pick-me-up.

Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen

Originally a Kentucky salad hot spot, Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen expanded across the border with a Cincinnati location. Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen boasts an extensive menu of salads, with vegetarian, gluten-free, spicy, and dairy-free options, and many of the salads feature locally sourced ingredients from the Cincinnati area. Some local favorites include the chicken taco salad, which comes with tortilla strips, black beans, avocado cream sauce, and salsa vinaigrette, and the tuscan salad with kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, and fresh mozzarella. If you’re the creative type, you can also build your own salad with whatever ingredients and dressing you’d like.

For something warmer and a little more dynamic, you could also opt for a grain bowl. Some of the grain bowls have unique global influences, like the Korean-inspired bibim noodle bowl. Pair your salad with a warm soup. Options include a zesty white chicken chili, a cozy pumpkin bisque, and a home-style herb chicken and wild rice. With plenty of flavorful options, fresh vegetables, and fast service, Vinaigrette Salad Kitchen is a popular lunch spot for health-conscious Cincinnati locals.

Essen

Plant-based Cincinnati hot spot Essen serves vegan-friendly options for a hip local crowd. This cozy spot is popular for takeout, but you can also dine on-site with outdoor seating and minimal indoor stool seating. One popular breakfast option is the biscuits and gravy dish, comprising flaky, warm vegan biscuits topped with mushroom gravy and a side of potatoes. If you’re in the mood for something sweeter, opt for the cinnamon rolls. Essen bakes these gooey breakfast pastries fresh with scratch dough and sweet icing.

For lunch, consider trying one of Essen’s warm sandwiches. They offer vegan versions of familiar favorites like the pesto grilled cheese, the bacon cheddar burger, and the creamy mac. While these might not be the first items on your mind when you’re looking for a healthy meal, Essen delivers wholesome alternatives to indulgent classics. With a menu like this, you might find it hard to believe it’s all vegan. Behind the counter, Essen aims to minimize waste and promote sustainable practices. They’re open 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

That’s Performance Toyota’s list of five of the best healthy eateries around Cincinnati, Ohio. Do you have a favorite local cafe or restaurant where you can find nutritious and delicious food? Let us know if we missed it, and we’ll add it to our list. If you’re trying to keep your family healthy and safe, we can help. Visit our Toyota dealership to explore our inventory of reliable Toyota vehicles with high-tech safety features and comfortable interiors. Contact us today to schedule your test drive.

Call Us