Pasadena Prepares for New Onslaught of Healthy-Casual Dining

At the western edges of Old Town Pasadena, you’ll find the remnants of Picnik, a short-lived sausage and cocktail spot started up by Eddie Ruiz. Now, in its place comes True Food Kitchen, a massive healthy-eating concept with outlets everywhere from Fairfax, Virginia to The Point at El Segundo.

Though the space is still well under construction, insiders say the restaurant should be ready by July of this year. Last January, Picnik and sister bar concept Punch were forced from their address after the landlord allegedly declined to renew their lease, opting instead to test the market. The accepted new tenant is True Food Kitchen.

The backbone of the restaurant is generally healthy fare with an anti-inflammatory bent. With that wide lens, the menus pick up everything from miso soup and tofu lettuce cups to flax dough pizzas, turkey lasagna, and avocado tacos. There are all-day sandwiches and salads, plus weekend brunch options to boot.

While the addition of of True Food Kitchen means more healthy eats for the walkable, tourist-friendly stretch, it’s still a bit of a bummer to have lost an original concept like Ruiz’s Picnik. Old Town Pasa

dena remains a place (mostly) for bigger dining chains, though some spots like Copa Vida, Union, and the similarly healthy-focused Green Zone Chinese restaurant keep on shining through. Expect True Food Kitchen to arrive by mid-summer.

True Food Kitchen
168 W. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA