Amara Kitchen

Bless you Amara for existing! And a big middle finger to all the restaurants who aren’t offering anything as good as Amara. I just want to eat clean without having to cook all my meals at home or being bored to tears when I eat out. Amara offers delicious healthy Paleo dishes. I’m so tired of these other new hip restaurants recreating junk food with fancy sounding ingredients which aren’t healthy at all. If I wanted fat arms, saddlebags, premature aging, and clogged arteries, I might as well eat at the mall. Amara provides gluten-​free menu options that give me joy while maintaining a healthy BMI. Love the paleo pancakes and purple eggs.

Food is good, clean eating, fresh ingredients, but super pricey and super hipster. This place is in walking distance from my hood, which is nice to have more than one local joint.
Customer service isn’t that great. Girl running the register needs a lesson on how to greet customers or even acknowledge them. We literally walked up to her and she’s just staring at us. I was waiting for something like, «what can I get you today?». Or even a hello. Or even just a sign of life.
I agree with another review that food takes a while to come out. It’s probably because they’re harvesting it from some garden. Kidding.
All joking aside, I appreciate the food quality, now let’s work on customer service and overall prices to get my three stars up to a five!

I was very eager to try this neighborhood eatery but when I got their the young lady at the register took a very long time to take my order because she was stuck in a conversation with the customer in front of me and when it was my turn to order she didn’t even greet me, in fact, when I walked in no one greeted me. I was so disappointed because I did enjoy the paleo pancakes ++ but unfortunately there was no hospitality whatsoever which made me feel so unwelcome. Pancakes were good but the service was so bad it outweighed the decent paleo pancakes.

Food is pretty mediocre. Ingredients are fresh and tastey but put together in ways that don’t do them justice. Dressings and sauces are poor. Plus paying $ 40 for a meal that doesn’t have wait service just doesn’t make sense. Nice vibe and environment is good.

Tried this place today and now I’m obsessed! Ate the green eggs — super healthy and delicious. I think the portions and prices are fair for what you get — the food is really fresh and the portions are sized appropriately. I found the employee who waited on us to be really cheerful. It is a small place and today was a hot day — the shade outside was nice. Inside felt too warm (not sure if they have air conditioning). Overall a great experience and my new fave local place to grab healthy eats!

You have got to be kidding me. I came all the way to this place for my first time to have a nice brunch with my friend at 11:30am it’s almost 1:30pm. Just wasted my Memorial Day holiday waiting for literally a spinach side salad with a poached egg with some vinegarette drizzled on top. I could of gotten this at my local Von’s. The place is small with about a dozen tabletops that if you notice a number sitting on your patron’s table for a while, someone could easily check in on them and ask what they are waiting for. Especially since it took the 1^st hour for our side pancake to come out. The entire place was literally empty by the time we checked on our food for the 2^nd time to see what was happening. No food and offering cookies to tie us over is not going to help a hangry person feel okay. The cashier just shrugged her shoulders and asked, «What do you want me to do?»
How about a free meal? Refund? Something for the inconvenience now that it’s almost 2pm and I’ve been sitting here watching everyone else eat but me since 11:30am? First impressions are everything.

I love, love, love Amara Kitchen and I keep dragging my friends here so that we can share a meal here. Everything on the menu that I have tried is yummy. I love both the purple and green eggs. And the paleo plus plus pancakes are just out of this world. Actually, I’m dreaming of them now. After spin, paleo plus plus it is…
But the bison ragu is also deliciousness at lunch and all the teas are also a yum. Good thing they serve regular coffee for the regular folk, so that they can come to a place that works for my belly…
Oh, and their homemade milk is yummy especially with their baked goods. The salty chocolate cookies are special for sure!

So one day after working all night I was craving for some delicious breakfast to eat in or around Pasadena. So I started to do some Unilocaling (like most of you) and found this really cute place. Looking at the menu I notice most if not all the meals they serve are organic /​gluten free. Immediately I fell in love! My favorite dish is the Organic Purple Egg. (I highly recommend)

Every once in a while I get lucky and have a wonderful whimsical breakfast at a lovely restaurant without having to wait for a table ON A SATURDAY. IN LA. oh wait, that never has happened… Until I came here! So, I suppose my review is based a tiny bit upon how quickly my dad and I got a perfect seat by the window and how quickly our yummy food came out. We beat the brunch rush by a hair that morning.
I’m rarely in highland park, but I will be back for sure. I’m a health nut foodie so I’m picky and snobby ;) This place was perfect!
Quaint and lovely interior and exterior. Paleo pancakes, buckwheat pancakes both delicious and humble. Poached egg and prosciutto perfect protein side. And they have ginger shots! My dad thought I was crazy. But I like the burnnnn.
And as a gluten free lover of pastries (paradox much?), the array out front was amazing. I got the cinnamon roll. Mmm.
It is a tiny place. In the middle of a neighborhood. Get there early. And I wouldn’t suggest taking a group. Its a 2 – 3 person/​table kind of place. People know about this place, as there was a line out the door, but it’s still a hidden gem so go there now. And those who were dining were very fashion forward… So bring your tiny dog and wear your ripped boyfriend jeans.

Fantastic place! They have two kinds of paleo pancakes, and some of their baked goods fall under paleo. I love this place as a grain-​free vegetarian. Good for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
I also enjoy their tea latte that tastes like coffee but is tea, with their homemade nut milk. Would love to see more restaurants like this using natural ingredients and no refined sugars. I seem to be going on a weekly basis!

Pros for people with food allergies: Paleo friendly, clearly marked gluten free and diary free options.
Cons: We ordered the avocado toast with eggs and prosciutto, and the Paleo pancake with avocado and prosciutto. Both looked great and smelled great but tasted just OK.

I stumbled across Amara Kitchen while casually looking for a healthy breakfast spot in the general vicinity and I’m amazed with my accidental find. I strolled into this tiny café tucked away in a residential part of Highland Park around 8:30am, so there were only a couple of other people there.
After perusing the menu, I was coaxed into trying the Paleo Pancakes Plus – their high-​protein egg and flax-​based pancakes with avocado and arugula. The dish also comes with maple syrup and vegan butter as toppings. I was definitely excited to try a ‘restaurant take’ on these paleo pancakes because I make my own version nearly every weekend at home with coconut flour instead of flax. The pancakes themselves ended up surprisingly similar in texture and taste, although I usually add lots of cinnamon to mine in an attempt to deter myself from drowning them in syrup – only occasionally successfully so.
I like to think I’m quite the adventurous eater, but something about avocado crashing my sweet pancake party just felt wrong. After trying it with an open mind, I have to say I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, but next time I’ll probably stick with the Original Paleo Pancakes and opt for fruit instead.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast and appreciate that Amara Kitchen is making food that is an elevated version of what I’d make at home for myself. Will be back!

Amara is a quaint little neighborhood café. It has a bunch of solid vegan options and is a nice spot for brunch or for a cup of tea and a dessert.
We got the heirloom beans and rice ($ 10.50), the buckwheat pumpkin pancakes ($ 10), the avotoast ($ 7) and a slice of lavender-​lemon cake ($ 4).
The heirloom beans hit the spot; this is a fresh, savory dish made with a «boss» sauce consisting of pureed tofu and spices. The buckwheat pancakes were excellent — fluffy and hearty and addictive. I felt they got a bit drowned out by excess vegan butter, but others disagreed with me.
The avotoast was also excellent with really nice homemade bread.
I wasn’t that impressed with the lavender lemon cake — it felt too dense and dry.
I look forward to returning to Amara Kitchen in the future. It would be great if they added more vegan baked goods and maybe a breakfast sandwich.

A great find especially for someone with dietary restrictions. It is a small space with a great atmosphere, and even some outdoor seating. The ordering process is walk up (which I sometimes don’t do well with due to my many questions). But I was pleasantly surprised to be provided with above and beyond levels of customer service, even with the walk up process to order. I had interactions with two different people (including the owner), and could not have been more pleased with how they handled things.
All of us enjoyed our meals, and were ready to come back for more of the delicious organic food (sadly we had to fly out of CA in a few hours, so we will return during our next visit). They have a very appealing variety of choices, including vegan and paleo.
Our experience was fantastic, and I would definitely suggest this as place worth trying regardless of your dietary preferences. My table consisted of two «normals» who can and do eat everything & myself. And we were all very happy with our choices and our experience at Amara Kitchen. I honestly cannot stop thinking about my kale salad that was modified in such a way that it was safe for me to eat, and included the necessary protein I was desiring that day. Key words one might be searching for to stumble upon this lovely place are: organic, pasture raised, free range, local, gluten free, dairy free, paleo…
Next time I think I will order breakfast !

I only wish this place was open later! Loved the food. So hard to find places with such high quality ingredients. Also the neighborhood is wonderful. It’s tucked into a residential area so street parking is plentiful. I had the paleo pancakes +++ which is such an odd but delightful combination. My boyfriend ordered the chicken salad and a side of the heirloom beans which were all wonderfully delicious. After our food we had a paleo Rosemary chocolate chunk cookie which was divine. I highly recommend this place.
I know other reviews state that this place is expensive for the amount of food you get. I found it to be rather fair when considering the type of ingredients they are using. I prefer to pay just a little bit more for better ingredients. I personally found the amount of food to be perfect because I was really full after I finished my meal. No leftovers (which is fine) so nothing was waisted.

The same hands that served my food were the same that received my money.
Dust everywhere! See my photos on 132 & 133 of their photos. Am I the only one that cares?!

This is a super cool spot in town!
We found parking on a side street. Not much seating indoors so we sat at the tables right by the entrance.
Beware: There are flies everywhere once your food arrives! Guess it’s an arm workout to keep them away from the delicious food ;)
I had the paleo pancakes with bananas and pistachios. Delicious and filling!
I can’t wait to be back and try other items on the menu.

Came here with a group of friends for brunch and it was dericious!
Bison Ragu– real meat! Thick, hearty, and flavorful. It came with quinoa and a side of greens.
Paleo Pancakes– this was only okay for me. The other dishes had bolder flavors.
Avo Toast– we got it with two perfectly poached eggs and romesco! Who doesn’t like avocados and eggs?! The bread was really thick and it paired well with the creamy avocado and runny eggs. Simple, but oh so tasty.
Purple eggs– my fav. Potato patties, beets, greens, and poached eggs. The flavors were fantastic.
A bit far from me but I would come back for brunch if I was in the area again. Street parking is plentiful. Make sure you read the signs for street cleaning!

As of today, I’ve decided that there’s a whole new type of soul food in town. Rather than fried, this type is baked and seasoned with kelp, avocado, pickled veggies, and the spices that make your heart dance, warm, and smile. Made from the soul, by the soul, and for the soul, this is true feel-​good food. And by that I mean not only will you feel great during your meal, but the feeling continues on, transforming into post-​meal bliss.
I dropped by Amara with a friend for an early lunch. We had breakfast, but I swear that my stomach starts munching on itself after 10am, so by 11, I was absolutely famished. So, naturally, we got a bit wild. Hey, girls just wanna have fun now. We ordered the Paleo pancakes, the yogurt parfait, the purple eggs, a dried fig chocolate chip cookie, and avo toast with two poached eggs and prosciutto.
Umf! All I can say is take me back! I kid you not when I say that I’ve honestly been trying to make plans with friends in the area just so I could stop by for round two. The cookie was deliciously moist, and the pancakes were fluffy as could and should be. The avo toast and poached eggs? Brilliant. I don’t think I could name a single instance where runny poached eggs failed to make a situation better. It’s a recipe for success. Every. Single. Time. And this time was no exception. Absolutely delightful! Be warned though – the eggs were drizzled in a buffalo sauce so for the avo toast purists out there? You may want to make note of that so you could opt out. The yogurt parfait with the date and cardamom granola was such a beautifully delicate treat, but the portion was a bit smaller so I’d look to it for a snack rather than an actual meal.
And now, ladies and gents. Drumroll please! The star of the show? The purple eggs. I can’t even begin to describe my affection for these little nuggets. Described as smashed colored (purple) potatoes served on a bed of mixed greens and herbs (and seaweed!!) with two poached eggs, roasted beets, and df pesto, this dish may have possibly redefined breakfast for me. I would try to describe the flavor, but the only word coming to mind is «complex». The runny eggs are absolutely decadent, and the potatoes were an ideal bed to sop up the post-​pop mess. The pickled vegetables added just the necessary amount of acidity, while the kelp balanced out the dish with just enough earthiness. It was easy win with this one and in complete and total honesty, with Amara in general. A glistening, glittering diamond in the rough.
I’m telling you – breakfast redefined. Soul food? Redefined. Whole food. Wholesome food and wholeheartedly recommended food! You are beyond welcome.

Sometimes I just want a delicious brunch but with healthier options. I’ve seen posts about this spot and have been wanting to go but haven’t been able to until recently!
We had gone to the LA County Fair the day before and I had fried everything so Sunday definitely called for a healthier brunch. I shared the Paleo pancakes and the green eggs with my sister since we weren’t way too hungry. Everything was so fresh and light even though we were pretty much having your usual breakfast items!
The place is small and quaint with a few tables inside and outside. It was scorching that day so we sat inside in front of the register.
I would love to come back to try out some of their other dishes!