Kitava, A Healthy Lunch in the Mission

Sunday mornings are usually for brunch, am I right? Instead of going straight to stuff our faces, Abbie and I have been using Sunday mornings to sweat it out and hang out over a good workout. This time, we went to Orange Theory Fitness and we were DEAD AF. We really needed some food to refuel and wanted to pick a place mindfully, even though we've got weak spots for mimosas. 

Along with fitness, we've been making mindful eating choices, and Abbie completed the Whole30 meal plan. For this week's Sunday eats, we needed to go somewhere that would accommodate that. We ended up at Kitava: a healthy eats restaurant that serves nutritious whole foods. And it tastes so good, you almost feel guilty about it. 

The small gluten-free restaurant is in the heart of the Mission and is right across the street from 16th Street Bart Station. Walk in and you'll be welcomed by minimal decor, natural elements and fun graphics on the walls. We went up to the main counter, ordered our food and sat at a table near the entrance. The staff was friendly and overall had a calm, relaxing vibe.

What we ordered:

• Cuban Bowl: naturally sweet plantains, avocado, kale slaw, cilantro-garlic mojo sauce, white rice (or cauliflower rice) & beans (or extra kale slaw)
• Butternut squash hummus with yucca chips
• Fried Plantains: naturally sweet plantain slices sprinkled with sea salt, paired with chipotle aioli
• Pinot Sage Kombucha

Food with a purpose: Kitava's Food Philosophy

As we waited for our food something caught my eye. At our table, I saw a little card that talked more about their food philosophy. That's where I learned about where and how they sourced their ingredients: 

• All the food is made from scratch
• Kitava prides themselves in assuring the food is sourced consciously
• They make sure to fill the dishes with veggies that are dense with nutrients. Bye bye iceberg lettuce! 
• The meat they use are only grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken and pork, and wild-caught salmon
• The recipes only incorporate naturally occurring fats like olive oil, coconut oil, and sustainably sourced palm oil. 

Everything we ordered was a customer favorite, and we could see why! All food was flavorful and filling. I don't know if it's just me, but sometimes I feel like veggie heavy meals just don't always cut it and I get hungry shortly after. I didn't have that issue with Kitava.

Also, I want to note the portion was generous. Even with the big bowl, the taste was so satisfying that it made me savor my bites anyways. 

I'm already thinking about the butternut squash hummus with yucca chips again. If I could take some of that home, I'd be snacking on it all day!

If you're looking for healthy nourishing food and find yourself in the Mission District, this is a spot you don't want to pass up. Hope you enjoy!