Healthy eating is an important goal, but it can get tricky when you’re dining out. Fortunately, Plano, Texas, features several outstanding establishments that cater carefully to diners who want to stick to a specific diet. Whether you’re looking for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, or simply made-from-scratch dishes, we have suggestions that will suit your needs. This restaurant roundup includes options that can suit nearly any type of dietary need.
Original Chop Shop
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The Original Chop Shop specializes in feel-good foods that are thoughtfully designed to boost your health and wellness. You’ll find an abundance of protein bowls, chopped salads, hearty sandwiches, fresh juices, and protein shakes to power your day. The Chop Shop’s extensive menu includes options for gluten-free, dairy-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan diners. Handy dietary filters in the online menu make it easy to see which dishes suit your dietary needs at the click of a button.
Sandwiches come on locally-sourced bread that’s delivered fresh daily, so you know you’re enjoying only the best ingredients. With a quick swap to a gluten-free wrap, you can make any sandwich in the restaurant suitable for gluten sensitivities. Tofu is readily available as an add-on for the chopped salads, so you can get your protein without adding meat. The protein shakes are available with almond milk, soy milk, and coconut water substitutes to give you a healthy energy boost no matter how you’re customizing your meals.
The Original Chop Shop even has a kids’ menu that includes a turkey sandwich, ham sandwich, PB&J with all-natural peanut butter, etc. You’ll find two convenient Plano locations available at the Shops at Legacy and at Park and Preston Road.
Souper Salad
Souper Salad serves a fresh buffet of all-you-can-eat soups and salads so you can build a meal that perfectly suits your dietary preferences. Whether you want to load up at the baked potato bar, enjoy the freshly-baked breads, indulge in made-from-scratch soup, or build a towering salad, you’ll find it all here.
The salad bar includes more than 30 fresh vegetables and toppings, so you won’t suffer from any lackluster plate of greens here. Pile your plate with options like chickpeas, cauliflower, jicama, olives, pickles, peas, beets, broccoli, and much more. Dress it up with anything from low-cal ranch to chardonnay vinaigrette to simple oil and red wine vinegar. Whether you’re looking for a filling vegan meal or a perfectly customized salad that fits in your calorie budget, this restaurant can help you stay healthy in the way that matters most to you.
If you’re looking for healthy food-on-the-go, you can even order online and pick up your custom salad while you’re running errands or swinging by on a short lunch break.
Bellagreen
Everything on the menu at Bellagreen is made from scratch with seasonal ingredients so you’re getting the best the earth has to offer. You’ll find plenty of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian options to suit your diet. At Bellagreen, you’ll never have to sacrifice flavor to go gluten-free with options like paleo salmon tacos and flourless chocolate cake on the menu.
Every dish is packed with inspired ingredients that will delight your taste buds while catering to your health. Consider the superfood-filled Oh Kale Yeah salad with kale, tomatoes, red onions, mango, strawberries, carrots, and roasted pumpkin seeds drizzled in avocado lemon dressing. The pastas are all gluten-free. Enjoy filling picks like the White Chicken Parm topped with broccolini, garlic, shallots, parsley, grilled lemon, and homemade bechamel and white wine sauce with pan-seared lemon pepper parmesan chicken breast.
Bellagreen offers a kid-friendly menu with select gluten-free and vegetarian items as well. Kids can enjoy a burger, all-natural chicken tenders, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, cheese pizza, or pasta in their choice of sauce with optional all-natural ground turkey.
Malgudi Garden
Photo by Eiliv-Sonas Aceron on Unsplash
Malgudi Garden specializes in holistic vegetarian cuisine with a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. You can stop in for the lunch buffet and try a little of everything. For a unique experience, visit Malgudi Garden between 5 and 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday for high tea. For convenience, you can order online for both takeout and dine-in meals. If you want to simply ensure fast access to a table, you can make an online reservation for this as well.
The menu features an abundance of Indian favorites, including paneer tikka masala, palak tofu, malai kofta, and aloo gobi. Options like vegan biriyani and vegan kothu parota cater beautifully to the needs of a vegan diet. Aromatic grains, fresh garlic, and the restaurant’s own unique mint cilantro sauce ensure that the meals come packed with flavor. If you’re looking for a filling option that makes it easy to avoid meat, Malgudi Garden will cater easily to your needs.
Terra Mediterranean
Terra Mediterranean serves traditional family recipes perfected by brothers Adam and Jalal Chanaa. Fresh ingredients and authentic spices are at the heart of this menu, ensuring a delicious experience with these healthy dishes. You can easily avoid meat, dairy, and gluten with options like hummus, vegetarian grape leaves, vegetarian moussaka, and fresh salads. Suppose your primary concern is simply eating healthy. In that case, you’ll find lots of hearty options filled with fresh ingredients like the oven-roasted trout with saffron rice and roasted vegetables or grilled sea bass in an artichoke cream sauce.
Terra Mediterranean also features a full bar with an extensive selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. Baklava and rice pudding are available for dessert if you’re interested in a little added indulgence. If you’re having trouble narrowing down your options, consider stopping in for lunch, where you can experience a full buffet that lets you try it all.
There you have it: These restaurants are the perfect complement to other aspects of a healthy lifestyle, like long walks, fitness classes, and farmers market grocery shopping. Did we include your favorite healthy restaurant on our list? If you have suggestions on other vegan, gluten-free, and healthy dining options, contact our team at Huffines Hyundai Plano and let us know. We want to have all the best recommendations in and around Plano for our customers.