Tender Greens

Randomly picked this place and so glad I did. They have the most amazing tasting salads and I’m not even a salad type of guy.
Ahi tuna was previously cooked and showed only a light shade of pink line through the middle that was overcooked in my opinion. I guess it really depends on the chef cooking the tuna that day as some people have posted beautiful pieces of medium-​rare tuna. Still enjoyed the texture and taste of the tuna, but will remember to inspect the fish in the display first before ordering.
Backyard steak tasted great but did notice it was room temperature meat. Still love this place though.
I actually feel like I ate something healthy when eating here. That rarely happens when I eat out.

This has to be my favorite place to eat when I want to stay healthy. I absolutely love their food! How is it that something this delicious is so good for you. I love their salads and the soup and the steak… honestly everything!!! They also have an incredible green juice and weirdly the most amazing dessert! I could seriously eat here everyday.
This Tender Greens has an amazing location and it’s a beautiful place to sit and enjoy your healthy meal and catch up with friends. I would highly recommend it. It’s so good you almost feel guilty after it.

This was my first time here and it was so good! I had the special which was a salmon sandwich and roasted vegetables with a green drink. So fresh and delicious. Also their carrot cake was so good. I wish there was one closer to me.

I discovered this place about 7 years ago because I was craving a big, delicious salad. I Unilocaled «salad» and went with the number one rated choice in San Diego — voila — Tender Greens Liberty Station! I was not disappointed with the BBQ chicken salad. Since then, I have brought several friends here, and have made many out of town guests jealous that we have Tender Greens and they don’t!
Over the past 7 years, I have tried several dishes, but my regular has become the tuna sandwich (this is not canned tuna — this is a hunk of albacore tuna seared rare. YUM.) with the baby arugula side salad. It’s a perfect sandwich, with the albacore always fresh and very rarely stringy, a delicious aioli, and roasted red peppers on it. My favorite salad is the backyard steak salad — I don’t like spicy things so the horseradish dressing freaked me out, but TRUST — it is not spicy or horseradishey at all. (Yes. «horseradishey» is now a word.)
I probably eat here once a week on average for lunch. It gets busy at peak lunch time, so don’t come right at noon unless you’re ready to wait in line. The line does go fast, and the people are friendly. But, if you wait until 1:30 or so, there is hardly ever a line and plenty of seating.
It is a bit pricey for lunch, but the food is so good, so fresh, and the portions are so perfect, that it’s worth it. Oh, and don’t try their white chocolate salted cookies unless you want to be completely addicted for life. I think white chocolate is just okay, but I bought a cookie one day for whatever reason. I was LITERALLY (and I am using the term «literally» in a literal sense) shoving it in my face and saying «YUM» out loud over and over in my car on the way back to work.

I walked in and was greeted by a friendly female who took my order. I ordered the baked falafel big plate sandwich with baby spinach simple salad. I also ordered a grilled chicken Cobb for lunch tomorrow because I knew I was not going to have time to go out for lunch. I ended up having a little of each for dinner then having my leftovers for breakfast and lunch the following day.
The restaurant is setup similar to a cafeteria and the cooks work on an assembly line that was super clean. All the food looked really fresh and while I was waiting for them to freshly prepare my baked falafel, I read a little about the restaurant’s philosophy. Buying locally sourced food that is sustainably grown is awesome.
The big plate was $ 11.50 and the grilled chicken Cobb salad was also $ 11.50. I thought that was a great price for fresh vegetables, a large portion of juicy chicken and ample bacon on the Cobb salad. The dressings provided with each salad was served on the side since I ordered to-​go. Both dressings were amazing but my favorite was the cabernet vinaigrette that was served with the baby spinach simple salad. It complimented the hazelnuts and goat cheese perfectly.
I wish a place like this existed back where I live in Jacksonville. There was not one thing that I did not like about this place. The staff was friendly, the atmosphere was warm and the food was fresh and mostly locally sourced with sustainably raised ingredients. Sublime!

Came here after taking the dogs to Fiesta Island dog park. Sat outside and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. The rainbow carrots are pretty sweet but tasty.

Did they shrink their portions?
Tender greens is one of my favorite go-​to healthy and quick meal. I just spent $ 31 on a harvest salad with a side of ahi (3 little pieces), a side of veggies (half filled box) and soup.
For the price and in comparison to what it was during lunch portions, it’s much smaller.
(See video I posted)

After walking through Liberty Public Market and realizing the crowds were far too crazy and we were lucky enough to happen upon Tender Greens just down the block in the same retail area in Liberty Station, there’s plenty of parking around and it’s a bit secluded inside so it was not crowded at all.
I have heard of Tender Greens a million times, but have never found a convenient location (Ventura County area needs one!). I am so glad we found them this past weekend as we were so pleased with the food and experience. You order at the first counter and pick up your food at the back counter — they have some great looking fresh baked goods and cookies near the check-​out area too. I chose the chipotle chicken salad that had a lime dressing and came with a piece of excellent crusty bread that had been drizzled with olive oil, YUM. Not only was the salad fresh and filling, but it was healthy too! It’s always great when a healthy option feels like a splurge because it’s that good! We also grabbed a bag of their assorted cookies to take with us. The white chocolate salted caramel cookie was so good!
To top it all off, we sat on the quiet patio and there was a great employee who came by several times to bus our table and even brought my Dad a to go cup with a full refill of his mint lemonade — and we never asked him for this! That is the kind of service that a fast casual restaurant needs to set it apart and we were so impressed that the employees took the initiative to think of the customer’s needs and to make the experience that much better. Great job Tender Greens — now bring your franchise to Ventura County! The Lakes or the Promenade at Westlake would be a great home for this concept.

When my brain screams, !!!SALAD!!!, I better listen. And when the carnivorous Mr. B says, «Yeah, that sounds good,» you better know I should jump on it. The problem… we were out of towners and the gluttony associated with too much vacation had paid its price. But hey,.where to go… that’s why I have a list of Unilocal bookmarks that would rival the word count of War and Peace. And that is how, in my desperation, Tender Greens came onto my radar.
Located on the rejuvenated grounds of a historic naval training base, the buildings are original but transformed. Thankfully they are far less institutional looking than back then and the vast grounds are colorful, and welcoming. The base which closed in 1993 is now teaming with commerce, all gussied up to deceive new generations into thinking that being a recruit was an idyllic experience. We know better.
TG occupies one huge room: a small, open kitchen on one side and dining tables with chairs or bench seating with designer pillows in the remainder. There is also patio seating to be enjoyed thanks to gloriously mild San Diego weather. So, herein lies a dilemma. A tall ceiling makes for a very hollow sounding room and loud conversations. I did not care for the lack of acoustical control. Maybe the patio is the better choice?
After ordering off a menu board, you parade past the cafeteria-​looking work quarters, wish you had ordered one of *those* too, and ultimately arrive at the cashier, to pay up while being forced to stare at some mighty alluring baked goods. That is when your bill has the potential to double in size. Then it is your job to commandeer a table. It was quite impressive that staff were constantly monitoring the tables and cleaning them up. And finally, the food arrives, delivered by some of those very same gracious and dedicated staff.
I needed a plain and simple salad, The Tender Greens Salad. Super fresh greens covering an entire dinner plate, doused with a perfectly enjoyable mustard vinaigrette. It was so crazy good I needed to mop it up with their toasted artisan bread. It was exactly what I needed to feel «good» again and plenty to share.
Then, there was the soup of the day, Chicken Tortilla. Once again, we shared, but I wished for more. It had large chunks of chicken and vegetables simmered in a slightly spicy broth. I was still feeling good.
So here is where my review gets ugly. If you are thinking «Good job, Wendy, for your healthy choices», you had better turn your eyes away…
As we worked our way down the line to the cashier, another part of my brain started screaming «Need Pie!» You guessed it, my eyes had come in contact with their mini coconut crème pie. And then I heard the words, «Schoolhouse cookie», and my knees turned to jelly. Not a pretty sight.
OK. so I have to say, the cookie was way, way too sweet, and the brain said, «Don’t eat that.» But one bite of that coconut cream pie and I was done listening to any cerebral commentaries. That was one marvelous pie, just right for two. We made plans to return the next day and stash one in the car for our return home. Word for the wise… turn off brain switch but skip cookie.

Healthy salads and sandwiches. No diet-​breakers here — unless you overindulge on their desserts. (The cookies were yummy, btw.)
Flavorful and filling. Good sized potions. And you won’t feel guilty for finishing your plate.
Very popular. We came at a good time — no line in front of us. However, by the time we sat down to eat, the line waiting to order was out the door (literally).
A bit pricey, in my opinion. But eating healthy isn’t cheap.
Lots of parking.

I’ve heard of many good things about this place, and I finally got to try it.
While we were observing the menu outside in front, one of the workers there came by to talk to us about the specials of the day and their food options to us. Unfortunately I didn’t get his name, but he’s the one with the short dreads. He was extremely friendly, outgoing, and informational. I wish I could tell his manager that he was doing an awesome job lol.
We literally arrived about 10minutes before they were closing,
and I asked if it was too late to eat here, and the girl at the register said no its still fine.
Girl at the register was okay, not very outgoing and didn’t ask us if we had different options to choose from. And we weren’t sure if we were supposed to wait in the middle where they were making the food, or go to the very end and pay at the next register.
I got their special of the day:
Seared Yellowtail with Jasmine Rice & Salad $ 12.50
I requested to swap out my regular salad for their pea salad and i’m glad I did.
I highly recommend the pea salad because it’s so light with subtle flavors, but it was something new and different to me and it was delicious! I felt so healthy eating it too haha.
And the seared yellow tail was amazing! The fish was so fresh, raw and tender in the middle and lightly seared on the outside. And the rice was nice and fluffy and moist, not dry.
Personally, I think the portion size was great for the price, especially when fish is usually expensive at restaurant. And they also offered free sourdough garlic bread.
It’s also nice that they offer fresh grounded salt and pepper for you to use.
Overall, I don’t think it’s too expensive, because it’s great food and it’s healthy.

I love the concept and healthy options at Tender Greens. You order from a list of salad types, then add the meat of your choosing. Not quite as customizable as a salad bar, but the taste is great!
It’s a bit on the pricey side but it’s better for your body!

I want to give this place 2 stars but will settle for 3 for now.
Today was my first time coming to Tender Greens, so I had no idea what to expect. I walked in, looked at their menu and got confused because everything looks so different. The employee who took our order was kind of lifeless and didn’t care to explain how the system worked. Just kept repeating the same thing over and over and looked annoyed when I still didn’t understand how things worked. Felt pressured to make my decision quick.
Everything was displayed behind the glass, pre-​cooked. It was really fresh and looked delicious. Made me hungry just by looking at them. As for my meal, I got the steak, mashed potato and kale salad. I don’t know if my steak was supposed to be eaten kind of cold or not. but it was more like room temperature instead of warm or hot. Also, the steak was very tough and chewy to the point we kept complaining while eating. As for the mashed potato, it was soooo delicious. I only finished eating that… and left the kale salad and the steak on the plate. The mint lemonade was okay… nothing great.
I was very disappointed with my experience here… This place was rated 4.5 stars so I had high expectations. service was not great (except for the guy who had glasses and the other tall guy who cleaned our table. They were great). Food was way below my expectations.
I will order something different next time.

I have been to this location so many times that I am shocked that I haven’t reviewed it yet.
My husband’s family is completely focused on health and fitness so whenever they are in town (which is often) we bring them here for lunch. It is friendly to my ⁸⁰⁄₂₀ clean eating meal plan and approved by our meat & potatoes eating friends.
Local greens and veggies seem to be the main focus here. My husband absolutely loves their salt & pepper chicken on a simple spinach salad. The salad includes goat cheese and hazelnuts. I prefer their backyard steak salad on a mixed greens simple salad. They also have a child’s menu. I love that my daughter is being fed a nutritious meal that I would prepare. She often choses between the grilled chicken or steak with mashed potatoes and seasoned vegetables. The meal includes a juice box. I never have to bribe her to finish her food like I do at other places. She proudly finishes her plate. Points for having craft beer on tap!
¹⁶⁄₁₀₀

Tender Greens is one of my favorite spots! I am always in a mood for a meal here.
I love this location in Liberty Station, there’s plenty of parking and the area is beautiful. It makes a great spot to talk a walk before or after your meal. They also have plenty of outdoor seating which is where we usually sit.
Tender Greens works like this: you pick a protein (seared tuna, steak, or chicken) and then you pick a preparation (sandwich, simple salad, or a plate which contains veggies).
I almost ALWAYS get the seared tuna on the simple kale salad. My husband will switch it up from time to time, and I’ve tried their other menu items when he orders them. They have daily specials that always look so good!
There is no wait staff here, you order at one counter and pick up your food at another counter. The kitchen is in the open and you can see them prepare everything– I love that! All the ingredients are fresh, of good quality, and delicious!
The staff is very friendly and helpful. The prices are decent considering how high quality the food is, and is always our alternative to fast food.

So I have seen so many reviews on «Tender Greens» I had to give it a try. My step daughter and I stopped by this location after a Christmas event at the Rock Church. It was busy of course be the service was fast. The hostess was friendly and gave us plenty of time to look over the menu.
I ordered the Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad and a Lemon/​Mint Lemonade. The salad greens were fresh and delicious and the grilled chicken was moist and seasoned just right. During our entire visit I could see servers clearing tables, refilling drinks, and being available. This was nice to see.
I look forward to future visit because the menu had a few other dishes I would like to try.

I celebrated my sisters bridal shower at Tender Greens in June. They were very accommodating and sent us all the catering information via email. They even allowed us to bring our own decorations and champagne for the a toast. They do charge a corking fee which is $ 10 per bottle but they gave us one for free for the bridal shower. We reserved the entire outdoor patio space in front of the restaurant. It came with wooden benches around the perimeter, plenty of tables and umbrellas that could be moved. The waiter was awesome he moved all the umbrellas for us, so we keep all the tables under shade. They set up the food and drinks outside for us. The food had warmers and stayed hot the entire time.
For the catering options we could chose 2 salads, 2 proteins and a side. We chose their mash potatoes side which was amazing. The salads were really tasty. The chicken and beef was also very good. They provided endless amounts of lemonade and ice. The only thing we couldn’t bring in was our own dessert. They did offer to make us a gluten free dessert but we opted out since the gift favors included chocolate candies. The price for catering was very reasonable is was about $ 15 per person. We had a party of about 15. Everyone left happy.
The service is amazing here, they kept checking on our party ensuring everything was refilled. They even poured the champagne for us and no clean up needed on our end. We just packed up the gifts and decorations. I would defiantly come back for lunch and I will keep this place in mind for future events.

You order once you walk in and then pay when you get your food. Customer service was okay, they could work on it but maybe it was because we came in 15 minutes before they were closing so we felt rushed. I understood.
Food is decent, however I don’t think it’s worth your buck. $ 11.50 for a hot plate of grilled medium rare steak along with a salad of your choice (I chose kale), a side, and a piece of bread.
The steak was alright, for $ 11.50 (before tax) I expect a huge portion. Salad had way too much dressing on it, tasted like I was just eating kale drenched in lemon juice. However it was just 3 pieces of it. The potatoes tasted as if it were just powdered and not authentic. The bread was so hard and stale that after one bite, I was done trying to eat it.

Food is good but prices have gone up. $ 11.50 before tip or tax for a salad for lunch. Lunch specials have also been removed so everything is at dinner prices now. :(
Food is still tasty but not friendly on the wallet.
I still love the steak over the albacore. The albacore is cooked well but bland and lacks flavor!

I love everything about Tender Greens. Everything from the way they prepare their food to the delicious flavors is incredible.
Here’s how it works: Stand in line and place your order (depending on when you go, the line can be anywhere from 30 mins to non-​existent, always varies!). As you continue in line, you watch your food being prepared. Once you get to the cash register, your food is typically ready. If it isn’t, they’ll give you a number. From there, you can dine anywhere inside or outside.
I typically like to go for the seared albacore. I get it as a big plate with the mashed potatoes. YOU MUST GET THE MASHED POTATOES! They are perfection. I’ve also had a variety of the different sides including the pasta salad and the caesar salad. Everything tastes so fresh and natural that you can’t go wrong.
Recently Tender Greens was catered at a work lunch that I went to and we had the steak and the chicken. I’m not a big red meat eater, so I leaned towards the chicken which was really good. Very juicy and flavorful without being greasy or overcooked. The food here is absolutely incredible and anything on the menu is worth a try! YUM!