Amara Kitchen

One of my favorite spots ever! Delicious and healthy food that leaves you feeling good, plus super friendly employees. Good vibes for sure . It’s a tiny spot and it can be hard to find seating on busy days, but this will always be a go-to place!

I love this place so much. Food is incredible. Healthy. Vegan and non vegan options. Bison burgers and vegetarian quesadillas. The coffee is excellent. Just love it. The pancakes are stellar and they serve breakfast all day!!! They have it all!!!

I'm not much of a Vegan or Vegetarian Idol. But my Local friends are! Introduced me to a couple of Dishes different than the usual Breakfast Burrito and Chicken Salad. Very Tasty! Nice crowd. Courteous and all the accessories you need to Dine in or Take out is at the reach of your own hands. Not a Fancy place but Cozy! Service is Relatively Fast. Priced Adequately. But the cookies and Pastries you can't just eat one. Variety is great for those with Sweet Tooth! Like me! Good Frappuccino! Take a look!🤗

Amara Kitchen exceeded my expectations with the amount of vegan/gluten free options considering it isn't a fully vegan or vegetarian place. The buckwheat pancakes were fantastic and so were the baked goods. The amara burrito can also be made vegan/gluten free and it's very tasty. Coffee was good and they even offered free refills. The menu is labeled very well with gluten free, gluten free optional, vegan, vegan optional, nut free, nut free optional, dairy free, dairy free optional, and paleo.

I WILL NOT be coming back. Today, a customer, namely a white female customer, came in extremely frustrated that her door dash order was incorrect. They forgot butter, the drink was cold, etc etc and she drove all the way down with an injury to voice her complaints in person (and made it a big point that she had been crying and was so overwhelmed by a food order being not what she hoped) I was about two people down the line from this interaction, and while I stood at the register the staff did not acknowledge my presence, ask me to wait, or even ask for my patience as they address this grown woman And yes, I am a black woman, and the staff completely ignored me until I had to ask if I could order. Then , it took way too long to get a simple iced tea, and I had to say they could cancel it if it wasn’t ready. Meanwhile the staff carried the white woman’s bags to her car and gave her a refund, and begged her forgiveness for the forgotten butter and syrup. I could barely be helped. I will not be coming back, and felt very second class. I only got a pastry and an iced tea, and that does not take 30 minutes. I’m disappointed because I have made special trips to this location and have recommended it to GF friends. I hope the staff can learn to treat all customers with the same amount of care and respect.

I ordered the HIHO wrap falafel and chicken, it was so delicious. The perfect balance of healthy but delicious. Will definitely order again.

I need 5 more stars for this spot. What a super cute little spot. Overflowing with warmth and great innergy. I had the breakfast burrito with chicken some rose tea latte… a vegan fudge brownie and a beautiful little apple muffin with edible flowers on top. I looooove this spot. I will be back. Again….and again…..and again. Everything was so amazing. Feel good food. I AM. So grateful.

This place is rad for sure. I’ve only been once and I’m here now! Eating the buckwheat pancakes 🥞 they’re ok kinda dry and honestly a bit annoying to eat. Especially with the low quality flatware and deep lipped plate. I guess im hard to please. Most people probably wouldn’t even judge those things but I can’t help it. I’d come back. But won’t get this dish again.

Went here on rainy Sunday morning. Long line. But line moves quick. Very limited seating inside. So if you're a large party it would be difficult. We were a party of 4 and it was challenging. Not a place you can linger too long because every one is looking for a table. I ordered the purple eggs. I don't even know how to describe this dish. It is an explosion of flavors. There's some guac, different sauces, beets and eggs with salad. It's really very good. I ordered the paleo bread which was yummy too. To drink I ordered the vanilla latte. I didn't love it. The taste of the cashew and almond milk takes a little getting used to. My friend had the burrito and said it was very good.

Stopped here for a quick to-go pickup for lunch earlier this week. I was in the area, and the menu looked good. When I got there, there was still an hour before they closed, but the employees were already starting to clean up and get ready to close. The cashier wasn't very friendly, but she took my order and then went back to cleaning. The inside was pretty cute, but there was only like one other table occupied while I was there. And then one outside on the sidewalk. I'm sure it gets busy earlier in the day though because I was there around 3ish. It only took maybe 10 minutes to get my food, which wasn't a bad wait time. And luckily, the food was good! I got the spicy chicken quinoa bowl. So flavorful and the chicken was perfect. I thought it was going to be warm though and it was more like a cold salad. But honestly, I was fine with that because it was kind of a hot day. It could have been a bit spicier though. It wasn't really spicy by my standards. Overall a pretty good experience. I would def come back to try other items and drinks if I'm in the area again.

Used to be 5 stars + fave cafe in LA. The service and food here are just so inconsistent. I can deal with the service being inconsistent, but not the food. This used to be the place I would always take anyone from out of town visiting LA. But if their food's gonna be inconsistent. I'm not gonna do that anymore. It's like they just stop trying sometimes. I just don't really wanna pay $15 for a burrito with half cooked potatoes. Do you know what I mean? It kind of ruins the burrito.....(which they almost never grill either! I wasnt gonna, but may as well say it if im gonna write this whole review!) And if any manager is reading this, thank you for bringing back the non-vegan chocolate chip cookie along with the vegan one it was very missed . Yes I've been coming here since 2016 or so... please, any managerial folk who perhaps might be reading this... please do better for all the loyal people who are down to pull up with full support regularly! I don't care if your cook is in a bad mood, this is not a cheap burrito! You guys have and can absolutely do better! I don't wanna stop coming here, but if i have one more flop meal i might Edit: i had saved the cookie i ordered this morning for a late night snack... and its undercooked.. docking another star. i've ordered so many cookies from amara, at least 100 over the years and even had an amara cookie cake for my bday one year... huge disappointment that theyre even slacking on their best item. I'm not exaggerating when I say I spit it out. I'm like the biggest fan of these cookies in LA I swear. This wasn't even fully baked and tasted like dough....I don't know what happened to Amara. But unlike the people who live in highland park now (no shade to them) i cant afford to spend 30$ on breakfast if its a gamble I guess i will start ordering from altadena location instead cus this location apparently stopped trying based off last few times i ate there/ ordered :/ bummer !! My fave spot

Delicious simple colorful food. Their paleo bread is so worth it!! Nice area to sit inside and outside. The portions were decently sized and the service was awesome.

A very solid breakfast cafe. I got the breakfast burrito and the buckwheat pancake. I did not realize that the burrito was going to be meatless, but it was still quite good. The aïoli or whatever sauce it came with, was very good as well. To me, the buckwheat pancake was a stand out between the two. I love the texture of the pancake, and the raspberry compote that came on top was quite delicious. The ambiance was nothing exceptional, but clean. The service was efficient, and the bathroom was really nice and clean as well.

I've only tried the matcha latte's & vanilla latte's here. the matcha latte was enjoyable - it had the perfect sweetness and creaminess level! the vanilla latte did not taste good at all on both occasions that I ordered it. limited seating. this is a place you go by yourself or to meet a friend. not ideal for groups. also, staff isn't that friendly for being right in the barrio. i've never been welcomed or acknowledged until staff was ready to take my money. nice to stop by if you're by the park and want something convenient.

Delicious and fresh food served fast! Service is always great and welcoming. Outside and inside seating area and never too packed!

If I could give them 10 stars I would! I love a good fresh tasty and hearty salad and Amara delivers. I know they are known for their green and purple eggs but I'm here for their CHICKE SALAD! LARGE CHUNKS OF ORGANIC CHICKEN BREAST, fresh mix greens and herbs, pickled cabbage and onions (I ordered extra bc it's that good) and homemade pesto dressing. I can't say enough about how much I crave this salad after a hike or when im on my health kick but don't wanna compromise taste. The workers here are all so friendly and the ambience is like a nice friendly huge welcoming a newbie into town. Come on a weekday when it's slower to take advantage of the vibes. I'm sure it gets packed. Only strike I can see is parking. It's in a neighborhood and street parking can be tight. I'll see you at Amara!!

Stopped by for a quick bite. Ordered the bison ragú bowl- nice clean meal , excellent portion as well as 1 buckwheat pancake for dessert. Great atmosphere to connect with friends.

Amazing food. I had the breakfast burrito and almond pancakes. Bus your own tables. Street parking, not to busy on the Fourth of July. They close at 1pm. Ambiance is very friendly neighborhood style. Lots of locals eat here. Service very friendly.

Tucked away on a quiet little street in Highland Park is this little gem of a restaurant. We ordered the chicken salad and spicy chicken guinoa bowl, and both were delicious. We also took one of their scrumptious almond butter fudge brownie home with us ... since the salad and bowl were very filling. There are several tables inside as well as outdoor seating to bring your pet. Street parking only. We'll be back again!

Organic milk lattes, always friendly, good ambiance, come here often... food is good too if you're in the mood for healthy

I was meeting some friends to tour JPL and we decided to grab food beforehand. One of them recommended going to Amara Kitchen. We found street parking nearby as there is no dedicated lot. The interior is small but there are also a few tables outside. Service was fine but interaction is minimal as you order and pay at the counter first (fast casual style). You will get a number if you dine in and they will bring your food to your table (caution that there can be quite a wait when it's busy). Get your own utensils and napkins on the rack, and bus your own dishes after you finish eating. I ordered the Green Eggs, Asparagus Frittata, and Matcha Rose Palmer. The matcha drink was unsweetened and I couldn't really taste the rose or the lemonade part of the palmer. The frittata was cold. The green eggs were beautifully presented, and the paleo bread very seedy/nutty. Overall, the food was very pricey and I think I personally prefer more hot and savory foods. The online menu listed several soups but they showed as out of stock and only bone broth was on the menu in the restaurant. I don't think Amara is the place for me, but it definitely suits those with specific dietary restrictions and is clearly a very popular restaurant (not that busy at 11AM on Sunday when we arrived, but was packed with a line out the door by the time we left at noon).

This place is soooo good. I'm definitely coming back! Note the street parking only and it gets fairly crowded on a weekend brunch hour. You order at the front. HIHO Falafel was fantastic. If you love Falafel as much as I love Falafel, this is a must try. Very flavorful and I liked that it came with a side spring salad. Purple Eggs were tasty. Unfortunately the poached eggs had settled to a hard boil once it arrived but this is also a solid option and was flavorful. The edible flower isn't that good so avoid eating that. I wouldn't recommend the Matcha Rose Palmer as a drink as the matcha didn't mix well with the Arnold Palmer. Tasted more like a "green drink" if that makes sense. Not as sweet as I would've liked. Can't wait to try other options here especially that bison ragu!

This is a great vegan cafe! Everything is delicious and the staff is so friendly! Yum! Yum! Yum!

I love the food here. It's very delish. My favorite are their cookies but didn't take a photo but I recommend 100%. One note however, is the staff isn't the friendliest, so know what you want before you order because they don't like to be too helpful.

The food was good but I really wish they were more strict on their "service dogs only inside " policy. I was treating myself to brunch when 2 women with a clearly NOT service dog came in and sat right next to me. They kept petting the dog and all I could think about was dog hair in my food. There was plenty of seating outside for the dog and owner and there was clear signage. Several employees witnessed it but said nothing. I cut my brunch short and packaged it to go because I was grossed out.

Saturday brunch at 11:30 am - amara breakfast burrito, purple eggs, cookie Service: friendly staffs , majority self-served Ambiance: casual, cozy and relaxed Price: ok Food quality: very fresh ingredients and tasteful!!! Loved the dish presentations in terms of color, portion , and the mixture of ingredients, good job!!! General Grade: A- *Street parking, indoor and outdoor dining spaces are available. Pet friendly. A very positive dining experience. Highly recommended!

This quaint little spot in Highland Park never disappoints. I've been coming here from time to time since they first opened their doors ~. I just had breakfast here this morning which prompted me to write a long overdue 5 star review! The food is always on point ~ My favorite is their Paleo Pancakes .. OMG they are seriously delicious.... This morning I tried their "purple eggs". Two poached eggs over purple potatoe "patties" pesto and mixed greens (I eliminated the beets). So good So healthy. You always feel great leaving this place ~. Anytime I'm in the area I love coming here for breakfast ... I'll be seeing you real soon!!

good selection of Venezuelan food. it's definitely an experience you want to have. They have good breakfasts and lunches. Also a pretty good selection of coffees.

Stopped into Amara Kitchen last week for lunch while in LA and it was so good we came back the next day for breakfast. I really enjoyed my chicken salad and my husband was crazy for the grilled chicken burrito. The GF toast that comes with the chicken salad was particularly delicious! And then for breakfast the next day I had the green eggs which was amazing and my husband had the breakfast sandwich which he also really liked. I have a feeling you can't go wrong here. The matcha lattes were also tasty as were the pastries. It's so nice to have such an amazing selection of delicious GF options! Thank you Amara Kitchen, please consider opening in Portland, OR or creating a cookbook!!

Food was pretty good. But the customer service was cold and uncomfortable. I miss the buckwheat pancakes but am less inclined to return due to less than pleasant service

If you happen to live in the Pasadena area or road trippin' thru like I was, this is a great little neighborhood place to stop at. What it lacks in space it makes up for it with the food. I had the Amara burrito and it was delicious! The potatoes were cooked perfectly, the avocado was perfect, and everything just melted together beautifully. There are a few tables outside and a few more inside. You order at the counter and grab a seat, someone brings the food out to you. After you are done you have to bus your own table. Parking is on the street, but there was plenty of space. Highly recommend and I look forward to going there again when I'm back.

We came on a late morning mid week so we didn't have to push past a crowd. It's a counter ordering system so there wasn't much staff interaction. The bit we had was pleasant. The faire is "healthy casual" so you'll find your grain bowls and falafel wraps. They have a large selection of gluten free baked goods for those who need that it's a super plus. We don't need that, but had the GF choco chip cookie and weren't disappointed. (Actually kinda craving it right now.) It's pricy. We had two items and a cookie and the bill was over 50$ But that's the price to keep small businesses afloat. So not to say it's bad, it's just a sign of the times. I wouldn't try to go on a brunch morning. It seems like it gets super crowded from how it looks when we drive by at those hours. And since it's a counter ordering situation you may have to hover till a table comes open. We enjoyed the meal, and will consider going back to try other things, but because of the cost it won't be soon or often. Except for that cookie...that I'll be back for soon!

yummy vegan breakfast burrito! the purple yam is such a great touch. solid vegan options !

amazing humble yet elegant eatery! highly recommend! i had never heard of this place before, but it was my friends birthday and he and his wife were going there for brunch so i tagged along. its very unassuming and i've probably driven by it a hundred times before on ave 64 in highland park without even noticing it. there is a small sidewalk patio area where people were dining, once inside you see the baked offering immediately before you get to the ordering station. all the menu options seemed familiar enough- burritos, pancakes, salads, etc.- but are all healthy versions that are beautifully plated! i got the breakfast sandwich (that came with a small side salad) and a cold brew coffee, my friends got a breakfast burrito and a bottle of spring water (which was a brand i can't remember but she was happy cause it was her favorite brand from the appalachian mountains) and an order of pancakes (which wasn't enough food for him so he got another cranberry muffin if i recall correctly.) they give you a number and you sit at a table, you have to grab your own utensils, napkins, etc. and they bring your order to you once its ready. the dining area is not big and very homely feeling with flowers affixed to the wall and ceiling. i feel like this is a perfect place for a casual brunch yet fancy enough to take my mom to for mother's day!

Place sucks. Bad vibes, we are not returning. Rude, angry and indifferent staff here. Later.

SO so good! GREAT sauces, great expressed flavors, beautiful, healthy and delicious food. The gluten free baked goods were great, not too sweet (as gluten free often is). It wasn't too crowded on a cloudy holiday weekend at 1:30, but steady. People working there were friendly and warm. We would definitely go back, in fact, 6 hours later I'm craving it! The "only" very slight disappointment was that we thought we saw pics of egg's Bennie, which we were craving, before we got there but we quickly pivoted and had lunch instead. Glad we did!

They really care! Use pasture, raised chicken eggs, and have organic milks! Really nice portions and food is epically delicious

Oof, always sad when you experience a 2-star experience with food. I came here on a weekday after running errands, and was craving some American breakfast/brunch food. Decided to order the Buckwheat Pancakes because I had it once at another restaurant, and missed the special texture of buckwheat pancakes. However, the buckwheat pancakes at Amara Kitchen left MUCH to be desired. The pancakes were soggy and wet, what more is there to say? Paid $14 pre-tax/tip for something I couldn't even finish half of due to how terrible it tasted... (also, on the website it's showing the buckwheat pancake to cost $9, while I paid $14 - either update the website or charge what you say you will). Sad to say, their buckwheat pancakes tasted terrible compared to other restaurants I've had it at. No good, will not be returning. PS. Even for dine-in, possibly due to covid, they're only providing disposable plates/utensils. So if you wanted to take nice pictures of your food, this isn't going to be it.

So many things to love- green eggs, chicken salad, paleo bread, paleo pancakes are my fave!

I love this place everything is so delicious. Food is great ambience is nice. I felt out of place because I'm not a hippie but everyone is nice and I go back all the time!

I loved the poached and purple eggs plate here. This is a very healthy place to eat. They have vegan choices and non vegan choices on the menu. My first time coming here a month ago. Nice restaurant with that high class vibe looked inside. Food is not too pricey tho. Next time I'd like to try the Avocado toast of theirs. We will be back.

Food was okay, I was a little disappointed that the chicken was cold and lacked flavor there weren't as many greens, but a good lunch/brunch spot in highland park!

I understand if you NEED gluten free, then this is perfect for you. If you can handle your gluten and are hungry for a great breakfast, go elsewhere. I really don't see how this place is called hip. It's pretty basic. Racks sit in the middle w stuff that should be in the back room. This day we ordered the famous buckwheat pancakes, avocado toast, breakfast burrito n pearl rose tea. All were lacking. The buckwheat pancakes was soggy, not in a good way. The toast was not toasted n could fall apart if not handled w care. The burrito was the size of taco w weak salsa. For $14 I expect burrito size not taco size! The tea was served late w no apparent reason. Basic hipster hype spot. No need for it. Plenty of others doing the same, but better.

Love the food!! Everything and anything you get here is amazing. I love their coffee too. My favorite brunch spot.

Food is average. Nothing special, overpriced for the portions and not much flavor. The cashier lady was not very friendly. You need to clean up after yourself, put dishes away. I even cleaned my own table. No service and overpriced food, therefore you don't need to tip.

They used to have really good food. I was really in love with especially the bison Ragu. I would come here for my health lunch. But, the last couple times I came here, they didn't have anything on the menu that I was willing to eat so I left. I Just came here again and waited at the counter for a while and was being ignored by all the staff, till I had to ask someone if they were working. They seemed annoyed. They went to look for someone working the counter only to tell me they are now closed when they where obviously not closed. They are posted as open and there were people eating inside. I told the person that I spoke with that I was disappointed about my last few visits here and they were like what ever. Then I said I Don think I'll be coming back here and they are like ok! Bye! I am a business owner myself, and I would not tolerate this kind of behavior with my employees. I think the employer should release all of their employees and reaching a new staff to actually care about their business. It takes a lot for me to leave a bad review, but I am incredibly disappointed in this little place as it was so good and has gone completely downhill. It really sucks.

I'm pretty disappointed . I buy coffee here a bunch and one day I ordered a vegetarian breakfast burrito . I was given a box of chicken salad which was pretty soggy by the time I got home and opened it . I called to say I was given something I couldn't eat because I don't eat meat . I was promised a refund and never got it . I've left 3 voicemails and no one called me back . It's unfortunate . $22 is a lot of money in this economy . Won't be going back.

We love Amara Kitchen and have gone here since they opened forever ago. Sometimes we walk here, other times we drive. In 2015 our house caught on fire and we bought Amara Milk to keep in our fridge at the hotel. The gluten-free chocolate chunk cookies, the thumb print cookies with jam and the lemon poppy seed muffins are our standard fall backs. We love the Amara Breakfast Burrito, Purple Eggs, Green Eggs, Sweet Potato Quesadillas and the Buckwheat pancakes. For the most part the staff is on point. One time in 2015 we got the Paleo pancakes to go and the bottoms were all burnt. It was a bummer at the time because we still didn't have a functioning kitchen, but stuff happens and they made up for it. I went to their CBD event dinner and that was so much fun. I look forward to more events there in the future.

I'm probably not going to come here again anytime soon just because it's not really my scene. However, I will acknowledge what they do really well. It's a very indie cafe catered to hipster customers. Lot of organic and vegan options. I got the breakfast burrito. I was actually pleasantly surprised. The burrito was made with avocado, eggs, and purple potatoes. It's definitely not the breakfast burrito I'm looking for (dirty, savory, and packed with fatty meats and carbs), but it wasn't bad. I probably won't get it for a while, BUT if I ever want a healthy breakfast burrito, I might consider coming here. Inside is very trendy and modern. There's limited parking outside of the restaurant so we had to find street parking.

Amazing place Gf breakfast burritos!! Cute ambiance Great coffee Highly rec! Carrot spice muffin!!! Amazing

One of the most delightful meals. So much love and care in their food. Each time is better than the last. My favorites are the purple eggs breakfast. The cookies are delish and the espresso bevs are too. Try a buckwheat pancake!

Sooo good I want to keep it a secret. But I guess too late. People know. Small cafe. Delicious food. Nice people. And that Dandy latte. So good

Amara is great if you're vegan or gluten free (like me). My go to is the Vegan Breakfast Burrito with gluten free tortilla. Very yummy and filling. I actually tried their GF/ Vegan Blueberry muffins last time and was blown away.

I don't understand all the reviews praising the food here. It was very subpar. I ordered the green eggs and was very disappointed. The portion was pretty good, but thats only positive thing I have to say an about the food. Completely lacked flavor. It felt like they just tossed a bunch of things that looked pretty on a plate instead of really thinking about flavor pairing. Is salt a gluten? Must be, because it was missing. My boyfriend ordered the breakfast burrito and he said it was "fine." The chipotle sauce was good, but the burrito was uneven. One side was all egg, the other side just guacamole. The place is nice and clean. The staff were friendly and nice. I guess if you just want a nice place that serves pretty food for your IG feed, come here. Otherwise I'd skip.

I had the strawberry basil salad and the pearl and road tea. I want a big fan of the drink, but I loved the salad (with added feta)! I would've never thought to make that for my myself. I also had some of the desserts and they were delicious, especially the blackberry one. I noticed the sweets tend to go quick. You bus your own table here which I think is neat. There isnt a whole lot of space to sit, but my friend and I managed to snag a table. The guy who took and handled our order was extremely nice and thoughtful. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here.

Exceptional customer service! Whoever did this deserves a golden star and a raise! Thank you.

Great food, but prices on sauces are way too high for what you get. My fav is the burrito, but purple eggs are great too