Tender Greens

I was looking for a decent salad place and wandered in to Tender Greens during the lunch rush.
The ingredients? Top notch. The service? Pretty good, albeit I did think the long line would move slightly quicker.
The main problem? While the food was good, it wasn’t great. It was missing something. Overall, I’d probably give it another shot, if I was near by and the line wasn’t super long, but otherwise, I’d probably head somewhere else.

Awwww, what happened? I came here when it first opened and was pleased with their selections and taste of their food.
I got a Happy Vegan ($ 11) but before I could order (there was no one in line), I had to wait until the guy prepping the food finished his conversation with the order taker. Kinda off putting, especially when I had started to order and he then needed to add something else to their chat and interrupted me. Don’t like messing with the guy that makes my food so I wait patiently.
After I order, I watched him make my salad. A handful of mixed greens, then a scoop of hummus, farro, quinoa and tabbuleah and a dressing on the side. BAM, thats it. Oh, I forgot, they also included a piece of baguette (old and I didn’t eat it).
The scoops of salad were definitely past their prime, even thought we came after the lunch rush. And the flavors were not fresh or inviting.
They definitely need to give some updated customer service training and revamp the recipes.
Like the concept but for the $ 11, I could get a better meal elsewhere.

General manager gave me a call after my last experience at Tender Greens and assured me that not only was he working on improving customer service, but that he was terminating the cook who dipped his fingers in the food and ate it right in front of the customers.
So customer service was far better, but the sweaty finger slurping cook was still there. Knowing he was a part of preparing my food stopped me and my guest from purchasing anything. We walked out and will not be returning.

Disappointed with this location as it was my first time. Been to the spectrum location a few times which is much better. I ordered the fried chicken with kale salad and I received a VERY SMALL portion of chicken and both pieces were all tendon. No wonder they made me wait 10 mins for the plate… they had to scrounge up something in the back.

Ordered a chicken plate to go for lunch today. Chicken was undercooked. Ironic that the health inspectors were there at the same time I was grabbing my food. Hope their score got knocked for this.

FROM FARM TO FORK

Ambiance: relaxed, airy, outside patio, recycled stuffs, cafeteria style
Space: medium size
Parking: valet parking ($ 4) or parking structure (FREE)
Location: close to Edwards theatre (good to grab grub before movie time), close to parking structure, close to gym (24 hours fitness– supersport).
The product comes fresh from Scarborough Farms in Oxnard. It seems the farm is an investor in Tender Greens.
You will wait in line to order at the first counter, then walking to the end of the line while watching how they prepare your foods (open kitchen), then pay after ordering what you want to drink.
You will be given tray with your foods and drinks, then wandering around to find where to seat. You could choose either inside or outside patio.
SERVICE: fast, friendly
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FOODS:
#### BACKYARD MARINATED STEAK (add 50 cents): grilled medium rare (open prairie raised, never given hormones or antibiotics): tender, juicy
For $ 12+tax, it will come either on
(((a sandwich OR as a hot plate-​with mashed potatoes)))
THEN
(((pick 1 (one) salad (options: tender greens salad, baby arugula, baby spinach, butter lettuce, kale, romaine hearts)))))
Very well balanced meal: carbs, meats, veggie.
####TUNA NICOISE (add 50 cents): fresh and delightful: grilled rare albacore, baby greens, tomato, potato, capers, green beans, quail egg, olives, sherry vinaigrette
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DRINKS:
Free water
CAMOMILE TEA: come in bright green little pot
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P.S.
# The executive chef for Irvine Spectrum location (TARA JOHNSON) was a tour band member
# Opening soon in March 2016: WESTWOOD location
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CASUAL EATERY for EATING and LIVING CLEAN!!!

I LOVE Tender Greens and eat at this location about 5 times a week because:
a) The food is delicious!
b) The food is healthy!
c) The service is GREAT!
d) The price is really good, especially the healthy, delicious food served hot, fresh, and always from friendly faces.
A big shout out to the ladies at the cashier and especially STEPHANIE who always has a big smile for me and now remembers me and my husband who picks up my dinner for me when I am too busy at work.
I got really sick about a year ago and have all of these dietary restrictions but I realized that what I CAN eat is the Chipotle chicken plate with mashed potatoes and either the spinach salad or the butter leaf salad with a gluten friendly dessert. Man I swear they put crack in the mashed potatoes they are so amazing, creamy, smooth, and delicious. And I don’t know how they make gluten friendly desserts taste so wonderful but they do! I love their gluten friendly cakes and cupcakes so much.
After being so sick it is just such a relief to know that I can come home from work and eat such a healthy meal that is nourishing and tasty. I really appreciate it!

So amazingly good! Everything looked delicious. I wanted to order it all. I ended up with a grilled chicken on kale salad and it was perfect. The savory mushroom tart was great as well.

I have been a fan of Tender Greens salads for years now, and this Irvine location surely churns out delicious plates of food! Weird that the spectrum location is better rated than the one near uci… I had great experiences at both! My favorite salads are the tuna nicoise, chipotle chicken, and the harvest salad (if you are feeling veg).

Tender greens is usually always my go to lunch spot, but something about today just made me lose all interest.
This restaurant isn’t like any other typical restaurant so don’t expect the customer service to win any J.D. Power awards. Their style is very similar to Lemonade, so you order as you go.
Pros:
1. Delicious mashed potatoes!
2. Bread is usually toasted to perfection. Except for today.
3. Their steak is pretty tender.
4. Clever cork tray.
Cons:
1. Too much fat on the chicken.
2. Line gets ridiculous if you get here during lunch rush.
3. Salad is warm…

Lunch date with the Auntie! Located at Irvine Spectrum so lunch time could get pretty packed. The Auntie knew so we came at 11:45 to beat the crowd and we did! So you order at the first register, they make it for you, and you pay at the end of the making process where you get your drinks and stuff. Seat yourself!
What I got:
Backyard Marinated Steak w/​Mashed Potatoes & Tender Greens ($ 11.50): the steak was a little chewy and dry in my opinion. Maybe next time I should try the chicken? Mashed potatoes were delicious and my favorite part of the whole meal. Tender greens were a little boring, didn’t have enough dressing in my opinion.
Service:
All the workers were nice. They messed up my order, but went to go fix it right away. Place got packed which so finding a table could be a little hard. Come early to beat the crowd!

I’m actually obsessed with this place. It’s hard to eat healthy outside but I know I can always come here and have a satisfying meal that’s good for me.
I usually get the market fish salad — it varies from time to time as its based on seasonal ingredients. Lately it’s been grilled octopus with mixed greens, pickled onions, chick peas, shaved fennel and romesco. Freakin’ amazing.
My husband swears their mashed potatoes are the best haha.
I have to say the only thing I don’t like about this location is the incredible line that forms during the lunch rush, but the employees do a great job at keeping the line moving.

Tender Greens is the modern-​day like cafeteria that serves plates that are freshly made upon order. The staff members and chefs are super passionate while making your food. They also love giving out recommendations if you are not sure what to get. The plates are not just fresh and healthy, but are at a affordable price (Yay! your wallet won’t cry!). At each of the Tender Greens location, the interiors are modernly designed to give you a laid back environment as you enjoy your meal.
What I’ve had (pretty much the whole menu haha):
Fried Chicken — the white and dark meat are marinated in rosemary, buttermilk, and thyme which gives you the fresh and herb-​like taste in your mouth. Once you take that first bite, you can feel and taste how crispy, moist, and warm the chicken is. Yum! Yum!
Salami and Kale — roasted fennel, crispy garbanzo beans, roasted garlic vinaigrette, golden raisins, fingerling potatoes, salami, and parmesan cheese are topped on kale. This mix is so fresh and healthy that it will make you come back for more.
Seared Albacore and Kale — same mix as the salami and kale, but substituted with seared albacore. The tuna is soft, moist, and a little salty as it melts in your mouth.
Southern Fried Chicken — butter lettuce that is mixed with cucumber, radish, freckled romaine, and dill dressing. This dish has a sour kick to it! So if you are ready for your mouth to go «WOAH!» then this is the dish for ya.
Harvest — scarborough farm lettuces tossed in fruits and nuts, artisan cheese, and golden balsamic vinaigrette. This is a simple salad that won’t overcrowd your plate.
Happy Vegan — the dish with tender greens, green humus, quinoa with cucumbers and beets, tabbouleh, and wheat with cranberry and hazelnuts. This dish is separated so you can each from each little section on your plate. It is a way for you to combine it based on your palette and pace.
Roasted Roma Tomato Soup — a roasted soup with ciabatta croutons and basil oil.
Simply Roasted Vegetables — a yummy side of veggies if you would like to add to your meal!
***NOTE: There are daily specials (limitedly offered) that you can get! These dishes are super good and will run out fairly quickly.
***NOTE: Most of the drinks has unlimited refills and you can mix it around to find your favorite!
Overall, Tender Greens has won my heart and I definitely know it shall win over yours. So head on over to the location at Irvine Spectrum so that you can get your greens tender! Once you eat here, you will feel so refreshing and healthy that you will want to come back over and over again.
AS ALWAYS, NOM FOR LIFE! :D

Yes, it’s a little on the pricey side but you get great food!
Everything I ordered tasted great and fresh. The ordering process took a while because there are so many options but the line moved along quickly.
The place is clean and has a nice modern look. It’s in a great location, and close to shopping.
Highly recommended!

On a recent trip home, my sister wanted to take me here because it’s one of her favorite places to eat. Usually I am like «meh, salad» but I agreed to go because she assured me that my 6 year old nephew even loves it. I obviously ordered the Happy Vegan salad: wheat with cranberry and hazelnuts, quinoa with cucumber and beets, green hummus, tabbouleh, and tender greens. When I first started eating my plate of salad, I was a little underwhelmed, but then I discovered all the greatness lying beneath! I would definitely come back for this salad and that says a lot. On a side (and somewhat gross) note, shortly after being seated, my almost 2 year old nephew projectile vomited pretty much an entire bottle’s worth of milk all over the table and ground outside and the staff handled the clean up very graciously.

Simple. Tasty. And hopefully as healthy as advertised. Salt and pepper chicken plate as well as the steak plate are delicious. Green Aqua Fresca was great as well.
Only complaint: just a little fat on the chicken.

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place when we came to Spectrum to watch a movie. We were just walking around to see where can we eat since pretty much most of the places there are basic — cheesecake factory, pf changs, javiers, cpk, yard house to name few.
We had their Happy Vegan salad, their roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes. It was the right amount of food to share between us. Their salad proportion was huge. The combination of wheat with cranberry and hazelnut was simply AMAZING! Never had two such different tastes (citrus and bit bitter) be mixed in just the right amount to hit your taste buds. All of their staff is super friendly and helpful. They are always in a cheerful mood with a smile on their face.
I have bought several of my friends here since then and all of them have really liked it!

Cheers to all my Unilocal friends who like Tender Greens’ food and prices, even though I disagree.
Tender Greens has now been in Irvine Spectrum for awhile and I’ve had it bookmarked for awhile. Finally the family made our way there and we were saddened by price, quality, quantity and just about everything. I’ll just say nothing was really good or tasty, the portions were very lacking, the chicken was mixed parts (a huge NO for me), the prices were too high, the quality too low (overcooked and chewy steak), weak iced tea (give it some brew time please).
The «Good»: the mint lemonade and the citrus olive oil cake, both worthy of a solid 4 stars
I also was not a fan of the cafeteria setting, order at counter, go to end, pay and it seemed to create confusion and back-​up. They also had at least 2 speciality dishes of the day that they were out of very early in the evening.
Sorry, but not sorry, you’ve made the I’ll Never Darken This Door Again list.

I’m late to the Tender Greens game… but I’ve officially been converted! Fresh, healthy and soooo delicious. I love their motto of ‘Farm to Fork’ in which they use fresh ingredients from local farms and use sustainable products
The price is a bit steep but you’re getting QUALITY food that’s good for your body. Not fried, battered junk food. Love their selection of lemonades and their beer/​wine too.
Herb brushed albacore with the side of a simple tender greens salad. The albacore was grilled perfectly rare with just a dash of sea salt. Loved every bite of it. The salad was huge in comparison to the fish but I didn’t mind it because it was A LOT of food. They have daily specials that are so delicious too! It’s quite pricey but I would much rather spend my $ on quality food than junk.
Will be seeing you again real soon, Tender Greens!

Love tender greens!
Steak plate with Kale salad plus veggies so good!
Decent prices like a cafeteria but even better!