Plant-Friendly Hotspot: Ah Juice — Plant Based Santa Barbara

Ah Juice
432 East Haley Street, Downtown
Santa Barbara
juice@ahjuice.com
Cafe Order Line 805-698-1032
Juice Ordering & Delivery: 805-698-5443

I recently checked out local juicery and cafe Ah Juice with one of my Little Earthlings - I can't believe we hadn't been there before! A friend had been telling us for some time how delicious and plant-friendly Ah Juice is - and she was right!

This sweet little, all organic cafe is full of light and you can spot it by the red umbrellas on the front patio - located just up from The Mill on East Haley Street. Just one peak at their website and you can see how thoughtfully they approach their food philosophy. Their menu is super fresh, locally sourced, and organic with lots of plant-friendly options.

Vegan options for breakfast and lunch include oatmeals, salads, sandwiches, and wraps plus an extensive juice, smoothie, and specialty drink menu (check out their menu here!). Their coffee menu is also organic, which is a fun find. While their menu isn't fully plant-based, there are many plant-based/vegan and easily modified options. Here's what me and my Little Earthling got at our visit + some to share with the family at home:

1. Kale Caesar Salad, add avocado and tempeh (delish!)

2. Vegan Coconut Thai Hummus Wrap (also super fresh and delicious)

3. Vegan Grilled Cheese Sandwich with red peppers on the side for the kids (With The Cultured Culture's plant-based cheese - my Little Earthlings enjoyed it!:))

Their food was light and not overfilling. Next time I'd pair our lunch orders with a smoothie - partly because I was still just a bit hungry (although I was pregnant at the time;)), and partly because their smoothies just sound so darn good. Since their menu is not entirely vegan, be sure to clarify that you're looking for 100% plant-based and they can easily guide you! Salads can be made with no-oil dressing if you're looking for no oil and some non-vegan items can be made plant based just by taking off the cheese or subbing in vegan cheese.

I also found this little cafe to be super thoughtful. They took time and care in discussing their menu with customers and went into detail on the background of foods and ingredients as you order, so you don't have to feel rushed if it's your first time or if you're taking extra care to address dietary needs or preferences - or you just plain want to try something new. And after my visit I followed up with a few questions, and they very thoughtfully replied, including sharing the four tenets for which they base around their service. Here they are... They pay attention to:

What they serve (does it nourish and taste good)
How they conduct themselves as a business and how their actions affect others and the whole world-sentient and non sentient beings.
What they can do better, more efficiently, as a business and as individuals,
How they practice the highest level of sustainability.

Very cool. Overall, it was a very friendly environment, with yummy plant-based options including some nice options for kids, and a lovely back patio to gather at if you want a quieter spot to enjoy. Parking is all street parking so be sure to keep an eye out as you're approaching it. Enjoy! And thank you, Ah Juice!

Kids Vegan Grilled Cheese with Cultured Culture cheese & red peppers on the side