Jacksonville’s Southside has no shortage of places to eat, but few make healthy food feel this much like a treat.
True Food Kitchen at St. Johns Town Center serves seasonal, health-driven dishes that taste more like a reward than a resolution.
Grab a seat, order something bright and colorful, and get ready to rethink everything you assumed about eating well.
How True Food Kitchen won locals’ hearts
True Food Kitchen built its reputation on a simple idea that Jacksonville diners took to quickly: food that is good for you should still taste great.
The restaurant sits at the southeast corner of St. Johns Town Center, across from The Capital Grille, so it’s an easy stop on a busy shopping day.
Its location along Big Island Drive, near where I-95 meets J. Turner Butler Boulevard, makes it simple to reach from almost anywhere in town.
The menu changes with the seasons, so regulars always have a reason to come back and see what’s new.
The kitchen leans on fresh, seasonal ingredients, and many dishes are marked gluten-friendly, vegan, or vegetarian.
That means a table full of people with very different diets can all order happily without anyone settling for a sad side salad.
The open kitchen lets diners watch the cooks work, which adds a bit of entertainment to every visit.
A scratch bar mixes drinks made from real fruit, and these colorful glasses have become a favorite of the lunch crowd.
Weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM, and it has become a go-to plan for lazy mornings around town.
For celebrations, the restaurant offers two private dining spaces away from the busy main dining room.
The Orange Sunset room sits behind the scratch bar, seats up to 16 guests, and has doors that open onto the covered outdoor patio.
You can book a table by phone or through OpenTable, which is handy on packed weekend nights.
Put together, the mix of healthy food, convenience, and a cheerful setting has made True Food Kitchen a Town Center favorite for locals who want to eat well without giving up flavor.
Food Highlights
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Wild-Caught Tuna Poke: This bowl stacks organic black rice with avocado, roasted mushroom, cucumber, jalapeño, edamame, and citrus ponzu, all finished with Chef Matt’s Magical Dust. It’s light, bright, and full of texture, which makes it a great pick for a fresh, filling lunch. 🐟
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Spaghetti Squash Casserole: Caramelized onion, zucchini, and fresh mozzarella sit on top of tender spaghetti squash in organic DiNapoli tomato sauce. It gives you all the cozy comfort of a baked pasta dish, and it’s vegetarian and gluten-friendly. 🍝🧀
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Spicy Korean Chicken Sandwich: Crispy True Crisp’d chicken, air-fried in avocado oil, gets topped with house-made pickles, Korean BBQ sauce, and kale slaw on a flax seed bun. It’s crunchy, sweet, a little spicy, and proof that a healthier sandwich doesn’t have to be boring. 🌶️🍗
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Smoked Gouda Turkey Burger: This burger comes loaded with avocado, organic tomato, butter lettuce, and a zippy jalapeño remoulade. The smoky cheese and creamy avocado make it a crowd-pleaser for anyone who wants burger night with a lighter twist. 🍔
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Not Your Mama’s Meatloaf: Grass-fed organic beef from Verde Farms comes with herb-roasted fingerling potatoes, honey-roasted carrots, mushroom jus, and microgreens. It’s a hearty comfort-food classic with an upgrade, ideal for a cool Florida evening. 🥩
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Grilled Sustainable Salmon: The salmon is served with roasted Brussels sprouts, organic wild rice pilaf, and a pomegranate vinaigrette. It’s a balanced, colorful plate that makes healthy eating feel like a small celebration. 🍣
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Pink Lemonade: Dragon fruit and lemon give this drink its bold pink color and fruity flavor. It’s refreshing, very photogenic, and the perfect sip for a warm Jacksonville afternoon. 🍋
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Chopped Salad and Grass-Fed Burger: These are featured as Jacksonville local favorites on the restaurant’s online menu, so they’re a safe bet for first-timers. Ordering either one is the easiest way to see what keeps neighbors coming back. 🥗🍔
Atmosphere
The dining room is lively and open, and the open kitchen and scratch bar keep the room full of energy.
The covered outdoor patio is a relaxed spot to enjoy Florida weather with your meal.
It works just as well for a quick lunch, a weekend brunch, or a private party.
Bottom Line
Visit for seasonal, health-focused dishes, plenty of gluten-friendly and vegan options, fruit-forward scratch bar drinks, weekend brunch, and a handy St. Johns Town Center location that makes it easy to stop in.
Address: 5205 Big Island Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32246
📞 (904) 996-7333
🕔 Open Mon-Thu, 11 AM–9 PM | Fri, 11 AM–9:30 PM | Sat, 10:30 AM–9:30 PM | Sun, 10:30 AM–8 PM