Fort Worth’s Best Healthy Restaurants — 5 Spots That Make Clean Eating Delicious

Fort Worth has no shortage of restaurants. In fact, one could say most Fort Worthians find a great deal of entertainment in dining out, as evidenced by sheer number of restaurants in the city.

Sure, Fort Worth boasts fantastic barbecue restaurants — some say the best in the country, but that’s another argument — great burger joints and more taco establishments than you can shake a stick at.

But that’s not the only cuisine where the city shines. When it comes to clean healthy eating, Fort Worth also comes through.

This list isn’t about flavorless health foods of years past, but more about the emergence of high-quality restaurant options in Fort Worth that just so happen to be good for you. These are Fort Worth’s best healthy restaurants:

Righteous Foods

3405 W 7th Street

Located in the heart of the cultural district, Righteous Foods is a stone’s throw from a bevy of exercise establishments, which is why on any given day, you can see that it is a favorite hang-out of many a lululemon-clad fitness enthusiast.

Lanny Lancarte, grandson of Fort Worth restauranteur Joe T. Garcia, opened Righteous Foods in 2014. Righteous Foods is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while the food is nutrient-dense, you won’t walk away feeling deprived.

Righteous Foods even offers an assortment of coffees, juices and cocktails for detoxing or re-toxing. You can never go wrong with the veggie burrito with a side of bacon — because, treat yourself — and a cappuccino, with the alternative milk of your choice.

At lunch or dinner time, you have to try cochinita pibil pork tacos with chile poblano, pickled red onions, queso fresco, fermented cabbage and carrots and black beans all nestled in heirloom corn tortillas.

Another fan favorite is the 44 Farms beef burger, complete with Gouda cheese, chlorophyll aioli, house-made pickles, pickled red onions, lettuce, tomato and yuca fries on the side.

Local Foods Kitchen

4548 Hartwood Drive

If you venture down Hulen Street, you will find Local Foods Kitchen in Tanglewood Village.

This diamond in the rough focuses on small-batch recipes derived from the freshest of hyper-local and regional ingredients. Chef Katie Schma started out in Dallas, where she opened City Cafe on Lover’s Lane.

She later moved to Napa, California and opened the local hotspot, Nest, down the road from Robert Mondavi Winery.

When Schma ventured back to Fort Worth and opened Local Foods Kitchen in 2015, she stuck with a seasonal menu and no shortage of carry-out options for those needing an easy dinner option or something to bring to a party.

More recently, she started offering family dinners, consisting of a prix-fixe dinner menu of an appetizer, main course, dessert and a well-sourced wine list. Local Foods Kitchen also offers catering for all of your gathering needs.

Local Foods Kitchen is open early with an assortment of egg-related dishes or oatmeal and parfaits. Lunch can be intimidatingly crowded, but this food is totally worth the line.

With a constantly evolving entree and lunch menu, you can change your order regularly. The Kabob Cobb is a winner, stacked with greens, bell peppers, onion, tomato, avocado, feta and topped with tandoori chicken. If you have a sweet tooth, you must try the Blum’s coffee crunch cake.

HG Sply Co.

1621 River Run

This Dallas-hotspot-turned-Fort Worth darling is located on the Trinity River in the River Run shopping center.

HG Sply Co. encourages you to be mindful about what you put in your body and, to put it frankly, they nailed it.

Boasting a simple and clean food and drinks menu with humble hospitality, you are met with paleo options galore, but also plenty of bread, dairy and alcohol for the masses.

It’s open for brunch, lunch or dinner. The relaxed spot also features one of the best patios in Fort Worth. Pair that with a nutritious meal and a cocktail, and you’re all set.

You may waver between the True Grit Bowl made with poblano cauliflower “grits,” sauteed rainbow chard, with mushrooms, caramelized onions and herb salad with protein of your choice. If you have a hankering for Chinese food, try the fried rice bowl for lunch or dinner.

But, one of the many favorite breakfasts on the menu is the Breakfast on a Bun. Featuring a Texas Pachi Pachi Farms egg, white cheddar and your choice of bacon, sausage patty, or ham on an empire bun with garlic aioli, arugula, tomato and your choice of side.

Pro tip: Order the HG Moscow Mule, served frozen and perfect for Texas Summer and patio sitting.

Ellerbe Fine Foods

1501 W Magnolia Avenue

On the south side of Fort Worth, Ellerbe Fine Foods is a fine cuisine staple.

Chef Molly McCook’s ever-evolving seasonal menu is full of local and regional ingredients. Chef McCook grew up in Shreveport, Louisiana, where she learned the importance of garden fresh ingredients.

She finally arrived in Fort Worth in 2006 by way of Colorado and then California, picking up many culinary accolades along the way.

Everything on the menu is purchased through farm and ranching partners, making Ellerbe’s a true farm-to-fork restaurant. Open from 11 am to 10 pm, you can run by for lunch or have a celebratory dinner on the quaint patio.

The current menu boasts heritage pork tenderloin and even grilled Muscovy duck breast. The menu always has a vegetarian option, and the staff is always more than happy to address any food allergies or dietary concerns.

Last, but certainly not least, sommelier Chester Cox, director of wine sales and services, is there to help you navigate the vast and impressive wine list.

Spiral Diner

1314 W Magnolia Avenue

Another favorite is Spiral Diner, a completely vegan cafe. The restaurant has three locations — Fort Worth, Dallas and Denton — but Fort Worth was the original. It was previously located in the Santa Fe Railroad building along with the farmer’s market.

Spiral was founded by Amy McNutt, a vegan and animal rights activist, in 2002.

The diner moved to Magnolia in 2004 and has a loyal following to this day. Spiral opens at 11 am and closes at 10 pm and caters to the lunch and dinner rush.

The menu includes sandwiches, hot plates and a bakery full of goodies. All of which just so happen to be plant-based. Good for the body, great for the environment.

The Supremo Nachos alone are worth the trip with a cashew-based vegan cheese, quinoa, black beans, black olives, cilantro, corn, tomatoes, green onions, sour cream, guacamole and pickled jalapeños.

You definitely won’t walk away missing meat. But, a close second is the Hell’s Half Acre Platter, complete with “chicken strips,” macaroni and cheese — vegan, of course — grilled broccoli and cole slaw.

These healthy Fort Worth restaurants definitely clean up the plate.