It’s blown up in Utah. Now this unique restaurant brand plans to ‘heal’ Meridian diners
Prepare for battle, In-N-Out Burger.
Of fast food vs. health food. Of Double-Double vs. Vitality Bowl.
Of good vs. evil — though ardent customers might disagree which is which.
Named after eggplant and armed with organic tofu, up-and-coming Utah brand Aubergine Kitchen plans to crash straight into the Treasure Valley’s artery-clogging, restaurant-chain mecca.
Um, yeah — that’s you, Meridian.
‘Whole, nourishing’
As part of an “ambitious expansion plan for 2025,” the nutrition-conscious concept plans to make its Idaho debut this fall at 2206. N. Eagle Road. That’s at The Village at Meridian. So close to In-N-Out that you could take a few scientific bites at both restaurants and possibly trigger a seizure. (Actually, Aubergine Kitchen will be nestled between The Habit Burger Grill and Blaze Pizza, also a suitable control group for this experiment.)
Bringing Aubergine Kitchen’s “unique menu” — filled with vegetables, nuts, proteins and lots of dietary markers — the new Meridian restaurant will help build on the brand’s “mission to provide whole, nourishing foods free from added sugar and seed oils,” a press release explains.
In a world increasingly sensitive to lipid levels and glucose spikes, Aubergine might be on to something. Founded in 2014, the fast-casual phenom has grown from a single location in Utah to a whopping 10 in that state — soon to be 13. There’s also one in Mesa, Arizona.
Other than Idaho, the only new state getting an Aubergine Kitchen this year is Nevada. Calling itself “a beloved regional brand with a loyal following,” the family-owned operation explains that “each new location is part of the company’s commitment to making healthy eating both convenient and flavorful.”
Truth be told, the food in the menu’s photos does look kinda delicious.
“From hearty bowls to nutrient-packed salads and smoothies, every dish reflects the restaurant’s dedication to creating food that leaves customers feeling incredible,” the release says.
‘Food that heals’
Breakfast offers everything from a Veggie Omelette (pasture-raised eggs, of course) and an Avocado Cashew Bowl to Cheesebread (gluten-free) and Chocolate Nut Milk. Or go indulge with Gluten-Free Mac N’ Cheese or a Mac N’ Cheese Tri-Tip Plate, a Hot Steak Melt sandwich, or a Mango Goat Cheese or Tri-Tip salad. Dive into bowls ranging from Peanut Tofu and Teri Chicken to Spicy Coconut Curry and Mediterranean.
There are tons of enticing cold and hot drinks. Plenty of naturally sweetened, sugar-free “nice” cream treats. Plus acai bowls and Superfood Smoothies — with reminders that “there is absolutely no refined sugar in anything” and you can “replace housemade cashew milk with coconut milk at no cost.”
Prices shouldn’t raise eyebrows too much, either. A Chicken Caprese Melt sandwich, for example, is $12.95. A Wild Salmon salad is $15.95. For a limited time last year, there was a vegan Donny Osmond Vegas Bowl named after one of the brand’s celebrity fans. It was “packed with ingredients that support heart and brain health, promote skin rejuvenation and aid digestion,” Aubergine proclaimed on social media. All that for $14.95!
Spendier than In-N-Out? For sure.
But Aubergine Kitchen would want you to know that your health is, like, priceless.
The brand is in the midst of “an incredibly exciting time,” CEO and founder Elcio Zanatta said in the release, “as we continue to grow and share our passion for food that heals with new communities.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 12:41 PM.