Opening this month in Meridian, ‘not just a restaurant, we’re a movement’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Health-conscious brand Aubergine Kitchen will open its 14th location, but first in Idaho.
- Aubergine Kitchen, located on Eagle Road, will be open every day but Sunday.
- Menu items include “hearty bowls, vibrant salads and nutrient-dense smoothies.”
If you happen to be reading this while crushing a Double-Double at In-N-Out Burger, feel free to click on another article.
This one might not exactly be for you.
A Utah-based restaurant chain named after eggplant is making its Idaho debut. Espousing the motto “eat better, feel different,” Aubergine Kitchen will open its doors Friday, Sept. 19, at 2206 N. Eagle Road.
It will be the 14th location for the health-conscious brand, which originated in 2014, according to a press release.
“We’re so excited to bring Aubergine to the people of Meridian,” Elcio Zanatta, CEO and founder, said in a prepared statement. “We’re not just a restaurant, we’re a movement — and we look forward to making a lasting impact in Idaho.”
Aubergine Kitchen has “redefined fast-casual dining with a commitment to zero seed oils, no added sugar and globally inspired dishes crafted from whole ingredients,” according to the release.
Meridian’s newest restaurant “will feature the brand’s signature warm atmosphere and menu of hearty bowls, vibrant salads, house-made dressings, nutrient-dense smoothies, and bakery items and desserts made without compromise,” the release explains.
“Everything on our menu is made with purpose,” Mirian Zanatta, co-founder and head chef, added in a prepared statement. “We focus on whole ingredients, thoughtful recipes and absolutely nothing artificial.”
And if all the organic tofu suddenly triggers an irresistible urge to clog your arteries? Conveniently, Meridian’s Aubergine Kitchen will be nestled between The Habit Burger Grill and Blaze Pizza.
That said, the food in the menu’s photos does look fairly delicious.
Breakfast offers everything from a Veggie Omelette (pasture-raised eggs, of course) and an Avocado Cashew Melt to Chocolate Nut Milk. Or indulge with a Steak Plate of grass-fed tri-tip and veggies — or a Mango Goat Cheese or Tri-Tip salad. Dive into bowls ranging from Peanut Tofu and Mediterranean to Coconut Curry.
There are tons of enticing cold and hot drinks. Plenty of naturally sweetened, sugar-free “nice” cream treats. Plus acai bowls and Superfood Smoothies.
Aubergine Kitchen Prices shouldn’t raise eyebrows too much. A Chicken Caprese Melt sandwich, for example, is $13.45. A Wild Salmon salad is $16.45. The aforementioned Steak Plate? $19.95.
Spendier than In-N-Out? 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,” Elcio Zanatta said earlier this year in a press release, “as we continue to grow and share our passion for food that heals with new communities.”
Aubergine Kitchen will be open every day except Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. to start. When breakfast is added in October, the restaurant will open at 7:30 a.m. and serve breakfast until 11 a.m. each day, except Saturday, when it will last until noon.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 4:00 AM.