Where To Find The Freshest Açai Bowls in San Diego
Açai bowls are all the rage right now, and if you’ve been living under a rock, you might have missed out on their popularity. This delicious Brazilian treat is great for those looking to lose weight, get an extra dose of Vitamin C, or want a tasty snack that’s not too heavy. They are naturally sweet, delicious, and healthy, with various fruits and toppings. Try one at any of these great San Diego restaurants to experience this treat for yourself!
Rum Jungle Cafe
4150 Mission Blvd #152, San Diego, CA 92019
(858) 273-2227
When you’re in Mission Beach/Pacific Beach, you’ve got to go to Rum Jungle for their açai bowls. We like this restaurant not only because of its convenient location but also because of the variety of flavors on the menu. Yogurt and Strawberry were on top of the bowl that we ordered! We also appreciate how generous they are with the fruit and granola, which is, in our opinion, the tastiest part.
The Mad Beet
933 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
(858) 529-5129
The Mad Beet restaurant is full of originality, right down to the names of the dishes on the menu. Art by Autumn, Pacific Beach’s favorite local artist, has created wonderful themed love art for the walls here. People seem to be drawn in by the store’s ambition to develop a community of health-conscious neighbors, and they keep coming back for more. Oh, and did we mention that their bowls are fantastic? If you prefer to keep things simple, you’ll enjoy their Açaiwol Nation. The Pitayacat Dolls are another fruitastic option you should try. This place is unquestionably the best in terms of total creativity and enjoyment!
Northside Shack
1255 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 101, San Diego, California, 92106
(619) 738-8233
When we checked the menu and saw that you could get 50/50 acai and pitaya, as well as *more* toppings than any other restaurant we’ve ever gone to, we were thoroughly impressed. Bowls at this spot comes with ten different fruits, including grapes and kiwi, and are topped with crushed almonds in addition to regular granola. Our favorite part was the way they stack it up high for fruit lovers. All in all, 10/10! We recommend visiting Northside Shack for this beautiful bowl.
Swami’s Cafe
2780 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad, CA 92024
(760) 434-7455
Swami’s Cafe is another top pick place for the best açai bowls in San Diego, with locations all over the county and quantities that are unmatched. Swami’s is a great café franchise with many interesting breakfast and lunch selections. We went to the one in Carlsbad (if you find yourself up that way here are some other places you have to try), but there are more in Point Loma, Encinitas, and a few others around the SD area. If you are a big fan of bee pollen, great for its anti-allergy properties, you will love getting to add bee pollen to the top of your bowl!
Juice Kaboose
1826 Garnet Ave, Pacific Beach, Ca 92109
(858) 272-3000
Juice Kaboose has a variety of açai bowls, including more traditional flavors as well as more interesting ones with peanut butter and even espresso. We loved the peanut butter flavor and topped it with peanut butter chips, which was a lovely addition of flavor. The amount of fruit and granola in this bowl was juuust right. If you want a little extra something with your bowl, Juice Kaboose is great in that it also serves other items such as wraps, sandwiches, and burritos. You can get these awesome treats in either PB or La Jolla.
OB Smoothies
5001A Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107,
(619) 756-6265
OB Smoothies is a modest, unassuming cafe that serves various meals and large açai bowls packed with vitamins and flavors. Our favorite part is how generous they are with the fruit and granola!
Sambazon
2031 San Elijo Ave, Cardiff-By-The-Sea, CA 92007
(760) 230-2380
Sambazon was among the first companies to commercialize açai in the United States, and if you find açai at the supermarket, it’s probably a Sambazon product. The açai berry exporter also runs two cafés in Southern California, where they share their expertise and enthusiasm for the fruit. Everything from an açai latte to a bowl named after surfer Rob Machado, made with peanut butter and chocolate and topped with banana and granola, is on the menu.
Nékter
8855 Villa La Jolla Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, California
(858) 412-3435
Nékter is based in Southern California and has sites all across San Diego. Açai smoothies are available at the juice bar in addition to açai and pitaya bowls. There are a variety of bowls to pick from, all of which include hemp seed granola and fresh fruit. Try the Açai Mango bowl for extra tropical flavor. It’s made with mango, pineapple, and coconut water and topped with coconut flakes for a tropical twist.
Trilogy Cafe
7650 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, San Diego, California,
(858) 633-3893
Trilogy Cafe, attached to a yoga studio, has an organic, all-vegan, and gluten free menu with five different açai and pitaya bowls. The Superfood Bowl, which includes almond milk, bananas, blueberries, goji spinach, coconut butter, and berries, is a filling and nutrient-dense option. The hemp seeds, banana, chia seeds, coconut flakes, almonds, and strawberries are sprinkled over the top. It’s also very pretty!
For more information on where to eat and drink in San Diego, check out our city page!
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on February 17, 2022 and last updated on March 10, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information.
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