Urban Plates Reviews

It was my third visit, but the family's first visit. My pickiest eater approved and we'll make this our regular to go to place for non-Asian food. Steak was cooked perfectly along with my 2 sides (Brussel Sprouts and Broccoli). Kids had salmon, I was hoping they can't finish so I can finish for them, but that wasn't the case. Friendly service, and great ambient!

Urban Plates has become a favorite of ours for several reasons. First, the food is excellent. They have a variety of dishes including salads, entrees, and braises. They have several dishes that are gluten-free and some that can be modified served gluten-free. I love their chicken entree, which is only listed as dairy-free. However, by having them leave off the bread, the dish becomes gluten-free, also. The atmosphere is always pleasant. With that said, if you're looking for a straight sit-down, be served type of place, this isn't it. This is cafeteria style, so it's seat yourself, etc. Finally, the staff have always been pleasant and friendly. The place gets very busy sometimes, so it might take a little while to get through the line, but we've never had to wait for a table.

Went to Urban Plate in San Diego one of the best places to eat in La Jolla. Freshly prepared right before your eyes. I had the grilled free range chicken with roasted rosemary potatoes carrots and beets. It’s to die for. I cannot stop thinking about this. My son, a 10 year old is a very picky eater had chicken with macaroni and cheese. I coaxed him to try it and at his first bite he said ‘Mom this is good’. If he said it there is no need to say anything else! Hope they’ll come on the East Coast.

We love eating here before a movie at Cinepolis in the same center. The line can get long during meal times, but it usually goes quickly. They have a large selection of salads, but we usually go for the entree plate where you can pick any two sides, which include lots of great healthy options or soup. Great tasting food, too.

This branch was very welcoming with super nice staff...the relatively healthy options for food was great, portions were pretty good size and price was reasonable

My wife and I ate here based on the recommendation of a local hotel. They exceeded our expectations. They have numerous options for plates, sandwiches, salads, and huge cookies. We ordered the steak, which is thinly cut flank. The flavor was great! There are also numerous sides to choose from. This location has a fire pit table outside as well as other seating outside (and inside). We returned for dinner again during our trip. Recommended!

The ordering and paying process was perplexing. Menus are hard to read in the evening light. A big mob at each window, backing up people, cluster at the cash register. Reminds me of a cafe at Sea World or Legoland. This all was a bit irritating. We had salmon and meatloaf. I would not order salmon here again. It was a small over cooked portion. The meatloaf was good! The mash potatoes and Brussel sprouts were good too! We had the mango tart which we have had at other local restaurants. It is always amazing. House Malbec was great. Ambiance for cafeteria style setting was warm and inviting. I will return and try a salad the next time!

While vacationing my diet had been awful! I was listed from all the salt and fried food I had been devouring. My brother recommended Urban Plates and I'm so glad he did! I had the Cobb salad. It was The BEST salad I have ever had! I also had the super green drink. Any time I return to San Diego I will be sure to eat here.

I love Urban Plates as a Celiac because I can a gluten-free meal that's safe for me to eat, thanks to their marked menu. Yesterday I ordered the blackened salmon with hollandaise. It came with 2 sides and I got the chipotle & herb marble potatoes & harissa lime cauliflower and a slice of gluten free bread for $22.14 (with tax.) Portion looked small but it tasted fantastic, aside from their very dense gluten-free bread. Service is quick and they have ample indoor and outdoor seating. Unfortunately there are not many options for a meal with protein for less than $20 per person, so it's not necessarily affordable for families. Just to add chicken to any salad is an extra $8.50. I feel like the food is marked up so that you'll buy into their $60 per year membership program which includes 20% off your bill for food and between 20-35% off of beverages. I guess if you plan to spend more than $300 per year, pre-tax, the membership makes sense, but why not just lower the price and sell more meals? Despite the bizarre membership thing, this isn't the first Urban Plates I've been to nor the last. Visited June 2024

More than I expected. While no table service--you go through a line to choose and customize your food, the dining spaces where very comfortable and good spot for talking with many options inside/outside/fireside/intimate/large group. As advertised the ingredients were very fresh and tasty. We were in La Jolla for a wedding and this restaurant was close to our hotel; we ate there twice. Highly recommend!

Urban Plates was introduced to us by some friends. It initially reminds one of Tender Greens but has its own unique features. There are two lines - one for salads and one for everything else. I wanted something more substantial than a salad so went through the "other" line which includes sandwiches; fish, steak, meatloaf, and chicken with the choice of two sides and focaccia bread; and "pizzettes." The "plates" are all $10 and are a good size. They will even give you samples of the food. The brussels sprouts, a vegetable I used to avoid at all cost, are very tasty. There are desserts and drinks, too, but keeping it simple was our goal so the $10 plate totally satisfied me.

"From the farm and to your plate", this hip organic cafeteria style restaurant offers a lot of good choices at an affordable price, considering the quality of the food. Ambience is great though a bit on louder side.

What a fantastic little restaurant! Everything was great! The place was very clean and all of the employees were very friendly and helpful.

My husband and I recently went to Urban Plates (after hearing about it from various people) and have decided this is one of our new favorite places. They have great selections that are healthy and can be two meals. We usually order online and just go pick up our food. Very reasonable prices for very tasty food!

This was another find thanks to high marks on Yelp. I had the BBQ turkey meatloaf sandwich. This was excellent. This coming from someone who normally won't trust anyone's meatloaf beside my mom's. My daughter had a Pizza which she seemed to enjoy. We visited on a Tuesday for an early dinner and service was quick. By the time we left, the lines were starting to grow.

Stopped in for a quick lunch on a Saturday. Service was excellent, my Nicoise salad was delicious, and the restaurant got new plants so it’s looking much more inviting. Big thanks to Jerome and the team for always being so consistent and courteous.

I have never been to Urban Plates before but this place is lovely, popular enough there was a line outside. We sat at a big outside table which is out of the noise inside with lit coals in the middle, pretty cool. Loved the food, had some free range chicken with some Yukon gold potatoes and a cake. Great selection, 100 percent organic ingredients, awesome service. They have plenty of Vegetarian and Free Range options. It was the perfect dinner in San Diego while we were on vacation there. Only downside is there are only two bathrooms, one for men and the other for woman, with only 1 toilet. Which is annoying since this place is popular and a lot of people eat here. Loved it though.

Albacore Sandwich was done to order. This location had folks to help with moving the line along. Portobello Sandwich was so huge that a wide jaw was needed. If you're a fan of goat cheese, this is for you. The mushrooms were plentiful. Remember, no table service, but a quick lunch with plenty of time to chat indoors or in the covered patio.

Overall the food was very good. We had the steak sandwich, soup, mac and cheese, bread and potatoes. The potatoes were really good but they were cold. The mac and cheese was hot and good. The bread was terrible. It was burnt and smelled like burning hair. My wife said she had it previously and it was the same way. The bread was good bread, just burnt on a grill. We didn't eat it. They should have cooked the bread in a toaster oven not on an open grill. It was black. Service was a little slow but you can't complain right now. They had a lot of takeout orders going on when we were there.

Went to urban plates in UTC area brought the family. We had everything from salads to steak and bunch of appetizers. Everything was tasty and the price point was pretty good. Physically, the setting was very pretty as well. This will definitely be a go to restaurant for healthy delicious meals

A little different in that you line up cafeteria style and order your food. Separate line for salads but not sure if it really helps. You end up merging with the other lines so doesn't really make it that much faster unless you're only doing salads. The lines can get long but move along relatively quickly. The food is clean, fresh, and pretty good. The mac n cheese was decent, got a little bit of a kick. The nicoise salad was overall pretty good but the albacore was a little bland. The other parts had good flavors. The grilled steak sandwich had good flavors but the steak itself was a bit too chewy. Not hard or tough, but just seemed like you had to chew forever. The organic apple juice is really good, tastes really fresh. The grilled chicken was a tiny bit dry but still really good. Would go again if in the area.

Great food. No wait. Always a good meal. Salads are great as well as the cooked food. Also the drinks are terrific. Never disappointed.

Great place for a quick and delicious meal. I had the salmon with red skin rosemary potatoes and asparagus. Everything was cooked to perfection.

Went here fir lunch and it was nummers. Staff was friendly and seemed happy! Get the burger it's fire!!

Love this spot, good healthy eats, lots of healthy options here. Not fancy, but well worth a visit, very well priced too.

This place was highly recommended. We got there around 5 p.m. on a Friday...it is cafeteria style...sort of loftish feel. The food choices were very good and it is based on being healthy food. The salads and sandwiches were probably what we SHOULD have gone with, but we decided on the hot plate...not excited at all about it. I had the Albacore Tuna...they say it's sushi grade and thus grill it to mid-rare. The hot 'sides' are under lights to stay hot. My friend had the roasted chicken and two hot sides. She was actually ignored by the guy, who served two other people before assisting her (wow, really?) We made it to the cash register to pay and they couldn't make change for a $100 and wanted us to wait (with what was quickly becoming cold food) until they figured out how to get me change. I paid with credit card to expedite things and the guy was training this gal and so had to explain everything... Yep, as you guessed by the time we got to the table and took a bite everything was wonderfully (NOT) hot...ugh. So I took it up and told them it was cold...into the oven (they do not have microwaves they say) it went. Just under 10 minutes later it came back hot and the fish was well done, which he did offer to change out, but I said 'no'. The various sides were alright, not exciting, but alright. The chicken was good, a bit salty. The tuna was horrible...it was extremely fishy (and I eat nothing but fish generally) and if was really sushi grade and that fresh, I'd be hard pressed to believe it. (as a side, I have salmon and halibut flown in from Alaska and eat it 3-5 times/week, so I LOVE FISH). I would NOT go back there quite frankly. If someone wanted to pay, I'd try a salad...it's not a bad place, just not good for HOT food.

I was surprised at the setup of the restaurant as a cafeteria style experience, but it worked well for the kids that we had with our group. The vegetables were a bit undercooked in general, but the quality of the food was quite good. I loved the nicoise salad. An interesting concept for a meal - very casual.

Don't be put off by the line of people waiting to get in! This is a cafeteria style restaurant with friendly and fun atmosphere. The first time I went with a group of friends, including several chefs, and we were all impressed with the flavors and portion sizes. We were able to share a bottle of wine, appetizers, and then each have a meal. Desserts were shared. The second time I went for lunch by myself. The line for salads was longer than the line for plates and sandwiches...I was in and out in a jiffy! Love the brussels sprouts and mac n cheese. The grilled chicken is so juicy and tender! I tried the salmon on my second visit...equally outstanding. The chocolate pudding is not to be missed! At $10 for a plate (desserts and beverages are extra), including delicious grilled foccacia bread, I think this is a bargain...and so much fun! There is seating inside and outside...I'll be going back soon, and am eagerly waiting for the new Urban Plates to open in the Forum Center in Carlsbad!

Wow1 I cannot get over the cost for such good food! I had the Ahi Tuna and loved it. I asked for another order to go to take to work for the next day. Five stars, hands down!

The food is good nothing super extraordinary but very good nonetheless. I like how there are a lot of choices that range from the healthier to not as healthy. The prices are pretty unbeatable. It's fresh food that's very good for you at an incredible price of around $10. Cons: sometimes depending on the item you order the portion sizes are small. For example the meat portions are big and pretty filling but the Ono sizes are relatively small and depending on the sides your order you may still be hungry. But overall I would recommend it.

Its a good thing I don't have one of these near me... I'd eat there way too often for my dining out budget! Very good, fresh, well-prepared food. Wide selection- vegetarian or carnivore. So why not 5-star? Well, the menu was a bit confusing, some of the portions were on the small side for the cost, and by the time my family was done, it wasn't much cheaper than a comparable sit-down meal. But it was fun, great to see the food before you selected it, and so we'd definitely go there the next time we're in town.

Amazingly fresh dinners & salads custom made right in front of you! If you are looking for a quick lunch or dinner to eat in or to take out this is our new favorite in San Diego! Go to the counter & order from a wide variety of dinners with a good selection of sides or order fresh salads with many amazing toppings like salmon or albacore or herb roasted grilled chicken. They make the food to order right in front of you! Very delicious!! Plenty of seating if you decide to stay, or take out to go

Loved the healthy section, the amazing prices, and the super fast service. I had no idea what to expect going in here and was very impressed. We went back twice during our 1 week stay in the area!

Normally I won't eat at a buffet but driving by I noted that the line was out the door, the place was full and jumping! Nice atmosphere and very clean. The staff was personable and went out of their way to make guests happy. I ate here 2 nights in a row, once by myself and once with two others. The food was EXCELLENT, well prepared and the portions were more than ample. All the food is fresh, the vegetables are locally sourced and organic. Salads are singly prepared and delicious. On the second night both my guests said that their meals were outstanding and that they would come back anytime. Also, the deserts are fresh and very good. This is an excellent, modern, healthy upscale buffet and I would encourage everyone to check it out, you won't be disappointed

Great choices but they have to work on the lines. Separating them by salads, sandwiches and main entree was confusing. I had a sandwich and was through the line way before my party so my food was cold by the time they joined me. The staff was great though and one young man bussing the tables was extra helpful and cheerful.

I was taken there and I was pleasantly suprised. Everything was good. A little different, poor-man's gourmet, I will return ASAP.

A friend suggested we meet here and I'm so glad we did. Urban Plates advertises itself as "farm to plate & won't break the bank," and it was true to its word. I must note that I generally am not a fan of cafeteria-style restaurants as the food quality can be uneven, but for the most part this was not true here. My friend and I bypassed the hand-tossed salads, hand-carved sandwiches, and braises and stews to dine on urban plates. I chose salmon with a spicy glaze and it was to die for. My two sides were macaroni & cheese (which tasted great but got cold fast) and a vegetable sauce featuring mushrooms, snap peas and red peppers. My friend chose the oven-baked salmon (sans glaze) with a beet salad and roasted rosemary potatoes. It was a more substantial lunch than either of us usually eats, but it felt healthy (minus my mac & cheese splurge) and definitely didn't break the bank at a little over $10 per entree. There's so much more I want to try the next time I visit, including one of their soups and perhaps an urban pizzette. A great find!

I met a friend here for dinner and was really excited to try the food. I ordered the arugula, beet and fennel salad and a side of mac and cheese. The staff is very friendly and the food looked delicious. Unfortunately, the food was a little bland and the taste just did not live up to the way it looked. Overall, I would maybe try other options on the menu but I feel the food was average.

Lots of fresh, organic, free range choices. Try the turkey club on ciabatta with brown sugar smoked bacon -- delish!

I worked with Jess for two corporate group events and the staff was amazing. We had over 25 take-out orders, which is not easy on a busy weekend, however every order was perfect and exactly as promised. They were so accommodating and willing to work within our timeline. Jess and the staff went above and beyond to provide a fantastic experience for our guests. The food is awesome and healthy! Our clients were thrilled with the quality of food and how willing they were to customize their preferences. The location is convenient and the overall experience was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant for any family or business event, or for anyone wanting a nice meal out. The atmosphere is quaint and relaxing. Kudos to the staff for being so attentive - every time we come.

I never saw so many happy people lined up to eat fantastic food. I had the chicken with brussel sprouts and mac & cheese. Beyond awesome, so well cooked and presented by enthusiatic servers, such wonderful flavor in everything. The chicken was moist and yummy. My husband had the steak with caesar salad and brussel sprouts. The steak was tasty and cooked just right, tender and juicy. I advised against the steak until I saw how well prepared and sliced it was. We ate it all, and were too stuffed to try the amazing desserts. Wish we had this restaurant back in Michigan!! I would so there all the time!

Food is delicious, served like fast food, but tastes gourmet. Decent prices for a meal that includes an entree with sides, or a large salad. Casual and easy to access.

Tried this place for the first time today. Me and my friend both got the salmon and we loved it. We will be trying out those desserts next time. Highly recommend.

I ate here for the first time with a friend and was very impressed with the quality of the food and the eclectic ambiance. It is cafeteria style but lots of choices of very fresh food and the busy lunch line moves very fast. I had a steak Asian salad and it was excellent. Steak was done medium rare and had lots of flavor. Salad was large with plenty of dressing all of which was mixed to order in a separate mixing bowl. I thought the price was reasonable for Del Mar at $10.50 including the steak. There is plenty of seating both inside and out which cannot be reserved until you pay. There is wifi in the restaurant as well. I will definitely return.

Great lunch spot. Food was excellent for the price point and the GM Jerome is awesome. Super helpful and extremely attentive with all the customers.

I went three times to try this local eatery and I must say all three times the meals were very average. The salads are packed with lettuce and way too tasteless. the sandwiches varied all three visits from average to lousy. The chicken had skin on it and was not very tasty. The steak was too small on the sandwich and I felt as though I was eating mostly bread. The seating is dysfunctional and you end up sitting on top of other tables. I thought for the price it was mostly show and no substance.

The new bowl was great. And Mitch’s service added the final touch. Happy to eat here for the 24th time. Thanks

Loonnnnggg line out the door. Very disorganized. Very small portions. Chicken undercooked. Not very clean. Bland food. The only tasty item was the very small glass of strawberry lemonade. It's NOT a buffet! It's a bad cafeteria! Wouldn't go back if it was FREE!

Simply amazing! Salads are huge and delicious. The selection of sweets is amazing too. Especially the banana cream pie! Yum!

Wow. Fresh, healthy food options! I tried the chimichurri steak with potatoes and broccoli as my sides...sooooo tasty! The chef actually let me sample chicken and steak since they both looked amazing. Great spot and pretty fast during lunch rush.

The food here was amazing! I had the Moroccan Chicken with mashed potatoes, and will go back to have it again. I also had a side of Brussels sprouts that was very tasty too. Others in our group had salmon and the bites I tried were delicious. I don't think there is anything here not worth trying.

we visited here with friends who live nearby. The food is fun and fantastic, and, as so many have written, really quite reasonably priced, given all the local and organic labels. With the somewhat chaotic cafeteria style setup, the place feels very laid back, but the food is fresh and wonderful. The selection of veggie dishes is great, but there are also a number of meat offerings. People in our group seemed pleased with the wine/beer selection. I will be very willing to come back again and try more of the many, many options.

Great place and variety of food. Salads are beyond compare. Lots of choices and everything tasted great.

My first trip to Urban Plates and I was not disappointed. Very extensive menu, 11 different salads, 8 complete dinners, which include chicken, fish, ribs. There are 8 different "hot" sides, 6 "cold" sides, 7 different sandwiches, 4 different stews. Gosh, what choices. You can choose Vega, Vegetarian, Gluten Free or Dairy free. There is something foe everyone. Prices are very reasonable and I found the portions to be more than enough. Stop by and give it a try!

This was to a learning experience. Never having eaten here before we went as a recommendation by a close friend. So off we went. The set up is somewhat confusing and difficult. The seating area is sparse cafeteria like and no table reserving until you food is paid for. I to this day don't understand why beef from Australia is served in Anerican restaurants. There is nothing wrong with American Beef. The reason is purely to sell a sub standard meat at a high price, to make money. The quality was very poor, the flavor sub par. They did not know what part of the beef it was that I was being served, but they threw the word sirloin in there. Come to find out the meat was off the chuck, there is not any muscle on any cow in the chuck area that falls into the sirloin category. I am a retired meat cutter of 40 years. I know what I am talking about. The portions were small. The flavors were good, except the beef. And by the time we got to the cash register to pay the food was cold. It is all done cafeteria style. There were 5 adults and one child. The bill was $98.01 In an area like Encinitas with all the wonderful places to eat, I will never go here again.

This is a wonderful place for a great lunch. Lots of choices for every appetite and all the ingredients are so fresh and prepared in front of you. Prices are very reasonable

You order at the counter in this restaurant. A little confusing when you first walk in. There was a long line which we got in at the back, then we noticed there were two aisles. The line was so long because so many people were ordering salads. We bypassed the salad line, as we were ordering a meal. My grandson ordered the steak dinner and I ordered the portobello mushroom sandwich. The meals should have been prepared back to back, but, the same person making our plates was responsible for providing the meats and fish for the salad staff. Consequently, my grandsons meal was given to him and he had to stand and wait for my sandwich to be prepared while this person fixed several items for the salad staff. His food was getting cold while we waited for my food. The restaurant needed more staff. We were told to move down, while we waited and waited. Then the vegetable staff member yelled at us for moving along when we did not need anything from him. I told him we were told to move along. He did not apologize. After another minute, he also told us to move further down. The design is poor for ordering food. When we finally got my sandwich, the rest was good. Look at having one more person to help with the food prep.

Great salads. Not so great entrees. Efficient system. Has that high school cafeteria vibe with sadly food quality to match. I was disappointed in the food prep and quality. But they are only $10 bucks so the value is there - just wish it tasted better.

We did take out, but the place is so cute and has a nice atmosphere- although sitting outside seemed like it would be a bit blah because it's in a strip mall. Their desserts looked amazing! But their portions were large enough that I had no room for dessert. I had a plate with steak and my two sides were the mozzarella salad and mac n cheese. Everything was very good and seasoned well. The plates also come with some grilled foccacia. I would definitely eat there again. All employees were friendly and helpful and the place looked clean.

Ordered dinner for eight 60 hours before pick up Monday evening Jan. 7. 30 min. before pickup, Urban Plates called to tell me they didn't have the whole cake for dessert I ordered, despite their website saying whole cakes need to be ordered at least 36 hours in advance. The woman on the phone told me she doesn't see the order until 30 min. before pickup, and so doesn't have the chance to adjust their baking schedule. The good news is that her manage approved selling me a cake that was in their cake to be sold as slices that night. I also ordered a large order of roasted carrots and beets; I received a small order of roasted beets, with no carrots. I don't think they're really set up to do larger orders. The food was good, but I don't think I'll order again...

Lots of options, tasty mains and sides, great cakes. Quick, easy and fun way to feed the family! We all took th chance to try something different which was fun too.

This was a good call by my husband. He had stopped in at the Carlsbad location years earlier and loved it. And Del Mar was even better! We loved all of the food and the gentleman that brought us all of it (Jonny?) was so friendly and happy it was a nice bonus

I was staying here for business and stumbled on Urban Plates. I had the salmon (melt in your mouth), beets and couscous (yummy southwestern flavor). The salmon was so good that when I took a bite, I could not stop eating it. I had to force myself to stop and eat some of the side dishes. I have a huge salmon lover and this was just amazingly cooked. Tender, not over or undercooked.

Maybe I hit this place on an off day... I had the Chicken Cobb Salad delivered via Door Dash. In the picture for the salad it shows pieces of sliced chicken breast. I received a few slim slices of chicken breast and a few hunks of skin-on dark meat which I tossed in the trash. You get half an avocado on the salad, mine was hard as a rock and had to be cut with a sharp knife. I would have tossed that too but was starving. The salad was whole leaves of lettuce so I could not toss the dressing or other ingredients. Helpfully, I had a sharp knife handy from the avocado to cut my lettuce. The dressing was so-so. In sum, I could have gotten a better Cobb almost anywhere. Very disappointing.

Three of us visited here for lunch and each of us selected a different salad from the Urban Greens . The grilled albacore nicoise was a salad of romaine, green, beans, potatoes, hard boiled egg, capers, olives and grilled albacore. It was very good as was the Antioxidant and Asian Chicken the others selected. The salads are made with ingredients assembled in front of you. There are entrees and desserts available. I chose a mango tart which was very good. Nice choice for a leisurely lunch and a place for meeting friends.

Great food place - easy to order with tasty selections ranging from entree salads with and without meats, comfort foods, sandwiches, soups and real sides, including mac and cheese, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes. I have eaten at Urban Plates two times in three days (the joys of staying in a hotel). Entrees are $10 - a great price for the flavor and quality! Salads are tossed in front of you with the ability to exclude and add ingredients without hassles. I have tried the chicken cobb salad, which was fresh with a generous chicken portion, advocado, chunks of blue cheese and buttermilk dressing - not sure how healthy the dressing and cheese are, but a tasty and filling salad. I went back a second evening and tried the marinated, flavorful steak, the creamy tomato basil soup with soft bread as 'crackers' and the brussel sprouts, which were acceptable, but not as flavorful as I prefer. I highly recommend this gem. The lines can get long quickly during dinner hours, but, they take online orders which makes it easy to pick up! The atmosphere is comforting and busy, staff are friendly and its an easy place to eat in solo.

Love this place. It's similar to Tender Greens in that the food is farm to table and healthier than most options. Not only that, the selection is excellent and the food delicious. They have dishes listed on the board and you can also have things made-to-order. I always go for the salads. I usually choose goat over other cheeses and although they only use it in one of their salads, they were happy to put it on my salad even though they had to go in the back to get it. If I lived closer to this restaurant, I'd frequent it at least once a week. I love that they offer free range chicken.

Lot of choices, from salads to sandwiches to hot meals and desserts. We had the beet salad, which was dressed perfectly and big enough for two people. The chicken was seasoned well yet not salty. The person ahead of me got the chicken from the center of the breast and I ended up with the skin/fatty ends, which I did not like. (All portions are weighed, but that doesn't make them equal!) I should have said something, as I would have liked a bit more meat.

Salads were fresh, lots of different choices. The salmon one is my favorite with the jalapeño dressing. For dessert we shared the mango tart not to sweet just perfect.

We don't go to Urban Plates any longer. It used to be a good concept with good quality food and fair prices. Subsequently, they replaced Ono with tuna and instead of including a side dish with the sandwiches, they now charge $3 for a side. If you order the tune, it's hit or miss as to how much it's cooked although you can ask to have it cooked more, Drinks and desserts are not inexpensive and by the time you're done, you could have gone to a place with table service for the same money. And there are other restaurants in the shopping center where you order and they bring the food to you that have good quality at generally better prices. Lots of people apparently love it as it gets crowded but the "hook" of a quality meal you can get quickly at a very reasonable price no longer applies..

This restaurant is cafeteria style in how you order your food. It was delicious and filling. I've eaten both salads and hot meals and both were delicious.

Overall a great spot for lunch. Quick and delicious. The prices have gone up a little bit, but not anymore than every other restaurant in the country.

Love the plate lunches and ability to pick between many healthy side dishes. I do wish they would bring back the sauteed mushrooms. The only drwback is that it is very crowded and sometimes hard to find a seat.

Great food, organic salads, tasty meats, fish, soups, etc. Affordable Prices, very friendly staff. Excellent place.

We eat regularly at Urban Plates --- their food is healthy,staff are helpful, and variety is good. It is often crowded, so it is wise to go early in the evening. The check out process can back-up and can be slow when it is crowded. Having lots of staff means attentive attention to detail. Prices have gone up substantially since the restaurant initially opened.

Really like this place. Is somehow upscale fast food restaurant, everything from scratch, organic, antibiotic free chicken. The salad excellent, the wild albacore amazing. Kind of expensive for the type of food.

My husband and I both enjoyed great salads; I selected the grilled salmon over greens, my husband had the cobb. Both were delish!! Great variety in salads, entrees, sides, and desserts... yumm!

Amazing service!! Delicious food, I went with friends and it was definitely the best choices. The servers were so friendly.

strongly recommend this american new style cafeteria, we ordered beets salad and wild albacore sandwich, even the side dish are very fresh and delicious.

great food, great price, great concept. organic, fresh. I love it, It is a bit noisy. It works like a self service with upscale food

Self service with a good choice of. freshly cooked food. Also serves drinks, alcoholic and healthy squashes

I go here often and am never disappointed in the food. The line is a little confusing. It goes well when they put an assistant on the corner but when they get distracted it falls apart quickly. Think about calling the order in ahead of time. They have opened up more seating in back so you can relax about finding a place to sit.

This place has a good vibe when you walk in - a nice table vignette outside with a water feature with gas jets flaming starts the visit. The food here is cooked fresh - you can have salad with hot off the stove/grill meat or other vegetable dishes with the aforementioned meat. Everything just looks good behind the counter, so when you actually receive your food and get to eat you are not disappointed. We have been to this place several times and love it, the only awkward part of the visit is joining/rejoining the check out line. But you can figure it out when you get there.

The meals are ten dollars, cafeteria style. At lunch the lines are long because the food quality is high. It isn't a place to go to talk.

Their bbq chicken salad is awesome. I usually make a few substitutions and the staff is always accommodating.

If I could give 6 stars I would. Oh my-this place is journey for your taste bud. Home cooking -but too crazy good to be my home cooking. We ordered the free range chicken plate with brussel sprouts, sweet potato and zucchini side dishes that knocked our socks off. The coconut lemon cake was so moist and hearty-if that's even a thing. But oh my gosh-don't leave before you get the pineapple passion fruit mint natural drink in a mason jar. You know it's good when you're planning to come back before you leave. Well done Urban Plates for breaking from the mold and making truly creative, delightful food.

This is still my favorite salad place in the world. Perfectly mixed greens and spices make this salads amazing adding extra protein of your choice such as salmon, beef or chicken. The whole concept of this restaurant is amazing having something good for every taste.

This is a fantastic restaurant. Food is made from scratch. A cafeteria style ordering, only you go to various "food stations," depending on what one wants to order--soups, pizza, salads, desserts. Beer and wine also served.

The food is great! If you are looking for good, healthy food in San Diego, this is a good place to go. The wait can be long during the bush times, though. I would recommend this restaurant.

If you're in this area and are looking for a good healthy meal, you will love this place. The menu options are spectacular and there are quite a lot of options to choose from. The salads are so incredibly good, soups are amazing, they've got tiny pizzas and I'm pretty sure they even have sandwiches. Great service, friendly staff, clean place. Loved it. Hope to come back someday!

We've been to Urban Plates (UP) many, many times and it has consistently served good food at great value. The only "downside" to any great place is the line and the wait. Their ono (salad or entree) and turkey meatloaf are our favorites. Always ask for the ono "seared" and they will make it right there on the spot. We always asks for extra sauce on the meatloaf as well as extra gravy on the mash potatoes. Their broccoli, mac n cheese are also very good.

We three chose differently. The Asian chicken salad with dressing on the side wasn't fresh and chicken still had the skin on; the steak plate was just okay; but the albacore sandwich got a rave review. One out of three of us was pleased. For desserts we shared a slice of mango fruit tart, the mango was ripe and sweet. The pineapple-banana cake was good. With three different lunch items all on one check, at a busy time of day, we had to stand and wait for everything to get ready before finding a table. Outdoor seating was pleasant.

Surprised that this eatery is not listed in the top ten places for lunch. Many choices, sandwiches made from scratch, lots of salads and reasonable prices

Great eats, nice selection and the food it top notch. Great quality food, nicely presented and great to the taste.

This is a great restaurant. You get a lot of fresh, high-quality food for not that much money. The staff was very kind as well.

I have eaten at the Urban Plates in Carlsbad, CA several times and loved it. Sure can't say the same for this location. Ordered three sides and only one of them was even edible which was the side Caesar Salad. The Herb Roasted Marble Potatoes were so dry I couldn't eat them and when I complained about them the manager told me they aren't cooked in anything so that is the way they are. Well I have had them in Carlsbad at least 10 times and they never tasted like that. Then the Macaroni and Cheese was cold and congealed. Asked for a new one of that and at least when they made me a new one it was good. My husband got the chicken and two sides and they barely gave him any chicken, I was so surprised and he had the potatoes which he thought were terribly dry as well. He had the tomato soup which he thought was good. The manager was not friendly nor did she care. Won't be back to this location.

Everything here is great. Salads are a meal, entrees are plentiful and delicious. Save room for desert. Fast efficient service by nice people. I eat here several times a month, sometimes 2 times a week.

The food is made from scratch with healthy eating in mind. The prices are reasonable. It is smorgasboard style so very fast to get your meal. Lots of healthy choices.

It was a very cool night. We still choose to sit outside under the heaters. We had our dog with us. You have to go to the counter to order, so I stayed out with my grand dog. My daughter and grandson went in to order. The restaurant was busy, so, food was moving and fresh. My grandson came out and I went in. Everything looked good. Had trouble making up my mind. My grandson had a full meal. Steak, mashed potatoes and macaroni. My daughter and I shared 2 salads. I did taste the Mac and potatoes. Both were very good. The beet salad was delicious. The other salad was also very good. I just prefer less spice. There was another group that also had a dog in the same area. During our meal one of the service staff brought out 2 containers of water for the dogs. This was,above and beyond. We did not request the water. Both dogs drank Hartley. I did use the rest room It was clean. I did notice another outside area at the back of the restaurant. Bothe inside and outside had ample seating for small and large groups.. Nice place. Will visit again b next week for a full meal with the whole family.

We went for dinner. There is indoor and out door seating. Outdoor seating has heaters if necessary. I wasn’t sure what I. Wanted to eat so seeing the prepared food helped. I ordered the braised meat, mushrooms and carrots with mashed potatoes. My husband had the tomato soup. When I stood in line to pay I noticed I had very little meat, no mushrooms and one little carrot and a lot of gravy. Before I ordered the server had just filled the container, so I should have had all. I glanced at the person in front of me in line and saw that she ordered the same thing and had lots of veggies with her meat. As I paid I mentioned the difference to the cashier. Before she could even answer another gentleman gave me a cup full of the missing items. We enjoyed our dinner. Will return.

I was the 2nd patron in this brand new restaurant in the Forum, Carlsbad (my daughter was #1). So many choices, it was difficult to make a decision. I know we'll be back again & again so we'll just try something new each time. They offer 9 types of fresh hand tossed salads with house made dressing & chargrilled focaccia that won't break the bank-$10.50 & 8 types of hand carved sandwiches with chips + any hot or cold side for $10.50, 3 kinds of braised/stewed items at $10.50, 6 choices of Urban Plates served with any 2 hot or cold sides + the focaccia for $10.50 & a kid's menu, soups, cold/hot sides, pizzettes, bakery & an assortment of beverages including beer/wine. (I recommend the organic ginseng mint green tea sweetened with local raw honey & organic sugar.) Can you see why I had a hard time choosing my lunch? I selected the Urban Plate of grilled wild ono-cilantro/ginger marinated served medium rare. My daughter had the grilled steak hand tossed salad. Order your meal to go as I dare you to finish it at your table. Both of our meals were scrumptious, the service impeccable, the décor inviting and.....I could go on and on with more superlatives. Do go-you will NOT be disappointed!!

Great lunch or dinner option: healthy fresh and amazingly tasty. Very reasonable prices and fun atmosphere!!! Will definitely come back!!!

You have options of different kind of stations at almost 8-10$ each; salad, sandwiches, plates or Pizza. I like the variety between chicken, steak & fish. The drinks are fresh. I like the carrot with orange. Some issues is the long queue specially at lunch and dinner time and the limited seating

This was disorientingly (not sure that is a real word) like Tender Greens. I assume the owners parted ways with each other at some point and nobody got to own the menu in the divorce. Everything was good- just like Tender Greens. I'd give TG the edge on steak- mine was way too chewy. I'd give UP the edge on drinks - they seemed to have a wider variety.

Love this place it’s my go To place with the family. My kids love eating here the desserts are amazing!

I eat here about 2 times a week for lunch and or dinner. The food quality is excellent and good size portions. The food is mostly organic.

We recently dined at Urban Plates on a trip to San Diego, and boy, I wish we had something like this at home. It's a casual place, no table service, but the food is delicious. Going there, it's helpful to know the system -- one line for the popular and more time-consuming salads, fresh tossed to your specifications. I had the fennel, beet and arugula salad, which was delicious, and also included feta and avocado. For vegans, toss in tofu in place of the feta. I also had a soup selection (move down the line to the soup station. If you wait, you'll be in a line of others ordering sandwiches and mains). The soups are seasonal, and the Poblano and Corn was excellent, just the right spice. There was the option for vegetarian or vegan as sour cream is added at the end. In addition to the vegetarian selections, there are also chicken and fish options, which our dining companions thoroughly enjoyed. The restaurant is popular, so expect crowds.

The concept here is great when in a hurry and want to get in and out. You get in line and choose your entree and sides. You pay for your food and then find a table. Everything is delicious with a variety of fresh salads, veggies, and different side dishes to add to your entree selection. The Portobello Mushroom sandwich with pesto mayo is absolutely delish!

I ordered one sandwich, and I was waiting to order everything I'd like, but the waiter just swept the butter then added meat!!! Just this! The sandwich portion was too small!!!

We stopped at the San Diego Airport location for a quick bite and some cocktails. I had the southwest burger which was juicy and cooked just right. The French fries are hand cut, which is my favorite so I was pleasantly surprised. As this was an airport restaurant, they were very busy, but the staff was very friendly and helpful. I would definitely check out the main Urban Plates location based on my visit at the airport.

I heard about this place from my daughter so decided to give it a try. I was quite impressed. This is a cafeteria style place where you grab a tray and get in line. First you order a protein, then add sides of your choice. On this visit I got food to go, both a mustard glazed baked salmon. Roasted potatoes with each and asparagus with one and roasted Brussels sprouts with the other. We shared the two veg at home. I was pleasantly surprised. Salmon was very nice with a good portion size. The roasted potatoes and both veg were also very good. This was very good for takeout, but they also have indoor and outdoor seating to eat there. Although I didn't take advantage they have some excellent looking dessert selections. There are also salads, braises and stews/soup. Worth a visit.

I have eaten here several times but I always had to be dragged here over my objection - but I had never really thought about why I didn't like it. It's a pleasant enough environment, it's a unique dining experience, everything LOOKS really yummy and it's not expensive at all (a typical meal is $13 including a soft drink). So yesterday during my latest dinner there I mentioned this to the group I was eating with and someone else used the phrase, which is the title of my review, "it's a long wait for mediocre food." BINGO...that was it! As I thought about the variety of dishes I had tried there, I realized that all the dishes looked really tasty and I wanted to like them. But the steak, chicken, mac & cheese, bread, potatoes, brocollini, and even the salmon, were actually not good. They all had some aspect that made them difficult for me to finish! I have not tried the pizza yet, but it LOOKS great! (unfortunately I've said that many times before!). And on top of it, the ordering process is unnecessarily confusing. I've finally figured it out, but every time I'm there I see at least one or two others who are quite confused and almost angry. Just let me walk over to El Pollo Loco and eat...PLEASE!!

Delicious food with many GF options. Portions are amply-sized and they also offer GF deserts. One dinner plate runs about $11 and consists of a delicious protein and choice of 2 sides. We plan on visiting again.

If you love healthy and tasty food, this place is a MUST! Located in a town center in Del Mar, this place offers a variety of delicious salads, hand carved entree plates, hand carved sandwiches, slow-cooked urban braises, soups, and kids meals. They also have a nice beer/wine menu. Very reasonably priced and nice staff. I'll definitely be back!!

This place is awesome! The variety of healthy items plus amazing desserts will amaze you! Visited multiple times and the service is as good as the food!!! Highly recommended!

Kids like coming here. Mac and cheese of course. I usu get meatloaf, good. Wife gets the chicken salad. Good portions. Decent price.

This is my favorite neighborhood restaurant where I meet my friends weekly. Fresh, quick,delicious and great prices! So thing for everybody! Amazing deserts too! You can take food to go if you want to go home or go to the beach. Eat inside or out all year round! Pet friendly too!

We ate here twice in one week. The first time was for a very early dinner and the food was not as fresh as it usually is, but was still good. The second meal was take-out during a very busy lunch service and it was terrific. The salmon and brussel sprouts are the best things on the menu. We tried a dessert for the first time and chose the blood orange cake. It was very average and had virtually no citrus flavor whatsoever. It was more like a bland white cake. All in all, UP is a great place for a healthy, delicious meal.

We had Ono and 1 of us had Salmon. My Ono was a little cold by the time we got to the table - but I think it was because we took so long deciding on desert and wine! I say it's s good idea to get very familiar with their menu so you can get to your table...but a very fun atmosphere and the Brussel Sprouts were fantastic! I will go back!

Yes, this may technically be a cafeteria, but the food was the tastiest, healthiest 'fast' food I've ever ingested. Inhaled is more like it. There's a community table for those who are eating alone. Two lines are available at entry, one just for salads, the other for 'all the rest'. In three visits in one week, ordering something different each time, I could not tell you which was best.

Cafeteria style ordering, with a sort of restaurant prepared to order flair. Good food. Not amazing, but for a quick in and out where cost is not a consideration, it's great.

My wife and I live nearby (woo woo!) Urban Plates in Del Mar Highlands Center, which has become the local place we gravitate to for a simple affordable dinner, either just the two of us or with a group of friends. The food is simple, fresh, uncomplicated, and affordable. Their motto is "farm to plate & won't break the bank". The atmosphere is an updated "cafeteria" style -- you go through one of a few lines where the server prepares your meal while you make your selections, and a variety of seating options are available, including two patio areas, individual tables and large community tables. The menu and nutritional information can be found searching online. This is one of the few restaurants where you can find a healthy, fresh meal with relatively low levels of sodium content. The Urban Plate with grilled steak or salmon, together with the rosemary roasted potatoes, and roasted brussel sprouts is a great low-sodium alternative, as is the steak salad with mild jalapeno lime dressing. Either one is a mere $10 - 12. A variety of beers are on tap and a simple selection of wine nicely rounds out the experience.

We tried to find some place with good food and we manage it! Portions are very big and food is very tasty. The best thing is huge range of food for vegans, vegetarians, dairy and gluten free people. I had portobello sandwich, which was absolutely gorgeous. Price was very low for this big and tasty meal. My boyfriend had salmon salad and he was delighted as well. Definitely recommended.

Love this place. The food is amazing. Staff is super friendly. My favorite is the salmon Caesar salad it’s so goooood.

Stopped in for a quick lunch while shopping in the area. There is no table service, but a lot of servers in the walk up line. All items in a categorie are rices the same so you can choose among numerous salas for $10.50 or two hot plates for the same $10.50. The small flat pizza are &5.00 each,but are large enough for o e person. The food was fresh and good. Although I am not an organic only person those who are will be pleased that the meals are organic and healthy.

Went for dinner tried the turkey club to die for. They also have a new pie the apple pie so good. Love this place.

I've been going to Urban Plates in San Diego's Carmel Valley since it opened, and this first location has spawned several more now. For good reason, as the place is fun, fresh, and offers a broad range of options. Whether you select a salad, a plate or a sandwich, you typically pick fresh grilled steak, chicken or fish. You get two sides, also with many choices from which to choose. The veggie sides are seasonal, so they vary a bit. By my experience has always been that their recipes make each selection interesting and flavorful. I've avoided brussel sprouts since forever, but I found myself ordering them again and again due to their great flavor there. Their turkey bbq meatloaf is addictive to the point I have to consciously struggle to order something different -- usually the grilled chicken or fresh fish (cooked through for me, not seared). The only thing I'd change somehow is the checkout process, during which one's food can cool off while waiting to pay. Just a small thing in what otherwise is always a terrific experience. Whether a plate, a sandwich or a salad, the starting price is just $10 each. But that goes up with the inevitable additions of drinks, irresistible desserts, etc. Nevertheless, I've never been disappointed at any of the locations I've tried. The La Jolla Village one has much more room, which is a plus. The company's other offering is Urban Pi, which is a fast fresh pizza place, also well worth trying when near Del Mar Racetrack.

Went there for a quick lunch and panicked when we saw the line. Decided to stay and went through salad line quickly and plenty of seating was available so no worries. Salad was fresh and very good.

Food and decor are great! Its a make ur plate and pay at the register NO SERVERS! Which saves $ on a tip. Average is $10+ for good quality food (free range, farmed raised and/ or organic). Non-alcoholic bevs are amazing (carrot- ginger water etc) They also have wine... Not to cheap but if u are used to wine and eat at the same time its definitely a great choice.

When the restaurant first opened I really did not like it....food was good, but concept was disorganized, staff confused and menu was difficult to understand. My wife and daughters go often so today we all went for lunch...it was terrific. Menu was modified, staff was friendly and the food was terrific.

We love UP and go every time we are in SD! Healthy fast food with a great atmosphere and friendly staff! Love the Thai salad (i get a vegan option with tofu and no egg) - Delish!

In San Diego for business a friend recommended Urban Plates and I really enjoyed it. You walk in and have the option of going to the salad line or waiting for entrees / sandwiches / soups. I went to the salad line and wasn't disappointed. They cook up steak, chicken or other proteins right then and there and add it to your meal fresh. I also got a giant cookie and a glass of Pinot Noir. Excellent. The place was pretty trendy too, really enjoyed it. PACKED on a weeknight. Definintely worth a visit.

My bff and I came to Urban Plates at The Forum in Cardiff-by-the-sea, CA yesterday and ordered for the 4 on 4 plate. That meant a chef behind the counter loaded our plates with huge portions of any 4 side dishes of our choice for just $11 plate! We both had creamy Mac n cheese and our salads included Israeili couscous, roasted cauliflower in a savory tomato based sauce, roasted Brussels sprouts and Asian noodles. Top all that off with a piece of garlic focaccia bread and we had our only meal needed for the day! Many options for families as well, hot or cold and some delicious sounding soups. Plenty of seating inside or out. Afterwards, shop at the interesting shops of The Forum.

Taken here by a local I thought my hot lunch was excellent. A great selection of foods including huge sandwiches, salads and hot plates. My buddy had the roasted chicken and ate the whole thing, practically inhaled it. I went for the ribs, they were meaty, super tender and the BBQ sauce made the top of my head sweat. The ribs with my 2 sides left plenty to take home. The prices were very reasonable, my rib plate was the most expensive thing on the menu at 16$. The ambiance is comfortable and I'm told at nite the place is lit up really nice. No loud pumped in music and no tvs. Next time I'm in San Diego I will definitely return . Oh yeah, beer on tap! 🎉

Food and staff amazing!!! Have eaten here twice this week. This will be a regular in our restaurant rotation. We bought the Platinum Pass which will pay for itself in 6 visits or less. The wait staff is so friendly and as old people the young man took our order. We didn't have to use the kiosk. The food is organic and healthy and delicious. The truffle parm fries are dangerous!!!! Ordered two days in a row,

My wife and I stopped here at the suggestion of our daughter who lives in the area. We evidently got there at a great time, since there wasn't a waiting line and we were helped right away. We were delighted by the extensive menu of very appealing menu items and then very satisfied with our selections. We each had a cup of their Chicken Soup, which was hot, tasty and loaded with ingredients. My wife had their Antioxidant Salad, while I chose their Roasted Portabella Sandwich. The portions were sizable and we found our meals to be very good. Both of us agreed, we will go back again to enjoy other menu items. We definitely would recommend Urban Plates to others.

Urban Plates is a terrific eatery combining delicious fresh, healthy, affordable food in a warm setting with great ambience. We had the salmon, beef braise, mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, and the wonderful chargrilled bread. Everything was very good. Too bad it is so far from home.........

Hey, this restaurant is great they need to put some of these in Arizona especially Yuma. How they keep their prices so low with the wages in California is beyond me lol but I love it!

My husband and I had a wonderful lunch here at Urban Plates. I had the steak salad and my husband had the grill mushroom sandwich. Both were excellent and perfectly prepared. The staff was very nice and well informed about the food served. Portions are generous. Love this place!!

Amazing spot. we stopped by for a quick lunch and they had a thanksgiving special. we all ordered the plate and apple pie it was delicious. staff was super friendly and accommodating.

Great presentation. Amazing variety. Simple restaurant. Loved this place. Had various options for gluten free and vegetarian

Lots of amazing, healthy, fresh and tasty choices here. I had the Moroccan Chicken and friend had lentil plate. The chicken was delicious. The lentils and garbanzo beans were undercooked and still hard. Perhaps because we were there early (4pm) for the dinner rush. Good place but a bit pricey for the serving/service.

Wow; This is a major step up from buffet line restraunts... Is like my mom, my grandma and whole food went into partnership together and created this awesome restaurant.... This is a great spot to bring the whole family, friends or even a date! I had the chicken and their seared Ono - both were perfect.. I also had a cup of the Poblano and Corn soup. Plenty of salads and sides to choose from. I had the broccolini and ginger beets sides. And, don't even start me on the desserts :-) :-) It was so hard to choose from; I finally decided on the coconut lemon cake – Wow... All of it wow – need I say more! Oh yeah, and the rest of my friends love their meals too.

One of my favorite lunch places is Urban Plates. One of the best concepts for fresh salads, as well as home style food in a very modern concept. Have the mango tart. you'll be glad you did.

This was a new experience for me. If you have never been you order via a video screen with descriptions and photos of the items. You pay and the food gets delivered to the table, which you choose and sear yourselves. Large selection of proteins, e.g. chicken, steak, salmon and tofu. All are available as plates, bowls, etc. interesting sides such as stuffing, potatoes, beet salad, Brussels sprouts, etc. Three of us had the grilled tofu with two sides. The tofu had a chili sauce. The sides were better than the protein. Two critiques are that the sides were a bit small, and the tofu was grilled but not hot. There are desserts as well, and there is a large variety of vegan and vegetarian selections, all well marked. I’d go back, although the lack of table service made it a bit less relaxing. It was nice to have “simple” food!

I used to love this restaurant. As I am sure is described by others, you can obtain fresh lovely food at a decent price in a cafeteria style line and then hope to find a table to sit at. I usually pick up salads for dinner a couple of times a month. I don't like eating there because it's hard to find a table and they are squeezed so close together you are on top of others. But on my last two visits, in the last 3 weeks, I have been extremely disappointed by the very very very slow service. One day I arrived at 11:20 to pick up two salads to go. (I think the place opens at 11:00). I was the only patron in the store. I stood where the salad line begins and watched three employees talk to themselves, knowing that I was there. After about 2 minutes, a young gal asked if she could help me. I told her what I wanted--a certain salad with chicken on top. She proceeded to make the salads and was giggling with her cohort while making them, and kept asking questions as to what went into the salads which were identical (I guess she was new). Then she said the chicken would take "a little bit." I waited FIFTEEN minutes after the salad was made for the chicken to be placed on top. Total time=twenty five minutes. Last night my husband and I went to pick up salads. It was 7:00 and the line was out the door so we decided to run an errand and come back. When we came back, the end of the line was inside the door (a good sign). Then I waited, and waited and waited. It is my conclusion that the two men preparing salads were new and slow and didn't know what they were doing. They were inefficient and seemed inexperienced. A woman behind me got her salad before ours and she had not preordered it. Hmmm. I realize that when it's busy they have a lot of work to do, but hey--that's when you should hire more people. They have an online ordering service that I might try. Otherwise I will give up. There are many other fine places in the area where I don't have to frustrate myself by wasting time standing in line and watching inefficiencies occur. The food isn't worth the wait.

My daughter and I came here and it was just the best! My girl is 2 and git the mac n cheese - loved it! I had the salmon with Brussel sprouts and everything was just super delicious!

Best salads! I highly recommend the steak salad with the mango salsa. The only problem is the line, I recommend going for an early dinner when it is less busy or during the week. But the food is definitely worth it!

We were staying locally and found Urban Plates on TripAdvisor. We've never come across anything similar before, but what a great concept. It's a bit like a canteen but much more modern. It's clearly very popular and we queued for about 10 minutes. I elected for the steak with sides of broccoli and carrots and my wife the grilled chicken sandwich with a salad. The food was excellent, perfectly cooked and very tasty. We were tempted by the ginger brew and the server offered us a taste before committing - a nice touch. The ginger brew had a bit of a kick to it and was very refreshing. We finished off with a delicious cookie. All this for just $28. Sadly, there isn't an Urban Plates near where we live but if there was we would definitely return. A great restaurant.

I wish there was a better way to order food here. It is soooo slow because of having to order at different stations from different servers and there is always a line out the door as a result, so I don't go here as often as I would like to. The food is excellent.

This is our go-to place when we visit my daughter at UCSD. Super healthy and delicious!!! I love the salmon. She loves the braised beef

The food is very good if you can order it without getting too frustrated. There is a fundamental problem with the design of the restaurant that prevents them from being able to bring order to the chaos of ordering food here. The more popular they have become, the worse the chaos has grown. It's so bad now that they have stationed employees to act as ushers, explaining the process to those in line, and making sure too many people don't flow into the chaos at a time. Even with those gatekeepers, it's still a real problem. It feels like a cafeteria line, with people jumping in and out at various stations. Sometimes the usher tells new people to jump in line ahead of you based on what they might want to order. It's more than a little frustrating. The staff and ingredients are great, but the recipes are less exciting now than they have been in the past. The mac-and-cheese used to be amazing, but it has been dumbed-down over the years to make it more kid-friendly. Other changes have happened to other dishes as well. Most of their selections are still very good, but they used to be excellent. The pizzas and desserts always look great, and I even give-in and try them from time to time, but they always underwhelm. I find this especially strange since Urban Pi (their sister restaurant on Via de la Valle) always makes excellent pizza and often has great desserts.

Very good restaurant good food . Beautiful space Urban plates in Carlsbad. Very good ♥️ people beautiful

Our son took us to UP for dinner and I must say we were impressed. The "cafeteria" style serving line moved quickly and the way the foods are displayed is fun and inviting. Everything looks farm fresh. Wife had a chicken salad, I had the teriyaki salmon, it was hot and fabulous. The sides are great, mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts were great. Pretty good value. The two lines, one for salads and one for main course plates makes things go quickly and works great. could use a little more seating.

Travelled to the Delmar for a soccer tournament. We decided to check this place which is located in the shopping center. It did not disappoint us, they had a variety of food that you order at the counter and they bring to your table. It was crowded, but the line moved fast. They have vegan and vegetarian dishes. We sat in their outdoor patio and I tried the dish with beets- very tasty

Love eating here. A bit pricey for an every day place for lunch. The braised beef stew is excellent. The chicken is flavorful and moist. Awesome desserts too. Try the mango tart!

Stopped for lunch on a friend's recommendation- we were not disappointed. Great fresh food made from scratch. Lots of choices from soups, salads, sandwiches, full dinners. Add desserts, lovely juices and a wine bar. Quick service, fair prices. Love it!

I want to take a moment to recognize the outstanding leadership at this location, specifically Jerome Erickson, the General Manager. While my family and I experienced an issue during a recent visit, what truly stood out was how Jerome handled the situation afterward. He took the time to personally follow up, listened carefully, and addressed the matter with professionalism, care, and integrity. His response made it clear that guest experience truly matters here, and that feedback is taken seriously and used constructively. Jerome didn’t just resolve the issue — he demonstrated what real hospitality and leadership look like. He followed up with his team, acknowledged the impact of the experience, and approached everything with empathy and accountability. That level of attention to detail and principle is rare and deserves recognition. This has always been one of my favorite places, and experiences like this are why I will continue to return and support this location. Strong leadership makes a difference, and it’s clear that Jerome genuinely wants his restaurant to thrive and deliver great experiences for guests. Thank you, Jerome, for setting the standard and for turning a challenging situation into a reminder of why great management matters.

Personalized salads, homemade soups and entrees. Everything is fresh. Grilled free range chicken was terrific. Beef stew is rich and flavorful. Great deserts and refreshing cooler drinks.

Such a pleasant experience! You can really taste the freshness in their salads. The staff is incredibly friendly. Our new favorite restaurant!

Great selection of protein and side dishes, so anyone can find something they like. The portions are huge so you might want to skip on the bread (although it's pretty good). Loved the chicken and the fresh cold side dishes.

I have visited Urban Plates for the past few weeks and I must say, they have been consistent with their wonderful service and good food every time. Great salads, plates, soups and pizza, they have yet to disappoint! This is officially my go-to restaurant for lunch or dinner when in the area.

We were looking for a good place to eat after visiting the San Diego Fair. Found it here at Urban Plates. Loved how clean the place was. Everyone was friendly and helpful. Enjoyed watching our meals being made. Didn't get his name but the guy tending to the dining room was fantastic!!! Kept busy and working hard the entire time we were there. I had the chicken salad sandwich and the Kale strawberry salad. My husband tried the BBQ beef sandwich and tomato mozzarella salad. My son chose the steak sandwich with the mac n cheese. We were all happy with our choices. So glad we discovered this great restaurant.

What I love about this place is you see your food, pick what you want and the food handler cooks the meat, fish or veggies and puts it on the plat in front of your eyes.

Within the Forum shopping area, Urban Plates offers a lunch counter setting, where the diners chose among medium to light fare. Fresh, organic ingredients are the norm. Each type of food (e.g. salads) has a set of 8 -12 choices. The most expensive plates (main plus sides) are still moderately priced. Items are ordered at the counter and delivered to the table, but there is no table service (a good thing with this simple menu.). Our only negative is that this cafe suffers from trendy disorder, attempting to add beets or kale to every other dish, or advertise 'gluten-free' when there is obviously no wheat in the dish. Apart from that, it's a good, healthy choice while shopping at the forum or waiting for your appointment at the Apple Store.