(Image: Plantiful Superfoods)
(Image: Plantiful Superfoods)
By Kali Herbst Minino
A growing chain of plant-based cafes is sprouting around Seattle with a start on 12th Ave across from Seattle University.
Family-owned Plantiful Superfoods opened its new location earlier this year in this area bustling will college kids. The plan is for more “superfood” to come.
“When people come in they think that 10 dollars is on the higher branch for a smoothie, but later they understand the value,” Jessie Nguyen said.
Open since May in the former Mr. Saigon sandwich shop, co-owners Son and Jessie Nguyen started their business two years ago with their first location in South Lake Union.
The menu includes a wide variety of foods: acai bowls, smoothies, lattes, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and air-fried tater tots and fries. About half of their options are vegan and gluten-free, and most of the items boast health benefits listed on the menu like skin health, energy, recovery, and immunity.
Son Nguyen placed value on the quality of ingredients in a conversation with CHS, and their website says they carefully choose the source of their ingredients to “assure freshness, vibrant colors, and stunning taste.” There’s an environmental aspect to their business, too, and Son Nguyen says the restaurant strives to have no food waste.
Their mission? To make healthy food accessible to everyone. Jessie Nguyen tells CHS that at the moment, they’re working towards that mission by opening more locations across Seattle. Currently, their eyes are set on Pike Place Market where they’ve announced a third store. The co-owners say it will be open within the next couple of months and that they’re looking at adding a shop in Lynnwood as well.
Son Nguyen hopes that the new cafes will bring in more customers and keep menu costs down. Adaptogenic lattes are their cheapest menu items, at $7.50 each. Jessie Nguyen thinks the combination of quality concentrated ingredients, without any fillers like lots of ice, makes it worth the price.
They chose the location directly across from the middle of Seattle University’s campus, because their customers are primarily in that demographic.
“They’re more into something healthy and better for the planet, for animal welfare,” Son Nguyen said. “This is the ideal location, next up to the university.”
(Image: Plantiful Superfoods)
For summer, Son Nguyen says that business has been a little slow, but he’s hopeful that things will pick up in September when students return to college. For Jessie Nguyen, the greater community is another piece of the puzzle. They have a couple of neighboring restaurants to join forces with with including Byrek & Baguette, Seoul Bowl & Bar, and Panwa Thai, but none are specifically focused on health-oriented options.
“We not only count on the students, we hope that the message spreads out among more people in the neighborhood,” Jessie Nguyen said.
“We have a lot for the whole family. If you’re bringing your grandma, your mom, you kid, we have something for everybody.”
Plantiful Superfoods is located at 734 12th Ave. Learn more at plantiful.us.
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This place is sadly too expensive to be a regular go to place. I give it less than a year.
Looking at the menu, this place looks like a dream come true! I’m so excited. The prices seem pretty on par with this type of food to me.
Seattle u kids agree, place looks great but prices are too high…
I eat at the SLU location regularly and think the food is really good but I do predict prices are going to be a problem for many people.
Price is what deters me. 😞 if they had discounts for us SU students could help a little but we are already shelling out tuition in SEATTLE. We need affordable options.