Healthy Restaurants in Palo Alto
Updated weekly · Last refresh: June 1, 2026
Palo Alto
Downtown Palo Alto around Ramona Street and University Avenue packs macro-friendly spots into a walkable core, where Sweetgreen at 581 Ramona St lets you build 40g+ protein bowls—start with the Harvest Bowl's roasted chicken and wild rice base (37g protein, 685 cal), then double the chicken for 58g total while keeping carbs under 60g. Head two miles south to Stanford Shopping Center along El Camino Real for True Food Kitchen's ancient grains bowls with grilled chicken or salmon; their protein-packed lasagne with grass-fed beef hits high macros without heavy carbs, ideal post-workout from nearby Stanford gyms. California Avenue in Midtown offers The Good Salad's customizable plates—load Herby Chicken Breast (28g protein per serving) and grass-fed flank steak (22g) onto romaine for 50g+ protein stacks, paired with low-cal chipotle ranch.
Old Palo Alto's tree-lined streets near Waverley host quieter grabs like World Wrapps for teriyaki chicken wraps (~35g protein), but density peaks in Downtown and Cal Ave for chaining meals without driving. Sweetgreen shines for precision tracking—their app logs exact macros, and Kale Caesar with roasted chicken delivers 35g protein at just 405 cal; swap parmesan crisps for extra chicken to push 50g. True Food Kitchen suits longer sits with chia seed pudding chasers, while Good Salad's halal proteins appeal to diverse tech crowds.
Lunch rushes hit Downtown 12-1pm as Stanford profs and VCs flood in—order ahead via app to skip 20-minute lines, or hit Cal Ave post-2pm when offices thin out. Parking's tight on Ramona; bike from Stanford or park at Town & Country nearby. These spots prioritize antibiotic-free meats and seasonal veggies, aligning with Palo Alto's wellness-forward vibe amid endless VC pitches.
Stick to protein plates over salads if hunger lingers—Sweetgreen's Hot Honey Chicken packs 49g at 855 cal with blackened chicken and quinoa, fueling afternoon meetings without crashes.
Editor's Top Protein Pick
Sweetgreen Palo Alto's Hot Honey Chicken plate with blackened chicken hits 49g protein at 855 cal.
Best Neighborhoods to Search
['Downtown', 'Stanford Shopping Center', 'California Avenue', 'Midtown']