Born and raised in Los Angeles, I have always been aware of the latest healthy food fads. From acai bowls to zoodles (that would be zucchini noodles) to buckwheat pancakes and everything in between; I am usually the one eager to try the next best health food trend. So when I heard about Juicy Kitchen–a health conscious brunch place in Ann Arbor–I knew I had to go as soon as possible.

Juicy Kitchen

Photo by Jen Gottfried

Although Juicy Kitchen is located about a 10 minute drive from campus, it’s definitely worth an off campus outing. Grab that friend of yours with a car, and demand that they take you. The restaurant, located in an unassuming strip mall, only holds about 8-10 small tables. As we entered the quaint and homey spot we were immediately greeted with warm hellos. And then our eyes went straight to the menu (handwritten and decorated with chalkboard drawings, of course). The menu offers both breakfast and lunch options, as well as freshly baked muffins, breads and pastries at the counter. All of the food is made from locally sourced eggs, meat and produce and there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options as well.

Juicy Kitchen

Photo by Jen Gottfried

So what’s this place’s story? Susan Todoroff opened Juicy Kitchen about three years ago. She had attended culinary school years before, and was also a fitness instructor. Susan began making healthy meals for her clients, and always dreamed of opening her own café. This dream became a reality when Susan bought the space of a recently closed restaurant and opened Juicy Kitchen.

After much deliberation, I decided to order the Power Bowl, Editorial Director Sara ordered the JK Benedict and our photographer Jen ordered The Hot Mess. We also splurged and decided to split the Scottish Oat Cakes–because they’re healthy, obviously. The Power Bowl was a special item of the day made with quinoa, sweet potatoes, caramelized onions, guacamole, mushrooms, and kimchi. Sara’s JK Benedict was a healthy twist on eggs Benedict: poached eggs over corn veggie cakes with sautéed greens, roasted tomato and the chef’s “whim” sauce. The Hot Mess included an over medium egg with roasted red pepper, goat cheese, avocado, and spicy Sriracha sauce on toasted multigrain bread. Finally, our Scottish Oat Cakes were hearty oatmeal pancakes made with oats, gluten-free flour, flax seed, buttermilk and eggs. The cakes were topped with a fruit compote and syrup.

Juicy Kitchen

Photo by Jen Gottfried

Although each of these options was a bit different than our typical brunch orders, we were all extremely satisfied with our food. Everything was delicious, and it was clear that each item was made with wholesome ingredients. This was especially evident in the Scottish Oat Cakes…they were delicious, and not just your typical light and fluffy pancake.

I will definitely be going back to try more items on Juicy Kitchen’s menu. Angelos may have their signature raisin bread, Afternoon Delight may have their muffins with fro-yo and The Broken Egg may have their cinnamon bun pancakes, but Juicy Kitchen is where you can go for health conscious, delicious cooking. The atmosphere is great, the service impeccable and the food is tasty…a trio that is sometimes hard to find these days.