As a person with more than ten food allergies, it has been quite difficult for me to find a safe restaurant. Intentional Foods is one where I can eat, despite that long list. The head chef and co-owner, Chef Ned, told me:
“We have a mission and the mission started with our daughter’s life-threatening food allergies. We did not have a place to eat and we did not feel safe trusting other people’s handling of foods. Really our mission is to be as transparent as possible and to push for other restaurants to be transparent as well.“
Now they have a restaurant free of the top 9 allergens, where orders can be customized to fit other allergens, preferences, or special diets.

It is easy to order, either online or in person. Either way, you can customize your dish and choose substitutions. For example, you can substitute beef for pork, remove a sauce, or replace rice with potatoes! When I interviewed the head chef, they told me their most customizable dish is the Hacienda Hash Bowl. The staff are understanding and make sure my meals will be safe to eat.

Eating at Intentional Foods has not only been safe for me; the dishes are also delicious! My favorite dishes are the Hacienda Hash Bowl, Taco Plate Special, and SoCal Mexi Bowl (with a couple of adjustments for my allergies).

They also serve a wide variety of allergen-friendly desserts. One of the most popular of which is their lemon bar, which I find delectable.