The Place
Chloe Ho has one knock on Guangzhou’s healthy eateries: they don’t meet her standards. A nutritionist who studied in the US, she wants to up the ante by offering healthy eats favored by New Yorkers (where food trends are born).
Joining popular Western restaurants and bars on Huajiu Lu, Naked Bowl echoes the concept of So Acai, an eatery tucked away on a backstreet near Tiyu Dong Lu that dishes out homemade smoothie bowls.
Foliage is visible throughout the small shop, which fits about a dozen or so tables, and the space is busy when we visit on a warm Friday afternoon in February.
The Food
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
Naked Bowl dishes out a decent array of hearty edibles, from grain-based bowls to bagel sandwiches. There are a wide variety of bagels to choose from, and if you don’t want a bagelwich you can simply get your doughy disc toasted with cream cheese. Some of their healthy offerings contain ingredients like baby spinach and brussel sprouts as well as imported whole grains.
The ‘Buddha Bowl’ (RMB58) is a colorful combination of rice, lettuce, spicy broccoli, brussel sprouts, beet hummus, zucchini, smashed pumpkin, parsley, mint, almonds and red cabbage slaw, and it’s flavorfully touched up by a fig vinaigrette. Another popular choice is the ‘Kale Caesar Bowl’ (RMB48), powered by superfood kale and flavored with homemade low-calorie Caesar dressing. Switching ingredients to make your bowl vegan is also possible.
Image by Tristin Zhang/That's
The menu notes the number of calories in each bowl, and whether it’s spicy, vegan or gluten-free. If one of the shop’s premade bowls fails to tickle your fancy, there is also a fantastic DIY option for picky eaters.
For sandwich lovers, the smoked salmon bagel sandwich (RMB48) did not disappoint. Packed with thick and rich cream cheese, smoked salmon and fresh arugula on a chewy bagel, this delicious handheld meal was both satisfying and filling.
The Vibe
Naked Bowl is a solid option for members of the Zhujiang New Town lunch crowd that are looking for a laid-back environment with healthy options. With both indoor and outdoor seating, you’ll find people working on their laptops, chatting with colleagues or silently people watching. All in all, it’s a good vibe and Naked Bowl is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Price: RMB80
Who’s going: consulate workers, expats, weight watchers
Good for: making your healthy diet dream a reality
Nearest metro: Zhujiang New Town (Exit B1), 10 minutes’ walk
Open daily, Mon-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-9pm; see listing for Naked Bowl.
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