Evolution Fast Food is good food made quick but without sacrificing quality or healthiness; they are actually 100% vegan. I first heard about Evolution Fast Food while reading the Food and Drink section of the San Diego Union Tribune. They were listed as one of the top places to get fresh fruit and vegetable juices in San Diego. Evolution appears to be located inside a former farmers market foodstand. The inside is small and utilitarian - no space goes unused. There are two refrigerator units which house pre-made sandwiches, salads and beverages and a counter to order those menu items not made in advance. Beyond the counter is the kitchen that takes care of the counter orders as well as those coming in through their busy drive-through window. Heading back outside you will find a few scattered chairs on their small covered patio. If you head out back there is a large, covered, outdoor seating area and a small fountain. The overall vibe is one of peace and tranquility. We visited Evolution on a sunny day and the cool breeze wafting through the patio area was a welcome respite from the heat of the midday sun. We came in search of a light lunch in a relaxing atmosphere and that is exactly what we found at Evolution Fast Food.
As soon as we entered I spied my favorite Guayaki Yerba Mate Pure Heart Raspberry Mate tea in their refrigerator. I immediately knew that I was going to like this place. I was in a burger-frame-of-mind so I began checking out their options. Evolution offers two different types of burger patty - Gardein Veggie Burgers and a house-made black bean patty. We had some Gardein burgers in our freezer at home so I opted for the house-made burger. I ordered mine with the vegan cheese and pickles. The burger is served on a whole grain bun. I also ordered a side of sweet potato fries. My husband ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger that came with veganaise, daiya cheese, mushrooms, lettuce and tomato on a whole grain bun. He also ordered the Daily Greens juice, which was made from celery, cucumber, apple, kale, and lemon. Once we placed our order we made our way out to the front patio to wait for our food. In no time at all my name was called (it really was fast food); I grabbed our paper-sack of food and together we headed for the back patio.
As I unpacked our lunch I was struck by the thought that this was the first paper sack of food that I had ever unloaded which was not soaked through with grease. At the top of the sack were the sweet potato fries. But they were definitely not traditional fries. They were actually shaped like potato chips. Some were crisper than others and were very lightly salted. The crispy fries resulted in that satisfying potato chip crunch. Those that were not quite as well done were a bit chewier - more fry like. The sweet and salt combination is always a winner and in this case you are allowed to enjoy the subtle sweetnessof the sweet potato. Sweet potato fries are a slightly healthier alternative to regular fries so you can eat them without the guilt that consuming regular fries usually brings on.
I am a frequent enjoyer of the veggie burger andso I am always interested to try a homemade version of a food typically found in my grocer's freezer. After unwrapping my burger I was happy to see that they did not skimp on the pickles and that my burger was simply accented by the vegan cheese and not drowning in it. The burger, on first glance, looked like a regular hamburger, albeit one that was quite well done. In fact, I was a bit concerned that they had burnt my burger, something that I am not a fan of. But after a bite, I realized that it was the black hue of the beans that caused its darkened complexion and not an overzealous grillmaster. Evolution's homemade black bean burger consisted simply of blackbeans and various spices. While it looked like a standard burger, the consistency was that of refried black beans packed together to create a burger. The vegan cheese tasted surprisingly like nacho cheese, without being too in your face. If they had smothered the burger, it would havebeen overpowering, but given that it was used as a complimentary topping, the result was a happy combination of bean and cheese. Pickle chips completed this delicious threesome. The tanginess of the pickles complimented the smoothness of the cheesy burger nicely. I ate my burger open faced so that I could experience the burger and its toppings without the overbearing presence of the bun. After making short work of my burger, I turned my attention to the burger bun. It was light and fluffy. The grains contained within it were whole and fresh. The bun on its own was delicious but I felt that it would have overshadowed the burger had I consumed everything together. I also tried a bit of the veganaise. Veganaiseis an egg-free, dairy-free mayonnaise substitute. I am not a fan of mayonnaise, I find the concept of it unpleasant and the taste is too rich for me. Veganaise, on the other hand, was light and vaguely had the taste and consistency of whipped cream cheese. Like their other toppings, the veganaise was applied minimally, making it a co-star with the burger instead of the headliner.
I was completely prepared to dislike my husband's Daily Greens juice. He usually orders the extremely healthy juices that take a certain amount of willpower to down. But, ever the dutiful blogger, I knew I had to try at least one sip of it. The look of it did nothing to reassure me that this was going to be something that I would enjoy. Anything that shade of green cannot possibly be tasty, in my opinion. Happily, I was pleasantly surprised. The ingredients combined together perfectly, not one overpowering the other. Each sip brought forth a different flavor - first apple, then cucumber, followed by the kale, with lemon providing a backdrop for all three. While most juices created from these types of ingredients tend to be harsh in their flavoring -this juice managed to be subtle while still reminding you of what you were drinking. While not my particular cup of tea, I could drink it without making a face - a claim I cannot make about many of the juices my husband has ordered.
Like most hidden gems, I was not all that impressed with Evolution Fast Food when we first pulled into their small parking lot. Given its name I was expecting a slick, shiny storefront with plastic booths and perhaps funky techno music in the background. Evolution fast food is not slick and shiny. It is however, a small, unpretentious dining establishment serving up good food quickly that is also good for you. Sure, it is more expensive than the Burger King located around the corner. But when was the last time you got a handmade burger and fries with a fresh juice from there? In this case, you get what you pay for. I would happily fork over a few extra dollars for their friendly customer service, quality food and relaxing atmosphere. For me Evolution Fast Food is not only an evolution in food but also an evolution in dining experiences. So grab a burger and some juice and head out back to enjoy the breeze and fountain - life is too short to pass up experiences like this one.
