The Whole Bowl

The Whole Bowl is a vegetarian[1] restaurant chain based in Portland, Oregon, United States. In addition to Oregon, the business has operated in the U.S. state of Arizona, New York, and Ohio.[2]

Description

The Whole Bowl's menu includes bowls with avocado, black olives, brown rice, black and red beans, cheddar cheese, cilantro, salsa, sour cream, and Tali sauce.[3][4][5]

History

The Whole Bowl was founded by Tali Ovadia in 2001. The business was acquired by Moberi in January 2025.[6][7][8]

In 2013, The Whole Bowl was among the city's few food cart businesses offering health care to workers, according to Portland Business Journal.[9]

Locations

There have been as many as 12 locations.[2]

In Portland, there were four locations as of 2015.[10] In 2020, the business operated in north Portland, northeast Portland's Hollywood neighborhood, and northwest Portland's Northwest District, as well as on Hawthorne Boulevard in southeast Portland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the business delivered via Caviar and bicycle messengers.[11] The Whole Bowl has also operated in Oregon Marketplace at the Portland International Airport.[12]

Outside of Portland, The Whole Bowl has also operated in Cincinnati and New York City.[13] There are plans to open a location in Lake Oswego's Mercato Grove in 2025.[14]

Reception

In 2019, Grant Butler of The Oregonian called The Whole Bowl one of Portland's "most venerable" food carts.[15] The business won in the Best Food Cart category and ranked second in the Best Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant category in Willamette Week annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2020.[16]

See also

References

  1. Portland's Whole Bowl vegetarian food cart chain sold Portland Business Journal, retrieved 2025-01-09^
  2. Florence Fabricant. Only One Choice at This Restaurant The New York Times, 2019-11-18, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  3. Laurie Wolf. Food Lovers' Guide to® Portland, Oregon: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings Rowman & Littlefield, 2014-01-14^
  4. Martha Rose Shulman. The Simple Art of Vegetarian Cooking: Templates and Lessons for Making Delicious Meatless Meals Every Day: A Cookbook Harmony/Rodale, 2014-04-22^
  5. Danielle Centoni. Little Local Portland Cookbook The Countryman Press, 2019-08-20^
  6. Moberi Smoothie Shop Owner Purchases The Whole Bowl Willamette Week, 2025-01-06, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  7. The Whole Bowl acquired by Moberi with expansion plans underway KOIN^
  8. Lizzy Acker. This Old Portland food cart chain has been purchased by local smoothie mogul The Oregonian, 2025-01-07, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  9. Whole bowl one of few food cart businesses to offer health care Portland Business Journal, retrieved 2025-01-09^
  10. Superest Bowls Willamette Week, 2015-03-04, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  11. Waz Wu. Portland Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants Offering Delivery and Takeout During the COVID-19 Outbreak Eater Portland, 2020-03-30, retrieved 2025-01-09^
  12. Mattie John Bamman. Two New Food Carts Land at Portland International Airport Eater Portland, 2016-04-19, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  13. What to eat in Portland today: The Whole Bowl dailyhive.com, 2016-04-05, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  14. Corey Buchanan. The Whole Bowl will start serving healthy comfort food in Lake Oswego next month LakeOswegoReview.com, 2025-01-06, retrieved 2025-01-08^
  15. Grant Butler. Portland cookbook dishes up Rose City classics, including a make-at-home version of The Whole Bowl The Oregonian, 2019-08-26, retrieved 2025-01-09^
  16. FOOD, DRINK, RESTAURANTS Willamette Week, retrieved 2025-01-08^