The Whole Bowl has been my go to lunch spot for years, especially since I work just around the corner from Pioneer Square. I’ve always appreciated that the food is vegan, gluten-free, and especially sugar-free. It’s been one of the few places I can rely on for a quick, wholesome meal.
During my recent visit, I did notice a sanitation issue that concerned me. Before placing the lid on my bowl to go, the employee put her entire bare hand over the top of the bowl. Having worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years, I know that wearing gloves and avoiding direct hand contact with food or food-contact surfaces is standard practice. Especially when touching a POS. I didn’t bring it up in the moment because I didn’t want it to feel like an attack toward the employee, but I did feel it was worth mentioning here.
I also ordered my bowl vegan, which removes the sour cream and cheddar and is supposed to come with extra avocado. The portion I received didn’t seem like a real replacement, it looked closer to the standard amount. I also paid extra for the Thali sauce, but it didn’t look like any was added or mixed into the bowl.
None of this takes away from the many good experiences I’ve had over the years, but I do hope the team revisits sanitation practices and consistency with add-ons and substitutions. With a bit more attention to these details, the experience could fully match the quality and intention behind the food I’ve always enjoyed here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
35oz 19g
Ordered a bowl with extra sauce and got a bowl with no avocado and no sauce. I will never be back to this location
Constantine Bratanata
If the service was any faster, the food would've somehow been in my mouth before I even ordered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yuliya N
They finally got a storefront!! Yummiest hug in a cup there ever was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Charles Johnson
Newly kiOSked hole in the wall after it's prior life as a cart in tHesQuARepdX.cOM I love black olives, sour cream so to me it's a nice splurge even tho there are many others ready the tell me $9 is more reasonable than splurge these days.
Sydney Mei
I was always wondering why my stomach hurt after I ate here and I think it’s because they don’t finish cooking the beans… at least that’s what I saw in my bowl today :/ was undercooked beans.
Food: 2
Danne Johnson
The best vegetarian spot and it was absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benji
Great vegan friendly bowl!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Naghmeh Kia
Whole bowl is the best! Great place to pick up a healthy and affordable lunch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ashish Mehta
TLDR: Satisfying, delicious, and uncommonly healthy, 5/5
This place confused me at first because they don't have a menu. Basically they have one product that you can modify to your taste. I got the bowl with everything on it and the buffalo chipotle sauce. It was fantastic. We need more tasty, inexpensive, and most importantly HEALTHY options like this where I live. I will be visiting this shop again before I leave town!
One of the healthiest foods you can get around town. I wish they would work with the schools, like PCC, PSU, and U of P to host The Whole Bowl. I’d expect them to be a hit, for students and staff. Often the food on campus is so expensive for really unhealthy, unbalanced food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Roy Huang
The sushi roll is a bit coldTuna is too spicyA bit unacceptable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
SS K
It's a great quick meal
BS Hunsberger
My favorite affordable lunch in downtown PDX. I go here almost once a week.
Vegetarian options: You can also order a “vegan bowl” without cheese or sour cream. You won’t miss much.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Big Bowl
TNH 204
Like something you could get at chipotle but with wholesome ingredients. Strikes the right balance between health and comfort.
The Whole Bowl has been my go to lunch spot for years, especially since I work just around the corner from Pioneer Square. I’ve always appreciated that the food is vegan, gluten-free, and especially sugar-free. It’s been one of the few places I can rely on for a quick, wholesome meal.
During my recent visit, I did notice a sanitation issue that concerned me. Before placing the lid on my bowl to go, the employee put her entire bare hand over the top of the bowl. Having worked in the restaurant industry for 10 years, I know that wearing gloves and avoiding direct hand contact with food or food-contact surfaces is standard practice. Especially when touching a POS. I didn’t bring it up in the moment because I didn’t want it to feel like an attack toward the employee, but I did feel it was worth mentioning here.
I also ordered my bowl vegan, which removes the sour cream and cheddar and is supposed to come with extra avocado. The portion I received didn’t seem like a real replacement, it looked closer to the standard amount. I also paid extra for the Thali sauce, but it didn’t look like any was added or mixed into the bowl.
None of this takes away from the many good experiences I’ve had over the years, but I do hope the team revisits sanitation practices and consistency with add-ons and substitutions. With a bit more attention to these details, the experience could fully match the quality and intention behind the food I’ve always enjoyed here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Ordered a bowl with extra sauce and got a bowl with no avocado and no sauce.
I will never be back to this location
If the service was any faster, the food would've somehow been in my mouth before I even ordered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They finally got a storefront!! Yummiest hug in a cup there ever was.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Newly kiOSked hole in the wall after it's prior life as a cart in tHesQuARepdX.cOM I love black olives, sour cream so to me it's a nice splurge even tho there are many others ready the tell me $9 is more reasonable than splurge these days.
I was always wondering why my stomach hurt after I ate here and I think it’s because they don’t finish cooking the beans… at least that’s what I saw in my bowl today :/ was undercooked beans.
Food: 2
The best vegetarian spot and it was absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great vegan friendly bowl!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Whole bowl is the best! Great place to pick up a healthy and affordable lunch.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: Satisfying, delicious, and uncommonly healthy, 5/5
This place confused me at first because they don't have a menu. Basically they have one product that you can modify to your taste. I got the bowl with everything on it and the buffalo chipotle sauce. It was fantastic. We need more tasty, inexpensive, and most importantly HEALTHY options like this where I live. I will be visiting this shop again before I leave town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
One of the healthiest foods you can get around town. I wish they would work with the schools, like PCC, PSU, and U of P to host The Whole Bowl. I’d expect them to be a hit, for students and staff. Often the food on campus is so expensive for really unhealthy, unbalanced food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The sushi roll is a bit coldTuna is too spicyA bit unacceptable
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
It's a great quick meal
My favorite affordable lunch in downtown PDX. I go here almost once a week.
Vegetarian options: You can also order a “vegan bowl” without cheese or sour cream. You won’t miss much.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Big Bowl
Like something you could get at chipotle but with wholesome ingredients. Strikes the right balance between health and comfort.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mexico Bowl
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