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CoreLife Eatery
1026 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515, United States
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Al
Review №1

We decided to give this place a try and it was absolutely amazing! I hope they open one closer to me because it was a bit of a drive. Will definitely be back when in the area!

Ti
Review №2

Went in as I was looking via Google for vegetarian options in the neighborhood and decided on here. The gentleman who took care of me was knowledgeable, friendly, for what I said I was looking for recommendationed the Spicy Thai Chicken w Rice Noodles and a cup of soup and it did not disappoint. I finished it all while I was there though he had prepared me to take it home if needed. Not to mention the fountain drinks are the most delicious uniquely flavored drinks I have even had in a restaurant. I got the Apple Cider Vinegar w Cinnamon mixture 😋. I dont live in the neighborhood but I look forward to coming back.

Lu
Review №3

Its okay. I love the effort to introduce healthier dining options to the Chicagoland, but their flavors are not there yet. I ordered their spicy ginger beef broth bowl, which consisted of pouring beef broth over veggies and rice noodles. The flavor did not mesh together well. In fact the beef broth tasted slightly like metal. It was kinda just thrown together. It has potential and its new, so I might come back.

Co
Review №4

Awesome food Great prices and super friendly staff.

Ni
Review №5

Lots of variety on the menu, each bowl weve tried has been delicious! The gluten free Mac n cheese was surprisingly delicious as well. The fresh drinks are amazing!

Be
Review №6

Great food.. friendly service... good prices...

Ad
Review №7

This place is amazing!! I can’t wait until they have more locations. Stopped by accident during my drive because Panera next door was a 30 min wait. Delicious salads, wraps, bowls….so many healthy options!!!

Se
Review №8

We just tried this place for the first time and the food is amazing so is the staff. Jeanna was super friendly and professional. She went out of her way to prepare our food. Great selection to choose fromWe will definitely be back !!!!!!!!

Je
Review №9

We were in search of healthy alternatives & got them! Almost every dish was spicy, but easily changed to mild. Tons of vegan options. The employees are super friendly. They even have cold brew coffee refills! We will definitely be back!

Ja
Review №10

Amazing health food joint. Imagine chipotle but better. The drink options are plenty and delicious. Very unique place worth checking out.

Aa
Review №11

CoreLife Eatery is an excellent place to eat. They have quick, healthy, and delicious options. Their staff is quick and friendly. I stop in at least once a week to grab a quick lunch.

th
Review №12

Great food very healthy employees are extremely helpful and nice

Je
Review №13

Yummy as always! My go to is the spicy thai chicken noodle bowl.

Br
Review №14

Love this place! They are so accommodating and the food is always so amazing.

Am
Review №15

This was our 1st visit and the food was excellent. I had the BBQ Chicken ranch purple rice bowl. My daughter had the Tuna Poke fire. (Nice to have vegetarian and GF choices). It was very fresh, clean, and fast wish they had one near us.

Na
Review №16

Freshest ingredients. Large selection of proteins. Great flavors. We tried two different bowls tonight, only being first night, there is some learning and experimenting with proper portion of items. Staff very attentive, helpful and knowledgeable. Managers are very pleasant, will explain process of food grades, importance of why they serve their food at a certain temperature.Bathroom was disgusting. 2 stalls one sink, no toilet paper in sight.

Vi
Review №17

Super creative design and equally creative menu. Friendly atmosphere, and really fresh food! A must visit for health conscious peeps! LOVE

Pi
Review №18

Absolutely nothing special about this salad place.

Ju
Review №19

Great variety! Broth bowls, soups, salads, grain bowls or plates. Allergy friendly!! Very helpful staff.

Kr
Review №20

The food is fantastic quality and taste at an affordable price. It can be intimidating at first if you are new as there are lots of options - some of which are uncommon. But the staff is there to make sure you are comfortable and help you through the process. The staff members are extremely polite and cater to your needs and questions. I felt well taken care of and the customized bowl was great. I will definitely be going back.

Ri
Review №21

First time I tried this. Food was fresh, nutritious, delicious and they made it spicy like I like. Definitely going back with the family.

To
Review №22

The food was amazing and the owner and staff were so nice! I got a tuna poke fire bowl and I loved it! That staff gave an amazing suggestion and I would def go back

Bi
Review №23

I cant tell you how many times Ive driven by this place and said I should stop in. Finally did it today and dang, I should have done it sooner. Will definitely be coming back here.

Ca
Review №24

I chose this over a local resturant because it seemed healthier. When I called they seemed surpised that I was making a phone take out order. Then when arrived and paid, I asked for a receipt for my expenses. They could not seem to get the receipts to print. Instead of trying to fix the problem, one of the workers slammed the receipt machine closed and said, no receipts today. then walked away. This is a nice reminder of why I prefer local businesses to chain resturants. I wont be returning.

Ka
Review №25

I had the steak/bleu cheese salad. The steak was very tender and tasty.

Ka
Review №26

The food is good at this restaurant. I order from the Downers Location all the time, BUT they never get the order correct! So annoying when I receive food that is not right when I order from here all the time along with my whole team

Da
Review №27

Love it. Fantastic “fast food” for a healthy lifestyle. Gluten free and delicious options are pretty standard. Only wish they had a drive-through.

He
Review №28

Core life eatery is just what I have been looking for. Fresh, clean ingredients. So good.

Gr
Review №29

Love this place. Tasty organic food. My son has a gluten allergy. He loves this place.

Ma
Review №30

First off I wanna start by saying it’s really hard to find places like this that cater to food sensitivities and strict lifestyle and dietary guidelines. With that being said I have never had a bad vibe or menu item once since coming here quite frequently This past year and overall it has a really great environment and good customer service. 👍🏼👌🏼

to
Review №31

My new favorite place. My meal was delicious and the young lady who waited on me for so friendly. I will be a repeat customer.

Gu
Review №32

Bad salad threw up within a hour

Er
Review №33

I really like this restaurant. A lot of nice salad, rice bowl, and soup options. The selection can be a little overwhelming at first. A lot of juice, lemonade, and tea drink options. Careful around lunch, this place can be packed and take awhile to make it through the line.

M
Review №34

This place was delicious! The food was very filling, but clean. My friends and I stopped in after an orangetheory workout. I had the ranch flank steak bowl. There are also many customizations one can choose. I look forward to trying more options here.

Ma
Review №35

Love this place it’s not close to where I live but make the effort to come healthy delicious food never disappointed

Jo
Review №36

I can eat here everyday. From great rice dishes and salads to make your own and if your still not sure ask the staff. Love it. Very clean place. Oh ya, the different types of drinks that are actually good for you too. Over all you have to try it.

Jo
Review №37

Great place with great offerings.

Sh
Review №38

Got 2 bowls here at once, they were AMAZING chicken was juicy and fresh even the next day.

V
Review №39

~ 25$ for two people for lunch, two entrees, one side, two drinks.Korean bbq kimchi has spicy bbq on it and it was pretty good. Brussel sprouts had a bit too many charred pieces but was great other than that.

Mi
Review №40

The poke tacos were solid. The sweet potato bowl was just OK. Very tasty craft teas/juices.

Pi
Review №41

Really great with keeping things allergy free!

Ch
Review №42

Was in search of a healthy eating place while I am visiting. Ordered a Southwest bowl and it was so good, better than Chipotle and healthier. Liked the taste of the chicken and the vinaigrette used. Would love to come back again!

Ch
Review №43

Great food and amazing hand crafted drinks. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I will definitely be eating here again!

Vi
Review №44

This place used to be great, with awesome staff. But the people hired after COVID-19 isnt the same... They dont know the plates, you have to tell them what are the ingredients, and they dont even add basil to the Tomato and Basil Soup!Clean Place and tasty drinks, just make sure you pay attention at you dish while its been prepared, so you dont miss anything.

Ta
Review №45

It offered healthy food options in approach portions. The eat in, take out eatery practices Covid precautions. The food is moderately priced. The restaurant is clean, there is free parking outside of the restaurant. They also offer healthy beverages.

Ja
Review №46

Just theirs this place for the first time today and absolutely delicious I love it and the fact I am vegan I was able to find so much to eat

Ty
Review №47

Really solid food with a caveat - online/mobile orders are often incorrect. I cant keep track of how many times Ive placed an advance order, only to find a side missing or an ingredient absent from my bowl.I keep ordering because I love both the quality of the ingredients and the flavor combinations they come up with. But you definitely have to keep an eye on your order before you leave the restaurant. I havent ordered at the restaurant itself in months so I cant speak to the accuracy of the in-person experience.

Ju
Review №48

Great! Lots of options, nice atmosphere

Ga
Review №49

Delicious Food! Amazing combinations of warm grain bowls, super healthy and really tasty food with lots of choices for vegetarians & vegans

Ch
Review №50

Customer service was not good.

An
Review №51

Great food and good service

S.
Review №52

Nice choices. Several vegetarian options.I had the tuna poke grain bowl. Even the small bowl was a lot of food.The soup bowls looked great. My friend had the tomato soup. Had a taste and it was very good.Will definitely be back to try other things.

Da
Review №53

Perfect in taste and perportion.

Au
Review №54

I was first introduced to CoreLife while at a conference in Peoria a couple years ago. It was delicious, healthy, and I wanted one of everything on the menu because everything sounded and looked so good! I kept driving by the Downers Grove location as I never had time to stop in until today and it was just as delicious as I remember it!

Ki
Review №55

The man making our food was rushing us, and a bit annoying to have make our food. We had to repeat ourselves multiple times. The steak was pink when served. You should always ask and not assume the customer wants blood in thier steak. The food was bland and the lettuce had black marks along the outline, definitely not fresh. Plus the food was placed so poorly in the bag, the juices seeped to the bottom of the bag and caused it to tear. Two thumbs down.

pa
Review №56

Great variety of food. Healthy and delicious.

Ch
Review №57

Great healthy options! Wish there was more this around. They even recently added their menu and made eating healthy even more reasonable from a cost standpoint. Plus, the food itself is amazing so my wife and I definitely fans of this place!

Ta
Review №58

Love the food here! What a great place to get healthy food. They are always patient when my kids order and I make substitutions to my meal. There was a mix up on my order once and they corrected it kindly.

Me
Review №59

Chain Eatery, but when you want a healthier option, it is the place to go. Fairly normal portion sizes and everything is delicious. Highly recommend getting a side of the brussel sprouts and a glass of the beet lemonade!

Jo
Review №60

Food is good but is a shame the poor service

Be
Review №61

The meals are healthy and delicious! I sampled many drinks but always fall back on the lemonade which is very good.

Ma
Review №62

First visit, found the food tasty. I think I had to give it four stars just because the concept was overwhelming. I had two kids with me and I just felt so much pressure to make so many decisions.Thankful to have some tasty vegan food. The employees were EXTREMELY helpful and kind.I will come back, just better prepared for options!

To
Review №63

Excellent fresh healthy food. Cant wait to go back. Very tasty. I would definitely recommend core life. Soup was good also.

Ma
Review №64

Bad service, no curbside pickup, food wasnt made as ordered. Other than that, had a super time spending my money there

Je
Review №65

They had advertised at an event at my gym, where I tried a beet lemonade. It was amazing and I had been dying to try this place. My friends and I went there and loved it. The food was SO GREAT, the staff was super helpful with guiding me to pick the right sauce because Im a wimp with spicy stuff. The cucumber basil lemonade was good and a nice balance to my spicy dish (spicy chicken, kale, ancient grains). They also had a really cute outdoor seating section. My only complaint is that the meat portions were pretty small, but you can pay for extra meat (which I did). Overall, this place was so delicious and I will be back many, many times! Please open a location closer to Lagrange!!!!!

Br
Review №66

Great Food Here, fresh quality ingredients. I wish there was more locations!

Pa
Review №67

Loved it, fresh, very customizable orders. My stomach and taste buds are satisfied. This is the opposite of what kind of experience I have at protein Bar the leaves me empty and disappointed.

Ra
Review №68

The food was super fresh and full of flavor. And so many options for all kinds of eaters. Wish there were more locations and one closer to my home.

Ev
Review №69

We’ve been to this Core (Downer’s Grove) several times and it was fine pre-Covid. It’s a place where we can eat gf and vegetarian for our pretty large family. We went today at 6:10 pm and there were no clean tables inside or outside. No one was at any of the tables just crumbs and food scraps. The server with a disposable mask didn’t cover her nose and literally touched her Mask/adjusting multiple times then our bowls. When checking out, they gave us the total and we asked about the special buy one bowl get one free and then they knocked it down a bit. I guess training must be done re Covid. We won’t be back. :(

Ke
Review №70

The food was amazing. I recommend the spicy Thai chicken with noodles with cucumber basil lemonade. It is really nice to be able to eat somewhere with the same thoughtfulness as the food we cook at home. Also, for anyone with food sensitivities you can find on their website allergens and any cross contamination food concerns. Corelife Eatery thank you for this transparency and keep up the amazing food options.

Ta
Review №71

Cheddar brocolli soup a tad salty if u have high blood pressure yet very good. Mediterranean salad is great.

Su
Review №72

Healthy, fresh, creative vegan and vegetarian menu choices. Generous portions. Calorie counts provided. My new favorite fast food restaurant!

Sc
Review №73

This is a great place to get a healthy meal quick.

Co
Review №74

Not just good for a healthy place, I would actually crave this food. They also have like 5 fresh homemade lemonades with combinations like cranberry-cayenne, cucumber-basil, etc. I had the tuna poke fire warm rice bowl and it was lit. Its a lil spicy if youre sensitive to heat.

Bo
Review №75

Today was my first time at a CoreLife. Definitely has potential to be, in my opinion and if they havent just become, the best restaurant in the area for this sort of food. You can sub out sauces and protein options to make anything how you like it and they really took care of me on my first visit by explaining the menu and how everything works. The Thai chili sauce is so delicious that its going to be hard for me to try the others and the drink options are better than anywhere Ive been. 6 or 8 types of teas, lemonades, and they had cold brew coffee on deck along side the other drinks with almond milk all for the same price! Fantastic. Great management and the employees were friendly and thoughtful when making my food. Thoroughly recommend.

Ju
Review №76

Very fresh ingredients. Flavorfull chicken health place to eat. Chicken bowl with drink was 14.00. You can customize your meal with various options.

Th
Review №77

It was my first time here. To be honest I was not sure about eating here. Thw customer service was outstanding. The food was great. I will be going back soon.

Jo
Review №78

If you are looking for low gluten and tasty healthy food then this place is good. Homemade sauces and dishes with protein and real food. Healthy natural drinks as well.

Ma
Review №79

First time eating there and the food was great! I had the southwest bowl and it was great. Will definitely go back and try something new.

Ja
Review №80

If you have a thing for lemonade variety, prepare to have your damn mind blown. Dont come here if you have a citrus allergy and/or you dont like the color orange. (Both of which are characteristics I possess.) The restaurant had the energy of a Crossfit and I was not into it, but my partner said his food was fine and the employees were very nice.

Fr
Review №81

Love this place! Awesome food and staff.... Good is always fresh and hand picked! Also Savanna is the best!

Ni
Review №82

Not my cup of tea at all. I enjoy healthy food, but this was awful. I ordered the southwest grilled chicken and purple rice. It has potential but was completely lacking flavor. In fact, it tasted like dirt. It has a lime dressing which seems like it would be tasty, but the dressing was bland too and couldnt save the bowl. The price point of all the bowls seemed reasonable for the product being sold. I normally would give a place a second chance, but Im good not ever going back. But hey, only one way to find out if you like something is to try it.

Ke
Review №83

Really good food very reasonably priced and very helpful and friendly staff.I had the green bowl with the sriracha ginger tofu. so tasty and the beet lemonade is super refreshing

ch
Review №84

Bowl was ok, mediterranean salad had very little hummus and falafel was not very good.

St
Review №85

The food is fresh, full of flavor, and is very healthy. Core Life is a weekly staple in our house.

La
Review №86

Pretty cool place, unfortunately for me there was soy all but one of the dressings. One dressing was with vinegar... 😛🤐😝and there really wasnt much for me to have since Im lactose-free and gluten-free and kind of like doing a cleanse diety. It was like limited choices.... but for most people an awesome place Im sure...

Ve
Review №87

Fresh, tasty, organic food. However, they overload on grains and try to skim out the protein. I asked for grass fed steak and the server scooped half a scoop on to my bowl then told me if I want more it would be considered a “double.” I’m not a penny pincher in any regard but if someone is paying $13 for a bowl, 6-7 tiny cubes of steak is not fair or worth the price. Other than that, I would return.

Zo
Review №88

The best....

Li
Review №89

Loved everything about this new fast food restaurant. The salads were so fresh, the dressings delicious and the service quick and friendly. Stop by and try it!

Ha
Review №90

So good, was actually difficult to choose what to get. I got the spicy thai noodle dish which tasted just like Pad Thai and was very satisfying. My boyfriend got a grain bowl and he was very happy with his too. Everything is extremely fresh and delicious, and we both are excited to visit again and try something new. The restaurant was also very clean and they focus on sustainable practices, which is another plus.

Er
Review №91

Got a large bowl (Thai chicken). Everything felt very fresh - also tasty - the staff was nice, and the facilities were clean. The entire menu feels healthy, and they even have an app that allows you to order online for pickup. This seems like a great new find!

Jo
Review №92

Finally a restaurant that is health conscious! Fresh food, moderate pricing. They have a good beverage selections of no or low calorie beverages.

Ke
Review №93

Great food for health-conscious adults. I personally love it... with two exceptions below. 1. Even though they had a kids menu, my kids werent fans at all however and dont want to go back. 2. While thru have a bunch of fointain drink options, theyre conspicuously missing a standard, unsweetened iced tea.

Di
Review №94

All the food is prepared daily, fresh with many dietary options. The fresh squeezed juices are delicious. Highly recommend this restaurant.

Wi
Review №95

Nice healthy place with good taste

Ca
Review №96

So happy I found CoreLife. Finally- a place with extremely fresh, delicious choices!First visit I came in to celebrate something GOOD that happened to me 😀 Glad I did.Had the Tri-Tip Bowl, great combo.2nd visit- brought my husband, had the BBQ Ranch Chicken Bowl w corn, rice, sweet potatoes, toms & cilantro- I added gf mac n cheese. Hit my hunger- rounding out w incredible Apple cider green tea.Wish there were more of these wonderful restaurants- thankyou CoreLife!

Mi
Review №97

The food was pretty good and unique, but the service and staff seemed a bit disorganized. Hopefully it improves by my next visit.

Br
Review №98

One of my favorite healthy restaurants to go to ! Super clean and great service , highly recommend the ahi tuna poke fire bowl.

To
Review №99

Love the bbq chicken ranch rice bowl

Er
Review №100

Very clean, quick, and sub vegan easily

Information
82 Photos
100 Comments
4.3 Rating
  • Address:1026 Ogden Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515, United States
  • Site:https://locations.corelifeeatery.com/corelife-eatery-fcc2f2920c01
  • Phone:+1 630-442-0360
Categories
  • Restaurant
  • Gluten-free restaurant
  • Health food restaurant
  • Salad shop
  • Soup restaurant
  • Vegan restaurant
  • Vegetarian restaurant
Working hours
  • Monday:11:30am–8pm
  • Tuesday:Closed
  • Wednesday:11:30am–8pm
  • Thursday:11:30am–8pm
  • Friday:11:30am–8pm
  • Saturday:11:30am–8pm
  • Sunday:11:30am–8pm
Service options
  • Delivery:Yes
  • Takeaway:Yes
  • Dine-in:Yes
Health and safety
  • Mask required:Yes
Popular for
  • Lunch:Yes
  • Dinner:Yes
  • Solo dining:Yes
Accessibility
  • Wheelchair-accessible entrance:Yes
Offerings
  • Coffee:Yes
  • Comfort food:Yes
  • Healthy options:Yes
  • Kids' menu:Yes
  • Organic dishes:Yes
  • Quick bite:Yes
  • Vegetarian options:Yes
Dining options
  • Lunch:Yes
  • Dinner:Yes
  • Catering:Yes
Amenities
  • Good for kids:Yes
  • High chairs:Yes
  • Toilets:Yes
Atmosphere
  • Casual:Yes
Crowd
  • Family friendly:Yes
  • Groups:Yes
Payments
  • NFC mobile payments:Yes
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