True Food Kitchen closes in San Diego amid bankruptcy filing

True Food Kitchen, which arrived in San Diego more than a decade ago touting its “good for you” menu, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is closing a dozen stores across the country, including its restaurant at Westfield UTC.

The Arizona-based chain’s first San Diego restaurant, located in the Fashion Valley center, is among 34 restaurants across 14 states that will remain open. The final day of service for the UTC restaurant was Sunday, which was when the company formaly filed for bankruptcy protection.

At the time the first True Food Kitchen opened in San Diego, in 2012, then executive chef Michael Stebner sought to distance the brand from typical “health food.” Instead, he said the menu took its inspiration from the anti-inflammatory food pyramid developed by author Dr. Andrew Weil, then a partner in the True Food restaurant chain.

Menu items like edamame dumplings, teriyaki quinoa bowls, and spaghetti squash casserole were meant to entice diners, not only for their flavor, but their healthful ingredients and preparation.