Nestled in a small shopping plaza off 56th Street and Fowler Avenue, Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace is a hidden gem with great vegan, and vegetarian, food options. Their staff is very knowledgable in helping you find those ingredients that may seem foreign when starting to cook vegan. Established in 1992, well before we had Fresh Market or Whole Foods nearby, they’re committed to:

“…providing you with the highest quality organic foods, nutritional supplements and natural products available.

Our friendly knowledgeable and dedicated staff are here to provide you with the best customer service possible. Everyone who is part of the Chuck’s team practices healthy lifestyle principles and is eager to assist you in understanding the value of a sound, well balanced way of living.”

What’s best is that they have a decent sized cafeteria and juice bar in back with some hearty treats that you can take home for dinner, or decide to eat there in their quaint sit-down area. I decided to try the Berkeley sandwich (sprouts, tomato, cucumber, red onion, lettuce, & vegan cream cheese), lentil soup with hearty chucks of chopped portobella mushroom, some veggie chips, with the Green Goodness juice blend (ginger, beets, kale, carrot, and cucumber). It was a tough call because I was eyeballing their vegan cheese pizza slices and quinoa salad for a while before I made up my mind. Menu options change weekly so a great stop in during your lunch break!

Beside Tampa/Temple Terrace, Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace also has an additional store located in Brandon. Stop in, check them out, and say ‘hi’ to their friendly staff. Keep your eye out for frequent sales and discounts too.

Chuck’s Natural Food Marketplace is located at 11301 N 56th St. Temple Terrace, FL 33617.