Snap Kitchen is the name you heard mentioned all over the local social web last week; local food media and social media fooderati alike were abuzz and excited about the impending opening of two Philadelphia locations this past weekend.

And with good reason—simply, Snap Kitchen is awesome! First of all, it’s not hard to get behind the mission of “fresh, healthy take-away.” But where others throw around the terms fresh and healthy like candy, Snap truly is passionate and dedicated to helping people make better food decisions and turn people onto a new way of thinking about food to-go.

The whole operation doesn’t scream marketing gimmick. Simply because the impressive variety, breadth and quality of menu offerings speaks itself. The stores, as well as the food packaging, are minimal and subdued. It’s very “what you see is what you get.” And what you get are facts—ingredients and nutrition clearly spelled out on modest labeling—and delicious, wholesome meals that accommodate many different special needs and lifestyles. Quite frankly, there’s something for everybody and it’s all very tasty.

While not all of the food items are organic or locally-sourced, Executive Chef Matthew Reinhart said they try their best where possible, almost all of the food, snacks, and juices are prepared and assembled locally at an operation located at 3401 I Street in North Philadelphia.

The packaging is color-coded to help you find & locate what you want easily. The stores are brightly lit and uncluttered. The goal is to get you in and out, and enjoying your meal, in an efficient manner. While there aren’t going to be any tables and chairs or much space for eating-in; they have microwaves set up to heat your meal which you can then eat at a small counter space near the front of the store. Perhaps in warmer months they’ll offer outdoor seating? That would be great!

We attended a special preview event last Wednesday evening with other media outlets and we became instant fans.

We were able to sample a few items while there. The housemade smoked salmon snack and lemon and garlic hummus with toasted whole wheat pita crisps were the standouts.

The cases were stocked full and we were encouraged to take some meals, snacks and juices home to enjoy.

There are a lot of veggie-friendly options such as Quinoa Fried Rice, Vegetable Lasagna and Grilled Kale Hoppin’ John.

For those looking to add more heart-healthy, omega 3-fats to their diet through fish, there are many options for you to choose from such as: Crispy Scottish Salmon, Ginger Glazed Salmon, and Crunchy Coconut Shrimp.

Those who enjoy poultry will find many healthy entrees such as: Naked Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Ginger Glazed Chicken, Chicken & Green Chile Enchiladas, Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken and Broccoli Hash, Turkey Chili and Turkey Meatloaf.

Meat lovers will also rejoice over the selection of beef and red meat entrees such as Grass-Fed Beef Meatballs & Peppers, Naked Beef, Grass-Fed Bison & Quinoa Hash, and our personal favorite Grass-Fed Lamb Lasagna. Not pictured above, but likely to be very popular is the Chimichurri Beef.

Breakfast lovers will be overjoyed by the healthy morning meal varieties ready to grab and eat, such as: Spinach & Goat Cheese Scramble, Oven-Dried Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart, Chicken Sausage & Egg Stack, Maple Roasted Banana Oatmeal, Blueberry Chia Pecan Parfait and even Almond Butter & Maple Pancakes!

I have a feeling people working close to Snap Kitchen locations will have no need to go anywhere else for their square 3!

Don’t want to eat your meals? Drink them! There’s plenty of liquid nourishment available in the form of housemade Snap Juices such as Super Greens and Carrot Ginger Elixir.

Need a pick me up or snack & run? They’ve got amazingly delicious and health-conscious quick-eating snacks like “Devily” Eggs  and Provencal Flatbread (not pictured above). The Devily Eggs replace the egg yolk with creamy hummus! It may sound odd, but trust us, it’s amazing. We could eat a half dozen in one sitting easily.

No matter your preference or diet, you’re going to find something here that meets your needs and will taste delicious. Prices are fairly reasonable, too. The costliest item on the menu is $14.99 for a large portion. Many entrees are available in small, medium, and large sizes. For the quality and health-mindedness alone, it’s worth the price. I’m learning as I get older — you really can’t put a price tag on health. The more healthy options the better, I say!

Be Well Philly calls it the Healthy Eater’s Wawa — which is a fine analogy, but really, Snap Kitchen is in a league all its own and Philadelphia NEEDS to embrace it.

OK, stop reading this and just go — if you haven’t already. If you have, we would LOVE to hear what you think!

Snap Kitchen Fairmount (<– click for hours)
1901 Callowhill Street
215-845-0001

Snap Kitchen Old City (<– click for hours)
259 Market Street
215-845-0004

Midtown Village, Rittenhouse Square, and Malvern locations will open soon with Radnor and Cherry Hill locations also slated to open this year. Hopefully there’s more! Stay tuned.