SoFresh, located near Moravian in Westgate Mall, provides healthy bowls, salads, quesadillas, and wraps to the Bethlehem community.
I went there for the first time on Oct. 11, just two days after their soft opening, and it was an absolutely amazing experience!
When you first walk into the store, there is an open space with seating tucked against the walls, creating an open feeling.
When you approach the counter, you have the option to order on one of their two huge screens or with an employee at the register. The menu offers a wide variety of options, with some pre-made bowls and the option to completely customize your order.
My first time there, I ordered a bowl with quinoa, rice, chicken, sweet potato, corn, mushrooms, and an avocado ranch sauce. There aren’t many quick-order restaurants that have sweet potatoes, so I was super excited to see that option!
With every seat being taken by customers waiting for their orders, I stood waiting for my order for about 15 minutes. For the number of customers ahead of me and the quality of their ingredients, I felt that this was a very appropriate time.
While I was waiting, I took the time to observe how the staff operated. With the chaos of so many orders, it was nice to see one employee at the helm guaranteeing all her customers were satisfied and the kitchen stayed on track. I also loved that as she sent employees to give customers their orders, she knew the name of each customer and where they were seated.
Most quick-order restaurants don’t take the time to remember customers’ names, let alone where they sat to wait for their order, especially when most people didn’t even order at the register but rather on their tablets.
This was such a nice touch and made me feel really appreciated when they walked my order over to me.
Now, for the food itself. The sweet potato was cooked so tenderly and the broccoli was steamed to be perfectly soft. The chicken was seasoned well and the rice and quinoa were also great! The sauce tied all of the flavors together. It was absolutely delicious.
On my second visit, I ordered a Bangkok bowl, which consists of Asian garlic noodles, shredded kale, mushrooms, onions, almonds, and teriyaki sauce. I substituted the almonds for broccoli and added steak. This was even better than my first order; the flavors melted into my mouth, and everyone around me kept telling me how good my food smelled and looked.
I placed my second order on the app for pickup and was not disappointed as my order was waiting for me upon my arrival. The one thing I will say is that there weren’t any napkins or cutlery in the bag, so I did have to scavenge for a fork once I sat down to eat.
Protein is not included in a bowl and has to added to your order. Both bowls came to be around $15. Personally, I am willing to spend a couple of extra dollars (compared to when I order from the B&G) to get such high-quality, healthy ingredients.
Eating well makes me feel so much better, giving me more energy and preparing me for my long days of classes, clubs, and work. Having SoFresh so close to campus is a great option for me and makes me more likely to eat healthier.
Overall, I highly recommend any Moravian student try SoFresh at least once! You won’t be disappointed!
SoFresh is located at 2413 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem, PA 18017; phone: (610) 424-4411. Their Instagram is @sofreshlehighvalley and their Facebook is also SoFresh Lehigh Valley.
