For 38 years, Mr. Natural has been serving up delicious food, sweet treats and a whole lot of love on Austin’s east side.
Now, the family-owned business is wrapping up a week of festivities celebrating its legacy in the community!
We Are Austin host Sierra Waggoner headed live to Mr. Natural, where Jesus Mendoza shared a look at the restaurant’s vegan and vegetarian favorites, gluten-free goodies and special events honoring Mr. Natural Day, officially celebrated October 7.
We Are Austin host Sierra Waggoner headed live to Mr. Natural, where Jesus Mendoza shared a look at the restaurant’s vegan and vegetarian favorites, gluten-free goodies and special events honoring Mr. Natural Day, officially celebrated October 7.
Today marks the final day of the celebration, giving Austinites one last chance to join in the fun!
Watch the full video above to see what’s cooking at Mr. Natural and learn more about the celebration!
A little bit of everything, the Mr. Natural way
Mr. Natural is more than just a restaurant. It’s also a bakery and health food store, offering everything from freshly prepared meals and pastries to teas and supplements.
“We are a restaurant, a bakery and a health food store,” Jesus explained. “We kind of cater to vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions.”
During the live segment, Jesus showed off some of the restaurant’s signature dishes, including a generously sized potato dish topped with corn and cheese, also available in a vegan version.
“We are a restaurant, a bakery and a health food store,” Jesus explained. “We kind of cater to vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions.”
Another standout is the restaurant’s vegan fajitas, prepared with house-made seitan and served with brown rice and Mr. Natural’s popular refried beans.
Another standout is the restaurant’s vegan fajitas, prepared with house-made seitan and served with brown rice and Mr. Natural’s popular refried beans.
Sweet treats worth celebrating
Of course, no visit to Mr. Natural would be complete without exploring the bakery!
Jesus shared a delicious spread of gluten-free donuts, vegan tres leches cake, traditional Mexican pastries and seasonal favorites.
“We’ve got our famous gluten-free donuts,” he shared, before introducing the restaurant’s “iconic vegan tres leches.”
Another standout is the restaurant’s vegan fajitas, prepared with house-made seitan and served with brown rice and Mr. Natural’s popular refried beans.
Other treats featured during the segment included pan de muerto, a traditional bread associated with Día de los Muertos, and a seasonal pumpkin spice concha.
“We’ve got our famous gluten-free donuts,” he shared, before introducing the restaurant’s “iconic vegan tres leches.”
The bakery’s offerings highlight the combination of familiar flavors and dietary-friendly options that have made Mr. Natural a longtime Austin favorite.
The bakery’s offerings highlight the combination of familiar flavors and dietary-friendly options that have made Mr. Natural a longtime Austin favorite.
Salsa, free cake and community fun
The Mr. Natural Day celebration is ending on a flavorful note with a special salsa competition and activities for the community.
The Mr. Natural Salsa Showdown takes place from noon to 2 p.m., featuring a panel of judges, a winning salsa announcement and a People’s Choice award.
Guests can sample the competing salsas and vote for their favorites.
The festivities also include a free kids’ yoga class at 11 a.m., along with cake and coffee for visitors throughout the day.
“We’re doing free yoga classes,” Jesus shared, highlighting the restaurant’s commitment to giving back to the community.
The week of festivities has also featured educational lectures and opportunities for guests to connect with the people behind the longtime Austin business.
38 years of family, food and Austin memories
For the Mendoza family, celebrating 38 years is about much more than the food.
Mr. Natural has become part of the East Austin community, welcoming generations of customers who have grown up visiting the restaurant and now bring their own families through its doors.
Today marks the final day of the celebration, giving Austinites one last chance to join in the fun!
“38 years within the east side of Austin. It’s just so wonderful to see how, you know, community has grown in this area,” Jesus shared.
He reflected on watching young customers grow up, get married and return to Mr. Natural for wedding cakes and family traditions.
“We definitely are a tradition around here,” he said.
It’s that lasting connection to the community that makes the restaurant’s anniversary especially meaningful.
Celebrate with Mr. Natural
Whether you’re stopping by for a plate of vegan fajitas, a gluten-free donut or the salsa showdown, there’s plenty to enjoy as Mr. Natural wraps up its anniversary festivities.
Friday, October 9, is the final day of Mr. Natural’s weeklong celebration, but the restaurant’s food, bakery treats and family traditions continue year-round.
Head to mrnaturalatx.com to learn more!
Watch the full We Are Austin interview to hear more from Jesus Mendoza and learn how to be part of the Mr. Natural legacy.
Head to mrnaturalatx.com to learn more!