Mike Cohen, born and raised in Côte Saint-Luc, has long been active in the community as a volunteer, journalist, and consultant. He profiles restaurants in Montreal and beyond.
mikecohen.ca
Freshii, the Canadian-born restaurant banner known for its fresh and customizable meals, has expanded its menu with three new, globally inspired bowls —chicken pesto parmesan, hot honey mustard chicken, and shrimp taco.
Founded in downtown Toronto in 2005, Freshii has expanded to over 180 locations across the nation. Designed for people on the go, Freshii offers a menu that can be tailored to suit a range of dietary preferences, including keto, gluten-free, high-protein, and plant-based options. Montreal-based Foodtastic, one of Canada’s largest restaurant franchisors, bought Freschii two years ago.
There is only one Montreal location, downtown at the corner of De Maisonneuve and Peel. I dropped by there to give it a try. Behind the counter was Diana, an 18-year-old newcomer to our city from Ukraine. She was very charming and helpful. I chose the Tex Mex Bowl, which contains a base of brown rice, avocado, salsa fresca and cheddar cheese. For my protein, I opted for steak. There was also some delicious ranch sauce made with Greek yogurt.
Created to meet the needs of Canadians for food that is fast, fresh and functional, the selection of bowls reflects Freshii’s evolution to a more diverse, yet still wholesome menu.
“Customers are asking for more meal options that deliver comfort and flavour, while respecting their health goals and busy lifestyles,” said Chris Cann, Brand Leader at Freshii. “They already trust us for high-quality salads and wraps, but now Canadians are appreciating and responding well to our new items like the poke bowls. The new bowls bring homestyle appeal with globally inspired twists, without compromising speed or nutrition. They showcase where we’re headed as a brand—balancing tradition with fresh-forward innovation.”
Watch my Instagram report:
So a little bit about the new bowls, that I will try out in due time: chicken pesto parmesan comes with with spicy broccoli, grape tomatoes, parmesan, lemon-herbed quinoa, spinach, Mediterranean crunch, pesto vinaigrette, and a touch of hot sauce; the Cajun-inspired hot honey mustard chicken comes with blackened chicken, sweet potatoes, red cabbage, crispy fried onions, lemon-herbed quinoa, hot honey mustard, and green onions; and the shrimp taco bowl is coastal-inspired with shrimp, lemon-herb quinoa, avocado, red cabbage, field greens, wonton crisps, pickled red onions, cilantro lime vinaigrette, fresh cilantro and hot sauce.
Freshii has experienced a growth spurt since launching its poke bowls earlier this year, as well as with its refreshed social and loyalty programs.
For more information on Freshii’s menu and franchise opportunities, visit www.freshii.com.
Mike Cohen, born and raised in Côte Saint-Luc, has long been active in the community as a volunteer, journalist, and consultant. He profiles restaurants in Montreal and beyond.
mikecohen.ca