Inspiring Conversations with Tatiana Chao of Eat Real Cafe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Chao.

Hi Tatiana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Fourteen years ago, our family had a simple dream: to bring real, organic food to our community. Back then, there wasn’t much around Santa Clarita offering fresh juices, organic smoothies, healthy breakfasts, or wholesome lunches made with quality ingredients. We saw a need — not just for healthier food, but for a place where people could gather, slow down, and feel good about what they were eating.

So, with a lot of hard work, long days, and family support, we opened the doors to Eat Real Cafe in 2013!

In the beginning, it was truly family-run in every sense of the word. Early mornings prepping fresh ingredients, late nights cleaning, learning as we went, and pouring everything we had into creating something special for our town. We believed people deserved food made with real ingredients — fresh juices, organic meals, homemade recipes, and a welcoming atmosphere that felt like home.

What started as a small local café quickly became something much bigger because of this community. Families, students, athletes, parents, and friends supported us from the very beginning. People connected with our mission and helped spread the word that healthy food could also feel comforting, beautiful, and exciting.

Over the years, we continued to grow alongside our town. Today, we are incredibly proud to have three locations, including our Main Street restaurant located in Downtown Newhall— a full-service dining experience offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, natural wine, and organic beer in a warm space designed for gathering and connection.

As our business has grown, our heart behind it has stayed the same. We still believe in real food, real ingredients, and creating spaces that bring people together. We continue to evolve, create, and dream bigger while staying rooted in the community that built us.

Eat Real was never just about opening a café. It was about creating a lifestyle centered around wellness, family, and connection. Fourteen years later, we are beyond grateful for every customer, every employee, every family member, and every person who has supported us along the way.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When we opened Eat Real Cafe, the idea of organic, clean eating was not nearly as common as it is today. Back then, finding high-quality organic ingredients at a wholesale level was one of our biggest struggles. There weren’t many distributors focused on organic products, and sourcing fresh, real ingredients consistently was expensive, time-consuming, and unpredictable. We spent countless hours searching for farmers, vendors, and products that aligned with what we believed in.

As small business owners, there were many moments where taking shortcuts would have been easier and cheaper. But from the beginning, we made a commitment to never sacrifice quality. We cared deeply about what we were serving our community and our own families.

One of the hardest parts was education. Fourteen years ago, conversations around seed oils, processed foods, artificial ingredients, dyes, preservatives, and the long-term effects of the American diet were not mainstream. Many people didn’t understand why organic ingredients mattered or why we were so passionate about ingredient transparency.

We often found ourselves explaining that food is more than convenience — it directly affects our energy, hormones, immune systems, mental health, and especially our children’s health. We saw how heavily processed foods had become normalized in America, and how difficult it was for families to even find healthier options nearby. Sometimes it felt like we were trying to change habits and perspectives one conversation at a time.

There were moments when the mission felt difficult. Organic ingredients cost more. Educating customers took patience. Building a business around wellness before wellness became “popular” came with risks. But we believed deeply that our community deserved access to better food and healthier options.

Over time, something incredible happened. People started paying attention. Families became more conscious about what they were eating. Parents wanted better options for their kids. Athletes, moms, students, and everyday people began seeking foods made with real ingredients. Slowly, our community grew with us.

Looking back, those struggles shaped who we are today. They taught us resilience, purpose, and the importance of standing behind what we believe in — even when it isn’t easy. What started as a small family café became part of a much larger movement toward wellness, transparency, and healthier living.

As you know, we’re big fans of Eat Real Cafe. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Eat Real Cafe, we built our brand around one simple belief: food should be real. Real ingredients, real preparation, and real care put into everything we serve.

From the very beginning, we made the decision to do things differently — even when it was harder, more expensive, and less convenient. We wanted to create a place where families could trust what they were eating and drinking.

That means we do not cook with seed oils. We use real ingredients that we feel proud serving to our own children and families. Our baked goods are made with real butter, our sauces are made fresh in-house without added sugars or preservatives, and we avoid artificial dyes, fillers, and unnecessary ingredients throughout our menu.

Our guests can enjoy wild-caught salmon, grass-fed beef, organic coffee beans and espresso, organic syrups, fresh pressed organic juices made to order, and organic loose-leaf teas crafted fresh for every customer. We intentionally do not serve sodas or overly sugary drinks because we believe people deserve better options.

As we’ve grown, we’ve continued expanding that mission into every part of the experience. Our Main Street location now offers dinner service alongside natural organic wine cocktails and locally brewed organic USDA beers — creating a space where wellness and gathering can exist together.

One of the things we are most known for are our homemade heart-shaped scones, which have sold thousands over the years. What started as a small homemade bakery item became something customers return for again and again. They’ve become part of our story and part of the memories people make inside our cafes.

Beyond everyday dining, we’ve also become a place for community connection. We cater corporate lunches, host bridal showers, baby showers, birthdays, wellness gatherings, and celebrations of all kinds. We love creating spaces where people can gather around beautiful food and meaningful moments.

Seasonality and creativity are also a huge part of who we are. We regularly create seasonal menus inspired by fresh ingredients, holidays, and trends while still staying true to our core values. Over the years, we’ve collaborated with influencers, wellness creators, and local brands who share the same passion for intentional living and healthier lifestyles.

What makes us most proud is that Eat Real Cafe has become more than just a restaurant. It has become a lifestyle brand and a reflection of a growing movement toward wellness, transparency, and conscious living. Every smoothie, coffee, salad, pastry, juice, and meal represents the values we started with 14 years ago — serving our community food that feels good, tastes good, and is made with purpose.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something many people may not know about me is that my journey into the restaurant industry came from one of the hardest seasons of our family’s life.

Before restaurants, my father owned a very successful jewelry business. He had built his career from the ground up through years of hard work and dedication. But everything changed after a traumatic incident where a gang held him at gunpoint during a robbery. After fighting for his life, our family lost everything we had worked for. Overnight, our future looked completely different.

Like many families who experience hardship, we had to figure out how to rebuild quickly. During that time, my mother became the heart of our next chapter. Her passion had always been food, hospitality, and bringing people together. She believed that even during difficult times, food had the power to create comfort, connection, and community.

That passion became the foundation of what would eventually become Eat Real Cafe.

I started working alongside my family when I was just 14 years old. I grew up learning every part of the business — long hours, early mornings, customer service, cleaning, cooking, problem-solving, sacrifice, and resilience. We weren’t handed a blueprint. We learned through survival, determination, and staying together as a family.

Looking back now, I realize that experience became my greatest education. It taught me how to work hard, how to lead, how to care for people, and how to build something meaningful from the ground up. Every challenge shaped who I am today and played a role in the success and heart behind Eat Real.

What started from loss eventually became purpose. Our family rebuilt through food, community, and connection — and that story lives inside every part of our business today.

While those years were incredibly difficult, I truly would not change them for the world. They gave me perspective, gratitude, resilience, and a deep appreciation for what it means to build something with the people you love most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.eatrealcafe.com
• Instagram: @eatrealcafe

Image Credits
Desiree Keoshian & April Konzen Photography