A customer walking out of Health Pack Meals’ Kentlands storefront recently summed it up simply: “It’s like a healthy Chipotle.” That same sentiment has also been shared by readers who tipped off The MoCoShow about the rebrand. The off-the-cuff comparison is exactly what owners Lev and Suzie Meliksetyan hope people take away as they officially rebrand their brick-and-mortar restaurant to Culture Kitchen. For now, the exterior signage still reads “Health Pack Meals” as additional changes continue to roll out. A video of two of their bowls can be seen below.
Health Pack Meals opened its storefront at 340 Main St. in Gaithersburg’s Kentlands neighborhood in spring 2024, but many passersby still thought it was only a meal prep service. While the company itself did start as a meal prep business, the Meliksetyans say the new name better reflects what customers actually experience when they walk inside, a fast-casual restaurant where you can see your food being prepared and build bowls inspired by cuisines from around the world.
The meal prep business was founded in 2018 by Lev Meliksetyan, a Montgomery County personal trainer, with the belief that “healthy eating should be easy, accessible, convenient, and delicious.” That philosophy remains at the core of Culture Kitchen, but the rebrand removes confusion and puts the focus squarely on the in-store experience.
Unlike traditional fast-food spots, Culture Kitchen leans into global flavors while keeping nutrition front and center. The menu pulls from multiple cultures, including Mexican birria, Middle Eastern shawarma, Russian salads, Greek souvlaki, Persian kabobs and stews, and more, all prepared without seed oils.
Lev said one of his biggest frustrations with the crowded meal prep space is that customers often don’t know where or how their food is made. With Culture Kitchen, transparency is the point. Guests can see the ingredients, the preparation, and the portions, similar to the assembly-line style that has made places like Chipotle popular, but with a broader cultural reach and a healthier ingredient philosophy.
The restaurant has also introduced kids bowls priced at $8.95, intentionally undercutting many fast-food prices. Lev said the goal was to make a meal that’s more affordable than McDonald’s while still being something parents feel good about feeding their kids.
There are also a few playful touches that reflect the owners’ personalities. Lev recalls wearing a shirt when he was younger that read, “Yes, guac is extra,” which inspired one of Culture Kitchen’s crowd-pleasing policies…the first scoop of guacamole is free. Their signature bowls are now priced as $14.95.
Lev and Suzie Meliksetyan, both Watkins Mill High School alumni, say the rebrand to Culture Kitchen better captures what they’ve been building all along. a place where healthy food doesn’t feel restrictive, boring, or mysterious.
Culture Kitchen is open at 340 Main St. in Kentlands, offering dine-in (limited space), takeout, and meal prep options under one roof.
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