Love love love this place. Healthy, organic, probiotic vegan food. I'm not supremely educated in the language of vegan cooking, but I know that when I eat here, I feel great afterwards. Staff is pleasant and the community is inspiring. I wish the portions were a bit bigger, but then again, I should realize that these are likely the portions we're supposed to eat. It's places like this that make me have faith in Austin. read more

"Clean" eating has become all the rage, but Casa De Luz has been doing this for decades and they've got it down. This is food without the fad. Each day's meal is a set plate of beans, grains, veggies and nut "cheeses." Serve your own soup, salad, and tea to round out the meal. Everything is vegan, and when you leave your tummy is full but you somehow feel five pounds lighter (#blessup). If you eat this macrobiotic food everyday, you're guaranteed to be healthier. Pricing is reasonable at twelve bucks a meal. The ambiance is calming and pleasant both inside and on the outside patio; this is truly an oasis in the middle of bustling Austin. If you've gorged yourself on ATX's famed tacos and barbecue, get thyself to Casa de Luz for good, simple, healthy food. read more

Healthiest and most delicious food in all of Austin. I love this macrobiotic restaurant, and I am now addicted to it. I go here at least 3-4 times per week. It's inexpensive, it's all organic, it's all vegan, it's all locally sourced, the current menu items are all chosen by Mother Nature, and everything is prepared absolutely DELICIOUSLY! What more could you ask for? Well, actually, I wish they served fresh squeezed vegetable juices as well, but I guess that's what Juiceland is for, which is just 2 blocks away. I also like the plethora of community tables at Casa De Luz, which enables you to make new friends while you eat! You know you're eating good food when you wake up feeling completely energized the next morning, thanks to the good stuff you put in your belly the night before from Casa De Luz. read more

The house of love the minute I walked into said establishment, I half expected Chef from South park to pop out and start singing about making sweet love to some woman. Onto the quickly disappearing virginity of this place How this place works is simple, you pay about 12$ for a token and that gets you two plates worth for macrobiotic food and as much salad and soup as you can stomach. For this growing boy that meant taking full advantage of as much food as humanly possible (I'm still coming for you Adam Richman) The plates I had were served with brown rice, some black beans, broccoli, and some other random veggies. I also got salad and their veggie soup of the night The good: The ambiance of this place at night is out of this world, it might even be the most elegant and peaceful location in all of fine Austin. Their is a long widening garden that is lit up by white Christmas lights and a dimly light dining area that screams simplicity and beauty all wrapped up in a neat package The kale salad and its dressing were having a hot orgy in my mouth. The dressing was swear and tangy and had just the right flavor for these taste buds The soup was quite delicious and had a plethora of good and healthy things floating about in it like carrots and beans. It appealed to my Italian roots as a minestrone impostor but with some varied ingredients The bad The brown rice was horrible, no flavor and it felt like sand paper in my mouth The black beans and broccoli were also fairly poor, wit the only saving grace being the tamari style dressing offering flavor via being submerged submarine style The food gets about a 3 star but the ambiance of this place really kicks it up a notch This might be the perfect place to warm up a date for a night's pending nuptials or at least read a book and relax (just be sure to steal some salad on the way out) Tamari is my friend Gabriel read more

For a true Austin experience, head down to Casa de Luz. It kind of felt like camp for grown ups. People hanging out, playing the lute, sliding their trays across the buffet, and kids playing on the jungle gym. Macrobiotic food may be slightly bland but it's still tasty and you know you're going to feel good in the morning! Prices are great for an enjoyable sit-down meal. My final thought: I wish they had dessert... read more

I ate here with some friends of mine a few years ago. One of my friends had been before and just raved about it. We knew going into it that it was vegan, but it just was mostly uninteresting food. I've had interesting vegan before, so I know it's out there somewhere... just not at Casa De Luz. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and sharing tables with other people, but overall, I left still feeling hungry. And after you pay $14, it's hard to get up the gumption to go back. read more

This is one of the most unique places I've dined at... ever! If you're looking for something different, and want to keep it healthy & homey, definitely go here! Even if you're not wow-ed by the food, you will remember the place and the experience. I was introduced to Casa de Luz by a friend who told me it was a "limited buffet". A slightly misleading term, but when you enter and pay, you get unlimited tea, salad, and soup, and 2 tokens for your main plate(s). 2 plates is PLENTY, and filled with a variety of that day's menu. The menu changes daily, but in general, the items were flavorful and tasty. Lots of veggies, but don't expect your typical vegan/vegetarian fare. Expect to be pleasantly surprised! However, if your palate is accustomed to spice, don't expect that. A majority of the restaurant has long tables, so you may find yourself engaging in lunch/dinner conversation with your neighbors. To escape the crowds of families finding places to eat, I took my family here after my graduation. It was the perfect choice! They're not very adventurous eaters, but thoroughly enjoyed their meals, and we were able to take great pictures outside. You'll feel a little more at peace just by walking along the path to enter the restaurant, and you'll feel nourished and satisfied as you leave. read more

Confession: I usually R-U-N when I see/read/hear the word "vegan" in front of any food. While I've had vegan food that I've enjoyed in the past (most of them I did not know was vegan at the time of consumption), I agreed to go with a friend to check Casa de Luz out for dinner on taco night partly because I wanted to try something new and partly because she swears by these magical vegan tacos. Now I'm not macrobiotic (nor do I know what that means) and I don't really know much about the vegan diet. But what I do know is that I've (unfortunately) always associated veganism with borderline edible, mushy food (which I know is, for the most part, an unfounded stereotype). After paying the $12 at the cashier, my friend and I headed to the salad station, The first thing I noticed was that the salad was literally BATHING in dressing - now I'm no salad connoisseur but to me there's nothing worse than soggy vegetables as the base of your salad. On a brighter note, the dressing tasted good, there was just waaaay too much of it. After finishing our salad, we got our plate of food with 2 tacos, a scoop of rice, some black beans. The tacos themselves were delicious - A lot better than I imagined. Suuuure, I would have loved some barbacoa or some pulled pork in that taco, but the taco by itself was tasty enough that I went back and got a couple more. The rice, however, was over cooked, soggy, and bland. The beans were spot on. Overall, I'd say that the food was hit and miss. Casa De Luz is alright in my books, for $12, this might not be my first choice of places to dine at, but this place screams Austin to me. (I don't mean to offend anyone, but in a way, the communal dining, the cafeteria style service made me feel like I was at a hippie camp.) read more

BEWARE of the parking situation! my sister and I both parked on the street and paid and placed the stickers on our car windshields, as indicated. it was 99 degrees outside, so probably 140 in my parked car, so I both of our stickers fell off onto our floorboards. we both got tickets that we now have to go out of our way to contest. I called casa de Luz just to let them know what was going on. the guy could not have cared less. the food is always good. and I know the ticketing is not their fault so they still get 5 stars. read more

Casa De Luz has to be one of my most favorite places to eat in the world. The atmosphere created there is very supportive, whether you're a vegetarian or not, into macrobiotics or not, all are welcome. To those that think it is too expensive, you may not know but you can get seconds if you're not filled with the first plate and the salad/soup bar. I've volunteered there, working on the bamboo gardens outside and helping to beautify the area and would not have wanted to be anywhere else for my birthday this year, but Casa De Luz. There are no assigned seats, you sit where there is a free spot, and often will strike up a good conversation with strangers. I wish they had more selection for things to drink, as it seems to be only tea, but that is a small thing. Anywhere else, bitching about the price of the meal might be accepted, but this is food for the soul; it's healthy and tastes good. You go cheap, buy some Mc Donald's or something, and your body pays the price later. For the hardcore carnivores, perhaps, if you cannot open your perception and diversify your taste buds, maybe Casa De Luz might not be for you. And Steve O., I've never seen what you're talking about, with Chakra balancing, at Casa De Luz, but I can understand why that might put you off a little. Sometimes people trying to be new age get into "acting" a little too much and there might be a bit of that there. But i've been going for years and never had one negative experience there...so their track record is pretty damn good with me. Onward through the fog... read more

We ended up at Casa de Luz at the tail end of Thanksgiving weekend in TX. We'd been eating a bunch of TexMex (Curra's!) and some not-so-great food up in Waco and decided we needed a detox of good, healthy food. Unfortunately, I just don't understand how this place rates so many rave reviews... First off, the space is wonderful. It was a warm evening and the grounds were lovely. We sat outside with our kids and were thrilled to see that there is a playground right next to the restaurant. Apparently, everyone else in Austin knows this bc the playground was full of kids that were also dining at Casa de Luz. Now to the food. It was just ... meh. Nothing bad, nothing remotely amazing. It was good, but just so-so good. To be honest, it tasted like the food that I routinely cook at home. We had a decent salad with an serviceable dressing, a thin, broth-like split pea soup to start. Both were just ok. The entree was rice, sauteed collards and kale, butternut squash, cranberry sauce. Nothing stood out, nothing was amazingly flavored. It was just.... kind of boring. Totally disappointed. Wish I had gone for another gut-buster meal at Curra's or Magnolia before heading back to NYC... read more

Every time I eat at Casa de Luz, I get this yearning, eat faster, it-tastes-so-good, give-it-to-me-now kind of feeling. My stomach and my soul want me to figure out how I can consume the food faster than my mouth can chew. But let me just remind you that what I'm lusting after here is ... brown rice and kale!?!!? Macrobiotic, vegan and gluten free is not my everyday style of eating, but occasionally swing that way. If I weren't so in love with pork barbeque the transition to all Casa-de-Luz all the time would be a lot easier, but that's another conversation for another day. Today, I'm talking about miso soup, salad with carrots, radishes, and cabbage, squash, black beans, pickled beets (methinks) and drumroll please ... brown rice that has some kind of magical flavor. For eleven little dollars you could buy one bad-for-you-cocktail at a fancy bar or you could take the high road and have Sunday dinner at Casa de Luz. I am under the distinct impression that if you want to achieve nirvana, be a better person, or at least feel like one, then Casa de Luz is where you should be eating. So put down that cocktail, wipe the barbeque sauce off of your face, and have some brown rice. read more

Decent vegan food, but does not deserve its current #11 ranking on Yelp's Austin restaurant list! Disclaimer: I am not a vegan. I prefer my meals to have some meat content. However, I appreciate all good-tasting food and feel like I judge most restaurants very fairly. To correlate my review of this place, the one vegan place I really enjoy in town is Mr Natural. I have been to Casa de Luz several times for lunch with coworkers and just feel that it is so-so. It is expensive for lunch ($12+?) and I found about half of the dishes to be simply unappetizing. Granted I have a non-macrobiotic palate, but just found that quite a bit of stuff tasted like soggy amoeba. Surprisingly, many of the dishes are quite bland despite seemingly having a complex set of ingredients. So from a non-vegan, non-macrobiotic perspective, I would just say tread with caution. There are some dishes that are well put together and taste good but you'll have to do some digging. read more

I don't think that playground is open to all. My two girls were run off. Please put up signs so you don't disappoint our kids. My girls said that some man, a teacher, told them to leave, and it was a Friday afternoon. Isn't your school closed then? Nobody here was friendly, not a smile in the place. I paid quite a bit for each of their plates, and mine, and y'all were just a bunch of sour looking grumpalumps who really didn't want us there. We're polite, well-dressed, and well-mannered. I'd hoped to enjoy this place, and had really looked forward to coming here. Left for slightly less than $50 for two kids, myself, three meals, two desserts, a parked car, and no playground. No way. read more

Yep, the food is healthy and organic - and that's a huge reason to eat here. The atmosphere is peaceful. But the overall experience was too much of what I usually wish for. It was overkill. Restaurant food is usually too salty and fatty for me. This food all tasted pretty bland and boring. I think I'd have to be really starving when I showed up for this meal to be satisfying. Restaurant environments are usually too loud, dirty, and cold. Well this place is very nice, but it was actually too hot and stuffy for me. And too peaceful. The peaceful meditatey music made me want to run screaming to the nearest whiskey bar. read more

Yummy, healthy food, served family style. I rarely get to eat this well when I travel. It's fresh, simply-prepared food that appears seasonal and somewhat local. I think it's very organic. They even had sweets that I could (sort-of) eat: Agave-sweetened this, rice sweetened that. 99% of the time, there's no desert that I can eat, so it's truly a thrill to find a place that offers a morsel or two of a simple dessert. If it were closer to where I'm staying, I would eat there every night for a week, the probably go back for another week. It's that good. read more

Casa de luz...how strange is this place. It's the hippy epicenter for Austin, complete with yoga classes, a macrobiotic restaurant, a culinary school and plenty of foliage. When my friend first told me about this place, I wondered how in the heck she found it. But boy, am I glad she did. First, a little terminology. This restaurant is a Vegan Macrobiotic restaurant. What does that mean? Well, vegan means no animal products. So no dairy, no honey, no meat. Macrobiotic is a little more difficult to define, but it mainly means eating with the seasons, eating more simply and eating a very balanced plate. The dinner plates here typically contain beans, greens, grains, salad and some sort of fermented pickle. The plate isn't going to have lots of sauce and decoration, but will be tasty and is designed to nourish the body, mind & soul. The dinner plates are $12 apiece, you bus your own table and you will have the most interesting random conversations with people there. If you're going, I highly recommend sitting at one of the long family-style tables and just talking to the people there. I hear good things about the weekend brunch, so I'll have to check that out. read more

Can't believe I just went here for the first time - finally! This is the most beautiful, romantic space. When you walk in through bamboo, vines, twinkling lights, it's hard not to relax. Then you enter the building (straight back) and the host welcomes you and explains how it works. There is one meal served to everyone each night. You can add on your own choice of desserts, and there are a few beverage options, but everyone gets the same salad, soup and vegetarian entree, which is really 4-5 small things. All vegetarian, and all delicious. It's $12 for a very filling and healthy meal full of macrobiotics and fresh-raised veggies. I don't remember much about the salad, but the soup was a simple potato and other root veggie soup with a mild, herbal flavor. The main dish was a vegetable taco, pickled veggies, beans, and I forget what else. It was well seasoned, but as Kelly pointed out, not very salty. I have accustomed my tongue to less salt, so it was great for me. I just loved walking out feel very satisfied without feeling dirty, if you know what I mean. I ate every delicious bite. Casa De Luz also hosts events like Thai massage (Thursdays), group meditation (Fridays), which I've been meaning to check out. It is really a sanctuary-like space, so I overheard a lot of bits of deep conversations just at dinner, while I refilled my tea. Great place to look for peace - if just for 15 minutes. Be warned - it closes early! read more

Casa De Luz isn't so much a restaurant, as the warm peaceful retreat where vegan food is served. I have been coming back here again and again so some time. The combination of tasty food, and wonderfully caring individuals makes it a favorite for date night or any time where you might want to eat in the presence of a warm energy. Keep up the good work! read more

There are not enough kind words in the world to describe this place. In fact, I have avoided checking in here because I want to keep this place a secret! It's a hidden gem off lamar and Barton Springs area, next to the Zach theater workshop. They serve a macro and micro balanced diet that is strictly vegetarian (mostly vegan) and gluten free. But don't let that deter you from thinking it has no flavor. I've been eating here at least once a week for months and still have no idea how everything has such a savory, yet subtle flavor! There are large community style tables throughout that encourage people that don't know each other to sit together and exchange ideas. When you enter you'll pay at the front register and then go and get your drink (choice of hibiscus tea, regular tea, purified water or twig tea), your salad and soup. Then, one of the kitchen staff will bring you the rest of your meal. They have great timing and it's usually just before you finish your soup and salad. Everything that is served is structured to give your body optimal nutrients. If you decide you're a little extra hungry one day, you can get a second helping of soup or salad for just another $2. Or grab one of their amazing desserts (mostly vegan and totally gluten free). They are not included in your meal, but are well worth the extra bit if you have a sweet tooth like me :) As I'm sure you've seen in other people's reviews, everything is completely organic. But something few know is that they welcome volunteers to help either in the morning for breakfast or in the afternoon for lunch. And it's more than just a place to eat. - They are attached to a school that teaches kids how-to and the importance of a well-balanced diet. They also provide a space for many local community groups and functions. So if you ever want to learn more about spiritual chakras, stress management techniques, holistic approaches or many other natural ways of dealing with life, this is your place. My only fear about this place is that it will become too popular! read more

Casa De Luz is such a nice break from all the BBQ places in Austin. Plus it's a pretty damn good deal for organic vegan eating. You get all you can eat soups and salad and their main course is hearty and authentic. It feels a bit yuppie, and prestigious but the food is INCREDIBLE. I totally recommend this place if you're a looking a for a fresh meal. read more

Wow! That's all I thought when I saw CDL - for the congested street to the serenity of this place. We went here for Sunday Brunch and it was wonderful. The pretty zen lady at the counter, Rita, was super nice and gave me a brief guide about the CDL. Everything is self-serve and it is super convenient since it is all laid out. The food was interesting, I did not think it was bland but the SO did. I like the gomasio on the table, cauliflower soup, spicy green sauce, twig tea and the other items there. The place filled up pretty quick and it was great to people watch. It is very peaceful here, I would definitely go again. :D read more

A super calming place to go and chill - they also happen to serve a balanced vegan meal for $12, which may be pricey for some, but sometimes you just have to pay more to get high quality food. When we went, they had a delicious summer squash soup, house salad, and a mixed plate of spinach with house made tahini sauce, brown rice, and a gordita with blanched veggies, beans, and guac. The tea they serve is delicious as well. Totally recommend coming here every once in awhile as I believe they repeat some of the core items on the menu weekly. read more

We went here twice in our stop over in Austin partly because it was healthy and not greasy and secondly because we knew what to expect. After a terribly disappointing experience at Mother's Cafe, we were not going to be going back there. I like that you don't have to wait to eat here, so if you're starving, you're good to go. Their dark tea is really delicious, some kind of branches or something I don't remember, it was good. The food is not bad, the soup and salad is usually better and the entree is kind of slapped together and doesn't always compliment. My only complaint is the portion size, it's pretty pricey when you're still hungry because they skimp on the rice. I think you should be allowed to get more rice or serve more than a few tablespoons of it. It's not that expensive, it's rice... I would come back here when I was sick of the other vegetarian restaurants. I wish I had found the best place to go, but I didn't. I think Austin has a weird perception of vegan food, things tend to be pretty bland and people think it's amazing lol. And what's up with the parking? Don't tell me they expect you to NOT park in the private park parking across the street when there is no street parking available. Everyone does this, they need to offer parking. read more

This is my new favorite place! I vowed to start eating healthier in 2013, like every other person on the plant, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn about this place. I had no idea it existed even though the Barton Springs area is my hood & they're going to be seeing a lot of me this year. Let's start with the food, I always go during lunch and you usually get a soup, salad and an entree for $12. If you're expecting something super fancy, this probably isn't the place for you. It kind of reminds me of a school cafeteria but the food is clean and healthy so what more do you need right? read more

Casa de Luz is the best place to find delicious macrobiotic food in the city! Nestled in the back of a Montessori school, one might not even notice that there is a restaurant there! The walk from your car to Casa de Luz is memorable -- tall bamboo lines the walkway, and at night, there are strings of lights that just add to the ambiance. You go in, pay for your meal (the meal is a fixed meal for the day), grab a token, then check out the food. It's a cafeteria style eatery for your salad, soup, and drink. After a few minutes, they will bring you out your main meal, which you will give them your token. The food never fails to impress! It's delicious! I always find myself getting a second bowl of whatever soup they are making. The tea is also so good (I believe it is a rooibos peppermint). For those uncertain about macrobiotic food, or hesitant about alternative restaurants, Casa de Luz might not be something you're 100% comfortable with. However, give it a try! The food is wonderful, and you might like it more because you know it's good for you too! read more

I am not macrobiotic but I would eat here for every single meal if I could afford it and lived nearby. As it is I have to settle for lunch about once a month. But I feel so *nourished* by that meal-- body & soul. It is different than most places. First of all, you don't order off of a menu. You have what they are serving (which is listed on their website if you must know in advance). But you don't have to worry about that because it is always delicious. I have never had a bad meal there. The tables are large and meant to seat multiple parties. I am shy and was nervous about where to sit at first, but after a few visits I became quite comfortable sharing tables. You grab your salad, soup, silverware, & drink (water and hot or cold tea) and then sit down to enjoy those. The staff will bring you a plate of food a bit later. You may go up for seconds if you like (I am always stuffed after one plate but my husband nearly always opts for seconds). You bus your own dishes at the end. The food is really so incredible and special and delicious. I am vegan and super healthy so maybe it is expected I would love it. But my husband really loves pub food and eats out at bars a couple of times a week for poker tournaments and he also will never turn down a meal at Casa. As for kids, you have to know your own kid to decide if it would work. There is no special kid meal. The food probably looks different than what they are used to. But if they like beans, rice, greens, & soups and they are a little adventurous they will probably enjoy it. I wish it cost less. Not that I feel they overcharge-- the quality of the ingredients is obvious, not to mention the care of the preparation and the peaceful urban space they have created-- but it is beyond my budget to eat there as often as I would like. read more

This was my first time to Casa de Luz. I hadn't heard much about it so I didn't know what to expect but I was so excited with my experience!! You pay $12 (no tipping) for unlimited soup and salad and then a plate of food. It's all vegan and natural and fresh. The environment of the restaurant is so peaceful and calm. No loud music, no big distractions. It's just such a lovely place to be. Everything TASTES fresh and delicious and healthy. The soup when I went was a vegetable soup which you could tell was low sodium and fresh and made me feel so healthy. The salad was just a simple mixed greens salad but had the most incredible creamy balsamic-y dressing. No idea what it was but it was SO GOOD! For the main meal a plate came out with a fresh home made corn tortilla filled with grilled veggies and fresh avocado. Brown rice and black beans with some sort of cashew-cheese like topping (so amazing) and some pickled beets and wilted kale (may have been another dark leafy green). The point is it was all so amazing and delicious I ate it in one fell swoop. The unsweetened caffeine free teas are also included in the price of your meal. The only thing that is extra are the desserts which I did not try but look amazing and are all vegan. Ok I used the word amazing and delicious but seriously - it is! I can't wait to go back SOON! read more

YAY! Sunday brunch is back and PANCAKES! This place is just good for the soul. I will say most of the time it gets a bit monotonous with their dishes. They have a specific goal to heal the soul so if you want creativity... Thursday, Friday evenings and Sunday brunch I think are the best times to go. They have the most creative dished those days. Like I said, this place is geared to heal the soul ~ expect to bus you own dishes ~ Yo mama don't work here. :) Pick up after yourself. LOL It's community seating ~ first come first serve so have a seat and be prepared for interesting conversation sometimes way far out there! Hope you enjoy! OK overview~ read more

This place makes me want to cry in the most beautiful way. From the plant caressed walkways, to the delicious vegan, macrobiotic cuisine, this restaurant (which is really more of a zen oasis) stole my heart and hid it away. The staff is soft-spoken and helpful. The food is cafeteria style, which somehow adds to the genuine coziness of Casa de Luz. I honestly have been thinking about this place from the moment I left, and I can't wait to take a trip back into Austin to visit again. read more

Casa De Luz is one of the most unique restaurants I've found around here. Before entering the restaurant, you walk through a beautiful garden area that has a couple small ponds, tables and chairs, and twinkle lights. It's soooo calm and relaxing. I wish it was my own patio. We went on a Tuesday night when they served tamales, mixed veggies, a garden salad and cauliflower soup. Everything (with the exception of the veggies which were kinda bland) was pretty flavorful for being vegan. I think the best part about it was that I left feeling just the right amount of "full," without feeling like I'd eaten way too much. But if you feel so inclined, you CAN get vegan desserts, which looked really really good. PS - the full meal is $12 (including tea) but you can choose a soup and salad or a couple parts of the entree if you don't want a full meal - and pay a little bit less. read more

This might be one of the only actual healthy, 100% organic restaurants in town. I always feel amazing after I eat here and I always get enough to eat. Here's the process: 1. Pay the cute girl or guy that's manning the register. Get your token. 2. Help yourself to fresh salad (with delicious casa dressing!!), soup and Kukicha tea. 3. Begin consuming these items and display your token. 4. A casa employee brings you your main course (usually 4-5 things) 5. Go back for SECONDS!! 6. Clean your space, return the dishes and resume your life back in the "outside world". Casa is one of the most unique and most healthy restaurants in town. I remember one year at ACL the lead singer from some band was up on stage praising them. It's really a must-visit place in Austin. read more

Having been here many more times since my first experience, I'll say that it's grown on me a great deal. The food is more flavorful and seems to be better thought-out in terms of pairings of courses. It also feels a lot looser than it did when I first visited 5 years ago (as in less uptight). Could be because the price has gone up so they can afford a bit more variety & options. And they got rid of the process of paying for the wooden token, which you then gave to a person 5 feet away from where you bought it. Although now I kind of miss it. It gave this place a litle dystopian nudge in an otherwise hey-wow-dude utopian environment. read more

Ommmmm...This is the first word that came to my mind when i stepped into Casa De Luz.The place is filled with creepers and other trees with small wooden cottage like places .There are about 4 to 5 small cottages and each one of them is used for cooking or yoga classes. And as you walk inside through the green and the pebbled foot path you would see a pretty courtyard and a small playground;to keep the noisy kids away ,while the parents meditate? As i walk into the restaurant i feel extremely calm and the place was filled with people who were wearing lose shirts and looked very calm and were happy eating their soup and veggies and discussing yoga and Indian art.This place has a buffet system and you have to pay 14$ and they served mixed vegetables,spelt pancakes,kale salad with tahini and 3 different types of tea. with the calming off white roof ceiling and light old fashioned round tables,and the huge windows calmed every nerve in my body.For once,i could just sit there and eat and i decided not to read my book but to just sit and look around.They have a tiny shop for health foods and cooking books.People here are very friendly and attentive,I really wish they had a hotel here.I would have loved to stay in this Ashram like place close to Barton springs. Casa De Luz - is a warm cup of tea.Dive into it to feel bliss! :) -Smriti read more

Casa De Luz was good- not knock my socks off good, but organ-grinding, chi-heating, colon-cleansing good. When we left, we all felt like we had eaten a big meal- yet not a "big meal". We felt satiated but not stuffed. The wooden ticket deal is more than a little odd (if you have unlimited refills whats the point in only one coin) but the food was surprisingly good. I'm a meat-eater so I kept my expectations low, and there were a few things I really loved. The pinto beans with mint were great, the mushroom soup with (I think) barley was good, the potato (I think it was potato) was interesting, if oddly topped with sesame seeds. The desserts were just ok and left me longing for a little more sugar. All in all, I felt satisifed and felt that I'd gotten what I'd paid for. My only complaint is that the staff started cleaning our table, which from what I read you should bus your own table, so that was a rather akward way to say "we're closed". Still, very good and I'll be back, if only to keep my organs happy, pretty regularly. read more

Casa is a cute little community tucked away near Lamar and Barton Springs. The menu changes daily, so you'll never get bored. You pay at the counter and they give you little coins. You can place the coins at your table and they will bring you the meal, or you can hand them to the person behind the counter and get your meal there. While you're waiting, you can help yourself to the soup and salad of the day. They brought out our food and it was really tasty, and COLORFUL! You can even get a second serving! Dessert is separate, and they had a lot of options. It was hard to choose! I can't wait to go back again. I would really love to go daily! The concept is wonderful, the people were friendly, the food was light and refreshing. Definitely a WINNER! read more

I am so grateful to have a place like this in Austin. Everyone here is SO nice, the food is very healthy and well-prepared, and the energy that fills the atmosphere just zens you out of your hectic city schedule. Love it. Thank you. read more

Flat rate for soup, salad, and meal. Friendly atmosphere, inviting. Vegan, organic and clean eating. A lot of food for what you pay for. Kid friendly. read more

Casa De Luz - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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If you want to feel like a MILLION dollars, try eating here for a week. You'll be broke and homeless, but you'll look good doing it. Everything is served "Cafeteria" style, and is Macrobiotic, which can be an acquired taste, but it's well done. Very creative healthy desert options, and the portions are perfectly sized IMO. The vibe is very "community" based, and warm, and the outdoor gardens have amazing healing qualities. Lots of hippies, healers, and adult flower children. And me. A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for! read more

First off, I haven't been there in over six months so this might be out of date. But I'm backfilling my Austin Vegan Yelp Adventure Logbook so, with that in mind, read on: Pros: 1. Vegan food! +3 stars. 2. BEAUTIFUL entrance! I love the walkway. 3. Cool local business support - lots of info and classes. 4. Books! (At least last time I was there, months ago) Cons: 1. Awkward service. Unexplained rules. Used to be, you got a wooden coin in exchange for your $13, then you handed the coin back when someone noticed you sitting there and brought you a plate of food. But now it's, I think, you just pay at the door and then gorge yourself despite the scowls from your fellow eaters. 2. The hours used to be really weird. We made it a joke that we'd drive by Casa de Luz just to see if it was open during that 15 minute segment. Maybe it's better now. 3. Stinky restaurant goers. Okay, I get you're conserving water or whatever by not bathing, but it's really hard to eat next to people when you're smelling their ripe BO. 4. Dessert is extra. 5. Staff is all volunteer? And lunch is still $13? read more