I met a group of people (new friends) for a lunch at Casa de Luz East this past weekend. I wasn't even aware this location existed until recently! They had outside tables and inside (thankfully b/c it's hot outside right now!) so we sat inside. I've been to the original Casa De Luz a few times but was not sure what to expect. They have various rooms to with businesses renting it looked like. They had a guy giving people a sewing lesson outside. They had a nice coffee shop next to the restaurant area. There were 7 of us total and we ordered the fixed menu plate for the day which was more than enough food and drinks for $16. I also learned they have a smaller/kid portion that I will have to get next time because I don't like wasting food. Everything was so tasty and healthy! I was lucky to find parking in their side lot but also saw many parked on the street. If there is a big event there, it may not be as easy to get parking so plan ahead! I look forward to going to this location again! read more

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First, the place itself is a little hard to find. Once you park you will walk through a corridor/hallway to a courtyard, and it's through a door to the side of the courtyard, near a coffee shop pick up window in the same courtyard . Second, When you walk in the door marked "entrance" you'll see a receptionist desk at the end in front of a food area. You go there first and pay for a daily pre-set meal (which is $16 for normal days and $18 something for "special" days, but check their website for price changes), which can vary day-to-day according to their website. However, you should go to the dessert case first and determine if you want dessert and bring it up and pay at the same time as your meal, or else you'll have to go back for a second transaction like we did once we realized the dessert case was separate from the initial meal payment (desserts were six dollars each in the case). We noticed as more people came in, it was difficult for people to go up to get drinks or silverware or an extra cloth napkin because the line for food was blocking it. It didn't seem like a very efficient ordering or pickup process . Lastly, once you get your meal, pick a table and eat. There are mostly large tables so you may be sharing with others to get a seat. It looks like it was also OK to eat out in the courtyard. When you're finished with your meal, there is a counter that is a little hard to spot that you're supposed to bus your dishes to. There is a compost garbage can for you to put uneaten food in, a basket to put your cloth napkins in, a place for your trays, and then separate areas for silverware, plates, bowls, and glasses. It's a little hard to figure out, but if you watch some other people do it, you'll get it. When we were there, it happened to be their "Mother's Day brunch", so I guess the process was a little different than the usual day, and it sounded like the food offerings were also a little bit different than usual too. On a standard day, according to their website, your meal includes a cold beverage, hot beverage, a bowl of soup, and then a plate of their daily offerings, which will always include leafy greens, beans/legumes, grains, and pickled vegetables. We'd like to come back on a standard day if we're ever in the area again. Even though the day we went was different than usual, we still thought it was a good meal. We were able to get a plate full of really wholesome food that didn't feel like it had been cooked in a lot of grease/oil or salt, which can be hard to find when you go out to eat even at "healthy" places. We appreciate the offering of healthy food for vegans, vegetarians, and lactose intolerants! The special Mother's Day carrot pancakes were real miss though, they were so gummy and undercooked inside neither of us ate them. The soup that day was pretty mid, I felt bad that i didn't eat mine because it was so bland. There was nothing to add to the hot coffee (like a dairy free milk or sweetener) and it was so strong I couldn't drink it without something to cut it with. However the hot kukicha tea, the mint- hibiscus iced tea, and the Brazilian lemonade were all fantastic. Other than that, the drinks were delicious, the dessert was a really nice pallet cleanser at the end of our meal, and we enjoyed our healthy plate of plant based offerings ! read more

Casa de Luz East - Flan - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The best food I've had in Austin. If you're looking for REAL and clean food don't hesitate. The staff is wonderful and the ambiance is amazing. I'm new to Austin but have been looking for an organic place. I no longer have to look. read more

Vegan macrobiotic meals are not my go-to, but when I found out this location also delivers on flavor and seasoning, I had to try it. $16 got me pre-fixed meal of vegetable soup (a tad bland), vegetable lasagna, white beans with black rice, and a delicious green salad, with hibiscus mint tea. Y'all, it was DELICIOUS and FILLING. I was there early, so there were only a few patrons and no line. Service was quick and they explained the set up quite nicely. The cafe is simple and very community minded with large tables, and a lovely courtyard. I work nights at the nearby Moody Center, so this will become my new go-to for dinner before my shif read more

I have eaten at another Casa de Luz location and I had an entirely different experience. This place is hard to navigate in a plethora of ways: parking, finding the dining area, discovering where to pay and what the logistics are with a dessert fridge that doesn't appear until you pay, uncomfortable seating, and a severe lack of lighting. Yes, two of the 6 dishes were edible but the others were randomly sweet or had bizarre spice combinations. I wanted to try a piece of pecan pie but I had no idea about the logistics behind it. The teas were delicious but mixed flavors I've never heard of. My cloth napkin felt used and my cutlery was not too clean. Lastly, I have IBS and this place is known to cater towards folks like me. However, I felt ill 20-30 minutes after eating. The cashier was friendly but only asked, "have you been here before?" And she wasn't helpful at all. Maybe I need to give it a second go...I'm not sure. It is awfully close to my apartment and, for the price, the portions are pretty big. Get ready for lentils, kale, chickpeas, and a whole bunch of things you've never eaten before! read more

Casa de luz was alright, it didn't blow my mind but it's a nice concept! I came with a friend who recommended it that really likes the food - it's "cafeteria" style, they serve you on a tray and it's all vegan so lots of veg and beans for protein. They have some tables inside and more out in the courtyard, which is a nice area. My understanding is this is a nonprofit and the money goes toward the community and folks who work there. That was the vibe I got as well. There was plenty of parking out front, and the bathrooms were sufficiently clean. Overall - this is a very no frills, vegan meal that supports the community (I think); to me the taste wasn't anything special but it wasn't bad either. I wouldn't come again unless a friend wanted to or some kind of event was going on just given it's far from where I live and I think there are many superior vegan food options, but it's nice that it exists :) read more

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Thanksgiving came early! I was lucky enough to enjoy a full holiday meal in advance, and they never disappoint with their variety. The fall squash soup was the standout for me, but they didn't forget the classics--green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes. I appreciate that they offer a "pay what you can system." It's a cafeteria style setup and you bus your own tables. There's a process to follow, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy. The parking lot is usually full when I go, so be prepared to park on the neighborhood streets. If you're looking for a unique plant based experience, definitely check this place out! read more

Casa de Luz East - Thanksgiving meal 11/21/25 - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm not vegan, but I am happy my vegan ex introduced me the original Casa de Luz. You feel like you're feeding your body just the healthiest food possible, and it tastes pretty good! Now I have Casa de Luz East walking distance from my house, and I occasionally grab a bag from TooGoodToGo. Cool vibe in the spot as well though I always take to go. read more

I am so glad this location opened in East Austin! I'm grateful for a place to go in the area for a healthy affordable meal. The staff are wonderful, easy parking, great desserts too! Thank you! read more

A great new location at the southwest corner Poquito and MLK. The parking adjacent to the building on Poquito has a high-grade slope, so be wary of scraping your car against the road. If your vehicle has low clearance it may be advisable to street park instead. Entrance to Casa de Luz East is located on the park next to MLK. It's a pay first, then go pick up your meal type situation. When you enter, there should be a host/hostess at the front. If there are not there, wait for them to come back. Don't be like me wondering around inside wondering about whether it is pay then eat, or eat then pay. Desserts are extra. The interior is bright and airy; seating is at wooden tables on wooden chairs. Bathrooms are located in the hallway behind the front desk, behind a display case. The kitchen itself is open. It's a little unclear what the exact procedure is, but it seems after you pay, you go to pick up a plate of food. Metal utensils (spoons, forks) are located on the side between the dessert fridge and beverage station. Linen napkins are folded and located in a box next to the utensils. Glass cups and ceramic mugs are located in the shelf below the utensils. They have two cold beverages and one hot. Once you finish eating, return your trays at the window. Napkins go in the wooden bin. Beverages: Lemongrass Rooibos, Hibiscus Mint, and Kuchika Tea, all of which are very smooth and refreshing. Food: The food was simple and filling. I enjoyed the soup the most. The plate of veggies was a mixed bag. Beans were seasoned reasonably well and were cooked to a firmer consistency. The beans could be made to taste more scrumptious, perhaps with mixing in a different bean type. The mixed veggies of broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, and zucchini were lightly seasoned, but the seasoning was not evenly distributed. I found those to be underwhelming. The rice in the middle was cooked to a lightly chewy consistency. They also had a more fragrant version of rice containing what seemed to be akin to wild rice which I found to have a more appealing floral taste. The green salad was green salad. The red cabbage was very bright and noticeable. The kale, when eaten with the scoop of stuff on top, was enjoyable. We were trying to identify what exactly was in that scoop. It seemed to contain some vinegar and type of seed or nut mixed with some kind of bean paste. It was delicious. Overall: Very clean, refreshing food. Wonderful beverages, comfortable ambiance. They have room for amping up the flavor profile of their veggies by playing with how they season their food. read more

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I love this place for a quick, hearty, affordable vegan meal! For $15 you get an entree, soup, salad, some sides and a drink! They also have vegan desserts for additional purchase. Their drink selection is warm or cold teas, water and some additional drinks in their fridge for purchase. There is tons of seating inside, with small and large tables, good for groups. The staff were kind and helpful. You pay at the front and then the kitchen starts making your plate that you pick up from them. They also have a place for dirty dishes once you are finished. Everyday is a fixed menu, so everyone receives the same plate. You can call ahead to ask what the menu is if you're curious. I also love the complex it is in with great neighboring businesses like a yoga studio, sauna/cold plunge place, juice store and a plant store. read more

Casa de Luz East - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Great atmosphere, quiet, good for a date or special dinner; amazing plant based food which is a set menu per day but it's always amazing, including the soup and salad. The greens and dressing on them is always my favorite part though. They also have a variety of desserts that are made with healthy natural ingredients. read more

If you already know about Casa de Luz, Here is the bottom line: Casa de Luz East is identical to Casa de Luz Original but somewhat less charming. Since the original Casa de Luz is a magical place in a one of a kind location - Any Casa de Luz 2, 3, 4 or 28 will not be able to fully capture the beauty and spiritual peace of the mother shrine. But Casa de Luz East does not do badly at being "Temple Number Two". * * * For people unfamiliar with the Casa de Luz concept: Take an inexpensive macrobiotic inspired restaurant and turn it into a spiritual center. Put it in a courtyard with doors and stairways to meditation centers, health supply centers and other organic spiritual businesses. Have classrooms for instruction and activities. Artwork, beautiful gardens and peaceful outdoor spaces for reflection and spiritual practice abound. The very entry into the courtyard is peaceful and magical with nooks and crannies as you pass leading to wonderful spaces. At the heart of it all is a vegetarian restaurant. No menu. What they are serving today is what you get. A vegan soup. (Once wonderful, now not quite so wonderful) A scoop of grain. Pickled vegetables (a macrobiotic staple for good digestion). Some vegan entree. Salad. Cooked greens. Spring water or herbal teas to drink. Vegan desserts if you insist for extra. Generally vegan desserts to be avoided. Goma and tamari on the table for condiments. A good strategy for Casa de Luz food is to put goma on everything and to leave the tamari alone. The vegetarian eating was frankly mediocre, always has been mediocre and always will be mediocre. But the magic of the room transformed your humble fare into a destination experience. And the food is unquestionably good for you. My wife goes there to heal and to stay healthy ... and it is like exposing a plant to sunshine or to the purest rain. I am generally fairly happy when I leave a Casa de Luz because I have been well fed. The body is somehow in balance even if I did not get the greatest taste sensations that Austin restaurants have to offer. * * * When stayed the same and what changed when Casa de Luz opened its East Side satellite? The concept remained the same. The building has a courtyard, there are all sorts of supporting endeavors around the restaurant ... and there is clearly space for increasing the density of healthy spiritual partner enterprises. The building was an East Side apartment building and some of the original residents still live there. There is no greater graphic representation of gentrification imaginable than the slow removal of original residents from the Casa de Luz East apartment building. I am hoping this is being handled humanely and with respect for good outcomes for the original residents. But I have no information positive or negative that speaks to this question. The Casa de Luz people are good people so I am cautiously optimistic on this point. The courtyard and building are not as magical as that at the original Casa de Luz ... but this could change over time. Casa de Luz East is a work in progress and it may evolve in just wonderful ways as time passes. The food is exactly the same as at Casa de Luz Original. No better. No worse. Just as healthy. * * * Overall, Casa de Luz East is a good place. Let us hope that over time all of the original residents are treated fairly and well. Let us hope that the space fills up with the sort of magical enterprises that made the Original Casa de Luz the legendary institution that it is. There is a lot of potential here. And for healing your body with food, Casa de Luz II is where it needs to be right now. The world is becoming better one pickled vegetable at a time. read more

I love the original Casa de Luz. I was also very excited to try the East location since it's closer. I was very disappointed. There is absolutely no parking. It's a weird location, but I overlooked all of that. Food was good but somehow not as great as the other location. Now for my 2 Star rating: atmosphere absolutely sucked! Original location feels spiritual and you feel like your soul is being rejuvenated as you eat in peace. I spend an hour eating while hearing a young gentleman (I'm assuming he is owner/part owner) talk about all he was going to do to the place to bring in "the influencers." I get you want business, but I've always felt the name "Casa de Luz" meant something more than packing in a ton of people. Sorry dude, I'll stick to going to the original place. read more

I'm delighted to have discovered Casa de Luz East. Chef Gabby cooks what's in season and repeats favorites. Every plate is beatuifully served up with a generous sample of every dish of the day. You don't need to decide what to order. Chef Gabby doesn't cook to order, she cooks to perfection. I'm full after cleaning my plate. Yet I like to buy a dessert to go to enjoy for my evening meal. read more

I can't say enough how lucky we are to have Casa de Luz. While, I love the original location like no other, the ease of parking and traffic means I'll be coming to this new east side location a lot more often. I was pleasantly surprised at how much it retains the melancholic, peaceful vibes of the original location and I'm so grateful that as we've lost a lot of plant based restaurants to covid, we have a new star to make up for some of it. The Food: I think $15.60 for this portion size was very reasonable and it seems like a bigger amount than I'm used to even for dinner at the Barton Springs location. Of course, I'd love to see the menu online, but if they removed that to save money and keep their ability to be profitable at both locations, that's a small price to pay. My one qualm, is I kind of wanted to know what I was actually eating when I was being served. They had a cold, green soup that I can't really figure it if it was mixed with avocado or what and I like to know what I'm eating. But again, if it costs too much and they want to be able to change the menu if something goes out of stock during that day, I can get over not knowing. Thanks for all you've done over the years. read more

Casa de Luz East - Lunch - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This is my favorite restaurant. I love that veggies are the main event for every meal. I feel so good coming here.

Food is quite tasty and they are so nice here. I love the music and general vibe. Very similar to the original! read more

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As a vegetarian who aspires to be vegan, I love that this place is near my job. It's quick, I don't have to worry about what to order, it's a thoughtfully-planned and well-rounded meal, it's cheap for a big lunch in 2025, and I always get ideas for more vegan dishes. It would be great if they'd post a menu of the day or something becuase often there's something new that I'd like to try to recreate or try other types of but I don't know what it is. But regardless, it's an easy no-stress lunch that doesn't make my energy crater in the middle of the afternoon. Parking is easier here than the original also. I dropped a star though because of an incident I saw there recently that makes me wonder about their staff and/or policies. A woman was there with a very fluffy dog, and it was right after that "cold" front came through recently so the days had been relatively temperate but then it suddenly got hot again. The dog was clearly overheated, and she used one of the restaurant's mugs, a particularly bowl-shaped one, to pour some water and let it drink. To be clear, the mugs are a miscellaenous collection that were clearly donated or thrifted (I assume this is part of the sustainability initiative, because why have new mugs manufactured when functional ones already exist), so this is not a matched set of expensive crockery. No damage was done to the mug. And yet, I heard one of the employees tell her not to use their mugs to let her dog drink anymore, and I still can't believe it. In what world does that hurt the mug? Most places that claim to be dog-friendly have a few banged-up metal bowls for customers to use, but they'd rather let an animal suffer than let it drink out of a secondhand mug? I'm not a crazy dog lady (I don't actually have any pets) but I'd gladly let any animal drink out of any of my own dishes than let it be miserable, and I don't even have an industrial sanitizer to wash it. It put such a bad taste in my mouth that I haven't been back. read more

Amazing community and ambiance. Staff was wonderful, very kind. Loved the lunch and dessert and the sustainability of the restaurants on not using plastic. If you want takeout, bring your own food containers, they are not provided. Can't wait to come back here and check out the rest of the shops and services provided such as meditation, reiki and massages. It's like stepping into a peaceful, quiet and beautiful area far away from any noise of the city. Love it! read more

Food is healthy, filling, and hearty - same as the original location. The entrance also is beautiful, with a winding path lined with greenery. The actual indoor location though doesn't yet have the magic of the original location, which has overhead lights and a cozy, warm atmosphere. It is new, so they are likely getting settled - but hoping for more of the ambiance that makes the original location so special. They are also still setting up partnerships to offer more yoga/educational offerings - so looking forward to it developing. read more

Great clean, Classic Vegan, price fixe meal - big portions - everything is very fresh, super healthy. I love their salad dressings and the sauce that they put on vegetables. Service is always friendly and easy-going. They have a nice courtyard outside. You consider lots of space inside if you're looking for a healthy choice this is the place. read more

Delicious, affordable food in an unusual business model and setting. No menu options, just food to be enjoyed. Every day something new. Deserts extra. read more

Vegan macrobiotic-style food, in a super-relaxing atmosphere. Dinner was $31.20 total for two people, and there's no tipping, so this is a pretty good deal. My calculator says that means the pre-tax amount is $14.41 for one person, which compares to $12.53 plus a 15% tip. I note that the vegan restaurants in Austin are really taking the lead in doing away with tips: Casa de Luz (2 locations), Mr. Natural, and Bouldin Creek Café. Desserts are extra. There are no free seconds like the original location has (or maybe had, I haven't been there in a while.) The decor is nice, the setting is serene, the lights are dim, the music is relaxed classical and world music, so it's nice enough, but it can't compare to the ambiance of the original location. For date night, go to the original location for sure. read more

Amazing food- so colorful and tasty and nourishing. All organic and gluten free - whole unprocessed foods and the best deal in town. Desserts are equally amazing and the food is served to you right when you walk in. You can't get quicker better service and food anywhere else. read more

Casa de Luz East - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

I'm so happy there is an east location now! I'm a big fan of the original location so I was glad to see that this new space reflects the same aura and energy. The food always hits the spot -- satiating you with healthy, nutritious, and deliciously made veggies and whole grains. read more

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I love the original and am so happy there is now a location closer to me. Food is always delicious and so nutritious, sweets are tasty, vibes are chill. read more

Amazing! I'm an old customer of the CDL off of South Lamar, but this new place on MLK blew me away, this morning. Great portions, great food, very calm, peaceful atmosphere, with a low volume, tasty, jazz piano CD playing on the house speakers. Parking is a snap since this new location is in a former apartment complex. If you haven't been out, yet, do yourself a favor and get on over to this wonderful restaurant. STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. read more

Everything (soup, salad, etc.) was the same temperature. I felt like i was eating prison food. Service was nothing special. I would have preferred water to drink, the teas were gross. read more

This is a truly incredible space with lovely staff. I've been to this new location countless times now and the quality and reliability of the meals is perfection. read more