I finally branched out to try something different than my beloved Indian platter and I was rewarded with another fantastic meal! Tried the fresh spring rolls, SO refreshing -- like a salad -- but with delicious and gluten-free peanut sauce. Loved it. Quite filling as the two rolls are chonky. Chased my rolls with an indulgent vegan GF lemon cake. Super lemony which is awesome. Dense and drier but so tasty, I don't mind a dense cake, actually. A huge hit! Will order both again!!! I took home the extra peanut sauce and used it on steamed potatoes, delicious. My father-in-law had a breakfast burrito which he took home half of, extra value, it's two meals. Hubby had the tofu scramble which was a bit dry, he added some of my peanut sauce to jazz it up. He wish he'd ordered his usual fave, the Bo Thai. But points for trying something new! read more

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I come here because this is one of the last restaurants in Santa Cruz that I am trusting that their food sourcing is from holistic, healthy and sustainable outlets. The Chai here is the only house made Chai of quality in Santa Cruz. The prices here are a bit high for a working class budget, but you can understand that almost every meal you order here is good for 2 meals. The owners and employees are what you would expect from people that are serving healthy, soul and body enriching foods. Please continue supporting this Santa Cruz landmark! read more

Dharma's is a legendary Santa Cruz veggie food joint. The menu is vast - maybe too vast. it has a laundry list of styles, you will find a go to fave here. Is it pricey? Maybe, but the portions are huge, I always plan for leftovers. The Bo Thai and Chow Mein are legit, the breakfast burrito is also a winner. They have a nice outdoor seating area and indoors is large enough for groups or kids. I ran into reggae legend Sister Carol here once. I told you it's legit!! read more

We came to Dharma's for dinner. The menu is huge! We had the vegan Dharma's chili dog, the breakfast burrito with tofu scramble, and the pesto pasta. Everything was very good! And the staff was very friendly. I love all of their plants hanging everywhere. read more

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Interesting concept and decor. feels like a dated diner with lots of different food options. a bit confusing on the cousin style and verity from Indian, to Mexican and Italian. also prices feel high for value. counter order service with self pick up along with self serve water and condiments station. Free parking, lots of seating. overall food is ok but $30 for a plate of curry seems a lot. read more

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I love this place. I've been coming here at few times a year since the 1980s, and it never disappoints. Even though I'm not a vegetarian (I do enjoy enjoy my meat and dairy), sometimes my body just craves what they do so well here--a big, beautiful plate piled high with perfectly steamed vegetables, vibrant salads (their house vinaigrette is my favorite), and their hearty veggie stew. It's the kind of meal that feels both deeply satisfying and genuinely nourishing. Yes, it's a bit on the pricey side, but for me it's completely worth it for the colorful, organic, nutrition-packed spread that always leaves me feeling great. And if you're worried about bringing non-vegetarian friends, don't be. The Lost Taco platter is fantastic--and every omnivore I've brought along (even those skeptical of anything labeled "vegan" or "vegetarian") has ended up loving it and leaving full and happy. read more

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Dharma's is a Santa Cruz landmark for vegans and vegetarians. I'm pretty certain I've been coming here for at least 20 years. I'm happy to see it still thriving. Things I like about Dharma's: - 2 gender neutral restrooms - organic ingredients - self-serve water - tons of seating (both inside and outside) - vegetarian menu where everything can be made vegan - clearly marked menu to know which items can be made gluten free - super friendly staff This was my first time back since before COVID because I was in town for the veg fest. I got the small kitchari and added salt at the condiment bar. It was the perfect amount of food for one person and came with bread. The carrot cake was good too, but $9 seemed a bit pricey for a slice of cake. read more

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We went here for lunch with some friends. They gave a huge menu! Our meals weee delicious! We'll definitely come back here. Two thumbs up.

A couple items are ok, but really, this place is like a hellish hospital cafeteria for vegans. My partner and I have enjoyed the cornbread and vegan chili, soup of the day, and spring rolls. Everything else we have tried over several visits was miss miss miss. All very expensive too for what you get. The worst thing? The rude staff who literally got together on the 4th of August after serving undercooked, oil drenched potatoes that I kindly asked to be cooked more fully. When they returned, half were burnt and there were still undercooked potatoes - and there was even more oil drenching them than before! No flavor, just plain ole potatoes like bad french fries. When we returned them, the two young ladies and man gathered and whispered while staring us down. Prior to this, the last time I had a scuffle with middle schoolers was. . . in middle school! I will not be returning to this terribly run place again. Please, get people trained at how to deal with customers with integrity and respect. Also, try harder. You charge a lot and someone in the kitchen really did not care enough to even bother trying. Organic chips and salsa are straight from a bag, like Doritos and some mild salsa that you could get in any liquor store. Ridiculous pricing. Edamame portion is tiny. They just toss a bit of salt and a lemon slice on after they microwave them. Why I returned several times I do not know. Probably because there is a picture of an orange cat and a black cat looking like they are from outer space. Yeah, it's like that, I came back because I love orange and black cats like my own. ---smacking self in head and reminding self to never go back just for the art, unless it is just for the art---. read more

Delicious vegan and vegetarian offerings. Been going for decades and very happy with everything we've tried. Salads are huge and fresh, curries are tasty, and vegetarian burrito was also filling and came with a large side salad with a great dressing. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Gardener's Salad - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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Fantastic vegetarian/vegan restaurant, with huge portions too. The breakfast burrito is worthwhile and huge.

BEST BLT (with avocado) in town. Yes - it's vegan but perfect amount of every ingredient makes for a great BLT. And good Arnold Palmer. Lots of choices for a good meal. read more

Good food. So healthy huge space. People come for the food not the atmosphere. Looks like an old time vegan place. I'm from out of town. Stumbled upon this place. Enjoying my healthy meal. Expensive. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Veges - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

Absolutely delicious food with a large variety of options. As a vegan, I really appreciate being able to go there and have so many things to choose from! read more

Absolutely loved the food, ambiance, friendliness of the owner and staff, and cleanliness of Dharma's. Everything was truly wonderful! We stopped here for lunch while on a coastal road trip over 4th of July weekend, and found Dharma's via Yelp. One thing I have to say is that food made with love and peace just tastes soooo good going into your body. That is totally how my family felt while eating our meals. So many vegan options, so many of everything options =) Love all the yogi friendly decor. Cannot rave enough about how much I enjoyed this place. Would definitely come back when in the area. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

Been coming here for more than 25 years. Was always outstanding quality and quantity with reasonable prices. Recently stopped in after almost a year for my standard order, a tempeh ruben. Still in shock. Sandwich alone is now over $22 and no longer includes either the small side salad or grilled potatoes (which are an additional $4 & $5). Ok. Everything is more expensive though 3x seems a bit much.) and I would have accepted the new world order if the sandwich was the same but it was smaller with a poorer quality cheese and tempeh that seemed uncooked and pretty much inedible. Oh and even though I ordered the sandwich to go it arrived on a plate after a 20 min wait and I had to wait an additional 5 min to have it boxed up. I'm not so much angry as I am disappointed. The lack of patrons dining in suggest I'm not the first to notice the decline. Alas poor Dharma's. I knew them, Horatio. read more

Tofu Pesto scramble.... yes it was expensive, probably double what I paid when I was last here on vacation 10 years ago but I love that everything was the same as I remembered. It was worth the price because it was delicious, huge portion and I have never had anything like this anywhere else. I dont mind paying their increased prices because the taste was out of this world. read more

Great veggie restaurant with loads of healthy food options. I added avocado and artichokes to my salad, and a tea and my order came close to being $40. You order at the register then sit and wait for your name to be called, and you pick it up at the counter. Amazing art on the wall. The salad was enough for two portions; I took the rest to go (containers are placed out for you to grab). There is a station for you to place your tray and dishes. read more

I recently went to Dharma's with my Uncle. We both loved the ambiance. It was spacious with cool paintings and artwork. It had a lot of character. Service was very friendly. It is a fully vegetarian restaurant that has been around since 1981. Most all the items can be made vegan. The menu is quite extensive and thus ordering can be tricky to know what is best to get. I went with the Tempeh Reuben. I had it made vegan by leaving out the Swiss cheese and leaving out the thousand island dressing. It would have been nice for them to add vegan cheese and vegan salad dressing instead. The sandwich was quite good though and perhaps could have been even better. Very nice presentation. My Uncle got the lasagna. He found it underwhelming. He felt he order the wrong thing yet he appreciated the ambiance and friendly service. He would be willing to return to try more of the menu and I would return as well. Recommended checking out if in Santa Cruz! read more

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No pictures because I was with company. This place has SO many delicious veggie options, SO many... I of course decided on the curry and holy moly!!! Even with the triangles of tofu which were perfectly prepared. I don't typically enjoy tofu and usually opt out, but again, I was with company and figured I'd have it just as it was. I am glad that I did because I started to wonder, maybe I don't mind tofu and some places just don't do it right. The portion was enough that I took leftovers to go. We got there close to close and although we were still eating very very close to the end of their night, they were patient and allowed us to continue without feeling we had to get out. Spacious dining area with tables a decent distance away that it felt private. I also appreciated the ordering process and being your dishes to the collection area afterward because it prevented a constant interruption in dinner conversation. The fishes at the table all looked phenomenal, as did the smoothies. A member of our party opted for a dairy free smoothie which was nice to learn that is an option. Next time I am in, I am going to try that burrito! read more

Delicious food as always. Lived here for 6 years. Visiting now. So great. My only suggestion... shred carrots. Not everyone can consume cube carrots raw. I brought cubed carrots home to chop Anything raw Shred if you can Including cucumbers The food was delicious as always read more

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Vegetarian food. The entrees are so large that if you aren't overeating, or need an unusually high-calorie meal, you can split an entree. I've been eating there for 30 or more years. Give them your business please. read more

Always great food and always arrives on time. I'm vegetarian and about 95% vegan. I've been going here for years. They really held it together during the pandemic. read more

Back today and the soy strips in the nuclear bluff were delicious. Unfortunately it was $17.95 for a sandwich and a side of pickles. The salad is no longer included. I love the clean ingredients. But, this didn't feel right. Especially since I'm now also charged to use a credit card. The sandwich was tasty and the pesto pasta for kids was enjoyed by my littles. Please bring back a small side salad with the sandwich... read more

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Love Dharma's still. After eating here last I felt briefly flummoxed by the higher prices and removed a star. But after seeing other spots around town with similar pricing I guess it's just the going rate these days for eating out! I will save my visits for special occasions but will continue to visit because gotta support the veggie spots! They have a gigantic menu too so that can't be cheap to maintain. See you guys soon! read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Tofu & veggie scramble - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

I am happy for the existence of all vegetarian restaurants. However, I sadly can barely ever come to this one. The food is just okay, but it costs an arm and a leg. I understand that the overhead is likely very expensive, but I just can't pay $25 with tax for one thing. And then despite the fact you have to pick up the food yourself and bus your own table, get your own water, etc, they still ask for tip on top of that. So you are looking at closer to $30. For a one lunch! And many times the person taking my order is not even pleasant. I don't get that. Why work in food service if you don't want to do the "service" part? I work in the service industry and just feel like at least pretending to be pleasant is a bare minimum requirement. There are only so many vegetarian places, so I will likely still be back very occasionally. Like I love the vegan chocolate cake, but at $10 for a slice of cake, I will reserve it for maybe only like my birthday. lol I am able to eat twice at another vegetarian place nearby for what I spend eating once here. And the food is honestly better than here. So with a limited eating out budget, the choice is obvious. read more

For $50 for two bowls of noodles, I hoped for something better. We ordered chow mein and dan dan noodles. Both were made with spaghetti noodles, not asian noodles. This was especially problematic in the chow mein, which usally has a chewy noodle. And the chow mein had no bok choy as mentioned on the menu and used chard in its place. Weird. The dan dan noodles were just mediocre. The carrots were cubed, not julienned and the cucumbers were in very large pieces, both of which made it challenging to eat. The sauce was one dimensional. The spaghetti noodles certainly didn't help. read more

We won't come back to Dharmas, but we wished it was different. The staff seemed bored and unfriendly - maybe influenced by the manager (owner?) who lurked nearby with a sour, short tempered conversational style. The food was severely under-cooked and under-seasoned. I ordered the Mexican Saute, and was served warm, raw vegetables that, two hours later I'm still struggling to digest. I had to ask for sauce because the "Mexican" aspect was about as missing as the cooking. My husband ordered the Mole Burrito, and was somewhat less distressed while trying to eat his meal. I inquired if everything was okay with the staff, because they seemed so unfriendly. They all stated that they were low energy because they had so few customers, yet they didn't seem to try to make up for it. It just was a low energy night, and they seem settled with that. We feel disappointed - having a vegan option with such a big menu seemed like a great find that we were willing to drive for. I doubt we'll make the effort a second time. read more

First time trying Dharma's and I was not disappointed! It's an order and find a table kind of restaurant which I don't mind at all, and the food came out super quick. I came on a Saturday night and the restaurant has plenty of seating to choose from and lots of pretty plants decorating the space. I ordered the chili dog after craving it from seeing all the reviews about it and was not disappointed. You can also add on toppings if you want, but I found it pretty good as is. The portion sizes are huge for a pretty standard price. Definitely try this restaurant out if you're in the area! read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Chili Dharma Dog - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

We simply love coming here, as a vegetarian it's hard to find different places to eat and here it's a vegetarian dream! read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Inside - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

The last time I was here was in the Summer of 2016. It had always great reviews and they have lived up to the hype every visit. This was my first time being there since then, and things didn't feel the same. The restaurant indoors is still amazing and the plants and wood features make you feel as though you are eating in a high class forest. The food wasn't quite as exciting as I remember it to be. While it was great to have plant based food, it lacked flavor. I picked up the fake chicken breakfast burrito and I was a little disappointed that it came more like a quesadilla instead of a rolled burrito. There were many layers to the meal, it could have used seasoning. My wife got the noodles, and it lacked citrus and maybe even a little more spice. We enjoyed most of it but could not find the joy to complete the meal. The milkshake though?! Still a hit. I got mixture of chocolate and strawberry and that thing was delicious! Definitely want to grab one of those again. I'll chalk this up to it may have been busy earlier before we came in, but I hope to re-experience that explosive taste of this food that I e had before. read more

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I had to be vegetarian for the day so we decided to stop here because all of the food is vegetarian and some even vegan. I ordered the nada chicken enchiladas and it was alright. The portions were huge and the price accounts for that. With my dish I also got a huge salad on the side. While this is supposed to be healthy and wholesome food, the food here misses the taste factor. The food is okay but not good. Compared to veggie grill an all vegan restaurant here in the Bay Area, I would rather go veggie grill. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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After having been a loyal customer at this uber clean restaurant for over 30 years, I can not go back due to extremely steep price hikes (beyond what is expected in these times of rising grocery prices) in addition to an unyielding attitude from the owner about a miscommunication from one of their staff. Sad but true...will miss being in the plant and art filled room. read more

Dharma could turn this omnivore into a vegan. Love the variety of the menu and healthful dishes.

*** Vegetarian Review *** Pro: 100% vegetarian with plenty of vegan options Cons: Hard pressed to list one, but if I have to ... I don't live next door Tips for First Timers: 1. Plenty of shared parking 2. It's about 20 minutes from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk - well worth the trip. But while you're at the boardwalk, order the vegetarian corndog from Surf City Grill (next to the bumper cars). 3. Limited outside eating 4. This is the International House of Vegetarian Eats ... from Thai, to Mexican, Indian, Italian, and Chinese. Dish Recommendation: Chili Dharma Dog Would I Come Back Test? Yes. Every time we make a trip to the boardwalk, we make a trip to Dharmas. Comparisons: I can't really think of an apples-to-apples comparison. It's just good to know there is a restaurant offering a 100% vegetarian menu with 100% bold and comforting flavors. Chili Dharma Dog ($15.95, Grade A+): It's messy, it will get all over your face, probably stain your shirt, but it's all worth it. I'm not sure what type of vegetarian hot dog they use, but it has a good snap to it. The chili is mounded on top, full of what they call "our special bean mix." Topped with cheese that eventually melts into the chili volcano, tomatoes, and green onions. The bun has no choice but to stay warm and never gets hard because it is smothered with everything. At one point, you're going to want to use a fork and knife, but only so you can finish every last bite. Comes with a side of tortilla chips and plain lettuce for the Vinaigrette dressing which they put on the side. BBQ Bluff Sandwich ($16.50 full / $12.95 half, Grade A): Soy strips and onions sautéed in our BBQ sauce on a toasted Francese roll with fresh basil. Small side salad of lettuce and tomatoes with a Vinaigrette dressing. They toss in a pickle wedge and tortilla chips. Another messy meal ... definitely a 5 napkiner. The BBQ soy strips will fool any of your most staunch meat eaters and the bread they use is most likely from some local baker. Crunchy crust and soft insides. Another of the go to meals when we visit. Vegan Chocolate Cake ($7.50, Grade A): Moist! It might be vegan, but it ain't missing anything in terms of rich chocolate flavor and texture. Pro Tip - If driving back to Santa Cruz, stop by Marianne's on Ocean Street. That vegan cake and a scoop of Marianne's banana nut were great together! Bottom Line: The staff is super friendly, their menu is 100% vegetarian, and of the limited dishes I've tried over the many years, all delicious. Just wish I lived closer so I can explore the menu, but since I only go sparingly, I always return for that chili dog. read more

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I used live in the neighborhood until 2015 and would go there often. I noticed the prices creeping up but they had large portions and it was ok. I went a couple of years ago and found the sandwhich I ordered to be way overpriced for what you get. Fast forward to a couple years later and I was shocked at how bad the food was and expensive. A small salad and Bo Thai noddle bowl were over $43.00. I asked the help if they could mix the dressing in with the salad as the way they pack the bowl, no salad dressing can be mixed in without spilling most of the salad on the table. The staff said they wouldn't mix it for me so I did it by getting a to go box. The noodle dish was kind of tasteless and I was afraid to ask for another lime slice given how rude the staff was about my request to mix the dressing in with the salad. Highly recommend other Santa Cruz places over this. read more

I had heard a lot of good things about Dharma's, so I was hoping it would live up to the hype. Boy did it ever. Everything we got, from the main dishes to the appetizers to the dessert and the drinks, was amazing. The portions were good, and the quality of the ingredients was high. I can't wait to go back. read more

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I wanted something clean to eat while on vacation so I opted to take us to this vegan place we found on Yelp. Parking was easy (there's a big lot in front of the building), and there were plenty of seating outside and inside the establishment. After looking over their extensive menu, we finally decided on two dishes: BBQ Bluff Sandwich ($16) and the Spaghetti A Florio ($19). BBQ Sandwich - This had soy strips and onions sautéed in their bbq sauce in a French roll with a side salad and tortilla chips. The portions are huge! But my husband didn't care for the flavor. And I didn't care for it, either. It was pretty plain. But healthy lol. The Spaghetti had much more flavor, and there was probably enough for three people! It was flavorful, and filling. Full of veggies - cabbage, broccoli, onions, zucchini, and bell peppers. It also came with a side salad, and mine came with garlic bread! The garlic bread was very good - I ate all of it! The spaghetti, I feel like I could have made! But I couldn't have made that salad dressing, that was really good! I would give this place a solid 3 stars. I think I'd be back to try their other food items and their drinks in the future. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Spaghetti Dish with garlic bread and side salad - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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Dharma has got to be one of the best vegan/vegetarian spots in the Santa Cruz area. I've been plant-based for almost a year now and have to say that their menu offerings and portions are killer and are certainly worth a visit. They offer a huge variety of vegetarian fare that can easily be made vegan. Their portions here are massive and certainly enough for two meals if you don't inhale them in one go. But I myself found that it difficult not to because I really enjoyed what we ended up getting. I ordered the Mega Burger ($18) vegan style. Their burger is a protein and bean mashed creation (so no Beyond/Impossible meats here) and the 'mega' part includes grilled soy meat replicating bacon, tomatoes, and grilled onions. The box also included some greens and a side of spicy potatoes. They happily recommended I sub the cheese for guacamole and removed the 1000 island dressing for a soy mayo. Erm, Heck yes! There was also no up charge for the guac so that is a win in itself. That burger was absolutely fantastic and extremely satisfying. The option to veganize it without sacrificing flavor was certainly one of the best parts of the meal. Loved the black bean patty that they created and would get that again in a heartbeat. Keep in mind that because it uses a lot of soy substitutes, it can be very heavy. Make sure to eat your greens at some point during your day to balance out such a meal. My friend who is not vegetarian or vegan got their Pesto Portobello Sub and Mashed Potatoes and loved it. He was surprised that there wasn't any meat in it, which goes to show that you don't need to consume meat to have a delicious, healthy meal. Covid wise - there were plenty of outdoor tables with people waiting for their food. Tables inside are also socially distanced so there is certainly a level of care towards safety being taken. If you're ordering takeout, grab a paper menu and head to the back where you can place you order. Yes, the prices here are certainly higher than average but you genuinely are getting a lot of food for your order. If you do follow a plant-based lifestyle, it's certainly worth a try to enjoy the amazing options that they have here at Dharma's. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Mega Burger - Vegan with guac sub - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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When talking about Dharma's, it's important to look at what their goal is. It's pretty clear they're not looking to make super authentic versions of all the dishes they make, which widely range in cuisine. Or that they want to make extremely gourmet, ground breaking recipes. Rather, dharma's is here to make vegetarian, vegan, restriction friendly meals with fresh, organic ingredients. It tastes good, portions are good, and it's relatively good for the earth. It's pricey, but you're paying for the organic ingredients and the vast choices on the menu. That being said, I have had a few nice meals here in the past. Nothing that stands out in my mind other than that their veggies are cooked nicely and flavoring is adequate. Today's review is mostly for the bbq bluff sandwich! -Got it takeout and the bottom of the sandwich got kinda soggy, but I didn't mind. Just flipped it upside down to keep it from falling apart. -Fluffy bread, Hot, saucy, flavorful bbq soy/onions in the middle. Kinda reminiscent of pulled pork I guess! The sauce was sweet and nicely seasoned. -sandwich lacked some brightness. the pickle helped break up the sweetness of the "meat", but i found myself wishing for more! -generous side salad with a red onion vinaigrette. nice refreshing addition. -chips on the side. i wish they included this separate so they all stayed crispy! Regardless, they were good for scooping up the soy chunks. Overall, a pleasant meal and I am extremely full. I would order this again if I was in the mood for something heavy and satisfying, but will probably try more of their insanely extensive menu the next time I'm here. Pro tip: they almost always have a groupon so u can save your bucks!! read more

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