This is a fabulous place. We have plenty for everyone and the the décor is peaceful. The staff are friendly and helpful. The food is delicious. This is definitely somewhere you should try. We had the Mediterranean salad and the Japanese Samurai soup. Both were amazing. we also had the homemade chai tea and fresh squeezed organic orange juice. They were amazing too. read more

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My family and I have been coming here for years and every time we are happy with the food, atmosphere and the decorations. This is our special place. Whenever we have a birthday or family visiting, we come here. My go to is the pad Thai and tofu rancheros (hefty portions) Also try their raspberry vegan shake, delicious! read more

Anytime we visit the Santa Cruz area we make it a point to stop here. We are not vegan or vegetarian but it was recommended once and we always go back. You can't go wrong with the portobello artichoke sandwich, tempeh rueben, or spring rolls. The bo thai peanut sauce is delicious and we get a container to take home. Great family owned and run for years. For a fun history lesson, search how McDonalds made then drop the 'mc' from their name. Is it pricey? Sure, but you are paying for the natural, fresh, local ingredients. read more

I'm in a Essential worker came in to just get a bluff barbecue sandwich was recommended here. Waited 32 minutes! 7 other customers receive food 4 young teenagers were serving food to others and out of all 9 staff members no one can notice that a gentleman in uniform waiting for his food has not received it. Went up and said they lost my ticket. Common sense you see a gentleman in uniform you can't miss me how do you not realize somethings wrong! Thanks again for the refund. Was really excited to try Vegan for the first time. read more

I LOVE the food here! It's one of my favorite places to get vegan food in the area. It's a little more expensive than your average restaurant, but you can definitely taste the difference. My top favorites are the Butternut Squash Ravioli with vegan pesto, and the Tropical Curry Special. Both are Divine. Also, the Breakfast Burritos are HUGE and delicious. The indoor seating is serene with a fountain and beautiful art. The outdoor seating is convienent when you bring a pet or want some sunshine while you eat. This business does not provide table service so know that you will be picking up your food from the bar and busing your own table. They provide a nice little area for to-go boxes, condiments, and water. The bathrooms are always nice and clean. If you sign up for their weekly newsletter, you can get $6 off a purchase of 25$ or more. My ONLY suggestion for improvement is the staff. Why is everyone so frowny faced all the time. Every time I go, there are no smiles. In fact, I've tried to make it a goal of mine to smile in hopes it's contagious there. The one guy I see occasionally busing the tables is sweet, but other than that, it seems like they just want you in and out. At times I feel like I'm inconveniencing the staff just by placing an order. Cheer up guys and gals! read more

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I love this restaurant even though I'm not a vegetarian. The food is always fresh and delicious. And the portions are generous. Their mashed potatoes and gravy are out of this world. read more

Lovely refreshing place along HWY 1 in Capitola. We stopped here on the way to Big Sur and had Kitcheree and Mango Lassi. Kitcheree - is your usual khichdi very very mildly seasoned, light and satisfying. Mango Lassi - THE BEST. Of course I loved the extra addition of rose water/essence in the lassi - it gave a refreshing cool floral scent and taste as I was drinking it. Not chalk full of sugar - also lightly sweetened. Would love to come here again and try some of their other dishes...but sadly Capitola is a bit of a drive from home :( read more

I've never been disappointed with my meal at Dharma's - and there have been many! The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the staff friendly. Definitely check out the weekly specials and the vegan desserts. read more

Have you ever been to one of those places where you could order anything on the menu and be entirely satisfied? That's Dharma's in a nutshell. Basically, Dharma's is the vegetarian restaurant for nonvegetarians. They've obviously done their research on what people like and have put it on their menu. Like Mexican food? They have that. Like Thai food? there's that too. Like traditional American fast food such as a vegetarian chili cheese dog smothered in chili? Oh boy, do they have that. Be warned though: the portions are quite large. read more

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

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Here is the Indian Curry Plate with papadam, tofu, veggies, rice, cashews, really good fruit chutney and raita. Others at our table enjoy their chili, and breakfast burrito and tofu scramble. read more

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Offensively bland, over-priced, uninspired dishes. I wouldn't let my dog or my dawg eat here. Don't order the bo thai unless you hate yourself and your future. The 3-dog morning burrito is the only thing I've tried that didn't make me want to live out my worst fantasies. read more

I absolutely love this place! Not only is the environment cozy and serene, but the food is also delicious. With fresh healthy ingredients, vegan options and a wide range of dishes, what's not to love?! If you're in Capitola and looking for a delightful meal, you must go to Dharma's! read more

Been going to Dharma's since they were McDharma's. I'm not vegetarian but always feel "cleansed" and so much healthier after a meal here (I know, it's all in my mind). I always get the small "American" saute, as portions, like everyone else is saying, are pretty huge. The "Killer Nachos" are just that, but share with about 6 friends - unless you are a competitive eater. The "Gardner's Salad" is excellent because of the freshly grated raw beets and raw sunflower seeds. You can never go wrong with one of their burritos or calzone, oh, or the lasagna, just expect to take half your meal home (they supply take home containers). By far the best deal in the house is the soup/salad/rice meal combo. And do try the lemon tahini, I wish they bottled the stuff. The down-side: when it's busy and/or kids are in the place, the noise is deafening. The up-side: there are ALL KINDS of plastic animals to play with (scary dinosaurs too!), but you'll have to fight the kids for 'um. One more thing: DO NOT wear your leather jacket into the restaurant, the contemptuous stares from the old unwashed hippies will ruin your experience! read more

How could organic healthy stuff taste so good? I have no idea but Dharma consistently delivers that promise and more. If you're vegan, or gluten intolerent, you'll find your piece of heaven in their gluten free cheesecake and huge vegan selections! Bo Thai (spicy sweet peanut sauce) is excellent with their gardener's salad. Their Kombucha also tastes better than the store bought kind! :) The portion is large so even though it's a little bit pricier, you can easily split it into 2 meals or share with a friend. read more

LOVE! Who doesn't love to eat at a vegetarian restaurant that has cow, pig, chicken figurines/toys as decor? hehe Really though! And who doesn't love looking at out of this world art/paintings on the wall? SO Santa Cruz and I love it. I ordered the Pesto Portabello Sub and it was the most delicious portabello sandwich I've ever had. The secret ingredient in the sandwich which makes it so different is the feta cheese. It's a definite kicker and totally gives an extra umph! The dressing on the salad is so tangy and complements the cucumbers on the salad perfectly. YUM! To top it off, who doesn't like to use Dr. Bronner's organic soap (cause that's what they have in their soap dispenser in the restroom) Refreshing place in every way! Will totally come again! read more

Been eating at Dharmas sine it was called McDharmas. Always been great and enjoyable. Did a door dash due to the Covid issue and orders my favorite "Nuclear Bluff" and a "Hot Dog". They were both inedible and even reactive. Both myself and my wife were not able to eat and or digest the orders. Both of us needed to remove our food after eating if you know what that means. (Puke) I had a call with the manager and she seemed to not really care other than comping my food purchase. Very disappointed. Its not the money, but the business. I support Dharma's business but they have to work on their quality. I live 5 blocks away. read more

Great spot. All the food looks very healthy and appealing. We got the Fruit bowl, Mediterranean salad. All amazing and fresh. The dishes are large, but there was no tummy aches after eating here. This spot has indoor hanging plans and greenery that make you feel in touche with nature. Walls with featured artists works for purchase and I noticed little plastic animal toys. read more

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Ok...hands down delicious! I go here as often as my meager paycheck will allow for what you ask??? The spring rolls are amazing! The pesto portobello sub is amazing! The vegetable satay curry is amazing! The salads are fresh and amazing with the tahini lemon dressing! And even the berry tapioca with coconut milk is amazing! Dharmas is.... dare we say it again??? Delicious! If you order the right thing and have a little money to spend on quality food! read more

We ate here a couple of weeks ago, and I'm still thinking about my teriyaki burger. That was some seriously good stuff. Rather than a vegan "beef" patty, this was a tempeh patty with grilled pineapple, onions, and teriyaki sauce. It was also a big sandwich. Yes, the prices are a bit steep here, but you get both the quality and quantity you pay for. While I wouldn't get two meals out of my sandwich, my husband had the nuclear bluff sandwich and took half of his home. (You can also order half this sandwich, which is probably the better option.) The sides and desserts weren't as amazing as the sandwiches. My potatoes were a little bland, though I had plenty of extra teriyaki sauce to mop up with them. We also had a chocolate chip cookie and a ginger molasses cookie, neither of which were very good. The chocolate chip cookie was not sweet enough and didn't have much flavor other than the chips, while the ginger molasses cookie was overwhelmingly spiced. Come here for dinner, go elsewhere for dessert. read more

Great food and large portion sizing a little pricey if you're on a budget, lots of inside seating. Service was quick and friendly.

I think this place is okay because as a vegetarian you have limited options (especially in the Santa Cruz area where "limited options" are a way of life"in general). I've only eaten here using a Groupon so I've never really noticed just how insanely overpriced their items are: $20 for a veggie burger? Are you kidding me? In the past, I've ordered the Bo Thai a couple of times, and though it was okay, it was a bit Americanized and bland. Yes, you do get a huge portion, still... I think there's better options out there, it's just too bad you have to go over the hill to get to them. read more

If theres a definition of a hippie restaurant I believe it's close to this, it's close to my definition anyway. You have the space meditation paintings, the tye dye T-shirts and the great veggie food you can expect. Lot of space, nice people, real cups, cutlery and plates, reusable plastic glasses for water... So nice. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - No much left of that pumpkin cheesecake... Really good!! - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

This place is delicious and truly healthy. I recommend the bo Thai, Szechuan tofu, dan dan noodles, their pastas, and the raspberry tapioca dessert they have at the counter. They also have amazing salads but keep in mind all their portions are huge. A small gardener salad (?) is enormous, so I usually go for a lunch salad if it's the right time of day. And I always get their amazing tahini dressing. The prices are high but you get at least two meals worth of food so.... worth it. read more

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

One star removed for every time the price has been raised this year(2). 10 stars for the corn flour blueberry pancakes and tofu scramble!!

If you want good karma go to Dharma's. I was 0-5 in one of my fantasy football leagues. The opponent I was facing was 5-0. In my head, I had already lost and was going to continue my defeated streak to 0-6. After all the Sunday games were over, it seemed as if my prediction was going to come true, unless Kenyan Drake had his best game of the season on Monday night football. The odds of winning felt so improbable that I didn't even watch the game or check the fantasy app to see if I made the comeback. To my surprise, I was awaken this Tuesday morning by a congratulatory text from a fellow fantasy league manager. I couldn't believe it, my not so defeated team beat the not so undefeated team. What did I do differently this week that got me my first win? Was it because I got a pumpkin on Monday? Did I get a lucky pumpkin? Or did I get good karma from going to Dharma's on Monday? In all reality, it was most likely a combination of the two. My lucky pumpkin and the good karma I received from Dharma's is the reason I got my first fantasy football win. Not only did I receive good karma from Dharma's, but I also got a delicious breakfast burrito. Thank you Dharma's for feeding me and helping me get my first win! read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Good Karma and Good Burrito - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

McDharma's is a wonderful restaurant on Capitola ave., with a menu of tasty, fresh, and generously portioned food fit for vegans, veggies, AND omnivores alike! Usually fast (5-10 minutes for food is typical), always friendly service is always a pleasant surprise for my quick lunch fix. A nice, sunny dining area outside, and a spacious inside. These guys carry desserts, beer, and lovely artwork as well. Did I mention free wifi? Great food, generously portioned, for such a reasonable price! read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Breakfast Burrito: $7.95. Great anytime of the day! I can't usually finish the whole thing in one sitting - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

Been coming here for years but first time back in a year since moving west. It remains the best varied and tasty vegan/veg place form Monterey to SF/San Jose corridor Always great specials and the base menu equally as good. Got the vegan butternut ravioli today and it was a delight, had to pass on dessert as it was most filling. read more

Do not order PICKUP through their convenient Grubhub option, all the prices are increased. We played $14.50 for a small garden salad and noticed when we went in to PICKUP our order that it was a few dollars cheaper on their menu. Definitely recommend calling in. Seems scammy to me. read more

BUGGY SOUP ALERT! I love this place, so it is hard for me to write this review. But this is what happened... On July 10th, 2017, "today's soup" was the mediterranean corn soup. I soon realized that my bowl of soup was filled with tiny bugs!!! Like ~20 of them floating. I almost thought they used BUGS as stock. My husband returned the soup and he got the money back (no apology or compensation). 5min later, I noticed another customer walking out with the same soup. I talked the customer and found that his soup was also filled with the same bugs. Why do they keep selling the buggy soup? Later (maybe 15min later), I went home and called Dharma owner/manger to complain about the buggy soup. The owner's response was "oh.. I did not know about this". So, I asked the owner to toss the buggy soup for future customers. His response was "oh.. the soup is already gone". Really? After 15min? Is that mean that many customers consumed the buggy soup? Yikes. What upset me the most is the owner's responses. No apology or apologetic tones in his voice. It was rather confrontational and defensive. I really should have taken a picture of my buggy soup !!!! Nasty. read more

This place is not good... at least in my opinion the food is incredibly bland and overpriced. I've given this place 3 chances now and it's disappointed me each and every time. Now after throwing away the 3rd meal I'm pretty upset hence leaving this review. I have tried the Tempeh Reuben, Portobello- Artichoke sandwich, Dan Dan noodles, Organic coconut bliss shake and the raspberry tart. Out of all of those things listed the ONE and ONLY thing I didn't throw out was the shake. Just tried the Dan Dan noodles they are edible but definitely not my cup of tea going to try to pawn them off. Little to no flavor. The only thing I'd recommend from this place is a shake. I really wanted to love it but I just can't. Sucks because I love the concept. read more

I love Dharma's. There are so many vegan restaurants in the Bay Area. However ,In Santa Cruz, there are only a couple at this time. Despite all the vegan restaurants that exist in the Bay Area all together though, I have to say Dharma's is my favorite. I can taste that the veggies are organic and so clean. Raw veggies that melt in your mouth after a juicy crunch and they don't have that peppery pesticide weirdness that most restaurant salads have. People that think they stint like veggies just haven't had the kind that are like this. Of course all those pesticides in most go ever you a stomache ache or taste gross. It's not like that here. The Tofu Ranchero has been my favorite for a while though today it tastes a little like cinnamon and Indian spices which was a different but the overall flavor of it was still the sublime classic flavor they excel at delivering. The thing that was really made my morning was it was warm in there! I don't know if they might have read one of my reviews a while back suggesting that they put mirrors up to reflect the Sun and turn on the fans to pull the heat down but it was warm in there and it was so nice to walk in on a January morning and be warm while sitting next to a window in a very large establishment next to a beautiful Fountain eating the my favorite vegan food. It makes me want to come back more often. The reason why Dharma's is the best to me is because it's fresh, it's clean you can taste that it's organic and the portion sizes on some dishes are big enough to feed you for few days. Santa Cruz has the most abundance of organic produce of anywhere in the world for the most part it's great when I get to enjoy it while going out to eat rather than just at home. There's salad is not skimpy and they make some of the best dressings. I love having salad with my breakfast read more

So disappointing. We're in Santa Cruz for our 25th Anniversary. On our way to Chaminade Resort we decided to grab a quick lunch. I asked for dine in outdoors. But they ended up packing our food to go. We ordered Nada Chicken Burrito since this is the most highly reviewed but it taste awful. The Japanese Samurai Soup tastes really clean and healthy. The vegan chocolate cake is really good. read more

Dishes could easily serve two! So don't let the prices shock you. I highly recommend the mushroom and artichoke sandwich the veggie chicken burrito was way more filling than you could eat with the tortilla, they should have just had it on the side. The water taste a little funky but they have a ton of drinks. I highly recommend if you are vegan/ vegetarian read more

First timer; had the Reuben vegan style . The sandwich may have been the best vegan Reuben full of flavor and didn't skimp. The potatoes that came with the meal were sooooo good. And even the pickle was delish . The 1000 isle and was not vegan so i opted for the vegan bacon ranch and dipped the potatoes in it. So impressed. I was so full I couldn't even eat the large salad that came with it. The staff was friendly:) I see people complain that it was $19 for the sandwich but you get a lot of food for $19 in my opinion. Thanks Dharma's! read more

Just ordered to go from Dharma's and got back to our hotel and there were no utensils. Called Dharma's and talked to the guy and he said it was my fault for assuming that there should be utensils...in a to-go order no less. He said I should've asked for utensils. Unbelievable!! Guess they're not worried about business if they don't have to worry about customer service. So that it's a balanced review...the food was delicious. Please work on the customer service side of the business...which should be the less difficult piece. read more

My friend and i had an early dinner at Dharma's last night. We were enthralled by the artistic care the owners have taken to make this place beautiful and inviting, The faux painted walls, the ambience of a flowing waterfall that is surrounded by gorgeous exotic flowers, the hearty plants hanging from the ceiling and the artistic paintings mounted on the walls are all a feast fir the senses.. The place is alive with kncolor and feels like an oasis. Lots of sunlight streaming in and through. Now to the meal--we shared the Szechuan tofu platter with brown rice, because that meal is enough to fill 2 healthy eaters. Everything was fresh. The Brown rice was cooked to perfection so it had the chewy inside but was not dry and not overcooked. The sauce had the black bean sauce flavor with a little sweetness to it and the vegetables were cooked to perfection--crisp tender. Nuts added more flavor and crunch. Beautiful greens and red bell peppers, broccoli and a colorful variety of other veggies. My friend said it was the first time she ever really enjoyed kale! The tofu triangles were also perfectly fried and flavorful. The most notable addition to the taste sensation was the barbecue grill flavor that came through the aromas of the Szechuan sauce. Nice!! As we ate we couldn't stop remarking how delicious this whole meal was, better than our favorite Chinese restaurant offers--and less expensive, too, because the portion is huge enough to split! We'll be back, again and again! read more

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

We ordered the "dan dan bowl", the special of the day - Potato Enchiladas and a raspberry/coffee milkshake. The portions were HUGE and everything was simply delicious!! They had a really large menu and just picking what to eat took us a while! We came in pretty early at 5:30pm Saturday and there were hardly any crowds. By the time we were done, the restaurant was almost full (at 6:15). Lovely place.. will certainly come back! read more

If you're looking to experience the worst customer service in the Santa Cruz area with overpriced, bland food, definitely give this place a shot. One of the female staff was particularly prickly, making this restaurant a place to never bring friends or family. read more

Overpriced for a lot of the items. There is also a "service fee" for each order which isnt mentioned before tipping. I don't understand the pricing for a lot of their dishes. Seems like the owner probably pockets most of these profits and doesnt put it into giving their workers a live able wage. Either make things cheaper or disperse the wages fairly. Don't get the chips & guac; go to a taqueria and you can get way better guac for twice the size and half the price. read more

Good food but the way you have to stand in line and pick up your food when ready is ridiculous. Not to forget you have to bus your own dishes. For the amount of money they charge they should bus the tables, not the customers. read more