Very crunchy yoga-retreat cafeteria vibe. Expensive and food felt.. like something prepackaged or microwaveable (and was cold). Had butternut squash ravioli w/ pesto, cup of chili, and dan dan noodles. Pretty surprised because we had heard such good things. read more

Extensive menu with something for everyone - I really enjoyed their noodle dishes and their desserts.

Loved the spread and the taste Too many options for a vegetarian/vegan We were pleasantly surprised by the choice of items on the menu Please beware of the portions. One portions serves 2(and at times 3 ) Taste was very good read more

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

Yum. Ambiance: Feels like a lunchroom in a school - nothing formal or too comfortable about it. However, they leave the "fluff" for the dishes they make. Post-hike, a girlfriend and I went in for some nutritional face-stuffing. Ordered: BLT Barbecue beef sandwich Pesto pasta w/ salad First off: portions are pretty damn big. Secondly, they're FREAKING delicious. Seriously - delicious vegetarian food + a huge menu covering just about everything you could possibly be craving: Thai, Mexican, American...is there anything else? :) Do it. Get 'er done and get STUFFED. read more

This vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly cafeteria has a menu as long and complicated as the Cheesecake Factory. It's so complicated that it gives me anxiety just thinking about it. Our first time at Dharma's was about 4 months ago when we were scoping out the area. I ordered the wrong thing (an Indian curry) and felt really awkward that I hated it yet everyone else seems to love it there. Husband liked what he had back then (Bo Thai--a vegan Phad Thai) and tried getting me to go with him since we moved here. To his astonishment, the other afternoon I finally gave in. We came for lunch and both ordered sandwiches (after standing to the side of the line to figure out the menu for a really long time). The restaurant has paper menus at the back of the line, but they don't include everything they offer in it. Many of their lunch offerings and deals are posted at the counter in tiny print, where you can't read it until you are standing right there. Some of what we saw AFTER WE DECIDED WHAT TO GET included deals like: half a sandwich and soup for less than $8, quinoa, soup and yam combo for less than $7, grilled cheese and soup for less than $6, soup and spring roll for less than $5, etc. Those are some good deals! Instead, I ordered a whole TEMPEH REUBEN and it came with a side salad and potatoes. Husband ordered BBQ BLUFF and it came with a yummy coleslaw. My TEMPEH REUBEN was delicious, with a small amount of tempeh and a huge amount of sauerkraut piled high on bread. It made me see Dharma's in a different light. Check the website for those lunch specials I mentioned: http://www.dharmaland.com/restaurant/lunchmenu.html And maybe decide what to get before you get there to make it a little less stressful. I'll be back. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Indian Curry Plate (front) and Bo Thai (back$ - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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I love Dharma's! It's a great place to go if you want quality organic vegetarian food. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly (they even have plastic animal toys around for kids to play with while they're waiting) and you walk out full! I would have to say that my only Dharma's complaint is the prices. They're not horrible for the quality, but they are a bit high. Overall, a couple could walk out spending around $30 for dinner, but I guess that's about average. The ambiance is great, the food is delicious, and the quality is fantastic. read more

I'd love to give Dharma's more than 3 stars because some of the food is awesome. The reason I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars is that some of the dishes are inconsistant and a few are lacking something. The hot dog-meh. The burritos-huge and filling but a little lacking. The spring rolls-I keep trying them because I love fresh spring rolls, but theirs always have dry wrappers and the peanut sauce is weird. And, I have to agree that the person at the cash register is pretty grumpy. Every time. BUT-they make the best salads ever and tahini dressing, the portobello/artichoke sandwich is delicious (super messy and hard to eat though) and the desserts are good. I'll keep coming here as I have been for many years when I want a filling, healthy meal. It doesn't bother me to bus my own dishes-the atmosphere is a bit cavernous but it's good for families. read more

I practically raised my kids here when I lived in the area. Really good stuff, and healthy. I find the folks who work there friendly and fun to interact with. Plus, giant servings. I wish we had a place like this in San Francisco. I really miss you, Dharma. read more

This place never disappoints and is vegetarian heaven! Whenever I come down to Santa Cruz I make sure to stop by for lunch there. You can eat dishes from different cuisines and all of them will be made with fresh tasty ingredients. Their drinks and homemade deserts just melt in your mouth. The cafe is very cozy and displays beautiful art on the walls made by local artists. read more

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

The food here is interesting, but make sure you go with someone who enjoys healthy eating. We made the mistake of bringing some friends to find out one of them was a meat-lover...it did not end well (in fact, it ended before it even began because he left). Nothing against Dharma's because it's decent good with a great selection of healthy eats. The Bo Thai and Indian Curry Platter are our favorites. read more

Dharma's is SO SO good! We are in town for the week, and ordered take-out (Curry Plate and Szechuan Tofu) and both dishes were insanely yummy. I highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Love this place and love that they serve vegan/vegetarian options. No meat which is awesome. The best thing I've had is the Dan Dan noodles and the Tempeh burger with pineapple and Teriyaki sauce. The potatoes are just okay, too oily for me. The only thing I don't understand is why they serve only real cheese. There aren't vegan cheese options which super strange considering there's no meat options. But other than that, it's great. read more

A unique dining experience. The earth/veg friendly cuisine will defy your conventional expectations. Their portions are quite large, and I can never finish what they give me, but I do feel that it's pretty pricey for what you're actually eating. You can easily drop $20 on lunch or breakfast here, per person. I removed a star for that. The cafeteria style eating is fun, and I love that they're such sticklers about keeping the restaurant cell-phone free. read more

Maybe you have to be vegetarian to appreciate this place, but when I was vegan, I'd drive over the hill from San Jose once in a while just to eat their bo thai dish: organic vegetables and baked tofu sauted in spicy peanut sauce, with rice noodles, mung bean sprouts, green onions, peanuts and lime. You'll take home leftovers even with the half order. It's a very casual, cafeteria style place, but I expect nothing more in the Capitola/Santa Cruz area. My daughter can entertain herself non-stop with all the animals they have scattered on the half walls throughout the restaurant. She gathers them up and plays pretend while I enjoy my vegan food. I'm no longer vegetarian, but I still like this place. My daughter (6) often gets the fruit cup and the quesadilla and my vegan sister often gets and loves the specials (things like vegan meatloaf or stir fries). Sorry that one family got sick and the manager handled it poorly. But I've eaten there lots and never had an issue. If you're vegetarian, try it. read more

OMG! This place may seem strange at first, but the food is amazing! The atmosphere is interesting. Kind of like a "New Wave Camp Cafeteria" with paintings of Jesus Meditating, Auras, and other artwork nailed onto wood panel walls. Toy dinosaurs lining the wall barrier, for what I am assuming is for the little ones to play with while the rest of their family finishes their food. And a serene rock waterfall at the front entrance for some peaceful water noises. You walk up to the counter and grab a menu, order, and wait for your name to be called so you can pick up your meal at the counter. While this may seem a bit pricey, their portioning is HUGE! You will for sure leave this establishment full. We shared the breakfast burrito, which we got twice while staying up here. It is so so so so good. The "Burrito" is more like a quesadilla, since they stuff it with so much food that you cant make a burrito out of it, just fold the tortilla over it! The spices, the cheese, beans, EVERYTHING about this burrito is so amazing, It is so BIG, so prepare to share it and still be content. Their CAROB SHAKE IS AAHHHHHHMAZING. Got 3 of those during our stay, so try that out! Love DHARMA'S!! read more

Wayyy to expensive for the food that you receive. The sandwich I ordered was 15 dollars and after waiting for quite a long time I was disappointed to get a sandwich with soggy bread and very unappealing mushrooms and artichokes. I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

Dharma's is Y-U-M-M-Y!!! I am not a vegetarian myself, but I would eat here any day. The menu has a large variety, from soup and salad to burritos and stir frys, not to mention the out-of-this-world breakfast options. The produce is organic and fresh, and the portions are hearty. I personally love the salad-brown rice-soup lunch special, and highly recommend the kitchari. Definetely a Santa Cruz standard. read more

We had lunch for the first time at Dharma's a few days ago. Although I was very impressed with the extensive menu, healthy options and varied clientele, I found my food to be OK, but not great. The carrots, onion and garlic in the Mexican Saute were undercooked in my opinion and the food seemed to be sort of thrown together, not really thought out or composed as a dish. The small version cost $10.25 and although it was really pretty large, a Burrito Bowl at one of the fast food joints would have cost much less and would have been more satisfying. I'll try other items next time and perhaps update this review. I will go back. I often find myself hungry while running errands and I usually avoid eating out because it is difficult to find something healthy and light for a mid-day meal. Now I have Dharma's to consider. It is right off of the 41 Ave shopping area. read more

Love dharmas! they can meet any of my requests here and the customer service is outstanding every time. I do believe the menu could be a little more explanatory - one time I ordered a pizza and the cheese was very thick for my liking, and another time I ordered pancakes with bananas and didn't know the bananas are baked into the pancakes - but I can't let that hold me back from giving this place 5 stars The food is delicious and I appreciate them being able to meet to the needs of vegetarians, vegans, and those who avoid gluten. Dharmas is awesome! read more

Still don't get it. Bland food on cheap paper plates with plastic forks for top dollar. Vegetarian food doesn't have to be bad. read more

Tahini lemon dressing forever! I adore the Brahma Burger and the Bow Thai. I love that (almost) every item has tons of veggies in it and that you can order a side of steamed yams. We eat meat, but we never miss it when eating here. It's very kid friendly--the toy animals are a great touch. It's counter service and the acoustics can be awfully noisy, but given those, it's perfect. read more

Unique little vegetarian place in Capitola. We finished a hike nearby and stopped in for lunch. You order and pay at the counter and then they'll yell your name when your food is ready to be picked up. I tried the Bo Thai. I really liked it (for not having any meat). The noodles were thick and delicious. And plenty of veggies and tofu. The sauce also made the whole dish pretty tasty. My friends had the Indian curry plate and the dan dan noodles. All the portions were huge with prices to match. I think all entrees were all $10+. And they have fresh juices and smoothies too. I was starving so I actually finished my food but I could see taking half of it home for later and still being satisfied. Afterwards, you clean and bus your own tables by bringing your empty dishes to the back. I would come back every once in awhile if I felt like being healthy. read more

When I first got to Dharma's, I was really disappointed by the location and the menu. It's in a strip mall and looks kind of like a Souplantation. Also, I thought it was vegan,but it's only vegetarian, with heavy use of cheese and other dairy. However, once I received my food and started eating, it was redeemed. I got the Thai stir-fry (I got the small portion, and it was HUGE) and a soy milkshake. Both of which were delicious. My boyfriend got vegan nachos which were also good. I also ordered the "pesto-roni" pizza to take to a party afterward, and it was incredible! I wish I had had more of an appetite. I soon grew to love the format of ordering and picking up food at the counter because it is super efficient. The order-taker was very helpful in suggesting vegan options. He even warned us that we might have ordered too much food (before I told him the pizza was for later). Also, they gave me directions over the phone when I got lost, which was really nice. I wish I could go back, but I was just driving through the SC. read more

The Fiance and I came to Dharma's Natural Foods for a late lunch. Dharma's is a vegetarian health food restaurant located in a strip mall about 1 - 2 miles from downtown Capitol. Everything here is vegetarian, so for all you carnivores out there, you're out of luck. Also many of their foods can be made vegan if you're looking to go that route. Dharma's is cafeteria style dinning. You grab a menu, wait in line, order your food, and then later they call your name out and you pick up your food. Their vegetarian menu runs the full spectrum of food options, from Burgers and Sandwiches, Mexican, to Italian and Pasta dishes, Soup and Salads, Pizza, and they offer a couple of Japanese and India dishes too. They also have a breakfast menu offering several eggless options. Prices here are on the high side. For burgers prices start at $8, sandwiches you're looking between $6 - $13, and for entrees you're looking at $9 - $15. So be prepared to spend a bit more than your local deli. They also offer beer, wine, and a couple of smoothie and fruit juice options too. The Fiance decided on the BLT and since I wasn't hungry I just got the lemonade. After putting in our order, we found a place to sit. Dharma's has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which made finding table easy. While the seating was easy, getting the food wasn't. We must have waited like 15 minutes to get just a BLT and lemonade. We thought they had forgotten our order because several people behind us got their order before us. They called our name and the Fiance went up and got our food. Sandwich was about average size. There was a nice thick slice of tomato, plenty of lettuce, but they did skimp on "bacon". I had a couple of bites, and it was pretty good. I probably couldn't tell you the difference between this bacon and the real stuff. The BLT also came with 8 chips. How do I know 8 chips, simple, it was to full corn tortilla chips cut in quarters. It tasted ok, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about. The lemonade I got was average. Again, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about either. In the end we spent $8 for a BLT and Lemonade. As for a rating, being a specialty place and the BLT tasted good, Dharma's doesn't deserve a 2 star rating, but the very slow service and high prices doesn't catapult Dharma's past a 3. Good option for vegetarians and vegans, but only if you have plenty of time to wait and plenty of cash in your wallet. In the end, I'm giving Dharma's a very weak and lack luster 3 star rating. read more

It's a vegetarian restaurant with a massive menu. For most vegetarians who must deal with their friends' choices in dining, I imagine that is good enough. Large portions (dare I say hearty?) Huge variety on the menu ought to leave us meat lover's happy and satisfied. I had "La Tostada" when my first choice (off the breakfast menu, services ends at noon) was no longer available. More of a salad topped with sour cream & guacamole than a tostada, but that is what the description promised. Oh, and massive it was. My friend had the biscuits and gravy, which left him pleased, and the breakfast burrito was 1) not a burrito (wrap the tortilla, not fold it) and 2) huge and delicious look'n. I'm giving it 3 stars -- I wasn't blown away by my food, but it was good. Perhaps ordering something else would have resulted in my being wowed; I look forward to going back and giving them another whirl. read more

While visiting Santa Cruz Dharma's is a must! The food is great; they have large portions (you could definitely share) and a nice variety of menu options. I can't seem to break away from the Nuclear Bluff, it's so tasty. I made a second trip this weekend for a dessert pit stop on my way home. I had the OJ Freeze and it was quite the tasty treat. Orange juice, bananas and vanilla soy ice cream, what's not to love? You could easily make this at home for a fraction of the cost, but when in Rome... Every time I go in it's always packed so I won't count it against them for taking a long time to get our food. They can make most items on the menu vegan so your options are almost endless. I wish Sacramento had a place like Dharma's! read more

Every time I eat here, it's good. Whether it is the noodles, Bo thai for dinner or surprisingly breakfast! We went for breakfast after a long hiatus of visiting. I was a little cranky because all I saw was a lot of tofu scrambles on the menu and the seating kind of reminds me of a convalescent home. I ended up ordering (sharing because it was HUGE), a breakfast burrito not expecting much, tofu, cheese, and potato, and refried beans, salsa etc. It was absolutely delicious! It also came with a salad on the side with very tasting dressing. So, I left feeling full, but light and satiated. ;) I really enjoyed my breakfast and really I felt like I was in a buddhist 'church' kitchen on Sunday with good vibes. My decaf coffee was so tasty, I ordered two cups, refills are only $1.10. read more

Researched the word Vegan on Yelp in the Santa Cruz area and found out about the Dharma Restaurant. Went in and was overwhelmed by the menu! Ordered the special tofu curry veggie dish! OH MAN I couldn't stop eating. Fried banana's with shredded coconut on top, yummers. Expensive dish but I had plenty of leftovers! I also ordered a soy chocolate peppermint shake which was heaven but might have been too much, it turned my inny into an outty. Full belly! read more

I absolutely love this place. I've been going threre more years. I've never ordered anything I didn't absolutely love. I am definately biassed being a vegetarian, but I don't think you would have to be to enjoy the food. There are so many options! My favorites at the moment are the Greek pasta, homemade vegetarian burger patties, and the macoroni and cheese. They offer way more than those, however. The portions are HUGE. The only downside a find is that the atmosphere can be a bit chaotic. A lot of children running around and it gets rather noisy. I don't dislike children, this is just not the place to go for a quiet lunch. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants throughout the northwest. It is all veg, organic and most important delicious! read more

If I ordered long ago what I had the other day I would have been coming here a lot more often!! Years back I tried a couple of dishes, not being a vegetarian, I didn't get it and was not happy with my selection. Now I was overjoyed with the selection of foods. I ordered the Greek Pasta, small, and happy it was the small. I ate every bit on that plate, it was so good. The salad was nice and fresh with a tasty dressing. The bread was very good and the pasta dish was flavorful and just enough to fill me up but not stuffed. I didn't think the prices were that bad. The chai seemed a bit high; but it's homemade and oh so good!!! I had a groupon, which is what prompted us to go there. I'm glad we stopped by. I would like to try a few other dishes. The BF ordered the BBQ "pulled pork" I don't know what that substance was, but it was good. I didn't see anything about no cell phones; but I hate it when people are on the phone when you're out dining. Since I don't come here, I didn't even realize the water station, you needing to clean up after yourself and the to-go station. Very Santa Cruzan! The art work was colorful and very pretty. Can't say much for the staff. The food took awhile to come out, wasn't paying attention as to how long but they were definitely very busy. read more

Place is awesome. Try the spaghetti and meatballs. My fav. Everything I've tried there I would recommend.

The food is great, huge portions, expansive menu. The rice, soup salad is a great go-to (try the tahini lemon dressing! It's got a cult-following for good reason). They'll let you taste the soups before ordering. I also love the samurai soup, Dan Dan noodles, and the lost taco. Don't forget to clean up after yourself! This is a bus-your-own-table joint. :) read more

i'm a santa cruz local and this is bottom tier. lots of great vegan/vegetarian places but this isn't one. overpriced bland food, ugly place, rude customer service. can't believe i paid $19 for the worst vegan burrito of my life, complete mush. live and learn :) read more

SO here is the dirt, Dharmas has great ingredients and healthy creative meals BUT, the food is so expensive for a counter style order dine. I had a small $7 salad which I will say was great and worth the price and some peanut noodles $9 or $10 bucks, that was good, not great. When I wanna go pick up a healthy meal I go here and then usually feel like I overpaid... If they were cheaper I would feel very different about them. Don't get the nachos. read more

I'm a vegan and this is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. The food is really good. The prices are high especially since you order cafeteria style and are expected to bus your own table. The portions are very generous. I would give a 4 star however I found out after eating the bread, and some of the dressings that even though I stressed that I am vegan and asked that my meal be vegan that the bread and dressings contain honey (not vegan) This happens too much. Every time I go in I have ask that my food be vegan and I still have to return the salad dressings. I'm not sure if the bread contains whey so I just won't eat it again. It is noisy and children seem to be encouraged to run around and grab the cute plastic animals off your table, which is scary when you are carrying a large tray of food and drinks to the table. The menu is diverse with a ton of choices. I love the potato enchilada special, the Al Pastor vegan tacos and the Tofu de beast. Oh and they have great vegan shakes! Good place to eat, casual atmosphere and you can eat outdoors. read more

Fresh, organic, delicious food. All vegetarian and quite vegan-friendly. Downsides are they don't consider honey to be an animal product (vegans don't eat honey!), it's often noisy, and they underestimate the time on call-in orders. read more

Disclaimer: This is a review for non-vegetarians, by a non-vegetarian. For vegetarians and vegans, this place is for you. For everyone else, skip it. Though I have several friends who love the place (veggie or not), I don't care for the overpriced menu which features tons of meals that look great to order......until I remember there's no meat in them. The interior is ok. You got to wait in line to order. The service is kinda slow. The destination is pretty out of the way. So...not my favorite. What To Look For While You Wait For Your Food: You can look at yourself in a mirror, hearing your own growling stomach. read more

I've been to Dharma's a number of times, and it has never disappointed. The food is great, it's a quirky, casual atmosphere, and ordering is easy. I'm vegetarian and this is by far the best selection/quality of any vegetarian restaurant I've tried. My boyfriend eats meat but loves Dharma's, especially the burritos and the BBQ sandwich. The chocolate chip cookies are probably my favorite thing here...can't get enough of those! read more

The Nuclear Bluff and Rueben sandwiches are amazing. Even their mac and cheese is exquisite their portions are large so you may want to split a meal with a friend or figure on taking half of it home to eat the next day as delicious leftovers. I eat desserts first. I love their vegan chocolate cake. Their milkshakes either made with real ice cream or with vegan ice cream are also great. Having Wi-Fi at a meeting place is always handy. Everything there is vegetarian with many dishes vegan. read more