Really delicious food and friendly customer service! Very receptive to feedback! Thank you for being welcoming!

Great place to get delicious and filling vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free food! Definitely hit the spot

Goodness. I've heard whisperings about ridiculous rubrics that people use to rate places on Yelp in faraway places like SF and NYC but I think the Golden Temple must take the cake in Birmingham. Is it surprising that people who automatically associate the aroma of patchouli with dirty hippies have found this place repugnant? Hardly. They were biased before they walked in the door! So, let's be clear: if you're going to be put-off by an all vegetarian menu, a cook with kelly green dreads, or the aromas of a store that sells essential oils/crystals/homeopathy wafting over you during meal time then **abort mission**, save yourself the frustration and walk a little further to find yourself in the comfort of the nearest Jimmy John's down the street. JJ's is sterile and homogenous with every other one of it's kind around... you'll be safe and happy there, promise. Annnnways. As implied, GT is super-crunch level hippie but don't let that intimidate you! My review only focuses on the Cafe side which is a healthy, speedy and delicious option for lunch. Everything is vegetarian but there are also a number of vegan options available. I can't recommend the Temple Stack highly enough. As a former vegetarian this dish is veg-head comfort food at it's finest - a massive bowl of rice, beans, shredded cheese, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. I LOVE that they have a whole rack of complimentary accoutremonts to dress your meal: bragg amino acids, nutritional yeast, varying hot sauces, pickled veggies, etc. YUM. There are other menu items but this one has captured my heart so I can't comment on others. They also offer a revolving menu of daily specials which, in my experience, are hit-or-miss but The Stack never disappoints. The build your own smoothie option is a lifesaver for a quick dose of nutrients given that they use real, unadulterated, frozen fruits and the base liquid of your choice... no artificial flavors or sugars in sight! Woot! The service is always kind, compassionate and speedy. All in all, this is a rock solid choice for lunch in 5pts for those folks willing to brave the Bohemian vibe. read more

I come here for lunch about once a week. As others have said, the "Stack" is a tasty spin on a burrito bowl and I can usually make it last for two meals. The whole menu is about $1-$2 more expensive than I think it should be, but everything is pretty good and homemade. The salads are a good size and the homemade dressings are really yummy and have a lot of variety. My favorite thing BY FAR is the curry though, they only do it as a special every now and then. It should absolutely be on the menu, I would buy it twice a week. Great for vegans and vegetarians (I'm neither by the way). read more

The only thing I've ever gotten from the restaurant side is a smoothie; it was great. But I shop on the grocery side alot. I can go in that small little store and seem to get lost. If I had a lot of money I'd be a product junkee, but since I'm on a budget, I go in and grab the few items i need ( essential oils/organic vinegar/natural soaps/teas/ a book) . The prices could be better though. And you guys are right about the service. They could have something so special. But I feel like I'm sort of bothering them when I shop and I also feel watched (like i'm a shoplifter). If that was my store, I'd make it into an oasis. read more

The restaurant is so good. I have tried many things from the menu and was never disappointed. Options for vegan and gluten free individuals.

I couldn't believe there was a vegan restaurant in Alabama that was this amazing! I will be back in town this Christmas and can't wait to try them out again. They have been here for 50 years or so... read more

Extremely humble and not fancy. If you don't mind that the menu looks pretty decent and amazing especially for the Deep South. We ordered some fruit smoothies for the road. They were simple (add ons like PB or protein powder were expensive) but good. I like what they are trying to do. Hard working, crunchy people behind the counter. Worth a stop for two vegans making their way to Birmingham! read more

Has changed greatly recently. Highly priced for cheaply prepared food. My last (yes last) visit was a piece of cold dry almost inedible "lasagna" for the very low price of $10.95. Sad to say this as I have frequented them for 30 yrs. read more

Golden Temple Cafe - Vitamins & Supplements Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

See all

The Golden Temple "grilled" (one side only) sandwich was pretty good for lunch today. Lots of fresh guac, tomatoes, raw mushrooms and black olives, all on toasted bread served with blue corn chips. The guacamole did not have the chalky taste of guac paste and it had a few nice chunks in it. The guac spilled over the side, which was convenient for the chips. It would have been nice of both sides of the sandwich were grilled or toasted before serving. Fairly quick service too. read more

This place serves healthful vegetarian food that tastes great. I love the stack, the super quesadilla, cream cheese/date/walnut sandwich, salad, guacamole. You can also build your own smoothie to suit your preference, which is great for picky people like me. Maybe it's not super cheap, but I think it's fair.. especially when you are getting these healthful and special diet options in a high rent area. My only complaint is that they are only open for lunch!! I like the store a lot as well. They have Lifeway kefir (my personal favorite), kombucha, many specialty grocery items (you know, the ones you see in a vegan or gluten free recipe and wonder where to buy it), and a selection of local produce. I should probably warn you that I seem to like it more than some of my friends.. but I guess I'm just so happy that I can eat something delicious AND nutritious without having to make it my d*mn self. I leave with a happy glow, and maybe a hint of incense on my clothes. read more

Cutest cafe you'll ever see! Everything is vegetarian AND there are vegan options for everything

So maybe a little pricey but for Birmingham Alabama you can't get much better... Took me a while to finally make it in (they close early) but happy to have walked a few miles from where I was staying in town... The tofu stir fry was delicious and the banana mango blueberry almond milk smoothie was as good as it sounds :) bought some necessary travel supplies in the attached store and was happy to spend a few extra dollars to support this local business... The staff was wonderful and courteous, and i recommend this spot hands down! read more

Golden Temple is a staple of vegetarian cuisine in Birmingham. Having been open for almost 50 years, it's a great spot for lunch any day but Sunday (the cafe is closed), and they've got an eclectic store, as well. Every menu item is either vegan or can be made vegan, and they have a different special every day. I just wish they were open for brunch and/or dinner! read more

Parking in that area is a perpetual issue; deal with it. The food is plant-based and of quality organic ingredients. The teas are very well done, full of flavor and of perfect brew strength. The quantity of the meals are enough to satisfy any working man. My only recommendation is to the staff....WELCOME your patrons; offer assistance and RECOMMEND. I came in full military uniform which might...MIGHT...have been seen as atypical for the clientele; recommend that you target such as me and welcome us. While likely not pure vegans, we do seek healthy alternatives to Five Guys. : ] read more

I agree with Chelsea. I rarely buy anything from the grocery side but I LOVE the Cafe. It is so delicious! Sometimes the people who work their are kinda rude and unhelpful but the food is so yummy I forgive them. But last time I went one of the guys that serves the food was very helpful and answered all my questions in detail. He was also pretty cute ;) It is vegetarian and vegan but my friends that do eat meat have come here with me and loved it too! So don't let that scare you! It is so delicious and full of flavour. It can be a little pricey but the portions are huge and can easily be shared. read more

I have only eaten at the cafe once, and it was just OK to me. The draw to me is the store side, where you can find so many unique items. Love their selection of incense and essential oils. The staff are always very friendly and welcoming too. read more

Very solid food for an organic, vegetarian type of place. I love the cheap soups with the ability to add rice and grab bread for no extra charge. read more

I'm trying to give a fair review considering I didn't get to try any food here. I had juice and bought some products from the store. I got there too early for the lunch menu around 9:00 a.m. so I couldn't try any of the food. It did smell tasty. I know what the other reviews mean by this place seems dirty, it just doesn't look clean. It's more that it could use a new floor and seeing them wash dishes isn't very reassuring. The juice was good, but it was SOOOO small and so expensive. I thought I ordered a medium, but it looked about 12 oz and it was about $7 and some change. That's more outrageous than big chain prices like Jamba Juice or Robek's. That was enough to send me into thinking this place was just OK. But, it is one of the only truly vegan places around Birmingham so it's hard for me not to like it. read more

Visited for the first time today and will definitely be back. Had the curry burrito and it and the beans were very good! The employees were pleasant and I enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. read more

Great food with several vegan options. Try the Lima bean soup. A bit pricey, however.

Great Yoga class on Tuesday and Thursday at 5:15 pm. The Teacher, Ross, is excellent and the atmosphere peaceful.

I'm never disappointed with this place. Had the lunch special of butter bean rosemary soup which was out of this world delicious! It also came with 2 tacos full of avocados and goodness! You could also get 2 sides. This was plenty for 2 people. What a bargain for $14! Service is friendly and such a peaceful place. read more

As an African American vegetarian for over 20 years, to me this establishment is no different at treating AA than the by gone era of the Jim Crow south. You would think that the Buddhist nature wouldn't warrant following a black medical professional thru the store to see if he is stealing (yep twice while i was in scrubs) or blatant preferential treatment to whites. This is the south, I get it and unfortunately I have accepted the cultural racial sickness that exist. However, seeing it in an environment that I usually would call a safe haven from such ills, is disgusting and a betrayal of the community that they cater to. If you're a minority go the extra mile to WF or TJ and save yourself the time travel to the Jim Crow era. read more

Both the Grocery and the Cafe had the most irreverent service I've ever experienced. Really pathetic. Dusty dirty shelves and employees who couldn't care less. My latte was the worst ever and they make a big deal about substituting organic milk for non-organic - charging a lot of extra money and complaining about the extra effort. Sad - they could really have something special and unique. read more

While the store has a great selection, the employees are often rude. I walked past one smiled and said hello, and was simply ignored. Even when I first walked into the store, I was denied a simple "hello" "how are you". These types of things matter. Along with this, the store is not the most inviting either. There is a whole row of food items, that just looks dusty. Everything also seems pretty cramped. This store carries holistic items, but they're sometimes overpriced, and I can go to a much more inviting and inexpensive store to purchase them. I myself will not be going back, but I will give the store three stars for selection. read more

i was visiting birmingham last weekend, and we went to this place for lunch. it was great!!! it is a vegetarian/vegan spot to eat, and they have all of the healthy things that a health-conscious person craves, like freshly extracted vegetable juices and vegan choices on the menu. it seemed that the menu had a mexican flavor, at least from the menu they had when i was in. i had vegan nachos! delicious!!! i also had a chance to browse in the grocery side and they have all that you can find at whole foods and more! but it's local, so why not support that? read more

Soggy. Understaffed. Too expensive. Portions are too much for the plate. Inconsistent.

As a vegetarian, I was really excited to try the food here. I was hoping it would be better than the few times I've tried to do some grocery shopping there where the employees were rude and terrible. So, finally excited to try to the lunch there, I glanced over the menu and tried to pick out something that I wasn't able to make easily at home, especially 'cause the prices seemed a bit high for what it was. Sure enough, the food I received was completely bland and no amount of cajun spice could quite save it. Bottletree is the better option for vegan/vegetarian food. read more

This is one of those places I will NEVER GO BACK TO. I'm a visually impaired disabled veteran. I went there and ordered a smoothie that came up to five dollars and change, I gave the man at the registry a $20.00 bill and he (believing I was totally blind) gave only a dollar back as change. He and his female store keeper said nothing until I asked him where my change was since I had given him a $20.00 bill. It is sad that they would attempt to take advantage of a legally blind person, specially over change at the register. Please stay out or at least count your money when you pay. The place is also dirty, rude employees and the smoothie was so poor in taste I literally threw half of it away down the street. read more

I have been going to the Golden Temple for years now. I can get a wholesome lunch in a funky atmosphere for under ten dollars. Their guacamole is great, their soups are good, the bread is free and the attitude is laid back. It's not for everyone. There's plenty of standard issue fare elsewhere. read more

We were visiting from out of town on a weekday afternoon and just delighted to find a cafe serving vegan food. We had vegan sandwiches and fries and they were tasty and reasonably priced. That day there was also vegan lasagna which looked very nice. The place has a sort of down at the heels 1970's hippy vibe, so it was kind of a fun time warp. You can see into the kitchen area and it looked clean. The restrooms were clean. The shop has some interesting new age kitsch to browse. The groceries are a bit pricey, but they have a good selection of vegetarian/vegan foods. There is a free customer parking lot on the side. When we asked the parking lot attendant if we could walk around a bit and see the nearby Five Points area and Story Tellers Fountain, he was very pleasant and told us to park as long as we liked. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the city!! Not only is the food and service amazing, I just love coming to the store and feeling the great vibes!! I come here for the vegan and gluten free quesadilla and it is mouthwatering!! I have to get my weekly fix!! I normally never leave reviews but I feel so strongly about this place! read more

This store used to be one of my favorites. However, after my experience today, I will do everything in my power to make them lose business. I frequent this store for groceries and also buy alot of clothing from the boutique inside. However, when looking at mittens today, I was approached by a man whom Ive never seen before and was asked to leave and accused of stealing. When I asked why I was being accused and what proof he cared to share with me, I was told there was no proof and that I looked around to long without buying something but needed to leave. Not to mention how embaressing this was, but the audacity of one to accuse a regular customer of this shocked me. I love the items in this store, However I have always felt like I was being watched (like a shoplifter) and feel very bothersome to the staff when I ask for help. The staff has changed recently and then again, I have never seen this man who approached me before. However, it sure has gone down hill. I will never return and unfortunately will have to find a new Yoga center for my family as well. This was a real shame. Shame on you Golden Temple! read more