I've been meaning to get myself over to this Hare Krishna temple for their buffet lunch since I moved to the neighborhood three years ago! I finally went today and it was just as great as I expected. Essentially a large cafeteria in the basement, there is a small buffet set up with different specials each day. Today they served breaded tofu with sides such as rice, lentils, broccoli, beans, cole slaw, salad, bread, etc. Prices are so reasonable and you pay based on how many items you want. I had a plate with four items and paid $10. It was a huge amount of food and everything tasted great. Make sure to taste all of the condiments too which added some extra flavors. I felt full but healthy afterward and also enjoyed people watching while I ate - you'll find everyone here! From large Indian families to Brooklyn hipsters, everyone will feel at home. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Massive lunch of tofu, beans, broccoli and cole slaw for $10 - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This restaurant is a hidden gem in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple. The set-up is basically cafeteria style. You order your food, it's placed on a tray, and you walk to a table (unless, of course, you do take out, which they offer). The prices depend on how many items you choose for your plate. You can also order sides, such as veggie samosas for an extra cost. The décor is basic, and they play Indian music (mostly Hare Krishna chants) which makes for a nice/cool atmosphere. As for the food: WOW!!! I had cabbage balls which were amazing. I also had mixed veggies which were cooked to perfection and wonderfully spiced. The eggplant parm was interesting, but in a good way. My family (Maltese on my mom's side, with some Sicilian relatives) makes it differently, but the spicing made for a most tasty variation of a classic dish. I wanted to order a side of samosas, but unfortunately they were still being cooked. While I was disappointed, the 3-choice option was very filling, and I left feeling very happy. The people who work there are very nice. When you enter the temple, there is usually a person at the front desk to welcome visitors and point them to the restaurant. We arrived a little early and spent some time looking around the temple, which was nice. The restaurant is only open on weekdays for lunch, starting at noon. It's a bit of a schlep from my office in midtown Manhattan, but I had taken the day off and was playing tour guide for a visiting friend. While eating, it looked like the restaurant has a loyal following among locals. With food like this, that is no surprise. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Hidden gem for veggie lovers under a hindu temple in the basement. It is set up as a cafeteria with a food area. You are able to choose between full meal (a huge plate enough for two people for $12 which comes with rice, bread and soup) or multiple items small plates for $9~11. Each day they will have different daily special (and today was eggplant - YUMMY!). The side dishes include: sauteed cabbage, string bean and carrots, braised tofu and quinoa salad. I also got an extra scallion naan for ~$2 as my friend and I were just sharing a big plate. Again, the place is in the basement of a hindu temple and the decorations are very interesting and it almost feels like that you were in a hindu palace a little bit. The place is very spacious and they have big tables for groups as well. Do bring enough cash (~$13 per person) as the place is cash only. In case you can't find the place, in front of the temple there is a menu board showing daily specials. Walk right in and downstairs. Be ready to enjoy! read more

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I feel like I've just hit the jackpot. And by jackpot, I mean I've discovered delicious, cheap, fresh food in the most unexpected place imaginable. Yes, I'm talking about in the basement of a hare krishna temple. Don't you just love that? You can wander past this place without doing a double take. There's no large neon sign. No flyers. No people advertising outside. It's good ol' fashioned word-of-mouth marketing and of course many thanks to all of you. When you walk in, look past the man that sits by the door and past the temple services and to your right you will find Govinda's. Picture this: Walk down a flight of stairs into what looks like a much-needed-rennovation space that reminds me of an older catering hall/cafeteria. The walls are a interesting shade of green and it's a veryyyy casual atmosphere. And..... I love all of it. The staff here is incredibly friendly and always have a smile on their faces. If you look at the sign on the wall (see picture) it'll tell you the price breakdown. Everything is made that day (buffet style) and fresh out of the kitchen. Their desserts for the most part are vegan so if you have dietary restrictions, always ask! They're very accommodating. As for the food. Holy cow (irony, I know) this stuff is GOOD. No GREAT. They offer vegetarian/vegan options without sacrificing any flavor. I've been able to each lunch here (Mon-Fri 12:00-3:30pm) a few times and their star dish IMO has to be the eggplant parm. It's not your traditional eggplant parm by any means in that there's a underlying hint of curry with every bite. Super "meaty" and cheesy. I've also had their: pumpkin soup, quinoa salad, curry chickpeas, roasted curry potatoes/veggies, vegan cookies and cupcakes. Their meals come with their own homemade multigrain bread which is pretty stellar like everything else. Not only are the portions pretty hefty (I have yet to finish my full lunch), but they're very reasonably priced. Everything I've had here has been nothing short of amazing. I'm looking forward to becoming one of their "regulars". ***TIP! Their daily offerings are usually posted on their facebook page. So check that out: https://www.facebook.com/govindaslunch read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Amazing. - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I can definitely say Govinda's offers the best vegan Indian food in Brooklyn.* $6-$8 will fill your hungry lunchtime belly to the bursting point with creative, homemade Indian dishes that change daily. Everything is served cafeteria style by a sweet, smiley lady. Entrees range from nut "meat" loaf, chana masala, quinoa salad, lentil daal, vegan eggplant parmesan, curried kale, etc. The slices of raisin bread they serve are free and go great with the daal. They also have free mango lemonade for all customers, but it usually runs out by around 3pm. The lunch buffet is open until 3:30pm on weekdays only. Govinda's makes food that my grandma would make if she were Indian. It tastes so homemade, unique, and infused with thought, love, and care. I would love to meet the head chef and thank him for creating such unique Indian dishes that are delicious and always perfectly spiced. Thank you, Govinda's, for giving me a lunch option other than Two Bros or Subway! *In Manhattan, that title goes to the NY Dosa cart near NYU. Thiru (the cart owner and chef) is the man! read more

Govinda's Kitchen - All this for $7. Cabbage meatballs, Dahl - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

My favorite types of restaurants in Brooklyn are those that you can walk right past and not even know they were there. Govinda's takes that a step further; you can walk inside and STILL not realize that a buffet of delicious vegetarian food is waiting for you just below your feet. As the second most hipster thing I've ever said (refer to Bunna Cafe in Bushwick for the first), Govinda's is some of the best (and only!) vegetarian food I've had in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple. Say what?? Thank god I had Yelp lead to me this place, as I'd never discover it otherwise. Each day, they offer a completely different menu of vegetarian mains, sides, salads, and desserts. If you are terrible at making decisions like me, or just want to try everything, definitely get the complete meal for only $12. There is literally nowhere else in the city that you can get amazing food in epic proportions for such a low cost. It always includes a curried type of light soup with a fresh salad, and AMAZING freshly baked bread. From there, the possibilities are endless; the menu changes every single day and is usually updated on their Facebook page. Once I had pasta salad, mixed vegetables, veggie keftas, and chickpeas, while today I had a tofu fillet, rice with chili, broccoli, and cabbage with potatoes. Their meals tend to have a lot of curry flavors and lean heavily on carbs/starches, but I'm not complaining one bit. And whatever you do, do. not. skip. dessert. If there is cheesecake available, get it. It's a huge slice for $4, but perfectly rich, creamy, and decadent. All said and done, you'll probably get 3 meals out of the complete set with your leftovers, and you'll still never get tired of eating. The food is really simple and definitely tastes homemade, but I mean that in the best way possible. The lines at prime lunch hours definitely attest to Govinda's popularity, but everyone is really nice and the line moves quickly. Keep your eyes peeled for the sign on street level and be prepared to eat your weight in vegetarian goodies. read more

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Govinda's is the type of place you'd never expect to find in NYC, with the added benefit of actually being *IN* NYC. A true hidden gem, nestled in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple in downtown Brooklyn, Govinda's offers top notch food made with love at prices fit for a pauper's wallet. GV has a constantly revolving menu, so don't expect the same thing twice! Fret not, because everything here is crafted to perfection reminiscent of your mother's kitchen, with an environment just as peaceful and loving. I come here as often as I can, which is still not often enough! Tip: Free flavored water and teas! read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Bean salad, broccoli and peppers, pasta with artichoke asparagus, bread and vegan lemon poppy seed cupcake (vegan) for 8$! - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Pure magic! Orange! pink! mint! Plant based & delicious! No dead animals Happy plants Happy belly $ Friendly staff :) Blue gods playing flute under paradise Apple tree Will be RIGHT BACK HERE !!! read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Go go vegan! - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

From bread to salad to main dish, they don't cut corners. Everything is extremely flavorful, and the kitchari with yogurt is the creamiest and richest version of the dish I've ever had. The only thing I don't like is their free "juice" - it's too sweet and artificial. But the free infused water is great. Restrooms are clean and the staff here is sooo friendly. Here is the weekly menu on rotation: Monday - kitchari Tuesday - tofu Wednesday - nut loaf Thursday - eggplant parm Friday - parm and whole wheat pasta read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Kitchari w yogurt, lentil and kale - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Amazingly ridiculously good food served by an amazing ridiculous staff at amazingly ridiculous prices. Govinda's is my favorite place for food in Brooklyn. I get the largest platter and save some for later. I can't believe experiences like this exist in such an expensive, globalized and commercialized place like NYC. Thank you to you, thank you. read more

Hard to find is an understatement. It's not any food place around the area that I've been to before. It felt like walking into a church rectory. But the food!? YES! Very authentic, best and tastey vegetarian place in Downtown Brooklyn area. This will definitly going to be in my lunch rotation. Ok I'll will be selfish and tell everyone to stay away! read more

Govinda's Kitchen - So much goodness for $10 - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Great vegetarian cuisine for cheap. You get so much food for $7. I was full for the day. It's like a cafeteria, when you go to the counter, order three items, then enjoy. The lassi tasted very fresh Fpr beginners: They only sell lunch, and the place is inside a Krishna temple and u have to go downstairs once you get into the temple read more

Giving this restaurant more than 3 stars is just a misleading info. It's located in a basement, very limited selection of food. People were super nice and it's cheap, the food OK at most. It is not a gurme nor an exceptional small /hidden place. Quick and cheap OK food read more

Finally remembered to visit now that I'm constantly WFH. The food is delicious and I feel like I'm scamming them with how cheap it is and how much they give as well. Will definitely be revisiting in the future! read more

My go to zen lunch place. Delicious and affordable. The workers are amazing and are always willing to answer your queries about the menu with a wonderful smile. They have different food every single day. I love this place. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Another Hot Vegan spot to go!!!!! The food is great and I can't wait for them to come to Queens. Talk about fresh food, oh man. I need to learn how to cook like that. I celebrated there for Thanksgiving and Christmas and it was all you can eat buffet. Desserts over thirty and drinks at least four flavors were included but I was unable to eat everything. Let me know your opinion if and when you go. Oh, did I mention they have the world best samosa. That's right, I said samosas. read more

Hidden gem in Brooklyn. Serves vegetarian and vegan Sattvic Indian and Italian cuisine Monday to Friday. Amazing food. https://www.facebook.com/govindaslunch read more

As others have mentioned it's in the basement of a temple, with a high school cafeteria set up. They serve vegan/vegetarian dishes (a lot of Indian cuisine). I would've never known the place was here had I not found it on yelp, actually. This was my second time here today for lunch. I tried the pumpkin paneer (which was very good) with rice, salad, and sautéed cauliflower/spinach/peppers. Everything tastes great no flavors were overpowering or too "spicy". Did I mention it was all $10, and came with free mint lemonade. In addition the people serving the food are very congenial. Really cool place, good food, good price. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Pumpkin paneer w/ salad and rice - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I love this place so much I have, and willing, to take a day off from work and trek all the way from jersey city to get here. It's that good. And healthy. And the people behind the counter are incredibly friendly. It's the best deal for lunch in the city. Come with an empty stomach and Tupperware. The complete meal should be called the complete day--- there's that much food. All for $12. read more

Govinda's is a rare vegan treat. We had been to the temple in Queens and also ate cafeteria style in the basement. You could miss the building aisle as it does not look like a temple from the outside. Today the food was delicious. We had baked winter squash, cartelized in the oven with light curry flavors. The soup, a smooth lentil soup with small cumin seeds was delicious and light. We also had a mixture of rice, lentils and other vegetables with an amazing herbed yogurt sauce. The green beans and potato curry was a little spicier than the other curries and richly seasoned. The salad was fresh with slivers of carrots and a variety of mixed greens in a wonderful herb vinaigrette. It was all topped off by a fresh mont tea. Two of had lunch for $16. They charge by the dish and it gets cheaper and cheaper as you add dishes. So go hungry. You won't miss the meat! Namaste! read more

Very satisfying, low frills lunch. It's located in the basement of what I think is a Hare Krishna temple. The people who work there are very friendly and helpful. Today the main item was lasagne, but because I'm vegan I didn't get it. The items I did get (cauliflower, spinach) were delicious. It's probably the healthiest and largest hot lunch you can get for under $10 in all of Brooklyn. Highly recommended. read more

So happy to finally try Govinda's Vegetarian, the food here is delicious and the people here are so friendly! I enjoyed everything I tried. The gripe about this place is that it operates on limited hours they are open from 12:00pm to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday. Another thing is that they are sometimes closed so check Facebook for announcements and for the menu for that day. Love this spot! read more

a truly delicious meal: eggplant parm kofka(sp?) beets and salad they also had cupcakes! friendly environment in the basement of the hare krishna temple! i recommend this for vegetarians and non-veggies anywhere. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

This place is literally my second home. It's dangerous working within walking distance of this place. I've definitely gone multiple times per week. THAT'S how tasty it is. Reasons why this place is the bomb (because who doesn't love a good list!): 1) The options are endless - They have a different main dish every single day of the week. On top of that, they have rotating sides (which are really main dishes in themselves). My personal favorite day is eggplant parm day, also known as Thursday. They give you a HUGE cheesey hunk of parm and as many sides as you can handle. 2) Speaking of sides, you can basically choose as many food items that you want, ranging from one item ($5) to a complete meal ($12). 3) You can combine two items into one! I love getting rice and beans together as one item. It helps with the cost and allows you the opportunity to try more delicious items! 4) The portions are huge! I personally love getting the four item plate. It's only $10 but is enough food for two meals! 5) I'm like Oprah. I love bread. I love it. And Govinda's has a fresh bread option every day! It's a carb lover's dream come true. Moral of the story: Go here. Go now. (But only if now is between 12-3pm M-F, otherwise they're closed) read more

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Awesome vegetarian/vegan lunch spot. This is as good as it gets. Food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Excellent customer service and atmosphere. The Head Chef, Satya, runs it all! She is amazing and very knowledgeable about various cuisine and their health benefits. She started the business years ago and has grown it with her determination and hard work! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! read more

A hidden gem on Schermerhorn Street. A serene downstairs cafeteria-style dining room with low lighting and subtle music. Lunch specials between noon and 3:00pm. I like Thursdays' eggplant parmigiana. Namaste!! read more

Govinda's is back in business. The food is still great. What's missing is the loving atmosphere that existed before. The current staff works hard and are attentive. But the caring and love is lost. Wish this wasn't so... read more

You will not find food made with more love and nutrition than at govindas. Be sure to come on a Tuesday for tofu fillets with exquisite green sauce - or rather stay home and save more for me read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

The best place to eat in downtown Brooklyn, one of my favorite places to eat in NYC. The food is beautiful, healthy and delicious. What an unlikely surprise in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple! This is the exact kind of thing that makes NYC special. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Oh no. Like so many other folks, I lunched here pretty much 5 days a week for years; it was a solid five stars for oh so many reasons. But then things changed over this last winter, and the charm has gone, the friendliness has gone, but worst of all, the flavour and heartiness of the lunches has completely gone. Alas poor Govinda. I knew you well. read more

Great place to have lunch! They have their daily specials with other dishes constantly changing. I always find something new to try. Always fresh & yummy. Tons of vegan options. The folks behind the counter couldn't be more helpful and pleasant. Make sure you save room the desserts. 2 thumbs way up! read more

Amazing food, amazing staff! Loved it so much! Recommend it! And cost friendly too. Good for a work day meal. Simple food, and reminds me of home made indian food. The ladoos are out of the world. Same with pedas. Must try dessert and the eggplant lasagna is amzaing! Great! read more

Great food! Super friendly people! Great energy! One of my favorite places in NY.

Hearty healthy lunch with super friendly staff. Definitely a must go place! In the downstairs of a temple, it is perfect for lunch and clean and tidy. read more

Govinda's Kitchen - Where have you seen ginger punch before?! Now we know where to get it. - Vegetarian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I got an allergic reaction from something I ate there and wrote them a message on Facebook politely asking for the ingredients to try to identify what the culprit could be as per my doctor's orders. UPDATE: They did get back to me. As for the review of the place/food itself - as everyone has noted its in the basement of a temple. Very plain and almost cafeteria / soup kitchen setting. There's a small section with the food that is served buffet style (CASH ONLY). Everything is vegan/vegetarian and the menu changes daily. Thursdays and Fridays are the most popular days because those are the days they serve eggplant parmesan. The food itself is affordable - $4 for one item, $6 for 2 items and $7 for one item with 3 sides. There's an $8 and $10 option as well and they give you a good amount of food. $4 for cake and $1 for cookies It was a little confusing though because given their menu I should've been able to get 2 eggplant parms for $6 but was told I would have to pay $8 if I did that. The wording of the menu did not make that clear at all. SERVICE: There's a woman there who was very friendly and pleasant, but there was also a guy there helping her who had a sourpuss face, unfriendly demeanor and nasty attitude. He made me feel uncomfortable every time I went up to look at the food (I got some food to go at the end of my meal) and made me not want to go back. While he was already in a sour mood before I had any interaction with him, I think the later bad vibes he sent my way stemmed from the fact that I handed him money over the counter and instead of him looking to see that there were quarters in my hand he simply dragged the money out of my hand, which resulted in some quarters ending up in the quinoa. He looked annoyed at me even though had he been paying attention he could have avoided that accident. (p.s. - he didn't change the quinoa container after picking the quarters out. EEK!) TIP #1: If you have t-mboile there's no internet connection in the basement TIP #2: CASH ONLY! TIP #3: Go on eggplant day (Thursday and Friday) but go early because it's their busiest day and they do sell out Major gripes - very short operating hours, they do run out of the stuff you want, and the line can get really long read more

This place is truly amazing! When Yelp came up with Govindas while searching for food near work,I was not entirely sure what to expect since even though the name suggested an Indian place,the food pics suggested a varied cuisine(eggplant parm,cheesecake?!)It was a pleasant surprise to find out it was in the basement of a temple,giving me an opportunity to visit both the temple upstairs and sample the tasty fare downstairs. Every morsel here is seasoned to perfection.The salads and side dishes with zucchini and quinoa are not exactly Indian food but they have managed to combine the best flavours of both Indian and western cuisine to create an extraordinary fare equally palatable to everyone.My favorites are the eggplant parm and the delicious salads. The desserts look heavenly(I am yet to try those since sugar highs in the middle of the day are not good for the rest of my work day).The best part is that they have managed to make the food light and non greasy while still retaining the taste,making this a perfect place to hit up for lunch. The free pickles and lemon flavored water are a nice touch to make you fall even more in love with this unassuming place.The prices are really low and you kinda get the feeling that here,it's more about people enjoying the food than actually making a profit.The people serving the food are super nice as are those who come to eat here. Many a time,total strangers who seem to be regulars here have offered tips on what to get.I guess good food brings out the best in people. Definitely unique and hugely satisfying! read more

I was skeptical when my friend suggested we go to a vegetarian place in a temple for lunch one day. Really skeptical. I mean, I love vegetarian food - dont get me wrong. But Ive had BAD vegetarian food, and while its not up there with "bad sushi" or "bad Indian food" bad vegetarian food is dry, dense, and makes you want to shove your face in a cow. But, of course he used the words "delicious" and "secret entrance" so I was sold on it. I will never question this guy again. We walked into the temple and turned down the stairs into a cafeteria-style open room. We got in line and I just followed suit and ordered the $10 special (everything). Secretly, I ordered it because I knew if there were two things I didnt like, there were at least 2-3 more options there on my plate. We went on NutLoaf day... which kinda creeped me out (I dont even really like nuts), but it was a hearty and moist cake with what felt like some almonds/pecans/cashews really finely added. The acorn squash was seasoned and just slightly spicy and salty - which paired great with the chana masala and the stewed kale. Nothing was overly oily (the squash has a solid coating to keep it from sticking while they roasted it, but nothing that made me cringe) and I loved the spices they used on everything. I didnt get a chance to try their desserts, but its on my list of things to tackle next time (and when I say next time, I mean tomorrow). read more

Tucked away in the basement of a Hare Krishna temple is Govinda's Kitchen, a vegetarian cafeteria of sorts with amazing food! Who knew? I made my way through the line where there was one person serving from a buffet and you have your choice of as many (or all of the items) that you like. I opted for the four item plate (I wanted to try as much as possible!) and got the tofu steak, eggplant/potatoes/peas stew, cucumber salad and baked beans. I also got a samosa and an oat chocolate chip walnut cookie all for $11. I got my items to go just in case I couldn't finish it all (I suggest you do the same, the portions are large) and had a seat at one of the big round tables in the center. They have a couple chutneys on utensil table, and me being the big fan of condiments, got both to try as well. I was ready for my feast. Boy was it a feast. Who knew vegetarian food could be so filling and tasty! I started with the tofu steak which was lightly coated in a seasoned breading and slightly bland, but with the green sauce and the tamarind chutney it added just enough flavor to it. The eggplant/potato/pea stew was thick and hearty as was the baked beans and also went nicely with the sweet tamarind chutney. The cucumber salad was refreshing but a bit on the bland side as well and could use a bit of salt or acid, but was nice to cut all the richness of the other sides. The cranberry bread was super tasty though and very soft and pillowy just like I like it. The samosa was probably one of the best I had. It wasn't greasy at all and the filling and pastry were both nicely seasoned and light. Finally that oat chocolate chip walnut cookie was the perfect sweet and chewy end to the meal. Suffice to say, I couldn't finish all of that in one sitting and it was definitely at least 2-3 meals worth! They definitely don't skimp on portions. I was fully stuffed and had plenty to bring back to work to snack on for the rest of the day. Great meal, great price and though the cafeteria style setting isn't the nicest ambiance, it is a relaxing space and a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Brooklyn. I will be back. read more

By now my fiance doesn't bat an eye when we're in NYC for a wedding, and I tell him that after we pick up his tux, there's a Hindu temple that serves a cash only vegetarian lunch in the basement around the corner and this is probably where we should go eat. Like of all the places we could go to eat, I'm walking him down stairs to what looks and feels like a soup kitchen for those without a place to call home. Of course everyone there is super pleasant. I mean like, when we asked if was cash only, we were told "it is, but if you don't have it, you can pay us some other day." The two of us shared a $10 platter which pretty much got us everything that was left on the buffet (getting there later in the day means that some items are gone already!) and then ordered some other misc stuff too. Seating is family style at round banquet tables, so buddy up with anybody among the mix of people and families that only a vegetarian lunch in the basement of a hindu temple would be able to bring together. read more

There's not much more to say - all of the previous reviews seem to be spot on. The food was good, and you really can't beat the price! Remember, this is not fine dining and there is no table service, but it is fairly nice for what it is (a basement cafeteria). I recommend going with someone who you can share with. For 10 bucks you can get some of everything, but it is far too much food for one person to eat. My girlfriend and I shared the 10 dollar deal and still had leftovers to take home. Love the unlimited iced tea/juice (though as noted, it runs out towards the end of the afternoon, so come before 2pm to ensure it is truly unlimited). Cash only. They have take out containers. read more