So my friend Gary N. was trying to sell me on this barefoot vegetarian buffet at the Hare Krishna Temple in Nuuanu. Healthy and delicious? Sure! The chef at Govinda's, John, is really nice. He gave us a brief tour of the temple and spoke with us for a bit. He explained that he only uses fresh organic produce and the food is prepared each morning. Leftovers from the buffet are given to the homeless rather than saved and reheated for the next day, which was really cool to hear. John said the menu changes daily, and he's hoping to add some Asian peanut sauce dishes soon. Nifty. As for the food - Honestly, I don't know what everything was called. I couldn't even identify some of the dishes, but everything was really good! Salad - OMG, I loved the all different salad dressings! I'm not sure what some of them were, but I just put them on my salad and ate it like a happy fat panda. The cilantro one was my favorite; I would go back just for that. Lasagna - Wow. I never would have imagined that I'd enjoy lasagna with tofu, spinach, zucchini, and lots of ricotta cheese, but it was wonderful! Surprisingly, it was really hefty and filling. I was pretty full after eating one piece. Beware. Mashed Potatoes - Nice! I only had a tiny bit but it was smooth and creamy. Cauliflower Curry (?) and Turmeric Rice - Seriously, the lasagna took me down, so I only tried a tiny bite-sized bit of both, and they were good. Soup - I think it was lentil soup? It had a nice spicy kick. Well, whatever kind of soup it was, it was yummy. It would give Covenant Books and Coffee a good run for its money. Dessert - Once again, I really don't know what this was. John explained it to us but I forgot the name. It was some kind of warm fruit dish. The texture reminded me of polenta, but tasted like sweet apples and cinnamon. Ginger Lemonade - Made with fresh cane juice! It was on the sweeter side and you can really taste the spice from the ginger. I mixed mine with a bit of water and it was just right for me. For $10, lunch was a great deal. I barely finished a plateful of food and a small cup of soup and I was full. Gary had a heaping first plate, went for seconds, then thirds, and then another cup of soup with rice. Unfair. I noticed most of the other diners were lean and thin. So does vegetarianism = skinny? Hmm, now I'm curious... Yikes, this place was so hard to find. I suggest driving slowly, since the street sign for Burbank is hard to see and it's a tight turn, and look for the green sign on Coelho Street. They have about a dozen stalls for parking, and the temple grounds are lovely. Oh, and the Yelp link to Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet and Menu is wrong - it's for a restaurant of the same name in Eugene, OR. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Lasagna! - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Location/Parking: This buffet is located in Liliha in a residential area off Wyllie street. It is located inside of a temple. The parking area is small but will fit around 10 cars. Food: I use to eat their food during my college days a UH Manoa at their UH location. I loved the food then and it still is just as great. The buffet is small but enough to get you full. I don't usually know what I'm eating from Govinda but I know everything I eat is good. I had their salad, chips, rice. curry, nutloaf and the dessert. The curry was my favorite part of the meal. Delicious. The nutloaf was interesting yet tasty. There were sprouts you can visibly see in a meat loaf looking dish. The dessert was awesome! It's the best part of the meal and I don't even know the name of it. The mint tea was very popular at their UH location so I was excited that it was included in the buffet. I was a little disappointed that at 1pm there was no bread or potatoes and the dishes that were running low were never refilled. The dressing I wanted was gone as well. I believed they closed at 2pm or 2:30pm and there was a handful of customers after we came in. I bet they were disappointed as well. Ambiance: The garden outside is a lovely place to have lunch. My daughter ran around the garden while we relaxed and enjoyed the food. The indoor eating area seemed stuffy to me. Don't forget to take your shoes off before you enter the temple. I still would recommend this place to people but I would tell them to come when they first open. They should have everything available including the dishes I wanted to try. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I love meat and the thought of vegetarian food is weird but govindas vegetarian buffet is pretty damm good. I have been here multiple times and definitely left happy and full. Its Indian vegetarian food which makes it extra awesome cuz I love Indian food! It used to be $10 but they raised it to $13. Its still a decent price for an AYCE buffet Each day they have a special entree. My favorite day is thursdays which is quiche day! Its so delicious and love it. They usually have different vegetables cooked with different sauces. I love the curried potatoes and their salad dressings are so yummy! Their usually dessert is halva which is kind of like a porridge or polenta consistency. Its just enough sweetness I admit this place is kind of hard to find since its in the middle of a residential area and you might just miss the street to turn on and might have to go around (haha). Google maps does a decent job of getting you there. If you see the sign for the Hare Krishna temple then you are in the right place! You have to take off your shoes and go right in. So you can either eat inside or outside. Its a really peaceful place to eat lunch If you like vegetarian food or of you are willing to give it a try then check this place out! I recommend coming early since they are only open from 11am to 2pm. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Thursday is quiche day! Delish! - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

A gem away from the hustle and bustle of Wakiki. If you are a vagetarian or inspire to be one like me this place is worth the try and a lot of bang for the buck ( I do remember when it was $8 ). It's now open for dinner at a little higher price and expect the same selection as lunch. It's a donation so no tax and no tipping as its self serve. Very nice staff and very relaxing grounds where you can eat outdoors and hang out after the meal if you like. Since it's a temple have no concerns about anyone preaching to you just enjoy. The only disappointment is it not BYOB and I do respect the wishes of the staff and followers. read more

There's seriously something in the food...I think. I had lunch here around 12:30. It's past 8PM...and I'm still not hungry. In fact, I still feel full and I'm very sad that I'm not hungry for dinner. I want to eat.... Anyways, I would have NEVER found out about this place if I didn't have YELP or other social media sites. This place is in a residential area, and looks like some house/church/religion spot. I did not know what I was getting myself into. We parked the car outside since there weren't anymore parking in the lot. We walked up to the house -thingy...and there were lots of shoes/slippers outside so we took off our shoes and went right into the open door. The guy was like grab a plate and eat all you like! O_o Ok...so we just ate. There are no labels on any of the foods, so you have no idea what you're eating...but the good thing is that it's all vegetarian so you know there's no funky meat in it. The yellow-ish thing was good. When it was time to go, we found a cashier in the store area next to the eating area. The website said $8.50 and $7.50 for students. So I asked if UH students can get the discount. They said no. Whatever...but then they charged us $10 per person! I didn't want to argue or make a scene so whatever...we just paid the $10 per person. Will I come back here? Hm...skeptical. I felt like I went to India and back or something through time travel. I didn't know what I was eating...and they don't update their website to reflect the price change. It seems a bit too religious-y for me....I think I'll pass and eat my vegetarian at Simple Joy or Peace Cafe. Thanks...unless of course I want to feel full for the entire day. Yelp 365 Challenge #69/365 read more

This is my first ever Yelp review. I have had lunch at their lunch truck at UH and they are really good. Just moved to Nuuanu and it's awesome that my house is a block away from here! Its Wednesday so its lasagna day!! I'm not a vegetarian, but my boyfriend is. This is a great place for us meat eaters to have a diverse appetite. Will have to come back next week to sit out side under the banyan tree. Too bad it was raining when I got there. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - I love Wednesdays!! Lasagna day!!! - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Since I've been exploring new vegetarian options, I've been wanting to go to Govinda's in Nuuanu Valley. Unfortunately, its short hours and distance from my work have prevented this. Luckily, Govinda's at UH is still open, even during the summer. I was so happy to find this out, since I work nearby. They have one or two entrees each day. You can get a full or mini plate. I opted for the mini which comes with rice, entree, dessert square, and salad (the full plate comes with soup). I also got the mint lemonade and a samosa. The lemonade was good, but too sweet and too minty for me. The mini plate was great bargain. A lot of food for under $5. Today they had a Marrakesh Stew - it was chock full of yummy veggies and a nice spicy flavor. The salad was okay - it was salad. The dessert, halva, was delicious. It was like strawberry cream of wheat jello - kind of like sweet grits or polenta. The samosa was really good too. A little too much cinnamon but otherwise, very good. I can't wait to go back here again! read more

This place servers food by the pound. I forget the price but it's around $7-8 per lb. Truly soulful food. The chef is awesome and very personable! read more

Super love the vegetarian food here. The environment is so peaceful and the people are very nice. I will come here to eat everyday, as the vegetarian buffet is fantastic! read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

$12 vegetarian buffet! Do I need to say anymore? So good!!!! Can't get buffets very often anymore. There was curry, lentil soup, salad, lasagna, potatoes, and other vegetarian yummy goodness. Nice place, too. You can either eat inside or outside. Outside is a nice garden. Parking is okay. This is a nice hidden gem in Nu'uanu that you should checkout. read more

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I work near by and came here with co-workers awhile back. The setting is tranquil and quiet, a nice change from going to downtown for lunch. I only get an hour and being able to pay, get food, and start eating right away is really a treat. Usually it takes time to get seated, get menus, order, then receive the dishes and by that time 15-20 minutes has passed leaving only 30 minutes to shovel down food. And at $13 it's not bad. The place itself is about a 20 seat cafe with an outdoor garden with various gathering spots with tables and chairs. (If it is raining, like it did the day we went, seating fills up quickly.) Arrive early to ensure a seat. The food was quite good, flavorful, with a nice variety of fresh and cooked items. They have a 7 day rotating menu. The food is vegetarian, but it doesn't feel vegetarian in the sense that you're not thinking "where's the meat?" The day I went they had fresh salad bar, a few curries, lasagna and some bread pudding for dessert. Along with a sweet lemonade for drink. Some places for improvement would be labeling things gluten free. I'm not a stickler nor do I have celiac disease but I try to avoid gluten whenever possible and vegan food tends to be filled with gluten to compensate the no meat factor. Another improvement could be made with the use of disposable plates and cups and awful plastic cutlery since it just creates more landfill and is such an issue for our oceans. Although they were paper made I think switching to real plates would be a better dinning experience and environmentally friendly. We are in Hawaii and ocean conservation and environmentally friendly practices should be a top priority given the mantras you see everywhere about respecting nature. Lastly, I'm not a heavy eater and a buffet isn't all that appealing to me, a slightly cheaper "$10 fill your plate up once" or "set meal" would be nice. Food for thought: Next time you go out or order take out for plate lunch or wherever, try bringing your own containers. Its good for the environment, the restaurants appreciate it and may offer a discount, and you're doing your part in helping reduce waste. read more

This place is located in the Hari Krisha temple in the neighborhood area of Nuuanu. People aren't kidding when they say you'd never know about this place unless it was from word of mouth. Once you turn onto Coelho Way, just look out for the round wooden sign with the address. Turn into that drive way and you'll find yourself looking at a large white building with lots of mango trees around. Take off your shoes before enter. It was raining when we went, but they have lovely seating outside near the banyan tree. We stuck to the indoor seating for this round. They take card and cash, $13 for an all you can eat vegetarian buffet. Pay first at the stand then make your plate and take a seat. I wasn't familiar with a lot of the types of Indian dishes here, but I'm a firm believer of "Try it first, ask what it is later". Everything was delicious and while we definitely ate our fill. I especially enjoyed the mint/lemon drink they had. There are also different specials on various days of the week, so check through some of the pictures here to see the schedule. The staff was all very nice and friendly. I will definitely be back here. read more

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The Food was Delicious. I am a meat lover. So I was surprised at how Delicious and filling the food was. Big Smiles great price.

I was elated to find myself on campus during the operating hours of Govinda's because last time I had just missed them. Truth be told, I was bummed that they didn't have any samosas, but was still intrigued enough to get back in line and order lunch. The entrees for that day were Red Thai Curry & Quiche. I was having a hard timing deciding which entree to try when I overheard the regulars in front of me order a mixed plate. So I asked if I could mix my mini plate. To my delight, I could. For $5.10 (mini), you get 1 entree, rice, salad, dessert or for $8.10 (large) you can get 2 entrees, rice, salad, and dessert. They had run out of salad so a drink was comped to everyone who ordered a plate. I tried the Ginger Lemonade which was VERY gingery. While the flavor was verging on gross to me, it felt great for my sore throat. Even though I had ordered a mini plate, it was a very generous portion. I easily had left overs. I saw a girl pouring sunflower seeds over her food and decided to pour some onto my rice (yum)! Raisins were also a great thing to add to the rice! I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Red Thai Curry. It wasn't overly coconutty. It was very flavorful and I really liked how the vegetables were seasoned. The Quiche was very good! I was surprised at how good the crust at the bottom was. As for the Halava, I initially thought it was some sort of sweet taro. It was so good that I went back up and asked them for an a la carte order of it. The guy giggled when I mentioned the taro thing. He informed me that Halava is similar to cream of wheat with strawberries and bananas mixed in. I was floored because I am not usually a fan of cream of wheat. At the end of the day, I spent approximately $10 at Govinda's and got a ton of food (mini plate, drink, 2 cookies, lentil soup, and an extra order of Halava). The cookie was okay. It tasted like any other vegan cookie. I was not a fan of the green lentil soup, which was very watery. read more

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My boyfriend and I tried Govinda's for the first time this Saturday! I loved all the vegan options. Everything was delicious and so flavorful. My boyfriend isn't vegan and loved it as well. The price, $13 for all you can eat is a great deal. We tapped out pretty quickly though because the food was so filling. Now that they are now open for dinner as well, I think I want to have my birthday dinner here in a couple months! Oh, and the ginger mint lemonade was also very sweet and yummy. Service was great, greeted by a nice man. We paid and he showed us all the different things to eat and how to eat some of them. This is definitely going to be my new regular place to dine! read more

Excellent vegan buffet $13 ... worth the Uber ride ... big temple property cafe gift shop all great space is peaceful workshops and dancing under the stars read more

This place used to be really good and I had recommended it to a bunch of my friends. Recently I came there and it was terrible. I was hoping that it was a one-time thing but I went back and it was even worse than that time so I think I'm going to stop coming. read more

$10 buffet is very good deal. I love their mint drink! Everyone is very nice and peaceful. I recommend to eat outside under a huge tree! The tree gives us great energy and I love sitting and feel nice breeze*^^* They accept credit card for food and clothes. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Everybody talks about their restaurant but their food truck is absolutely so underrated. Not many UH Manoa students know about this truck as it is always tucked away in the most quietest corner of the school: in front of Kennedy Theater. This place never fails to disappoint. Their halava (dessert) is to die for and is so indulgent and buttery. Their kitchri (an option besides white rice) is always creamy with flavors that are on point. Their curries are always so fragrant no matter which one you get. Their dahl (soup) is just so thick, creamy, and comforting. And their salad dressings!!! Soooo good. You get three choices of olive oil, almond, or jalapeno. My favorite is the almond. The mini plate is not so mini and only costs $5! Their ginger mint lemonade is amazing and only $2, I don't usually like lemonade but you can tell all the ingredients are natural and fresh. Super great and inexpensive option for those trying to be vegan. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Times and location - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you don't get there early enough they may run out of something. The food is all good. It's a buffet so go ahead and pig out. It's a good bang for the buck! Staff is friendly. You can sit inside or outside they have a beautiful tree and lots of grass. They have two weird spicy salad dressings. I usually use both. I think they are homemade. Weird in a good way lol. read more

This is a great place to go if you are looking for food with no onion and garlic. They Had American and Indian dishes which we really enjoyed. We will be going back again. read more

3.4 stars The buffet was tasty, but the choices were limited. It was fresh and in an interesting atmosphere, but was really only as good as a typical supermarket salad bar. I am serious, if you were to take the exact same spread as say from a Safeway and moved it here, no one would notice. It wasn't terrible and it wasn't overpriced, so I would go back. read more

I love this hidden gem. I need to go here more often. I haven't been here since COVID started.

A little buffet for a decent amount of money...I'll take it! Vegan options here! Most of the food is vegetarian, but it's a nice spread of food choices and the homemade dressings are great! The greeter/cashier is super friendly and makes me want to come back! read more

We were vacationing from the mainland and read about this little gem. We are vegans and wanted to find a good place to eat! We ate the temple location. $10 all you can eat and it includes the beverage. The staff is super friendly. We went 2 times. The first day we went on "nut loaf" day and the second time on "quiche" day. The salad is super fresh. The potatoes are delicious! Even the drink is great, a sweet spicy green beverage. I will definitely come back when come again to Oahu. read more

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Buffet style. Amazing food!!! We were looking for some vegetarian/vegan food and this restaurant showed up. We have read the great reviews but even those can't describe how amazing the food is. The atmosphere is very calm and nice. This is definitely a place everybody should try. read more

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We love this place, but unfortunately it is CLOSED. He said they would like to reopen soon He suggested to call in advance to check if they are open. read more

This place really blew me away! The setting is a temple and it's near a residential area, so the roads are narrow and please drive with caution. The buffet has I wanna day around 10 Vegan dishes and one Vegetarian but all were so delicious! My favorite is the Nan bread they served and the Vegetarian Quiche. The price you can't beat! The staff were such a delisting chat with!!! This is a place where you just feel so serene you could just hang out there all day! read more

Very interesting Satvik food. Excellent ambience and service too. Highly recommend it for those looking for vegetarian food in the area

Located in Nu'uanu, Govinda's is the perfect example of why Yelp is amazing. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, Govinda's is not something you'd stumble across on your own. It's located in a Hari Krishna temple with beautiful meditation gardens. Upon entering the house you take off your shoes and if I had known this I wouldn't have worn my old sandals. Ugh! You walk down the hallway and there's a room with the vegetarian buffet and seating, which is adjoined to a small shop that sells clothing and trinkets. The girl in the shop told us to eat first and pay after. I liked this place already with that statement. For $10 and all-you-can-eat, I didn't know what to expect with respects to the buffet but I was pleasantly surprised. There was salad, bread, a vegetable goulash, a veggie enchilada, a lovely lentil soup and a dense cinnamon pudding. They were running low on a few items when we got there but refilled them fairly quickly. The best way that I can describe the quality of the food is that it's like going over to your friend's Grandma's house to eat. It's not your Grandma (who makes the best comfort food known to mankind) but it's someone else's Grandma so it's not familiar, but still good. It made me think for about five minutes that I could one day be vegetarian. Then I thought about how much I like meat and that my vegetarian thoughts went right out the window. They had a number of different dressings for the salad and the names were displayed on a sheet. It would have been nice if they had labels for what was in the rest of the buffet (hint hint). There's a giant container of ginger lemonade that you can help yourself to by the cashier. Some might think it's odd and spicy but I couldn't get enough of it! I call it Hari Krishna kool-aid and I'm down to drink it all night long! The best part of Govinda's is not the buffet but the surrounding gardens. It was raining so we didn't have a chance to eat outside which I would have loved. There's a giant tree in the garden and all I could think was how much I wanted to give it a great big hug. Sure I'm a tree hugger, you can say it. It may sound kooky but I believe each tree has its own healing energy. One of my favorite things to do is walk barefoot on grass and hug a tree. Try it sometime before you roll your eyes and think I'm a weirdo. It's extremely centering and helps to keep you grounded because it connects you to nature. Okay, I'm done with my spiritual schpeel. Just wait, you'll be part of my tree hugging movement one day! Yelp 365 Challenge: #8/365 (The Tree Hugger) read more

I suffer from a disease. Treatment tends to get expensive so I don't get it as often as I need it. Maybe you've heard of it? Maybe you suffer from it too? Yup, I have Wanderlust. I can tell my symptoms are getting bad when the only channel I watch is the travel channel, when I'm poring over articles of my travel magazines, and drooling over pictures of exotic and foreign locales on pinterest. Luckily I have found a place I can go to curb my wanderlust itch for only $10 and I don't even need to leave the island. Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet. Govinda's is such an exotic, out-of-the-ordinary experience for me living in Hawaii. Located in an old Nu'uanu mansion is a Hare Krishna temple serving the most delicious and spiritually refreshing food on the island. You can tell just by stepping in the door that this will not be your average dining experience, because not only are shoes not required, you are expected to leave them at the door (like any local household- but not restaurant!). Entering the house you are greeted by Hindu art and the sounds of Indian music coming from the gift shop where you pay ($10 for all you can eat). I came at about 1pm on a Wednesday and the buffet had 8 choices of hot items and a salad station. Some of the food (fried cauliflower and lasagna) was running low but it was quickly replaced. I loaded my plate with salad, saffron rice, dal (lentil soup), mild veggie curry, fried cauliflower, steamed veggies, and of course the lasagna. Poured myself a cup of the fresh ginger lemonade and my mother and I went outside to sit beneath the massive banyan tree. The surreal experience continued as we ate, as each bite brought exotic spices, flavors and delicious new tastes into my mouth. There was no dish I did not love (my mom thought the lasagna was a little spicy). The garden/yard area was so serene and soothing and feeling the grass between my toes as I ate was great. We even had a little friend (black and white cat) visit us and share some love. After I finished my plate I went back for the dessert of halva. I had never had it before and it was like a sweet polenta textured pudding flavored with cinnamon and cardamom with raisins and coconut. It was so delicious! I ate my fill but did not feel overly stuffed, just satisfied, and my mother and I walked through the gift shop looking at jewelry and skirts and sari type clothing. I had such a great time here I felt so removed from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and got a great dose of culture and spirituality I was not familiar with. It almost felt like I was experiencing part of an ashram type lifestyle, the gardens would be perfect for meditation and quiet reading. I picked up a Krishna brochure on my way out to try and learn more about this interesting culture, so different from my own religious beliefs, and as a bald Krishna devotee sitting on the stairs said goodbye to us, I knew it wouldn't be long before I would be back to satiate the urges of my wanderlust disease. read more

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Wow, this place is excellent! Its become my new favourite place for brunch. Keep in mind it is only vegetarian food so if you are a meat lover, give it a try anyway because you will be amazed. Hidden away in Nuuanu, the kitchen is located in the Hare Krishna temple. While you're waiting, visit the inside where the prayer room is located because there are interesting statues and paintings! Please be sure to remove your shoes and bring a small offering (flowers, petals, coins, dollar bills) which is required when visiting the rooms. They serve different main courses every day of the week. Being we arrived on a Monday, it was spaghetti day. There is also lasagna, quiche (YUM), nutloaf, and enchilada days. There was salad, different sauces to choose from, chips, yellow rice, curried potatoes, assorted veggies, and my favourite, their chopped up potatoes which have a crunchy skin but soft inside. There is water, but the juice they have tastes like cayenne pepper with lemonade, good for cleansing your body :) There's a nice garden with separate chairs and tables for privacy. Its a peaceful place to have a book to read and eat at the same time. The grass is really soft and the atmosphere gives off a calm yet energetic vibe.p There's also a cat who likes to roam around the garden and keep you company. The buffet is $10/person so it's totally worth the price being you can go back for seconds (or thirds). My favourite days to come here is on Mondays and wednesdays. Spaghetti and lasagna. Thursday's is quiche which is a must try. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Super love the $10 lunch buffet at Govinda's! My two favorite parts are the ginger/mint/lemonade drink, and the dessert! What is in the dessert? I'm not sure, but it's mighty tasty. Kind of like a not so greasy version of butter mochi but with texture and yummy stuff. Everything else has been really good - soup, curry, potatoes, chips, rice, salad with yummy dressings. Once you grab your food, head outside and sit under the banyan tree - such a peaceful space! Monday - spaghetti Tuesday - nutloaf Wednesday - lasagna Thursday - quiche Friday - enchiladas read more

I was driving down the Pali Highway and had this flash. I remembered reading about the Hari Krishna Temple in Nuuanu and their vegetarian buffet. My tummy was growling and I am a man that believes that we live life to experience, so in search of the temple I went. Maybe my subconscious spirit heard spiritual chanting in the whisper of the wind; but somehow I found the temple in a snap. The parking is ample and shaded; and the temple looks like a well manicured house with a big front yard. I got out of my stationwagon and like any new experience for me, I let my senses absorb and my feeling free to tell me how I felt. Of course, there was this respect knowing that I was in a temple and made no judgement about a place that was holding a yoga class; had a gift shop, a kitchen, a restaurant and a temple. I think temple restaurants have to be rated on a different scale. Let's skip rating the service. Ambience...eeh, throw that out too. That leaves cost and food. But then to be fair, maybe half of the cost of the meal should be considered a donation to the temple. Let's leave out price too. On the food side it is all vegetarian. Jim Davis (Garfield) loves food and is quoted as saying "Avoid fruits and vegetable. You are what you eat." If you enter the restaurant in that frame of mind; you are in the wrong place. From an all vegetarian restaurant point of view the food is delicious. The selection was not quite as abundent as I expected but none the less, all the dishes were very good. Today is enchilada Friday and that entree was delicious. Wednesday is lasagna and each day of the week has a different main dish. The fresh vegetables are assumed to be organic and the different dressings for the salad, very interesting. The best part of the meal was the ginger, mint lemonade. If it is too sweet for you, dilute it. The disappointment was that for a vegetarian buffet, there was no dish with fruit. But then, is potato a fruit? We live life to experience. I tried Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet. I'm still Buddhist and would rather have a whole combo pizza from Costco for $9.99. read more

If you are not loving this place, please open your mind. Where else can you leisurely enjoy an all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet in a backyard of a house in a million dollar neighborhood and not be arrested for trespassing? I was lucky enough to convince 3 of my coworkers to join me here for lunch. As I was driving them there, they said "this is a residential neighborhood!" I said "of course it is." There is a trippy vibe when you drive to the back of Coelho Way and park in front of the large estate. You are instantly mellowed out. As you pay the Indian lady 10 bucks, you feel as though you are giving money to a curator of some museum. Food is awesome! Curried rice, dahl, steamed veggies, flat bread, enchilada (yes enchilada), fresh salad, halwa, and this meditation inspired ginger lemonade. What the heck is halwa? Think cream of wheat dessert cake. Spiced with cardimom, cinnamon, ghee (clarified butter), and probably 5 kinds of sugar. It's wonderful. We opted to eat in the backyard by the magnificent banyan tree. You feel as though it is your own backyard and you are having friends over. I am now the star at the office for picking lunch spots. read more

My husband absolutely despises buffets because he feels that quality of food can never be up to par when cooking for the masses, that the food is usually too rich, too fried, overcooked, undercooked, and that the food in buffets usually lack character. That being said, Govinda's is the ONLY exception that he will make when it comes to buffets and is even one of his favorite places to meet for lunch, and since its close to work, we come here often. Govinda's is not your typical buffet - the food is unique, delicious, made in smaller batches than your typic "buffet", healthy and to top it off, really affordable! For $10, you can sit in a beautiful garden (or inside the dining room if you choose) and eat all the vegetarian food your heart desires. Set in Nu'uanu in the Hari Krishna temple, Govinda's is a unique dining experience. Take you shoes off at the main door and enter the house. The dining area is to the left. Dishes here for the most part are similar to Indian dishes and each time we go, they seem to have different offerings. We've had everything from split pea soup, to veggie lasagna, naan, eggplant curry, salad and other dishes that I can't even tell you what it is, but it's delicious. It's not a huge buffet, so try a little of everything, even if you don't know what it is. Almost everything I've ever eaten here is very tasty. We also love the mint, ginger lemonade. It's very refreshing and balances out the spices used in their food. They usually have some kind of dessert as well. This is not a very large place so I wouldn't suggest coming with a large group. Parking is free and right outside the temple. It can be tricky to find since its nestled behind a gate on a residential street, so be sure to map it out before you go, and drive slowly when you're on the street so that you don't miss it. The hours are from 11-2 so be sure to get there on time before they close. Don't let "vegetarian buffet" scare you off. Whether you enjoy meatless meals or not, you're guaranteed to have a memorable meal at Govinda's! read more

Dear Govinda's, You are, simply, just as wonderful as everyone says you are. Perhaps it is the secret ingredient of spirituality, but every morsel in your tiny buffet bursts with flavor. When I cook vegetables they tend to taste like... vegetables. And grass. However, your dishes were divine in every aspect of the word and I wish I had the capacity to prepare them in my home. Perhaps if I become a practitioner of bhakti yoga I will be magically imbued with the ability to transform the simple vegetable into incredible taste explosions. That alone would be worth it. Your spread was simple, a tray of salad, rice, dahl, stewed veggies, enchiladas, fresh rolls, halwa, and a refreshing green gingery lemonade. Simple but more than enough, and the organic freshness combined with the tranquil atmosphere made the meal relaxing and special indeed. I am eager to return with my husband, but that will include a squawking baby who will surely shatter the peace and serenity of the temple. Brace yourselves. On our way out a very kind man who practices reflexology at your temple gave my friend and I each a gargantuan papaya. Mine ripened today and on opening it we were surprised to discover only two seeds. Even your papayas are extraordinary. See you soon. Thank you, Angela read more

Would have never found this place, good that I caught a ride, it's in a residential neighborhood, $10.00 for a vegetarian buffet. They need to label their food. Thursday special is quiche, tasty, good salad, 3 dressings but not labeled, the one I chose was pretty good, The chips great, a little oily and a touch of spice to it. potatoes were seasoned with curry, There was a purple dish, on the sweet side, like a dessert. served with water and lemonade. no air conditioning, you can eat in or out in their large back yard. Open Mon- Friday, 11:00-2:00 closed weekends... read more

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The other month, I was having a not so great day on campus. It was just "one of those days, when you wanna be alone, just one of them days...." I was sleep deprived, and my brain was overloaded with equations. Anyway, having had a crazy week, I didn't have time to pack my normal lunch, and I didn't have any cash in my wallet. BUT, I did have a little Govinda's card with ten hole punches (you get a punch for every small or regular plate you purchase). After the tenth hole, you get a free plate. The guy who was at the register said, "It's your lucky day!" with a ginormous smile. Dahhhh! It scared me out of my zombie state, and said "Really?" And he said, "Yeah, you get a free mini plate, a cookie, and a drink." Cookie and drink, too?!!!! Wow! It was the first time trying their cookie and drink, but I was blown away by their oatmeal chocolate raisin cookie and GINGER MINT LEMONADE!!!!! SO delicious!!! It turned my day right around, as I enjoyed my freebies while sitting in the sun and listening to the hare krishna music in the sustainability court at UH. :-D Oh yeah, and correction... it's $5.10 for a mini plate if you order it 'for here,' instead of to go. Enjoy the sustainability courtyard and ditch the long lines at the Campus Center. I highly recommend it. read more

THERE HAVE BEEN AN INCREASE, TO $13! BUT I"M STILL MORE THAN WILLING TO PAY FOR THAT. Yes, it's that good. To be honest, I think they're still losing money even they charged at this increased rate. They actually don't even care for making a profit...just look at their operating hours. I'm a 100% meat lover and I have came back to this place so many times and introduced so many of my friends to this place. One of a kind hidden gem in Hawaii, I actually want to give this place negative stars to ward off the crowds and keep it to myself.......maybe I should... read more