Amazingly tasty. Was my first time here, only thing i didn't enjoy was the staff. Very dull, not seeming to be excited, welcoming, or even grateful to have a job at such a beautiful place like Casa De Luz. Didn't greet me when I got there, or when I needed a box to go. Dish washers scoffed at me and came to fix my dishes after I self cleaned my table. I asked twice the correct way to do things as I was just popping in for my first time, and instead of helping me understand their system, they scoffed. The food however was amazing and I would definitely go back. read more

I LOVE Casa! The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is even better! Austin should have more gems like Casa De Luz. read more

Do you wonder what happened to the other kids from the Unitarian youth group? They're old now, like you, and meeting for dinner at this restaurant-slash-spiritual-center. This is what the Keep Austin Weird T-shirt is about. This is what conservatives fear when they are afraid to go downtown in major American cities. This is a place to eat kale and kidney beans. An interesting cultural experience and good value for the money. Ample bike parking. Would go again. read more

Feel good atmosphere and cuisine. I always feel peaceful and refreshed after having a meal here. All organic and vegan at a great price--I think this is probably the most pure meal you can get in Austin, at least at a reasonable price. It is great to support a local institution with an honorable mission and business model that minimizes the abrasiveness of the capitalistic gluttony that has come to dominate the Austin food scene. Great to go on a weekend or a Sunday when the Zilker area is a little more quiet. read more

The way the food is cooked makes me feel loved. The grounds are peaceful and clean. I enjoy having a quiet lunch here often, sometimes just to people watch. Be kind, go enjoy. read more

A true Austin treasure, nothing else quite like it here! Casa de Luz is a great place for a quick, super healthy meal that will leave you feeling awesome. You can't choose what you eat, it's always pre-set, but you can view their daily menu online. Every time I've been here, the food has been delicious. As a self-described salad hater, I even love the salads, the dressings are so good. You get a really big portion size, and there are even desserts you can purchase in addition to your meal if you're still hungry. They have a huge patio space with lots of outdoor seating, which is also great. read more

I'm honestly kinda confused on what I'm missing here. I went with my friend yesterday and couldn't see what the hype was about. It was all incredibly bland, cold, and flavorless, but I saw so many positive reviews, so I want to know what isn't clicking for me. I plan on coming back in the future to give it another shot. It had a different ambiance. It kinda felt like I was dissociated with myself which was kinda a fun atmosphere regardless though. It's a cool concept but not for me read more

First let me state that I am not a vegan, not vegetarian, not Paleo, not gluten intolerant. I am a big foodie and love delicious food without pretense. I love a good steak on a Friday night and could never commit to being vegan/vegetarian but I do eat several meatless meals each week. I don't live in Austin but I love the food scene and every time I work there I try a different place to eat. This time for lunch we tried Casa de Luz. And oh what a find it is! Set in a very serene property way in the back past the meditation studios and the children's creative school you will find this great place to eat. I hate to call it a restaurant because it seems so much more intimate than that. It actually felt like I was entering a friends kitchen and going to serve myself their dish of the day. Folks of all kinds seated in the restaurant including businessman, young to middle-aged women just in from yoga, "keep Austin weird" hippie leftovers, Just about any type person you can imagine. Open kitchen with busy little bees preparing the freshest food. It's a self-serve for the soup, and salad, and hot or cold tea's. The ample but not too large soup and salad containers made sure that the food stayed fresh and was replenished promptly. Large shareable tables all around the place as well as a cute little kids picnic style table that an adorable little girl and her mom were sharing. We started with our soup and salad and we were blown away. So fresh I could taste every ingredient in the dish and it was delicious. When we were close to finishing our soup and salad without interruption our main dish was delivered to our table by one of the busy bees in the kitchen. They serve you what they've cook for that day and we couldn't of been more delighted. Black beans with this wonderful vegan creama, pickled beets and onions a corn tortilla stuffed with sautéed vegetables including mushrooms onions and squash topped with a delicious guacamole and rice basmati Tumeric rice with Cumin in and kale braise on top. Pomegranate tea and another variety I forgot but both delicious. Wonderful vegan desserts (although we didn't taste any) the pecan pie looked amazing. Left completely satisfied and full, without being miserably stuffed. Definitely will recommend this gem and return again in the future, read more

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I left the choice of dinner in my widens hands (which I usually do). I asked her to find somewhere vegan because I couldn't find anywhere that had good options. She showed me tonight's dinner and I was sold when I saw the curry. The menu changes each day and the meal is the same for everyone. You wait in line to pay then pick up your tray, similar to a cafeteria style. The meal comes with a soup, tea (cold or hot) and an entrée. The desert is $4.50 if you choose, which you definitely should. We started with one dessert and my wife went back for a second. She also bought some other goodies like vegan jerky, a cookie and a raw energy bar. Overall, we were both very satisfied and we would highly recommend, not only for the food but also for the environment. After the meal, our toddler enjoyed playing on the playground and burning some energy. PS, he also love the Kabocha Soup. Such a great atmosphere here. We can't wait to come back! read more

Great vibe. Love this place. The atmosphere is so calming, with low lights, zen music, nice people and great nutritional food. I've been here a few times and loved the experience every time. It's not fancy, no menu and there is no service. It's just a simple and quiet place to eat. Also, there is a nice outdoor patio area. read more

Loved the great energy and vibe of the place. Food was tasty and ambience was delightful.

This place is an oasis. And it's not just "vegan," it's ORGANIC. It may be the only place in town that is. The other places on this list of "organic restaurants in austin" are not organic, they're vegan. Big difference. It would be nice if they changed their menus more often, and had a bit more RAW food, but it's very nutritious and some of the offerings are delicious! I love watching the cooks cook. And I love the quietness of the place. read more

I haven't been there a while ... the food is still wonderful ... since I don't drive anymore; I'll go there to another family/friends who like it! read more

Very good food. Sometimes it's way too crowded to go, but the location and food itself can't be matched.

This place is AMAZING. Other reviewers have covered it, so I'll be brief. - Delicious and nourishing organic vegan food with serious flavor - Tasty, healthy desserts without sugar - Beautiful and laidback atmosphere that's family friendly with a playground and lovely outdoor space This place is the real deal & will treat you and your body well! read more

I love this place. On the review it just wants me to write more but there's nothing more to say but I love this place!

This place is AMAZING! It's such a beautiful and peaceful place. I've noticie some complainnts it bland food... this food is very healthy and oriented around making YOU healthier. I really don't see what there is to complain about. If you care about your wellbeing, you would choose this place every time. The playground is nice do or tHe chhdren and we enjoyed the outside eating area. read more

Casa De Luz - Sunday brunch - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had lunch here the other day and the grounds are beautiful, tucked away...you walk down a path that is lined with trees and magical looking areas to wander and hide away. The lunch is a bit pricey, but you get a ton of food. There was a soup and salad, I enjoyed the basil and almond dressing it was different. And a plate of random stuff, it was all pretty good...could have used a little salt but my tummy felt nice afterwards. read more

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Casa De Luz literally FEELS like magic. The ambiance is so relaxing from the moment you step on the property. There are trees, hammocks and cute little seating areas all around. Once you make it to the building, there is an outside seating area with picnic tables and it all feels so serene. You enter, pay, grab your drink/salad/soup and have a seat. The workers, without telling you, will watch you and when it looks like you are ready for your entree, they will come up to you and serve it. I've never had a vegan meal before coming here and it was all so good. I've gone twice now. It's a place that I can't wait to return to and that I will recommend to anyone who asks. read more

This place is like a magical oasis! The food is fresh, healthy and wonderful! If you are Vegetarian, Vegan or eat meat, it really doesn't matter, the food is that good and reasonably priced! read more

This place will probably give you the farts, but in a spiritually enlightened kind of way. I have no idea how your digestive system handles beans and pretty much every member of the Cruciferous family, and that's essentially what you're going to get here. But really, what were you expecting? If you've never been here before, my very favorite moment was standing right outside the complex: To the left is the back entrance and offices of Shady Grove and Chuy's, and to the right is the Zen-like sanctuary and foliage of Casa De Luz. Seriously, can the metaphors for personal choice and lifestyles get any better than that? I truly love a great Karma moment. The bottom line is if you're an Austin Veghead, Casa De Luz is the Holy Land, and I'm not going to tell you anything different. $12 for lunch or dinner here is a good deal, but I could argue the $7 breakfast is a better deal if you're eating on the cheap. There are fewer options, but everything available is all laid out on the counter and you can do as much as you want. After making your own special breakfast tacos with beans & veggies & their homemade tortillas along with bowls of killer oatmeal and soup, how hungry are you going to be for a while? Someone should start a blog on this. The one single thing that bothers me ever so slightly about this place is undoubtedly goofy, silly, and I wouldn't disagree too much if you think I'm nuts: I just feel Casa De Luz is the living embodiment of every stereotypical trait your flesh-eating, BBQ-loving friends have about Vegheads and Vegans, and I wouldn't bring a meat-eater here, even if they were curious. It's simply easier for me to make merry with them at a loud and noisy beer & burger joint, than to come here and quietly explain what a macrobiotic diet is, what gluten-free means, or why that woman over there reading a book doesn't shave her legs. Is this really a big deal in the general scheme of things? Of course not. But if you know what I mean, send me a text and we'll make our own merry at Casa De Luz. read more

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Great, nice and silent place where you can enjoy vegan food in silence with you soul as well as connect with the community. The food is delicious and healthy. Really liked the Sweet Potato Ginger Soup.. There are places you can sit and spend time with your soul in silence. Coconut pudding is really good. read more

Delicious with a dreamy atmosphere. You enter, pay a flat rate, and serve yourself soup/salad. Then your main course is brought to you. I absolutely love the calm and natural vibes I get from this place. The outside and in are both equally charming. The kind of restaurant that you'd think was operated by woodland fairies :P read more

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Food is vegan, delicious and well-balanced. Service is community-oriented with great intentions to create a better world. The ambiance has Chinese and Mexican influences and is like being in a jungle amidst the chaos - a peaceful world in the middle of the city. read more

An all organic, macrobiotic, vegan, gluten free, vegetarian restaurant in the midst of a beautiful community garden. No, it's not just a crunchy person's paradise. This is everyone's paradise. And it's a real place. I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS EXISTS. All it took for me to finally try this wonderful, magical place was my birthday dinner. What to expect: $12 gets you all you can eat fresh salad and soup, one entrée and drinks. So here's how it works, serve yourself the soup and salad after paying. Get your utensils, napkins, drinks. Community seating, and big round tables. You can see people making the food in the kitchen. Two different kinds of drinks are offered (as much as you want). My favorite was the twig tea, light on the caffeine and warm. I like my teas to taste earthy and it was most definitely earthy. The hibiscus mint tea was refreshing and room temperature. Someone will bring you the entrée which changes daily. But there is no wait service. The one entrée (you don't get to choose) always consists of vegetables, dark leafy greens, whole grains, and beans. When you're done eating, you clear your own table and put the food you didn't eat in the compost bin. Does it get any more crunchy? I think not. The entrée for dinner was delicious and filling. I couldn't eat it all. The plate was beautiful with all the colors it was filled with. The collard greens were awesome, purple-eyed peas (seriously, they were purple), delicious lemony hummus, quinoa "sushi" with veggies inside and I can't remember what else but it was all very flavorful. Even the meat-eater was impressed. I was full, but the GOOD kind of full. I can't wait to try it again and hopefully go on the day when they are making zucchini lasagna. Because I'm a slut for lasagna. It was a very memorable, pleasant birthday dinner and I'm glad I chose this place. Is South Austin growing on me? read more

It was a beautiful Saturday morning at Casa de Luz, a restaurant we selected for my vegetarian brother to try during his visit to Austin. Upon entering the lush gardens we felt instantly relaxed and peaceful. What a gorgeous place to dine! I was so glad we arrived at 11:30 since there was already a line waiting to pay and eat. The blue-eyed handsome man (is that an old school song?) who took our money explained that the raspberry/lemongrass/mint tea and filtered water come with the meal but other drinks and desserts are paid for separately. For $14/person (inclusive) it is an all you can eat buffet. We began our meal with a tasty cauliflower soup and went through the salad bar featuring 6 or 8 fresh vegetables, a field green salad tossed with an orange raspberry dressing, delicious basmati rice with pecan dressing, and yummy baked sweet potatoes. Next we found the savory Portobello and mushroom breakfast tacos served with spicy jalapeno dressing, strawberry/blueberry/pecan scones, lovely black eyed peas, and mixed greens with basil/tahini sauce. Everyone agreed, this is the way to enjoy a meal surrounded by beauty and eating natural, wholesome foods. Our thanks to all the yelpers who recommended this restaurant--we felt completely nourished and healthy after this experience. read more

Casa De Luz - Dining in a beautiful garden - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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For me, the problem with healthy vegetarian restaurants like Casa is all the busybody vegetarians you find yourself surrounded by. For example, while checking out earlier today we overheard the cashier talking with another lady about a patron who did not remove their hat to eat. She mentioned that this was terribly disrespectful and that she told him so. Yep, out of all the things to worry about in this world, this lady chooses to harass customers of CDL who choose to keep their hat on while they eat. Strange, I just can't imagine having so much time on my hands that this thought would even cross my mind. - Weird. Anyway... I digress... If you've been eating crap for most of your life and you come here, you'll probably think the food sucks because you are used to lots of salt and MSG. However, once you get on a healthy regimen, this place can't be beat for how good it makes you feel after you've eaten. I love it. One more tip - I've tried pretty much all of the desserts and this is where CDL lacks in my opinion. The pecan pie is the only way to go. If you've never tried CDL, give it a try and PLEASE, if at all possible, wear a hat. read more

A serene gentle natural setting for basic vegan fare. Good vibe. The food is tasty and the portions are generous.

I was visiting Austin for business and I came across this place and thought I would give it a try. I thought I was in for a special treat: healthy food, and a very cool entrance. After that it was downhill. I walked in and the guy working, who I think was the owner, leader or whatever he was (it's nonprofit and run by mostly volunteers) was very aloof and unfriendly. I stood at the front counter for a while before he came up and was like, "yeah?". I told him I was there to eat (duh). And he said, get a plate: it's $12. Then he gave me a wooden coin. I didn't know what was going on. I thought it was a normal sit-down and you get served restaurant. No. It was very confusing. He showed me the place that was pre-plated. He quickly pointed to the general area of where you serve yourself salad and soup. I sat in a dark corner and quietly ate my food. There was only a few Christmas lights to light the huge dining area (I think to save energy), so it was really depressing. There was no music, just a few scattered old hippie elites talking about "spirit energy" and "kale". The food was sort of flavorful, but I had to put a lot of soy sauce on my plate. It's macrobiotic and so they don't put salt or pepper on the tables. I did enjoy the meal, but I certainly don't think it was worth 12 dollars. Not for a plate of beans, kale and quinoa. I've been around health food for years and I don't think there was anything extraordinary about the food. It wasn't very welcoming, but maybe that is because I was wearing makeup and was dressed for work. The nerve! Dress super casual when you go here or you will feel like a freak. You have to bus the table yourself, too. I'm glad I realized this because I would have just confirmed to them that I was an evil, greedy business person. I think it's some kind of cult. That's how it felt. read more

Casa De Luz - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

Drove 3 hours from DFW to eat there. Need I say more? Casa De Luz is everything I want from a restaurant: organic, vegan, gluten-free, healing, and delicious! Let me start of by warning that parking could be a pain. They don't have a parking lot so you either park on the streets or at the paid parking lot in front of the restaurant. Upon entering the premises, you will feel like you're in a different place. There are so many trees, and wind chimes, and dream catchers, and little benches under the trees, and...you get the point: Its lovely. I had to spend a few minutes trying to find the restaurant though, so let me say the little building at the very end (next to the playground..I knoww!) is the restaurant. Once you enter, you pay at the front desk ($9 for breakfast, $12 for lunch, and dinner). Then you get your (herbal) tea or drinks (hibiscus iced tea), as well as soup and salad and seat yourself. Your main dish will be served by the waiters. You can also buy desserts for $4 each. What can I say about the food? I wish I could eat there everyday. I wish I lived in Austin. Everything I ate was simple yet so very delicious. Was going mmm at every bite. The cashew dressing on the salad was a winner. Their warm soup was perfect for the rainy day. For the main dish, they served Quinoa(cooked in a way I never ate before...lightly salted and with onions, raisins, and almonds), Kale with tahini sauce (a delicious combination), blanched green beans(with slivered roasted almonds), Mashed pumpkin with coconut cream and walnuts (beats any desserts any day!), and sauerkraut. One drawback however is I wished I could eat more. I wished for a second serving and I didn't know how to get it (I didn't try enough..my bad). read more

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Eating here brings to mind the book, "Like Water for Chocolate". It seems there is a lot of loving care that goes into the preparation of this beautiful food and its no wonder you leave feeling satisfied, body and soul. The first time I went, I didn't ask many questions, I just took it all in and tasted a little bit of everything. I was surprised how much I liked it all. (I am not vegetarian and only as an adult have I even discovered that I like veggies.) However, I would not have guessed how much I loved the Borscht Soup...Heaven! (sing that last word). I honestly would have sworn up and down to you that I don't like beets. WRONG. (mom would be SO proud!) And the juxtaposition of the beautiful, bright magenta soup with the accompanying green nut sauce....well, its as pretty looking as it is good. I now watch the website regularly to see when I can go back and get another Borscht fix. Its that delish. This time around, I even convinced my husband to tag along (gasp) and he was rather shocked at how much he enjoyed it all. Because I go for the soup, the main course is generally the same standard fare. Today was comprised of : Rice, beans, greens, orange and yellow vegetable medley of sorts....its all good. (see pics) Take your own "To Go" containers so you can be sure to save enough room for dessert....the berry crisp is a must in my book! Enjoy! read more

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First time visiting this place for lunch this week and had a great experience. Very friendly staff and lots of variety of food available. Complimentary Mint tea was thirst quenching. Super kid friendly too and amazing serene surrounding! Will come back! read more

I have been meaning to try this place for years, but never got around to it. My mother did a macrobiotic diet for two years when she was suffering from cancer and the food seemed so bland and yuck. There really were very few choices for healthy food in Dallas in the late 80s though. She was desparate and heard great things about macrobiotics and decided to try it. She was in remission for the entire two years that she followed the diet. A few months after she stopped the diet, her cancer returned full force. So it makes one wonder... I was so pleasantly surprised today when I met clients there for lunch. The entrance is very serene and though it was 9 million degrees outside, the room was cool and shaded by their large trees. Seating is communal and we pay up front. The three of us had our own table however. They had a wonderful self serve salad bar with organic crudites and mixed field greens tossed in an amazing Ume flax dressing. It was very zesty. The soup was a tasty vegetable soup which seemed sweetened with beets. Insanely delicious and the menu changes daily. Then the kitchen staff brought out our lunch. AMAZING!!! It was $12 per person, which seemed a little steep as I had to bus my own table. That's my only complaint. I'm sort of a prima donna at times! Here it my lunch in a nutshell: Grain: Basmati & Medium Brown Rice w/ Peas Greens: Mixed Blanched Greens w/ Basil Pecan Pesto- this was bursting with freshness and flavor. Bean: Creamy Black Beans w/ Suncheese- whatever suncheese is, it's kind of salty and very yummy. Vegetable: Soft Tacos w/ Carrots, Cabbage, Onions & Guacamole- the cabbage and carrots were very sweet and delicious! Pickle: Red Cabbage, Beets & Onions The key here is to have a well balanced meal and I feel so refreshed and full! Seriously, I had no idea this would be such a wonderful experience. Wish I could leave work and go do some yoga!! I will be back very soon... read more

Best healthy vegan restaurant in town. It is good to know the rhythm of the set menu: First Monday of the month, vegan sushi is dinner. First Friday of the month, the dinner is Indian themed. Tues dinner every week is gorditas, Weds lunch, Thur dinner, and Sun lunch are tacos. Casa also has event spaces. Of these I have visited but one - the tranquility room is indeed tranquil for yoga. read more

Our destination whenever we come to Austin. Unpretentious, beautiful, warm & inviting. And the food is made snd served with love. We always leave feeling nourished. Can't wait to come back. read more

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I am not sure what took me 12 1/2 years to try this place. I think something about my own misconceptions about the place maybe offering $25 bowls of beans and rice. Not the case! Came here (finally) for dinner with a friend and have literally not stopped thinking about it since. Every meal I prepare for myself, I stop and think, "Huh, I wonder what they are serving at Casa de Luz right now...." It was THAT GOOD. That thoughtful. As others have mentioned, this is a serve-yourself restaurant for the salad, soup, and beverages. But the entree components are brought to you. For us, when they brought the entrees out, my heart sank when I saw that one of the sides was a wedge of red cabbage. I assumed it would be ridiculously boring -- a healthy chore to get through. So, I started with the cabbage, wanting to get the worst overwith. I can't even begin to describe how roasting this wedge of cabbage completely changed the dynamics of this dish, and how I ate every morsel of it. I also liked that it implied intelligent guidelines for portion control by offering all a grown adult really needs to eat in one sitting -- and, that was plenty. If I lived closer, I might very likely go for multiple meals a day. As it is, I am already making excuses for errands that are closer to Casa de Luz -- errands that I will, of course, run close to meal time. read more

Best little hidden healthy restaurant in Austin. So much food, so tasty, and every time I go, I leave feeling so good. My body thanks me! It might be different than anything you've tried, but you've gotta try it! read more

Yelp strikes again! Before heading over to a lovely afternoon of swimming and relaxing at Barton Springs Pool, we were looking for a place relatively close by to grab some grub. Casa de Luz was nearby, but as soon as I read this was a vegan dining establishment we stopped looking and started driving. It's a bit tricky to find Casa de Luz, and it's in a really odd location -- sort of in a back neighborhood behind run-down apartments and across from from a rec area with baseball and soccer fields. But when you step through the arbor onto the Casa de Luz property, you're instantly transported to an oasis with lush plants and gardens, inviting benches, winding pathways, lots of low-slung adobe buildings, and shade-trees everywhere. Beautiful. It's not just a restaurant up in here, it's a holistic mecca. There's a cooking school, and a regular school for kids. They also have classes that teach yoga and mindfulness and whatnot. Stuff that I have no patience for because I get restless after 30 seconds, but I can get down with the whole vegan, macrobiotic menu. You really need to appreciate vegan and macrobiotic menus to enjoy dining here, by the by. Or just be really open-minded and adventurous. Dining is done cafeteria style in their open, airy, light-filled dining area (or you can eat outside, seating permitting). There's a also a little shop in the corner of the cafeteria where you can purchase different organic, macrobiotic foods and pantry staples, and books about yoga, holistic healing, and macrobiotic cooking. For your meal, you help yourself to the soup and salad -- on our visit it was a delicious mushroom lemon and a spinach salad with all kinds of crunchy sprouts and soy dressing -- then have a seat and wait for your entree plate to be brought out by the hard-working and friendly Casa de Luz staff. When we visited, entrees included some amazing tender greens with "suncheeze," or a creamy "cheese" sauce made entirely from sunflower seeds. It was quite interesting and tasty. There were also black beans on brown rice (OK, but nothing special), braised carrots and cabbage, and a quinoa salad with veggies (very good). Instead of salt and pepper to condiment-ize your food, they have gomasio on the table -- score! It's toasted brown sesame seeds and sea salt, and boy does it put regular salt to shame... For $12, I felt like our lunch here was a great deal. Everything was organic and fresh and incredibly high-quality. It was prepared with love and attention. The dining room was quiet, pleasant, and relaxing. The service was friendly and unobtrusive. I love the mission and philosophy of Casa de Luz, and I would definitely come back to support this place on our next visit to Austin. read more

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Shame in me. I've been in austin for 25 years and today I finally went to Casa de Luz. Great vegan fare, fresh, flavorful and delicious. It's a funky place with a meditation center and hang drum classes among other things. Very old austin vibe. It's a must go place. read more

This is my go to place for a recharge. Welcoming Calming Uplifting Meditative The food is simple, comforting and fresh. Prepared with love and offered with a warm smile. I love that the kitchen creates with what is in season and served as they wish to present it. The only choices we are left to desire are soup, salad, tea or dessert. The hot twig tea at the end of a meal is always a nice finisher. I leave Casa feeling satiated and renewed every time I visit. read more

Casa De Luz - Breakfast on a rainy day - Vegan Near Me - Austin, Texas

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