AMAZING vegan food with a very creative menu and ample outdoor seating! We went there with our 3 year old who loved the strings of lights (even while they were off at mid-day). The service was quick, staff was friendly, and the burritos served VERY full with a fold over. This is a fork-and-knife burrito that delivers! We can't wait to go back read more

I live in the South Bay but my family and I have been going here for over 15 years. I can't recall how we discovered this place, but it is perfect to accommodate vegetarian and vegan diets, as it is a fully vegetarian restaurant. While are the prices are on the upper end, it is not unreasonable because the portions are so large that you could save it for another day (which we never do because it is so good we ear the whole thing!). I always tell myself I am going to try something different from their massive menu, but my go to favorite is the tofu ranchero scramble, and I can never not get it!! The vibe is your typical casual, laid back/chill Santa Cruz vibe. This is a great family friendly restaurant. The menu serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and covers all cultural dishes from Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, Italian, Thai, Indian, etc. You must try this place and you will get hooked!! read more

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

Vegan perspective here. I'll lead with the core problem - it cost us $76 to get a side of chips and guacamole, two entrees, and two drinks on cafeteria trays you bring back to the table yourself after your name is called out over a microphone. Back in Boston, $76 is about what I would pay for a nice meal at a mid-tier to fancy restaurant with table service. Everything here is roughly $20-25 a plate and the taste and ambiance just don't justify that cost. This place reminds me of Cheesecake Factory in theory and pricing, except at Cheesecake Factory, with your huge portion sizes and the $25 a plate cost, you also get table service, nice ambiance, and the food tastes good. Yes, the portion sizes are huge, but I don't want two meals in one that don't taste all that good while I'm traveling. It would help if you could order half portions to reduce food waste in cases where you can't bring the leftovers home. Still, $12.50 is more than I would have paid for a half portion of the butternut squash ravioli I got. It looked and tasted like prepackaged ravioli. I ordered it with a basil, garlic, and olive oil sauce, and it didn't have much flavor at all. It really could have used some salt and was overall edible, but very bland. I can deal with undersalted food, but at this price point and for being billed on the menu as being a "house specialty", the butternut squash ravioli was really disappointing and an expensive mistake. My partner had better luck with his enchiladas, but they weren't $25 a plate good. It seems like as a vegetarian restaurant, one of the things they rely on to make things taste good is dairy products, and don't necessarily know how to compensate for the lack of salt and flavor when they are removed. I guess that's fine and all for vegetarians, but on that same note, I can slap cheese and sour cream on something and make it taste good too. Why spend so much for that? I regret going here for my only meal in the Santa Cruz area. It was down to this and another restaurant and both my partner and I agreed that this wasn't a good choice after we ate. I'm definitely able to cook better than this at home. If the costs were lower, I wouldn't have had such high expectations and would have let a lot of these things slide. I hope they improve their vegan cooking and become less reliant on dairy for salt and flavor. read more

I love the food here. I always feel full but not gross. The burgers here are so tasty and I love the potatoes that come with it. Their lasagna is also amazing. I am a sucker for desserts and the slices near the register always call out to me... next time I am giving one a home! There are plenty of places to sit, eat and people watch. If you are a t-shirt/swag kind of person they have their merch near the bathrooms. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Gluten free burger - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

Good food, but soooooo expensive. Cafeteria style dinning with Shadow Brook prices...I don't think so.

Wow. Never thought this old boy would ever be caught dead in a place like this... especially never thought he'd end up enjoying the hell outta it. Had the 3 Dog Morning Burrito (subbed out the tofu dog for the tofu chicken). Thought to myself.. damn sounds expensive for a breakfast burrito... better be somethin' special. Sure enough this thing was MASSIVE. My kind of portion. It was so packed they couldn't even wrap it. Half way through I was stuffed... but obviously kept going. #fatboylife Wasn't sure about "tofu scrambled eggs" but by golly.. i think I just went full blown hippy and I like it. Think I might trying making them at home. Cheers to Dharma's for the delicious, healthier option breakfast. Now where's a tree? I need to go hug it. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - 3 DOG MORNING BURRITO SUB TOFU CHICKEN IN PLACE OF TOFU DOG - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

I've been to this place over 15 years ago and would go back any time. Plenty of great meal options for vegetarian and vegan alike as well as any health food foodie! Kind service and a warm community-like dining experience. I'll be back! read more

We went here after the visit to the beach with family. The place gives very peaceful vibes and has a variety of vegan dishes to choose from. Everything we had was very good. Specially the veggie lasagna and Thai noodles. The ambience is very kid friendly. The have number of Montessori theme animals and lots of dinosaurs. My both kids enjoyed playing with these miniature animals. The price is towards higher end but portions are large. The fresh spring rolls were nice. Noodles had ample veggies that is how I prefer it. The tea was nice too. For the beautiful ambience, lots of indoor plants, and the healthy vegan food this place is almost 5 stars for me. read more

food is fresh , delicious i love this place , a little pricy but worth it people behind counter friendly enough , New pictures would be nice , you know mix it up a bit . Very relaxed and serene. read more

-Often go here to get Vegan food. -Very good parking. -Salad w/ Kitchadi is great. read more

Wow! I pretty much made my choice to try this place based on the Yelp reviews and photos. I'm always on the lookout for a new vegan experience. The nada-chicken burrito photos looked pretty good so to be on the safe side, I went with that. When the staff called my order, I was pleasantly shocked by the sheer quantity of food they dished out for this entree--a truly massive burrito. And usually, there's an inverse relationship with quantity and quality when it comes to food but the faux-chicken was moist and tender and bursting with a delicious fajita flavor. In fact, when I arrived at this place, I was pretty leery of even staying because I was tired from several hours on the road and had already eaten twice earlier in the day on my trip and wasn't even that hungry. I walked in, saw the cheesy wall art, and thought I might've made a mistake driving half-an-hour out of my way to give this place a try. If it wasn't for the rave yelp reviews, I might've walked out on the spot. Long story short, I was wowed by just how delicious the food at this place was. If I'm ever in the area again, I know I'll be thrilled to eat there again. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Nada chicken burrito! It's vegan and HUGE and amazing! - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

The last time there I ordered the Pesto Portabella Sub (20.95). It was a decent size, it came with a basic salad and pickles. There is an extra $3 charge for vegan pesto. Its pricey after tax and tip. Its not a full service restaurant. You have to order at the counter and return your dishes and tray yourself. My friend order something that came with potato wedges. There is no ketchup, salt, or pepper on the tables. Ketchup is available behind the counter if you ask for it, the staff will put some in a sauce container for you. The staff seem friendly. As for the other condiments its a available in on a counter but you can't take it to your table. I don't know why my belly had an issue processing the meal. Its suppose to be vegan but I was bloated for a couple of days after that meal. I love the idea of these plant based restaurants but I don't think this is the one for me. read more

The first couple times I ate at Dharma's I was a bit overwhelmed by all of the menu choices. If you have time it may be a good idea to read some of the Yelp reviews and peruse the menu before you get there. Also, you can ask the staff what some of their fave dishes are. Anyway, I decided I want to try some more of their dishes this year so I will likely be popping in a couple of times a month so I can work my way through the menu. This time for lunch I ordered the Quinoa, Soup & Yam which sounds pretty basic but was really yummy and filling. They had 3 soup options and I couldn't decide cuz they alL sounded great. The guy who took my order gave me a small taste of all 3 to help me decide (such awesome customer service!) and I chose the Hot & Sour soup because it was a little spicy. The split pea soup and kitcharee options were also delicious. The tahini-lemon dressing that came with the quinoa and yam was so good. I alternated eating the quinoa and yam with soup and then a bite with the dressing. Dharmas's food is flavorful but not too spicy so I recommend adding sooner Sriracha as needed if you are like me and like the hot stuff. I also ordered the Szechuan Tofu to go so I wouldn't have to cook dinner later that night. It was a large enough portion to share with my husband. It was also really tasty, lots of veggies and the brown rice had a nice chewy texture that we liked a lot. read more

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PORTIONS ARE GINORMOUS HERE. Vegans, veggie-lovers, all food eaters REJOICE! Dharma's is the perfect place that won't break your bank (yay college students) and feed you delicious amounts of yummy food at the same time. Had a later lunch on a Saturday with a friend, and I went with a burrito whereas she went with a sandwich. Food was SO yummy and warm--I was debating between Italian pasta or Mexican burritos, but I'm glad I chose the burrito. The thing was HUGE. So much so I had to cut it and eat it with utensils...which is definitely not something I do. I loved how there was so many different food items to select from cuisine to style. Will definitely come back again. There is lots of parking, as Dharma's is located in a strip mall area with other stores. They are easy to spot, and there is tons of seating for large groups to smaller tables for couples and solo eaters. The ambiance is lacking though. Everything looks like a kid's toys closet just threw up in there--it's creative and full of eclectic pieces like plastic dinosaurs, for example. However, it's not the type of decor that stirs up my appetite. However, if ambiance isn't a problem for you, as it wasn't for us when we were eating there, it should be fine. Seating is seat yourself, and tables and chairs reminded me of a college mess hall. The huge space is so typically Santa Cruz...order, seat yourself, and plate yourself from your utensils to the napkins and water. I like how their restrooms are clean and gender neutral too. read more

Fantastic Vegan Food, little to no wait time. Clean facilities, unique twists on standard dishes. There Vegan thanksgiving special was fantastic read more

We saved $ on our order from Groupon. I had the portabella mushroom sandwich on chibata roll and leafy green salad. Large portion. Flavorful. Partner had Ruben sandwich on rye bread with salad. I would definitely eat here again. read more

Disappointed overall. Should not be rated this high. Seems more like a cafeteria than a restaurant. Food quality sucks overall. On top of that the prices were far from decent. Admire the idea and concept of having an almost entirely vegan menu but the delivery lacked big time. You also have to clear off your own dishes and trays once you're done. Equivalent to hospital cafeteria food. The pestoroni vegan pizza was okay. Way too expensive that's for sure. Lacked veggies and effort in its creation much like everything else. The teriyaki burger seemed like it was put together in two minutes. Dipped in some extremely sweet generic teriyaki sauce and with a slice of canned pineapple. Served with a side of skillet potatoes that were also disappointing. We also ordered their version of pad Thai and it was okay. Nothing special. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Overpriced vegan teriyaki burger. Don't order. - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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I am doing four stars because I think the quality could be better, I love what they are doing here and the atmosphere is great. Lots of seating, lengthy menu- offers a gf menu. I wish they would just go full plant-based your practically there and get rid of the Daiya cheese please-miyokos is a million times better. My husband loves this place he bought a shirt and a picture, and he can't get enough of the mushroom gravy mashed potatoes which are pretty good. Definitely worth checking out and all the staff is very nice and helpful. read more

Delicious vegetarian and vegan friendly food, kid friendly, beautiful paintings, fast service.

What an awesome jewel that's block off the main 41st. You'll get your smorgasbord of vegetarian/vegan delights. Everyone friendly. A great place that will make the environment better. Support a great cause. I'll be back here more often. In fact, I'll be here whenever I pass by! Kudos! read more

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Was surprised at the prices however the food was fresh and tasty. Guess I am just reeling from California sticker shock!

This review is specifically for the Santa look alike. His manners, are non existent. Extremely rude, I bought a cookie and he literally threw it on the counter. As I approached him, I said hello and smiled, to which he replied "wait." My friend who ordered before got his food like 20 minutes after me, which he couldn't even apologize for. Everyone else was kind, so this one star review is specifically for the Older Santa Looking like man. Food was eeeehh. read more

The food is amazing, love their tahini salad dressing! However, the older man who greets you at the register is very unfriendly, maybe he is the owner. He should stay in the back of the house and place a pleasant employee with a smile to represent the business to inspire patrons to come back! read more

The prices might seem a bit much but the quantity you get for the price is great! I usually get the mole burrito and it lasts me for two whole meals. All the deals I have gotten so far are worth the money, and delicious! read more

3 dog morning burrito, $19.95, wasn't as good as it used to be five years ago. There was 5 pieces of veggie dog, little bit of scrambled tofu, bell pepper, mushroom, onions, sour cream, guacamole, 3 slices of jalapeno and a huge amount of potatoes. It came with chips , salsa on request. I think it will be a long time before I'm back as $19.95 for mostly potatoes is not worth it. read more

I love Dharma's. My favorite thing on the menu is the breakfast burrito. It's is served open-faced, and filled with potatoes, black beans and tofu scramble. If you eat dairy it's covered in melted cheese or you can go vegan and get guacamole. Served with a side salad with a tasty vinaigrette (house dressing) and their homemade salsa. It's hard for me to order anything else. But other items are good too! Love their soups, salads, peanut noodles, lasagne and sandwiches as well! read more

I came to this spot not knowing what to expect and I was amazed. For a vegetarian like me this place is like heaven. I ordered the Teriyaki stir fry and the chow mien and it was so flavorful. There are so many different elements that combine into a great dish and their portions. Their portions allow you to have lots of leftovers even for heavy eaters. In the end it's great food and a great place to go to for vegetarian cuisine. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Leftover chow mein and Teriyaki stir fry - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

I've been coming here for years and years, so I think it's time to leave a review. I LOVE this place. Their food is amazing. I have several dietary restrictions, and when I go to Dharma's there are so many healthy, nourishing meals to choose from. Everything that my friends and I have tried has always been delicious. My favorite item will always be their Gardener's Salad. It is the best salad! We usually take our orders to go and picnic on the beach. :) What I'm not too keen on are the new automatic air freshener sprayers on the bathroom walls. They smell like chemicals and are probably toxic. Please remove them. read more

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

I love a lot of dishes from this place. The portion is big. Their prices are recently increased, but I still enjoy eating there. Dessert is delicious too, btw. Customer service is sweet! read more

Insanely expensive for bland food in a place that is basically a cafeteria - high end restaurant prices to order at the counter, retrieve your food and bus your own tables! Used to be charming and yummy, now MEH. read more

Dharma's is a crowdpleaser for the entire family. We will literally drive many miles out of our way to visit. When we go, we often order extra food to-go so we can enjoy another meal or two later. On our most recent visit, we got over $100 of food to enjoy there and take home. Note that many portion sizes are large, so the high nominal price of a dish might be more reasonable if it results in 2 meals. They have an extensive menu, and everything on it is delicious. There's no way I can pick a single favorite menu. Still, I'll mention a few: * Every single option under the "International Entrees" is awesome. I'd happily eat any of them. If I had to pick only one, I'll single out the American Saute. It's a simple dish but so tasty, and big enough to take some home and enjoy a second meal. Also, the Indian Curry plate may not be 100% authentic, but it's a huge plate of delicious food. * My wife always gets a Gardener's Salad to go. It's also simple but generously-sized. * I love the kitchari, a simple but flavorful lentil/rice dish. The restaurant is vegetarian, not vegan, but many dishes are inherently vegan and almost all other dishes can be converted into vegan with little loss of flavor. Dharma's is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the whole world. Thank you for so many awesome meals! read more

I love to go to this place before the beach for a snack or after a beach day for some dinner. The portions are big so they will definitely keep you fill. Great vegan and vegetarian options. I especially love when I eat in the restaurant because of all the beautiful plants inside read more

Wow wow wow Vegan Heaven I am amazed and absolutely satisfied You will not be disappointed here ! read more

We have been customers of Dharma's for many years and have always appreciated their healthy and tasty food. We often order online and then go pick it up and bring it home. That is what we did tonight and ordered two of their yummy Tempeh Reuben sandwiches, one of our regular things. The photo on the website is the same as always, a beautiful sandwich cut in two halves with a green salad on the side and their fabulous guajillo chili potatoes. Just like everywhere else, it is more expensive than it used to be, the price is $18.95 nowadays. But we have tried to stay loyal. When we got home, we opened the "to go" box and there was the Tempeh Reuben sandwich, but no salad and no potatoes. We called the restaurant and they said they had changed the menu and now you had to scroll down and choose to add sides to the sandwich. On top of the $18.95, it was also $3.95 for a side salad and another $3.95 for potatoes. This was super frustrating and we suggested that at the very least, they change the photo to be just the sandwich. We found it misleading. Now we know, but if you are ordering online anytime soon, read the fine print! read more

I used to love this place. However, the last time i was there, it was over priced and kinda depressing. $25 for a tempeh reuben and an ice tea where you gotta stand in line , order at a counter, pick up your food yourself, and bus your own table , seems a bit too much money . There werent any tea refills. Water and condiments were not available. They rationed out one single ply napkin with my order. That napkin was soon soaked in grease. It wasnt obvious to me where or if i could get another of the flimsy single ply napkins. Furniture just piled up in one section of the dining room. Then , after a disappointing meal, i tried to use the restroom. The toilet wouldnt flush. It kinda looks like they just don't care anymore. So sad. I have been eating there for decades. I used to really look forward to it. Bummed to see them go downhill so badly. read more

Amazing people and ambience, has a homely feel. I loved the soy chicken burrito (which was huge by the way and almost 2 meals) and the pasta. Brazilian tapioca was also fantastic. Plenty of seating available and the outdoor seating in the sun is especially great to sit and eat a meal at. read more

The food was not that good and very expensive. We went here after reading the reviews and wish we went somewhere else. My vegetarian son who loves food, didn't like his sandwich at all. I barely liked mine. Spent $50 and was disappointed and will not return. I hate to give vegetarian places bad reviews since I'm grateful they exist but $50 was way too much $$$ for mediocre. The staff was great though. read more

Overpriced shit salad. How can anyone mess up a salad? I'm sorry but next time I'll save my money and eat at home. They just loaded the salad with so much shredded beats and carrot, it was disgusting. So basically I paid $20 for a bowl of brown rice because I did not eat the salad. Maybe you idiots should train your staff properly instead of teaching them how to beg for tips. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - This was THE worst salad I've ever had! - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

I'm trying to eat my way thru the menu but the Schechwan tofu and veggies over brown rice is soo good that I must have that....like right now! It is hard not to eat the entire giant portion in one sitting. I always recommend Dharma's (I remember when it was McDharma's but the yellow arches squashed that) whenever my clients come to see me and want a restaurant recommendation. I'm going with 3 thumbs up! read more

The food is expensive and bland. I ordered the Japanese Samurai noodle soup and it was so bland. I think it should have so umami taste in the broth but that was not there in this particular dish. I will not recommend this restaurant to others. read more