Excited to try good vegetarian in San Jose and gave Dharmas a try. To sum it up if you can look past the dingy psychedelic decor, mediocre food, and lackluster service... This is the place for you. Being in the Bay Area, there is a wide variety of higher quality food places. In trying to serve up so many different genres of food, the quality of food sincerely suffers. The menu spread over Italian, Spanish, and Thai. I had the Bo Thai Noodles (nothing special but a decent bowl of noodles), the Greek pasta (garlic bread was noteworthy but pasta was lacking in a sauce element and flavor), and the special that night which was tamales (horrendous-- lacked flavor, texture... Just genuinely a bad dish). This is also a walk up and order type of diner and the service was very lack luster. The folks at the counter were impatient and unhelpful. Not impressed, would not return. read more

Always super fresh healthy food and great fast service. I'm so glad to have them in my neighborhood. Thank you for the wonderful food, and the great service. Carry on. read more

I tried this place for the first time and didnt like it. overall the food wasnt that good service was smiley but seemed kinda off and something about that place just seemed kinda off in my opinion. Also they forgot to add the avocado that they asked me if i wanted added. i wanted to return it but they don't do that so i ate some of it because i paid like $17. I usually cook for myself and like fresh foods with lots of vegetables and legumes. I wouldn't recommend this place but you might like it, everyone has different tastes. read more

Dharma's prices are shamefully high for a self-serve restaurant ($14.50 for a simple vegetarian burger, $13.75 for a plain breakfast burrito, $18.00 if you want a breakfast burrito with sautéed vegetables). Their food tends to be heavy, and their portions large. I find most of it to be excessively salty. I think the process of ordering and paying, and then waiting and picking up your order yourself, to be unwieldy. Especially so given their high prices. If the fast-food burger place a few blocks down 41st can deliver counter-purchased orders to the tables (and, btw, a fabulous veggie burger for &7.99), Dharma's could do it as well. I want to support a vegetarian restaurant, but I don't endorse Dharma's. read more

I hadn't been back since 2008 and its just as great if not better. We enjoyed a BBQ chicken sandwich and Thai curry and Chinese chicken dish. Definitely recommend. read more

Dharma's Restaurant - Thai red curry chicken. - Vegetarian Near Me - Capitola, California

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Really expensive and not good. I had the tempeh BLT, and I have the exact same tempeh with seasoning at home except I make it better. My boyfriend's tofu in his Dan Dan noodles was cold and the peanut sauce was very watered down. I like the idea of this place, but I was very unimpressed. read more

I'm writing Dharma's a review in retrospect because I want to give a place 5 stars. Let's just say Dharma's basically a promise land for vegetarians, and a damn good restaurant in general. The quality is solid and consistent; menu items are diverse and enticing; portions huge; ingredients socially aware and dishes nutritionally balanced; utensils biodegradable if not reusable, waste area clearly marked for trash and recycle. This is the only place that served taro burgers. If you've read my reviews, I LOVE taro, so that is two thumbs and toes up. Also, they have Kambucha on tap. How cool is that. I live over the hill now but if I crave anything in Santa Cruz, I crave Dharma's! read more

SUCH a chill place, perfect for detoxing after bad behavior on the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk or charging up after a healthy walk along the seacliffs before the tortuous drive back up the 1 and the 17. Yeah, douchebags and techies: leave your cell phones off or better yet, in your Priuses. This is one establishment that still knows it has rights against rudeness in modernity's clothing. What can I say, but that the stuff here (95% vegan and all vegetarian, organic, and fresh) takes the quote marks off of my usual conception of Vegan "Food." A menu that's good in its own right without ever pretending to be something that it's not (namely MEAT and DAIRY), is also backed up by a whole section of gluten free options and ornamented by natural beverages, local beers, and even good old Heinies and Coronas. Who would have thought that lasagna with soy strips could be inSANE, or that vegetarian burritos wouldn't leave you with a pout for their lack of carne asada? Take it from an unapolagetic carnivore; this place is a California-only treasure, and I miss it as much as I miss the state. read more

I love this place. As a vegan, I could eat almost everything on the menu. Both meals I had there were delicious. My first meal was a "Dharma Dog" (essentially, a tofu pup) with a side of steamed greens and a Stella Artois. It was a perfect little snack after a long day at the beach. Everyone there was really friendly and it seemed as though the staff really enjoyed each other and the work they were doing. I was impressed. The second meal I had was a breakfast burrito which was so freakin' good. I loved it. The meal was huge--too huge--but I took the leftovers with me in a recyclable take away container. Sweet. Even the other patrons were really friendly and nice. I needed directions to the hotel I was staying at and a lovely couple drew me a map. When I returned the next day, another patron struck up a brief conversation with me that was pleasant. Everyone there was so happy; it felt surreal to me. I liked it. I will definitely visit this restaurant again next time I'm in Santa Cruz/Capitola area. read more

Really great local place to enjoy your healthy meal. Will be coming back for sure since this was my first place eating out from switching to being a vegan. read more

Great portions, good food and nice environment. Most things on the menu can be made vegan! I'd highly recommend trying the curried tofu scramble They sometimes have a Groupon so check that out too! read more

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

So delicious, always go here when in Santa Cruz. I love the soup and salad Greek Scramble Coconut Milk Tapioca Very large portions, yes it's not cheap but you can share read more

This is a great place for sandwiches! Not so good for Mexican food though. The nuclear sandwich I got was really rich in flavor & grease! I wish they would just switch to all vegan & make ordering much easier. The cheese & milk is really unnecessary. The peanut butter vegan Milkshake was very good but needed a bit more peanut butter. I would for sure go back here & try all their other options! Tons of stuff to try & lots of seating! Also, I really appreciated the staff letting me know that the dressing had honey in it & of I wanted to get another option! I wouldn't have known. Again, so much easier & more ethical to just switch to all vegan. read more

So many options and everything is great! It is a bit pricey but the portions are so big that you always end up with leftovers! There's outdoor seating with a dog friendly patio and lots of seating indoor for those who'd prefer it. The only reason I didn't give this place 5 stars is because the staff was rather unfriendly. read more

Fantastic selection of great stuff, love the salad, macaroni and cheese, and all the indian dishes. I love living close and walking over --it is like having a great working kitchen so close. THe staff is friendly but and polite and food is reasonable. I love the decoration and orchids. The spiritual vibe is the best you can tell that it is run by spiritual minded community oriented individuals who care. Salute to you and thanks read more

Food is OK, nothing fancy while overpriced. Ordered Mexican saute. Tasted so so but why would I paid $16 for a dish that looked like it was made by a kid? read more

fresh food, reasonable prices, amazing selection. as an avid meat-eater this is a place I love to go regardless. my absolute favorite item is the breakfast burrito, more like quesadilla because the thing is packed so full there is no way it could close like a burrito. it is really filling and ridiculous delicious. highly recommend! read more

I love this place. Walking in makes me feel like I'm really taking care of my body. So fresh, so tasty. Amazing salads full of vegi 's and a good selection of un- boring sslad dressing----and soups!!! GottA love Capitola. Any time I go near the area it's on my list. Not fancy just fresh and healthy. A vegans dream. read more

We stopped by on the way back from Santa Cruz. Nathan loved this place where as I was not too impressed. Granted, I am always grateful for vegetarian/vegan food and the "No Cell Phone" policy was uber cool but I wasn't sure if it was the best value for the money. The Mega-Burger tasted okay, which was not "okay" for me . The patty was ... hmm... not tantalizing. The soy strips were pretty good and I did like the veggies. Nathan's Tofu Ranchero was pretty yummy, although it very might well be the "lettuce is greener on other person's plate" effect. I had expected this place to be very vegan-friendly. There were more dairy-laden food than not. Oh well. p.s. Wouldn't it be nice if they could ban children too? "No Cell Phone or Children Allowed" ... that'll be the day. read more

Ah Dharmas.. Its a trip down memory lane coming here. Harks back to grad school days when it seemed stressful to have upcoming exams (if only working life were that uni-dimensional) and came to drown our sorrows in pounds of vegetable matter. The portions are enormous and the food fresh and delicious. I stay with the basics and favor the Japanese Samari Soup for a warm meal on a winter night. I know few who actually digest TVP and some of the more altered soy products, so i avoid those. The meyer lemons in the lemon tray are a serious perk of being here too.. I attack the condiment section with abandon. Stevia packets? Oh yes... Its not fancy, you can come and eat alone with a book and not feel like a loner and it's a cross-section of santa cruz which reminds you what a bubble that town really is. read more

Five stars for mine and my family's memories of a few visits to this vegetarian restaurant in the 1980's when it was known as McDharma's. Click on "history" on their website and you can read more about that era. The food, the menu, in fact the entire restaurant concept was quite impressive as far as I'm concerned. Even though the majority of our family were meat eaters at the time we dined at this restaurant, we all found something to order that satisfied our hunger, and that we really liked. I remember the vegetarian reuben being impressive. The fries were good. My family enjoyed the vegetarian hot dogs and burgers. Mostly it's just always nice to be on vacation and find a place that feels comfortable and like home, somewhere many states away. I liked the ordering at the counter, too. Less complicated. Sounds like they're still doing that. read more

Cafeteria style vegetarian fare. We had read that the portions were huge so we decided to share the Rubin and a slice of vegan chocolate cake. After having the best veggy Rubin in my life in Colorado, this one was OK. If I hadn't had the one in CO, this one might have been great. I had a bad attitude about the vegan chocolate cake but I take back all of the bad things I have said about vegan desserts after indulging in this slice of heaven. read more

If Dhmara's were available everywhere, the way McDonald's is, the world would be a better place. The food is wholesome and very appetizing even for non-vegetarians. I've been dining here for many years and it's always a treat. My $10 and under favorites include: Mango Lassi Soup and Salad (White bean soup is my favorite - try a sample of whatever they have) Lost Taco Tempe Rueben Breakfast Burrito Pesto Pasta (small) All of the above are consistently delicious and satisfying. The specials are always temping, but priced a little higher. The atmosphere is totally laid back, making it a good choice for kids and groups. Enjoy the wholesome goodness and good karma here! read more

We enjoyed our dinner at Dharma's! After reading the glowing reviews, I decided to get the portobello & artichoke sandwich and I wasn't disappointed. It was flavorful and filling and I loved the side salad. The chips were pretty good too, though I'm not really a chip person. We split a mint oreo milkshake as well, and it was decent but not great. The prices are kind of high and you have to order & then wait for them to call your name when your food is ready. They mumble into the microphone and I could tell lots of people were having a hard time making out what name they were saying. I'd give a 2+ syllable name, if I were you. ;-) read more

I must say they have quite an extensive menu that has tons of vegan and vegetarian options! The atmosphere is totally unique with random paintings of Jesus to a statue of Buddha to small plastic dinosaur and animal figurines. If I did drugs this would probably be the first place I would come to truly soak it all in! Haha! The first item I ordered here was the Vegan Ruben Sandwich made out of Tempeh and tofu thousand island dressing. This is a sandwich that Chicago (where I'm from) has perfected with beautifully grilled thin sliced saiten. Sadly Dharma's Ruben didn't compare. The bread was soggy from too much oil on the griddle and there was hardly any flavor to the Tempeh. The biggest disappointment was the texture... normally rubens have that good cruch of the sauerkraut and bread while everything else is chewy. There was not enough sauerkraut to even begin creating this. Skip this sandwich... The second time I went to Dharma's I ordered something very different: the veggie burrito! This burrito, much to my surprise, was nothing like I expected. It was not rolled up in typical burrito fashion but rather a ton of steamed veggies piled in a tortilla folded in half. There was NO way you could create a burrito even if you wanted to. This was not a horrible thing... it just meant I would be cutting my way to compiling all the ingredients of a normal burrito onto my fork. The amount of food and diversity of veggies was great but I did long for some more beans (a girls gotta get her protein somehow!). All in all I liked the dish despite me seasoning it with a ton of hot sauce. I would go back simply because it is very vegan friendly... but they have some work to do. read more

I've been eating here at least once a week for the past year. It is always delicious (and they always serve a lot of food), so you'll leave full and satisfied. Try the soups and weekly specials, they're usually very well made. If these Specials are available try: Afghani Peace, Thai Basil Saute, Carrot Loaf, Samurai Soup. Off the regular menu I recommend: Brahma Burger, Mega Burger, and the American Saute. The salad is excellent with Tahini-Lemon dressing. For Breakfast: Pancakes and the tofu scramble. I usually order by phone and pick it up for take out. I do this especially when they're busy Fridays and Saturdays). read more

FULL of delicious surprises. Not the least of which is a non-dairy milkshake that would fool even the most jaded of lactose intolerant recipients. Get the mint chocolate milkshake for the fireworks. Everything else is just super duper delicious and usually healthy. I would drive 1 hour to eat here. I have driven 1 hour to eat here. read more

Yes, this place is... - hit-or-miss, quality-wise - increasingly expensive - into humongous portion sizes That said, I like having the option of dashing into the equivalent of a healthy cafeteria to nosh on a gluten-free pizza or the yam/quinoa/sprouts special (great sauce with that combo, too). A friend visiting from Texas found the chai milkshake addicting, and everyone I've brought here generally finds something tasty from the (ever-expanding) menu...even the meat-eaters :) read more

Vegetarian dream.... The menu is waaay too long. In a good way. The portions are INSANE. I'm still full 1 day later... Breakfast burrito is so good. something about those beans....mmm. The Temeph Ruben hits the spot. Thai Tofu dish is very well seasoned. Biscuits and Gravy - holy S. I am coming back as many times as it takes to try everything. It all looked so good! read more

I am forever grateful to my aunt for introducing us to Dharma's. Santa Cruz is a little far from home for us to go there regularly, but we make a special trip south just for Dharma's every month or so. They are a vegetarian restaurant, and they have a lot of vegan options (in fact, they only mark the items on the menu that *can't* be made vegan, because most of them can). If an item would normally include cheese, they'll often switch it to guacamole for you for no charge. Favorites include the vegan milkshakes (in a bunch of flavors, including mint chip and kahlua) and the breakfast burrito (potatoes, refried beans, tofu, and guacamole!). If you're there for breakfast, the potatoes alone are delicious, but the tofu scramble all by itself can be a little bland. The portions, at least of the Mexican-inspired dishes, are huge (the sandwiches are more modestly sized). I think they could stand to invest in a new speaker for announcing when order are ready, though; I find it very difficult to understand the names that are being called out. Sometimes the tables still have food on them from the previous customers (it's a "bus your own trays" kind of place). The food is good, though, and a lot of vegan options, so we keep coming back. Oh, and they have an extensive collection of toy dinos and animals for their smallest customers to enjoy. :) read more

When people come in from out of town, I like to bring them here. The food: For the most part tastes good. I usually order the same thing and I have realized at times my dish would taste bland. The price: Can't beat it. Good value. The ambience: It is nothing fancy. This is a good place to bring children. The service: The man at the cash register has never smiled at me. I don't find that staff to engaging. Cleanliness: above average Ultimately, a unique place that my visitors always enjoy. read more

A bit pricey, but more reasonable if you split something. I think much of the cost comes from the fact that it is specialty; vegetarian. We'll probably be back because there's not a whole lot of diverse options in the area. Was just a weird "new age hippie" feel, while at the same time a cafeteria aesthetic going on there. Probably not a place a meat-eater who is "trying it out" would feel comfortable at. read more

Legit vegan food, doesn't make you miss meat. Love love their nuclear bluff. Get the full if you're sharing. Will be more than enough. Also, their tofu pad thai. Amazing flavors. Skip the lemonade and corn bread. Serve yourself, cafeteria style. Doesn't have nice decor or anything. Don't expect that. You order food, you pick it up, you pack your own to go. read more

Huge portions and so many options if you have any sort of dietary restrictions. We came here multiple times during a weekend away in Capitola - I love that they offer organic dairy options and that they had so many gluten-free options as well. It was really tough not to get greedy when ordering our meals - everything was so fresh and full of flavour. Can't wait for another weekend beach getaway! read more

Dharma's is one of my all-time favorite places to eat and I visit just about every time I return to Santa Cruz. The prices are pretty steep and I was told by a friend who worked there once never to tip since the prices were already marked up way more than they should be. My best friend and I can't get enough of Dharma's. My favorite things are the Samurai Soup, the Raspberry Tapioca, and the Gardener's Salad. I also love the Malaysian Corn Chowder, but I never seem to land on the right day to get that EVER. I wish I knew their recipe for the vinaigrette. It's delicious. I want to drink it. The owners never seem very friendly or personable, but I've come to expect that as part of the charm. Anyway, huge portions, delicious food, and dinosaurs to play with on the table. Loooooove me some Dharma's, that's for sure. :) read more

Tons of options, vegan and gluten-free friendly and everything was fairly healthy.

I used to really love this place, you could get healthy food with good portions, but over time the prices have become ridiculous and the portions have gotten smaller. I've always been on a budget so I've been getting the soup and salad special for years, but at some point their bowl size became significantly smaller. Now if I want a larger portion of soup I have to order a large and forgo the "special" price which is no longer very special. The problem is if I order a large portion of kitchari what they give you is not remotely large, it is medium at best, and it's over 10 dollars which is insane for a meager bowl of soup. I've also had them fail to include part of my order in a to-go order and when I told them about it the next day when I came in they weren't interested in hearing about it. Something has gone awry with dharma's and I feel ripped off when I go there now, not a good feeling... good kitchari though. read more

Dharma's is our go-to restaurant when we're in the Santa Cruz area. It's easy to get to, is in a strip mall with a big parking lot, and has a nice selection of vegan options. Bowls inspired by different cuisines, burgers and sandwiches, pasta, and even pizza (though the pizza choices are uninspired unless you're a big fan of vegan cheese). The portions are enormous, so if you have a small appetite and don't want leftovers, choose the small plate when available. Everything we've eaten here was delicious, but you're definitely paying a premium. I love all the live plants, but the new age artwork isn't really to my taste. The ambiance is somewhere between fast food/diner and sit-down restaurant. Then again, Dharma's doesn't have table service, so I don't expect white tablecloths and fine china. You order and then pick a seat. We've never eaten there during a mad rush, so I don't know if this is ever a problem, but the dining room is pretty large. They also have outdoor seating, which is great if you're traveling with a dog or just want to enjoy the nice weather. read more

The best thing about this place is that you don't have to wait for a table like you do at other brunch places in town. I usually go here for brunch, so when I say their food is a little on the salty side, I really mean their tofu scrambles. Their vegan milkshakes, although expensive, are sooo yummy and worth the money! read more

Definitely 5 stars. Not only was the place a good choice before being pierced (Way body arts), but It was such an amazing spot. My friends and I ate outside in the sunlight on a gorgeous day. A very awesome collection of vegan/vegan friendly options. One of those restaurants where i look at the menu and have a hard time picking something (and that's a good thing, because everything looked great and about 85% of could be made vegan.) I ended up actually blindly closing my eyes and just picking the vegan nuclear blast sandwich (which was easily the best meal I ate that week), and had some ginger beer to go with it. A great combo. Also, my 3 other friends that were with me had NOTHING but good things to say about the food, friendly atmosphere, and such a prime location and time of day to be enjoying the sun. Seriously. 90% of what was said while we were eating were either "mmmmmmm" or " woooow" or "man, I'm so impressed, this food is ridiculously amazing." I plan to make it a point to come here when ever I visit Mateo and Sammy of WAY body arts. read more