While eavesdropping the conversation between some colleagues who were discussing their lunch plans the other day, it was discovered they were heading over to Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet (GVB). This brought back memories of my experience here YEARS ago. Located in Nuuanu, just a few minutes by foot from Maemae School, GVB has been offering since 1991, a healthy dining option in a peaceful setting inside ISKCON Hawai'i Temple. They offer an AYCE option weekdays from 11am to 230pm. Upon arrival, my friends and I immediately noticed the calm atmosphere in the beautiful gardens of this Hare Krishna Temple. After paying for our meal we sat down on community long tables in their cozy dining room. The buffet line had a decent selection where standouts were the vegetarian lasagna, assorted curries and the fresh vegetables. Menu offerings change daily where notables include vegetarian lasagna, lentil nut loaf, samosas, quiche, assorted curries and halva. There's also mint ginger water and water offered. Service here is limited as it's pretty much do it yourself. So why only 4 stars? Food was nothing outstanding and the food temperature was not hot as I would have preferred. Eating some dishes such as curries, samosas and papadum would have better if eaten hot. Overall, my friends and I had a great experience here at GVB where I was finally able to try them. This is not a place I'd initiate a get together but wouldn't object if friends wanted to come here. Better late than never. read more

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Hidden spot off Wylie street. It's a Hare Krishna temple with a vegan / vege buffet. Flavors are great. You pay by weight - not super cheap $30 for 2. Still a cool find read more

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

The food was amazing and the people are so kind. Highly recommend the lasagna as well as the roasted veggies! Delish! Worth the stop!

OMG! I've never eaten food like this!!! This is literally my first time eating Vegetarian Dishes like this! I am blown away by the love you can taste in each bite! I'm not a vegetarian by any means. I'm a big Hawaiian firefighter who loves steak more than anything, but this is legit. I'm coming here for lunch from now on. Crazy!!! read more

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It was showing open on gmaps but couldnt really find the place and how to go in. They need to update the timings or atkeast have someone pick up the phone. read more

I really wanted to like this place more than I did :-/ It is off the beaten path, with a quiet & serene ambiance. The shopkeeper is super cute, and the buffet had 10-12 items to pick from, including rice, salad, samosas, dal, spiced potatoes, mixed veggies, and a few rotating special kinds of curry. The downside is the food really did not have flavor. You can tell it was "made with love" (as the sign says at the front of the buffet) but some salt & pepper would have been nice too! read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - A small selection from their buffet, which changes daily - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Our first time here and immediately felt welcome. We loved trying new vegan friendly things and this place is a blessing! A wonderful serene get away from the city, in the city! read more

Amazing overall experience. Highly recommend! Beautiful outdoor seating but they have indoor seating for weather as well. Food is top notch and self serve at a hot bar. Saw another review saying no flavor and my opinion is the opposite. Price is per pound and reasonable especially compared to other per pound deli. Friendly service. Completely vegetarian with many vegan options. Drink is complimentary with meal purchase!! read more

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

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Located at a temple. Beautiful large garden to sit in. You go there, fill a plate, and they weigh it to determine the price. It is located in a residential area with no other businesses around. Parking is no problem on the premises. I used to go to their food truck at UH Mānoa more than 20 years ago. Delicious. read more

I've been looking for authentic Indian food and I as impressed with GovInda's. Got there about 1:30 pm (closes at 2:30), it's buffet style, pay something like $11.99 per pound. The young lady gave us paper plates and cups. It's all vegetarian, very flavorful and fresh. There's a quaint dining area to sit in. The food included a refreshing ginger iced tea that you can help yourself to. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Our variety of vegetarian food - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Vegetarian buffet is back! M-F 11-2:30 This is located in a temple (which looks like a house from the street) and is in a quiet residential area. You don't have to be the religion they believe in, just remove your shoes before you walk in. You might get stares but they are friendly and harmless. After being closed for much of the pandemic, this place finally reopened in March 2022. Check their website for updated closures as they are hosting a huge global anniversary of some sort this week. I hadn't been here for probably a decade but when I saw that they were open again, we went after a round of golf, because I really want to see these little local places come back to life. The buffet is now by weight (long ago when I went it was AYCE) $11.20/lb and choices change daily, Mondays are vegan and other days are vegetarian. The flavors are Indian inspired, so think "curry and cumin" type flavors. They don't use garlic or onions, I'm not sure if that's a religious thing or not (if you know why, lmk!), but they make note of that on signs and on their website. It's not as extensive or as unique as Down to Earth's vegetarian buffet but it'll be enough. I'm definitely not vegan or vegetarian (I am 99% carnivore, every meal) but I can appreciate a meatless meal every now and then, and this was fine. You can take your food and eat on plastic picnic chairs in the back under the large banyan tree, this is actually my favorite part of this place. You can meditate if you want, or just eat your food in a throwback to old Hawaii. I didn't take any pictures like I usually do, I guess I was immersed in the throwback. read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - May 2022 - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

This is ISKOn Hawaii. Food is awesome. Make sure you call them before , if you think you will be reaching after 1:30pm. All vegetarian food. read more

Wonderful hidden gem. Doris Duke gifted beautiful hidden house to her adopted daughter that took advantage of her and so did Bernard, butler to Doris, both robbed Doris blind, as told in bio. Good medic Meditation location. read more

The food is delicious! And the setting outside is lovely. Food is based on weight (except samosas). Wish I could eat here every day. read more

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Hidden in a residential area of Nu'uanu. Food is always good but a bit spicy for me.

My friend is a vegetarian and I'm a carnivore so when we get together for lunch I let her decide on the place. So she chose Govinda's. It was setup like a buffet and I found myself going up for seconds?! She happy to see me go back but like I keep telling her..... it won't kill me but in fact maybe extend my life by a day? read more

Haven't eaten here in a long time, but they upped their game. Loved it before, but they said the got a new chef from India & it tastes like it. Even the samosas came with mint chutney. read more

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I've meant to do this review for a while. About 12 years ago, this company donated food for my Syrian children fundraiser without even batting an eyelash, and their food was sooo good. The quality is incredible and you can tell their food is made with love and aloha. Highly recommend!! read more

Been here a few times and the food is delicious. 4/5 good. The price is by weight per plate. They have a good daily mix of Indian and Italian vegan buffet. The con is it's expensive, otherwise I'd come more often. I'm a small woman, I'd always need to spend at least $20-25 per plate to get full. (Rice and pasta is heavy) For the same price, you can easily go buy larger plates or go to a fancier restaurant. Why do I keep coming back? I love the view of the big tree in the back, and the vegan Italian food! The Italian/Pasta dishes are better than the Indian food here. (I cook Indian food at home) The restaurant is inside a Hindu temple. The strange thing is there's hardly any Indians that come here, it's mostly Caucasian people and yogis that visit regularly. I wish they had a richer Indian culture and community here. read more

As you're driving towards this place you might think to yourself that you might be lost because it's in a residential area. I would have never expected this restaurant to be in the temple, or for there to be a temple in this neighborhood. in any case if you're looking for really good and reasonably priced vegetarian food this is definitely the place to go. I let them know that I was both gluten and dairy free and they were able to show me what items I could and could not eat. There was only one item that I was unable to eat due to the fact that have cheese in it. Other than that I grabbed on every thing they offered. They currently charge $13 a person, however they had a notice that as of November 1st they will increase their prices to $13.99 for the first plate and an additional five for the second plate, or $8 99 a pound. Eat here for sure!! read more

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First time returning since Govinda's has finally reopened its doors since the onset of CoVid! Amazing and very good prashadam!!! read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Lunch meal every day by the Temple gardens! - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I was craving a vegetarian lunch so I went to Govindas. First u need to fill a paper plate with your buffet selections then bring it over to a scale by the gift shop cashier. The new prices are $8.99 a pound or $13 a plate - u would pay the cheaper of the 2 prices. Second helpings are $5. Beverages are complimentary with lunch purchase. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Peaceful surroundings are well worth the price. read more

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

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Came here for the special Thanksgiving meal for the Vegan Society of Hawaii and it did not disappoint. Everything was ono ono ono! I wished I had ordered a second meal to take home and eat the following day. Some items were a tad bit salty for my liking, but still wonderfully delicious. I definitely want to come back to try the regular menu during the week. Menu: Vegan Gluten-Free Turkey Stuffing (Or Gluten-Free Stuffing) Nut Loaf with Walnuts & Almonds (Or Extra Nut-Free Serving Turkey/Stuffing/Mashed Potatoes) Mashed Potatoes Chickpea Gravy Green Beans Almondine (Or Nut-Free Green Beans) Cranberry Sauce Green Salad Almond Dressing (Or Nut-Free Raspberry Vinaigrette) Dessert Pumpkin Pie with Walnut Gram Crust (Or Nut-Free Pumpkin Pudding) Beverages Mint Ginger Lemon Drink Hot Herbal Blueberry Tea read more

Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet - Thanksgiving Vegan Meal - Vegetarian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

In Nuuanu, hidden amongst residences, the buffet kitchen and dining area - inside and outside on a large lawn - is situated within the Hare Krishna Temple. Once you take off your footwear and enter - just take a left and a gift store fronts the kitchen and dining room. What was clearly a former residence, it is quite a large facility. I did not explore elsewhere but helped myself to a plate. There is a restroom available for use and it was quite clean. I took only hot foods, curried stew and roasted veggies, which were nicely flavored. The ginger mint lemonade was nice...not sweet but balanced. The star of the buffet was the Farina dessert. The gentleman who greeted me at the entrance and took my payment explained Farina as similar to semolina. It was quite sweet but very good, containing cashews and raisins. The dining room had a few tables but I decided to eat in the backyard...and was joined briefly by a cat. Apparently, pets can be brought into the lawn even if not a service animal, as someone brought their dog. read more

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Govinda's is the best vegetarian restaurant I've been to in Honolulu. Not only is Govinda's an all-you-can-eat buffet for $13, but the food is actually homemade, delicious, and healthy. Govinda's is located at Hare Krishna Temple in the natural serenity of Nuuanu Valley. There is a seating area inside next to the gift shop, or you can eat your meal in the backyard under beautiful old banyan trees. The cash register is inside the gift shop as you enter into the restaurant. You can choose to pay before or after eating. Next to the buffet line is this refreshing ginger mint lemonade made from fresh pressed ginger, fresh mint, lemon juice, and organic cane sugar. The salad is so fresh and colorful. I recommend adding homemade vegan spicy jalapeno & cilantro salad dressing for an extra kick. It goes so well with the ginger mint lemonade. Some of my other favorites were the chickpea spinach curry, the kitchri loaded with tasty cumin seeds, and the halava that had a slightly sweet but mostly savory peanut butter flavor. So good! As an omnivore, I am looking forward to returning for more delicious vegetarian dishes, and wish there was a restaurant like this closer to town. read more

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You must remove your footwear upon entry. I arrived around 12:30, so there was about 2 more hours left. I paid for the buffet and then an announcement was made that they were running out of food. The lettuce mix was near empty, with just about half a cup left of it. I took the rest of the lettuce. A lot of dishes had about 3 tablespoons left. I scraped the last bits of these just so I could try everything. The last few dishes were half full. I ate outside in the back yard. There's a beautiful giant banyan tree and it is peaceful. Overall the food was tasty, but I gave three stars for being low on food halfway through the buffet open hours. read more

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This place is very relaxing, they welcome everyone Good food but no longer a buffet. Pay by weight.

An absolutely lovely Indian buffet. All of the food looked beautiful, fresh, was aromatic, and tasted incredible. This looks like a big old estate that has been turned into a business. The grounds are really pretty and the entire place has such a peaceful vibe. I was greeted very politely, and can't wait to go back. Everything was delicious. There's a sign that says that the food is made with love and I believe it! read more

I stopped by in 2020 a few times but there was no longer any restaurant. Even though it says it's open, I don't think they are serving food again. Last time I went was before COVID lock down. My favorite days were tues and Thursday because i loved thé quiche and curries on those days. I do hope it opens back up. Please let your usuals know when you're serving again! read more

I was so happy to see Govinda's in Hawaii, we have Govinda's in Brooklyn New York and I knew the food would be great. I was right! The food was excellent, the environment was beautiful and peaceful. They have a big outdoor garden with tables to eat your food and you can also eat indoors too. They also have a store with supplies (clothing, incense, books, jewelry, etc). You are not allow to wear your shoes in the temple and the people are extremely nice. The food is made fresh everyday, each day is a different menu and the establishment is very clean. If you are vegan and/or vegetarian you must check this place out. Let me know your thoughts. read more

Excellent vegan and vegetarian food in a very peaceful and friendly environment. Love this place!

Best Indian food on the island. I would eat there everyday if Govinda was closer to my home. Having lived in Nepal & India, it is a wonderful treat to have these authentic dishes available. A lot of Indian folks come to Govinda and that says it all. Namaste. read more

Vegetarian buffet in Honolulu for $13... I dined here a couple of years ago and have always wanted to return. The opportunity arrived when my cousins were in town for their father's celebration of life. This was the perfect setting for our reunion. Parking is free and the grounds are beautiful. The gardens are lush and green...this is Mother Nature's best! My cousin noticed the shoe racks at the entrance, so we removed our shoes before entering. My cousin is so intune with Asian cultures and was able to recognize the various decor and explain what was happening in certain photographs that were displayed. We were welcomed by the cashier who told us that there was a group of students with us who were learning about Hare Krishna. They provided a cheerful energy to the dining room. There were about 6 tables inside and I know that there was outdoor seating, but we didn't look. We wanted to be near to the food and there was a passing shower that we avoided! We went to the buffet line, got our utensils, paper plates, and ginger beverage (highly recommended), then proceeded to the salad bar, hot entrees, and dessert! The seasoned potatoes, coconut mochi-like dessert (with little pieces of pineapple it), and cauliflower quiche (with good crust) were standouts for me. The soup was a bit bland, so my cousin and I added curry and parmesan cheese to it. We also tossed in some peas from the salad bar. I added in some corn, too! We also enjoyed the puffed, crisp crackers (papadum?)! We were really satisfied with a healthy meal and a spiritual environment. We could feel the crossbreeze through the screened open doors; we saw the wind playing in the leaves on the shrubbery; and we heard the falling rain and birds chirping outside! It was a fantastic experience! read more

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Delicious vegetarian buffet but pricey because all the items are weighed by the ounce. But we did get free fresh baked cookies and muffins too! Yummy! The outdoors are so beautiful and calming. The enormous banyan tree is something to come and see and just relax around. No need to eat and run. Take it easy once you get onto property. read more

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Please be on guard if the person ringing you up says she's going to "eyeball" it and says you "got a deal!" We were overcharged. The person at the desk said their tablet wasn't charged so credit cards couldn't be taken and we'd have to pay cash. My companion took out her cash and revealed she had more than enough, so that may have affected the rest of the transaction. The person at the desk then weighed our plates of food and even though the weights were very different, she said it'd be $15 each for a total of $30. I wasn't clear on why she couldn't use her smart phone, which was face-up on the counter with a brightly lit screen so not out of battery like the tablet, to calculate the correct total. I didn't say anything since my companion was already paying but when we had come just last week, our plates had come out to about $12 each so $15 each sounded high to me. Sure enough when I later did a quick calculation based on the weights that'd been displayed on the scale, our total should've only been $25. Before pandemic, we used to come regularly, at least once a week. Sadly after this experience, I don't think we'll be back as much. It's not about the money, just the funny feeling I got from it. read more

Hidden right off of the Pali Highway, Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet is a hidden gem. Wednesday is lasagna day so that's the best day to stop by. Their lasagna is amazing. This place was practically empty when we stopped by around noon. It has a country atmosphere even though it is in a residential neighborhood because you don't really notice the houses next door once you're inside. It is $13 for as much as you can pile on your paper plate, which is a steal! I only piled half as much food as I wanted because I'm on a diet, but it was still a considerable amount. For $5 more, you can do it again. Fun! This includes their complimentary ginger lemonade as well. When we stopped by, there was work being done outside. Also, there was a large gnat population, so it is probably best to stay indoors in the open-air, screened dining room. If you're curious about the Hare Krishna shrine area, just ask if you can take a look. I haven't been turned down yet for an exploratory adventure. One interesting thing is that they require you to remove your footwear before entering. Parking is limited so it is best to come early. read more

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

A wonderful, sensory experience. As a vegetarian (sometimes pescatarian) living on Oahu, decent vegetarian options on Oahu are a treasure. I first read about Govinda'a in 2018 but it wasn't on the main bus route or easily accessible without a car (or so I thought) so i never visited. Fast forward to November 2023 and I was finally able to visit Govinda's on a beautiful rainy and partly sunny day. As mentioned in other reviews, you are expected to take your shoes off before entering the building as it is a temple. Staff/volunteers were helpful. . There are plenty of places in front of the temple to put your slippers/shoes. The restaurant is located inside to your left. The floors inside the temple were very clean. Actually , everything else was clean too!There was a young man working the cash register who explained the food bar process to me. There were more than enough food options for me. In fact, there were a couple of dishes I didn't get to try because I didn't have enough room on my plate. I was super excited to try the Halva. I have never had it before and it was delicious. The other food items I had were delicious. I was very surprised to find that every dish was perfectly seasoned. There were only three other people sitting together in the restaurant so there were plenty of places to sit inside. However, as I was paying for my food, I saw the beautiful banyan tree and grassy area outside. So, I decided to sit outside in the wind and Hawaiian blessings (that turned into rain)and enjoy my lunch. It was such a rare and wonderful experience for me to walk on green grass and dirt barefoot. *Please note that I walk barefoot on sand often. * Overall, the food was good, really good, and parking was easy. For those of you that take the bus, the location is easily accessible by bus - the temple and restaurant is located on a small quiet street that intersects with or just barely intersects with the Pali highway. The atmosphere was absolutely lovely. Please note that: You pay for the food by weight and the cost of the food is about what you would pay at Down to Earth or Whole foods. The temple actually looks like a large house. That is not a bad thing, I just mention this to help you find Govinda's. Don't rush -block of enough time to eat and explore and appreciate Govinda's. read more

Simple and tasty vegetarian food served with love. Very reasonable and one of its kind place where your price for the meal is by the weight of the food on the plate! Good Indian food and very pleasant experience. read more

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

Tucked away in a beautiful, quiet Nuuanu neighborhood is this amazing gem. It's located in a Hari Krishna temple with beautiful meditation gardens in the back. Before you enter, you remove your shoes. Once inside, you will find a quaint gift/trinket shop with the buffet luncheon adjacent. For $13, you get an all-you-can-eat amazing buffet of vegetarian and vegan options. (Mondays and Saturdays, it's 100% Vegan.). On the buffet were a couple of different curries, an amazing lentil/nut loaf, plus various side dishes, including a couple of dessert options. The food - made with NO garlic - was tasty, delicious, wonderful....did I say delicious?! There was a 5-gallon container of ginger lemonade to help yourself. The lemonade was refreshing and light with a hint of sugar and ginger. Couldn't get enough of this amazing drink! For seating, they have 5-6 seating areas inside but lots of garden seating under a huge, beautiful tree! What a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and sit back, relax and enjoy a tasty lunch. read more

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Yesterday's vegetarian lunch. Previously Govindas was $13 for all you can eat. Recently they charge $8.99 per pound. From what they said they were losing money. Food was still Ono tho I'll be back read more

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