Although the prices seem a bit expensive the portions are humungous! I got a Dharma dog with blue tortilla chips and a Root Beer Float. My Yelp/FB pal, BKW, wrote about having homemade Root Beer Floats often and ever since I've had a hankering for them. Mmmm...it was worth the calories and too big for me to finish. Mr Rinky and I shared a Burrito Bueno which came with beans, brown rice, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes---HUGE! It came with a side salad---Yummers and filling! It's hard for us to think about eating at any other place in Capitola or Santa Cruz-- we always head for Dharma's.
(5)
Tonia B.
This is an ovo-lacto vegetarian restaurant that makes virtually everything vegan upon request! And there are many options that are already vegan. Marco, one of the chefs, is also vegan. They also have a large gluten free menu. The restaurant is very casual and located in a shopping mall. It has a "cafeteria-style" feel to it. You stand in line to order, then choose a table and when your number is called you pick up your food. The menu is huge so it is easy to find something you will like. I ate there several times during my Capitola visit from breakfast to dinner and enjoyed the food every time. The portions are very large so I'm glad we had a fridge in our hotel for leftovers. Breakfast had always been my favorite meal when dining out until I became vegan. Now I'm lucky if a restaurant offers oatmeal or a fruit plate. So to have options for breakfast was something I really enjoyed! The vegan options available in Capitola and Santa Cruz are wonderful - from fine dining to casual dining - I felt welcomed! Another nice surprise is if you sign up for their newsletter they send updates to their menu along with a $6 coupon. Be sure to add this stop to your list the next time you head to the beach!
(4)
Andy M.
I really like the vegan pasta con pesto. Unfortunately, this review is not about the vegan pasta con pesto. This review is about the dharma chili dog. I expected a hot dog that I could conceivably hold in my hand, albeit get a little messy. That's a chili dog. What I got was an open face hotdog bun covered in chili and vegan cheese. With a little digging I found the star of the show: a skinny little vegetarian hot dog. The whole package was probably four times as wide as the actual dog. Under the pile of chili and cheez the bun got way too soggy for me to want to keep eating the dish after I killed off the tiny hot dog. Also bring your own cup or bottle for water cause the cups they provide are ridiculously small.
(3)
Carla D.
Here is the Indian Curry Plate with papadam, tofu, veggies, rice, cashews, really good fruit chutney and raita. Others at our table enjoy their chili, and breakfast burrito and tofu scramble.
(5)
Alyssa L.
Yummy food and wonderful atmosphere. The old dude behind the counter was pretty rad too. He was like hey guys. Haha. I got a mole burrito that had fat chunks of potatoes and my lover got a burger! What I loved most was the artwork by Bruce Harmon they had displayed on the walls. He is just so absolutely brilliant and I love his work. Bravo dharmas!
(5)
Terry X.
Great food. Today was my 3rd visit this week. Healthy food, good size portions, nice employees, and a fairly quiet environment (during off-peak hours). You order your food at the counter, so no wait staff. Easy to get a great vegan meal here.
(5)
Vladimir P.
This is so sad. I would love to support every vegan restaurant out there, but some of them are just beyond hope. I took my wife out to Santa Cruz for a nice getaway day on the beach. We planned every little detail including a place to grab a nice lunch. On Yelp, this place looked amazing, so we have decided to give it a try. First impressions were not exactly great. Restaurant looks a bit rundown, everything just looks like it needs a deep cleaning. This is underlined by a weird musty smell of old furniture. Unfortunately our experience did not end there. Food was awful. My chow mein was so burnt that it was inedible. I tried couple of bites, but the bitter burnt taste was just disgusting and potato and leek soup was bland and overcooked. Pesto ravioli was swimming in oil and it tasted gross. We left all out food pretty much untouched and left the restaurant. Nothing is cooked to order, everything just looks like it's reheated and it tastes like vegan version of Denny's. What a shame.
(1)
Lin V.
Really fresh salads. Sandwiches are a bit greasy. Good options for vegans and vegetarians though. I really love their salads, it's really fresh.
(4)
A S.
Been coming here for years but first time back in a year since moving west. It remains the best varied and tasty vegan/veg place form Monterey to SF/San Jose corridor Always great specials and the base menu equally as good. Got the vegan butternut ravioli today and it was a delight, had to pass on dessert as it was most filling.
(5)
Dyan Y.
Getting away from the East Bay heat we stayed in Capitola and found this little gem of a place. Now, we are normally not this type of people place, i.e., self serve, in a strip mall, randomish place but we are vegan and this place is vegan so we ended up eating here THREE days in a row. First night was dinner and it was bad. Food was SUPER hot like under a heat lamp or in the microwave type of hot. Not off the grill hot so we couldn't even put the food in our mouths for another 10 minutes. The pizza crust was so hard that it was like a crouton. The portobello sandwich was eh. The burger was eh. Overall bad. We came back the next day for dinner......well what can I say, for vegan options this is close to the only one. AMAZING!!!!! Wow!!! The dan dan noodles were super good! The butternut squash ravioli was yummy! And the same pizza we had the night before was SO GOOD! Soft, crispy crust, not so hot that my kids could actually eat it. Third day was the same as the second. Yum! In fact, we stayed in Capitola until lunch time just to eat here one last time before we headed to Santa Cruz. We will be back.
(4)
Sonia L.
I love this place! I used to come here all the time when we lived in the bay. Their pasta con pesto is the best. Came here last weekend and it's still great. Got a taste of their dessert and I like that it's not overwhelmingly sweet.
(5)
shani c.
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.
(4)
Candice G.
A vegetarian 3-hot dog morning burrito for dinner? That sounds pretty yuppie trailer park. It is also definitely what I want. Verdict: It was the best yuppie trailer park food I've ever had. Not that I've ever had yuppie trailer park food before, but I'd imagine if that were a real category of cuisine that it could go all types of wrong. This dish was pretty good. Not mind-blowing, but it didn't have meat and it was interesting overall and that's what I was looking for at the time. The Official Dish: 3 DOG MORNING BURRITO - $11.50 Scrambled tofu, potatoes, onions, 3 tofu hot dogs, jalapenos, red peppers and mushrooms with cheese, guacamole, sour cream and chips. I will say that it was not, by any stretch of imagination, a burrito. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a burrito should mean that the filling is at least somewhat contained inside of the tortilla/packaging vessel, amiright? This tortilla was more like a giant dosa with all the filling flopped on top. There was no effort made by the tortilla to contain the contents of this dish, so it looked more like an omelet scramble, but they were able to fit a lot more food on the plate than if it were a burrito so it was fine with me because in my book, more is more. I also got the... JAPANESE SAMURAI SOUP - $11.95 Soba noodles in miso broth with arame (seaweed), edamame, (soy beans), green onions, tofu, spinach, carrots, sesame seeds, and topped with shredded daikon. The soup was massive, as it's $12 price tag would suggest, but as far as flavor it was seriously lacking. I tried to eat as much as I could at Dharma's, but I was dying for a little sodium and spice. I'm sure the dish is healthy as heck and there was no shortage of noodles and fixins, but in the end the flavor just wasn't there. I took a lot of it home (it ended being 3 meals it was so big) and added some of every spice in my cabinet and soy sauce just to be sure I got 10 times the daily of dose of sodium that a normal human would eat. I loved the very casual, order-at-the-counter-and-wait-for-your-name-to-be-Âyelled diner-type atmosphere. It was pretty busy when I came and though the food took a while (it's made fresh, so that's a good thing) and it was still somehow starkly quiet with all those people, I like the atmosphere. It felt like eating in a library, which is normally not allowed, so it's a little rebellious if you have a good imagination. They seem pretty kid-friendly given their truly expansive menu and that they have all these animal figurine toys on the partitions throughout the dining area for kids to grab and play with. I was dining alone so I grabbed a dinosaur figure for company at my table and it was actually really nice. Nicer than some of the human company I've gone out to eat with, actually. If in the area, I'd go back and try something different because that menu is huge and the prices for the portion are pretty fantastic. One meal could easily be two or three and though everything I had definitely "tasted healthy", it wasn't by any means bad and it did make me curious to try more of Dharma's delights.
(4)
Veronika S.
Vegan's and vegetarian's paradise! They have a vast amount of beautifully presented and delicious dishes, I couldn't even decide what to get because the whole menu sounded awesome! Big portions and good prices as well. Try the vegan berry-lemon cheesecake, it's the best cheesecake I ever had!
(5)
Jenn C.
Another satisfying tempeh reuben at Dharma's -- tempeh stuffed into delicious bread with grilled red onions and cultured sauerkraut, garlic dill, salad and some potatoes with Black China Bakery chocolate cake for dessert. Super reliable and consistent, Dharma's has been a favorite for almost 12 years. My friend enjoyed her pad thai and said it was the best, most flavorful pad thai she's had ever. Every time I bring a friend here -- they are incredibly impressed. It's a big menu and they are fairly consistent -- delicious vegetarian food with epic portions in a warm wood lined dining room with a jungle of plants. Well worth the trip!
(4)
Ary A.
Average food, but this restauraunt will assume you want animal products in your food unless you specify otherwise. The employee on the register will not ask your preference and simply assume you want dairy and other animal products. If your food is made with dairy that you didn't want, they charge you 50% extra on top of the price you paid to fix the food. Kind of a joke for a restaurant that calls itself "Dharma". Terrible policy, management refuses to fix this issue of being upfront at the register when the customer is ordering, despite my polite suggestion. Bad karma and ignorant policy gets a bad rating from me.
(1)
Joe W.
I have been here several times. The food is great. Best salad along the coast! Cheaper than Whole Foods. I bring my friends here every time I'm in town.
(4)
julie l.
I've been eating Dharma's amazing food for over a decade, & I can't believe I've never reviewed them. It's my favorite go-to restaurant; I'm there at least once a week. The menu & portions are huge, the $6 coupon when you spend $25 is a terrific deal, the ambiance is fantastic (casual, no tipping, beautiful fountain & orchids, gorgeous & local artwork on the walls (Yay Bruce!), &, most importantly, their food is SO good! Also, they have a separate line for pickup orders, which I always appreciate, & you can dine outside with your dog--always a huge plus for me. Dharma's, you're the best! :)
(5)
Andrea A.
I had a disappointing first experience here yesterday. The food was overpriced and lacking flavor. I had a 3 Dog Morning Burrito and my partner had a Thai Tofu Scramble. My burrito plus a fresh squeezed OJ added up to $18! There was a lot of food on the plate, but none of it was particularly good. I'd rather get the veggie option at any other taqueria or restaurant than come here again.
(2)
Alison W.
Unique little vegetarian place in Capitola. We finished a hike nearby and stopped in for lunch. You order and pay at the counter and then they'll yell your name when your food is ready to be picked up. I tried the Bo Thai. I really liked it (for not having any meat). The noodles were thick and delicious. And plenty of veggies and tofu. The sauce also made the whole dish pretty tasty. My friends had the Indian curry plate and the dan dan noodles. All the portions were huge with prices to match. I think all entrees were all $10+. And they have fresh juices and smoothies too. I was starving so I actually finished my food but I could see taking half of it home for later and still being satisfied. Afterwards, you clean and bus your own tables by bringing your empty dishes to the back. I would come back every once in awhile if I felt like being healthy.
(3)
Nikki V.
Lovely refreshing place along HWY 1 in Capitola. We stopped here on the way to Big Sur and had Kitcheree and Mango Lassi. Kitcheree - is your usual khichdi very very mildly seasoned, light and satisfying. Mango Lassi - THE BEST. Of course I loved the extra addition of rose water/essence in the lassi - it gave a refreshing cool floral scent and taste as I was drinking it. Not chalk full of sugar - also lightly sweetened. Would love to come here again and try some of their other dishes...but sadly Capitola is a bit of a drive from home :(
(5)
Sean K.
The food is expensive and odd. I got a vegetarian breakfast burrito that had fake hotdogs and pickled jalapenos in it that werent listed in what I chose. The "burrito" also wasnt wrapped and was soggy when it got to my so the tortilla ripped and I had to dirty some silverware.
Extensive menu with something for everyone - I really enjoyed their noodle dishes and their desserts.
(5)
Yue L.
We were so excited to try this place on our way from SC to Carmel. The food looked delicious and the portions were large. I always love a great breakfast meal to get the day started. Some people reviewed complained about the decor but I didn't mind it so much. It's a bit outdated and hippieish, but suits the vibe just fine. I ordered the Nada Chicken Burrito and specifically asked for no onions due to my food allergy. The cashier wrote it down on the order. My order came, it looked delicious on a open face tortilla (not wrapped in a burrito) but that didn't bother me. However 3-4 bites into it, I found a piece of onion. I thought maybe it was just a stray piece and put it aside. Took 2 more bites and found more onion pieces. We took it back to the counter and reinstated the allergy issue and they agreed to remake it. 15 mins later, I got the piping hot dish from the kitchen. Not even 2 bites into it, found lots of onion pieces. This time I was upset and BF is too. We took it back to the counter and the guy checked with the kitchen and then came back and said, sorry, the chicken and sauce part is cooked with onion and they can't take it out. First of all, I understand that the chicken was precooked in a sauce with onion, but why was I not informed of that and given an option to choose a dish without onions after stating my allergy? Second of all, after returning the dish the first time around, you'd think that the person making it, seeing that onion allergy is noted on the order, would realize that onions are in the chicken part. I am really disappointed in the lack of communication or care in their food prep. Also, I had a migraine shortly after leaving there and threw up multiple times. Thanks a lot, Dharma.
(1)
Lila A.
Fantastic place! My family goes there on regular basis. I really like their variety and consistency of how the food tastes. Their prices are very reasonable, given the enormous portions you get. I can never finish my food and always end up taking it with me. It's very convenient that they are open until 9pm. I'm grateful to the owner and the staff for running this great restaurant so well; offering delicious food to all of us! Operating a business is never easy and I think this place does a fantastic job! Thank you!!! ... Just seeing the photos of their food made me hungry! Ok, we are heading to Dharma's!
(5)
Ilmia N.
Whenever I am in Santa Cruz area and craving for a healthy food, I go here. It is a decent size place with small outside sitting area and a little plant garden in a corner. The stuff is always kind and you never fell rushed out. There is plenty of parking around. The food comes in a large portion and never disappoints. We had Japanese udon noodle soup and indian plate and enjoyed our food to the very last bite.
(5)
POD P.
Love dharmas! The food is great! I love the Bo Thai. The salads and the tahini lemon dressing are worth a visit alone. You can never have enough tahini lemon. The kitcheree soup with a side of salsa & a sprinkling of the minced red onion is marvelous. The servings are typically large so you can share if you like. The only thing I have an issue with is their 'nadas' as in nada chicken etc. I have only eaten 1 nada and I'm nada fan.
(5)
Ron K.
I guess this one is tough to rate as their salads are 4 star material especially with the tahini and lemon dressing. The other items are the menu can be a little Ho hum. Pretty much veggie versions of burgers dogs sandwiches pizza etc. Most items are not vegan but you can take out items like cheese and sour cream etc but they will most likely taste pretty bland. The Japanese samurai soup looks interesting so that will be one I will try some day even with the mixed reviews. The service is pretty much you doing all the work. The workers are all pretty solemn folk so usually don't tip much. Overall the place works but Whole Foods and New Leaf down the road it's not probably ever going to be my go to place when on 41st.
(3)
Stephen S.
Vegan or Vegetarian the food here's exquisite! Try Almost anything! You'll find yourself with heaping portion of what ever you order. The tapioca pudding is the best. So, Eat, Drink and be Merry!!! If you find the prices a little steep. Keep in mind it's all fresh and delicious.
(5)
Tim Y.
Found this place on Yelp. It was my first time there today and we tried the following: Tempeh reuben sandwich - This was pretty good. The sauerkraut was great! The potatoes and "thousand island" dipping sauce werr delicious. Cashew "chicken" and broccoli - It was served over white rice (didn't know it came with rice or I would have asked for brown). The sauce/gravy in this dish was delicious. I've never been a fan of fake meat or soy chicken though. Maybe they could make it with tofu next time? Dan dan noodles - This isn't served with the black bean sauce like some other restaurants....it's more of a peanut butter sauce. Topped with some fresh veggies. You first order and pay at the cash registers. Seat yourself and wait for your name to be called to go pick up your tray of food. You bus your own tables. They have a garbage/recycling are near the doors with togo boxes. I would have to agree that the service could be better. The cashier wasn't rude or anything but a hello, smile, or thank you would have been nice...
(4)
Tram N.
I don't know what it is but the atmosphere, ambiance, decor, staff, and overall layout of this restaurant made me feel uneasy the second I stepped inside. The menu offers a variety on its menu but because there are so many offerings, finding an entree was difficult for me. The prices are rather high, too so I stuck to the safest / cheapest dish (burrito). No kids' menu and the worst: no ice in the machine! I just wanted iced water w/ a lemon. I did not like my "Nada Chicken Burrito" because it was extremely heavy and it simply did not taste good. I can't imagine ever going back to fast food but I was thinking about a more fulfilling meal than this and the next step up is sadly fast food. I wish Santa Cruz offers great vegan selections but instead, the people here got jipped. Nobody here knows what "good vegan food" tastes like. I left my heart in San Jose :(
(2)
Nou V.
I ate here about one and a half of a week ago. I am giving them two stars because the people were nice and the service was quick. For the food quality, I got soup and salad combo with a non-rememberable dressing, and something else that I cannot also recall. My friend ordered a veggie sandwich which looked decent. I didn't like the lentil soup. It was not flavorful and it was grainy. The salad was just a simple put together toss with sunflower seeds. It was not amazing or good. I wouldn't go back... But I like giving places a couple chances and try other items before I say no for ever and never recommend to a friend. The dishes seemed like something I can make at home when I am very lazy to cook something delicious. And if someone says "oh, you can't order just a soup and salad combo at a place like that and rate them...". Well.. Yes, I can. They're suppose to serve vegan food so it should be in their qualifications to make something that simple better.
(2)
Martin A.
Unfortunately wasn't able to try the food. Server had me wait a while before taking my order. So long that I thought I was in the wrong place. Then, the portobello sandwich I ordered took so long that I gave up and walked out.
(1)
Anna C.
So delicious. My favorite is the lasagna and the breakfast burrito. Pretty much everything on the menu is great! Fast and friendly service.
(5)
Annie S.
This is literally the slowest restaurant I have ever been to, food is pretty good though.
(3)
Karen L.
This place is the bomb! The servings are huge! Definitely be mindful of this when you ordered. I ordered the Bo Thai. My daughter had the veggie breakfast burrito and my son the Big Bluff Sandwich. Each dish was superb. The Kombucha on draft was excellent. Can't rave enough about this place!
(5)
Erica O.
I like Dharma's and I'm by no means a Vegetarian. The place is nothing fancy, looks like a Cafeteria if you ask me, but the food is always pretty solid. Plus their portion sizes are huge! 2 thumbs up fro me!
(4)
Julia S.
I stopped in Friday late morning, happy to be there before noon and so to treat myself to breakfast after waiting at the DMV for over two hours. I ordered to go, and since they do the best tofu scramble on the planet, I ordered the Greek Tofu Scramble and a large Chai Shake. Service is via the counter: you stand in line to order, then they call your name when its ready. The cashier asked if I wanted dairy or non-dairy for the shake (I opted for non-dairy) and then confirmed whether I wanted feta cheese on the scramble (I did.) The "large" shake would be small-to-medium elsewhere but it was very good. I was a little shocked at the prices: $24 total! That non-dairy shake (made with Coconut Bliss instead of ice cream) was $9, which seems shockingly expensive for the size. The Greek Tofu Scramble, at $12.95, seemed a little expensive but it was huge, easily enough for lunch and dinner. Since it was a to-go order, the scramble was in a carton with the toast wrapped separately in foil. I've never had quick service at Dharma's, but the wait time for my order was acceptable at 15-20 minutes. If you dine in, the restaurant itself is informal: no table service, so you order, find yourself a table and get your utensils from the rack, and must go up to retrieve your tray and bus your dishes afterwards. There is self-serve water, but you have to get back in line if you decide you wanted a cup of chai or dessert after you put your original order in. There are cartons and foil near the busing area if you need to take some of your order home. It is very child-friendly (lots of plastic dinosaurs and menagerie animals), and the hard surfaces make it somewhat loud. There is some table-sharing during crowded times. I will be back, but with the prices, it will be for an occasional treat rather than a weekly breakfast or lunch. And I will order the dairy shake instead, which is $1.50 cheaper.
(4)
Irene L.
I had the pesto butternut squash ravioli and the guajillo potatoes. The food is good-ok, not amazing but good. A little pricey for the portions you get. Also all the entrees come with mandatory side salad, whether you want it or not.
(3)
Gregg L.
I heard that McDonald's went after this place for the "Mc" in front of their former name McDharma's. I first went here with my good friend a vegan who has a very enlightened pink poodle named Shakti Paw (short for Shakti Paw Loves Monkey). So here's my review, as my private protest to the golden arches, which are neither: I McLove this McPlace. It is McSooooo McAmazing! The McMenu is McBrilliant, McFabulous, and McExcellent McVeggie McFood that will McMake your McHeart McSing for McWeeks!
(5)
John L.
I have been going here since they were on East Cliff and called McDharmas anyone remember that dude Bolo?, Anyway, what is with the great food but bad tude? Don't understand people that have survived in the business for over 30 years but seem unhappy in the process. Having said that I still eat here about 10 times a year, but would eat here 3 times that if the owners and staff were nicer --- cheer up guys you are doing a great service for Babaji and the greater Santa Cruz vege community.
(3)
Niccolina R.
I spend a lot of money here every time I go. Not to mention, always leave a generous tip. Some how the order for my shake was wrong. Not a big deal. I went to the counter to ask if they could please fix it since it wasn't what I ordered. This young, blonde girl behind the counter proceeded to argue with me as if I didn't know what I ordered. She finally said she would make it over. When I walked up to the counter to get my shake, I very nicely said,"thank you" twice. The young, blonde girl ignored me and when she finally acknowledged me she rudely mouthed,"yeah!" I worked the food industry for over 10 years. I dealt with really mean, rude people all the time. I get it. I would never want to treat anyone the way that I have been treated time and time again. That was a horrible example of customer service. That girl's entitled, snotty attitude was so ugly and unnecessary. I love Dharma's food. I've been coming here for a long time. I pay a lot of money to eat here because I know their food is superior and worth it. This just made me not want to come back. My best friend shared as we were sitting there that she was there when that little kid was walking all over the counters. She said it was unreal. No one did anything nor cleaned the counters off where their was food being served. I hope the owner takes these types of incidents seriously because they will continue to lose customers with behavior like this.
(1)
Jesse P.
Vegetarianism at its finest! Very Delicious! Breakfast Burrito'd, Dal (Lentil) Soup'ified, Carrot-Celery-Ginger Juicy'est Although, next time I order the breakfast burrito I'd double the tofu and go lighter on the country potatoes, even though they were cooked to a crisp which was just right and so tasty...
(5)
Mary N.
Really bad attitudes. Served us an expensive pizza with barely a table spoon of sauce. The crust was greasy and doughy. Their excuse was... " it's gluten Free" Seriously ? GF does not excuse poor quality. These folks need a wake up call. Basically what you are seving for 25$ is over priced cheese bread and arrogance.
(2)
Dave S.
I've only been here for breakfast but I'm a big fan of the Tofu scrambles--tofu ranchero is my fave--and they do a good job with fresh veggie juices too. The portions are huge so you may consider splitting an entree with a friend...or an enemy, as long as you can be civil long enough to eat and not disturb others with your feuding. Condiments are of a variety you won't find in many other places: Melinda's Xxx Hot sauce, Bragg's liquid aminos, and other shakers of herbs and stuff. Very clean, unisex bathroom waaaaay in the back. Like, there's a hallway that goes along a wall of photos (presumably of customers) and keeps going until you think you're going to come out into Narnia and then boom, bathroom...but no Narnia...which is kind of sad. Though I wasn't prepared to use the bathroom outside, in front of talking animals, so perhaps it was a good thing after all. Also, the decor here includes patches of toy animals...so maybe Narnia is around here after all. Maybe that's what the wall of pictures is for--those are the people who got lost on their way to the bathroom and ended up in Narnia. Seems reasonable to me.
(4)
Brian J.
Dharma's has been a mainstay option on the Santa Cruz kind food circuit for decades. The cafe is family owned, they use solid ingredients (mostly organic) and have time-tested recipes that have withstood both food fads and hype. In a nutshell, it's very good and I recommend you stop by for a visit next time in the Soquel area of Santa Cruz. Their house salad is so tasty because the homemade dressings mix perfectly with the shredded root veggies and sunflower sprouts. This is definitely a big salad, so one for two to three people is fine. You have to get their soups, they are so fresh, filling and tasty. Try they seasonal daily, for me it was the winter squash. Their mains are great too. Try Dharmas Bo Thai, an American hippy take on the classic pad Thai. Yummer. I asked the owner to open a restaurant in San Francisco, but he happily declined saying Santa Cruz was his only home. More the reason to visit Santa Cruz again soon...
(5)
Steven H.
Love dharmas! they can meet any of my requests here and the customer service is outstanding every time. I do believe the menu could be a little more explanatory - one time I ordered a pizza and the cheese was very thick for my liking, and another time I ordered pancakes with bananas and didn't know the bananas are baked into the pancakes - but I can't let that hold me back from giving this place 5 stars The food is delicious and I appreciate them being able to meet to the needs of vegetarians, vegans, and those who avoid gluten. Dharmas is awesome!
The food is really good. The customer service is borderline rude. I always feel like the counter help us bothered at having to do their job.
(3)
Clint M.
I have never everything on this menu & I love it! The food is very fresh, tasty, and nourishing (guilt-free). Favorites: Pasta Con Pesto, B-L-T, and La Tostada, but you cannot wrong. The tapioca pudding is excellent as well. The atmosphere is very cosy. I typically opt for the outside seating but the inside is very serene. The employees are kind and knowledgable. Great for kids. There are fun toys play with a healthy Grilled Cheese with a salad for a very reasonable price. WALKING DISTANCE TO/FROM THE BEACH
(5)
Diva Q.
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
(5)
Yvette B.
HEALTH HAZARD WARNING- The last time I came here there was a 5-6 year old child running around wild making a ton of noise bothering everyone and ended up climbing and STANDING ON THE CONDIMENTS TABLE- SNEAKERS AND ALL! The mom of this 5 year old said nothing and neither did ANY of the restaurant workers NOR DID THEY WIPE DOWN THE COUNTER after seeing him climb up on it with his dirty ass shoes. The kid was kicking the swing door that is separating the restaurant to behind the serving counter also. I understand being a family friendly restaurant but seriously this is not ok. Get your shit together Dharmas.
(1)
Geri L.
Can always count on the Saturn for delicious salads, great nachos and sandwiches. The staff is great whether it's just my husband and me or a party with six adults and 7 kids-toddlers to teens. Everybody finds something tasty and it's all vegetarian with plenty of vegan options.
(4)
Mary E.
I've never been disappointed with my meal at Dharma's - and there have been many! The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the staff friendly. Definitely check out the weekly specials and the vegan desserts.
(5)
Melissa D.
One of my favorite places to get vegan/vegetarian food! Their vegan chocolate cake and the vegan cheesecake are AMAZING. Their burritos are my favorite. Huge portions and variety. They also have stunning artwork on the walls and to go boxes easily located so that you don't have to ask for them. If you sign up for email notifications you'll get a $6 off coupon almost every week, definitely comes in handy.
(5)
Dasha C.
What are people thinking when they review this place so highly?? Or what are they smoking , I guess I should ask. Super dirty restaurant, the furniture looks like it's from hospice care, super sticky floors and tables. Horrendous (beyond belief) "decor" -- who ever wants to see a meditating Jesus while they're eating? The place is super cluttered with horrible "art" and makes you feel like you just walked into the twilight zone. We ordered two different tofu scrambles, they both tasted like overlooked, mushy turmeric garbage. My husband barely touched his. My almond milk latte was so bad I took one sip (out of an ugly, dirty and old branded mug) and couldn't drink any more. To the owners: please please please take a field trip to Source in SF or Herbivore in SF or Berkeley. Learn how real vegan food should be done and that a vegan restaurant does NOT need to be a hippie mess. Restaurants like this give vegans a bad name. Sincerely, The disappointed vegan
(1)
Samantha J.
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
(5)
Megan S.
OMG! This place may seem strange at first, but the food is amazing! The atmosphere is interesting. Kind of like a "New Wave Camp Cafeteria" with paintings of Jesus Meditating, Auras, and other artwork nailed onto wood panel walls. Toy dinosaurs lining the wall barrier, for what I am assuming is for the little ones to play with while the rest of their family finishes their food. And a serene rock waterfall at the front entrance for some peaceful water noises. You walk up to the counter and grab a menu, order, and wait for your name to be called so you can pick up your meal at the counter. While this may seem a bit pricey, their portioning is HUGE! You will for sure leave this establishment full. We shared the breakfast burrito, which we got twice while staying up here. It is so so so so good. The "Burrito" is more like a quesadilla, since they stuff it with so much food that you cant make a burrito out of it, just fold the tortilla over it! The spices, the cheese, beans, EVERYTHING about this burrito is so amazing, It is so BIG, so prepare to share it and still be content. Their CAROB SHAKE IS AAHHHHHHMAZING. Got 3 of those during our stay, so try that out! Love DHARMA'S!!
(4)
Sarah M.
Awesome vegan food! Big portions. Even my omnivore dad loved his Tofu D'Beest. BBQ tofu, mashed potatoes and gravy with coleslaw and garlic bread. I had their Indian curry plate and it was fantastic! I love the atmosphere and variety of food. Their chai and kitcheree soup is amazing. They have kombucha and vegan desserts. This is a repeat restaurant for us.
(4)
Wayne F.
I have driven by Dharma's hundreds of times and never stopped. Last week we stopped in, and we have been back two more times since. The food is awesome! Our first visit I had the Mole Chicken Burrito - which isn't really a burrito as there is no way you could wrap all the contents up. The flavor was excellent and the portion size - well put it this way, come HUNGRY. I have also had the Samuri soup - it needed a little soy sauce - but once added was also wonderful, and the last time we went, I had the Dan Dan noodles with a side of mashed potatoes. Again, all food was excellent, with good sized portions. Yes, there are lines, and yes, there are unruly children with parents that seem not to care that others are trying to eat a good meal which they paid good money for, and yes, sometimes the counter staff seem a bit distant. Obviously we are willing to overlook all of that as the food is good and a good value as well.
(5)
Chris T.
Holy crap! No really tho! I have never pooped so much in my life, I completely annihilated the toilet rendering it completely useless from hence forth and forever. That place, tho good, is a real date killer if you know what I mean *wink wink. It's just too bad I didn't have any spackling to do around the house because I brought a new meaning to diarrhea. As a result of the exhaustion I felt following my battle with my porcelain throne, I'm in search of a good seat belt should I ever decide to take that ride again. Phewww, thank you Lord for baby wipes. I'm out. You know where to find me :)
(3)
Elk M.
Good food large portions. Sign up for their email list they will send youcoupons every week. I believe it is $6 off of $25 of food.
(5)
Bibby L.
I'm crazy about this place! They have so many choices that it's actually really difficult for me to decide, but I'm always thrilled with the food. It seems like they use very high quality ingredients (even though some of it could be considered vegan junk food) and the unique atmosphere is always entertaining. For some reason they have animal toys everywhere and there's something comforting about having a plastic giraffe supervise your meal. ;)
(5)
Sandy I.
If you want to eat "clean," this place is good. *trying to keep my reviews short and to the point... But yelp wants them longer so I will be attaching this paragraph to all of my reviews. So if you're reading this, there really is no point, you might as well just stop and get on with livin' the good life :p
(4)
Yan S.
This place is pretty packed for a Tuesday night. They had a constant flow of customers coming and going through the hour I dined there. Their serving size is pretty large and reasonably priced. I ordered the lasagna and it was pretty good as well as the garlic bread that came with it. The salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and vinaigrette was bleh. The veggies just didn't taste fresh. Service--non existent. It's self serve so you order, pay and sit yourself anywhere. Then they call your name when your food is ready. The guy at the cash register wasn't friendly at all and the three cooks next to him didn't even blink an eye to say hi or acknowledge guests. Probably won't come back here again but glad I tried it.
(2)
Laurie N.
I practically raised my kids here when I lived in the area. Really good stuff, and healthy. I find the folks who work there friendly and fun to interact with. Plus, giant servings. I wish we had a place like this in San Francisco. I really miss you, Dharma.
(4)
Sean T.
Been here numerous times and really enjoy the food but some of the workers have bad customer service skills and are really rude and disrespectful. Bad vibes bad energy
(1)
L G.
2.5 stars, really. Walked in and was impressed at how whimsical their interior was, yet it matched the wide varietal of customers. Since everyone was hustling and bustling, I assumed the food was delicious and above par. I, unfortunately, had their Valentine's special of the day -- portobelo mushrooms with potatoes dinner dish. It was BEYOND salty. This was disappointing because I had to wait over 20 minutes for my order AFTER my date was already served his. The female latina cashier didn't seem like she wanted to be there at all. I nor anyone else was offered a receipt, yet two copies are printed (one going to the kitchen, and the other placed in a basket in front of the cashier). Because vegan restaurants are still hard to come by, I probably will try this place out again, if I am visiting in the future, as their burritos looks awesome. The chocolates in the glass case are SUPURB. If this place works on timing (getting dishes out for the same table), better control of ingredients, and organization, Dharma's could really have potential to becoming a destination rather than an afterthought. Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)
Kimberly P.
This place is great. So many options!! Had the Dan Dan noodles and the soup of the day-Kitcheree. The portions are generous and I personally think the pricing follows suit for the type of food served. We waited no longer than 15 minutes for both dishes. My only complaint is the lack of mood music. The vibe is a tad too middle school cafeteria for my usual liking.
(5)
Christine C.
The food is good. We always do togo orders, ambiance and vibe there not so hot. Staff not welcoming or friendly.
(3)
Nadzeya N.
It is just the best food option ever for vegans. I am a vegan, and it is hard to find nice place for me to eat outside of the house. But having Dharmas' restaurant near by I have such nice food and environment that I really feel blessed to eat there. Thank you very much to owners and the all team working there.
(5)
D L.
In area for work, highlight was being able to stop by Dharma's. Today the winter squash special. Delicious Kale, pepita salad, with acorn squash and quinoa. Large portions!
(5)
Valerie S.
I'm a vegan and this is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. The food is really good. The prices are high especially since you order cafeteria style and are expected to bus your own table. The portions are very generous. I would give a 4 star however I found out after eating the bread, and some of the dressings that even though I stressed that I am vegan and asked that my meal be vegan that the bread and dressings contain honey (not vegan) This happens too much. Every time I go in I have ask that my food be vegan and I still have to return the salad dressings. I'm not sure if the bread contains whey so I just won't eat it again. It is noisy and children seem to be encouraged to run around and grab the cute plastic animals off your table, which is scary when you are carrying a large tray of food and drinks to the table. The menu is diverse with a ton of choices. I love the potato enchilada special, the Al Pastor vegan tacos and the Tofu de beast. Oh and they have great vegan shakes! Good place to eat, casual atmosphere and you can eat outdoors.
(3)
Artie F.
WARNING! HEALTH HAZARD!! I went to the counter to order and the woman ahead of me had her toddler sitting on the counter. When it was my turn I mentioned to the woman at counter that it wasn't a good idea to have a butt sitting on a food counter. She snapped back at me that it was FINE and gave me her "I hate you" stare she usually reserves for her parents. Well any restaurant that doesn't understand that food and butts should not mingle is not a safe place to eat. Oral-fecal disease transmission is how you get food poisoning, hepatitis, norovirus, giardia, ....the list goes on. You can get VERY sick from fecal contamination in a restaurant. I don't care how ORGANIC their food is, if they don't practice basic hygiene, it's not healthy and it's just plain dangerous.
(1)
Aria B.
This is the first time I've ever been here, though I've heard a lot of talk. I walked in slightly disoriented to the system of ordering to the restaurant. I ordered the Falafel special with a Zevia soda and with tip the total came to a whopping $23! This better be good. I waited for a few minutes and decided to use the restroom which is tucked way back in a hallway in a somewhat convoluted way. It seemed decently clean. When I came back my food was ready! I consider that rather quick. Despite it costing almost $20, the portions were rather large. There were 3 falafel patties cut in half, with tabouli, shredded carrots, and a confusing black bean and corn salsa. Not sure why they put black bean and corn? I would have put like a cucumber and tomato salad with garbanzo beans. It didn't fit the dish and was bland anyway. I ignored it. It also came with a salad that had a nice tahini dressing but honestly easily replicated at home. It came with hummus and pita which was pretty good. I think the hummus needed more lemon and garlic because there wasn't much punch in this. Overall the meal was mediocre. I suppose the appeal is the natural foods thing but I can get better falafel for much cheaper elsewhere in town.
(3)
Ka S.
I have been coming to Dharma's for a few years because when stopping I'm in town, I could find a good vegan meal. NOW, I've noticed the last couple times I've been here, the food, quality and service has changed dramatically for the worse! In the past, I used to see a team of friendly, outgoing staff working behind the register and counter, along with cooks who knew how to cook and new what they were doing. NOW.. This place has a very " somber" atmosphere, all the employees consist of what looks like janitorial staff and the dishwashers are cooking. I'm not being mean or kidding. That's what it is NOW! These guys are clueless and it looks like the prior staff quit and that explains a lot. The food and service is HORRID now.. ITS NOT THE SAME ANYMORE!!!!!.. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL DHARMA'S!?!? DID THEY SELL UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!?!? Because it's just not good anymore! ITS NOT!!!!! I used to be able to come here and order a tasty vegan brahma burger, vegan burritos, samurai soup, lasagna , etc., BUT NOW.. The consistency in quality and Taste is horrible and sloppy!!!!! The cashier, is a older, unfriendly man with glasses and a baseball cap, who clearly doesn't want to be there! It shows! And.. When I asked him, if the butternut squash ravioli that I ordered had " walnuts" in the pesto sauce, ( which I am dangerously allergic to) .. All he could say was: " We lose money, blah, blah, blah,and you have to pay an additional $7.00 to re-order a new place without walnuts"..WOW! That's just poor business and a poor response. No apology! Nothing! SO, I already paid them $14.95 for old, not fresh, week old butternut ravioli, smothered in a " swampy, mossy, mushy, muddy, wannabe vegan pesto sauce", in what was supposed to be a vegan pesto sauce. There were no pine nuts , just overloaded with old, mushy, bitter walnuts and basil. It was gross. The dish also had a sad piece of toast for garlic bread and a plated average salad. Not worth $14.95, because it looked like week old, wrinkly, food that was refrigerated and re-heated, NOT FRESH. Pretty much frozen food. I know. Because I work part-time as a personal chef, so I know when a restaurant is trying to fool customers. I know when something is old and what ingredients are! When I approached the cook and the cashier about the allergen issue and the old food, they both pretty much just "blew me off" and said that I'd have to pay them an "additional $7.00", to re-order a plate without walnuts!?!?! WHAT THE F**K?!?!.. SO, you guys at Dharma's give me a meal that didn't label walnuts as a substitute for pine nuts as an ingredient on your featured chalkboard menu, then serve me this tiny, old and rancid portion for $14.95, then you expect me, to pay you an additional "$7.00", that would total "$21.95", for the worst dish of ravioli I've ever tried to eat in my life!.. Surely you guys at Dharma's are kidding right?!?!? WOW! WHAT A SCAM!!!!!!!!!! TOTAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!! What kind of business are you running?! Overcharging customers on your mistakes and bad food, then not labeled with possible allergens to customers?!.. The health department Needs to make a visit here, and I mean NOW!!!!! I'm not being mean here.. As a professional in the industry, I don't like restaurants trying to rip-off customers and try to fool others and food safety is serious.. It's not a joke! To top it off, I was sick after eating a couple bites before I knew walnuts were in the vegan pesto, then my fried who wasn't allergic to walnuts , BUT also was sick from tasting it, mostly for the dish being old and I work as a food safety manager and I can tell you all on Yelp, that as a professional in the culinary field, this place serves old food, with allergens and they don't apologize for it! Don't take your elderly friends or grandparents or children here, because if they eat old food here with unknowingly eating an allergen, it's just dangerous taking a chance eating here, because they don't care about their customers!!!! I think Dharma's is suffering by trying to stay in business because the quality and service is poor now. This isn't the Dharma's I used to know and like, and clearly it shows! Also, in business, if you're the manager or owner, don't argue or make excuses with your customers! If the food is OLD or BAD, you apologize and try to make it right! Don't go into a whole " why we can't make it, because we lose money or we can't afford it speech!"..that's poor business and the customer doesn't need to hear that! Take a hint Dharma's! Either shape up or ship out! Hire new staff that "smiles", not a grumpy group. Also hire real cooks that know how to cook food. Too many places are getting cheap and hiring untrained people to cook and they're " guessing" how to cook. I know. I can tell . I'm never going back! Hurry up and clean up your act Dharma's! I used to like this place, but not anymore. If I could give a "ZERO, I would. You guys don't even deserve " one star".
(1)
Athonia C.
When it comes to tasty vegan food there are two choices : San Francisco's Herbivore and Santa Cruz's Dharma's. Which is better? I ask myself this every time I eat at one of them. It's hard to beat the shawarma at Herbivore (see herbivorerestaurant.com/… ). For years that dish alone won the competition. Recently Dharma's stepped up with a new contender: their BBQ Bluff sandwich. Add jalapeño to it and you have a shawarma-killer. Its' seriously good. Dharma's ruben is a close second. In all the vast and diverse menu at Dharma's wins out. It's a bit cheaper too if you count the weekly e-mail discounts they give their devoted customers ($5 off any $20 purchase!) There is no wait-staff at Dharma's so that keeps the cost down a bit too. Without a doubt they win on ambiance. It's easily the most comfortable vegetarian establishment in northern California. Thoughts? --Athonia
(5)
Allison A.
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. :)
(5)
Ashley L.
This place has everything. Curry, pasta, pizza, Mexican, and more. I looked at the menu and was really confused on what to order. There are almost too many options. However, I managed to order the Chai, Mole Burrito, and a garlicky pasta - all vegan. The chai was pretty good, though I've had better. The mole burrito was lacking in the mole that I would expect. The pasta, lacking in flavor. The side salad, bagged lettuce with not so exciting dressing. I really wasn't a super fan of this place. The artwork inside is some religious and some fairy/semi-naked women - what? 2 stars for now until I try more food, but it was just kinda meh.
(2)
Tif W.
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.
(3)
C C.
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!
(3)
Miss Mary P.
Awful, Awful, Awful (been there 3 times and never going back). Salad is always wilted. Food is cardboard tasting and bland. Service is crap, food is priced high for the fact that you have to bus your own table. And it always smells bad in there. I'm sorry but some of my favorite restaurants are vegetarian and this place is just awful.
(1)
Elana K.
If there were more stars to give, Dharma's would get it. I have to admit I am a bit biased because I am an ex-employee, but God do I miss those days. I LOVE LOVE LOVE almost everything on the menu and crave it now that I am working in San Francisco and have a "real job". I read some reviews with people complaining about the decor and service style, but those are some of the things that endear this place to me even more. The exact opposite of a pretentious vegan/veg restaurant, which can get quite played out. It is a family owned business and they are all amazing. If you haven't checked it out yet: GO. It can get a little expensive for those starving college students but don't order too much because the portions are huge and will definitely fill you up. Plus, it is worth every penny. Nothing like an employee discount and leftovers in my fridge though... ahhhh, the good old days. Some of my favs: Portobello Artichoke Sub (the Pesto Portabello is also to die for) American Sautee (with two tahini lemons! also good with miso honey dressing) Kitcheree, or for that matter, all their soups. The summer/spring/fall/winter veggie rocks! Breakfast Burrito....mmmmm Nada Chicken Burrito BBQ Tofu-de-beast They have bomb nachos. Their milkshakes are amazing. For breaky check out the Biscuits and Gravy. And get a chai. Alright, now I'm hungry. If you live in Santa Cruz, I envy you. Please go to Dharma's for me.
(5)
c g.
When I dream of vegetarian comfort food I dream of Dharmas. I haven't been here in years, but anytime I am within a few hour radius of this joint I make it a point to stop in. Huge menu of delicious vegetarian food - This isn't a pretentious vegan place by a long shot - Its a great spot to get an amazing selection of normal food that just happens to not have meat.
(5)
Brendon N.
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!
(5)
val j.
Dharma's has THE BEST vegan breakfast!!! i am absolutely in love with their tofu scramble and every time i come here i have to get the tofu rancheros. soooooo good! basically it is a huge mound of their incredible tofu scramble, beans, huge scoop of guacamole, and salsa, atop tortillas and a side salad! i never knew salad would be such a great side to breakfast! it's on the pricey side, but i eat a lot and can honestly save half for later! my only complaint is the atmosphere which i really don't like. oh well, can't have everything! oh i forgot to mention that the almond raspberry cookie is beyond good!
(5)
Marianne B.
I love Dharma's! We eat there at least a few times a month. I almost always get the American Saute or the Bo Thai. The portions are very generous so I almost always have enough for lunch the next day. Their kitcharee is really good too as are their salads. Organic food that is reasonably priced. What more could you ask for?
(5)
Alyssa B.
yummy veggie food! such a great find! my husband and i love it there!
(5)
Jack j.
Tofu is in just about every dish on the menu, so I ordered a Dharma's special as posted on the board. The description of the Stuffed Butternut Squash looked interesting as I read quickly and placed my order. I should have slowed down and asked some questions such as what portion of squash and rice to everything else in the dish? What arrived on the dish was mainly squash and rice piled in it. The exotic items such as strawberry sauce was really a runny jam and the salad was ordinary for the price I paid. I could have easily made this at home for about a tenth of the price. Now I understand why my daughter-in-law gave me her gift card! Well, maybe the owner was also rude and sarcastic to her as he always was to me and my friends.
(3)
Stephanie C.
Best food EVAR! I'm not a vegetarian but this is my favorite restaurant. The servings are huge, food is ready fast, ingredients are fast... and it has a very laid back atmosphere. I get the feeling that I could come in wearing a pink tutu with combat boots and nobody would raise an eyebrow. The only down is that it can be a bit pricey... but probably because I tend to order everything on the menu when I go in :)
(4)
M. S.
Dharma's rocks. We live in San Diego and visit Santa Cruz at least once a year. We have made it tradition after the long 8 hour drive to stop at Dharma's once we got into town. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dharma's - the portions are hearty, healthy and HUGE! I had a Breakfast Burrito last time we visited and it satisified me where I did not need to eat again for the entire day. My young daughters had the short stack pancakes and had enough left over for a snack on the way home. The coffee and the chai is to live for. I have had so many of their offerings and never had a bad meal. Hooray for Dharma's...we will be back many more times over.
(5)
Jennifer L.
I love this place. It's so nice to be able to get really fresh organic food that tastes really good. The Tahini-Lemon salad dressing is really addictive, and the fruit shakes are yummy. I haven't had anything I didn't like here.
(5)
Rishi M.
What a find! I'm not Vegetarian but my GF and several friends are and they always thank me for bringing them to Dharma's. Simply put this place rocks. Love the tex-mex burger and saute plates. But the real treat is the mint chocolate chip shakes. For someone like me who is lactose intolerant it's rare to find something this good that doesn't destroy me later. Always happy to make the drive over the mountains from the south bay!
(5)
lauren f.
oh my god!! in the short time that i've lived in santa cruz, i have become addicted to dharmas! it is so refreshing to go to a restaurant and have yummy/organic/healthy/vegetarian options.. tons of them!!! (i just moved from nyc where this is NOT the norm). all you west coasters should take a moment and thank the heavens above. every time i go (3x in the last 2 weeks) i have a panic attack about what to order. i'm having an affair with the tempeh bbq sandwich as we speak...and might invite the tahini dressing over to join us
(5)
Leslie H.
LOVE it...not a vegitarian, but still can't get enough of this place. The portabella sandwich is out of this world...soft bread, aoli, melted cheese, onion complete a really good sandwich. Their thai stir fry is also great. Only dislike is the atmosphere (think cafeteria).
(5)
Karine M.
This place is a gold mine of food! Seriously, everything on the menu is ridiculously delicious and they have so many options. My goal is to try everything on it. It's a little pricey, but so worth the money. The quality of the food is impeccable and it's an incredible plus that it's all vegetarian (therefore healthier). People who are complaining about it being a pretentious hippie vegan place...who fucking cares? I've seen all kinds of people eat here, and personally something as stupid as that would never stop me from eating some amazing food. Favorite restaurant!
(5)
Cleo B.
Large portions, tasty, cafeteria-style. Two of our party had veggie burgers which came with potatoes that looked like fingers. One person had spaghetti in 'red sauce,' translate, tomato sauce, which came with four huge pieces of garlic bread-- this looked like a high school cafeteria meal. I got the "Lost Taco"-- the taco mixture was vegan, barbequed-tasting, delicious--one taco shell sat among the fray, which included melted cheese, black beans, a dollop of sour cream, chopped tomato, and a salad with tasty rasberry dressing on the side. I liked the fact that they offer both vegetarian and vegan options. Great hours-- 8am - 9pm. Beware: if you want breakfast, show up before noon.
(3)
Megan M.
I love Dharma's. They are the only restaurant in town that will make a gluten free sandwich (with GF bread... not just without bread), and their GF pizza is AMAZING!!!!!!! I just love Dharma's, they make my life much happier :)
(5)
Mike P.
Love the phood and the portions but for the prices they stick you with they really should deliver to your table AND clean up after ME. Because of the hassle I only go once or twice a year and I'm a vegetarian who loves to eat out!!
(3)
Ryan W.
They have an amazing kitchery soup and a wonderful salad. I really enjoy their food, it is simple but so nice. If you just don't know where you want to eat tonight this is the place. It is just really good food. I knocked off one star because their prices are kind of high. Watch out for that one. But all in all a great place!
(4)
C S.
Dharms is great I had a bad experiance there and gave some constructive critism to the manager and the next day they change it up and fixed everything I was so m[ressed by their listening ear, Keep it up dharmas
I find that a small salad with the tahini lemon crack dressing is enough to make me insanely full, and I am not a lightweight with food. Sometimes I think I need more food and get the brown rice-soup-salad combo and am sated for the rest of the day. That's insane. Their sandwiches and stuff are good too, though. Coffee is okay; they also have a lot of good drinks to choose from.
(4)
Karen G.
cons: bad customer service, bad food taste because of lack of variety in each meal. not even all vegan, expensive, cafeteria style restaurant pros: organic, large meals, u can eat outside? ive eaten there 5 times, got something new each time. i really tried to like the place, i figured i went on a bad day or something, but its horrible. the customer service is horrendous. most of the people behind the counter are friendly but the indian guy at register is the most rude individual and since u have to go get your food yourself once your name is called (there are no servers, a' la cafeteria style...) he is the only one interacting with customers but the rudest of all there. and when u ask a question about one of the entrees he acts like youre stupid or something like u actually expect him to explain something to you,.. i doubt that anyone who even works there is vegan. also everything costs extra. i ordered a burger and all that comes on it is lettuce and sauce so when i found out that tomatos and onions were free i asked for it but they didnt even put it on my burger once i recieved it. the food was burnt also. ive had a sandwich there it was good and the tacos were ok but too big of a serving i had to throw some of it away. i wanted to make sure they came with avocado because it says they do in the menu, but then once i asked they said it cost extra and i had to argue with the indian register guy becaues he wanted me to pay $3 when it is supposed to come with it. luckily i didnt pay because finally another employee spoke up and said i was right. they try to make up for poor service and poor taste with large sized entrees but if the food isnt even good then why make so much of it? especially since every extra detail costs so much. if they had smaller portions with more variety of food on each plate it would be better.
(2)
Esther C.
this place is easily my favorite restaurant in the santa cruz area. the food is so off the chain! my fave is the bo thai! but really you can order anything of the menu and be extremely pleased. the people who work here are super nice and i really dig the cafeteria style atmosphere. the ambiance is warm with lots of happy people eating healthy delicious food. its a great place to meet friends. just thinking about dharma's makes me hungry.....
(5)
Barbara G.
Try the apple pie, made with no sweeteners, sweet and yummy and thick and still good for me. Honest! My favorites are blueberry pancakes for breakfast, "gardener's dinner" huge salad for lunch, and Tofu-de-Beast (BBQ tofu) for dinner.
(5)
Mike B.
Great veggie food, lots of varieties of dishes. I love the nada chicken burrito myself. It's not really a knock, but they almost give you too much food. I can never finish it, and I often have leftovers. Sometimes I just wish it was less food and less money.
(4)
Heather F.
I am also, a victim of judging this restaurant before I ever stepped foot in it. I actually lived right down the street, and never visited it- casting it off as a "hippie" joint. All that time I wasted! I am a recent newbie vegatarian/ aspiring vegan and try to eat mostly organic foods. I was so pleasantly surprised by my experiences here. First off, all the food I have had so far has been wonderful. I love that I can trust the food, and how it is prepared- and it tastes wonderful! It is moderately priced, and prepared moderately fast. The only thing I can warn about is the menu- it can seem pretty foreign and intimidating to the newbie, such as myself. It is one of those places you just have to keep trying new things- which is actually pretty cool, and I have yet to have a meal I disliked.
(4)
Helen H.
I don't know if it's fair to rate a restaurant based on one visit but I most likely will not return. We came here b/c of its Gluten free menu since my son is on this diet, I was surprised that it had no waiter service which was fine, my husband, however was not happy about this been a vegetarian restaurant, so we decided to order dinner for our son only & head to another restaurant for dinner. I ordered Pasta Italiano for my son, for those of you who are not familiar w/ gluten free pasta, even though they are made w/ either quinoa flour, corn or rice flour, nowadays they make them as good as the real pasta, and there are so many different kinds to choose from at places like Wholefood, so I was excited to have my son try some restaurant made pasta, but they used rice sticks, like the ones you see at most Asian restaurants, so it looks nothing like pasta, the portion was extremely small, for $11, I thought we would get more than what we had, but money/portion problem aside, the taste WAS horrible, it was super greasy & it had no taste, the cook must've forgotten to put salt in it! the texture was so hard & tasteless, my son refused to eat them, he did like the little piece of garlic bread that came w/ it, so I had to go back to order more garlic bread, it was 4 thin slices, equivalent to 2 slices of bread & was almost $4, this time my son only had 1 slice & didn't want more, so w/ a drink, I've spent almost $18 for a 5 yr old & all he ate was 2 slices of bread. :(
(2)
snausage s.
some of the food is ok, but the workers seem kinda dirty ... i've gotten sick here a few times (peeing out my butt) and once, even before i finished eating food is ok-tasting if you like lunch with a side of self-righteous .... and if you dont mind squeezing your ass cheeks together all the way home they do serve dairy - saving cows to torture them later
(1)
Denise A.
Yum Yum Yum! I Love this place! Every time I go to visit my aunt up in Capitola I stop by this place as it is literally just a block from her house. The food here is so great and the portions are huge so be prepared to share or ask for a box. They have an exceptional variety and everything I have ever eaten here has been phenomenal. I can't wait till my trip up north tomorrow I look forward to paying dear Dharma a visit.
(5)
S R.
Bo Thai! I salivate just from looking at the words "Dharma's Restaurant." In fact, I think it's what's for dinner!
(4)
Roberta J.
We eat a starch-based diet, so yesterday, with lots of stuff going on, and no time to cook, I used a Groupon coupon to get $40 of food for $20. There was a Kofta Korma special, which my husband used to love at India Joze years ago, so I got that, and a La Tostada for my lunch (I was starving and it was huge!); some baked yams, a mole burrito with soy chicken all for $18 with the coupon! The attendant advised I could have bought more coupons and used them - very generous of him - I'd only gotten one as I was trying to "follow the groupon rules". I've eaten here probably 20+ times in my years in SC; hubby doesn't like to order and sit and wait and then go pick up - but when we have dogs with us its nice to sit outside with them. I have to say the food is great (everything we've had over the years); its a little slow in coming, but I got a takeout menu and will call ahead and then it works for me. The menu is extensive and there is something for everyone - with time crunches because of family health issues (elderly parent care) I will be returning for quick, healthy food options soon!
(4)
Kevin D.
A little pricey, but the food is worth it. The spring rolls are a great appetizer, and the veggie ruben is the best on the planet, meat or no meat.
(5)
John S.
Diverse and dynamic selection of veggie and vegan dishes. Recommended: tempeh reuben, breakfast burrito, shakes (especially the dairy variety), nachos.
(4)
Amanda N.
true to what other reviewers say, portion are HUGE. so are the prices, but its organic and vegan and delicious. *soy milkshakes (the vegan ones) = best thing ever! get carob&date combo, recommended to me by the cashier & it was awesome *bbq bluff & portobella artichoke sandwiches are amazing! *anything on that menu will fill you up in the tastiest way ever, cruelty free! also, i love their plastic animals they have lining the walls for kids to play with. im a legal adult but i like taking one or two to my table =P
(4)
Bee B.
The favorite things I've had are the Nuclear Bluff, Maxi Cali, Nada Chicken Burrito and the Asian noodle veggie thing with the most amazing peanut sauce. I've probably tried most everything on the menu. And the only thing I never really liked was the BLT b/c the fake bacon wasn't what i expected in a bad way haha Oh and I hate that they serve chips with burgers instead of fries =o( But I always just ask for extra salad instead of chips. Other than that I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 8 years and this my favorite place to go and eat when I'm in Santa Cruz. When you are a broke student yea their prices can seem to be a lot BUT you get alot of food! I usually had 1/2 left over for the next day so when you look at it that way its worth it!
(4)
Victoria R.
The Gardener's Dinner is fantastic. It's essentially a giant salad but the quality of the produce is excellent. I get it with soy strips. Some of the dishes can be a little weird. The portions are large. It' s a bit pricey but great for vegans and vegetarians.
(4)
Andrew R.
best veg restraunt in SC? just on the more expensive side of things...
(4)
Jacqui W.
I am a semi-vegetarian and my husband is not even close, but we both love this place! Everything we have ever ordered has such amazing flavor. It seemed a little pricey at first, but I know that using quality ingredients is not cheap. The portions are really big, so we usually split something. Gotta love the tex mex burger and the falafel (when they have it on special).
(5)
Andrew C.
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).
(4)
Reggie R.
We have eaten at Dharma's many times and we will keep coming back for more of their great vegetarian/vegan meals that are delicious. The prices are reasonable, the meal will fill us up and it is well worth the price. I have no favorite dish, I enjoy a different dish each time I visit. They have a clean place, with good service, and a nice environment, It pleasing to see the different people that come in and they have the same desire of food as you. A meal from Dharma's.
(4)
ari s.
both the casual atmosphere and super fresh yummy food will make me come back again to this treasure.
(5)
travis b.
Hear here for the "nada chicken burrito," the "brahma burger," the milkshakes, and the overall epic scale and scope of the portions at Dharma's! When you are done frolicking on the beach in Santa Cruz, get yourself some stamina inducing freshness at Dharma's, they won't disappoint.
(5)
O. G.
during our one day trip to santa cruz, we chose to eat at dharmas and we are glad we did. although i would have preferred table service in a place this size, our food was great. they have a great menu and everything was fresh. the place was very busy so im guessing the locals know how good this place is. i talked with the owners, who've been there for years. they asked me how i found them and i turned them on to yelp. i guess they checked out us yelpers because i see they are posting some specials. now if they would just open one of these in every town.....
(4)
Lisa J.
Good veggie food. I had their burger and some salad, yummy dressing. Lots of screaming kids when I went and I still enjoyed the place. Would recommend for anyone seeking vegetarian sustenance. Enjoy!
(4)
Anna G.
Dharma's is one of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time. I miss it dearly since moving away from Santa Cruz. Every food item there is fresh, unique, and entirely delicious. If I could eat their nada chicken burrito every day for the rest of my life I would be a very satisfied (and chubby) girl. It's on the slightly pricey side, but you definately get your money's worth. In fact, some meals are so large that your lunch leftovers will serve as dinner later on. You definately do not have to be vegetarian to appreciate Dharma's in all its glory. I love it. Love it love it love it.
(5)
kate s.
i like dharma's. i saw the menu online and it looked really boring and too healthy and bland but we went anyway (i can't pass up trying out any veg restaurant!) and i'm so glad we did. went with a bunch of boys who got grilled cheese and the largest plate of nachos (seriously, it was a tray not a plate) i've ever seen. but they have tons of vegan options and they have vegan cheese too! i had the tempeh burger and it was delicious. the staff was super friendly and the place is really big with lots of parking and seating and they even had an elderly woman's birthday party going on while we were there, which is so cute! the walls are covered with toys that you can play with while waiting to pick up your order. and i got a vegan milkshake. awesome.
(4)
Greycella L.
You don't have to be a vegetarian or vegan to appreciate this place, it lives up to the hype. Informal with both cold and hot dishes offered as well as various smoothies and fresh juices this place delivers quality goods in large quantity for good prices. Worth getting in the car for, though be prepared for a wait...it's popular.
(3)
Erin M.
mmmm... now this is good, quility vegetarian food. I love it. Pricey, but well worth it!
(5)
Mona O.
Delicious! Bring a big appetite since the portions are huge and the food so good that you're gonna want to order more than one thing. We like to stop here when we're on a road trip to Capitola, Monterey, or Carmel.
(5)
R H.
pro: the Ruben is very good con: price / potential quality due to large menu This place was just so-so. I think I would probably eat here a lot if I was a local but as an out of towner I think there are better places to choose from, especially within the price range. The menu is too extensive...it should seriously be page numbered. When I see a big menu like that I get worried because it's hard to execute on so many items perfectly. The desserts that were on display looked super dry and unappetizing. My bf had a chocolate shake, which wasn't very good. It tasted like cheap chocolate and wasn't very thick. It was kind of expensive for what is is. The Greek Salad was good but there should have been more to it for 10.50 (no bread or protein source). Felt more like a $6.99 salad. It was also hard to eat served in a deep bowl. The Ruben was very good however my bf felt like it was a bit small for the price. I would definitely order the Ruben again if we ever went back. Super taste. So, if you haven't tried this place I think it's worth checking out. The place was really busy so that's always a good sign.
(3)
Lilith O.
Everyone who gave great reviews has pretty much covered what I love about Dharma's, but I have to mention the great salad, soup and rice options. I like to eat super healthily, and this option is the way to go, among a bunch of others, at Dharma's. The salads have really nice greens, grated carrots and beets, roasted seeds and very nice sunflower sprouts. They offer a long list of homemade dressings. There are a few different house-made soup options everyday, and brown rice as well! It is very, very filling and really a nice combo. I love, love, love this after a nice hike through the redwoods!
(5)
Katie S.
Dharma's is a family diner style restaurant so don't go for the atmosphere (unless you're into the 1980s hippy cafeteria look). If you can get over that, the food is excellent, they have massive portions, and everything is very healthy. It's not fancy but it's nourishing.
(5)
Peg F.
I've never had a meal here that I didn't absolutely love. Fresh, organic, local ingredients, loving preparation with great mix of flavors and textures, huge portions. What more can I say? It's great!
(5)
Shari D.
I think that Dharma's is way too expensive for the food that you get. Vegetables are WAY cheaper than meat, but the way they price the food here, it's like they sprinkle it with gold flakes or something. I've never gotten sick here, and I'm pretty sensitive. The springrolls are pretty good, but I'm seriously hungry about a half hour after I eat. The spaghetti they used to have was good, with the garlic bread (yum) but I didn't see that on the menu today. I tried the potstickers, but they weren't that tasty, even with the mustard sauce and sweet-sour sauce that they gave me with it. I think they have some good things on their menu, but it's all new now. The last time I went there was back in the 90's... so things DO change. That's good, right?
(3)
Victoria F.
We always pop over to Dharma's when we want something filling and wholesome. They have large portions which are relatively inexpensive. It's all vegetarian an they have lots of vegan options. I'd recommend the Brahma burger, Samurai Soup, the gardener's dinner salad with the Tahini Lemon dressing (but not all together cuz it's A LOT of food). MMMmmm!
(4)
Rekha S.
I've been going to Dharma's sporadically since I was a kid. I usually go for breakfast- the burrito is awesome, and so are the tofu scrambles. I like the Greek and Thai scrambles in particular. I also like their salads and the nada chicken burrito for lunch or dinner. It's a little pricey, especially for the lunch and dinner entrees, but you get 2 meals out of it. I wish there was a Dharma's in the East Bay instead of Cafe Gratitude!
(4)
Amanda S.
I thought the only place that existed for people with as many food allergies and intolerances as me was Saturn cafe. I was so glad to find Dharma's, which is far superior in quality, taste, and variety! I have been back there a bunch of times since my friend dragged me there two months ago swearing it was the best organic vegan restaurant food he'd ever had. I would have to agree. I love the dan-dan noodles. Tonight I had the vegan pizza, which was not as good, but I also ordered something I have been craving and contemplating since the first time i saw the menu: a non-dairy mint chip milkshake. At $5.95 you might think it's a bit steep in price (chocolate soy shake at Saturn is $5.25 but tax and tip make it the same price; since Dharma's has a more reasonably tip-jar scheme it ends up being the same cost as Saturn). One word: WOW!!!!!!They served me the shake in a pint glass with extra chocolate chunks, it was quite literally the BEST dessert thing i have tasted in YEARS.(Close second: Black China's vegan dark chocolate cake.) I used to love mint chocolate shakes as a kid and teenager (before dairy allergy) and this tasted exactly like those or maybe even better. They have a full menu of shakes that can be made dairy or non-dairy, and I cannot recommend them enough!!!! Next time I'm trying the peanut butter shake!
(5)
Lily C.
It was THE worst vegan food I've had. My husband both ordered different type of scrambled tofu. He ordered Tofu Ranchero and he couldn't even touch his after seeing it on the plate. I ordered Curry Tofu and it was literally a big pile of mushy tofu with curry sauce and the other half of plate with potatoes. I'm Chinese and I love tofu but no one sane wants to eat a big plate of tofu. Skip this place and giver somewhere else a try.
(1)
Nichole S.
Tahini lemon dressing forever! I adore the Brahma Burger and the Bow Thai. I love that (almost) every item has tons of veggies in it and that you can order a side of steamed yams. We eat meat, but we never miss it when eating here. It's very kid friendly--the toy animals are a great touch. It's counter service and the acoustics can be awfully noisy, but given those, it's perfect.
(5)
Annabelle R.
Good source for healthy vegetarian food. I like the amount of options. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but I can see why this place has been a local staple!
(4)
Lee O.
Been dying to try this place for years since I live so close. My son is a vegetarian so this is the perfect restaurant for him. There is a huge assortment of food and beverages to choose from. The prices are not cheap. Our meal for two was almost $40.00. I had the reuben and my son had the samurai soup and a fruit salad. We both had iced teas to drink. The portions are large and everything is fresh. We both really liked our food and want to come back to try other dishes. I am trying to justify paying these prices for cafeteria style dining, though. Seeing that the place is busy there are those who can afford to eat here regularly. It may be a while before we return.
(4)
R. D.
PROS Friendly servers Good food Art No Cellphones allowed (lol) CONS A bit of a wait Vegan Tapioca My sister and her husband took me here on a visit to Santa Cruz. It was tasty and healthy! I love watching the people that dine here, everyone looked so happy unlike SF diners. I had the Dan Dan Noodles, recommended by my sister. The food was really good, they give you plenty so I brought some back with me. The next day it was just as tasty. Excited to return on day!!
(4)
Greg P.
My wife is vegetarian and GF. This was a great place to take her for Mother's Day. She had a ton of choices and loved the "burger" she got. I had a veg Bo Thai that was very flavorful. The portions were huge, we had the rest of it for dinner! Our 9 year old loved the nachos and GF cookie- even though he isn't GF. We WILL go back.
(5)
Kate S.
Amazing food!!!! Sometimes the prices seem a bit high, but their servings are big! My bf and I like: Garden burger. One of the best I've had Artichoke/Portabello Sandwich. Good w hot sauce added! La Tostada is an amazing mexican dish w a great salad
(5)
Sarah Y.
The first time I went to Dharma's (2012), I LOVED everything. The food and service were both great. However, when I returned to Dharma's a few weeks ago the service was terrible (e.g., rude woman working at the counter, extremely slow food prep) and the food was flavourless and mushy. I can't support somewhere that is so inconsistent...
(2)
Kendall E.
Great place to get an awesome vegetarian meal! Great for groups, families, even your non-veg friends! Huge breakfast plates, and wonderful dinner options!
(5)
Robert L.
Y'know, it is alright for it's genre and it has it's appeal for a subset of health food freaks (around here, that's a very big subset), but I found eating there to be a rather masochistic experience. Not cheap, either.
(2)
Bianca M.
Absolutely love the Seschuan Tofu, Spring Rolls with peanut sauce and the Breakfast Burrito. Yum! Generous portions, plenty of leftovers!
(5)
Rafael P.
Great service and some good food. They also have amazing almond cookies. First time out in California and I'd certainly say this left a good impression about the quality of good California has to offer. I enjoyed the vegan pancakes as well as the other dish (can't remember the name).
(5)
Tuff G.
Wow, for a great vegetarian lunch choice, definitely check this place out. The menu is quite large, and they cover such a wide range of items that it was hard to choose what to get. I had the tempeh Ruben, and it really was tasty. I would absolutely come back to Dharma's for lunch when I am in the area. The dining area is large and clean, and they have a nice size outdoor seating area with umbrellas. Dogs welcome!
(4)
Mel L.
huge menu many items to choose from,love the garden salad,pesto pasta is amazing alot of food for one ,portabela mushroom artichoke sand a fav.here cant leave out the tostada also very tasty and plenty of food,always consistent,comfortable and inviting enviroment
(5)
Hatter F.
Aside from Native Foods in LA, I can think of no other vegetarian restaurant that even comes close to this one. Just ordered to Bo Thai and it's insanely good. I got the small order and despite skipping breakfast this morning, I doubt that I'll be able to eat it all. Simply amazing. Not much in the way if atmosphere so don't come thinking that the place is fancy. It is more like a cafeteria. However, since I care more about the food than the atmosphere, I couldn't be happier.
(5)
Lee W.
Love traveling and finding a nice place like being a vegetarian. Large portions. Took a bit too long to get our mains........and my soup came afterwards. Otherwise good.
(4)
Tracy H.
Mashed potatoes and steamed veggies rock! I could live on those two items on the menu,,, oh wait the basic salad with the house dressing is out of this world! Thank you dharmas for being around for my vegan taste buds ..xoxo
(5)
Ellen S.
Dharma's is my go to place when I want a good healthy meal. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and there are vegan options. The servings are so big that often two people can split one meal. They have excellent veggie chili and tempeh subs. Nice selection of beer and drinks. A great place to bring kids.
(5)
Amina C.
A hit-or-miss place. Some foods are excellent while others are terrible. Don't order the nachos. My favorite thing about this restaurant are the little plastic animals. Eating here makes me very sleepy.
(3)
Erica B.
I first tried this place a few months ago when my boyfriend and I were staying at a hotel down the street. I was looking for vegetarian food and luckily found this place. We now drive all the way from Fremont just to eat here, it is the best vegan restaurant I have ever tried!! I am a vegetarian myself, but my boyfriend is a definite meat eater and even he wants to make the drive out here! Staff is very friendly and helpful, and food is outstanding.
(5)
Julie S.
Still like coming here for the food and chill vibe, but the RUDE, completely unfriendly attitudes of the cashiers are so insulting and make me think twice about spending my hard-earned top dollar here. How do they feel ok treating their PAYING CUSTOMERS so badly? It's simply unethical.
The worst restaurant I've ever been to. The service was just as bad as the food quality. I honestly can't trust yelp after my experience at this restaurant... It doesn't deserve 4 stars ... Not even 1. save your money and time and avoid this palace!!!!!!!
(1)
Monica A.
Delicious food, highly recommend for great vegetarian and vegan food. My favorite is the pesto pasta!
(4)
Amy B.
Massive portions of tasty vegan. I got the curry and my husband got a sandwich, next time i will try the overflowing tortilla dishes. Atmosphere definitely lacking but I will be going back.
(4)
Ariel K.
I give Dharma's 5 stars because they are a great place to bring kids, relax, and have someone else cook you food with really decent ingredients. I've never had them mess up our order and the service is fast and attentive. If you're looking for American style vegetarian food in Santa Cruz, and especially if you have kids, I highly recommend Dharma's. I prefer this restaurant to Saturn's, the other veggie "fast food" in town.
(5)
Michael M.
Much, much better than I expected from a New Age , vegewhatever place! Good food, low stress, kids liked it. Great place for lunch, not very expensive. Give it a try!
(4)
Cynthia B.
Stomach ache... the soy strips are not back. These are still different than what they used to use in the nuclear bluff. The Nuclear Bluff should be renamed Gut Bomb. It wrecks your stomache. I am leaving Dharma's at A-OK 3 Stars because they still have great salads and gf pizza. But, they lost credit in my book for this experience.
(3)
Melissa O.
This vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly cafeteria has a menu as long and complicated as the Cheesecake Factory. It's so complicated that it gives me anxiety just thinking about it. Our first time at Dharma's was about 4 months ago when we were scoping out the area. I ordered the wrong thing (an Indian curry) and felt really awkward that I hated it yet everyone else seems to love it there. Husband liked what he had back then (Bo Thai--a vegan Phad Thai) and tried getting me to go with him since we moved here. To his astonishment, the other afternoon I finally gave in. We came for lunch and both ordered sandwiches (after standing to the side of the line to figure out the menu for a really long time). The restaurant has paper menus at the back of the line, but they don't include everything they offer in it. Many of their lunch offerings and deals are posted at the counter in tiny print, where you can't read it until you are standing right there. Some of what we saw AFTER WE DECIDED WHAT TO GET included deals like: half a sandwich and soup for less than $8, quinoa, soup and yam combo for less than $7, grilled cheese and soup for less than $6, soup and spring roll for less than $5, etc. Those are some good deals! Instead, I ordered a whole TEMPEH REUBEN and it came with a side salad and potatoes. Husband ordered BBQ BLUFF and it came with a yummy coleslaw. My TEMPEH REUBEN was delicious, with a small amount of tempeh and a huge amount of sauerkraut piled high on bread. It made me see Dharma's in a different light. Check the website for those lunch specials I mentioned: dharmaland.com/restauran… And maybe decide what to get before you get there to make it a little less stressful. I'll be back.
(4)
Christine E.
One star less for service. Curly hair mop head dude is sooooo incredibly rude and pretentious!!! Good vibes in Dharmas minus this joker.
(3)
Kim C.
Meh. No idea what the fuss is about this place. -Absolute worst ambience of anywhere I've been to in a long time. Old, tacky looking banquet chairs and tables, hardcore cafeteria vibe, weird trinkets and super gaudy/groanworthy new agey framed pictures on the walls, etc. -Endless screaming children, super loud, hectic/frantic atmosphere, completely busy/slammed nonstop, rushed experience trying to order, then you have to try to hear one of the staff calling your name over a very questionable/quiet loudspeaker to come get the heavy trays of food yourself -Huge portions, but very average food that anyone could make at home and nothing special. We sampled the miso soup entree/bowl (miso was lacking umami/the dashi wasn't rich enough), BBQ sandwich (ho-hum sauce and one-note all over), the salad with dill dressing (passable), and some other items. If Dharma started carrying Beyond Meat again (I know they did awhile ago as that's why I was interested in coming here at all), it might be worth a trip. I think the problem is there aren't a lot of other options in SC for vegans, maybe? If a Veggie Grill opened up I can't see there being any reason to not just go there instead. Far better burgers and dishes.
(2)
Jasmine A.
This place knows how to do vegetarian food! Big portions, flavorful, and lots of variety! Even if your not vegetarian you will find something that you will like! A must stop place whenever I'm in the area.
(5)
Ashley C.
Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free friendly restaurant. Full menu of choices, including yummy desserts. :) My non-vegan friends also enjoyed it.
(4)
Joe P.
Herbivore heaven. Burritos, pizzas, salads, pastas are all very good. Huge portions. A little pricey but you can easily share entrees or take home leftovers for later. Very chill, Santa Cruzian crowd.
(4)
Lalu B.
Love this place! It's the only hippie style eatery left in Santa Cruz! The food is well-prepared and delicious. We love their pesto, any of their veggie stirfries, gluten free options, salads and salad dressings, soups. All of it is just wonderful. When you're done eating here you feel good too. Service is friendly. There's so much to love about this place. I just wish it was closer to where we live.
(5)
Amanda H.
This is my new favorite place to eat! The food was so good! There are many different things on the menu, so there is something for very one. I had the pasta con pesto which was really good but I would recommended getting a small. The large is a huge plate filled. This is definitely going to be my go to place whenever I want to go out and that says a lot since I live in Hollister so it takes almost an hour just to get there! I'm really confused about the bad ratings actually....
(5)
Zorin D.
I always have to do at least one vegetarian dinner when I'm in California. I have toyed with the idea of going vegetarian or vegan several times and I love really good vegetarian food. The thing is when it comes to that particular genre of food, either it is very tasty and satisfying and you don't even miss meat at all or you're served some bland tasteless pile of crap that simply angers you to no end. I ended up eating a Darmha. The eggplant Parmesan was the special and I decided to go with it and a apple juice with ginger. The juice was fresh and tasty. The eggplant Parmesan was made with good quality mozzeralla that stretched forever when you took a bite. You could see and taste the fresh basil running through the rich and slightly sweet tomato sauce. I love the no Cell Phone policy.
(4)
Adrian H.
OK so I was born in Santa Cruz and am mostly vegetarian. I vote for democrats. I like having some vegetarian restaurants around and I try to support them. I don't mind quirky, santa cruz out there, weird, odd, etc. This place takes it to a new level though. At the point they are publicly joining the bandwagon to banish smart meters and outright ban you from having a cell phone on the premises they lost me. This is where hipster merges with stupid. Going to Dharmas has all the worst facets of going to the down town Post Office to renew your passport and none of the architectural charm. The employees are there only to remind you that you are invading their space. They are worse than bike shop mechanics. I asked about the soup of the day and was told "its posted on the menu." Don't expect a smile or for them to bring you the food. Don't forget to bus your own table! As if! The prices are high. The portions are quite large though. The food is actually pretty decent. Just not equal to the price. If you order dessert or fries with that you will be in for quite a lot more money. Go there once to remind yourself how good the service is in most restaurants. Go there to punish yourself. Go there to remind yourself how much you have changed since college. Take a friend there to prove you aren't a liberal. Otherwise skip it.
(2)
Fassio E.
-HUGE portions -really good flavors -very vegan friendly I drive about 30 minutes to come to Dharma's and it's well worth it.
(4)
Kate M.
This was our first time here. I had the Mediterranean Salad (excellent) and my friend had the Portobello-Artichoke Sandwich (also excellent). The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the ambiance. A little too noisy and cafeteria-ish for me. Neither of us eats soy (unless it is fermented), so lots of times vegan restaurants are difficult for us. But this one is easy. Lots of choices. We'll be back.
(4)
Crystal C.
Great vegetarian place, a lot of variety/ethnicities on the menu and as specials. I went with two other people and we all really enjoyed what we got--butternut squash ravioli, veggie burrito, and "chicken" mole burrito. Nobody get the molasses cookies, though--it was just overpriced, weird, chewy gingerbread, honestly. You order at the counter and pick up your food on trays at the counter, and get your own drinks/condiments, silverware, etc. Definitely agree with the other reviews that it's got a strong hippie vibe to it, but very happy with the food and the friendly staff.
(4)
Sondra H.
Overpriced for what you get. Not bad food at all, I've just had better. There are options galore for the vegetarian and vegan eater, so for that it is good.
(2)
Elisabeth C.
Like! Found this on my way to the DMV one day and now it's one of my go-to spots. Large portions, very laid back feeling, outtside tables, inside lots of room and take out. Extensive menu but Bo Thai remains my fave .......although their salads look amazing. It's veggie, but you feel like everyone can find something yummy. I feel comfortable, a positive and authentic group of people work here.
(5)
Jenny K.
Gardener's salad with vinaigrette is AMAZING!
(5)
Sandra R.
If I ordered long ago what I had the other day I would have been coming here a lot more often!! Years back I tried a couple of dishes, not being a vegetarian, I didn't get it and was not happy with my selection. Now I was overjoyed with the selection of foods. I ordered the Greek Pasta, small, and happy it was the small. I ate every bit on that plate, it was so good. The salad was nice and fresh with a tasty dressing. The bread was very good and the pasta dish was flavorful and just enough to fill me up but not stuffed. I didn't think the prices were that bad. The chai seemed a bit high; but it's homemade and oh so good!!! I had a groupon, which is what prompted us to go there. I'm glad we stopped by. I would like to try a few other dishes. The BF ordered the BBQ "pulled pork" I don't know what that substance was, but it was good. I didn't see anything about no cell phones; but I hate it when people are on the phone when you're out dining. Since I don't come here, I didn't even realize the water station, you needing to clean up after yourself and the to-go station. Very Santa Cruzan! The art work was colorful and very pretty. Can't say much for the staff. The food took awhile to come out, wasn't paying attention as to how long but they were definitely very busy.
(4)
Dennis A.
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.
(5)
Charlene K.
Great spot. All the food looks very healthy and appealing. We got the Fruit bowl, Mediterranean salad. All amazing and fresh. The dishes are large, but there was no tummy aches after eating here. This spot has indoor hanging plans and greenery that make you feel in touche with nature. Walls with featured artists works for purchase and I noticed little plastic animal toys.
(4)
Laura G.
Pros: Amazing food-all of it! (Especially the lost taco), huge portions, large seating area, plastic Dino's, soy milkshake( and I eat dairy), tons of gluten free options. Cons: Hippy yoga art is a little much, expensive but portions are so big you can just split with someone and you'll both be in a food coma, their water tastes like sanitizer, slow to get your food sometimes
(4)
Kaitlin M.
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.
(4)
Prateek G.
Dharma's is one of those restaurants where I would drive 40 miles just to grab a meal. And I don't have many place on my "drive-40 miles" list. This place is a temple for vegetarians and vegans. check out their menu to find amazing meals. I have their Terayaki burger and it was awesome, big, and healthy. ;0 Keep up the great work with the restaurant, and ya NO CELL PHONES allowed unless you're instagramming your food!
(4)
Pat D.
Breakfast Burrito /w no dairy add guacamole is my favorite. Big plates here, so my wife and I usually share.
(5)
Kan P.
Be forewarned: the portions are enormous! I thought it was a bit pricey at first but then I got my order and it could very well feed three people! Man, I had to plenty leftover to take home! I had the Mole Burrito on whole wheat tortilla and it was pretty good. Good mix of flavors, lacked spiciness for my taste but they had habanero sauce for that! My sis had the Nada Chicken Burrito and it was so delicious! Overall awesome vegan/veggie selections. Will definitely go back to try other items on the menu! Also, love that Dharma's is a cell-phone free zone, makes time to enjoy the food in peace! :) What a cool hippie place!
(5)
Shawn And Roxanna M.
I signed up for their newsletter and get a $5 off coupon. Thanks Dharma's!
(5)
Sherri C.
What good are large portions of food you don't want to eat? We had the BBQ Bluff and the Nada Chicken Burrito. The BBQ sandwich was bland and gave hubby a tummy ache for the next 24 hours. The burrito was a pile of pinto beans and rice with cheese, sour cream, and soy strips served "open-faced" on a whole wheat tortilla with a side of tortilla chips. I enjoyed the flavor for about two bites due to hunger and then wished I had ordered something else. The most interesting part of the meal was my yummy soy mint chip shake -- and having Bragg's Liquid Aminos on hand. Being a fan of vegetarian restaurants, I was excited about visiting Dharma's. But unfortunately, like Dry Creek Grill over the hill, being overpriced and not hitting perfection in presentation and flavor hits the ratings hard from my point of view. My taste buds and my wallet are happier at Cafe Gratitude in downtown Santa Cruz, or at Happy Bamboo or Loving Hut in San Jose.
(2)
John K.
Great for breakfast too... The few times my girlfriend and I have gone here, it's been mid to late Saturday morning and we've ordered the tofu ranchero and a short stack of blueberry pancakes - this is filling for the two of us! Very generous with their portions and very fresh and tasty! The only complaint I have is on a recent visit, they were quite busy, and we waited over 20 minutes for our order - folks that had come in after us were getting their orders - when we complained, we were given a bit of attitude from a young blonde girl behind the counter. Otherwise, the atmosphere is very relaxed and always look forward to the next time.
We found Dharma's about 2 years ago and have been huge fans ever since. This food is great, fresh, huge portions, and they keep lemons and many condiments on table next to water. The place has huge windows, it's bright, very quiet, they have outdoor tables, plants inside and outside, the restroom always smells like peppermint because of hand soap the use, huge parking. I love their fresh spring rolls, tofu ranchero and tofu with steamed vegetables, portobello mushroom burger, pastries with raspberry. There are other great dishes too. And they substitute sour cream for vegans. Oh, you can also sign up for their emails and get $5 coupon every Thursday.
(5)
Rebekah S.
This place has a hugeeee menu with tons of options for every dietary need! We got the greek tofu scramble and the curry tofu scramble, subbed vegan cheese for feta on the greek one. The portions here are ginormous, but you can always take leftovers to-go, so it's a great deal! The tofu was seasoned really well and it was super flavorful. The greek one was a bit oily, I think because of the kalmata olives, and the vegan cheese didn't really go well. Besides that though, superrr yummy! We've been here many times in the past and every thing we've gotten has been delicious.
(5)
JB D.
I had a "burger " tasted like dirt. It was just painful. The reason for 2* is my wife liked her dish but I can't recall what it was. They ought not to so emphasize quantity over quality - everything I saw looked huge ( including most patrons.). Funny you don't look vegan.
(2)
Veronika M.
I am glad I live near Dharmas, however, there are a few things that have rubbed me the wrong way. For 1, I usually order a sandwich, and sometimes the bread is really dried out, as in, OLD. It's a bummer because the bill really adds up and it doesn't feel worth it to me to have old scratchy bread in my mouth. For 2, trying to substitute a side is a joke. I tried to order potatoes in lieu of the salad and chips, but the told me they couldn't do it. I had to order the potatoes as an extra side order, and they still gave me the salad and chips. I wish they had better sides. For 3, The other day I was waiting for an order I called in, no one told me it was in a blue moon box on the counter in front of me while I sat there waiting. Wasted a good 10 minutes waiting on that. No one said "Here you go! It's ready". That irked me. A lady was at the drink/utensil counter and I heard her saying" don't put your hands in there" repeatedly while her child swirled her hand around in the lemon slices. I would have pulled my kids hand out of there and said "No" and then brought the lemon container to the counter and apologized that it was contaminated. She didn't do that. Pretty gross. All in all, the staff is polite, there are restrooms, the patrons are usually quiet, decent people, and it's vegetarian/vegan food. I hope they can work on customer service more and maybe come up with some more menu options/sides and be more forgiving to those who want to switch out a side for another!
(3)
Lorena C.
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED :) The decor is nice, with lots of uplifting art and live plants, and a waterfall in the corner. At first I was put off by the menu - nothing sounded that good 'cause I'm not a vegetarian - soo I eventually decided to play it safe and order the salad, soup, and roll. Wasn't expecting much, but the roll was hot and fresh, the salad (get the miso honey dressing) was fantastic! Toasted sunflower seeds, grated beets/carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes... yum! My friend ordered the pesto portobello pesto sandwich....delicious!
(5)
Christina J.
I am not a vegetarian but choose to eat here often because the food is great. Big portions, quality ingredients, wonderful flavors. It is a bit pricey for an order at the counter place, but the portions are large. I usually get at least two meals out of one order. Highly recommend!
(5)
Scarlett F.
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. ;-)
(4)
Sarah S.
Native Foods used to be my favorite vegetarian restaurant until we ate at Dharma's. It is so fresh, healthy, and tasty. The portions are wonderful for the price paid. The good news is that it is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from San Jose! Nearly everythign on the menu can be made vegan which is a wonderful plus and the restaurant is clean. The only complaint is that we would have liked a more private table set-up but that is such a trivial thing really. Most of our children opted for macaroni and cheese and it looked so good it nearly made me wish I had ordered it too. The rest of us ordered burgers and a large salad (to share). The grilled potatoes were amazing and the burger patty is one of the best I have ever had in a restaurant. We got the mega burgers which also had what seemed liked soy curls and carmelized onions. YUMMY! The salad was super good and I loved the addition of the pea shoots and toasted sunflower seeds...just lovely! We came away feeling sated and light feeling just as if we'd eated at home. This is very rare to feel after dining out and we will definitely be coming back to enjoy more of the numerous menu offerings!
(5)
Marianne B.
I love Dharma's. Quite simply...they make my life better by providing yummy organic food. I eat there at least once a week, sometimes more. My favorite is the American Saute. You can order it with quinoa if you like! If you get the large it's enough for two meals. I always save half for lunch the next day. And my other fave is Kitcharee soup.
(5)
Sue G.
Hard to rate as there so many variables. The menu selection for those wanting vegetarian/vegan is huge. We went for breakfast, and as we were ordering at the register, my husband had a few questions about the pancake ingredients, and voile - the man at the register went to a card right there and read the ingredients! Very nice. And . .they use real maple syrup, not "breakfast" syrup. (of course, small portion of syrup. I don't remember what I had - so must not have been great or horrible. Not many people in the large Restaurant, so it was quiet. There did seem to be a few regulars you came and went. This was my husband's selection for an eating location - and he's vegan. When I asked if he'd return, his response was "no" -
(3)
Dave B.
The food here is interesting, but make sure you go with someone who enjoys healthy eating. We made the mistake of bringing some friends to find out one of them was a meat-lover...it did not end well (in fact, it ended before it even began because he left). Nothing against Dharma's because it's decent good with a great selection of healthy eats. The Bo Thai and Indian Curry Platter are our favorites.
(3)
Prashant R.
Thank you yelp for taking me to dharma. Its located in a nondescript strip mall with tons of parking. I was blown away by the variety of options, after being confused about what to order I chose to give the exotic tex-mex burger a try - not a very creative choice from a very creative menu :) I was pleasantly surprised it was very tasty and tiny bit spicy - it was delicious. The potatoes that came with it was ok. We also ordered the mole burrito - I had a bite of it and man it was yummy, my only complaint with the burrito was it is an open face burrito not your nice wrapped and packed kind. On the taste scale it was quite good. Of course its an order at the counter kinda place and the guy who was taking orders seemed a bit weird but who cares, ordering was 5% of the overall experience. When we sat at our table thats when I saw the board with the daily specials and I was cursing myself - there was some very interesting stuff there which we totally didnt see before ordering. Its a convenient place to eat if you have small kids or a large group - plenty of space and not super crowded. It is also just a short drive from the capitola beach. I am definitely going back next time I'm in that area.
(4)
Miss Ally A.
Yum. Ambiance: Feels like a lunchroom in a school - nothing formal or too comfortable about it. However, they leave the "fluff" for the dishes they make. Post-hike, a girlfriend and I went in for some nutritional face-stuffing. Ordered: BLT Barbecue beef sandwich Pesto pasta w/ salad First off: portions are pretty damn big. Secondly, they're FREAKING delicious. Seriously - delicious vegetarian food + a huge menu covering just about everything you could possibly be craving: Thai, Mexican, American...is there anything else? :) Do it. Get 'er done and get STUFFED.
(4)
Mardi S.
I went to this restaurant a long long long time ago, like 20 years, and had something so amazing that I still think about it and have been wishing since that I could go back often to get it again! That's how great it was. It was the most flavorful breakfast potato, and tofu mole dish and have never stopped craving it! I even had to reach out to people to get the name of the restaurant! They probably don't serve it anymore and I live an hour and half away but am thinking of going back soon to see. LOVE THE FOOD that much!!
(5)
The H.
The food is good, but nothing crazy and so not worth the price. Restaurant is a little tacky, lacks ambience, and it's counter service, so absolutely nothing warrants the price. I think the only reason why it's getting 4 stars is because restaurants in the Santa Cruz vicinity are a joke.
(2)
Tabitha M.
Gah.... Okay, brutally honest review time. A new vegan and longtime vegetarian, I'd love to love this place but have to admit that other than being veg-friendly there's just not much that's special about it. Granted, their vegan & gluten free cheese pizza is one major exception because that thing is the best darn vegan pizza I've ever had and enough to make this technically a 3.5 star review, but other than that most of the food is just too bland or uninteresting to get me super excited. Honestly, I've eaten at enough vegetarian places and cooked enough veg food myself to know just how amazing it can be, and I feel that Dharma's doesn't really do it justice. When I look at their menu, there really isn't much on it that I don't think I could easily make in about 30 minutes or less. What it comes down to is that, while the food is pretty good, I just wish that there were more creative and interesting things on the menu. I'll go there specifically for their pizza and when I'm crazy busy/forget to pack a lunch when I'm over that way, but most of the time I'll just cook the equivalent stuff at home. If you're here from out of town and looking for decent cafeteria-style food by all means stop by as well. Just please keep in mind that there is a lot more to veggie food than simply sandwiches, pasta, cooked vegetables, wraps/burritos, and tofu scrambles.
(3)
Julie K.
The three of us came to Dharma's today for a very late lunch: plenty of parking since it wasn't crowded and rather quiet which was so nice so I could actually carry on a conversation with my family. $45 for so much food! Effie had the Tacos Al Pastor which came with a huge salad, the best salsa ever, an extra large plate of veggie such as avocado and tomatoes ($14.95) and a chai ($3.65). PW had a quesadilla with a side salad ($5.50) and a thick and rich carob ice cream milkshake ($5.95) in which she devoured all of it in no time plus a giant ginger/molasses cookie ($2.25)! I had the breakfast burrito which was so large that it over flowed my plate. It came with a huge salad ($7.95) and the most awesomest salsa ever. I had a cup of black coffee ($1.80). In the end we had 4 boxes of left overs! We have enough for tomorrow's lunch! NOTE: THIS IS A CELL PHONE FREE RESTAURANT AND THEY TAKE DISCOVER CREDIT CARDS!
(5)
Fran M.
What the hell, I'm going to give them 5IVE STARS!! They have really come quite a long way from the Wholly Holy Sanctified and Over Fried glop of 2008's review. I have been there 3 times in the last 2 months and it's still a bit on the spendy side but the food is good, hot, generous AND totally organic. I am sure they pay the employees well and that itself justifies the prices. The Tofu Scramble/Curry is off the charts and that is from a carnivore's point of view. The potatoes are no longer old and greasy and the menu specials are interesting and well done. Good for Dharma's and good for Santa Cruz!!
(5)
Don B.
Waited for over 40 minutes for the food, 3 customers after were served first, when I asked why, the employee turned his back and walked away. I sent an E mail, and got no response.
(1)
Dan C.
As a local I want to give Dharmas a great review. I've been going here since I was in elementary school. But the only word to describe the experience I just had here was "hostile." I don't have a lot of money to treat myself or eat out so when I do, I don't want the occasion spoiled by rude people. Here is the verbatim conversation I just had with the grumpy slouchy flannel and baseball cap wearing old man at the till: Me: hi! do you guys make macchiatos? Him: No. (silence...) Me: oh...it's just an espresso with a little foam. Him: That is called a cappuccino. We have that. I've never heard of the thing you said. Me: ok...I'll have a yogurt and a single cappuccino. Then he grimly demanded my name and to know if it was for here or to go. There are a million non dismissive, condescending and rude ways of saying "I don't know what that is, maybe we could make it for you, what's the difference between that and a cappuccino? Etc". I don't know if he told the baristas that I was a terrible person, or they are miserable too, but when I came back and took a seat, I got "the evils" from the staff as I waited for them to call my name and eventually one said, "are you Danielle?" And gestured to my tray. No one smiled, no one said thanks for your order, how are you doing, what would you like; you know the normal friendly stuff. Also shouldn't a CAFE know what a macchiato is? Even if it's the fake Starbucks version? I certainly don't think I earned derision for asking for a shot of espresso with a dash of foam... If that man is having such a terrible day maybe he shouldn't work in a public place where he can spread it around. The yogurt was interesting and the cappuccino was alright, but that much milk makes me feel kinda yucky and I didn't want to interact with that grump any more about changing the amount of milk in my drink. PS grumpy old man: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca… "Caffè macchiato sometimes called espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk added, today usually foamed milk."
(2)
Libi K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants throughout the northwest. It is all veg, organic and most important delicious!
(5)
Susie w.
The food is wholesome but the sour faced man at the register NEVER smiles or speaks to customers with respect. A total asshole, they need to hire someone with better social skills to meet the public. He always puts me in a bad mood when I encounter his deadpan face.
(1)
Chen D.
My favorite is the grilled Cheese Sandwich that comes with soup and a salad.
(4)
Dan K.
My wife and I visited dharmas for the first time today. We were very excited with all of the vegan options they had to offer. One big problem!!!! We ordered a vegan pizza specifically VEGAN and we were served a non vegan pizza. I've been vegan for three years and it is a huge part of my life that I take very serious. I took a bite and asked my wife if this looked vegan and she didn't think so. So I went up to the front and asked and they told me "sorry I must have pressed the wrong button when I put in your order". This was the first time I've had dairy in three years and is completely unacceptable. Be very cautious ordering VEGAN options here, I would confirm the order multiple times so it gets down properly or you'll be like me fed dairy not by choice but because of the lack of focus by the staff.
(1)
Kellie D.
My 10 year old twins and I went here one Sunday morning for breakfast. The place was empty, our first clue. I ordered 3 plates of pancakes (2 pancakes per plate), and asked for bananas and nuts in 2 of them. The total was $26 something, and I was shocked! For 6 pancakes?? After some questioning on the price, I took out the bananas and nuts (exorbitant charge for them) and just ordered 3 plates of plain pancakes. The charge went to $17. We were still the only ones there and it took them 30 minutes to make the pancakes, we were starving by then. Finally, the cashier brought out 2 plates of pancakes. When I asked where the 3rd plate was, he said I only ordered 2 plates! So 3 of us split 4 pancakes that we paid $17 for, then because we were still hungry we went home and made a real breakfast. Needless to say we will not be going there again!
(1)
Sarpreet G.
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!
(5)
Brett B.
Consistently voted "Best Vegetarian of Santa Cruz County" Top Dishes Tempeh Reuben Nuclear Bluff Bo Thai
(4)
Amber B.
Delicious!! Their menu has a great variety of food choices. And the portions are pretty big so there will be leftovers! There are usually a lot of people in around lunch time but there is a good amount of seating too.
(5)
Skye J.
I had a hard time deciding whether or not to give Dharma's 3 stars or 4, but I decided I do love the feeling I get of eating fresh food when I go here, and their menu is hard to pick one thing because it all sounds so good every time. Although I am not a vegetarian, I love the veggie dishes that I have tried. As for the ambience and the location, I don't really care for it. It's somewhere that I don't technically enjoy sitting down and eating at. It kind of gives me a cafeteria feeling, but a fresh one.
(4)
Nova L.
So love the vegetarian and the glueten free options but if you want to earn that last star from me please also be GMO/Canola oil free. I hate that neurotoxin that they keep putting in 90% of all processed foods like DAIYA cheese and salad dressings. How is it possible for Mustard gas to have been banned but GMO rape seed oil to be the most popular product in all porcessed foods. If your wondering why you have never seen a canola plant its because it does not exist. The word canola was made up from Canada Oil where most canola is from, then look up rape seed oil and you will get sick to your stomach and unfortunately need to through away 75 % of everything in your pantry.
(4)
Nicole B.
I love this place. I can't get enough! Because I've explored the menu, one of my favorite dishes is the potato enchilada special. Comes with jasmine herbaceous rice, super flavorful black beans, and 3 enchiladas. A mighty portion great for sharing! Oh yeah...almost forgot about their amazing vegan bacon ranch salad dressing-pretty great for a vegan!!!
(5)
Victor l.
Alright. I'm writing this for mis hermanos out there latinos. I'm not a big veggie guy but my girlfriend wanted to go and I've eaten at vegan places before and they always left an earthy taste in mouth. Didn't go to Dharmas expecting anything else. Boy I was very wrong. They changed my mind! Healthy food can be good for you! And taste heck of good! I had the Nada Chicken burrito and that was tasty!! And I had left overs. Wasn't too expensive either. I just had to get off my butt and post that because this place def a must try if you wanna eat for your health and not miss out on the taste. It's good
(5)
Jia J.
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.
(4)
Carolen M.
It was the end of my vegan month. Just 3 more days. I was dying. I thought I needed meat. I just ran what I thought to be only 7 miles, but in the end was 8.2 miles. I was aching all over. I wanted food. Yelp you have done it again. After I got out of my wet sweaty clothes..yes I did get naked in my back seat of the car (Thank goodness for tinted windows). My boyfriend and I ate at this restaurant. I thought wow, for once a restaurant with more than 2 choices for me to pick from and all of them were not just salads! We chose a burrito and a raspberry soy shake. I couldn't believe the amount of food we got for the price. You could have fed 3 people with the amount we got! They did not skimp the soy chicken NOT AT ALL! Truly a place for vegans and should not be overlooked when you're near Capitola. I will DEFINITELY go back vegan or not vegan. This was an awesome find.
(5)
markus a.
Consistently good quality, despite slightly higher than average prices.
(4)
Lanie L.
Please diregard my last review...IT DOESN'T REFLECT MY ABSOLUTE LOVE FOR THIS RESTAURANT. I simply bought the wrong thing, but seriously, Dharma's is now my favorite restaurant in the entire Santa Cruz area. Over here, you have PIZZA. vegan pizza! gluten free pizza! In the next quarter, you have MEXICAN! I recommend the Mexi-Cali! All there plates are HUGE and are piled on with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, guac, cheese, etc etc. the options are endless and they're piled so high, it's no longer a burrito anymore! You can substitute guac or avocado if you don't have cheese. Over there, we have SANDWICHES. If you have absolutely NO IDEA what you want, please get the NUCLEAR BLUFF. you won't regret it!!! Then we have breakfast, and salads, and international entrees, and desserts. The list is endless, most everything can be made vegan, all of them are worth trying, or holy chresses my mouth is watering just thinking about eating here again. The workers are super friendly and can help you with the menu. the artwork and decor is nature inspired and homey (I miss the Jesus-Buddha painting). This place rarely disappoints me and they put other "vegetarian" restaurants to shame. It may be a little more expensive, but trust me, the amount of food you're getting, pus the fresh, high-quality organic food you receive, is worth it. No more ice berg lettuce. Instead, enjoy a fresh spring green mix with the quality you can TASTE.
(5)
Bob V.
Love the food here.
(4)
Christine S.
Grrrr, darn you Dharma's!!!!! Ages ago I was "helped" by the owner, I was asking him which dressings were Vegan, and he seemed to have the biggest stick up his butt about that. He was so RUDE, and treated me like I was dumb for asking. He was so rude that I, for the first time, walked out. Well suuuuuurprise, surprise; The Vinagrette which he so rudely told me was Vegan, is NOT. It contains honey. Thanks a lot you grumpy assh0le. And, for reals, thanks to the counter girl who noticed I was ordering my food Vegan and mentioned that the Vinagrette, (which I had been told BY THE OWNER and many many other workers, was Vegan) was not and contained honey, that stars for you. I hope you got a good chunk of cash outta the tip jar that night! Update 01/09/13: The gluten free, vegan, pesto pizza is GREAT! Loads of "cheese" and super tasty pesto! I'm still grumpy as f*ck about the vinaigrette.....
(2)
Samantha G.
Always go there with my mom. Huge portions! Vegan Chocolate Cake and Moroccan Mint Tea... then dinner.
(5)
Beth R.
Was here another time....and.... I REALLY wish that Dharma's would open a San Diego branch! Love this place! So fresh, so tasty.
(5)
Josh P.
Wow! One of the best vegan restaurants I've had the privilege of dining at. This is a must for any vegans in the area. I went with a committed carnivore who loved what he had too. It's just GOOD food.
(5)
Shanna K.
What the HecK am I suppose to Say -- It's just F'n DeliCious!
(5)
zio t.
Great restaurant and would rate higher, but had to knock it for the "supersize" philosophy. They should have half orders of those yummy burritos since they are WAY too big for one person and encourage unhealthy eating habits by serving far too big a portion. They have a small boring burrito but where is the fun in that?!? And since the regular burritos are priced at $12 after tax, there seems plenty of room to charge $7 or $8 for a half order. Hope management reads this. You have a great product but need to get with the times as far as providing healthy portions for your complete menu.
(3)
Jeff J.
They have replaced the soy strips but they're not nearly as good as the old ones. The texture is mushier somewhat ruining the effect as a substitute. Still a great place though!
(4)
Sophia T.
warning: I'm a vegan chef and I'm always looking for inspiration. This place has lots of wonderful tasties to offer. They feel accessible to folks although what I ordered was a pricey for lunch. I had butternut squash ravioli with vegan pesto. A sizable lunch for sure. It came with very tasty garlic bread (perfectly done), a lovely salad and unique dressing. The ravioli was outstanding. I have some gripes about the pesto. First off, loved the abundant garlic flavor and freshness. I didn't like how salty the pesto was and there was way too much of it on the ravioli. I ended up leaving a ton of it on the plate. It made the dish oily. it tasted delicious except for the salt factor. I like dishes flavored with good salt but I need very little to appreciate it.
(4)
Amber K.
I've missed this place! It's not for lack of good veggie restaurants here in The City, it's just that I spent a considerable amount of time here growing up. I feasted on legends that it was once tentatively called McDharma's to mock the Double Arches before I actually tried it, and once I did I craved it. This last time I was there my mom got the tomato and squash soup, and it was absolutely to die for. I think I tasted cumin? I eat a lot of tomato soup but this one was by far the tastiest. I got the equivalent of pad thai with more veggies, but I can without a doubt say everything there is good and you can't really go wrong. All the portions are substantial, the produce is fresh, and the food style is all over the place (Latin, Asian, New American) but it's all done well. My ONLY complaint with this place (and most veggie restaurants) is that there is a tendency towards over-seasoning. I could do with just a little less sauce and salt. Personal preference I guess.
(5)
Lulu D.
This is my favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz. It feels healthy and tastes so fresh, yummy, delicious. Make sure you order the right stuff though. Don't get things like Nuclear Buff or fake "trying to be meat" things. Blah! But get the international Entree's, the Bo Thai, or American saute. YUM. Usually their specials are great and big enough for two. SO if they seem expensive, just split it. All the mexican Tacos, tostata, mexi-cali, they're all good. Pizza just so-so. Stick to the fresh salads, (best ever) and the Samurai soup is delicious. if you're a vegetarian, you have to eat here. Even if you're not, eat here, it's good!
(5)
Sarah L.
Went here for dinner not knowing what to expect other than hearing the food is good. I didn't know it was completely vegetarian/vegan. My meat eating husband was thrown for a loop! Menu has many options and they have daily specials on top of that. Kinda too much to choose from: veggie burgers, burritos, noodles, pasta and more. I guess it's all to fit whatever mood you're in. While the food was tasty, it was a tad expensive for a place that seems like a cafeteria-you pick up your order at the counter after they announce your name (if you can understand it) and place your dishes in a tub before you leave. Not sure why I tipped when I paid, but I did-might as well have taken it to go. The man taking orders seemed less than happy to be there, I don't think he even made eye contact or said thank you. The atmosphere/decor is odd and since it's a giant room, it was loud in there. There are several signs about not using your cell phone on speaker, apparently that's a problem?? I will go back to try other items on the menu as I'm a vegetarian and really enjoyed the Brahma burger, and the hubs liked his dinner-the spaghetti. Side salad was -meh. Looking at others' entree plates-they were huge! Lots of food so maybe there are things to share. I will give this place another chance purely for the food.
(3)
Julie N.
Yum! After two meals at Saturn (greasy!) on a trip to Santa Cruz for the weekend, Dharma's was a welcomed find! Unfortunately we missed breakfast both days, but we left both times feeling satisfied. Can't wait for our next visit to try something new!
(4)
Ilga H.
When I think of an organic, fresh salad, Dharma's always comes to mind first. I love their selection and I also admire that there are still yummy options for those who aren't vegan/vegetarian. It is a cell phone free environment, which means I can eat peacefully and it is also a very relaxing atmosphere. The food can be pricy depending on what you're ordering, but you won't be disappointed with their fresh selection.
(4)
Jocko J.
All I have to say is the guy at the front is the most unfriendly holier then thow ass!
(2)
Daisy A.
I would rate this place as 5 stars just for their sandwiches but I've tried a few other things on their menu and haven't been too impressed. The portabello pesto sub, nuclear bluff, and the portabello-artichoke sandwiches are to DIE FOR!!! The vibe is kind of like a cafeteria in there so I usually order my sandwiches to go and sit on the beach nearby and eat.
(4)
Ha L.
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.
(4)
L B.
Just had my first visit at Dharma's to celebrate my birthday with some friends. So yummy ! It was a hit with my non vegetarian friends.The portions are very generous & the prices are very reasonable. Eclectic ambiance which we enjoyed. The only downfall is that is not located near Milpitas. That said, we do have vegetarian house in San Jose which is equally good if you're ever out this way.
(5)
Sunil R.
Excellent variety!! They have Mexican, Indian, Italian, Thai, Burgers and more...The noodle dishes were yummy. The hot dog and pizza were ok. And vegetarian means everything I ate is healthy too, right? How often can you say that you ate some food that was yummy and healthy? I really liked the cashier, genuinely nice and connected with everyone. I would go here often if I lived in Capitola or SC.
(4)
Groovy M.
Crowded on weekend nights, for a reason! Really tasty and healthy food nicely prepared awaits the health-conscious eater. Not cheap, but the portions are plentiful and the staff are very nice. Only complaint is that service is slow when it gets crowded... had to wait a really long time for our to-go order, but once we got it, we were REALLY happy with the meai. Its not cheap, but it is good and healthy, and we'll be back!
(4)
Boris G.
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.
(3)
Juliana B.
Been going here since it was in a different location and called by a slightly different name. I have been a vegetarian for over 2 decades and I love this place! You get tons of food and they have a box of dinosaurs for your kids to play with while they wait. Love it!
(5)
Michelle B.
Great place for lunch for anything vegan. Dharma's has an impressive selection of food and portions are generous. Good value overall.
(4)
Anoop G.
I had heard about this place a long time ago but had the chance to finally visit it when at a conference in Santa Cruz. This a lacto-vegetarian restaurant and most of the food is organic as well. I ate there almost every day that I was in Santa Cruz. They have very limited choices with no onions and no garlic, but what they have is fresh and tasty and the portions are huge. They have a reasonably large seating area and it's set up where you order and pick up the food yourself. Wish we had something like this in the Sacramento area.
(5)
Angela W.
I love this place. Simply fresh with great seasonings and cooked to perfection! It is all vegetarian. This is a favorite among the locals. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
dave m.
Portions are huge. Fresh organic healthy Sums it up. I love the vegetable lasagna with garlic bread and salad, can't go wrong'
(5)
Troy T.
Good environmentally friendly food and atmosphere. Haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)
Aisha K.
As a non-vegetarian vegetarian food-lover, you can't get better quality vegan food than Dharma's. They have great variety and styles of vegan dishes, and even if you're not vegetarian, you'll love the flavors and it'll fill you up, without your ever noticing that there's meat missing from the dish! I always get the American Sautee, which is essentially like a huge stir-fry of yummy veggies and tofu, and it comes with a large portion of brown rice, and this tahini-garlic sauce that is Out. Of. This. World. Seriously. Existential-Dharma-speak. This place (and that sauce) is out of this world good. Nom.
(5)
Carolyn G.
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 :)
(4)
Neen M.
LOVE! Who doesn't love to eat at a vegetarian restaurant that has cow, pig, chicken figurines/toys as decor? hehe Really though! And who doesn't love looking at out of this world art/paintings on the wall? SO Santa Cruz and I love it. I ordered the Pesto Portabello Sub and it was the most delicious portabello sandwich I've ever had. The secret ingredient in the sandwich which makes it so different is the feta cheese. It's a definite kicker and totally gives an extra umph! The dressing on the salad is so tangy and complements the cucumbers on the salad perfectly. YUM! To top it off, who doesn't like to use Dr. Bronner's organic soap (cause that's what they have in their soap dispenser in the restroom) Refreshing place in every way! Will totally come again!
(4)
Austin T.
Dharmas is all about vegan/vegetarian food. The helpings we had were huge. We could have ordered one meal to feed the 3 of us. It was also tasty too. The reason for only 3 stars is because for 2 days afterwards my entire family had stomach issues (if you know what I mean). I'm quite positive it was from Dharmas. It was the only thing all three of us ate and it started the morning after. If the stomach stuff doesn't concern you then give it a try.
(3)
Vegan G.
Fresh, organic, delicious food. All vegetarian and quite vegan-friendly. Downsides are they don't consider honey to be an animal product (vegans don't eat honey!), it's often noisy, and they underestimate the time on call-in orders.
(4)
Christina W.
Best selection of vegetarian foods!
(5)
Michelle L.
My favorite restaraunt ever! Gluten free vegan pesto pizza and stevia drinks? I am in HEAVEN! Love the art on the walls, love the ambiance... LOVE that I can eat out with my bf and not get sick afterwards!!!! gluten free, sugar free, soy free, AND lactose free? no problem.
(5)
Jessica G.
Long live Dharma's! I love this place so so so so so so much. I think this is the perfect spot for just regular everyday eating. Nothing is more exciting than being at Dharma's and hearing your name being called for your enormous plate of pesto tofu scramble.
(5)
Tatyanna T.
LOVE Dharma's! Fresh, organic, healthy food, beautiful artwork and decor-tons of orchids and philodendrons lovingly draped along the rafters. We've been coming here for 20+ years, and can always count on something delicious and good for the body! Portions are huge, prices not cheap but they do send out $5 coupons each week for meals $20 and over--a good excuse to take my son : )
(5)
Sid W.
McDharma's is a wonderful restaurant on Capitola ave., with a menu of tasty, fresh, and generously portioned food fit for vegans, veggies, AND omnivores alike! Usually fast (5-10 minutes for food is typical), always friendly service is always a pleasant surprise for my quick lunch fix. A nice, sunny dining area outside, and a spacious inside. These guys carry desserts, beer, and lovely artwork as well. Did I mention free wifi? Great food, generously portioned, for such a reasonable price!
(5)
caio m.
Dharma's may be my favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the whole world (well at least N. America, Cen. Am., and Europe). The food has always been excellent, I've never ever been disappointed, imagine if say Squat & Gobble or Boogaloos (in S.F.) were all vegetarian or vegan plus served veggie Mexican, Afghani, Indian, Thai plus all the American comfort food in, repeat, all veggie or vegan and huge portions. The portions are also so huge, it's impossible not to take leftovers home. I swear by them, when I'm done with school here, it would still be worth visiting. Oh, and their gluten-free vegan cashew cheesecake is to die for. And yes, sign up on email list to get $5 off.
(5)
Sara W.
I tried this place once and I'd love to go again once I'm in the Santa Cruz area. We had a Groupon, but the prices weren't that bad. I got the American Saute, which was HUGE and had the perfect amount of vegetables, tofu, and tasty sauce. I love good portions, so this place won me over. The BF got the BBQ sandwich and was impressed, as a meat-eater, how good it tasted. I like the casual feel of the place too.
(4)
Shannon A.
I'm always satisfied with my dining experience at Dharma's. They have lots of vegan options and their entrees are always huge! They also have good beer and lots of vegan treats available. Please keep those vegan options coming...we appreciate it!
(5)
Nick S.
Have you ever been to one of those places where you could order anything on the menu and be entirely satisfied? That's Dharma's in a nutshell. Basically, Dharma's is the vegetarian restaurant for nonvegetarians. They've obviously done their research on what people like and have put it on their menu. Like Mexican food? They have that. Like Thai food? there's that too. Like traditional American fast food such as a vegetarian chili cheese dog smothered in chili? Oh boy, do they have that. Be warned though: the portions are quite large.
(4)
Trevor S.
I went to Dharma's for the first time with my wife a few days ago, and I refuse to go back. From terrible service to mediocre food to crazed portion control this place is out of my eating habits for the rest of forever. It started off with the ordering. I don't know who this old guy was, but he didn't give me any welcome feelings despite the fact I was handing him money. He had a hugely pretentious air about him as we ordered our food and drink. I ordered the mole burrito and a mint shake, my wife a burger and passion something iced tea. All said and done, I was out thirty odd dollars, so it can't be bad. We waited, and waited, and waited for our food. Five minutes after ordering, I notice one of the girls behind the counter is making a shake, albeit in a blender, so I get excited. When she is done, she sticks the blender in the freezer and leaves... now I am confused. Three more orders came in behind us and were served before we were (and before you think it, no, they were not soup orders.) We finally get our food after 35 minutes, my shake is reblended to make it shake like and we sit to eat. First off, there is no semblance of a "Burrito" in the mole burrito. It was a stale tortilla, slathered in vegetables in a brown goo then folded in half. The mole was uninspired, tasting only of cinnamon, and the vegetables varied from under, to overcooked. I keep reading about huge portions, and I can see that in this "burrito" but not in my wife's burger. It was a patty of homemade origin, lettuce, thousand island dressing and a bun. On the side was the most anemic handful of roasted potatoes I have ever seen grace the side of a burger. Even with my wife's help after she finished her tiny bit of food, we could not finish the monstrous burrito and I was left wondering "Where was that for the burger?" As we finished and walked out, I came to a realization as to why the food was so pricey, yet so mediocre. The decor of this kitschy place had to run them a fortune, and despite its huge size, it was nearly empty at dinner time on a Thursday. In the greater Santa Cruz area, there is vegetarian and vegan food at almost every restaurant. If Dharma's filled a niche at one point, it is no longer there. Skip it all and find a better place.
(1)
Monice T.
The restaurant was so loud we could not hear each other at the table. It took 30 minutes for our food to come. My husbands dish was really good, but mine was just okay. The staff is not friendly or helpful. At least they had toys animals out for the kids while we waited a long time!
(2)
Anne P.
We ate all ordered different entree and shared. We had the Indian chicken curry this was the winner of our choice very tasty. Next was the Bo Thai noodles it came close the rice noodles just didn't seem to taste right cause it was vermicelli instead of the regular flat noodles. The spaghetti and greek pasta both came side salads which could have been a meal in itself. But They were both a bit bland. The olives on the greek pasta was the one that carried the dish. WE had the vegan brownie (they ran out of the vegan chocolate cake) it tasted great! I could not tell that it was vegan! so we bought some to take home. we also had the soy vanilla ice cream... yummy! I would not mind the drive to come here again. They have more dishes that I would like to try.. and more desserts!
(4)
Sam W.
Great, unique food. Four stars because the service was a little bit awkward for a visitor (it's hard to tell what the protocol is).
(4)
Yuki G.
I used to live in the area for years and every time I make a trip back, I just have to have to dine at Dharma's, usually in the form of a huge vegan breakfast where I'm stuffed for the entire day. You can splurge at Dharma's on a variety of healthier to more junky options (vegan milkshakes). The place is kind of an elite, snobby, earthy, hippie place, like many places in the area. What I mean by that is that if you've been there, you know. They take the outdated no cell phone rule seriously. I'm not even a chatty bunny but having such rules bother me. I'd rather have an electronics free zone because you see people there with laptops whilst eating but I digress. The food is delicious and it's a local institution one must eat at. It's in a slightly odd location but parking is plentiful.
(4)
Marika R.
This place is soo y u m. You sit in a jungle with amazing art on the walls... it's eye candy. Then, the food is divine. The portions are HUGE so I either share with my husband or friend, get leftovers or order sides. Try the mango lassi, or the garlic bread. It's noisy and you pay at the counter so its great for kids also they have these little animals all over the place that the kids can play with while they are waiting.
(4)
Taylor B.
Worlds Best Restaurant.
(5)
Murphy O.
It's where the pretentious hippie vegans eat in Santa Cruz. If you're one of them you'll love it, but I just want a burger after I eat there.
(2)
debbie l.
We've been eating at Dharma's since the beginning and still enjoy it years and years later. I am a huge fan of the Lasagna and get that often. It comes with a side salad and bread and makes for a terrific meal. Dharma's offers a varied menu with something for just about anyone who is looking for a healthier meal. Over the years I have tried many things on the menu and they have all been good but I always go back to the Lasagna.
(5)
Ali M.
Worst Mexican food ever and the atmosphere is so depressing. The Asian food here was tolerable, but I recommend eating elsewhere. The cashier was so depressing on top of it.
(1)
Liz L.
Can't believe I ate at a vegetarian specialty restaurant, much less am writing a 4-star review for it. My vegetarian in-laws were visiting and we were in Santa Cruz so we came to check Dharma's out. I had the breakfast burrito which had crumbled tofu, and it was surprisingly good! The copious amounts of potato and cheese probably had something to do with it. Everyone else enjoyed their food as well. I'd come back if I was in the area with a vegetarian.
(4)
Dee C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. All time favorite restaurant!!
(5)
jori m.
Delicious and HUGE portions. Would be 2 $, but since it seems like every dish really is large enough to share, I think 1 $ is more accurate. Cafeteria style, but ambiance is still nice in a clean hippie commune kinda way. I'd come back.
(4)
Meggie M.
I came here because I had read about their gluten free options. I also saw that they offered vegan food but overlooked it in the hopes of it being somewhat normal. hum. The place is a bit too health food for me. I'm a lover of all pastas but some of the stuff they offer is alien to my pallet. Nevertheless, I ordered pasta italiano with brown rice noodles. I admit, I was very excited to try the gluten free garlic bread but upon seeing it, I changed my mind. The bread had a lot of weird, unnecessary seeds and nuts, too unusually healthy for my italian appetite. Slighty crestfallen, I opened my pasta. The pasta was actually better than I expected. The noodles were cooked all the way. Being gluten free raw, hard, pasta is something I often encounter at restaurants. The pasta italiano consists of garlic, butter, and basil. Dharma's didn't disappoint, it was very good, a little rich. I would recommend ordering the smaller size, as the larger size would probably feed at least 2 people. I also ordered a lemonade which was very tasty. Overall this place is a bit too hippy dippy for me. However, their pasta is good and I noticed they have gluten free deserts available as well. This restaurant is definitely a contribution to the gluten free food movement.
(3)
Bill C.
I had a Mexican dish (vegan) which I would rate a 3. Ok but not anything that I would go back for. My wife on the other hand had the chili which she said was possibly the best she has ever had. I tasted it and it was pretty good. She also had a small salad that was actually pretty big. She loved the salad too. Food - 4.5 Atmosphere - 3 Service - well not really any service you walk up to the counter to order and they call your name when it'd done
(4)
Jamison H.
This place is pretty damn awesome. Maybe "too much awesome?" The portions are very generous here, which justifies the high prices. All the food is vegetarian and they also cater to various diets, like lactose-intolerant. Only bad side is they use a lot of processed soy products as meat substitutes, which aren't exactly the best for the body, but at the same time its not a greasy cheeseburger, so... its your call. I'm sure you're not as picky as I am.
(4)
Jordan F.
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.
(5)
Shannon S.
I figured out their secret! Firstly, this place is an American food place. If you order any of their "international" dishes, be prepared to be disappointed. They pretty much use the same vegetables for everything and depending on whether it has cheese or peanut sauce determines if it's "Mexican" or "Asian" food. Boo! Stick with the American dishes. FYI, portabella artichoke sandwich... it is tastiness. :d
(3)
Melissa B.
Dharma's unfortunately falls into the category of unnecessary excess. Waayyy too much garlic, waaayyy too much oil. I don't care if olive and walnut oils are good for you, I would like to identify the multicolored objects within the noodles. Are they veggies? Perhaps? I really wanted to like this place. I did. Perhaps it will be better next time? But they didn't win any points with me when they spilled cheese on the vegan dish and then just brushed off most of it instead of making a new plate. Bad Kharma Dharma!! On the other hand, their steamed greens and guajillo potatoes were quite good and they had a huge selection of items on the menu that wasn't just reinventions of tofu - yea! Also they have a nice variety of beverages. Refreshing!
(2)
Louie O.
I used to eat here a couple of times a month simply because I'm trying to eat more vegan. The food was ok most of the time and the service, so-so. That's why I'm giving Dharma's a "Meh" rating. The last time I ate here I found a huge green fly in my lentils. Now I just can't bring myself to go back. Firstly, it's icky. Secondly, it's not vegetarian.
(2)
Cathy M.
We had lunch for the first time at Dharma's a few days ago. Although I was very impressed with the extensive menu, healthy options and varied clientele, I found my food to be OK, but not great. The carrots, onion and garlic in the Mexican Saute were undercooked in my opinion and the food seemed to be sort of thrown together, not really thought out or composed as a dish. The small version cost $10.25 and although it was really pretty large, a Burrito Bowl at one of the fast food joints would have cost much less and would have been more satisfying. I'll try other items next time and perhaps update this review. I will go back. I often find myself hungry while running errands and I usually avoid eating out because it is difficult to find something healthy and light for a mid-day meal. Now I have Dharma's to consider. It is right off of the 41 Ave shopping area.
(3)
Garrett K.
Super tasty vegetarian food. Love the tempeh rueben and BBQ bluff sandwich. Would give 5 stars but some items are a little expensive. They use a lot of local organic produce too.
(4)
Andrea K.
I'd love to give Dharma's more than 3 stars because some of the food is awesome. The reason I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars is that some of the dishes are inconsistant and a few are lacking something. The hot dog-meh. The burritos-huge and filling but a little lacking. The spring rolls-I keep trying them because I love fresh spring rolls, but theirs always have dry wrappers and the peanut sauce is weird. And, I have to agree that the person at the cash register is pretty grumpy. Every time. BUT-they make the best salads ever and tahini dressing, the portobello/artichoke sandwich is delicious (super messy and hard to eat though) and the desserts are good. I'll keep coming here as I have been for many years when I want a filling, healthy meal. It doesn't bother me to bus my own dishes-the atmosphere is a bit cavernous but it's good for families.
(3)
Maria Jose J.
This is my absolute favorite vegetarian restaurant in the Santa Cruz area!! The food is delicious, the portions are huge, there's something to please just about anyone since the menu has a great variety of foods.. I can't say enough about this place!! Family favorites are: Nada Chicken Burrito (too big for me, but great for a guy), Bo Thai, American Sautee, Dan Dan Noodles, raspberry tart, vegan tapioca, Pasta con Pesto (again, too big for me but my daughter loved it). And of course, eating there is an experience in and of itself with the cool decor and animal toys, etc.
(5)
Mike N.
Dharma's is EPIC! Being one of the only all-vegetarian places in SC I have a little bias, but the food has impressed me every time. Food: Delicious. The mock chicken mole burrito is TO DIE FOR. Portions are huge! Price: On the more expensive side of things, but you can stretch a plate to last a few meals. Ambiance: Not bad, although a few times the worker behind the counter has been less than friendly. All-in-all, a great place to dine. Most of their dishes can be made vegan, which is great if you are....VEGAN!
(4)
Kamryn W.
The first time I came to Dharma's was about a year ago. As a vegan, I was very excited to have a vegan-friendly restaurant so close to my house. I ordered a veggie burrito, waited for at least 25 minutes, only to receive a tortilla folded in half over HUGE vegetables- I'm talking large branches of broccoli, people. The portion was so huge and so not yummy that I ended up wasting the $10 it cost and had to throw it out. I never came back to Dharma's until last night- I was in a pinch and needed something to bring my boyfriend for his dinner break at work. He wanted "something to share" and since he's not really into vegan food I was out of ideas. I thought of pesto pizza- the pesto would cover any vegan-y taste to the pizza and it's "share-able". I remembered Dharma's and looked up their menu online, and was excited to see they have a vegan pesto pizza.I went in, ordered with a very rude cashier (can't hate on her too much, cashiering sucks), and waited only about 15 minutes until I received my to-go pizza. Let me warn you- I ordered half a pie and it cost about $13. Half a pie actually is 4 small-medium sized pieces. Also, its not really pesto- more like cheese pizza with some pesto poured on. However, it was DELICIOUS and the only vegan pesto pizza I've ever been able to find!! My anti-vegan boyfriend loved it too and didn't believe that it was vegan. ;)
(3)
Miriam J.
The idea of a vegetarian diner is good. And the atmosphere is nice. The barbeque sandwich is by far the best vegetarian BBQ I've ever had. But most everything else I've had at Dharma's just isn't great...
(3)
Cordelia W.
I absolutely love this place. I've been going threre more years. I've never ordered anything I didn't absolutely love. I am definately biassed being a vegetarian, but I don't think you would have to be to enjoy the food. There are so many options! My favorites at the moment are the Greek pasta, homemade vegetarian burger patties, and the macoroni and cheese. They offer way more than those, however. The portions are HUGE. The only downside a find is that the atmosphere can be a bit chaotic. A lot of children running around and it gets rather noisy. I don't dislike children, this is just not the place to go for a quiet lunch.
(4)
Creative H.
I love good vegetarian food, but I despise this place, mostly because of the 80's decor, lack of good lighting, and overall horrible "ambiance." I am not sure about the kitchen. I wonder if it is clean. It's just a feeling, but for some reason, this place really makes me wonder. They really need to remodel, ASAP, put some skylights in, lots of windows, brighten it up, open it up, put some tables outside - whatever. It is just so depressing it makes me want a burger and fries.
(1)
Jennifer R.
Dharmas, you are my organic rock. This places saves me whenever I want to eat vegetarian, and can't decide what kind of food I want. The last point is important: Dharmas has veggie burgers, mexican-style food, thai-style, pizza, you name it (except if it includes real meat). So if I don't know what I want ahead of time, I go to Dharmas and decide last minute what I want. They also have beer on tap which is great for when I eat there on a Friday night. But most of the time I take this to-go. Some of the items do seem a bit pricey ($10-11) but that's because the portions are huge and you really get two meals out of it (well, sometimes I manage to eat it all at one sitting, but that's just me). If you end up wanting dessert, get the braziallan tapioca. It is ridiculously good.
(5)
Warren W.
AWESOME food. Huge selection, so happy to have vegan food. The crowd is interesting there, you'll see what I mean. You could get high just going towards the entrance. But dude, killer food. Highly recommend.
(5)
Amy Y.
How could organic healthy stuff taste so good? I have no idea but Dharma consistently delivers that promise and more. If you're vegan, or gluten intolerent, you'll find your piece of heaven in their gluten free cheesecake and huge vegan selections! Bo Thai (spicy sweet peanut sauce) is excellent with their gardener's salad. Their Kombucha also tastes better than the store bought kind! :) The portion is large so even though it's a little bit pricier, you can easily split it into 2 meals or share with a friend.
(4)
Autumn F.
I love this place. It is a very casual seat yourself kind of place. It is great for a quick easy lunch or a place to take your girlfriends after a surf session. There salads are my favorite they are always super fresh and there vinaigrette is one of my favorite dressings of all times. I always get the half order though or split the full salad because it's a little big for just one person. If you are looking for a good vegetarian restaurant this is your place.
(5)
Christine T.
Love Love Love that cell phones are not welcome here. Don don noodles are a new item and tasty side to any thing here. The bbq sandwich today not so much- a little heavy handed on the tamarind and cooked a bit too long ( reminded me of roasted yak from the yellow sea province, not sure that was what they were shootin' for.) Salads are beautiful and soups can't be made any better than here at dharma's. nameste.
(5)
Katrina B.
While visiting Santa Cruz Dharma's is a must! The food is great; they have large portions (you could definitely share) and a nice variety of menu options. I can't seem to break away from the Nuclear Bluff, it's so tasty. I made a second trip this weekend for a dessert pit stop on my way home. I had the OJ Freeze and it was quite the tasty treat. Orange juice, bananas and vanilla soy ice cream, what's not to love? You could easily make this at home for a fraction of the cost, but when in Rome... Every time I go in it's always packed so I won't count it against them for taking a long time to get our food. They can make most items on the menu vegan so your options are almost endless. I wish Sacramento had a place like Dharma's!
(5)
Margaret C.
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.
(5)
Danielle K.
If I could only eat one place the rest of my life this would probably be it. I hate that the word vegetarian or vegan sounds like it should look like grass and taste like dirt. Vegetarian and vegan can be just as good if not better than any other food and Dharma's proves that. The thing I really love about Dharma's is their mix of food. They range from Italian to Mexican to classic mashed potatoes, breakfast to dinner and dessert, salads and milkshakes. You could eat here 7 days a week and you'd still get something different every time. I've even taken a few of my friends who would rather eat at Taco Bell. Even they enjoyed and eventually became addicted to Dharama's. It can really satisfy any mouth.
(5)
Amber P.
SO here is the dirt, Dharmas has great ingredients and healthy creative meals BUT, the food is so expensive for a counter style order dine. I had a small $7 salad which I will say was great and worth the price and some peanut noodles $9 or $10 bucks, that was good, not great. When I wanna go pick up a healthy meal I go here and then usually feel like I overpaid... If they were cheaper I would feel very different about them. Don't get the nachos.
(3)
Lizzy E.
I love Dharma's! It's a great place to go if you want quality organic vegetarian food. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly (they even have plastic animal toys around for kids to play with while they're waiting) and you walk out full! I would have to say that my only Dharma's complaint is the prices. They're not horrible for the quality, but they are a bit high. Overall, a couple could walk out spending around $30 for dinner, but I guess that's about average. The ambiance is great, the food is delicious, and the quality is fantastic.
(4)
Audreanne R S.
Yummy food, good service, great prices~ I'm a big fan of their quinoa, soup, and yam combo. As a vegetarian, I am impressed by their menu. I have never been dissatisfied there! I would say the only downfall is that the dining area is very much like a cafeteria so on a busy day you may end up sitting at a table with strangers and it can get quite noisy...still always a win!!!
(4)
Shannon Z.
I liked my Dharma's meal but it was a bit too: 1970's, Hippy, health-freak vegan for me. I want milk in my mashed potatoes damn it! ( & I'm a vegetarian too) I think the thing to order here might be in the salads, they looked amazing and huge. If you come with a friend, split the meal- the portions are huge.
(4)
Aaron L.
It's a vegetarian restaurant with a massive menu. For most vegetarians who must deal with their friends' choices in dining, I imagine that is good enough. Large portions (dare I say hearty?) Huge variety on the menu ought to leave us meat lover's happy and satisfied. I had "La Tostada" when my first choice (off the breakfast menu, services ends at noon) was no longer available. More of a salad topped with sour cream & guacamole than a tostada, but that is what the description promised. Oh, and massive it was. My friend had the biscuits and gravy, which left him pleased, and the breakfast burrito was 1) not a burrito (wrap the tortilla, not fold it) and 2) huge and delicious look'n. I'm giving it 3 stars -- I wasn't blown away by my food, but it was good. Perhaps ordering something else would have resulted in my being wowed; I look forward to going back and giving them another whirl.
(3)
M K.
This is my go-to place when I am too lazy to cook. Portions are huge, atmosphere is chill, and an extensive menu to boot. The Nuclear Bluff is the best sandwich in town; vegan style with guacamole is the best way to order. The rice, soup & salad special is probably the best value in town and the soups are always delicious. And the vegan shakes are quite a treat! Highly recommended!
(4)
chris b.
This place is absolutely terrible. I've ate at many very good vegetarian restaurants and I can not fathom why anyone in SC would like this place. Their vegetarian lasagna is a travesty to anyone who is Italian. I guess if you are a super stuck up idealist who likes eating crap to feel better about yourself then this is the place but i refuse to pay $15 for food i can cook better at home.
(1)
Natalie Q.
LOVE Dharma's!!!! Not only is the food delicious, the portions are HUGE, truly getting exactly how much you pay for, and most of the time a little more. Quick service, delicious beverages, and the tippy top of their game for eco friendliness. The ambience is chill, the tables almost always clean from the last guest, and for some reason whenever I go here the children are less unruly then other restaurants. Another great place I would recommend for newly veggie or veggie curious!
(5)
Cathy P.
Been going to Dharma's since they were McDharma's. I'm not vegetarian but always feel "cleansed" and so much healthier after a meal here (I know, it's all in my mind). I always get the small "American" saute, as portions, like everyone else is saying, are pretty huge. The "Killer Nachos" are just that, but share with about 6 friends - unless you are a competitive eater. The "Gardner's Salad" is excellent because of the freshly grated raw beets and raw sunflower seeds. You can never go wrong with one of their burritos or calzone, oh, or the lasagna, just expect to take half your meal home (they supply take home containers). By far the best deal in the house is the soup/salad/rice meal combo. And do try the lemon tahini, I wish they bottled the stuff. The down-side: when it's busy and/or kids are in the place, the noise is deafening. The up-side: there are ALL KINDS of plastic animals to play with (scary dinosaurs too!), but you'll have to fight the kids for 'um. One more thing: DO NOT wear your leather jacket into the restaurant, the contemptuous stares from the old unwashed hippies will ruin your experience!
(4)
alisha h.
This place rocks - plus they have FREE WI-FI! Their food is pricey but the portions are huge - you can easily share and of the lunch specials. I don't have a problem paying more for fresh, organic, local, TASTY food. The menu is impressive with the amount of options they give you. Any meat eater could come here and not feel like they are missing out on anything. I like the casual atmosphere, art, and the free-spirited feel of this place. We need to support businesses like this so they stay in business. When places like this can stay open, we are helping to open the door that promotes fresh, healthy, local food!! Go Dharma's, Go Dharma's!!
(5)
Salty D.
My first adventure here was nearly 10 years ago. I had a salad and was thoroughly unimpressed by the food and general aura of the place and never came back until recently after hearing so many people rave about the place. The aura hasn't changed, it still feels like you're in a tarted up high school lunch room, complete with trays, busing your own table, noise, etc. The cool paintings and fountain are the dinning areas only saving grace. However; the food is indeed a w e s o m e. The minute you step in the door, a pleasant aroma of exotic spices and generally nommyness hits your nose. Menu includes American classics, Italian food, and Mexican-inspired hippie grub. The breakfast burrito that I got was absolutely to die for, best I've EVER had as a matter of fact, and it was vegan *mind blown*. I'll definitely be coming back, the food is worth the lunchroom aura. Would be 5 stars if it weren't for the lunch room aura, especially busing your own table at full service prices. Both times I've been the staff was also really nice, until I asked a question regarding how things worked / where thing area and then I was suddenly greeted with that typical Santa Cruz elitist "oh, you mean you're not a regular..." attitude. Kinda used to that attitude by now having lived in this area so long, but it's still a bit irritating. It's as if they forgot that most sit down joints don't make you pour your own water and setup your own silverware. For a completely opposite cultural experience, checkout Fast Eddies next door after your meal.
(4)
Lauren A.
Researched the word Vegan on Yelp in the Santa Cruz area and found out about the Dharma Restaurant. Went in and was overwhelmed by the menu! Ordered the special tofu curry veggie dish! OH MAN I couldn't stop eating. Fried banana's with shredded coconut on top, yummers. Expensive dish but I had plenty of leftovers! I also ordered a soy chocolate peppermint shake which was heaven but might have been too much, it turned my inny into an outty. Full belly!
(5)
anjou k.
If you're into fake meat, you'll love this place. If you like real meat, you won't. I think it's great because you can actually get comfort food here. Most places that are vegan/vegetarian are just too healthy for my tastebuds and make me think of airplane meals. You know, when you ask for the vegetarian meal on the plane and get a stupid cup of fruit with your meal when everyone else gets cake. Not okay. I know, airplane cake isn't made by my favorite pastry chef either, but still... Anyways, Dharma's has lots of choices for those super healthy people, but if you like a little fat and cheese in your food, you will also have things to eat. The menu is a little overwhelming because there are SO many choices.
(4)
Dustin H.
Amazing. Dharma's taught me that vegan food can be healthy AND filling. If you're vegetarian or vegan, or you just want a healthy, satisfying meal, you definitely need to stop by Dharma's! I've driven over the hill from the South Bay specifically to go to this restaurant, and I always bring my out-of-town veggie friends here during their NorCal trips. Okay, so it's a tad pricey, but the portions are very filling and nothing on your plate is an after-thought. I can't recommend a specific dish because I've honestly loved everything I've had here, but lately I've been in love with the portabello-artichoke sandwich. There are lots of options - how often do vegetarians have a whole menu of items to choose from? Try a salad if only for the amazing dressings (honey miso = awesome). Dharma's, can you pleeeease open a location on the other side of the hill?
(5)
Evvy E.
If you're one of those people (like me) who fear restaurants that serve food from multiple origins, try to overstep your phobia for some tasty Dharma's veggie chow. This place has not only sandwiches, pasta, and pizza, but also a complete Mexican food menu and another section for International Entrees. Creepy, or delicious? Dharma's is the first restaurant I've been to where I choose the latter. I ordered the Bo Thai, and my dinner date got the Dan Dan noodles. We both found them really good and felt great after eating - they're Asian noodles, but the tofu and veggies make you full without weighing you down or stuffing you. I'm excited to go back and try something else. The only thing holding me back from returning soon is the lack of meat on the menu, but obviously as a vegetarian restaurant if there WAS meat on the menu, I don't know what I'd think of the place. With that said, the atmosphere is pretty trippy with plants everywhere and lots of old people - at least at the early dinner hour.
(4)
M M.
My favorite restaurant in the whole santa cruz area, even after i've moved away to san jo. I'm not even a vegetarian. Almost every thursday after my yoga class we stop here (LOL SO HIPPY OF ME I KNOW) Everything I have had has been amazing as well as massive. I dont need to go to specifics because its all delish. e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. props though to the dan dan noodles and the mole burrito. However, the portabello and artichoke sandwich has changed my life. No joke, that thing made my own personal list of food that has struck me dumb with awe, right alongside food from michelin star restaurants in napa, sf, and beyond. ITS THAT DAMN GOOD. love you, dharmas. xoxo
(5)
Scott C.
Still don't get it. Bland food on cheap paper plates with plastic forks for top dollar. Vegetarian food doesn't have to be bad.
(1)
Marn E.
Dharma's has a great selection on their menu, with something for everyone. I wish we had a place like this in SF! The portions are big enough to share. The black beans that came with the tamales were delicious, the tamales were a little dry. The curry was very good. I was so excited to discover this place, if only it were a little closer to home...
(4)
jamila G.
This is one of my favorite places in Santa Cruz. The lost taco is by far my favorite dish but you pretty much cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Their small salads are quite substantial and the miso honey dressing is amazing. Whenever I come back to visit SC, I go to Dharmas as many times as I can! The only negative aspect is the price; I always end up spending about $20 BUT its worth it....
(5)
ally s.
went back today for a simple spring roll... with a fatty hair in it. i simply asked for a new one, and they gave me an attitude. MEH.
(1)
Jessica R.
I come here way too often. But what can I say? I'm a lazy student at UCSC and sometimes cooking does not feel like an appealing activity after a long day of classes. I'm a strict vegan. And I'm definitely a stickler when it comes to eating healthy. Consequently, I love this place! The people who work there are always really nice to me. I think it's because I come in there so often. The prices are a little high, but the portions are gigantic; I know I've made 3 meals out of some of their portions. My favorite items are the Garden Salad, Bo Thai, and Tofu Ranchero.
(5)
Ashleigh B.
This is a fantastic veggie restaurant. Everything I have had from here has been great. I love living in a town with complete veggie restaurants. I love this place so much!!
(5)
Sara A.
My husband and I have tried Darhma's three times. It is always packed with happy patrons, and I especially love to see so many families with children dining here. It's comfortable enough, but nothing fancy. As someone else mentioned, it's more like a cafeteria. It's not the best vegetarian food I've had, but never disappointing. The servings are massive (honestly, sometimes a little too big). The soups are basic, but good. My husband is in love with the bbq "beef" sandwich. It is good, but there needs to be some kind of fresh vegetable (maybe some lettuce or something?). It is also huge and my husband and I are both full after splitting it. We got the peanut noodle dish once, and I wasn't impressed. Just kind of bland. I also got a special taco dish once that was kind of disappointing. It was, of course, a massive portion. There was way too much filling for the tacos, and that made it kind of gross and overwhelming. However, there were tons of fresh vegetables and avacado. We ate on that dish for three days, I swear! All in all, we enjoy Darhma's and will continue to make it our Saturday, errand running lunch or early dinner spot. The salads and pasta dishes look really tasty, and I'm anxious to try them. Also can't wait to try the vegan pizza. I don't find it pricey at all, considering the portions and freshness.
(3)
Jenn C.
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!
(5)
Tatiana R.
Dharma's is Y-U-M-M-Y!!! I am not a vegetarian myself, but I would eat here any day. The menu has a large variety, from soup and salad to burritos and stir frys, not to mention the out-of-this-world breakfast options. The produce is organic and fresh, and the portions are hearty. I personally love the salad-brown rice-soup lunch special, and highly recommend the kitchari. Definetely a Santa Cruz standard.
(5)
M M.
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.
(5)
Dee R.
I love the soup and salad deal 8$ super healthy and FAST. I get the kitcheree soup which is an indian aryuvedic "cleanse" style soup with lentils and brown rice and spices, it is EXCELLENT and something I wouldn't take the time to make/don't know how to make at home. Their salads are fresh and yummy and salad dressing tastes handmade I love the miso honey. There aren't that many restaurants that cook with fresh healthy veggies and keep it reasonably priced. THANKS DHARMAS!!!!! :) :) :)
I've driven by this place for years and avoided it. Dharma's is a vegetarian restaurant and I was guilty of assuming that meant "boring". My husband and I were in the area yesterday with limited options so we figured we'd try it. I'm so glad we did! It was not at all what I expected. There were so many things to choose from and the ingredients were fresh and lovely. The portions are really big so we opted to split our lunch (I still couldn't finish it). It has a deli style atmosphere where you order and pay at the counter and then wait for your name to be called. We ordered off the specials menu so the prices seemed on the higher side compared to their basic menu, but since our lunch was big enough to split we both ate for about $7. Our trip to Dharma's turned out to be a huge treat and I can't wait for the opportunity to go back!
(4)
Chelsea S.
This is going to be a lazy review, I don't feel like being fancy with my words tonight. Fantastic healthy option in Santa Cruz County. What makes Dharma's so awesome is that the portions are huge, making it a great value. I always share a meal with someone because it is really impossible to finish it yourself. Just last week my husband and I shared the mole burrito $9.95 and it was delicious, filling, and nicely presented for a take-out meal. Hmm, maybe we can go there tonight?! Are they even open for dinner? Oh yeah the pesto pasta is tasty, too.
(5)
Linda D.
The food is awesome, however the person (I think its the manger) taking your order at the front is a prick. He always has this smug attitude as if he thinks he is awesome. I think the owner ought to get out a king's throne to take people's orders because that is how he sees himself. His counterpart, the guy with the baseball cap and the hipster glasses isn't any better. And don't even think about asking if something is vegan or the details of whats in your meal, you will get a half answer with a shrug and a blank look of boredom. I have been there 3 times, each hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with this guy and each time being disappointed when I see his wirey ponytail and his heir of superiority. I won't be back! Which is a shame because I really like the food and the ambience.
(2)
Paola M.
The portobello - artichoke sandwich is AMAZING!... totally LOVED IT. :-) very nice atmosphere and what a menu. Hi 5!
(5)
Cindy S.
Is this the Cheesecake Factory for vegan/vegetarianism!?? WHOA! Okay.. this place, ANYONE will love!! Huge menu...HUGE PORTIONS! I went for my 1st time yesturday, a friend invited me. I had the American Saute with Brown rice and loads of veggies that came with tahini dressing.. yuuummmmm!!! Dude... all I gotta say is... I am coming back!! HUGE!!! and yes that is what I said. =) HUGE!
(4)
Mr. T.
A very pricey place for the quality of food. The staff is at times rude and unhelpful. The worst Pad Thai in Santa Cruz county, noodles overcooked, watery sauce. I tried to explain to the staff about the awfulness of the dish and they refuse to exchange it for anything without charging me for the new dish. DO NOT eat at Dharma's!
(1)
Lindsay F.
The tofu Rancheros is out of this world. I"m never disappointed in Dharma's. Well worth the cost
(5)
Carolynne K.
I ordered the chili dog, my partner ordered the reuben, and our friend ordered a BBQ sandwich. I didn't really like my dish but the boys seemed to enjoy theirs. The people around us seemed to be enjoy their meals - with a lot of people getting soups. I might try this place again, but it won't be at my suggestion. The menu is pretty large - but I think a large menu makes it difficult for a place like this to focus on making every dish good. And reading the other reviews, it seems like each dish is a hit or miss. The prices are pretty reasonable for the portions. My only other complaint is that the guy who took our order (the owner???) was unpleasant.
(3)
Rachel J.
Love this place. Have been going regularly for the past 10 years. I am so grateful that restaurants like this exist in our world! I would like to see more raw main meals on their menu (love their recent raw cheesecake). I'm not a raw foodist, but love to eat raw when possible.
(4)
Groovy K.
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.
(3)
Denise A.
This was the first time I have ever been here and was amazed at the variety of vegetarian/vegan options! I had the Dan Dan noodles and LOVED IT...I'm not a vegetarian but was with a friend who was vegan and was glad I gave it a try! The food was DELICIOUS but the person at the cash register really wasn't very personable and, having customer service background, I wasn't very impressed...the five stars I would have given the place was lost on him, who didn't seem to give a rats ass about the people (me) he was helping...
(4)
Erin O.
Maybe you have to be vegetarian to appreciate this place, but when I was vegan, I'd drive over the hill from San Jose once in a while just to eat their bo thai dish: organic vegetables and baked tofu sauted in spicy peanut sauce, with rice noodles, mung bean sprouts, green onions, peanuts and lime. You'll take home leftovers even with the half order. It's a very casual, cafeteria style place, but I expect nothing more in the Capitola/Santa Cruz area. My daughter can entertain herself non-stop with all the animals they have scattered on the half walls throughout the restaurant. She gathers them up and plays pretend while I enjoy my vegan food. I'm no longer vegetarian, but I still like this place. My daughter (6) often gets the fruit cup and the quesadilla and my vegan sister often gets and loves the specials (things like vegan meatloaf or stir fries). Sorry that one family got sick and the manager handled it poorly. But I've eaten there lots and never had an issue. If you're vegetarian, try it.
(4)
Kay F.
LOVE this place. BEST vegetarian/vegan restaurant, ever, hands down. Even the non-vegetarians would love this place. My boyfriend is a straight-up meat eater, and he loved the burritos they offered. If you're an non-vegetarian and you're skeptical on the taste, don't be! Everything on the menu is so juicy and full of flavor.... and the best and most interesting desserts and drinks as well. I ALWAYS return.
(5)
Christine M.
If you ever happen to be in the Santa Cruz area, you will see that there are many places you can go to get a good vegetarian/vegan meal, but I would suggest trying Dharma's out. Then you can hit up Capitola beach afterward or get some good surfing in out at 38th or Pleasure Point. The one thing I do miss about living in California is the selection of restaurants that serve a variety of vegetarian or vegan options on the menu. I wish they would open up a place like this here in Houston. The place is simple. There's no fancy design aspect to it, just really good food. The food is served in pretty big portions and everything is well made. This is coming from a person who eats meat too. So if you meat eaters want to venture a little bit and try some vegetarian food that doesn't fit the stereotype of being bland and just plain vegetables then you got to try this spot. I always have leftovers but luckily you can get some plates and wrap it in foil to take it to go and have the goodness afterward. As far as menu choices, I've had the tofu ranchero, breakfast burrito, nuclear bluff, tempeh reuben, portobello sub, and actually I've tried a lot of the menu items so no point to list them. Just know that they are really good. The service can sometimes be a down point at times because there are times when it can get pretty busy and finding a table is hard, but it's worth it.
(4)
Desi Vegetarian I.
... tonnes of enticing options and huge portions - Go easy with the orders :) As close to heaven as possible is the Mint Oreo milkshake!!!!! Divine !!! Dan Dan Noodles, Greek Pasta, Indian Curry, Mexico Suate vegetables - all are exotic !!!
(5)
Ryan T.
This place will blow your mind hole!!!! Best vegan/G-Free food I've had in a long time.
(5)
Bailey M.
On a recent trip to the Santa Cruz area I was eager to try Dharma's due to some good ol' word of mouth suggestions and of course after reading the reviews here I had to check it out for myself! If I owned a cafeteria style veggie restaurant in Santa Cruz I would probably decorate it much differently; in retrospect I think maybe the fake foliage, Buddha statues and plastic baby pig figurines haphazardly strewn about did in fact add humor to the eating experience, albeit distracting humor. I'm a very observant person and when out at restaurants I take in ambiance enough that it probably affects my taste buds. There is definitely no other place quite like Dharma's but then again, there is definitely no other place quite like Santa Cruz in general. Before entering the building I was set on having a burrito but after the confusion from the multiple menus I was feeling overwhelmed and indecisive (just me?). My dining companion who is neither vegetarian nor vegan mentioned the pesto-roni pizza and I was sold at the mention of "pesto" and "pizza" in the same menu item as both of these are hot commodities for a vegan to find outside of slaving over them at home plus I convinced myself I was on "vacation". Even before becoming vegan I rarely ate pizza or pesto although I've always found both quite delicious, even more-so when combined! The pizza took awhile to make as should've been expected. My friend claimed to be famished and was not happy with the wait but found it worth it when our names were called. The pizza was HUGE!! I ordered what was supposedly half of a pizza and if I lived in Santa Cruz I would've definitely taken half of it home. I was really wishing I had someone there to share it with. It took me a solid amount of time to attack the pizza but the excitement I had for having pizza in a restaurant got me through it alive and with only minor stomach pain. I happened to get sick later so it's really a toss up as to what the biggest contributor to that was... the pizza didn't taste as good coming up as it did going down but after washing it back with a day of saltwater and margaritas I can't really blame Dharma's. If I ever go back for lunch I think I will stick with the soup+salad combo because although simple, it looked equally as delicious, much more economical and proportional! I like that they have gluten-free options as I try to stay gluten-free at home and reserve eating wheat and the like for social situations. Breakfast looks the most appetizing and I'm sad we didn't make it in time to have it!
(3)
Nick l.
My niece cooks like they do: the more shit you add to the dish the more gourmet it becomes. I had the pad thai yesterday and every vegitable on earth was in it. It was about $16 and sort of missed the mark. Not that I do not love new, creative food...I just want it to taste good.
(2)
M E.
The food is bland. The restaurant could be more clean. My burger was dry. It just didn't taste like quality food. Not impressed at all. 2 stars because they are an organic, vegan/vegetarian restaurant - yay for that!
(2)
Erika W.
I've noticed that some people give out the stars pretty liberally on Yelp and I just want to say that a three-star rating for me means the place is good and I would go there again with no problem. I guess I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could do that, but as it is 3 is more honest than 4. Anyhow, I had their mega-burger and it was fine, but somewhat dry. It came with potatoes that were delicious. I also liked their drink selection. I realize that many people complain that healthy food is expensive and I appreciate their DIY service for keeping costs down. It's nice to be able to go to a veggie restaurant that runs like a taqueria- food on trays. I did not notice an emphasis on organic and local food which is what I am looking for in my food. Again, I know that makes things more expensive- but I'm always willing to throw down the extra money for organics. I had a bite of someone's philly cheesesteak and that was very tasty. It's kind of fun to eat some vegan interpretation of a philly cheesesteak once in a while. Every time I do, I am reminded of the reason I usually steer clear of the fake meat- it just doesn't digest that well! I would come back here and order some items that didn't involve fake meat so I could see what Dharma's is really capable of in terms of vegetarian cooking. All in all a very nice experience.
(3)
Heather D.
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!
(4)
Jennifer O.
I'll never forget that you were David to Goliath. Remember when McDonald's sued you for being McDharma's??? I'm so happy that you overcame and conquered with a sling full of veggie cuisine. Who needed that Mc anyway...
(4)
Lil B.
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.
(5)
Emily A.
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. :)
(4)
Stacie B.
Great variety, almost all organic ingredients, consistently delicious! No matter what your mood, if you want good food made with good ingredients, look no further. This is a great place to take guests who are not vegetarian, the menu is so vast, they're likely to not even realize there is no meat on the menu! Great coffee too - each cup is made fresh to order. My only complaint is the cafeteria like setting, and the prices are a bit steep for a counter order restaurant (no waitstaff), but totally worth it.
(5)
Chet H.
Prices went way up! 13 dollars for veggies, rice, and tahini sauce? So only the "well to do" can afford to eat well? No thanks.
(2)
Jaydog P.
Ok the good news first, the flavors are awesome for the most part - especially the soups and the mac and cheese... Bad news - and it's really bad. It cost nine bucks for a skimpy plate of chips and cheese with minimal stuff on the side (they call this nachos)... I was hoping as a "veggie restaurant", that they would slip me lots of veggies especially for nine bucks! The place is comfortable but come on you order at a counter and they charge the prices of a four star restaurant. The mac-n-cheese -bomb! But again 8 bucks for barely over the size a side order should be? Not cool. Very little bang for your buck : ( If I say that I am a nacho man, you will agree. I almost cried when I saw what I was being offered in nacho. I let out a muffled "Harvey Keitel-esque" groan...round chips, some melted cheese and a bowl of beans...there may have been some garnish but everything went red at that point...
(2)
Patricia A.
I am not a vegan or just eat plain old veggies, but if I go to Dharma's more and more I will be one. Seriously I hopw Dharma's is coming over the hill. This place beats out Hobbees in quality and quanity. I should of ordered a half of the mediterrian salad, but I did eat most of it ...it has Kalamata olives and the freshest red onions (watch out coworkers!) that I ever enjoyed. Great people, clean dining area. Go early for lunch. they have a full menu so it is definately a must try for Breakfast and Dinner (yes I like to update because I like it that way).
(5)
Paula P.
Good fun vegey treats but for those prices a wait person and bus boy should be included.
(3)
Janene A.
I enjoy going to Dharma's. The salads the are best in the whole world, and their soups are really great too. Their price is good. The only problem I've had there is how long I've had to wait for my food. The long wait is consistent with each visit, but so is my pleasure from the delicious food, once I get it.
(3)
Jodee M.
Dharma's is one of THE BEST restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Everything is so fresh and healthy! I ordered the vegie burrito this time out. It was SO ginormous that I had to take the rest home, which gave me two more full meals! The only disappointing thing about Dharma's is that they don't have one in my hometown of Petaluma. :-( If I could award Dharma's TEN stars I would -- absolutely FABULOUS!!!
(5)
Muriel N.
I noticed one review mentioned this place was pretentious. My word exactly. Does anyone remember McDharma's that was in the old burger joint? I loved THAT place in the early 80's. Years later, visiting my home town of Santa Cruz I went to the present Dharma's. It was long ago enough that I don't remember the food really. I remember the atmosphere and experience wasn't great. I remember thinking: This is what that great little veggie burger place turned into? I haven't been back to Santa Cruz in years. I'll skip this place when I return.
(2)
Jason B.
I've been to Dharma's several times over the years and find they have consistently good vegan food. They are one of the few places where you can get a good vegan breakfast, which a big plus. Last night I went for dinner and had their very good vegan Brahma Burger with spiced grilled potatoes on the side. For dessert I discovered this restaurant's shining star... I had the best vegan cheesecake this seasoned vegan has ever had, homemade or not. That insanely good dessert will be on my mind for weeks to come.
(4)
Kathleen C.
Definitely a great place to take a vegetarian or vegan. Mad love. Some of the dishes are great- some are ugh. Totally depends on the lotto of ordering. I super love their chili & beans, salsa and chips are totally on point. My daughter hearts their pizza (which, let's face it, not so hard, but still). The hubby is IN LOVE with the cashew carrot loaf. I mean, obsessed. The lasagna is super good too, very full of veggies. My dad got the spanakopita (he is not a vegetarian) and he said it rocked! Also I've had a smattering of the desserts which are vegan and awesome. I do love the little plastic animals they have scattered around for kids to play with. Now the bad: they are sometimes rude when you order. Depends who you get. Also the food takes FOREVER so call ahead if you're in a hurry. Or don't be in a hurry. lol Overall big thumbs up, nice selection, healthy food. Def. recommend.
(4)
Bryan B.
I was a bit daft when I first arrived here and I looked over their hamburger section. No veggie burger? I think the 4 hours drive that preceded my visit to Dharma's had me delusional, because I quickly realized that I was in a vegetarian restaurant. The food at Dharma's was quite delicious. You order and wait for your name to be called over the microphone. The decor is a bit random, with plastic ponies sitting next to plastic dinosaurs, but the space is rather large and I can see it as a great place to take a big group of friends. I had the Tex-Mex burger, which was described as a spicy soy patty with a spicy mayonnaise. The patty was more than just a Boca burger, which is what many bigger restaurants offer as their 'veggie option.' I would expect more from a veggie restaurant, and I was glad that this was the case here. The burger was accompanied by thick-cut potato wedges. I was a bit surprised to find Heinz ketchup packets as condiments, as everything else looked more freshly or locally made (dressing options were in plastic bottles with labels, there were no Coca-Cola or Pepsi products to purchase) My visit to Dharma's was random, but if I find myself in the area again soon, I think I would give it another visit.
(3)
L C.
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!
(5)
Marcy L.
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.
(5)
Veronica R.
I had to dock 2 stars for the reason everyone else loves this place--portion size. Yes, the food is pretty good, but GD what is up with the massive portions?! What if you're NOT from the area and can't bring it home and don't have access to refrigeration?! I felt like a complete a-hole for throwing away 2/3rds of my food. Boyfriend can usually eat everything on his plate, but he never finishes his sides with the sandwiches he orders. The least they could do is offer a freakin' composting bucket so they can have less waste. I'm no tree-hugging hippy (okay maybe sort of), but GEE DEE! Dharma's probably wouldn't have to charge so much for their food if they just wrangled in those damn portions because let's face it--they're charging us full-service prices when this place is just a pricey self-serve cafeteria.
(3)
Brittany N.
Dharma's Restaurant is soooo delicious and they have so many great and healthy vegan and vegetarian options (in fact, that's all they offer! :D ). You order at the counter and then they call your name out and you pick it up and bring it to your table. They have a few tables outside and lots of seating indoor. The atmosphere is almost cafeteria-like, but it's not too bad really. You're not allowed to use cell phones inside, so be mindful of that if you're planning on going their for a bite and to catch up with someone on the phone. You can order to go as well and it's always ready on time. It is definitely a bit pricey, but some of their entrees are very large and can easily be shared between two people.
(4)
bill h.
I had the tamale dinner. It came with a salad that was really well done with a nice dressing. The two tamales were huge with really well done masa. The chile sauce that came with it was great. The black beans and rice that came with it were tasty. They put half an avocado on top. The cost seems high, but I got two big meals out of this and I am glad to support an organic, healthy restaurant that has a lot of history here.
(4)
Rachel S.
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.
(4)
Mimi B.
I wish I could give half stars on here. I would give Dharma's a 3.5. So I am rounding up. Dharma's is a vegetarian's delight! There is a huge variety of food and all are served in HUGE portions. I haven't gotten a plate at Dharma's or seen a plate that wasn't huge. My favorite is the Portobello Artichoke sandwich, it's delicious, hot and cheesy. Comes with chips, and there is various hot sauces at the bar.
(4)
Chris C.
The Fiance and I came to Dharma's Natural Foods for a late lunch. Dharma's is a vegetarian health food restaurant located in a strip mall about 1 - 2 miles from downtown Capitol. Everything here is vegetarian, so for all you carnivores out there, you're out of luck. Also many of their foods can be made vegan if you're looking to go that route. Dharma's is cafeteria style dinning. You grab a menu, wait in line, order your food, and then later they call your name out and you pick up your food. Their vegetarian menu runs the full spectrum of food options, from Burgers and Sandwiches, Mexican, to Italian and Pasta dishes, Soup and Salads, Pizza, and they offer a couple of Japanese and India dishes too. They also have a breakfast menu offering several eggless options. Prices here are on the high side. For burgers prices start at $8, sandwiches you're looking between $6 - $13, and for entrees you're looking at $9 - $15. So be prepared to spend a bit more than your local deli. They also offer beer, wine, and a couple of smoothie and fruit juice options too. The Fiance decided on the BLT and since I wasn't hungry I just got the lemonade. After putting in our order, we found a place to sit. Dharma's has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which made finding table easy. While the seating was easy, getting the food wasn't. We must have waited like 15 minutes to get just a BLT and lemonade. We thought they had forgotten our order because several people behind us got their order before us. They called our name and the Fiance went up and got our food. Sandwich was about average size. There was a nice thick slice of tomato, plenty of lettuce, but they did skimp on "bacon". I had a couple of bites, and it was pretty good. I probably couldn't tell you the difference between this bacon and the real stuff. The BLT also came with 8 chips. How do I know 8 chips, simple, it was to full corn tortilla chips cut in quarters. It tasted ok, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about. The lemonade I got was average. Again, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about either. In the end we spent $8 for a BLT and Lemonade. As for a rating, being a specialty place and the BLT tasted good, Dharma's doesn't deserve a 2 star rating, but the very slow service and high prices doesn't catapult Dharma's past a 3. Good option for vegetarians and vegans, but only if you have plenty of time to wait and plenty of cash in your wallet. In the end, I'm giving Dharma's a very weak and lack luster 3 star rating.
(3)
Glo R.
I used to go here all the time, when I lived in Capitola 15 years ago and was a vegetarian (a 7 year stretch), and loved it! (ie This place has been around nearly-forever!) Now as an omnivore, I've moved back to the area, I've recently went back and few times and am still not disappointed. First, I had the mole burrito, which was good and about 3 meals worth of food. Last time, I had the Dan Dan noodles, which was good, but could have used a few more veggies for my liking. Hubby had a large garden salad, which again was about 3 meals worth. My kid loved the rice, bean and cheese burrito (but never really dislikes one). I love the fact that they have kombucha on tap, and the hubby is also always happier to have beer on tap. The other day, I got a slice of raw/vegan lemon-strawberry "cheesecake" to go. It was out of this world, but at $7.50/slice, it was over $8 out the door with tax - ouch! Still it was worth it... So overall, good food, healthy's always a plus, good drink selection, HUGE portions and a little pricey. But, you are paying for good quality, organic food.
(4)
Charlie F.
When I first got to Dharma's, I was really disappointed by the location and the menu. It's in a strip mall and looks kind of like a Souplantation. Also, I thought it was vegan,but it's only vegetarian, with heavy use of cheese and other dairy. However, once I received my food and started eating, it was redeemed. I got the Thai stir-fry (I got the small portion, and it was HUGE) and a soy milkshake. Both of which were delicious. My boyfriend got vegan nachos which were also good. I also ordered the "pesto-roni" pizza to take to a party afterward, and it was incredible! I wish I had had more of an appetite. I soon grew to love the format of ordering and picking up food at the counter because it is super efficient. The order-taker was very helpful in suggesting vegan options. He even warned us that we might have ordered too much food (before I told him the pizza was for later). Also, they gave me directions over the phone when I got lost, which was really nice. I wish I could go back, but I was just driving through the SC.
(5)
Angus M.
Great portions for the price. Had an awesome breakfast burrito here. And next to one of the few pool halls in Santa Cruz!
(5)
Fido D.
Was recently here and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Loved the wide range of vegetarian option. I only wish it were actually in Santa Cruz (where I live) so I can bike to it. I rarely bike into Capitola.
(5)
Putty S.
Great place if you are looking for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free food. A variety of options all with super fresh ingredients. The portion size is HUGE so I usually order things to share. This also cuts the price down. Lovely for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Susana H.
Food is good,huge portions. kind of expensive. Owner is kind of cranky
(4)
Daddy O.
A unique dining experience. The earth/veg friendly cuisine will defy your conventional expectations. Their portions are quite large, and I can never finish what they give me, but I do feel that it's pretty pricey for what you're actually eating. You can easily drop $20 on lunch or breakfast here, per person. I removed a star for that. The cafeteria style eating is fun, and I love that they're such sticklers about keeping the restaurant cell-phone free.
(4)
Purple Lotus M.
Price is high, but VERY BIG Portions!!! The biggest portions I have ever got anywhere. I steer clear of their salads due to past incidents, but overall it is excellent food. Love their Nada chicken burrito, three dog morning burrito, gluten free (YES GLUTEN FREEEE!!!!) Dan Dan noodles w/ rice noodles (I try to cut back on gluten), and their garlic olive oil pasta is great. I also like their bluff sandwiches. You will like it overall, and if you are GLUTEN FREE, then you must go here!
(5)
Martha A.
The BBQ tofu, vegan shakes, tempeh reuben, and vegan cookies are great. However, the vegan pancakes here are the worst I've ever had. Prices are high, so I only go on occasion.
(3)
katrina s.
This place is all about large quantities of healthy vegetarian/vegan foods. Although prices are higher than what you would spend on the average burger, there meatless Mega burger is delicious! It comes with big potato wedge fries and a pickle. I think its about $11. Usually I split it with my boyfriend since its a lot of food. I've tried the salads which are good and their specials are almost always good. I recommend signing up for their weekly special e-mails. They send a $5 off coupon with each email. Breakfast burritos are also tasty but huge. I recommend splitting.
(4)
Tross T.
I'm a SC native and this is my favorite restaurant and I'm not even close to vegetarian. Everything served here is fresh right out of a local field and tastes to me like it was picked just before I collected it. Whenever a friend comes from out of town to visit, I try and take them here, to show off the best vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten at. A friend from Berkley said she drove all the way down, mainly to eat here, sniff sniff. I usually order the Large Gardner's salad with their spectacular tahinni dressing. After I've eaten it, I feel so damn healthy and full. All the portions here are more than generous and my friends usually order more than they can eat, so keep that in mind. Great concept and great execution.
(5)
Desi H.
I love Dharmas! They have so many options for people with all sorts of dietary restrictions, I'm always dissapointed that I can't order more. Even their smoothies are ridiculous! My favorite item on the menu is the veggie burrito (not vegan), and it is soooo good! It's also huge, enough to eat for several meals! The only thing I've had here that I really didn't like was the hot dog, but I'm glad I went back because ever since then the food I've had has been wonderful!
(5)
Johnny B.
In 1981 after a harbor mouth surf session two friends and I hopped into my 63 VW bus and headed up to a new restaurant called Mcdharma's located in the building that now houses the Aloha Grill. Since that day in in 81 I have been hooked on the healthy good quality food that Dharma's provides. Yes I miss their old name Mcdharma's and I miss them being located in the more friend little oceanside Portola building. I do not eat their as much as I use to because I have never liked the new location, feels like eating in a business office. When they were in the old drive-in on Portola Drive their food was excellent but cheaper more geared to be a healthy fast food joint. It was perfect for sufers and their families.
(4)
Chris G.
Food is great but the price is steep.
(4)
Amanda H.
The Nuclear Bluff was amazing! Nice to see 'milk'shakes and pesto. Although, the overall prices were high, and our sandwiches and salads took a really long time to come out.
(4)
Katie B.
The food looked great, but just a note for people looking for gluten-free food: they have many "gluten-free" items, but there is a disclaimer on the gluten-free menu which warns that gluten-free items are prepared alongside gluten containing items and using the same equipment, so if you are highly sensitive to gluten, you may want to steer clear of this place.
(3)
Tracy A.
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.
(4)
Brian B.
Disclaimer: This is a review for non-vegetarians, by a non-vegetarian. For vegetarians and vegans, this place is for you. For everyone else, skip it. Though I have several friends who love the place (veggie or not), I don't care for the overpriced menu which features tons of meals that look great to order......until I remember there's no meat in them. The interior is ok. You got to wait in line to order. The service is kinda slow. The destination is pretty out of the way. So...not my favorite. What To Look For While You Wait For Your Food: You can look at yourself in a mirror, hearing your own growling stomach.
(1)
Brian G.
I had some pretty decent vegan pizza here, although for paying 14 bucks (with tax) for "half" a pizza I was hoping to be fuller. My companions lunch (sandwich and smoothie) ran him 20 bucks with a small tip. I love supporting vegan/vegetarian businesses, but this is just a little above my range considering the portions.
(4)
K o.
You won't leave this place hungry, that's for sure. Good healthy and tasty vegetarian food. Going there today for lunch. Would go more often if I lived closer!
(4)
Joseph G.
Oh yes, this has to be a personal favorite. The first time I went, I had the Breakfast Burrito, just thinking about it is mouth watering. It was a perfect combination of ingredients and flavors. The second time I had the Blueberry Pancakes and wow they were incredible. There where whole blueberries on the bottom side of the pancakes and were serviced with maple syrup. "Hazel G." nailed it in regard to the Vegan/Vegetarian conscious. I am not vegetarian but that doesn't matter because all walks of life can enjoy Dharma's. I highly recommend coming here with a huge appetite or a friend to share with because portions are huge. I just wish they would open on in Los Angeles!!!
(5)
Nate C.
fresh organic foods with really great flavors (not bland vegetarian!). surprised to find nutritional yeast as a condiment. a little on the pricey side but the portions are huge. you can pack leftovers in their compostable to-go containers. the only reason i didn't do full stars is because the decor is lame. cafeteria vibes and paintings that look like scenes from avatar... still, highly recommended!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Rinky N.
Although the prices seem a bit expensive the portions are humungous! I got a Dharma dog with blue tortilla chips and a Root Beer Float. My Yelp/FB pal, BKW, wrote about having homemade Root Beer Floats often and ever since I've had a hankering for them. Mmmm...it was worth the calories and too big for me to finish. Mr Rinky and I shared a Burrito Bueno which came with beans, brown rice, salsa, lettuce, tomatoes---HUGE! It came with a side salad---Yummers and filling! It's hard for us to think about eating at any other place in Capitola or Santa Cruz-- we always head for Dharma's.
(5)Tonia B.
This is an ovo-lacto vegetarian restaurant that makes virtually everything vegan upon request! And there are many options that are already vegan. Marco, one of the chefs, is also vegan. They also have a large gluten free menu. The restaurant is very casual and located in a shopping mall. It has a "cafeteria-style" feel to it. You stand in line to order, then choose a table and when your number is called you pick up your food. The menu is huge so it is easy to find something you will like. I ate there several times during my Capitola visit from breakfast to dinner and enjoyed the food every time. The portions are very large so I'm glad we had a fridge in our hotel for leftovers. Breakfast had always been my favorite meal when dining out until I became vegan. Now I'm lucky if a restaurant offers oatmeal or a fruit plate. So to have options for breakfast was something I really enjoyed! The vegan options available in Capitola and Santa Cruz are wonderful - from fine dining to casual dining - I felt welcomed! Another nice surprise is if you sign up for their newsletter they send updates to their menu along with a $6 coupon. Be sure to add this stop to your list the next time you head to the beach!
(4)Andy M.
I really like the vegan pasta con pesto. Unfortunately, this review is not about the vegan pasta con pesto. This review is about the dharma chili dog. I expected a hot dog that I could conceivably hold in my hand, albeit get a little messy. That's a chili dog. What I got was an open face hotdog bun covered in chili and vegan cheese. With a little digging I found the star of the show: a skinny little vegetarian hot dog. The whole package was probably four times as wide as the actual dog. Under the pile of chili and cheez the bun got way too soggy for me to want to keep eating the dish after I killed off the tiny hot dog. Also bring your own cup or bottle for water cause the cups they provide are ridiculously small.
(3)Carla D.
Here is the Indian Curry Plate with papadam, tofu, veggies, rice, cashews, really good fruit chutney and raita. Others at our table enjoy their chili, and breakfast burrito and tofu scramble.
(5)Alyssa L.
Yummy food and wonderful atmosphere. The old dude behind the counter was pretty rad too. He was like hey guys. Haha. I got a mole burrito that had fat chunks of potatoes and my lover got a burger! What I loved most was the artwork by Bruce Harmon they had displayed on the walls. He is just so absolutely brilliant and I love his work. Bravo dharmas!
(5)Terry X.
Great food. Today was my 3rd visit this week. Healthy food, good size portions, nice employees, and a fairly quiet environment (during off-peak hours). You order your food at the counter, so no wait staff. Easy to get a great vegan meal here.
(5)Vladimir P.
This is so sad. I would love to support every vegan restaurant out there, but some of them are just beyond hope. I took my wife out to Santa Cruz for a nice getaway day on the beach. We planned every little detail including a place to grab a nice lunch. On Yelp, this place looked amazing, so we have decided to give it a try. First impressions were not exactly great. Restaurant looks a bit rundown, everything just looks like it needs a deep cleaning. This is underlined by a weird musty smell of old furniture. Unfortunately our experience did not end there. Food was awful. My chow mein was so burnt that it was inedible. I tried couple of bites, but the bitter burnt taste was just disgusting and potato and leek soup was bland and overcooked. Pesto ravioli was swimming in oil and it tasted gross. We left all out food pretty much untouched and left the restaurant. Nothing is cooked to order, everything just looks like it's reheated and it tastes like vegan version of Denny's. What a shame.
(1)Lin V.
Really fresh salads. Sandwiches are a bit greasy. Good options for vegans and vegetarians though. I really love their salads, it's really fresh.
(4)A S.
Been coming here for years but first time back in a year since moving west. It remains the best varied and tasty vegan/veg place form Monterey to SF/San Jose corridor Always great specials and the base menu equally as good. Got the vegan butternut ravioli today and it was a delight, had to pass on dessert as it was most filling.
(5)Dyan Y.
Getting away from the East Bay heat we stayed in Capitola and found this little gem of a place. Now, we are normally not this type of people place, i.e., self serve, in a strip mall, randomish place but we are vegan and this place is vegan so we ended up eating here THREE days in a row. First night was dinner and it was bad. Food was SUPER hot like under a heat lamp or in the microwave type of hot. Not off the grill hot so we couldn't even put the food in our mouths for another 10 minutes. The pizza crust was so hard that it was like a crouton. The portobello sandwich was eh. The burger was eh. Overall bad. We came back the next day for dinner......well what can I say, for vegan options this is close to the only one. AMAZING!!!!! Wow!!! The dan dan noodles were super good! The butternut squash ravioli was yummy! And the same pizza we had the night before was SO GOOD! Soft, crispy crust, not so hot that my kids could actually eat it. Third day was the same as the second. Yum! In fact, we stayed in Capitola until lunch time just to eat here one last time before we headed to Santa Cruz. We will be back.
(4)Sonia L.
I love this place! I used to come here all the time when we lived in the bay. Their pasta con pesto is the best. Came here last weekend and it's still great. Got a taste of their dessert and I like that it's not overwhelmingly sweet.
(5)shani c.
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.
(4)Candice G.
A vegetarian 3-hot dog morning burrito for dinner? That sounds pretty yuppie trailer park. It is also definitely what I want. Verdict: It was the best yuppie trailer park food I've ever had. Not that I've ever had yuppie trailer park food before, but I'd imagine if that were a real category of cuisine that it could go all types of wrong. This dish was pretty good. Not mind-blowing, but it didn't have meat and it was interesting overall and that's what I was looking for at the time. The Official Dish: 3 DOG MORNING BURRITO - $11.50 Scrambled tofu, potatoes, onions, 3 tofu hot dogs, jalapenos, red peppers and mushrooms with cheese, guacamole, sour cream and chips. I will say that it was not, by any stretch of imagination, a burrito. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a burrito should mean that the filling is at least somewhat contained inside of the tortilla/packaging vessel, amiright? This tortilla was more like a giant dosa with all the filling flopped on top. There was no effort made by the tortilla to contain the contents of this dish, so it looked more like an omelet scramble, but they were able to fit a lot more food on the plate than if it were a burrito so it was fine with me because in my book, more is more. I also got the... JAPANESE SAMURAI SOUP - $11.95 Soba noodles in miso broth with arame (seaweed), edamame, (soy beans), green onions, tofu, spinach, carrots, sesame seeds, and topped with shredded daikon. The soup was massive, as it's $12 price tag would suggest, but as far as flavor it was seriously lacking. I tried to eat as much as I could at Dharma's, but I was dying for a little sodium and spice. I'm sure the dish is healthy as heck and there was no shortage of noodles and fixins, but in the end the flavor just wasn't there. I took a lot of it home (it ended being 3 meals it was so big) and added some of every spice in my cabinet and soy sauce just to be sure I got 10 times the daily of dose of sodium that a normal human would eat. I loved the very casual, order-at-the-counter-and-wait-for-your-name-to-be-Âyelled diner-type atmosphere. It was pretty busy when I came and though the food took a while (it's made fresh, so that's a good thing) and it was still somehow starkly quiet with all those people, I like the atmosphere. It felt like eating in a library, which is normally not allowed, so it's a little rebellious if you have a good imagination. They seem pretty kid-friendly given their truly expansive menu and that they have all these animal figurine toys on the partitions throughout the dining area for kids to grab and play with. I was dining alone so I grabbed a dinosaur figure for company at my table and it was actually really nice. Nicer than some of the human company I've gone out to eat with, actually. If in the area, I'd go back and try something different because that menu is huge and the prices for the portion are pretty fantastic. One meal could easily be two or three and though everything I had definitely "tasted healthy", it wasn't by any means bad and it did make me curious to try more of Dharma's delights.
(4)Veronika S.
Vegan's and vegetarian's paradise! They have a vast amount of beautifully presented and delicious dishes, I couldn't even decide what to get because the whole menu sounded awesome! Big portions and good prices as well. Try the vegan berry-lemon cheesecake, it's the best cheesecake I ever had!
(5)Jenn C.
Another satisfying tempeh reuben at Dharma's -- tempeh stuffed into delicious bread with grilled red onions and cultured sauerkraut, garlic dill, salad and some potatoes with Black China Bakery chocolate cake for dessert. Super reliable and consistent, Dharma's has been a favorite for almost 12 years. My friend enjoyed her pad thai and said it was the best, most flavorful pad thai she's had ever. Every time I bring a friend here -- they are incredibly impressed. It's a big menu and they are fairly consistent -- delicious vegetarian food with epic portions in a warm wood lined dining room with a jungle of plants. Well worth the trip!
(4)Ary A.
Average food, but this restauraunt will assume you want animal products in your food unless you specify otherwise. The employee on the register will not ask your preference and simply assume you want dairy and other animal products. If your food is made with dairy that you didn't want, they charge you 50% extra on top of the price you paid to fix the food. Kind of a joke for a restaurant that calls itself "Dharma". Terrible policy, management refuses to fix this issue of being upfront at the register when the customer is ordering, despite my polite suggestion. Bad karma and ignorant policy gets a bad rating from me.
(1)Joe W.
I have been here several times. The food is great. Best salad along the coast! Cheaper than Whole Foods. I bring my friends here every time I'm in town.
(4)julie l.
I've been eating Dharma's amazing food for over a decade, & I can't believe I've never reviewed them. It's my favorite go-to restaurant; I'm there at least once a week. The menu & portions are huge, the $6 coupon when you spend $25 is a terrific deal, the ambiance is fantastic (casual, no tipping, beautiful fountain & orchids, gorgeous & local artwork on the walls (Yay Bruce!), &, most importantly, their food is SO good! Also, they have a separate line for pickup orders, which I always appreciate, & you can dine outside with your dog--always a huge plus for me. Dharma's, you're the best! :)
(5)Andrea A.
I had a disappointing first experience here yesterday. The food was overpriced and lacking flavor. I had a 3 Dog Morning Burrito and my partner had a Thai Tofu Scramble. My burrito plus a fresh squeezed OJ added up to $18! There was a lot of food on the plate, but none of it was particularly good. I'd rather get the veggie option at any other taqueria or restaurant than come here again.
(2)Alison W.
Unique little vegetarian place in Capitola. We finished a hike nearby and stopped in for lunch. You order and pay at the counter and then they'll yell your name when your food is ready to be picked up. I tried the Bo Thai. I really liked it (for not having any meat). The noodles were thick and delicious. And plenty of veggies and tofu. The sauce also made the whole dish pretty tasty. My friends had the Indian curry plate and the dan dan noodles. All the portions were huge with prices to match. I think all entrees were all $10+. And they have fresh juices and smoothies too. I was starving so I actually finished my food but I could see taking half of it home for later and still being satisfied. Afterwards, you clean and bus your own tables by bringing your empty dishes to the back. I would come back every once in awhile if I felt like being healthy.
(3)Nikki V.
Lovely refreshing place along HWY 1 in Capitola. We stopped here on the way to Big Sur and had Kitcheree and Mango Lassi. Kitcheree - is your usual khichdi very very mildly seasoned, light and satisfying. Mango Lassi - THE BEST. Of course I loved the extra addition of rose water/essence in the lassi - it gave a refreshing cool floral scent and taste as I was drinking it. Not chalk full of sugar - also lightly sweetened. Would love to come here again and try some of their other dishes...but sadly Capitola is a bit of a drive from home :(
(5)Sean K.
The food is expensive and odd. I got a vegetarian breakfast burrito that had fake hotdogs and pickled jalapenos in it that werent listed in what I chose. The "burrito" also wasnt wrapped and was soggy when it got to my so the tortilla ripped and I had to dirty some silverware.
(3)Don M.
This is a fabulous place. We have plenty for everyone and the the décor is peaceful. The staff are friendly and helpful. The food is delicious. This is definitely somewhere you should try. We had the Mediterranean salad and the Japanese Samurai soup. Both were amazing. we also had the homemade chai tea and fresh squeezed organic orange juice. They were amazing too.
(5)Stuart F.
Extensive menu with something for everyone - I really enjoyed their noodle dishes and their desserts.
(5)Yue L.
We were so excited to try this place on our way from SC to Carmel. The food looked delicious and the portions were large. I always love a great breakfast meal to get the day started. Some people reviewed complained about the decor but I didn't mind it so much. It's a bit outdated and hippieish, but suits the vibe just fine. I ordered the Nada Chicken Burrito and specifically asked for no onions due to my food allergy. The cashier wrote it down on the order. My order came, it looked delicious on a open face tortilla (not wrapped in a burrito) but that didn't bother me. However 3-4 bites into it, I found a piece of onion. I thought maybe it was just a stray piece and put it aside. Took 2 more bites and found more onion pieces. We took it back to the counter and reinstated the allergy issue and they agreed to remake it. 15 mins later, I got the piping hot dish from the kitchen. Not even 2 bites into it, found lots of onion pieces. This time I was upset and BF is too. We took it back to the counter and the guy checked with the kitchen and then came back and said, sorry, the chicken and sauce part is cooked with onion and they can't take it out. First of all, I understand that the chicken was precooked in a sauce with onion, but why was I not informed of that and given an option to choose a dish without onions after stating my allergy? Second of all, after returning the dish the first time around, you'd think that the person making it, seeing that onion allergy is noted on the order, would realize that onions are in the chicken part. I am really disappointed in the lack of communication or care in their food prep. Also, I had a migraine shortly after leaving there and threw up multiple times. Thanks a lot, Dharma.
(1)Lila A.
Fantastic place! My family goes there on regular basis. I really like their variety and consistency of how the food tastes. Their prices are very reasonable, given the enormous portions you get. I can never finish my food and always end up taking it with me. It's very convenient that they are open until 9pm. I'm grateful to the owner and the staff for running this great restaurant so well; offering delicious food to all of us! Operating a business is never easy and I think this place does a fantastic job! Thank you!!! ... Just seeing the photos of their food made me hungry! Ok, we are heading to Dharma's!
(5)Ilmia N.
Whenever I am in Santa Cruz area and craving for a healthy food, I go here. It is a decent size place with small outside sitting area and a little plant garden in a corner. The stuff is always kind and you never fell rushed out. There is plenty of parking around. The food comes in a large portion and never disappoints. We had Japanese udon noodle soup and indian plate and enjoyed our food to the very last bite.
(5)POD P.
Love dharmas! The food is great! I love the Bo Thai. The salads and the tahini lemon dressing are worth a visit alone. You can never have enough tahini lemon. The kitcheree soup with a side of salsa & a sprinkling of the minced red onion is marvelous. The servings are typically large so you can share if you like. The only thing I have an issue with is their 'nadas' as in nada chicken etc. I have only eaten 1 nada and I'm nada fan.
(5)Ron K.
I guess this one is tough to rate as their salads are 4 star material especially with the tahini and lemon dressing. The other items are the menu can be a little Ho hum. Pretty much veggie versions of burgers dogs sandwiches pizza etc. Most items are not vegan but you can take out items like cheese and sour cream etc but they will most likely taste pretty bland. The Japanese samurai soup looks interesting so that will be one I will try some day even with the mixed reviews. The service is pretty much you doing all the work. The workers are all pretty solemn folk so usually don't tip much. Overall the place works but Whole Foods and New Leaf down the road it's not probably ever going to be my go to place when on 41st.
(3)Stephen S.
Vegan or Vegetarian the food here's exquisite! Try Almost anything! You'll find yourself with heaping portion of what ever you order. The tapioca pudding is the best. So, Eat, Drink and be Merry!!! If you find the prices a little steep. Keep in mind it's all fresh and delicious.
(5)Tim Y.
Found this place on Yelp. It was my first time there today and we tried the following: Tempeh reuben sandwich - This was pretty good. The sauerkraut was great! The potatoes and "thousand island" dipping sauce werr delicious. Cashew "chicken" and broccoli - It was served over white rice (didn't know it came with rice or I would have asked for brown). The sauce/gravy in this dish was delicious. I've never been a fan of fake meat or soy chicken though. Maybe they could make it with tofu next time? Dan dan noodles - This isn't served with the black bean sauce like some other restaurants....it's more of a peanut butter sauce. Topped with some fresh veggies. You first order and pay at the cash registers. Seat yourself and wait for your name to be called to go pick up your tray of food. You bus your own tables. They have a garbage/recycling are near the doors with togo boxes. I would have to agree that the service could be better. The cashier wasn't rude or anything but a hello, smile, or thank you would have been nice...
(4)Tram N.
I don't know what it is but the atmosphere, ambiance, decor, staff, and overall layout of this restaurant made me feel uneasy the second I stepped inside. The menu offers a variety on its menu but because there are so many offerings, finding an entree was difficult for me. The prices are rather high, too so I stuck to the safest / cheapest dish (burrito). No kids' menu and the worst: no ice in the machine! I just wanted iced water w/ a lemon. I did not like my "Nada Chicken Burrito" because it was extremely heavy and it simply did not taste good. I can't imagine ever going back to fast food but I was thinking about a more fulfilling meal than this and the next step up is sadly fast food. I wish Santa Cruz offers great vegan selections but instead, the people here got jipped. Nobody here knows what "good vegan food" tastes like. I left my heart in San Jose :(
(2)Nou V.
I ate here about one and a half of a week ago. I am giving them two stars because the people were nice and the service was quick. For the food quality, I got soup and salad combo with a non-rememberable dressing, and something else that I cannot also recall. My friend ordered a veggie sandwich which looked decent. I didn't like the lentil soup. It was not flavorful and it was grainy. The salad was just a simple put together toss with sunflower seeds. It was not amazing or good. I wouldn't go back... But I like giving places a couple chances and try other items before I say no for ever and never recommend to a friend. The dishes seemed like something I can make at home when I am very lazy to cook something delicious. And if someone says "oh, you can't order just a soup and salad combo at a place like that and rate them...". Well.. Yes, I can. They're suppose to serve vegan food so it should be in their qualifications to make something that simple better.
(2)Martin A.
Unfortunately wasn't able to try the food. Server had me wait a while before taking my order. So long that I thought I was in the wrong place. Then, the portobello sandwich I ordered took so long that I gave up and walked out.
(1)Anna C.
So delicious. My favorite is the lasagna and the breakfast burrito. Pretty much everything on the menu is great! Fast and friendly service.
(5)Annie S.
This is literally the slowest restaurant I have ever been to, food is pretty good though.
(3)Karen L.
This place is the bomb! The servings are huge! Definitely be mindful of this when you ordered. I ordered the Bo Thai. My daughter had the veggie breakfast burrito and my son the Big Bluff Sandwich. Each dish was superb. The Kombucha on draft was excellent. Can't rave enough about this place!
(5)Erica O.
I like Dharma's and I'm by no means a Vegetarian. The place is nothing fancy, looks like a Cafeteria if you ask me, but the food is always pretty solid. Plus their portion sizes are huge! 2 thumbs up fro me!
(4)Julia S.
I stopped in Friday late morning, happy to be there before noon and so to treat myself to breakfast after waiting at the DMV for over two hours. I ordered to go, and since they do the best tofu scramble on the planet, I ordered the Greek Tofu Scramble and a large Chai Shake. Service is via the counter: you stand in line to order, then they call your name when its ready. The cashier asked if I wanted dairy or non-dairy for the shake (I opted for non-dairy) and then confirmed whether I wanted feta cheese on the scramble (I did.) The "large" shake would be small-to-medium elsewhere but it was very good. I was a little shocked at the prices: $24 total! That non-dairy shake (made with Coconut Bliss instead of ice cream) was $9, which seems shockingly expensive for the size. The Greek Tofu Scramble, at $12.95, seemed a little expensive but it was huge, easily enough for lunch and dinner. Since it was a to-go order, the scramble was in a carton with the toast wrapped separately in foil. I've never had quick service at Dharma's, but the wait time for my order was acceptable at 15-20 minutes. If you dine in, the restaurant itself is informal: no table service, so you order, find yourself a table and get your utensils from the rack, and must go up to retrieve your tray and bus your dishes afterwards. There is self-serve water, but you have to get back in line if you decide you wanted a cup of chai or dessert after you put your original order in. There are cartons and foil near the busing area if you need to take some of your order home. It is very child-friendly (lots of plastic dinosaurs and menagerie animals), and the hard surfaces make it somewhat loud. There is some table-sharing during crowded times. I will be back, but with the prices, it will be for an occasional treat rather than a weekly breakfast or lunch. And I will order the dairy shake instead, which is $1.50 cheaper.
(4)Irene L.
I had the pesto butternut squash ravioli and the guajillo potatoes. The food is good-ok, not amazing but good. A little pricey for the portions you get. Also all the entrees come with mandatory side salad, whether you want it or not.
(3)Gregg L.
I heard that McDonald's went after this place for the "Mc" in front of their former name McDharma's. I first went here with my good friend a vegan who has a very enlightened pink poodle named Shakti Paw (short for Shakti Paw Loves Monkey). So here's my review, as my private protest to the golden arches, which are neither: I McLove this McPlace. It is McSooooo McAmazing! The McMenu is McBrilliant, McFabulous, and McExcellent McVeggie McFood that will McMake your McHeart McSing for McWeeks!
(5)John L.
I have been going here since they were on East Cliff and called McDharmas anyone remember that dude Bolo?, Anyway, what is with the great food but bad tude? Don't understand people that have survived in the business for over 30 years but seem unhappy in the process. Having said that I still eat here about 10 times a year, but would eat here 3 times that if the owners and staff were nicer --- cheer up guys you are doing a great service for Babaji and the greater Santa Cruz vege community.
(3)Niccolina R.
I spend a lot of money here every time I go. Not to mention, always leave a generous tip. Some how the order for my shake was wrong. Not a big deal. I went to the counter to ask if they could please fix it since it wasn't what I ordered. This young, blonde girl behind the counter proceeded to argue with me as if I didn't know what I ordered. She finally said she would make it over. When I walked up to the counter to get my shake, I very nicely said,"thank you" twice. The young, blonde girl ignored me and when she finally acknowledged me she rudely mouthed,"yeah!" I worked the food industry for over 10 years. I dealt with really mean, rude people all the time. I get it. I would never want to treat anyone the way that I have been treated time and time again. That was a horrible example of customer service. That girl's entitled, snotty attitude was so ugly and unnecessary. I love Dharma's food. I've been coming here for a long time. I pay a lot of money to eat here because I know their food is superior and worth it. This just made me not want to come back. My best friend shared as we were sitting there that she was there when that little kid was walking all over the counters. She said it was unreal. No one did anything nor cleaned the counters off where their was food being served. I hope the owner takes these types of incidents seriously because they will continue to lose customers with behavior like this.
(1)Jesse P.
Vegetarianism at its finest! Very Delicious! Breakfast Burrito'd, Dal (Lentil) Soup'ified, Carrot-Celery-Ginger Juicy'est Although, next time I order the breakfast burrito I'd double the tofu and go lighter on the country potatoes, even though they were cooked to a crisp which was just right and so tasty...
(5)Mary N.
Really bad attitudes. Served us an expensive pizza with barely a table spoon of sauce. The crust was greasy and doughy. Their excuse was... " it's gluten Free" Seriously ? GF does not excuse poor quality. These folks need a wake up call. Basically what you are seving for 25$ is over priced cheese bread and arrogance.
(2)Dave S.
I've only been here for breakfast but I'm a big fan of the Tofu scrambles--tofu ranchero is my fave--and they do a good job with fresh veggie juices too. The portions are huge so you may consider splitting an entree with a friend...or an enemy, as long as you can be civil long enough to eat and not disturb others with your feuding. Condiments are of a variety you won't find in many other places: Melinda's Xxx Hot sauce, Bragg's liquid aminos, and other shakers of herbs and stuff. Very clean, unisex bathroom waaaaay in the back. Like, there's a hallway that goes along a wall of photos (presumably of customers) and keeps going until you think you're going to come out into Narnia and then boom, bathroom...but no Narnia...which is kind of sad. Though I wasn't prepared to use the bathroom outside, in front of talking animals, so perhaps it was a good thing after all. Also, the decor here includes patches of toy animals...so maybe Narnia is around here after all. Maybe that's what the wall of pictures is for--those are the people who got lost on their way to the bathroom and ended up in Narnia. Seems reasonable to me.
(4)Brian J.
Dharma's has been a mainstay option on the Santa Cruz kind food circuit for decades. The cafe is family owned, they use solid ingredients (mostly organic) and have time-tested recipes that have withstood both food fads and hype. In a nutshell, it's very good and I recommend you stop by for a visit next time in the Soquel area of Santa Cruz. Their house salad is so tasty because the homemade dressings mix perfectly with the shredded root veggies and sunflower sprouts. This is definitely a big salad, so one for two to three people is fine. You have to get their soups, they are so fresh, filling and tasty. Try they seasonal daily, for me it was the winter squash. Their mains are great too. Try Dharmas Bo Thai, an American hippy take on the classic pad Thai. Yummer. I asked the owner to open a restaurant in San Francisco, but he happily declined saying Santa Cruz was his only home. More the reason to visit Santa Cruz again soon...
(5)Steven H.
Love dharmas! they can meet any of my requests here and the customer service is outstanding every time. I do believe the menu could be a little more explanatory - one time I ordered a pizza and the cheese was very thick for my liking, and another time I ordered pancakes with bananas and didn't know the bananas are baked into the pancakes - but I can't let that hold me back from giving this place 5 stars The food is delicious and I appreciate them being able to meet to the needs of vegetarians, vegans, and those who avoid gluten. Dharmas is awesome!
(5)Mark C.
I like the food at Dharmas a lot. Quite an array of food and fusion themed dishes. The portions are huge where you can share between two people or take home. A recent visit I had the Pesto Pasta Primavera. A huge plate of organic pasta mixed with pesto and topped with al dente vegetables flanked with 4 thick slices of garlic bread (carb overload here) and served with a side salad. Topped the meal off with a local Draft IPA beer. There could have been more pesto (I like mine drenched) but the flavor was good and balanced. The salad was fresh and served with the house sour cream-dill dressing. Delish. My daughter loved it too. Another time I had the American Sauté; garden vegetables over brown rice and tahini lemon sauce. The breakfast burrito is great as well as the mango lassis. Some items are pricey but huge portions. If you like fresh organic vegetarian food and huge portions. This is the place.
(4)Matthew C.
The food is really good. The customer service is borderline rude. I always feel like the counter help us bothered at having to do their job.
(3)Clint M.
I have never everything on this menu & I love it! The food is very fresh, tasty, and nourishing (guilt-free). Favorites: Pasta Con Pesto, B-L-T, and La Tostada, but you cannot wrong. The tapioca pudding is excellent as well. The atmosphere is very cosy. I typically opt for the outside seating but the inside is very serene. The employees are kind and knowledgable. Great for kids. There are fun toys play with a healthy Grilled Cheese with a salad for a very reasonable price. WALKING DISTANCE TO/FROM THE BEACH
(5)Diva Q.
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
(5)Yvette B.
HEALTH HAZARD WARNING- The last time I came here there was a 5-6 year old child running around wild making a ton of noise bothering everyone and ended up climbing and STANDING ON THE CONDIMENTS TABLE- SNEAKERS AND ALL! The mom of this 5 year old said nothing and neither did ANY of the restaurant workers NOR DID THEY WIPE DOWN THE COUNTER after seeing him climb up on it with his dirty ass shoes. The kid was kicking the swing door that is separating the restaurant to behind the serving counter also. I understand being a family friendly restaurant but seriously this is not ok. Get your shit together Dharmas.
(1)Geri L.
Can always count on the Saturn for delicious salads, great nachos and sandwiches. The staff is great whether it's just my husband and me or a party with six adults and 7 kids-toddlers to teens. Everybody finds something tasty and it's all vegetarian with plenty of vegan options.
(4)Mary E.
I've never been disappointed with my meal at Dharma's - and there have been many! The food is delicious, the portions are generous, and the staff friendly. Definitely check out the weekly specials and the vegan desserts.
(5)Melissa D.
One of my favorite places to get vegan/vegetarian food! Their vegan chocolate cake and the vegan cheesecake are AMAZING. Their burritos are my favorite. Huge portions and variety. They also have stunning artwork on the walls and to go boxes easily located so that you don't have to ask for them. If you sign up for email notifications you'll get a $6 off coupon almost every week, definitely comes in handy.
(5)Dasha C.
What are people thinking when they review this place so highly?? Or what are they smoking , I guess I should ask. Super dirty restaurant, the furniture looks like it's from hospice care, super sticky floors and tables. Horrendous (beyond belief) "decor" -- who ever wants to see a meditating Jesus while they're eating? The place is super cluttered with horrible "art" and makes you feel like you just walked into the twilight zone. We ordered two different tofu scrambles, they both tasted like overlooked, mushy turmeric garbage. My husband barely touched his. My almond milk latte was so bad I took one sip (out of an ugly, dirty and old branded mug) and couldn't drink any more. To the owners: please please please take a field trip to Source in SF or Herbivore in SF or Berkeley. Learn how real vegan food should be done and that a vegan restaurant does NOT need to be a hippie mess. Restaurants like this give vegans a bad name. Sincerely, The disappointed vegan
(1)Samantha J.
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
(5)Megan S.
OMG! This place may seem strange at first, but the food is amazing! The atmosphere is interesting. Kind of like a "New Wave Camp Cafeteria" with paintings of Jesus Meditating, Auras, and other artwork nailed onto wood panel walls. Toy dinosaurs lining the wall barrier, for what I am assuming is for the little ones to play with while the rest of their family finishes their food. And a serene rock waterfall at the front entrance for some peaceful water noises. You walk up to the counter and grab a menu, order, and wait for your name to be called so you can pick up your meal at the counter. While this may seem a bit pricey, their portioning is HUGE! You will for sure leave this establishment full. We shared the breakfast burrito, which we got twice while staying up here. It is so so so so good. The "Burrito" is more like a quesadilla, since they stuff it with so much food that you cant make a burrito out of it, just fold the tortilla over it! The spices, the cheese, beans, EVERYTHING about this burrito is so amazing, It is so BIG, so prepare to share it and still be content. Their CAROB SHAKE IS AAHHHHHHMAZING. Got 3 of those during our stay, so try that out! Love DHARMA'S!!
(4)Sarah M.
Awesome vegan food! Big portions. Even my omnivore dad loved his Tofu D'Beest. BBQ tofu, mashed potatoes and gravy with coleslaw and garlic bread. I had their Indian curry plate and it was fantastic! I love the atmosphere and variety of food. Their chai and kitcheree soup is amazing. They have kombucha and vegan desserts. This is a repeat restaurant for us.
(4)Wayne F.
I have driven by Dharma's hundreds of times and never stopped. Last week we stopped in, and we have been back two more times since. The food is awesome! Our first visit I had the Mole Chicken Burrito - which isn't really a burrito as there is no way you could wrap all the contents up. The flavor was excellent and the portion size - well put it this way, come HUNGRY. I have also had the Samuri soup - it needed a little soy sauce - but once added was also wonderful, and the last time we went, I had the Dan Dan noodles with a side of mashed potatoes. Again, all food was excellent, with good sized portions. Yes, there are lines, and yes, there are unruly children with parents that seem not to care that others are trying to eat a good meal which they paid good money for, and yes, sometimes the counter staff seem a bit distant. Obviously we are willing to overlook all of that as the food is good and a good value as well.
(5)Chris T.
Holy crap! No really tho! I have never pooped so much in my life, I completely annihilated the toilet rendering it completely useless from hence forth and forever. That place, tho good, is a real date killer if you know what I mean *wink wink. It's just too bad I didn't have any spackling to do around the house because I brought a new meaning to diarrhea. As a result of the exhaustion I felt following my battle with my porcelain throne, I'm in search of a good seat belt should I ever decide to take that ride again. Phewww, thank you Lord for baby wipes. I'm out. You know where to find me :)
(3)Elk M.
Good food large portions. Sign up for their email list they will send youcoupons every week. I believe it is $6 off of $25 of food.
(5)Bibby L.
I'm crazy about this place! They have so many choices that it's actually really difficult for me to decide, but I'm always thrilled with the food. It seems like they use very high quality ingredients (even though some of it could be considered vegan junk food) and the unique atmosphere is always entertaining. For some reason they have animal toys everywhere and there's something comforting about having a plastic giraffe supervise your meal. ;)
(5)Sandy I.
If you want to eat "clean," this place is good. *trying to keep my reviews short and to the point... But yelp wants them longer so I will be attaching this paragraph to all of my reviews. So if you're reading this, there really is no point, you might as well just stop and get on with livin' the good life :p
(4)Yan S.
This place is pretty packed for a Tuesday night. They had a constant flow of customers coming and going through the hour I dined there. Their serving size is pretty large and reasonably priced. I ordered the lasagna and it was pretty good as well as the garlic bread that came with it. The salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and vinaigrette was bleh. The veggies just didn't taste fresh. Service--non existent. It's self serve so you order, pay and sit yourself anywhere. Then they call your name when your food is ready. The guy at the cash register wasn't friendly at all and the three cooks next to him didn't even blink an eye to say hi or acknowledge guests. Probably won't come back here again but glad I tried it.
(2)Laurie N.
I practically raised my kids here when I lived in the area. Really good stuff, and healthy. I find the folks who work there friendly and fun to interact with. Plus, giant servings. I wish we had a place like this in San Francisco. I really miss you, Dharma.
(4)Sean T.
Been here numerous times and really enjoy the food but some of the workers have bad customer service skills and are really rude and disrespectful. Bad vibes bad energy
(1)L G.
2.5 stars, really. Walked in and was impressed at how whimsical their interior was, yet it matched the wide varietal of customers. Since everyone was hustling and bustling, I assumed the food was delicious and above par. I, unfortunately, had their Valentine's special of the day -- portobelo mushrooms with potatoes dinner dish. It was BEYOND salty. This was disappointing because I had to wait over 20 minutes for my order AFTER my date was already served his. The female latina cashier didn't seem like she wanted to be there at all. I nor anyone else was offered a receipt, yet two copies are printed (one going to the kitchen, and the other placed in a basket in front of the cashier). Because vegan restaurants are still hard to come by, I probably will try this place out again, if I am visiting in the future, as their burritos looks awesome. The chocolates in the glass case are SUPURB. If this place works on timing (getting dishes out for the same table), better control of ingredients, and organization, Dharma's could really have potential to becoming a destination rather than an afterthought. Meh. I've experienced better.
(2)Kimberly P.
This place is great. So many options!! Had the Dan Dan noodles and the soup of the day-Kitcheree. The portions are generous and I personally think the pricing follows suit for the type of food served. We waited no longer than 15 minutes for both dishes. My only complaint is the lack of mood music. The vibe is a tad too middle school cafeteria for my usual liking.
(5)Christine C.
The food is good. We always do togo orders, ambiance and vibe there not so hot. Staff not welcoming or friendly.
(3)Nadzeya N.
It is just the best food option ever for vegans. I am a vegan, and it is hard to find nice place for me to eat outside of the house. But having Dharmas' restaurant near by I have such nice food and environment that I really feel blessed to eat there. Thank you very much to owners and the all team working there.
(5)D L.
In area for work, highlight was being able to stop by Dharma's. Today the winter squash special. Delicious Kale, pepita salad, with acorn squash and quinoa. Large portions!
(5)Valerie S.
I'm a vegan and this is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant. The food is really good. The prices are high especially since you order cafeteria style and are expected to bus your own table. The portions are very generous. I would give a 4 star however I found out after eating the bread, and some of the dressings that even though I stressed that I am vegan and asked that my meal be vegan that the bread and dressings contain honey (not vegan) This happens too much. Every time I go in I have ask that my food be vegan and I still have to return the salad dressings. I'm not sure if the bread contains whey so I just won't eat it again. It is noisy and children seem to be encouraged to run around and grab the cute plastic animals off your table, which is scary when you are carrying a large tray of food and drinks to the table. The menu is diverse with a ton of choices. I love the potato enchilada special, the Al Pastor vegan tacos and the Tofu de beast. Oh and they have great vegan shakes! Good place to eat, casual atmosphere and you can eat outdoors.
(3)Artie F.
WARNING! HEALTH HAZARD!! I went to the counter to order and the woman ahead of me had her toddler sitting on the counter. When it was my turn I mentioned to the woman at counter that it wasn't a good idea to have a butt sitting on a food counter. She snapped back at me that it was FINE and gave me her "I hate you" stare she usually reserves for her parents. Well any restaurant that doesn't understand that food and butts should not mingle is not a safe place to eat. Oral-fecal disease transmission is how you get food poisoning, hepatitis, norovirus, giardia, ....the list goes on. You can get VERY sick from fecal contamination in a restaurant. I don't care how ORGANIC their food is, if they don't practice basic hygiene, it's not healthy and it's just plain dangerous.
(1)Aria B.
This is the first time I've ever been here, though I've heard a lot of talk. I walked in slightly disoriented to the system of ordering to the restaurant. I ordered the Falafel special with a Zevia soda and with tip the total came to a whopping $23! This better be good. I waited for a few minutes and decided to use the restroom which is tucked way back in a hallway in a somewhat convoluted way. It seemed decently clean. When I came back my food was ready! I consider that rather quick. Despite it costing almost $20, the portions were rather large. There were 3 falafel patties cut in half, with tabouli, shredded carrots, and a confusing black bean and corn salsa. Not sure why they put black bean and corn? I would have put like a cucumber and tomato salad with garbanzo beans. It didn't fit the dish and was bland anyway. I ignored it. It also came with a salad that had a nice tahini dressing but honestly easily replicated at home. It came with hummus and pita which was pretty good. I think the hummus needed more lemon and garlic because there wasn't much punch in this. Overall the meal was mediocre. I suppose the appeal is the natural foods thing but I can get better falafel for much cheaper elsewhere in town.
(3)Ka S.
I have been coming to Dharma's for a few years because when stopping I'm in town, I could find a good vegan meal. NOW, I've noticed the last couple times I've been here, the food, quality and service has changed dramatically for the worse! In the past, I used to see a team of friendly, outgoing staff working behind the register and counter, along with cooks who knew how to cook and new what they were doing. NOW.. This place has a very " somber" atmosphere, all the employees consist of what looks like janitorial staff and the dishwashers are cooking. I'm not being mean or kidding. That's what it is NOW! These guys are clueless and it looks like the prior staff quit and that explains a lot. The food and service is HORRID now.. ITS NOT THE SAME ANYMORE!!!!!.. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL DHARMA'S!?!? DID THEY SELL UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!?!? Because it's just not good anymore! ITS NOT!!!!! I used to be able to come here and order a tasty vegan brahma burger, vegan burritos, samurai soup, lasagna , etc., BUT NOW.. The consistency in quality and Taste is horrible and sloppy!!!!! The cashier, is a older, unfriendly man with glasses and a baseball cap, who clearly doesn't want to be there! It shows! And.. When I asked him, if the butternut squash ravioli that I ordered had " walnuts" in the pesto sauce, ( which I am dangerously allergic to) .. All he could say was: " We lose money, blah, blah, blah,and you have to pay an additional $7.00 to re-order a new place without walnuts"..WOW! That's just poor business and a poor response. No apology! Nothing! SO, I already paid them $14.95 for old, not fresh, week old butternut ravioli, smothered in a " swampy, mossy, mushy, muddy, wannabe vegan pesto sauce", in what was supposed to be a vegan pesto sauce. There were no pine nuts , just overloaded with old, mushy, bitter walnuts and basil. It was gross. The dish also had a sad piece of toast for garlic bread and a plated average salad. Not worth $14.95, because it looked like week old, wrinkly, food that was refrigerated and re-heated, NOT FRESH. Pretty much frozen food. I know. Because I work part-time as a personal chef, so I know when a restaurant is trying to fool customers. I know when something is old and what ingredients are! When I approached the cook and the cashier about the allergen issue and the old food, they both pretty much just "blew me off" and said that I'd have to pay them an "additional $7.00", to re-order a plate without walnuts!?!?! WHAT THE F**K?!?!.. SO, you guys at Dharma's give me a meal that didn't label walnuts as a substitute for pine nuts as an ingredient on your featured chalkboard menu, then serve me this tiny, old and rancid portion for $14.95, then you expect me, to pay you an additional "$7.00", that would total "$21.95", for the worst dish of ravioli I've ever tried to eat in my life!.. Surely you guys at Dharma's are kidding right?!?!? WOW! WHAT A SCAM!!!!!!!!!! TOTAL SCAM!!!!!!!!!! What kind of business are you running?! Overcharging customers on your mistakes and bad food, then not labeled with possible allergens to customers?!.. The health department Needs to make a visit here, and I mean NOW!!!!! I'm not being mean here.. As a professional in the industry, I don't like restaurants trying to rip-off customers and try to fool others and food safety is serious.. It's not a joke! To top it off, I was sick after eating a couple bites before I knew walnuts were in the vegan pesto, then my fried who wasn't allergic to walnuts , BUT also was sick from tasting it, mostly for the dish being old and I work as a food safety manager and I can tell you all on Yelp, that as a professional in the culinary field, this place serves old food, with allergens and they don't apologize for it! Don't take your elderly friends or grandparents or children here, because if they eat old food here with unknowingly eating an allergen, it's just dangerous taking a chance eating here, because they don't care about their customers!!!! I think Dharma's is suffering by trying to stay in business because the quality and service is poor now. This isn't the Dharma's I used to know and like, and clearly it shows! Also, in business, if you're the manager or owner, don't argue or make excuses with your customers! If the food is OLD or BAD, you apologize and try to make it right! Don't go into a whole " why we can't make it, because we lose money or we can't afford it speech!"..that's poor business and the customer doesn't need to hear that! Take a hint Dharma's! Either shape up or ship out! Hire new staff that "smiles", not a grumpy group. Also hire real cooks that know how to cook food. Too many places are getting cheap and hiring untrained people to cook and they're " guessing" how to cook. I know. I can tell . I'm never going back! Hurry up and clean up your act Dharma's! I used to like this place, but not anymore. If I could give a "ZERO, I would. You guys don't even deserve " one star".
(1)Athonia C.
When it comes to tasty vegan food there are two choices : San Francisco's Herbivore and Santa Cruz's Dharma's. Which is better? I ask myself this every time I eat at one of them. It's hard to beat the shawarma at Herbivore (see herbivorerestaurant.com/… ). For years that dish alone won the competition. Recently Dharma's stepped up with a new contender: their BBQ Bluff sandwich. Add jalapeño to it and you have a shawarma-killer. Its' seriously good. Dharma's ruben is a close second. In all the vast and diverse menu at Dharma's wins out. It's a bit cheaper too if you count the weekly e-mail discounts they give their devoted customers ($5 off any $20 purchase!) There is no wait-staff at Dharma's so that keeps the cost down a bit too. Without a doubt they win on ambiance. It's easily the most comfortable vegetarian establishment in northern California. Thoughts? --Athonia
(5)Allison A.
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. :)
(5)Ashley L.
This place has everything. Curry, pasta, pizza, Mexican, and more. I looked at the menu and was really confused on what to order. There are almost too many options. However, I managed to order the Chai, Mole Burrito, and a garlicky pasta - all vegan. The chai was pretty good, though I've had better. The mole burrito was lacking in the mole that I would expect. The pasta, lacking in flavor. The side salad, bagged lettuce with not so exciting dressing. I really wasn't a super fan of this place. The artwork inside is some religious and some fairy/semi-naked women - what? 2 stars for now until I try more food, but it was just kinda meh.
(2)Tif W.
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.
(3)C C.
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!
(3)Miss Mary P.
Awful, Awful, Awful (been there 3 times and never going back). Salad is always wilted. Food is cardboard tasting and bland. Service is crap, food is priced high for the fact that you have to bus your own table. And it always smells bad in there. I'm sorry but some of my favorite restaurants are vegetarian and this place is just awful.
(1)Elana K.
If there were more stars to give, Dharma's would get it. I have to admit I am a bit biased because I am an ex-employee, but God do I miss those days. I LOVE LOVE LOVE almost everything on the menu and crave it now that I am working in San Francisco and have a "real job". I read some reviews with people complaining about the decor and service style, but those are some of the things that endear this place to me even more. The exact opposite of a pretentious vegan/veg restaurant, which can get quite played out. It is a family owned business and they are all amazing. If you haven't checked it out yet: GO. It can get a little expensive for those starving college students but don't order too much because the portions are huge and will definitely fill you up. Plus, it is worth every penny. Nothing like an employee discount and leftovers in my fridge though... ahhhh, the good old days. Some of my favs: Portobello Artichoke Sub (the Pesto Portabello is also to die for) American Sautee (with two tahini lemons! also good with miso honey dressing) Kitcheree, or for that matter, all their soups. The summer/spring/fall/winter veggie rocks! Breakfast Burrito....mmmmm Nada Chicken Burrito BBQ Tofu-de-beast They have bomb nachos. Their milkshakes are amazing. For breaky check out the Biscuits and Gravy. And get a chai. Alright, now I'm hungry. If you live in Santa Cruz, I envy you. Please go to Dharma's for me.
(5)c g.
When I dream of vegetarian comfort food I dream of Dharmas. I haven't been here in years, but anytime I am within a few hour radius of this joint I make it a point to stop in. Huge menu of delicious vegetarian food - This isn't a pretentious vegan place by a long shot - Its a great spot to get an amazing selection of normal food that just happens to not have meat.
(5)Brendon N.
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!
(5)val j.
Dharma's has THE BEST vegan breakfast!!! i am absolutely in love with their tofu scramble and every time i come here i have to get the tofu rancheros. soooooo good! basically it is a huge mound of their incredible tofu scramble, beans, huge scoop of guacamole, and salsa, atop tortillas and a side salad! i never knew salad would be such a great side to breakfast! it's on the pricey side, but i eat a lot and can honestly save half for later! my only complaint is the atmosphere which i really don't like. oh well, can't have everything! oh i forgot to mention that the almond raspberry cookie is beyond good!
(5)Marianne B.
I love Dharma's! We eat there at least a few times a month. I almost always get the American Saute or the Bo Thai. The portions are very generous so I almost always have enough for lunch the next day. Their kitcharee is really good too as are their salads. Organic food that is reasonably priced. What more could you ask for?
(5)Alyssa B.
yummy veggie food! such a great find! my husband and i love it there!
(5)Jack j.
Tofu is in just about every dish on the menu, so I ordered a Dharma's special as posted on the board. The description of the Stuffed Butternut Squash looked interesting as I read quickly and placed my order. I should have slowed down and asked some questions such as what portion of squash and rice to everything else in the dish? What arrived on the dish was mainly squash and rice piled in it. The exotic items such as strawberry sauce was really a runny jam and the salad was ordinary for the price I paid. I could have easily made this at home for about a tenth of the price. Now I understand why my daughter-in-law gave me her gift card! Well, maybe the owner was also rude and sarcastic to her as he always was to me and my friends.
(3)Stephanie C.
Best food EVAR! I'm not a vegetarian but this is my favorite restaurant. The servings are huge, food is ready fast, ingredients are fast... and it has a very laid back atmosphere. I get the feeling that I could come in wearing a pink tutu with combat boots and nobody would raise an eyebrow. The only down is that it can be a bit pricey... but probably because I tend to order everything on the menu when I go in :)
(4)M. S.
Dharma's rocks. We live in San Diego and visit Santa Cruz at least once a year. We have made it tradition after the long 8 hour drive to stop at Dharma's once we got into town. We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dharma's - the portions are hearty, healthy and HUGE! I had a Breakfast Burrito last time we visited and it satisified me where I did not need to eat again for the entire day. My young daughters had the short stack pancakes and had enough left over for a snack on the way home. The coffee and the chai is to live for. I have had so many of their offerings and never had a bad meal. Hooray for Dharma's...we will be back many more times over.
(5)Jennifer L.
I love this place. It's so nice to be able to get really fresh organic food that tastes really good. The Tahini-Lemon salad dressing is really addictive, and the fruit shakes are yummy. I haven't had anything I didn't like here.
(5)Rishi M.
What a find! I'm not Vegetarian but my GF and several friends are and they always thank me for bringing them to Dharma's. Simply put this place rocks. Love the tex-mex burger and saute plates. But the real treat is the mint chocolate chip shakes. For someone like me who is lactose intolerant it's rare to find something this good that doesn't destroy me later. Always happy to make the drive over the mountains from the south bay!
(5)lauren f.
oh my god!! in the short time that i've lived in santa cruz, i have become addicted to dharmas! it is so refreshing to go to a restaurant and have yummy/organic/healthy/vegetarian options.. tons of them!!! (i just moved from nyc where this is NOT the norm). all you west coasters should take a moment and thank the heavens above. every time i go (3x in the last 2 weeks) i have a panic attack about what to order. i'm having an affair with the tempeh bbq sandwich as we speak...and might invite the tahini dressing over to join us
(5)Leslie H.
LOVE it...not a vegitarian, but still can't get enough of this place. The portabella sandwich is out of this world...soft bread, aoli, melted cheese, onion complete a really good sandwich. Their thai stir fry is also great. Only dislike is the atmosphere (think cafeteria).
(5)Karine M.
This place is a gold mine of food! Seriously, everything on the menu is ridiculously delicious and they have so many options. My goal is to try everything on it. It's a little pricey, but so worth the money. The quality of the food is impeccable and it's an incredible plus that it's all vegetarian (therefore healthier). People who are complaining about it being a pretentious hippie vegan place...who fucking cares? I've seen all kinds of people eat here, and personally something as stupid as that would never stop me from eating some amazing food. Favorite restaurant!
(5)Cleo B.
Large portions, tasty, cafeteria-style. Two of our party had veggie burgers which came with potatoes that looked like fingers. One person had spaghetti in 'red sauce,' translate, tomato sauce, which came with four huge pieces of garlic bread-- this looked like a high school cafeteria meal. I got the "Lost Taco"-- the taco mixture was vegan, barbequed-tasting, delicious--one taco shell sat among the fray, which included melted cheese, black beans, a dollop of sour cream, chopped tomato, and a salad with tasty rasberry dressing on the side. I liked the fact that they offer both vegetarian and vegan options. Great hours-- 8am - 9pm. Beware: if you want breakfast, show up before noon.
(3)Megan M.
I love Dharma's. They are the only restaurant in town that will make a gluten free sandwich (with GF bread... not just without bread), and their GF pizza is AMAZING!!!!!!! I just love Dharma's, they make my life much happier :)
(5)Mike P.
Love the phood and the portions but for the prices they stick you with they really should deliver to your table AND clean up after ME. Because of the hassle I only go once or twice a year and I'm a vegetarian who loves to eat out!!
(3)Ryan W.
They have an amazing kitchery soup and a wonderful salad. I really enjoy their food, it is simple but so nice. If you just don't know where you want to eat tonight this is the place. It is just really good food. I knocked off one star because their prices are kind of high. Watch out for that one. But all in all a great place!
(4)C S.
Dharms is great I had a bad experiance there and gave some constructive critism to the manager and the next day they change it up and fixed everything I was so m[ressed by their listening ear, Keep it up dharmas
(5)Rajah M.
Most of the food I've had at Dharma's has been really good, especially the American sauté. So yummy! They get extra points for being vegetarian, organic and having little dinosaur figurines all over the place. The portions are large and I'd come here more often if it wasn't in Capitola and quite so expensive.
(3)Emily C.
I find that a small salad with the tahini lemon crack dressing is enough to make me insanely full, and I am not a lightweight with food. Sometimes I think I need more food and get the brown rice-soup-salad combo and am sated for the rest of the day. That's insane. Their sandwiches and stuff are good too, though. Coffee is okay; they also have a lot of good drinks to choose from.
(4)Karen G.
cons: bad customer service, bad food taste because of lack of variety in each meal. not even all vegan, expensive, cafeteria style restaurant pros: organic, large meals, u can eat outside? ive eaten there 5 times, got something new each time. i really tried to like the place, i figured i went on a bad day or something, but its horrible. the customer service is horrendous. most of the people behind the counter are friendly but the indian guy at register is the most rude individual and since u have to go get your food yourself once your name is called (there are no servers, a' la cafeteria style...) he is the only one interacting with customers but the rudest of all there. and when u ask a question about one of the entrees he acts like youre stupid or something like u actually expect him to explain something to you,.. i doubt that anyone who even works there is vegan. also everything costs extra. i ordered a burger and all that comes on it is lettuce and sauce so when i found out that tomatos and onions were free i asked for it but they didnt even put it on my burger once i recieved it. the food was burnt also. ive had a sandwich there it was good and the tacos were ok but too big of a serving i had to throw some of it away. i wanted to make sure they came with avocado because it says they do in the menu, but then once i asked they said it cost extra and i had to argue with the indian register guy becaues he wanted me to pay $3 when it is supposed to come with it. luckily i didnt pay because finally another employee spoke up and said i was right. they try to make up for poor service and poor taste with large sized entrees but if the food isnt even good then why make so much of it? especially since every extra detail costs so much. if they had smaller portions with more variety of food on each plate it would be better.
(2)Esther C.
this place is easily my favorite restaurant in the santa cruz area. the food is so off the chain! my fave is the bo thai! but really you can order anything of the menu and be extremely pleased. the people who work here are super nice and i really dig the cafeteria style atmosphere. the ambiance is warm with lots of happy people eating healthy delicious food. its a great place to meet friends. just thinking about dharma's makes me hungry.....
(5)Barbara G.
Try the apple pie, made with no sweeteners, sweet and yummy and thick and still good for me. Honest! My favorites are blueberry pancakes for breakfast, "gardener's dinner" huge salad for lunch, and Tofu-de-Beast (BBQ tofu) for dinner.
(5)Mike B.
Great veggie food, lots of varieties of dishes. I love the nada chicken burrito myself. It's not really a knock, but they almost give you too much food. I can never finish it, and I often have leftovers. Sometimes I just wish it was less food and less money.
(4)Heather F.
I am also, a victim of judging this restaurant before I ever stepped foot in it. I actually lived right down the street, and never visited it- casting it off as a "hippie" joint. All that time I wasted! I am a recent newbie vegatarian/ aspiring vegan and try to eat mostly organic foods. I was so pleasantly surprised by my experiences here. First off, all the food I have had so far has been wonderful. I love that I can trust the food, and how it is prepared- and it tastes wonderful! It is moderately priced, and prepared moderately fast. The only thing I can warn about is the menu- it can seem pretty foreign and intimidating to the newbie, such as myself. It is one of those places you just have to keep trying new things- which is actually pretty cool, and I have yet to have a meal I disliked.
(4)Helen H.
I don't know if it's fair to rate a restaurant based on one visit but I most likely will not return. We came here b/c of its Gluten free menu since my son is on this diet, I was surprised that it had no waiter service which was fine, my husband, however was not happy about this been a vegetarian restaurant, so we decided to order dinner for our son only & head to another restaurant for dinner. I ordered Pasta Italiano for my son, for those of you who are not familiar w/ gluten free pasta, even though they are made w/ either quinoa flour, corn or rice flour, nowadays they make them as good as the real pasta, and there are so many different kinds to choose from at places like Wholefood, so I was excited to have my son try some restaurant made pasta, but they used rice sticks, like the ones you see at most Asian restaurants, so it looks nothing like pasta, the portion was extremely small, for $11, I thought we would get more than what we had, but money/portion problem aside, the taste WAS horrible, it was super greasy & it had no taste, the cook must've forgotten to put salt in it! the texture was so hard & tasteless, my son refused to eat them, he did like the little piece of garlic bread that came w/ it, so I had to go back to order more garlic bread, it was 4 thin slices, equivalent to 2 slices of bread & was almost $4, this time my son only had 1 slice & didn't want more, so w/ a drink, I've spent almost $18 for a 5 yr old & all he ate was 2 slices of bread. :(
(2)snausage s.
some of the food is ok, but the workers seem kinda dirty ... i've gotten sick here a few times (peeing out my butt) and once, even before i finished eating food is ok-tasting if you like lunch with a side of self-righteous .... and if you dont mind squeezing your ass cheeks together all the way home they do serve dairy - saving cows to torture them later
(1)Denise A.
Yum Yum Yum! I Love this place! Every time I go to visit my aunt up in Capitola I stop by this place as it is literally just a block from her house. The food here is so great and the portions are huge so be prepared to share or ask for a box. They have an exceptional variety and everything I have ever eaten here has been phenomenal. I can't wait till my trip up north tomorrow I look forward to paying dear Dharma a visit.
(5)S R.
Bo Thai! I salivate just from looking at the words "Dharma's Restaurant." In fact, I think it's what's for dinner!
(4)Roberta J.
We eat a starch-based diet, so yesterday, with lots of stuff going on, and no time to cook, I used a Groupon coupon to get $40 of food for $20. There was a Kofta Korma special, which my husband used to love at India Joze years ago, so I got that, and a La Tostada for my lunch (I was starving and it was huge!); some baked yams, a mole burrito with soy chicken all for $18 with the coupon! The attendant advised I could have bought more coupons and used them - very generous of him - I'd only gotten one as I was trying to "follow the groupon rules". I've eaten here probably 20+ times in my years in SC; hubby doesn't like to order and sit and wait and then go pick up - but when we have dogs with us its nice to sit outside with them. I have to say the food is great (everything we've had over the years); its a little slow in coming, but I got a takeout menu and will call ahead and then it works for me. The menu is extensive and there is something for everyone - with time crunches because of family health issues (elderly parent care) I will be returning for quick, healthy food options soon!
(4)Kevin D.
A little pricey, but the food is worth it. The spring rolls are a great appetizer, and the veggie ruben is the best on the planet, meat or no meat.
(5)John S.
Diverse and dynamic selection of veggie and vegan dishes. Recommended: tempeh reuben, breakfast burrito, shakes (especially the dairy variety), nachos.
(4)Amanda N.
true to what other reviewers say, portion are HUGE. so are the prices, but its organic and vegan and delicious. *soy milkshakes (the vegan ones) = best thing ever! get carob&date combo, recommended to me by the cashier & it was awesome *bbq bluff & portobella artichoke sandwiches are amazing! *anything on that menu will fill you up in the tastiest way ever, cruelty free! also, i love their plastic animals they have lining the walls for kids to play with. im a legal adult but i like taking one or two to my table =P
(4)Bee B.
The favorite things I've had are the Nuclear Bluff, Maxi Cali, Nada Chicken Burrito and the Asian noodle veggie thing with the most amazing peanut sauce. I've probably tried most everything on the menu. And the only thing I never really liked was the BLT b/c the fake bacon wasn't what i expected in a bad way haha Oh and I hate that they serve chips with burgers instead of fries =o( But I always just ask for extra salad instead of chips. Other than that I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 8 years and this my favorite place to go and eat when I'm in Santa Cruz. When you are a broke student yea their prices can seem to be a lot BUT you get alot of food! I usually had 1/2 left over for the next day so when you look at it that way its worth it!
(4)Victoria R.
The Gardener's Dinner is fantastic. It's essentially a giant salad but the quality of the produce is excellent. I get it with soy strips. Some of the dishes can be a little weird. The portions are large. It' s a bit pricey but great for vegans and vegetarians.
(4)Andrew R.
best veg restraunt in SC? just on the more expensive side of things...
(4)Jacqui W.
I am a semi-vegetarian and my husband is not even close, but we both love this place! Everything we have ever ordered has such amazing flavor. It seemed a little pricey at first, but I know that using quality ingredients is not cheap. The portions are really big, so we usually split something. Gotta love the tex mex burger and the falafel (when they have it on special).
(5)Andrew C.
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).
(4)Reggie R.
We have eaten at Dharma's many times and we will keep coming back for more of their great vegetarian/vegan meals that are delicious. The prices are reasonable, the meal will fill us up and it is well worth the price. I have no favorite dish, I enjoy a different dish each time I visit. They have a clean place, with good service, and a nice environment, It pleasing to see the different people that come in and they have the same desire of food as you. A meal from Dharma's.
(4)ari s.
both the casual atmosphere and super fresh yummy food will make me come back again to this treasure.
(5)travis b.
Hear here for the "nada chicken burrito," the "brahma burger," the milkshakes, and the overall epic scale and scope of the portions at Dharma's! When you are done frolicking on the beach in Santa Cruz, get yourself some stamina inducing freshness at Dharma's, they won't disappoint.
(5)O. G.
during our one day trip to santa cruz, we chose to eat at dharmas and we are glad we did. although i would have preferred table service in a place this size, our food was great. they have a great menu and everything was fresh. the place was very busy so im guessing the locals know how good this place is. i talked with the owners, who've been there for years. they asked me how i found them and i turned them on to yelp. i guess they checked out us yelpers because i see they are posting some specials. now if they would just open one of these in every town.....
(4)Lisa J.
Good veggie food. I had their burger and some salad, yummy dressing. Lots of screaming kids when I went and I still enjoyed the place. Would recommend for anyone seeking vegetarian sustenance. Enjoy!
(4)Anna G.
Dharma's is one of my absolute favorite restaurants of all time. I miss it dearly since moving away from Santa Cruz. Every food item there is fresh, unique, and entirely delicious. If I could eat their nada chicken burrito every day for the rest of my life I would be a very satisfied (and chubby) girl. It's on the slightly pricey side, but you definately get your money's worth. In fact, some meals are so large that your lunch leftovers will serve as dinner later on. You definately do not have to be vegetarian to appreciate Dharma's in all its glory. I love it. Love it love it love it.
(5)kate s.
i like dharma's. i saw the menu online and it looked really boring and too healthy and bland but we went anyway (i can't pass up trying out any veg restaurant!) and i'm so glad we did. went with a bunch of boys who got grilled cheese and the largest plate of nachos (seriously, it was a tray not a plate) i've ever seen. but they have tons of vegan options and they have vegan cheese too! i had the tempeh burger and it was delicious. the staff was super friendly and the place is really big with lots of parking and seating and they even had an elderly woman's birthday party going on while we were there, which is so cute! the walls are covered with toys that you can play with while waiting to pick up your order. and i got a vegan milkshake. awesome.
(4)Greycella L.
You don't have to be a vegetarian or vegan to appreciate this place, it lives up to the hype. Informal with both cold and hot dishes offered as well as various smoothies and fresh juices this place delivers quality goods in large quantity for good prices. Worth getting in the car for, though be prepared for a wait...it's popular.
(3)Erin M.
mmmm... now this is good, quility vegetarian food. I love it. Pricey, but well worth it!
(5)Mona O.
Delicious! Bring a big appetite since the portions are huge and the food so good that you're gonna want to order more than one thing. We like to stop here when we're on a road trip to Capitola, Monterey, or Carmel.
(5)R H.
pro: the Ruben is very good con: price / potential quality due to large menu This place was just so-so. I think I would probably eat here a lot if I was a local but as an out of towner I think there are better places to choose from, especially within the price range. The menu is too extensive...it should seriously be page numbered. When I see a big menu like that I get worried because it's hard to execute on so many items perfectly. The desserts that were on display looked super dry and unappetizing. My bf had a chocolate shake, which wasn't very good. It tasted like cheap chocolate and wasn't very thick. It was kind of expensive for what is is. The Greek Salad was good but there should have been more to it for 10.50 (no bread or protein source). Felt more like a $6.99 salad. It was also hard to eat served in a deep bowl. The Ruben was very good however my bf felt like it was a bit small for the price. I would definitely order the Ruben again if we ever went back. Super taste. So, if you haven't tried this place I think it's worth checking out. The place was really busy so that's always a good sign.
(3)Lilith O.
Everyone who gave great reviews has pretty much covered what I love about Dharma's, but I have to mention the great salad, soup and rice options. I like to eat super healthily, and this option is the way to go, among a bunch of others, at Dharma's. The salads have really nice greens, grated carrots and beets, roasted seeds and very nice sunflower sprouts. They offer a long list of homemade dressings. There are a few different house-made soup options everyday, and brown rice as well! It is very, very filling and really a nice combo. I love, love, love this after a nice hike through the redwoods!
(5)Katie S.
Dharma's is a family diner style restaurant so don't go for the atmosphere (unless you're into the 1980s hippy cafeteria look). If you can get over that, the food is excellent, they have massive portions, and everything is very healthy. It's not fancy but it's nourishing.
(5)Peg F.
I've never had a meal here that I didn't absolutely love. Fresh, organic, local ingredients, loving preparation with great mix of flavors and textures, huge portions. What more can I say? It's great!
(5)Shari D.
I think that Dharma's is way too expensive for the food that you get. Vegetables are WAY cheaper than meat, but the way they price the food here, it's like they sprinkle it with gold flakes or something. I've never gotten sick here, and I'm pretty sensitive. The springrolls are pretty good, but I'm seriously hungry about a half hour after I eat. The spaghetti they used to have was good, with the garlic bread (yum) but I didn't see that on the menu today. I tried the potstickers, but they weren't that tasty, even with the mustard sauce and sweet-sour sauce that they gave me with it. I think they have some good things on their menu, but it's all new now. The last time I went there was back in the 90's... so things DO change. That's good, right?
(3)Victoria F.
We always pop over to Dharma's when we want something filling and wholesome. They have large portions which are relatively inexpensive. It's all vegetarian an they have lots of vegan options. I'd recommend the Brahma burger, Samurai Soup, the gardener's dinner salad with the Tahini Lemon dressing (but not all together cuz it's A LOT of food). MMMmmm!
(4)Rekha S.
I've been going to Dharma's sporadically since I was a kid. I usually go for breakfast- the burrito is awesome, and so are the tofu scrambles. I like the Greek and Thai scrambles in particular. I also like their salads and the nada chicken burrito for lunch or dinner. It's a little pricey, especially for the lunch and dinner entrees, but you get 2 meals out of it. I wish there was a Dharma's in the East Bay instead of Cafe Gratitude!
(4)Amanda S.
I thought the only place that existed for people with as many food allergies and intolerances as me was Saturn cafe. I was so glad to find Dharma's, which is far superior in quality, taste, and variety! I have been back there a bunch of times since my friend dragged me there two months ago swearing it was the best organic vegan restaurant food he'd ever had. I would have to agree. I love the dan-dan noodles. Tonight I had the vegan pizza, which was not as good, but I also ordered something I have been craving and contemplating since the first time i saw the menu: a non-dairy mint chip milkshake. At $5.95 you might think it's a bit steep in price (chocolate soy shake at Saturn is $5.25 but tax and tip make it the same price; since Dharma's has a more reasonably tip-jar scheme it ends up being the same cost as Saturn). One word: WOW!!!!!!They served me the shake in a pint glass with extra chocolate chunks, it was quite literally the BEST dessert thing i have tasted in YEARS.(Close second: Black China's vegan dark chocolate cake.) I used to love mint chocolate shakes as a kid and teenager (before dairy allergy) and this tasted exactly like those or maybe even better. They have a full menu of shakes that can be made dairy or non-dairy, and I cannot recommend them enough!!!! Next time I'm trying the peanut butter shake!
(5)Lily C.
It was THE worst vegan food I've had. My husband both ordered different type of scrambled tofu. He ordered Tofu Ranchero and he couldn't even touch his after seeing it on the plate. I ordered Curry Tofu and it was literally a big pile of mushy tofu with curry sauce and the other half of plate with potatoes. I'm Chinese and I love tofu but no one sane wants to eat a big plate of tofu. Skip this place and giver somewhere else a try.
(1)Nichole S.
Tahini lemon dressing forever! I adore the Brahma Burger and the Bow Thai. I love that (almost) every item has tons of veggies in it and that you can order a side of steamed yams. We eat meat, but we never miss it when eating here. It's very kid friendly--the toy animals are a great touch. It's counter service and the acoustics can be awfully noisy, but given those, it's perfect.
(5)Annabelle R.
Good source for healthy vegetarian food. I like the amount of options. The atmosphere leaves something to be desired, but I can see why this place has been a local staple!
(4)Lee O.
Been dying to try this place for years since I live so close. My son is a vegetarian so this is the perfect restaurant for him. There is a huge assortment of food and beverages to choose from. The prices are not cheap. Our meal for two was almost $40.00. I had the reuben and my son had the samurai soup and a fruit salad. We both had iced teas to drink. The portions are large and everything is fresh. We both really liked our food and want to come back to try other dishes. I am trying to justify paying these prices for cafeteria style dining, though. Seeing that the place is busy there are those who can afford to eat here regularly. It may be a while before we return.
(4)R. D.
PROS Friendly servers Good food Art No Cellphones allowed (lol) CONS A bit of a wait Vegan Tapioca My sister and her husband took me here on a visit to Santa Cruz. It was tasty and healthy! I love watching the people that dine here, everyone looked so happy unlike SF diners. I had the Dan Dan Noodles, recommended by my sister. The food was really good, they give you plenty so I brought some back with me. The next day it was just as tasty. Excited to return on day!!
(4)Greg P.
My wife is vegetarian and GF. This was a great place to take her for Mother's Day. She had a ton of choices and loved the "burger" she got. I had a veg Bo Thai that was very flavorful. The portions were huge, we had the rest of it for dinner! Our 9 year old loved the nachos and GF cookie- even though he isn't GF. We WILL go back.
(5)Kate S.
Amazing food!!!! Sometimes the prices seem a bit high, but their servings are big! My bf and I like: Garden burger. One of the best I've had Artichoke/Portabello Sandwich. Good w hot sauce added! La Tostada is an amazing mexican dish w a great salad
(5)Sarah Y.
The first time I went to Dharma's (2012), I LOVED everything. The food and service were both great. However, when I returned to Dharma's a few weeks ago the service was terrible (e.g., rude woman working at the counter, extremely slow food prep) and the food was flavourless and mushy. I can't support somewhere that is so inconsistent...
(2)Kendall E.
Great place to get an awesome vegetarian meal! Great for groups, families, even your non-veg friends! Huge breakfast plates, and wonderful dinner options!
(5)Robert L.
Y'know, it is alright for it's genre and it has it's appeal for a subset of health food freaks (around here, that's a very big subset), but I found eating there to be a rather masochistic experience. Not cheap, either.
(2)Bianca M.
Absolutely love the Seschuan Tofu, Spring Rolls with peanut sauce and the Breakfast Burrito. Yum! Generous portions, plenty of leftovers!
(5)Rafael P.
Great service and some good food. They also have amazing almond cookies. First time out in California and I'd certainly say this left a good impression about the quality of good California has to offer. I enjoyed the vegan pancakes as well as the other dish (can't remember the name).
(5)Tuff G.
Wow, for a great vegetarian lunch choice, definitely check this place out. The menu is quite large, and they cover such a wide range of items that it was hard to choose what to get. I had the tempeh Ruben, and it really was tasty. I would absolutely come back to Dharma's for lunch when I am in the area. The dining area is large and clean, and they have a nice size outdoor seating area with umbrellas. Dogs welcome!
(4)Mel L.
huge menu many items to choose from,love the garden salad,pesto pasta is amazing alot of food for one ,portabela mushroom artichoke sand a fav.here cant leave out the tostada also very tasty and plenty of food,always consistent,comfortable and inviting enviroment
(5)Hatter F.
Aside from Native Foods in LA, I can think of no other vegetarian restaurant that even comes close to this one. Just ordered to Bo Thai and it's insanely good. I got the small order and despite skipping breakfast this morning, I doubt that I'll be able to eat it all. Simply amazing. Not much in the way if atmosphere so don't come thinking that the place is fancy. It is more like a cafeteria. However, since I care more about the food than the atmosphere, I couldn't be happier.
(5)Lee W.
Love traveling and finding a nice place like being a vegetarian. Large portions. Took a bit too long to get our mains........and my soup came afterwards. Otherwise good.
(4)Tracy H.
Mashed potatoes and steamed veggies rock! I could live on those two items on the menu,,, oh wait the basic salad with the house dressing is out of this world! Thank you dharmas for being around for my vegan taste buds ..xoxo
(5)Ellen S.
Dharma's is my go to place when I want a good healthy meal. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and there are vegan options. The servings are so big that often two people can split one meal. They have excellent veggie chili and tempeh subs. Nice selection of beer and drinks. A great place to bring kids.
(5)Amina C.
A hit-or-miss place. Some foods are excellent while others are terrible. Don't order the nachos. My favorite thing about this restaurant are the little plastic animals. Eating here makes me very sleepy.
(3)Erica B.
I first tried this place a few months ago when my boyfriend and I were staying at a hotel down the street. I was looking for vegetarian food and luckily found this place. We now drive all the way from Fremont just to eat here, it is the best vegan restaurant I have ever tried!! I am a vegetarian myself, but my boyfriend is a definite meat eater and even he wants to make the drive out here! Staff is very friendly and helpful, and food is outstanding.
(5)Julie S.
Still like coming here for the food and chill vibe, but the RUDE, completely unfriendly attitudes of the cashiers are so insulting and make me think twice about spending my hard-earned top dollar here. How do they feel ok treating their PAYING CUSTOMERS so badly? It's simply unethical.
(2)Amit S.
Went to the restaurant reading all the reviews. The place has interesting décor. We ordered nachos and quesadilla for appetizer. Salsa was good. Quesadilla was super oily. Salad was plain but great. Teriyaki burger was different but ok. Bo Thai was also good. Nothing to rave about Other two dishes were also ok. Overall the portions are huge. One order is normally enough for two people for main entrees. Pricey for the quality. Enough quantity.
(3)Daniel S.
Good food, well made and tasty. Gluten free menu.
(5)Zizi A.
The worst restaurant I've ever been to. The service was just as bad as the food quality. I honestly can't trust yelp after my experience at this restaurant... It doesn't deserve 4 stars ... Not even 1. save your money and time and avoid this palace!!!!!!!
(1)Monica A.
Delicious food, highly recommend for great vegetarian and vegan food. My favorite is the pesto pasta!
(4)Amy B.
Massive portions of tasty vegan. I got the curry and my husband got a sandwich, next time i will try the overflowing tortilla dishes. Atmosphere definitely lacking but I will be going back.
(4)Ariel K.
I give Dharma's 5 stars because they are a great place to bring kids, relax, and have someone else cook you food with really decent ingredients. I've never had them mess up our order and the service is fast and attentive. If you're looking for American style vegetarian food in Santa Cruz, and especially if you have kids, I highly recommend Dharma's. I prefer this restaurant to Saturn's, the other veggie "fast food" in town.
(5)Michael M.
Much, much better than I expected from a New Age , vegewhatever place! Good food, low stress, kids liked it. Great place for lunch, not very expensive. Give it a try!
(4)Cynthia B.
Stomach ache... the soy strips are not back. These are still different than what they used to use in the nuclear bluff. The Nuclear Bluff should be renamed Gut Bomb. It wrecks your stomache. I am leaving Dharma's at A-OK 3 Stars because they still have great salads and gf pizza. But, they lost credit in my book for this experience.
(3)Melissa O.
This vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free friendly cafeteria has a menu as long and complicated as the Cheesecake Factory. It's so complicated that it gives me anxiety just thinking about it. Our first time at Dharma's was about 4 months ago when we were scoping out the area. I ordered the wrong thing (an Indian curry) and felt really awkward that I hated it yet everyone else seems to love it there. Husband liked what he had back then (Bo Thai--a vegan Phad Thai) and tried getting me to go with him since we moved here. To his astonishment, the other afternoon I finally gave in. We came for lunch and both ordered sandwiches (after standing to the side of the line to figure out the menu for a really long time). The restaurant has paper menus at the back of the line, but they don't include everything they offer in it. Many of their lunch offerings and deals are posted at the counter in tiny print, where you can't read it until you are standing right there. Some of what we saw AFTER WE DECIDED WHAT TO GET included deals like: half a sandwich and soup for less than $8, quinoa, soup and yam combo for less than $7, grilled cheese and soup for less than $6, soup and spring roll for less than $5, etc. Those are some good deals! Instead, I ordered a whole TEMPEH REUBEN and it came with a side salad and potatoes. Husband ordered BBQ BLUFF and it came with a yummy coleslaw. My TEMPEH REUBEN was delicious, with a small amount of tempeh and a huge amount of sauerkraut piled high on bread. It made me see Dharma's in a different light. Check the website for those lunch specials I mentioned: dharmaland.com/restauran… And maybe decide what to get before you get there to make it a little less stressful. I'll be back.
(4)Christine E.
One star less for service. Curly hair mop head dude is sooooo incredibly rude and pretentious!!! Good vibes in Dharmas minus this joker.
(3)Kim C.
Meh. No idea what the fuss is about this place. -Absolute worst ambience of anywhere I've been to in a long time. Old, tacky looking banquet chairs and tables, hardcore cafeteria vibe, weird trinkets and super gaudy/groanworthy new agey framed pictures on the walls, etc. -Endless screaming children, super loud, hectic/frantic atmosphere, completely busy/slammed nonstop, rushed experience trying to order, then you have to try to hear one of the staff calling your name over a very questionable/quiet loudspeaker to come get the heavy trays of food yourself -Huge portions, but very average food that anyone could make at home and nothing special. We sampled the miso soup entree/bowl (miso was lacking umami/the dashi wasn't rich enough), BBQ sandwich (ho-hum sauce and one-note all over), the salad with dill dressing (passable), and some other items. If Dharma started carrying Beyond Meat again (I know they did awhile ago as that's why I was interested in coming here at all), it might be worth a trip. I think the problem is there aren't a lot of other options in SC for vegans, maybe? If a Veggie Grill opened up I can't see there being any reason to not just go there instead. Far better burgers and dishes.
(2)Jasmine A.
This place knows how to do vegetarian food! Big portions, flavorful, and lots of variety! Even if your not vegetarian you will find something that you will like! A must stop place whenever I'm in the area.
(5)Ashley C.
Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free friendly restaurant. Full menu of choices, including yummy desserts. :) My non-vegan friends also enjoyed it.
(4)Joe P.
Herbivore heaven. Burritos, pizzas, salads, pastas are all very good. Huge portions. A little pricey but you can easily share entrees or take home leftovers for later. Very chill, Santa Cruzian crowd.
(4)Lalu B.
Love this place! It's the only hippie style eatery left in Santa Cruz! The food is well-prepared and delicious. We love their pesto, any of their veggie stirfries, gluten free options, salads and salad dressings, soups. All of it is just wonderful. When you're done eating here you feel good too. Service is friendly. There's so much to love about this place. I just wish it was closer to where we live.
(5)Amanda H.
This is my new favorite place to eat! The food was so good! There are many different things on the menu, so there is something for very one. I had the pasta con pesto which was really good but I would recommended getting a small. The large is a huge plate filled. This is definitely going to be my go to place whenever I want to go out and that says a lot since I live in Hollister so it takes almost an hour just to get there! I'm really confused about the bad ratings actually....
(5)Zorin D.
I always have to do at least one vegetarian dinner when I'm in California. I have toyed with the idea of going vegetarian or vegan several times and I love really good vegetarian food. The thing is when it comes to that particular genre of food, either it is very tasty and satisfying and you don't even miss meat at all or you're served some bland tasteless pile of crap that simply angers you to no end. I ended up eating a Darmha. The eggplant Parmesan was the special and I decided to go with it and a apple juice with ginger. The juice was fresh and tasty. The eggplant Parmesan was made with good quality mozzeralla that stretched forever when you took a bite. You could see and taste the fresh basil running through the rich and slightly sweet tomato sauce. I love the no Cell Phone policy.
(4)Adrian H.
OK so I was born in Santa Cruz and am mostly vegetarian. I vote for democrats. I like having some vegetarian restaurants around and I try to support them. I don't mind quirky, santa cruz out there, weird, odd, etc. This place takes it to a new level though. At the point they are publicly joining the bandwagon to banish smart meters and outright ban you from having a cell phone on the premises they lost me. This is where hipster merges with stupid. Going to Dharmas has all the worst facets of going to the down town Post Office to renew your passport and none of the architectural charm. The employees are there only to remind you that you are invading their space. They are worse than bike shop mechanics. I asked about the soup of the day and was told "its posted on the menu." Don't expect a smile or for them to bring you the food. Don't forget to bus your own table! As if! The prices are high. The portions are quite large though. The food is actually pretty decent. Just not equal to the price. If you order dessert or fries with that you will be in for quite a lot more money. Go there once to remind yourself how good the service is in most restaurants. Go there to punish yourself. Go there to remind yourself how much you have changed since college. Take a friend there to prove you aren't a liberal. Otherwise skip it.
(2)Fassio E.
-HUGE portions -really good flavors -very vegan friendly I drive about 30 minutes to come to Dharma's and it's well worth it.
(4)Kate M.
This was our first time here. I had the Mediterranean Salad (excellent) and my friend had the Portobello-Artichoke Sandwich (also excellent). The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is the ambiance. A little too noisy and cafeteria-ish for me. Neither of us eats soy (unless it is fermented), so lots of times vegan restaurants are difficult for us. But this one is easy. Lots of choices. We'll be back.
(4)Crystal C.
Great vegetarian place, a lot of variety/ethnicities on the menu and as specials. I went with two other people and we all really enjoyed what we got--butternut squash ravioli, veggie burrito, and "chicken" mole burrito. Nobody get the molasses cookies, though--it was just overpriced, weird, chewy gingerbread, honestly. You order at the counter and pick up your food on trays at the counter, and get your own drinks/condiments, silverware, etc. Definitely agree with the other reviews that it's got a strong hippie vibe to it, but very happy with the food and the friendly staff.
(4)Sondra H.
Overpriced for what you get. Not bad food at all, I've just had better. There are options galore for the vegetarian and vegan eater, so for that it is good.
(2)Elisabeth C.
Like! Found this on my way to the DMV one day and now it's one of my go-to spots. Large portions, very laid back feeling, outtside tables, inside lots of room and take out. Extensive menu but Bo Thai remains my fave .......although their salads look amazing. It's veggie, but you feel like everyone can find something yummy. I feel comfortable, a positive and authentic group of people work here.
(5)Jenny K.
Gardener's salad with vinaigrette is AMAZING!
(5)Sandra R.
If I ordered long ago what I had the other day I would have been coming here a lot more often!! Years back I tried a couple of dishes, not being a vegetarian, I didn't get it and was not happy with my selection. Now I was overjoyed with the selection of foods. I ordered the Greek Pasta, small, and happy it was the small. I ate every bit on that plate, it was so good. The salad was nice and fresh with a tasty dressing. The bread was very good and the pasta dish was flavorful and just enough to fill me up but not stuffed. I didn't think the prices were that bad. The chai seemed a bit high; but it's homemade and oh so good!!! I had a groupon, which is what prompted us to go there. I'm glad we stopped by. I would like to try a few other dishes. The BF ordered the BBQ "pulled pork" I don't know what that substance was, but it was good. I didn't see anything about no cell phones; but I hate it when people are on the phone when you're out dining. Since I don't come here, I didn't even realize the water station, you needing to clean up after yourself and the to-go station. Very Santa Cruzan! The art work was colorful and very pretty. Can't say much for the staff. The food took awhile to come out, wasn't paying attention as to how long but they were definitely very busy.
(4)Dennis A.
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.
(5)Charlene K.
Great spot. All the food looks very healthy and appealing. We got the Fruit bowl, Mediterranean salad. All amazing and fresh. The dishes are large, but there was no tummy aches after eating here. This spot has indoor hanging plans and greenery that make you feel in touche with nature. Walls with featured artists works for purchase and I noticed little plastic animal toys.
(4)Laura G.
Pros: Amazing food-all of it! (Especially the lost taco), huge portions, large seating area, plastic Dino's, soy milkshake( and I eat dairy), tons of gluten free options. Cons: Hippy yoga art is a little much, expensive but portions are so big you can just split with someone and you'll both be in a food coma, their water tastes like sanitizer, slow to get your food sometimes
(4)Kaitlin M.
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.
(4)Prateek G.
Dharma's is one of those restaurants where I would drive 40 miles just to grab a meal. And I don't have many place on my "drive-40 miles" list. This place is a temple for vegetarians and vegans. check out their menu to find amazing meals. I have their Terayaki burger and it was awesome, big, and healthy. ;0 Keep up the great work with the restaurant, and ya NO CELL PHONES allowed unless you're instagramming your food!
(4)Pat D.
Breakfast Burrito /w no dairy add guacamole is my favorite. Big plates here, so my wife and I usually share.
(5)Kan P.
Be forewarned: the portions are enormous! I thought it was a bit pricey at first but then I got my order and it could very well feed three people! Man, I had to plenty leftover to take home! I had the Mole Burrito on whole wheat tortilla and it was pretty good. Good mix of flavors, lacked spiciness for my taste but they had habanero sauce for that! My sis had the Nada Chicken Burrito and it was so delicious! Overall awesome vegan/veggie selections. Will definitely go back to try other items on the menu! Also, love that Dharma's is a cell-phone free zone, makes time to enjoy the food in peace! :) What a cool hippie place!
(5)Shawn And Roxanna M.
I signed up for their newsletter and get a $5 off coupon. Thanks Dharma's!
(5)Sherri C.
What good are large portions of food you don't want to eat? We had the BBQ Bluff and the Nada Chicken Burrito. The BBQ sandwich was bland and gave hubby a tummy ache for the next 24 hours. The burrito was a pile of pinto beans and rice with cheese, sour cream, and soy strips served "open-faced" on a whole wheat tortilla with a side of tortilla chips. I enjoyed the flavor for about two bites due to hunger and then wished I had ordered something else. The most interesting part of the meal was my yummy soy mint chip shake -- and having Bragg's Liquid Aminos on hand. Being a fan of vegetarian restaurants, I was excited about visiting Dharma's. But unfortunately, like Dry Creek Grill over the hill, being overpriced and not hitting perfection in presentation and flavor hits the ratings hard from my point of view. My taste buds and my wallet are happier at Cafe Gratitude in downtown Santa Cruz, or at Happy Bamboo or Loving Hut in San Jose.
(2)John K.
Great for breakfast too... The few times my girlfriend and I have gone here, it's been mid to late Saturday morning and we've ordered the tofu ranchero and a short stack of blueberry pancakes - this is filling for the two of us! Very generous with their portions and very fresh and tasty! The only complaint I have is on a recent visit, they were quite busy, and we waited over 20 minutes for our order - folks that had come in after us were getting their orders - when we complained, we were given a bit of attitude from a young blonde girl behind the counter. Otherwise, the atmosphere is very relaxed and always look forward to the next time.
(4)Ali W.
Food is seriously delicious! The portions are huge, but that just means more leftovers to enjoy. The American Sauté is my favorite, their tahini sauce is so good, like I could drink it, but I won't cause that might be weird... Their shakes are also really good and super filling, vegan carob is my go-to. Staff is friendly, but there's an old guy who needs to smile once in a while. Atmosphere is quirky and eclectic, and yes there is a no cell phones rule.
(5)Ksenia A.
We found Dharma's about 2 years ago and have been huge fans ever since. This food is great, fresh, huge portions, and they keep lemons and many condiments on table next to water. The place has huge windows, it's bright, very quiet, they have outdoor tables, plants inside and outside, the restroom always smells like peppermint because of hand soap the use, huge parking. I love their fresh spring rolls, tofu ranchero and tofu with steamed vegetables, portobello mushroom burger, pastries with raspberry. There are other great dishes too. And they substitute sour cream for vegans. Oh, you can also sign up for their emails and get $5 coupon every Thursday.
(5)Rebekah S.
This place has a hugeeee menu with tons of options for every dietary need! We got the greek tofu scramble and the curry tofu scramble, subbed vegan cheese for feta on the greek one. The portions here are ginormous, but you can always take leftovers to-go, so it's a great deal! The tofu was seasoned really well and it was super flavorful. The greek one was a bit oily, I think because of the kalmata olives, and the vegan cheese didn't really go well. Besides that though, superrr yummy! We've been here many times in the past and every thing we've gotten has been delicious.
(5)JB D.
I had a "burger " tasted like dirt. It was just painful. The reason for 2* is my wife liked her dish but I can't recall what it was. They ought not to so emphasize quantity over quality - everything I saw looked huge ( including most patrons.). Funny you don't look vegan.
(2)Veronika M.
I am glad I live near Dharmas, however, there are a few things that have rubbed me the wrong way. For 1, I usually order a sandwich, and sometimes the bread is really dried out, as in, OLD. It's a bummer because the bill really adds up and it doesn't feel worth it to me to have old scratchy bread in my mouth. For 2, trying to substitute a side is a joke. I tried to order potatoes in lieu of the salad and chips, but the told me they couldn't do it. I had to order the potatoes as an extra side order, and they still gave me the salad and chips. I wish they had better sides. For 3, The other day I was waiting for an order I called in, no one told me it was in a blue moon box on the counter in front of me while I sat there waiting. Wasted a good 10 minutes waiting on that. No one said "Here you go! It's ready". That irked me. A lady was at the drink/utensil counter and I heard her saying" don't put your hands in there" repeatedly while her child swirled her hand around in the lemon slices. I would have pulled my kids hand out of there and said "No" and then brought the lemon container to the counter and apologized that it was contaminated. She didn't do that. Pretty gross. All in all, the staff is polite, there are restrooms, the patrons are usually quiet, decent people, and it's vegetarian/vegan food. I hope they can work on customer service more and maybe come up with some more menu options/sides and be more forgiving to those who want to switch out a side for another!
(3)Lorena C.
PLEASANTLY SURPRISED :) The decor is nice, with lots of uplifting art and live plants, and a waterfall in the corner. At first I was put off by the menu - nothing sounded that good 'cause I'm not a vegetarian - soo I eventually decided to play it safe and order the salad, soup, and roll. Wasn't expecting much, but the roll was hot and fresh, the salad (get the miso honey dressing) was fantastic! Toasted sunflower seeds, grated beets/carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes... yum! My friend ordered the pesto portobello pesto sandwich....delicious!
(5)Christina J.
I am not a vegetarian but choose to eat here often because the food is great. Big portions, quality ingredients, wonderful flavors. It is a bit pricey for an order at the counter place, but the portions are large. I usually get at least two meals out of one order. Highly recommend!
(5)Scarlett F.
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. ;-)
(4)Sarah S.
Native Foods used to be my favorite vegetarian restaurant until we ate at Dharma's. It is so fresh, healthy, and tasty. The portions are wonderful for the price paid. The good news is that it is only a hop, skip, and a jump away from San Jose! Nearly everythign on the menu can be made vegan which is a wonderful plus and the restaurant is clean. The only complaint is that we would have liked a more private table set-up but that is such a trivial thing really. Most of our children opted for macaroni and cheese and it looked so good it nearly made me wish I had ordered it too. The rest of us ordered burgers and a large salad (to share). The grilled potatoes were amazing and the burger patty is one of the best I have ever had in a restaurant. We got the mega burgers which also had what seemed liked soy curls and carmelized onions. YUMMY! The salad was super good and I loved the addition of the pea shoots and toasted sunflower seeds...just lovely! We came away feeling sated and light feeling just as if we'd eated at home. This is very rare to feel after dining out and we will definitely be coming back to enjoy more of the numerous menu offerings!
(5)Marianne B.
I love Dharma's. Quite simply...they make my life better by providing yummy organic food. I eat there at least once a week, sometimes more. My favorite is the American Saute. You can order it with quinoa if you like! If you get the large it's enough for two meals. I always save half for lunch the next day. And my other fave is Kitcharee soup.
(5)Sue G.
Hard to rate as there so many variables. The menu selection for those wanting vegetarian/vegan is huge. We went for breakfast, and as we were ordering at the register, my husband had a few questions about the pancake ingredients, and voile - the man at the register went to a card right there and read the ingredients! Very nice. And . .they use real maple syrup, not "breakfast" syrup. (of course, small portion of syrup. I don't remember what I had - so must not have been great or horrible. Not many people in the large Restaurant, so it was quiet. There did seem to be a few regulars you came and went. This was my husband's selection for an eating location - and he's vegan. When I asked if he'd return, his response was "no" -
(3)Dave B.
The food here is interesting, but make sure you go with someone who enjoys healthy eating. We made the mistake of bringing some friends to find out one of them was a meat-lover...it did not end well (in fact, it ended before it even began because he left). Nothing against Dharma's because it's decent good with a great selection of healthy eats. The Bo Thai and Indian Curry Platter are our favorites.
(3)Prashant R.
Thank you yelp for taking me to dharma. Its located in a nondescript strip mall with tons of parking. I was blown away by the variety of options, after being confused about what to order I chose to give the exotic tex-mex burger a try - not a very creative choice from a very creative menu :) I was pleasantly surprised it was very tasty and tiny bit spicy - it was delicious. The potatoes that came with it was ok. We also ordered the mole burrito - I had a bite of it and man it was yummy, my only complaint with the burrito was it is an open face burrito not your nice wrapped and packed kind. On the taste scale it was quite good. Of course its an order at the counter kinda place and the guy who was taking orders seemed a bit weird but who cares, ordering was 5% of the overall experience. When we sat at our table thats when I saw the board with the daily specials and I was cursing myself - there was some very interesting stuff there which we totally didnt see before ordering. Its a convenient place to eat if you have small kids or a large group - plenty of space and not super crowded. It is also just a short drive from the capitola beach. I am definitely going back next time I'm in that area.
(4)Miss Ally A.
Yum. Ambiance: Feels like a lunchroom in a school - nothing formal or too comfortable about it. However, they leave the "fluff" for the dishes they make. Post-hike, a girlfriend and I went in for some nutritional face-stuffing. Ordered: BLT Barbecue beef sandwich Pesto pasta w/ salad First off: portions are pretty damn big. Secondly, they're FREAKING delicious. Seriously - delicious vegetarian food + a huge menu covering just about everything you could possibly be craving: Thai, Mexican, American...is there anything else? :) Do it. Get 'er done and get STUFFED.
(4)Mardi S.
I went to this restaurant a long long long time ago, like 20 years, and had something so amazing that I still think about it and have been wishing since that I could go back often to get it again! That's how great it was. It was the most flavorful breakfast potato, and tofu mole dish and have never stopped craving it! I even had to reach out to people to get the name of the restaurant! They probably don't serve it anymore and I live an hour and half away but am thinking of going back soon to see. LOVE THE FOOD that much!!
(5)The H.
The food is good, but nothing crazy and so not worth the price. Restaurant is a little tacky, lacks ambience, and it's counter service, so absolutely nothing warrants the price. I think the only reason why it's getting 4 stars is because restaurants in the Santa Cruz vicinity are a joke.
(2)Tabitha M.
Gah.... Okay, brutally honest review time. A new vegan and longtime vegetarian, I'd love to love this place but have to admit that other than being veg-friendly there's just not much that's special about it. Granted, their vegan & gluten free cheese pizza is one major exception because that thing is the best darn vegan pizza I've ever had and enough to make this technically a 3.5 star review, but other than that most of the food is just too bland or uninteresting to get me super excited. Honestly, I've eaten at enough vegetarian places and cooked enough veg food myself to know just how amazing it can be, and I feel that Dharma's doesn't really do it justice. When I look at their menu, there really isn't much on it that I don't think I could easily make in about 30 minutes or less. What it comes down to is that, while the food is pretty good, I just wish that there were more creative and interesting things on the menu. I'll go there specifically for their pizza and when I'm crazy busy/forget to pack a lunch when I'm over that way, but most of the time I'll just cook the equivalent stuff at home. If you're here from out of town and looking for decent cafeteria-style food by all means stop by as well. Just please keep in mind that there is a lot more to veggie food than simply sandwiches, pasta, cooked vegetables, wraps/burritos, and tofu scrambles.
(3)Julie K.
The three of us came to Dharma's today for a very late lunch: plenty of parking since it wasn't crowded and rather quiet which was so nice so I could actually carry on a conversation with my family. $45 for so much food! Effie had the Tacos Al Pastor which came with a huge salad, the best salsa ever, an extra large plate of veggie such as avocado and tomatoes ($14.95) and a chai ($3.65). PW had a quesadilla with a side salad ($5.50) and a thick and rich carob ice cream milkshake ($5.95) in which she devoured all of it in no time plus a giant ginger/molasses cookie ($2.25)! I had the breakfast burrito which was so large that it over flowed my plate. It came with a huge salad ($7.95) and the most awesomest salsa ever. I had a cup of black coffee ($1.80). In the end we had 4 boxes of left overs! We have enough for tomorrow's lunch! NOTE: THIS IS A CELL PHONE FREE RESTAURANT AND THEY TAKE DISCOVER CREDIT CARDS!
(5)Fran M.
What the hell, I'm going to give them 5IVE STARS!! They have really come quite a long way from the Wholly Holy Sanctified and Over Fried glop of 2008's review. I have been there 3 times in the last 2 months and it's still a bit on the spendy side but the food is good, hot, generous AND totally organic. I am sure they pay the employees well and that itself justifies the prices. The Tofu Scramble/Curry is off the charts and that is from a carnivore's point of view. The potatoes are no longer old and greasy and the menu specials are interesting and well done. Good for Dharma's and good for Santa Cruz!!
(5)Don B.
Waited for over 40 minutes for the food, 3 customers after were served first, when I asked why, the employee turned his back and walked away. I sent an E mail, and got no response.
(1)Dan C.
As a local I want to give Dharmas a great review. I've been going here since I was in elementary school. But the only word to describe the experience I just had here was "hostile." I don't have a lot of money to treat myself or eat out so when I do, I don't want the occasion spoiled by rude people. Here is the verbatim conversation I just had with the grumpy slouchy flannel and baseball cap wearing old man at the till: Me: hi! do you guys make macchiatos? Him: No. (silence...) Me: oh...it's just an espresso with a little foam. Him: That is called a cappuccino. We have that. I've never heard of the thing you said. Me: ok...I'll have a yogurt and a single cappuccino. Then he grimly demanded my name and to know if it was for here or to go. There are a million non dismissive, condescending and rude ways of saying "I don't know what that is, maybe we could make it for you, what's the difference between that and a cappuccino? Etc". I don't know if he told the baristas that I was a terrible person, or they are miserable too, but when I came back and took a seat, I got "the evils" from the staff as I waited for them to call my name and eventually one said, "are you Danielle?" And gestured to my tray. No one smiled, no one said thanks for your order, how are you doing, what would you like; you know the normal friendly stuff. Also shouldn't a CAFE know what a macchiato is? Even if it's the fake Starbucks version? I certainly don't think I earned derision for asking for a shot of espresso with a dash of foam... If that man is having such a terrible day maybe he shouldn't work in a public place where he can spread it around. The yogurt was interesting and the cappuccino was alright, but that much milk makes me feel kinda yucky and I didn't want to interact with that grump any more about changing the amount of milk in my drink. PS grumpy old man: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca… "Caffè macchiato sometimes called espresso macchiato, is an espresso coffee drink with a small amount of milk added, today usually foamed milk."
(2)Libi K.
This is one of my favorite restaurants throughout the northwest. It is all veg, organic and most important delicious!
(5)Susie w.
The food is wholesome but the sour faced man at the register NEVER smiles or speaks to customers with respect. A total asshole, they need to hire someone with better social skills to meet the public. He always puts me in a bad mood when I encounter his deadpan face.
(1)Chen D.
My favorite is the grilled Cheese Sandwich that comes with soup and a salad.
(4)Dan K.
My wife and I visited dharmas for the first time today. We were very excited with all of the vegan options they had to offer. One big problem!!!! We ordered a vegan pizza specifically VEGAN and we were served a non vegan pizza. I've been vegan for three years and it is a huge part of my life that I take very serious. I took a bite and asked my wife if this looked vegan and she didn't think so. So I went up to the front and asked and they told me "sorry I must have pressed the wrong button when I put in your order". This was the first time I've had dairy in three years and is completely unacceptable. Be very cautious ordering VEGAN options here, I would confirm the order multiple times so it gets down properly or you'll be like me fed dairy not by choice but because of the lack of focus by the staff.
(1)Kellie D.
My 10 year old twins and I went here one Sunday morning for breakfast. The place was empty, our first clue. I ordered 3 plates of pancakes (2 pancakes per plate), and asked for bananas and nuts in 2 of them. The total was $26 something, and I was shocked! For 6 pancakes?? After some questioning on the price, I took out the bananas and nuts (exorbitant charge for them) and just ordered 3 plates of plain pancakes. The charge went to $17. We were still the only ones there and it took them 30 minutes to make the pancakes, we were starving by then. Finally, the cashier brought out 2 plates of pancakes. When I asked where the 3rd plate was, he said I only ordered 2 plates! So 3 of us split 4 pancakes that we paid $17 for, then because we were still hungry we went home and made a real breakfast. Needless to say we will not be going there again!
(1)Sarpreet G.
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!
(5)Brett B.
Consistently voted "Best Vegetarian of Santa Cruz County" Top Dishes Tempeh Reuben Nuclear Bluff Bo Thai
(4)Amber B.
Delicious!! Their menu has a great variety of food choices. And the portions are pretty big so there will be leftovers! There are usually a lot of people in around lunch time but there is a good amount of seating too.
(5)Skye J.
I had a hard time deciding whether or not to give Dharma's 3 stars or 4, but I decided I do love the feeling I get of eating fresh food when I go here, and their menu is hard to pick one thing because it all sounds so good every time. Although I am not a vegetarian, I love the veggie dishes that I have tried. As for the ambience and the location, I don't really care for it. It's somewhere that I don't technically enjoy sitting down and eating at. It kind of gives me a cafeteria feeling, but a fresh one.
(4)Nova L.
So love the vegetarian and the glueten free options but if you want to earn that last star from me please also be GMO/Canola oil free. I hate that neurotoxin that they keep putting in 90% of all processed foods like DAIYA cheese and salad dressings. How is it possible for Mustard gas to have been banned but GMO rape seed oil to be the most popular product in all porcessed foods. If your wondering why you have never seen a canola plant its because it does not exist. The word canola was made up from Canada Oil where most canola is from, then look up rape seed oil and you will get sick to your stomach and unfortunately need to through away 75 % of everything in your pantry.
(4)Nicole B.
I love this place. I can't get enough! Because I've explored the menu, one of my favorite dishes is the potato enchilada special. Comes with jasmine herbaceous rice, super flavorful black beans, and 3 enchiladas. A mighty portion great for sharing! Oh yeah...almost forgot about their amazing vegan bacon ranch salad dressing-pretty great for a vegan!!!
(5)Victor l.
Alright. I'm writing this for mis hermanos out there latinos. I'm not a big veggie guy but my girlfriend wanted to go and I've eaten at vegan places before and they always left an earthy taste in mouth. Didn't go to Dharmas expecting anything else. Boy I was very wrong. They changed my mind! Healthy food can be good for you! And taste heck of good! I had the Nada Chicken burrito and that was tasty!! And I had left overs. Wasn't too expensive either. I just had to get off my butt and post that because this place def a must try if you wanna eat for your health and not miss out on the taste. It's good
(5)Jia J.
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.
(4)Carolen M.
It was the end of my vegan month. Just 3 more days. I was dying. I thought I needed meat. I just ran what I thought to be only 7 miles, but in the end was 8.2 miles. I was aching all over. I wanted food. Yelp you have done it again. After I got out of my wet sweaty clothes..yes I did get naked in my back seat of the car (Thank goodness for tinted windows). My boyfriend and I ate at this restaurant. I thought wow, for once a restaurant with more than 2 choices for me to pick from and all of them were not just salads! We chose a burrito and a raspberry soy shake. I couldn't believe the amount of food we got for the price. You could have fed 3 people with the amount we got! They did not skimp the soy chicken NOT AT ALL! Truly a place for vegans and should not be overlooked when you're near Capitola. I will DEFINITELY go back vegan or not vegan. This was an awesome find.
(5)markus a.
Consistently good quality, despite slightly higher than average prices.
(4)Lanie L.
Please diregard my last review...IT DOESN'T REFLECT MY ABSOLUTE LOVE FOR THIS RESTAURANT. I simply bought the wrong thing, but seriously, Dharma's is now my favorite restaurant in the entire Santa Cruz area. Over here, you have PIZZA. vegan pizza! gluten free pizza! In the next quarter, you have MEXICAN! I recommend the Mexi-Cali! All there plates are HUGE and are piled on with beans, lettuce, tomatoes, guac, cheese, etc etc. the options are endless and they're piled so high, it's no longer a burrito anymore! You can substitute guac or avocado if you don't have cheese. Over there, we have SANDWICHES. If you have absolutely NO IDEA what you want, please get the NUCLEAR BLUFF. you won't regret it!!! Then we have breakfast, and salads, and international entrees, and desserts. The list is endless, most everything can be made vegan, all of them are worth trying, or holy chresses my mouth is watering just thinking about eating here again. The workers are super friendly and can help you with the menu. the artwork and decor is nature inspired and homey (I miss the Jesus-Buddha painting). This place rarely disappoints me and they put other "vegetarian" restaurants to shame. It may be a little more expensive, but trust me, the amount of food you're getting, pus the fresh, high-quality organic food you receive, is worth it. No more ice berg lettuce. Instead, enjoy a fresh spring green mix with the quality you can TASTE.
(5)Bob V.
Love the food here.
(4)Christine S.
Grrrr, darn you Dharma's!!!!! Ages ago I was "helped" by the owner, I was asking him which dressings were Vegan, and he seemed to have the biggest stick up his butt about that. He was so RUDE, and treated me like I was dumb for asking. He was so rude that I, for the first time, walked out. Well suuuuuurprise, surprise; The Vinagrette which he so rudely told me was Vegan, is NOT. It contains honey. Thanks a lot you grumpy assh0le. And, for reals, thanks to the counter girl who noticed I was ordering my food Vegan and mentioned that the Vinagrette, (which I had been told BY THE OWNER and many many other workers, was Vegan) was not and contained honey, that stars for you. I hope you got a good chunk of cash outta the tip jar that night! Update 01/09/13: The gluten free, vegan, pesto pizza is GREAT! Loads of "cheese" and super tasty pesto! I'm still grumpy as f*ck about the vinaigrette.....
(2)Samantha G.
Always go there with my mom. Huge portions! Vegan Chocolate Cake and Moroccan Mint Tea... then dinner.
(5)Beth R.
Was here another time....and.... I REALLY wish that Dharma's would open a San Diego branch! Love this place! So fresh, so tasty.
(5)Josh P.
Wow! One of the best vegan restaurants I've had the privilege of dining at. This is a must for any vegans in the area. I went with a committed carnivore who loved what he had too. It's just GOOD food.
(5)Shanna K.
What the HecK am I suppose to Say -- It's just F'n DeliCious!
(5)zio t.
Great restaurant and would rate higher, but had to knock it for the "supersize" philosophy. They should have half orders of those yummy burritos since they are WAY too big for one person and encourage unhealthy eating habits by serving far too big a portion. They have a small boring burrito but where is the fun in that?!? And since the regular burritos are priced at $12 after tax, there seems plenty of room to charge $7 or $8 for a half order. Hope management reads this. You have a great product but need to get with the times as far as providing healthy portions for your complete menu.
(3)Jeff J.
They have replaced the soy strips but they're not nearly as good as the old ones. The texture is mushier somewhat ruining the effect as a substitute. Still a great place though!
(4)Sophia T.
warning: I'm a vegan chef and I'm always looking for inspiration. This place has lots of wonderful tasties to offer. They feel accessible to folks although what I ordered was a pricey for lunch. I had butternut squash ravioli with vegan pesto. A sizable lunch for sure. It came with very tasty garlic bread (perfectly done), a lovely salad and unique dressing. The ravioli was outstanding. I have some gripes about the pesto. First off, loved the abundant garlic flavor and freshness. I didn't like how salty the pesto was and there was way too much of it on the ravioli. I ended up leaving a ton of it on the plate. It made the dish oily. it tasted delicious except for the salt factor. I like dishes flavored with good salt but I need very little to appreciate it.
(4)Amber K.
I've missed this place! It's not for lack of good veggie restaurants here in The City, it's just that I spent a considerable amount of time here growing up. I feasted on legends that it was once tentatively called McDharma's to mock the Double Arches before I actually tried it, and once I did I craved it. This last time I was there my mom got the tomato and squash soup, and it was absolutely to die for. I think I tasted cumin? I eat a lot of tomato soup but this one was by far the tastiest. I got the equivalent of pad thai with more veggies, but I can without a doubt say everything there is good and you can't really go wrong. All the portions are substantial, the produce is fresh, and the food style is all over the place (Latin, Asian, New American) but it's all done well. My ONLY complaint with this place (and most veggie restaurants) is that there is a tendency towards over-seasoning. I could do with just a little less sauce and salt. Personal preference I guess.
(5)Lulu D.
This is my favorite place to eat in Santa Cruz. It feels healthy and tastes so fresh, yummy, delicious. Make sure you order the right stuff though. Don't get things like Nuclear Buff or fake "trying to be meat" things. Blah! But get the international Entree's, the Bo Thai, or American saute. YUM. Usually their specials are great and big enough for two. SO if they seem expensive, just split it. All the mexican Tacos, tostata, mexi-cali, they're all good. Pizza just so-so. Stick to the fresh salads, (best ever) and the Samurai soup is delicious. if you're a vegetarian, you have to eat here. Even if you're not, eat here, it's good!
(5)Sarah L.
Went here for dinner not knowing what to expect other than hearing the food is good. I didn't know it was completely vegetarian/vegan. My meat eating husband was thrown for a loop! Menu has many options and they have daily specials on top of that. Kinda too much to choose from: veggie burgers, burritos, noodles, pasta and more. I guess it's all to fit whatever mood you're in. While the food was tasty, it was a tad expensive for a place that seems like a cafeteria-you pick up your order at the counter after they announce your name (if you can understand it) and place your dishes in a tub before you leave. Not sure why I tipped when I paid, but I did-might as well have taken it to go. The man taking orders seemed less than happy to be there, I don't think he even made eye contact or said thank you. The atmosphere/decor is odd and since it's a giant room, it was loud in there. There are several signs about not using your cell phone on speaker, apparently that's a problem?? I will go back to try other items on the menu as I'm a vegetarian and really enjoyed the Brahma burger, and the hubs liked his dinner-the spaghetti. Side salad was -meh. Looking at others' entree plates-they were huge! Lots of food so maybe there are things to share. I will give this place another chance purely for the food.
(3)Julie N.
Yum! After two meals at Saturn (greasy!) on a trip to Santa Cruz for the weekend, Dharma's was a welcomed find! Unfortunately we missed breakfast both days, but we left both times feeling satisfied. Can't wait for our next visit to try something new!
(4)Ilga H.
When I think of an organic, fresh salad, Dharma's always comes to mind first. I love their selection and I also admire that there are still yummy options for those who aren't vegan/vegetarian. It is a cell phone free environment, which means I can eat peacefully and it is also a very relaxing atmosphere. The food can be pricy depending on what you're ordering, but you won't be disappointed with their fresh selection.
(4)Jocko J.
All I have to say is the guy at the front is the most unfriendly holier then thow ass!
(2)Daisy A.
I would rate this place as 5 stars just for their sandwiches but I've tried a few other things on their menu and haven't been too impressed. The portabello pesto sub, nuclear bluff, and the portabello-artichoke sandwiches are to DIE FOR!!! The vibe is kind of like a cafeteria in there so I usually order my sandwiches to go and sit on the beach nearby and eat.
(4)Ha L.
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.
(4)L B.
Just had my first visit at Dharma's to celebrate my birthday with some friends. So yummy ! It was a hit with my non vegetarian friends.The portions are very generous & the prices are very reasonable. Eclectic ambiance which we enjoyed. The only downfall is that is not located near Milpitas. That said, we do have vegetarian house in San Jose which is equally good if you're ever out this way.
(5)Sunil R.
Excellent variety!! They have Mexican, Indian, Italian, Thai, Burgers and more...The noodle dishes were yummy. The hot dog and pizza were ok. And vegetarian means everything I ate is healthy too, right? How often can you say that you ate some food that was yummy and healthy? I really liked the cashier, genuinely nice and connected with everyone. I would go here often if I lived in Capitola or SC.
(4)Groovy M.
Crowded on weekend nights, for a reason! Really tasty and healthy food nicely prepared awaits the health-conscious eater. Not cheap, but the portions are plentiful and the staff are very nice. Only complaint is that service is slow when it gets crowded... had to wait a really long time for our to-go order, but once we got it, we were REALLY happy with the meai. Its not cheap, but it is good and healthy, and we'll be back!
(4)Boris G.
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.
(3)Juliana B.
Been going here since it was in a different location and called by a slightly different name. I have been a vegetarian for over 2 decades and I love this place! You get tons of food and they have a box of dinosaurs for your kids to play with while they wait. Love it!
(5)Michelle B.
Great place for lunch for anything vegan. Dharma's has an impressive selection of food and portions are generous. Good value overall.
(4)Anoop G.
I had heard about this place a long time ago but had the chance to finally visit it when at a conference in Santa Cruz. This a lacto-vegetarian restaurant and most of the food is organic as well. I ate there almost every day that I was in Santa Cruz. They have very limited choices with no onions and no garlic, but what they have is fresh and tasty and the portions are huge. They have a reasonably large seating area and it's set up where you order and pick up the food yourself. Wish we had something like this in the Sacramento area.
(5)Angela W.
I love this place. Simply fresh with great seasonings and cooked to perfection! It is all vegetarian. This is a favorite among the locals. You won't be disappointed!
(5)dave m.
Portions are huge. Fresh organic healthy Sums it up. I love the vegetable lasagna with garlic bread and salad, can't go wrong'
(5)Troy T.
Good environmentally friendly food and atmosphere. Haven't been disappointed yet.
(5)Aisha K.
As a non-vegetarian vegetarian food-lover, you can't get better quality vegan food than Dharma's. They have great variety and styles of vegan dishes, and even if you're not vegetarian, you'll love the flavors and it'll fill you up, without your ever noticing that there's meat missing from the dish! I always get the American Sautee, which is essentially like a huge stir-fry of yummy veggies and tofu, and it comes with a large portion of brown rice, and this tahini-garlic sauce that is Out. Of. This. World. Seriously. Existential-Dharma-speak. This place (and that sauce) is out of this world good. Nom.
(5)Carolyn G.
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 :)
(4)Neen M.
LOVE! Who doesn't love to eat at a vegetarian restaurant that has cow, pig, chicken figurines/toys as decor? hehe Really though! And who doesn't love looking at out of this world art/paintings on the wall? SO Santa Cruz and I love it. I ordered the Pesto Portabello Sub and it was the most delicious portabello sandwich I've ever had. The secret ingredient in the sandwich which makes it so different is the feta cheese. It's a definite kicker and totally gives an extra umph! The dressing on the salad is so tangy and complements the cucumbers on the salad perfectly. YUM! To top it off, who doesn't like to use Dr. Bronner's organic soap (cause that's what they have in their soap dispenser in the restroom) Refreshing place in every way! Will totally come again!
(4)Austin T.
Dharmas is all about vegan/vegetarian food. The helpings we had were huge. We could have ordered one meal to feed the 3 of us. It was also tasty too. The reason for only 3 stars is because for 2 days afterwards my entire family had stomach issues (if you know what I mean). I'm quite positive it was from Dharmas. It was the only thing all three of us ate and it started the morning after. If the stomach stuff doesn't concern you then give it a try.
(3)Vegan G.
Fresh, organic, delicious food. All vegetarian and quite vegan-friendly. Downsides are they don't consider honey to be an animal product (vegans don't eat honey!), it's often noisy, and they underestimate the time on call-in orders.
(4)Christina W.
Best selection of vegetarian foods!
(5)Michelle L.
My favorite restaraunt ever! Gluten free vegan pesto pizza and stevia drinks? I am in HEAVEN! Love the art on the walls, love the ambiance... LOVE that I can eat out with my bf and not get sick afterwards!!!! gluten free, sugar free, soy free, AND lactose free? no problem.
(5)Jessica G.
Long live Dharma's! I love this place so so so so so so much. I think this is the perfect spot for just regular everyday eating. Nothing is more exciting than being at Dharma's and hearing your name being called for your enormous plate of pesto tofu scramble.
(5)Tatyanna T.
LOVE Dharma's! Fresh, organic, healthy food, beautiful artwork and decor-tons of orchids and philodendrons lovingly draped along the rafters. We've been coming here for 20+ years, and can always count on something delicious and good for the body! Portions are huge, prices not cheap but they do send out $5 coupons each week for meals $20 and over--a good excuse to take my son : )
(5)Sid W.
McDharma's is a wonderful restaurant on Capitola ave., with a menu of tasty, fresh, and generously portioned food fit for vegans, veggies, AND omnivores alike! Usually fast (5-10 minutes for food is typical), always friendly service is always a pleasant surprise for my quick lunch fix. A nice, sunny dining area outside, and a spacious inside. These guys carry desserts, beer, and lovely artwork as well. Did I mention free wifi? Great food, generously portioned, for such a reasonable price!
(5)caio m.
Dharma's may be my favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the whole world (well at least N. America, Cen. Am., and Europe). The food has always been excellent, I've never ever been disappointed, imagine if say Squat & Gobble or Boogaloos (in S.F.) were all vegetarian or vegan plus served veggie Mexican, Afghani, Indian, Thai plus all the American comfort food in, repeat, all veggie or vegan and huge portions. The portions are also so huge, it's impossible not to take leftovers home. I swear by them, when I'm done with school here, it would still be worth visiting. Oh, and their gluten-free vegan cashew cheesecake is to die for. And yes, sign up on email list to get $5 off.
(5)Sara W.
I tried this place once and I'd love to go again once I'm in the Santa Cruz area. We had a Groupon, but the prices weren't that bad. I got the American Saute, which was HUGE and had the perfect amount of vegetables, tofu, and tasty sauce. I love good portions, so this place won me over. The BF got the BBQ sandwich and was impressed, as a meat-eater, how good it tasted. I like the casual feel of the place too.
(4)Shannon A.
I'm always satisfied with my dining experience at Dharma's. They have lots of vegan options and their entrees are always huge! They also have good beer and lots of vegan treats available. Please keep those vegan options coming...we appreciate it!
(5)Nick S.
Have you ever been to one of those places where you could order anything on the menu and be entirely satisfied? That's Dharma's in a nutshell. Basically, Dharma's is the vegetarian restaurant for nonvegetarians. They've obviously done their research on what people like and have put it on their menu. Like Mexican food? They have that. Like Thai food? there's that too. Like traditional American fast food such as a vegetarian chili cheese dog smothered in chili? Oh boy, do they have that. Be warned though: the portions are quite large.
(4)Trevor S.
I went to Dharma's for the first time with my wife a few days ago, and I refuse to go back. From terrible service to mediocre food to crazed portion control this place is out of my eating habits for the rest of forever. It started off with the ordering. I don't know who this old guy was, but he didn't give me any welcome feelings despite the fact I was handing him money. He had a hugely pretentious air about him as we ordered our food and drink. I ordered the mole burrito and a mint shake, my wife a burger and passion something iced tea. All said and done, I was out thirty odd dollars, so it can't be bad. We waited, and waited, and waited for our food. Five minutes after ordering, I notice one of the girls behind the counter is making a shake, albeit in a blender, so I get excited. When she is done, she sticks the blender in the freezer and leaves... now I am confused. Three more orders came in behind us and were served before we were (and before you think it, no, they were not soup orders.) We finally get our food after 35 minutes, my shake is reblended to make it shake like and we sit to eat. First off, there is no semblance of a "Burrito" in the mole burrito. It was a stale tortilla, slathered in vegetables in a brown goo then folded in half. The mole was uninspired, tasting only of cinnamon, and the vegetables varied from under, to overcooked. I keep reading about huge portions, and I can see that in this "burrito" but not in my wife's burger. It was a patty of homemade origin, lettuce, thousand island dressing and a bun. On the side was the most anemic handful of roasted potatoes I have ever seen grace the side of a burger. Even with my wife's help after she finished her tiny bit of food, we could not finish the monstrous burrito and I was left wondering "Where was that for the burger?" As we finished and walked out, I came to a realization as to why the food was so pricey, yet so mediocre. The decor of this kitschy place had to run them a fortune, and despite its huge size, it was nearly empty at dinner time on a Thursday. In the greater Santa Cruz area, there is vegetarian and vegan food at almost every restaurant. If Dharma's filled a niche at one point, it is no longer there. Skip it all and find a better place.
(1)Monice T.
The restaurant was so loud we could not hear each other at the table. It took 30 minutes for our food to come. My husbands dish was really good, but mine was just okay. The staff is not friendly or helpful. At least they had toys animals out for the kids while we waited a long time!
(2)Anne P.
We ate all ordered different entree and shared. We had the Indian chicken curry this was the winner of our choice very tasty. Next was the Bo Thai noodles it came close the rice noodles just didn't seem to taste right cause it was vermicelli instead of the regular flat noodles. The spaghetti and greek pasta both came side salads which could have been a meal in itself. But They were both a bit bland. The olives on the greek pasta was the one that carried the dish. WE had the vegan brownie (they ran out of the vegan chocolate cake) it tasted great! I could not tell that it was vegan! so we bought some to take home. we also had the soy vanilla ice cream... yummy! I would not mind the drive to come here again. They have more dishes that I would like to try.. and more desserts!
(4)Sam W.
Great, unique food. Four stars because the service was a little bit awkward for a visitor (it's hard to tell what the protocol is).
(4)Yuki G.
I used to live in the area for years and every time I make a trip back, I just have to have to dine at Dharma's, usually in the form of a huge vegan breakfast where I'm stuffed for the entire day. You can splurge at Dharma's on a variety of healthier to more junky options (vegan milkshakes). The place is kind of an elite, snobby, earthy, hippie place, like many places in the area. What I mean by that is that if you've been there, you know. They take the outdated no cell phone rule seriously. I'm not even a chatty bunny but having such rules bother me. I'd rather have an electronics free zone because you see people there with laptops whilst eating but I digress. The food is delicious and it's a local institution one must eat at. It's in a slightly odd location but parking is plentiful.
(4)Marika R.
This place is soo y u m. You sit in a jungle with amazing art on the walls... it's eye candy. Then, the food is divine. The portions are HUGE so I either share with my husband or friend, get leftovers or order sides. Try the mango lassi, or the garlic bread. It's noisy and you pay at the counter so its great for kids also they have these little animals all over the place that the kids can play with while they are waiting.
(4)Taylor B.
Worlds Best Restaurant.
(5)Murphy O.
It's where the pretentious hippie vegans eat in Santa Cruz. If you're one of them you'll love it, but I just want a burger after I eat there.
(2)debbie l.
We've been eating at Dharma's since the beginning and still enjoy it years and years later. I am a huge fan of the Lasagna and get that often. It comes with a side salad and bread and makes for a terrific meal. Dharma's offers a varied menu with something for just about anyone who is looking for a healthier meal. Over the years I have tried many things on the menu and they have all been good but I always go back to the Lasagna.
(5)Ali M.
Worst Mexican food ever and the atmosphere is so depressing. The Asian food here was tolerable, but I recommend eating elsewhere. The cashier was so depressing on top of it.
(1)Liz L.
Can't believe I ate at a vegetarian specialty restaurant, much less am writing a 4-star review for it. My vegetarian in-laws were visiting and we were in Santa Cruz so we came to check Dharma's out. I had the breakfast burrito which had crumbled tofu, and it was surprisingly good! The copious amounts of potato and cheese probably had something to do with it. Everyone else enjoyed their food as well. I'd come back if I was in the area with a vegetarian.
(4)Dee C.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. All time favorite restaurant!!
(5)jori m.
Delicious and HUGE portions. Would be 2 $, but since it seems like every dish really is large enough to share, I think 1 $ is more accurate. Cafeteria style, but ambiance is still nice in a clean hippie commune kinda way. I'd come back.
(4)Meggie M.
I came here because I had read about their gluten free options. I also saw that they offered vegan food but overlooked it in the hopes of it being somewhat normal. hum. The place is a bit too health food for me. I'm a lover of all pastas but some of the stuff they offer is alien to my pallet. Nevertheless, I ordered pasta italiano with brown rice noodles. I admit, I was very excited to try the gluten free garlic bread but upon seeing it, I changed my mind. The bread had a lot of weird, unnecessary seeds and nuts, too unusually healthy for my italian appetite. Slighty crestfallen, I opened my pasta. The pasta was actually better than I expected. The noodles were cooked all the way. Being gluten free raw, hard, pasta is something I often encounter at restaurants. The pasta italiano consists of garlic, butter, and basil. Dharma's didn't disappoint, it was very good, a little rich. I would recommend ordering the smaller size, as the larger size would probably feed at least 2 people. I also ordered a lemonade which was very tasty. Overall this place is a bit too hippy dippy for me. However, their pasta is good and I noticed they have gluten free deserts available as well. This restaurant is definitely a contribution to the gluten free food movement.
(3)Bill C.
I had a Mexican dish (vegan) which I would rate a 3. Ok but not anything that I would go back for. My wife on the other hand had the chili which she said was possibly the best she has ever had. I tasted it and it was pretty good. She also had a small salad that was actually pretty big. She loved the salad too. Food - 4.5 Atmosphere - 3 Service - well not really any service you walk up to the counter to order and they call your name when it'd done
(4)Jamison H.
This place is pretty damn awesome. Maybe "too much awesome?" The portions are very generous here, which justifies the high prices. All the food is vegetarian and they also cater to various diets, like lactose-intolerant. Only bad side is they use a lot of processed soy products as meat substitutes, which aren't exactly the best for the body, but at the same time its not a greasy cheeseburger, so... its your call. I'm sure you're not as picky as I am.
(4)Jordan F.
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.
(5)Shannon S.
I figured out their secret! Firstly, this place is an American food place. If you order any of their "international" dishes, be prepared to be disappointed. They pretty much use the same vegetables for everything and depending on whether it has cheese or peanut sauce determines if it's "Mexican" or "Asian" food. Boo! Stick with the American dishes. FYI, portabella artichoke sandwich... it is tastiness. :d
(3)Melissa B.
Dharma's unfortunately falls into the category of unnecessary excess. Waayyy too much garlic, waaayyy too much oil. I don't care if olive and walnut oils are good for you, I would like to identify the multicolored objects within the noodles. Are they veggies? Perhaps? I really wanted to like this place. I did. Perhaps it will be better next time? But they didn't win any points with me when they spilled cheese on the vegan dish and then just brushed off most of it instead of making a new plate. Bad Kharma Dharma!! On the other hand, their steamed greens and guajillo potatoes were quite good and they had a huge selection of items on the menu that wasn't just reinventions of tofu - yea! Also they have a nice variety of beverages. Refreshing!
(2)Louie O.
I used to eat here a couple of times a month simply because I'm trying to eat more vegan. The food was ok most of the time and the service, so-so. That's why I'm giving Dharma's a "Meh" rating. The last time I ate here I found a huge green fly in my lentils. Now I just can't bring myself to go back. Firstly, it's icky. Secondly, it's not vegetarian.
(2)Cathy M.
We had lunch for the first time at Dharma's a few days ago. Although I was very impressed with the extensive menu, healthy options and varied clientele, I found my food to be OK, but not great. The carrots, onion and garlic in the Mexican Saute were undercooked in my opinion and the food seemed to be sort of thrown together, not really thought out or composed as a dish. The small version cost $10.25 and although it was really pretty large, a Burrito Bowl at one of the fast food joints would have cost much less and would have been more satisfying. I'll try other items next time and perhaps update this review. I will go back. I often find myself hungry while running errands and I usually avoid eating out because it is difficult to find something healthy and light for a mid-day meal. Now I have Dharma's to consider. It is right off of the 41 Ave shopping area.
(3)Garrett K.
Super tasty vegetarian food. Love the tempeh rueben and BBQ bluff sandwich. Would give 5 stars but some items are a little expensive. They use a lot of local organic produce too.
(4)Andrea K.
I'd love to give Dharma's more than 3 stars because some of the food is awesome. The reason I can't bring myself to give it more than 3 stars is that some of the dishes are inconsistant and a few are lacking something. The hot dog-meh. The burritos-huge and filling but a little lacking. The spring rolls-I keep trying them because I love fresh spring rolls, but theirs always have dry wrappers and the peanut sauce is weird. And, I have to agree that the person at the cash register is pretty grumpy. Every time. BUT-they make the best salads ever and tahini dressing, the portobello/artichoke sandwich is delicious (super messy and hard to eat though) and the desserts are good. I'll keep coming here as I have been for many years when I want a filling, healthy meal. It doesn't bother me to bus my own dishes-the atmosphere is a bit cavernous but it's good for families.
(3)Maria Jose J.
This is my absolute favorite vegetarian restaurant in the Santa Cruz area!! The food is delicious, the portions are huge, there's something to please just about anyone since the menu has a great variety of foods.. I can't say enough about this place!! Family favorites are: Nada Chicken Burrito (too big for me, but great for a guy), Bo Thai, American Sautee, Dan Dan Noodles, raspberry tart, vegan tapioca, Pasta con Pesto (again, too big for me but my daughter loved it). And of course, eating there is an experience in and of itself with the cool decor and animal toys, etc.
(5)Mike N.
Dharma's is EPIC! Being one of the only all-vegetarian places in SC I have a little bias, but the food has impressed me every time. Food: Delicious. The mock chicken mole burrito is TO DIE FOR. Portions are huge! Price: On the more expensive side of things, but you can stretch a plate to last a few meals. Ambiance: Not bad, although a few times the worker behind the counter has been less than friendly. All-in-all, a great place to dine. Most of their dishes can be made vegan, which is great if you are....VEGAN!
(4)Kamryn W.
The first time I came to Dharma's was about a year ago. As a vegan, I was very excited to have a vegan-friendly restaurant so close to my house. I ordered a veggie burrito, waited for at least 25 minutes, only to receive a tortilla folded in half over HUGE vegetables- I'm talking large branches of broccoli, people. The portion was so huge and so not yummy that I ended up wasting the $10 it cost and had to throw it out. I never came back to Dharma's until last night- I was in a pinch and needed something to bring my boyfriend for his dinner break at work. He wanted "something to share" and since he's not really into vegan food I was out of ideas. I thought of pesto pizza- the pesto would cover any vegan-y taste to the pizza and it's "share-able". I remembered Dharma's and looked up their menu online, and was excited to see they have a vegan pesto pizza.I went in, ordered with a very rude cashier (can't hate on her too much, cashiering sucks), and waited only about 15 minutes until I received my to-go pizza. Let me warn you- I ordered half a pie and it cost about $13. Half a pie actually is 4 small-medium sized pieces. Also, its not really pesto- more like cheese pizza with some pesto poured on. However, it was DELICIOUS and the only vegan pesto pizza I've ever been able to find!! My anti-vegan boyfriend loved it too and didn't believe that it was vegan. ;)
(3)Miriam J.
The idea of a vegetarian diner is good. And the atmosphere is nice. The barbeque sandwich is by far the best vegetarian BBQ I've ever had. But most everything else I've had at Dharma's just isn't great...
(3)Cordelia W.
I absolutely love this place. I've been going threre more years. I've never ordered anything I didn't absolutely love. I am definately biassed being a vegetarian, but I don't think you would have to be to enjoy the food. There are so many options! My favorites at the moment are the Greek pasta, homemade vegetarian burger patties, and the macoroni and cheese. They offer way more than those, however. The portions are HUGE. The only downside a find is that the atmosphere can be a bit chaotic. A lot of children running around and it gets rather noisy. I don't dislike children, this is just not the place to go for a quiet lunch.
(4)Creative H.
I love good vegetarian food, but I despise this place, mostly because of the 80's decor, lack of good lighting, and overall horrible "ambiance." I am not sure about the kitchen. I wonder if it is clean. It's just a feeling, but for some reason, this place really makes me wonder. They really need to remodel, ASAP, put some skylights in, lots of windows, brighten it up, open it up, put some tables outside - whatever. It is just so depressing it makes me want a burger and fries.
(1)Jennifer R.
Dharmas, you are my organic rock. This places saves me whenever I want to eat vegetarian, and can't decide what kind of food I want. The last point is important: Dharmas has veggie burgers, mexican-style food, thai-style, pizza, you name it (except if it includes real meat). So if I don't know what I want ahead of time, I go to Dharmas and decide last minute what I want. They also have beer on tap which is great for when I eat there on a Friday night. But most of the time I take this to-go. Some of the items do seem a bit pricey ($10-11) but that's because the portions are huge and you really get two meals out of it (well, sometimes I manage to eat it all at one sitting, but that's just me). If you end up wanting dessert, get the braziallan tapioca. It is ridiculously good.
(5)Warren W.
AWESOME food. Huge selection, so happy to have vegan food. The crowd is interesting there, you'll see what I mean. You could get high just going towards the entrance. But dude, killer food. Highly recommend.
(5)Amy Y.
How could organic healthy stuff taste so good? I have no idea but Dharma consistently delivers that promise and more. If you're vegan, or gluten intolerent, you'll find your piece of heaven in their gluten free cheesecake and huge vegan selections! Bo Thai (spicy sweet peanut sauce) is excellent with their gardener's salad. Their Kombucha also tastes better than the store bought kind! :) The portion is large so even though it's a little bit pricier, you can easily split it into 2 meals or share with a friend.
(4)Autumn F.
I love this place. It is a very casual seat yourself kind of place. It is great for a quick easy lunch or a place to take your girlfriends after a surf session. There salads are my favorite they are always super fresh and there vinaigrette is one of my favorite dressings of all times. I always get the half order though or split the full salad because it's a little big for just one person. If you are looking for a good vegetarian restaurant this is your place.
(5)Christine T.
Love Love Love that cell phones are not welcome here. Don don noodles are a new item and tasty side to any thing here. The bbq sandwich today not so much- a little heavy handed on the tamarind and cooked a bit too long ( reminded me of roasted yak from the yellow sea province, not sure that was what they were shootin' for.) Salads are beautiful and soups can't be made any better than here at dharma's. nameste.
(5)Katrina B.
While visiting Santa Cruz Dharma's is a must! The food is great; they have large portions (you could definitely share) and a nice variety of menu options. I can't seem to break away from the Nuclear Bluff, it's so tasty. I made a second trip this weekend for a dessert pit stop on my way home. I had the OJ Freeze and it was quite the tasty treat. Orange juice, bananas and vanilla soy ice cream, what's not to love? You could easily make this at home for a fraction of the cost, but when in Rome... Every time I go in it's always packed so I won't count it against them for taking a long time to get our food. They can make most items on the menu vegan so your options are almost endless. I wish Sacramento had a place like Dharma's!
(5)Margaret C.
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.
(5)Danielle K.
If I could only eat one place the rest of my life this would probably be it. I hate that the word vegetarian or vegan sounds like it should look like grass and taste like dirt. Vegetarian and vegan can be just as good if not better than any other food and Dharma's proves that. The thing I really love about Dharma's is their mix of food. They range from Italian to Mexican to classic mashed potatoes, breakfast to dinner and dessert, salads and milkshakes. You could eat here 7 days a week and you'd still get something different every time. I've even taken a few of my friends who would rather eat at Taco Bell. Even they enjoyed and eventually became addicted to Dharama's. It can really satisfy any mouth.
(5)Amber P.
SO here is the dirt, Dharmas has great ingredients and healthy creative meals BUT, the food is so expensive for a counter style order dine. I had a small $7 salad which I will say was great and worth the price and some peanut noodles $9 or $10 bucks, that was good, not great. When I wanna go pick up a healthy meal I go here and then usually feel like I overpaid... If they were cheaper I would feel very different about them. Don't get the nachos.
(3)Lizzy E.
I love Dharma's! It's a great place to go if you want quality organic vegetarian food. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly (they even have plastic animal toys around for kids to play with while they're waiting) and you walk out full! I would have to say that my only Dharma's complaint is the prices. They're not horrible for the quality, but they are a bit high. Overall, a couple could walk out spending around $30 for dinner, but I guess that's about average. The ambiance is great, the food is delicious, and the quality is fantastic.
(4)Audreanne R S.
Yummy food, good service, great prices~ I'm a big fan of their quinoa, soup, and yam combo. As a vegetarian, I am impressed by their menu. I have never been dissatisfied there! I would say the only downfall is that the dining area is very much like a cafeteria so on a busy day you may end up sitting at a table with strangers and it can get quite noisy...still always a win!!!
(4)Shannon Z.
I liked my Dharma's meal but it was a bit too: 1970's, Hippy, health-freak vegan for me. I want milk in my mashed potatoes damn it! ( & I'm a vegetarian too) I think the thing to order here might be in the salads, they looked amazing and huge. If you come with a friend, split the meal- the portions are huge.
(4)Aaron L.
It's a vegetarian restaurant with a massive menu. For most vegetarians who must deal with their friends' choices in dining, I imagine that is good enough. Large portions (dare I say hearty?) Huge variety on the menu ought to leave us meat lover's happy and satisfied. I had "La Tostada" when my first choice (off the breakfast menu, services ends at noon) was no longer available. More of a salad topped with sour cream & guacamole than a tostada, but that is what the description promised. Oh, and massive it was. My friend had the biscuits and gravy, which left him pleased, and the breakfast burrito was 1) not a burrito (wrap the tortilla, not fold it) and 2) huge and delicious look'n. I'm giving it 3 stars -- I wasn't blown away by my food, but it was good. Perhaps ordering something else would have resulted in my being wowed; I look forward to going back and giving them another whirl.
(3)M K.
This is my go-to place when I am too lazy to cook. Portions are huge, atmosphere is chill, and an extensive menu to boot. The Nuclear Bluff is the best sandwich in town; vegan style with guacamole is the best way to order. The rice, soup & salad special is probably the best value in town and the soups are always delicious. And the vegan shakes are quite a treat! Highly recommended!
(4)chris b.
This place is absolutely terrible. I've ate at many very good vegetarian restaurants and I can not fathom why anyone in SC would like this place. Their vegetarian lasagna is a travesty to anyone who is Italian. I guess if you are a super stuck up idealist who likes eating crap to feel better about yourself then this is the place but i refuse to pay $15 for food i can cook better at home.
(1)Natalie Q.
LOVE Dharma's!!!! Not only is the food delicious, the portions are HUGE, truly getting exactly how much you pay for, and most of the time a little more. Quick service, delicious beverages, and the tippy top of their game for eco friendliness. The ambience is chill, the tables almost always clean from the last guest, and for some reason whenever I go here the children are less unruly then other restaurants. Another great place I would recommend for newly veggie or veggie curious!
(5)Cathy P.
Been going to Dharma's since they were McDharma's. I'm not vegetarian but always feel "cleansed" and so much healthier after a meal here (I know, it's all in my mind). I always get the small "American" saute, as portions, like everyone else is saying, are pretty huge. The "Killer Nachos" are just that, but share with about 6 friends - unless you are a competitive eater. The "Gardner's Salad" is excellent because of the freshly grated raw beets and raw sunflower seeds. You can never go wrong with one of their burritos or calzone, oh, or the lasagna, just expect to take half your meal home (they supply take home containers). By far the best deal in the house is the soup/salad/rice meal combo. And do try the lemon tahini, I wish they bottled the stuff. The down-side: when it's busy and/or kids are in the place, the noise is deafening. The up-side: there are ALL KINDS of plastic animals to play with (scary dinosaurs too!), but you'll have to fight the kids for 'um. One more thing: DO NOT wear your leather jacket into the restaurant, the contemptuous stares from the old unwashed hippies will ruin your experience!
(4)alisha h.
This place rocks - plus they have FREE WI-FI! Their food is pricey but the portions are huge - you can easily share and of the lunch specials. I don't have a problem paying more for fresh, organic, local, TASTY food. The menu is impressive with the amount of options they give you. Any meat eater could come here and not feel like they are missing out on anything. I like the casual atmosphere, art, and the free-spirited feel of this place. We need to support businesses like this so they stay in business. When places like this can stay open, we are helping to open the door that promotes fresh, healthy, local food!! Go Dharma's, Go Dharma's!!
(5)Salty D.
My first adventure here was nearly 10 years ago. I had a salad and was thoroughly unimpressed by the food and general aura of the place and never came back until recently after hearing so many people rave about the place. The aura hasn't changed, it still feels like you're in a tarted up high school lunch room, complete with trays, busing your own table, noise, etc. The cool paintings and fountain are the dinning areas only saving grace. However; the food is indeed a w e s o m e. The minute you step in the door, a pleasant aroma of exotic spices and generally nommyness hits your nose. Menu includes American classics, Italian food, and Mexican-inspired hippie grub. The breakfast burrito that I got was absolutely to die for, best I've EVER had as a matter of fact, and it was vegan *mind blown*. I'll definitely be coming back, the food is worth the lunchroom aura. Would be 5 stars if it weren't for the lunch room aura, especially busing your own table at full service prices. Both times I've been the staff was also really nice, until I asked a question regarding how things worked / where thing area and then I was suddenly greeted with that typical Santa Cruz elitist "oh, you mean you're not a regular..." attitude. Kinda used to that attitude by now having lived in this area so long, but it's still a bit irritating. It's as if they forgot that most sit down joints don't make you pour your own water and setup your own silverware. For a completely opposite cultural experience, checkout Fast Eddies next door after your meal.
(4)Lauren A.
Researched the word Vegan on Yelp in the Santa Cruz area and found out about the Dharma Restaurant. Went in and was overwhelmed by the menu! Ordered the special tofu curry veggie dish! OH MAN I couldn't stop eating. Fried banana's with shredded coconut on top, yummers. Expensive dish but I had plenty of leftovers! I also ordered a soy chocolate peppermint shake which was heaven but might have been too much, it turned my inny into an outty. Full belly!
(5)anjou k.
If you're into fake meat, you'll love this place. If you like real meat, you won't. I think it's great because you can actually get comfort food here. Most places that are vegan/vegetarian are just too healthy for my tastebuds and make me think of airplane meals. You know, when you ask for the vegetarian meal on the plane and get a stupid cup of fruit with your meal when everyone else gets cake. Not okay. I know, airplane cake isn't made by my favorite pastry chef either, but still... Anyways, Dharma's has lots of choices for those super healthy people, but if you like a little fat and cheese in your food, you will also have things to eat. The menu is a little overwhelming because there are SO many choices.
(4)Dustin H.
Amazing. Dharma's taught me that vegan food can be healthy AND filling. If you're vegetarian or vegan, or you just want a healthy, satisfying meal, you definitely need to stop by Dharma's! I've driven over the hill from the South Bay specifically to go to this restaurant, and I always bring my out-of-town veggie friends here during their NorCal trips. Okay, so it's a tad pricey, but the portions are very filling and nothing on your plate is an after-thought. I can't recommend a specific dish because I've honestly loved everything I've had here, but lately I've been in love with the portabello-artichoke sandwich. There are lots of options - how often do vegetarians have a whole menu of items to choose from? Try a salad if only for the amazing dressings (honey miso = awesome). Dharma's, can you pleeeease open a location on the other side of the hill?
(5)Evvy E.
If you're one of those people (like me) who fear restaurants that serve food from multiple origins, try to overstep your phobia for some tasty Dharma's veggie chow. This place has not only sandwiches, pasta, and pizza, but also a complete Mexican food menu and another section for International Entrees. Creepy, or delicious? Dharma's is the first restaurant I've been to where I choose the latter. I ordered the Bo Thai, and my dinner date got the Dan Dan noodles. We both found them really good and felt great after eating - they're Asian noodles, but the tofu and veggies make you full without weighing you down or stuffing you. I'm excited to go back and try something else. The only thing holding me back from returning soon is the lack of meat on the menu, but obviously as a vegetarian restaurant if there WAS meat on the menu, I don't know what I'd think of the place. With that said, the atmosphere is pretty trippy with plants everywhere and lots of old people - at least at the early dinner hour.
(4)M M.
My favorite restaurant in the whole santa cruz area, even after i've moved away to san jo. I'm not even a vegetarian. Almost every thursday after my yoga class we stop here (LOL SO HIPPY OF ME I KNOW) Everything I have had has been amazing as well as massive. I dont need to go to specifics because its all delish. e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. props though to the dan dan noodles and the mole burrito. However, the portabello and artichoke sandwich has changed my life. No joke, that thing made my own personal list of food that has struck me dumb with awe, right alongside food from michelin star restaurants in napa, sf, and beyond. ITS THAT DAMN GOOD. love you, dharmas. xoxo
(5)Scott C.
Still don't get it. Bland food on cheap paper plates with plastic forks for top dollar. Vegetarian food doesn't have to be bad.
(1)Marn E.
Dharma's has a great selection on their menu, with something for everyone. I wish we had a place like this in SF! The portions are big enough to share. The black beans that came with the tamales were delicious, the tamales were a little dry. The curry was very good. I was so excited to discover this place, if only it were a little closer to home...
(4)jamila G.
This is one of my favorite places in Santa Cruz. The lost taco is by far my favorite dish but you pretty much cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Their small salads are quite substantial and the miso honey dressing is amazing. Whenever I come back to visit SC, I go to Dharmas as many times as I can! The only negative aspect is the price; I always end up spending about $20 BUT its worth it....
(5)ally s.
went back today for a simple spring roll... with a fatty hair in it. i simply asked for a new one, and they gave me an attitude. MEH.
(1)Jessica R.
I come here way too often. But what can I say? I'm a lazy student at UCSC and sometimes cooking does not feel like an appealing activity after a long day of classes. I'm a strict vegan. And I'm definitely a stickler when it comes to eating healthy. Consequently, I love this place! The people who work there are always really nice to me. I think it's because I come in there so often. The prices are a little high, but the portions are gigantic; I know I've made 3 meals out of some of their portions. My favorite items are the Garden Salad, Bo Thai, and Tofu Ranchero.
(5)Ashleigh B.
This is a fantastic veggie restaurant. Everything I have had from here has been great. I love living in a town with complete veggie restaurants. I love this place so much!!
(5)Sara A.
My husband and I have tried Darhma's three times. It is always packed with happy patrons, and I especially love to see so many families with children dining here. It's comfortable enough, but nothing fancy. As someone else mentioned, it's more like a cafeteria. It's not the best vegetarian food I've had, but never disappointing. The servings are massive (honestly, sometimes a little too big). The soups are basic, but good. My husband is in love with the bbq "beef" sandwich. It is good, but there needs to be some kind of fresh vegetable (maybe some lettuce or something?). It is also huge and my husband and I are both full after splitting it. We got the peanut noodle dish once, and I wasn't impressed. Just kind of bland. I also got a special taco dish once that was kind of disappointing. It was, of course, a massive portion. There was way too much filling for the tacos, and that made it kind of gross and overwhelming. However, there were tons of fresh vegetables and avacado. We ate on that dish for three days, I swear! All in all, we enjoy Darhma's and will continue to make it our Saturday, errand running lunch or early dinner spot. The salads and pasta dishes look really tasty, and I'm anxious to try them. Also can't wait to try the vegan pizza. I don't find it pricey at all, considering the portions and freshness.
(3)Jenn C.
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!
(5)Tatiana R.
Dharma's is Y-U-M-M-Y!!! I am not a vegetarian myself, but I would eat here any day. The menu has a large variety, from soup and salad to burritos and stir frys, not to mention the out-of-this-world breakfast options. The produce is organic and fresh, and the portions are hearty. I personally love the salad-brown rice-soup lunch special, and highly recommend the kitchari. Definetely a Santa Cruz standard.
(5)M M.
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.
(5)Dee R.
I love the soup and salad deal 8$ super healthy and FAST. I get the kitcheree soup which is an indian aryuvedic "cleanse" style soup with lentils and brown rice and spices, it is EXCELLENT and something I wouldn't take the time to make/don't know how to make at home. Their salads are fresh and yummy and salad dressing tastes handmade I love the miso honey. There aren't that many restaurants that cook with fresh healthy veggies and keep it reasonably priced. THANKS DHARMAS!!!!! :) :) :)
(5)surfer b.
I really enjoy this place and have been coming for about 25 years even when it was in its old location on 17th. Food is consistently good and I really appreciate when you order something vegan, and they will substitute with guacamole or avocado which is really tasty. Probably the best thing on the menu is the breakfast burrito it's so huge it takes like three days to eat it :-) my mom really likes the tofu rancheros. Oh and the coolest is the produce is totally local/organic Route 1 and others. And they also have raw desserts sweeten xylitol not a agave, are you reading this Café gratitude whose desserts and much too sweet and not very healthy made with agave agave and more process sweeteners, will definitely continue to support this locally owned business serving amazing healthy tasty food
(5)Bryan S.
A must-eat experience! Our family can't quit this place. Every time we're within 40 miles of this great restaurant, we have to stop in. I love anything with their soy strips and my wife always gets the American Sauté. Must have raspberry tart, tapioca, and "cheese" cake, too.
(5)Deepesh B.
over priced and not worth the hype.
(1)Deborah N.
I've driven by this place for years and avoided it. Dharma's is a vegetarian restaurant and I was guilty of assuming that meant "boring". My husband and I were in the area yesterday with limited options so we figured we'd try it. I'm so glad we did! It was not at all what I expected. There were so many things to choose from and the ingredients were fresh and lovely. The portions are really big so we opted to split our lunch (I still couldn't finish it). It has a deli style atmosphere where you order and pay at the counter and then wait for your name to be called. We ordered off the specials menu so the prices seemed on the higher side compared to their basic menu, but since our lunch was big enough to split we both ate for about $7. Our trip to Dharma's turned out to be a huge treat and I can't wait for the opportunity to go back!
(4)Chelsea S.
This is going to be a lazy review, I don't feel like being fancy with my words tonight. Fantastic healthy option in Santa Cruz County. What makes Dharma's so awesome is that the portions are huge, making it a great value. I always share a meal with someone because it is really impossible to finish it yourself. Just last week my husband and I shared the mole burrito $9.95 and it was delicious, filling, and nicely presented for a take-out meal. Hmm, maybe we can go there tonight?! Are they even open for dinner? Oh yeah the pesto pasta is tasty, too.
(5)Linda D.
The food is awesome, however the person (I think its the manger) taking your order at the front is a prick. He always has this smug attitude as if he thinks he is awesome. I think the owner ought to get out a king's throne to take people's orders because that is how he sees himself. His counterpart, the guy with the baseball cap and the hipster glasses isn't any better. And don't even think about asking if something is vegan or the details of whats in your meal, you will get a half answer with a shrug and a blank look of boredom. I have been there 3 times, each hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with this guy and each time being disappointed when I see his wirey ponytail and his heir of superiority. I won't be back! Which is a shame because I really like the food and the ambience.
(2)Paola M.
The portobello - artichoke sandwich is AMAZING!... totally LOVED IT. :-) very nice atmosphere and what a menu. Hi 5!
(5)Cindy S.
Is this the Cheesecake Factory for vegan/vegetarianism!?? WHOA! Okay.. this place, ANYONE will love!! Huge menu...HUGE PORTIONS! I went for my 1st time yesturday, a friend invited me. I had the American Saute with Brown rice and loads of veggies that came with tahini dressing.. yuuummmmm!!! Dude... all I gotta say is... I am coming back!! HUGE!!! and yes that is what I said. =) HUGE!
(4)Mr. T.
A very pricey place for the quality of food. The staff is at times rude and unhelpful. The worst Pad Thai in Santa Cruz county, noodles overcooked, watery sauce. I tried to explain to the staff about the awfulness of the dish and they refuse to exchange it for anything without charging me for the new dish. DO NOT eat at Dharma's!
(1)Lindsay F.
The tofu Rancheros is out of this world. I"m never disappointed in Dharma's. Well worth the cost
(5)Carolynne K.
I ordered the chili dog, my partner ordered the reuben, and our friend ordered a BBQ sandwich. I didn't really like my dish but the boys seemed to enjoy theirs. The people around us seemed to be enjoy their meals - with a lot of people getting soups. I might try this place again, but it won't be at my suggestion. The menu is pretty large - but I think a large menu makes it difficult for a place like this to focus on making every dish good. And reading the other reviews, it seems like each dish is a hit or miss. The prices are pretty reasonable for the portions. My only other complaint is that the guy who took our order (the owner???) was unpleasant.
(3)Rachel J.
Love this place. Have been going regularly for the past 10 years. I am so grateful that restaurants like this exist in our world! I would like to see more raw main meals on their menu (love their recent raw cheesecake). I'm not a raw foodist, but love to eat raw when possible.
(4)Groovy K.
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.
(3)Denise A.
This was the first time I have ever been here and was amazed at the variety of vegetarian/vegan options! I had the Dan Dan noodles and LOVED IT...I'm not a vegetarian but was with a friend who was vegan and was glad I gave it a try! The food was DELICIOUS but the person at the cash register really wasn't very personable and, having customer service background, I wasn't very impressed...the five stars I would have given the place was lost on him, who didn't seem to give a rats ass about the people (me) he was helping...
(4)Erin O.
Maybe you have to be vegetarian to appreciate this place, but when I was vegan, I'd drive over the hill from San Jose once in a while just to eat their bo thai dish: organic vegetables and baked tofu sauted in spicy peanut sauce, with rice noodles, mung bean sprouts, green onions, peanuts and lime. You'll take home leftovers even with the half order. It's a very casual, cafeteria style place, but I expect nothing more in the Capitola/Santa Cruz area. My daughter can entertain herself non-stop with all the animals they have scattered on the half walls throughout the restaurant. She gathers them up and plays pretend while I enjoy my vegan food. I'm no longer vegetarian, but I still like this place. My daughter (6) often gets the fruit cup and the quesadilla and my vegan sister often gets and loves the specials (things like vegan meatloaf or stir fries). Sorry that one family got sick and the manager handled it poorly. But I've eaten there lots and never had an issue. If you're vegetarian, try it.
(4)Kay F.
LOVE this place. BEST vegetarian/vegan restaurant, ever, hands down. Even the non-vegetarians would love this place. My boyfriend is a straight-up meat eater, and he loved the burritos they offered. If you're an non-vegetarian and you're skeptical on the taste, don't be! Everything on the menu is so juicy and full of flavor.... and the best and most interesting desserts and drinks as well. I ALWAYS return.
(5)Christine M.
If you ever happen to be in the Santa Cruz area, you will see that there are many places you can go to get a good vegetarian/vegan meal, but I would suggest trying Dharma's out. Then you can hit up Capitola beach afterward or get some good surfing in out at 38th or Pleasure Point. The one thing I do miss about living in California is the selection of restaurants that serve a variety of vegetarian or vegan options on the menu. I wish they would open up a place like this here in Houston. The place is simple. There's no fancy design aspect to it, just really good food. The food is served in pretty big portions and everything is well made. This is coming from a person who eats meat too. So if you meat eaters want to venture a little bit and try some vegetarian food that doesn't fit the stereotype of being bland and just plain vegetables then you got to try this spot. I always have leftovers but luckily you can get some plates and wrap it in foil to take it to go and have the goodness afterward. As far as menu choices, I've had the tofu ranchero, breakfast burrito, nuclear bluff, tempeh reuben, portobello sub, and actually I've tried a lot of the menu items so no point to list them. Just know that they are really good. The service can sometimes be a down point at times because there are times when it can get pretty busy and finding a table is hard, but it's worth it.
(4)Desi Vegetarian I.
... tonnes of enticing options and huge portions - Go easy with the orders :) As close to heaven as possible is the Mint Oreo milkshake!!!!! Divine !!! Dan Dan Noodles, Greek Pasta, Indian Curry, Mexico Suate vegetables - all are exotic !!!
(5)Ryan T.
This place will blow your mind hole!!!! Best vegan/G-Free food I've had in a long time.
(5)Bailey M.
On a recent trip to the Santa Cruz area I was eager to try Dharma's due to some good ol' word of mouth suggestions and of course after reading the reviews here I had to check it out for myself! If I owned a cafeteria style veggie restaurant in Santa Cruz I would probably decorate it much differently; in retrospect I think maybe the fake foliage, Buddha statues and plastic baby pig figurines haphazardly strewn about did in fact add humor to the eating experience, albeit distracting humor. I'm a very observant person and when out at restaurants I take in ambiance enough that it probably affects my taste buds. There is definitely no other place quite like Dharma's but then again, there is definitely no other place quite like Santa Cruz in general. Before entering the building I was set on having a burrito but after the confusion from the multiple menus I was feeling overwhelmed and indecisive (just me?). My dining companion who is neither vegetarian nor vegan mentioned the pesto-roni pizza and I was sold at the mention of "pesto" and "pizza" in the same menu item as both of these are hot commodities for a vegan to find outside of slaving over them at home plus I convinced myself I was on "vacation". Even before becoming vegan I rarely ate pizza or pesto although I've always found both quite delicious, even more-so when combined! The pizza took awhile to make as should've been expected. My friend claimed to be famished and was not happy with the wait but found it worth it when our names were called. The pizza was HUGE!! I ordered what was supposedly half of a pizza and if I lived in Santa Cruz I would've definitely taken half of it home. I was really wishing I had someone there to share it with. It took me a solid amount of time to attack the pizza but the excitement I had for having pizza in a restaurant got me through it alive and with only minor stomach pain. I happened to get sick later so it's really a toss up as to what the biggest contributor to that was... the pizza didn't taste as good coming up as it did going down but after washing it back with a day of saltwater and margaritas I can't really blame Dharma's. If I ever go back for lunch I think I will stick with the soup+salad combo because although simple, it looked equally as delicious, much more economical and proportional! I like that they have gluten-free options as I try to stay gluten-free at home and reserve eating wheat and the like for social situations. Breakfast looks the most appetizing and I'm sad we didn't make it in time to have it!
(3)Nick l.
My niece cooks like they do: the more shit you add to the dish the more gourmet it becomes. I had the pad thai yesterday and every vegitable on earth was in it. It was about $16 and sort of missed the mark. Not that I do not love new, creative food...I just want it to taste good.
(2)M E.
The food is bland. The restaurant could be more clean. My burger was dry. It just didn't taste like quality food. Not impressed at all. 2 stars because they are an organic, vegan/vegetarian restaurant - yay for that!
(2)Erika W.
I've noticed that some people give out the stars pretty liberally on Yelp and I just want to say that a three-star rating for me means the place is good and I would go there again with no problem. I guess I would give this place 3.5 stars if I could do that, but as it is 3 is more honest than 4. Anyhow, I had their mega-burger and it was fine, but somewhat dry. It came with potatoes that were delicious. I also liked their drink selection. I realize that many people complain that healthy food is expensive and I appreciate their DIY service for keeping costs down. It's nice to be able to go to a veggie restaurant that runs like a taqueria- food on trays. I did not notice an emphasis on organic and local food which is what I am looking for in my food. Again, I know that makes things more expensive- but I'm always willing to throw down the extra money for organics. I had a bite of someone's philly cheesesteak and that was very tasty. It's kind of fun to eat some vegan interpretation of a philly cheesesteak once in a while. Every time I do, I am reminded of the reason I usually steer clear of the fake meat- it just doesn't digest that well! I would come back here and order some items that didn't involve fake meat so I could see what Dharma's is really capable of in terms of vegetarian cooking. All in all a very nice experience.
(3)Heather D.
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!
(4)Jennifer O.
I'll never forget that you were David to Goliath. Remember when McDonald's sued you for being McDharma's??? I'm so happy that you overcame and conquered with a sling full of veggie cuisine. Who needed that Mc anyway...
(4)Lil B.
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.
(5)Emily A.
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. :)
(4)Stacie B.
Great variety, almost all organic ingredients, consistently delicious! No matter what your mood, if you want good food made with good ingredients, look no further. This is a great place to take guests who are not vegetarian, the menu is so vast, they're likely to not even realize there is no meat on the menu! Great coffee too - each cup is made fresh to order. My only complaint is the cafeteria like setting, and the prices are a bit steep for a counter order restaurant (no waitstaff), but totally worth it.
(5)Chet H.
Prices went way up! 13 dollars for veggies, rice, and tahini sauce? So only the "well to do" can afford to eat well? No thanks.
(2)Jaydog P.
Ok the good news first, the flavors are awesome for the most part - especially the soups and the mac and cheese... Bad news - and it's really bad. It cost nine bucks for a skimpy plate of chips and cheese with minimal stuff on the side (they call this nachos)... I was hoping as a "veggie restaurant", that they would slip me lots of veggies especially for nine bucks! The place is comfortable but come on you order at a counter and they charge the prices of a four star restaurant. The mac-n-cheese -bomb! But again 8 bucks for barely over the size a side order should be? Not cool. Very little bang for your buck : ( If I say that I am a nacho man, you will agree. I almost cried when I saw what I was being offered in nacho. I let out a muffled "Harvey Keitel-esque" groan...round chips, some melted cheese and a bowl of beans...there may have been some garnish but everything went red at that point...
(2)Patricia A.
I am not a vegan or just eat plain old veggies, but if I go to Dharma's more and more I will be one. Seriously I hopw Dharma's is coming over the hill. This place beats out Hobbees in quality and quanity. I should of ordered a half of the mediterrian salad, but I did eat most of it ...it has Kalamata olives and the freshest red onions (watch out coworkers!) that I ever enjoyed. Great people, clean dining area. Go early for lunch. they have a full menu so it is definately a must try for Breakfast and Dinner (yes I like to update because I like it that way).
(5)Paula P.
Good fun vegey treats but for those prices a wait person and bus boy should be included.
(3)Janene A.
I enjoy going to Dharma's. The salads the are best in the whole world, and their soups are really great too. Their price is good. The only problem I've had there is how long I've had to wait for my food. The long wait is consistent with each visit, but so is my pleasure from the delicious food, once I get it.
(3)Jodee M.
Dharma's is one of THE BEST restaurants I've ever had the pleasure of eating at. Everything is so fresh and healthy! I ordered the vegie burrito this time out. It was SO ginormous that I had to take the rest home, which gave me two more full meals! The only disappointing thing about Dharma's is that they don't have one in my hometown of Petaluma. :-( If I could award Dharma's TEN stars I would -- absolutely FABULOUS!!!
(5)Muriel N.
I noticed one review mentioned this place was pretentious. My word exactly. Does anyone remember McDharma's that was in the old burger joint? I loved THAT place in the early 80's. Years later, visiting my home town of Santa Cruz I went to the present Dharma's. It was long ago enough that I don't remember the food really. I remember the atmosphere and experience wasn't great. I remember thinking: This is what that great little veggie burger place turned into? I haven't been back to Santa Cruz in years. I'll skip this place when I return.
(2)Jason B.
I've been to Dharma's several times over the years and find they have consistently good vegan food. They are one of the few places where you can get a good vegan breakfast, which a big plus. Last night I went for dinner and had their very good vegan Brahma Burger with spiced grilled potatoes on the side. For dessert I discovered this restaurant's shining star... I had the best vegan cheesecake this seasoned vegan has ever had, homemade or not. That insanely good dessert will be on my mind for weeks to come.
(4)Kathleen C.
Definitely a great place to take a vegetarian or vegan. Mad love. Some of the dishes are great- some are ugh. Totally depends on the lotto of ordering. I super love their chili & beans, salsa and chips are totally on point. My daughter hearts their pizza (which, let's face it, not so hard, but still). The hubby is IN LOVE with the cashew carrot loaf. I mean, obsessed. The lasagna is super good too, very full of veggies. My dad got the spanakopita (he is not a vegetarian) and he said it rocked! Also I've had a smattering of the desserts which are vegan and awesome. I do love the little plastic animals they have scattered around for kids to play with. Now the bad: they are sometimes rude when you order. Depends who you get. Also the food takes FOREVER so call ahead if you're in a hurry. Or don't be in a hurry. lol Overall big thumbs up, nice selection, healthy food. Def. recommend.
(4)Bryan B.
I was a bit daft when I first arrived here and I looked over their hamburger section. No veggie burger? I think the 4 hours drive that preceded my visit to Dharma's had me delusional, because I quickly realized that I was in a vegetarian restaurant. The food at Dharma's was quite delicious. You order and wait for your name to be called over the microphone. The decor is a bit random, with plastic ponies sitting next to plastic dinosaurs, but the space is rather large and I can see it as a great place to take a big group of friends. I had the Tex-Mex burger, which was described as a spicy soy patty with a spicy mayonnaise. The patty was more than just a Boca burger, which is what many bigger restaurants offer as their 'veggie option.' I would expect more from a veggie restaurant, and I was glad that this was the case here. The burger was accompanied by thick-cut potato wedges. I was a bit surprised to find Heinz ketchup packets as condiments, as everything else looked more freshly or locally made (dressing options were in plastic bottles with labels, there were no Coca-Cola or Pepsi products to purchase) My visit to Dharma's was random, but if I find myself in the area again soon, I think I would give it another visit.
(3)L C.
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!
(5)Marcy L.
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.
(5)Veronica R.
I had to dock 2 stars for the reason everyone else loves this place--portion size. Yes, the food is pretty good, but GD what is up with the massive portions?! What if you're NOT from the area and can't bring it home and don't have access to refrigeration?! I felt like a complete a-hole for throwing away 2/3rds of my food. Boyfriend can usually eat everything on his plate, but he never finishes his sides with the sandwiches he orders. The least they could do is offer a freakin' composting bucket so they can have less waste. I'm no tree-hugging hippy (okay maybe sort of), but GEE DEE! Dharma's probably wouldn't have to charge so much for their food if they just wrangled in those damn portions because let's face it--they're charging us full-service prices when this place is just a pricey self-serve cafeteria.
(3)Brittany N.
Dharma's Restaurant is soooo delicious and they have so many great and healthy vegan and vegetarian options (in fact, that's all they offer! :D ). You order at the counter and then they call your name out and you pick it up and bring it to your table. They have a few tables outside and lots of seating indoor. The atmosphere is almost cafeteria-like, but it's not too bad really. You're not allowed to use cell phones inside, so be mindful of that if you're planning on going their for a bite and to catch up with someone on the phone. You can order to go as well and it's always ready on time. It is definitely a bit pricey, but some of their entrees are very large and can easily be shared between two people.
(4)bill h.
I had the tamale dinner. It came with a salad that was really well done with a nice dressing. The two tamales were huge with really well done masa. The chile sauce that came with it was great. The black beans and rice that came with it were tasty. They put half an avocado on top. The cost seems high, but I got two big meals out of this and I am glad to support an organic, healthy restaurant that has a lot of history here.
(4)Rachel S.
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.
(4)Mimi B.
I wish I could give half stars on here. I would give Dharma's a 3.5. So I am rounding up. Dharma's is a vegetarian's delight! There is a huge variety of food and all are served in HUGE portions. I haven't gotten a plate at Dharma's or seen a plate that wasn't huge. My favorite is the Portobello Artichoke sandwich, it's delicious, hot and cheesy. Comes with chips, and there is various hot sauces at the bar.
(4)Chris C.
The Fiance and I came to Dharma's Natural Foods for a late lunch. Dharma's is a vegetarian health food restaurant located in a strip mall about 1 - 2 miles from downtown Capitol. Everything here is vegetarian, so for all you carnivores out there, you're out of luck. Also many of their foods can be made vegan if you're looking to go that route. Dharma's is cafeteria style dinning. You grab a menu, wait in line, order your food, and then later they call your name out and you pick up your food. Their vegetarian menu runs the full spectrum of food options, from Burgers and Sandwiches, Mexican, to Italian and Pasta dishes, Soup and Salads, Pizza, and they offer a couple of Japanese and India dishes too. They also have a breakfast menu offering several eggless options. Prices here are on the high side. For burgers prices start at $8, sandwiches you're looking between $6 - $13, and for entrees you're looking at $9 - $15. So be prepared to spend a bit more than your local deli. They also offer beer, wine, and a couple of smoothie and fruit juice options too. The Fiance decided on the BLT and since I wasn't hungry I just got the lemonade. After putting in our order, we found a place to sit. Dharma's has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which made finding table easy. While the seating was easy, getting the food wasn't. We must have waited like 15 minutes to get just a BLT and lemonade. We thought they had forgotten our order because several people behind us got their order before us. They called our name and the Fiance went up and got our food. Sandwich was about average size. There was a nice thick slice of tomato, plenty of lettuce, but they did skimp on "bacon". I had a couple of bites, and it was pretty good. I probably couldn't tell you the difference between this bacon and the real stuff. The BLT also came with 8 chips. How do I know 8 chips, simple, it was to full corn tortilla chips cut in quarters. It tasted ok, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about. The lemonade I got was average. Again, not bad, but definitely nothing to write home about either. In the end we spent $8 for a BLT and Lemonade. As for a rating, being a specialty place and the BLT tasted good, Dharma's doesn't deserve a 2 star rating, but the very slow service and high prices doesn't catapult Dharma's past a 3. Good option for vegetarians and vegans, but only if you have plenty of time to wait and plenty of cash in your wallet. In the end, I'm giving Dharma's a very weak and lack luster 3 star rating.
(3)Glo R.
I used to go here all the time, when I lived in Capitola 15 years ago and was a vegetarian (a 7 year stretch), and loved it! (ie This place has been around nearly-forever!) Now as an omnivore, I've moved back to the area, I've recently went back and few times and am still not disappointed. First, I had the mole burrito, which was good and about 3 meals worth of food. Last time, I had the Dan Dan noodles, which was good, but could have used a few more veggies for my liking. Hubby had a large garden salad, which again was about 3 meals worth. My kid loved the rice, bean and cheese burrito (but never really dislikes one). I love the fact that they have kombucha on tap, and the hubby is also always happier to have beer on tap. The other day, I got a slice of raw/vegan lemon-strawberry "cheesecake" to go. It was out of this world, but at $7.50/slice, it was over $8 out the door with tax - ouch! Still it was worth it... So overall, good food, healthy's always a plus, good drink selection, HUGE portions and a little pricey. But, you are paying for good quality, organic food.
(4)Charlie F.
When I first got to Dharma's, I was really disappointed by the location and the menu. It's in a strip mall and looks kind of like a Souplantation. Also, I thought it was vegan,but it's only vegetarian, with heavy use of cheese and other dairy. However, once I received my food and started eating, it was redeemed. I got the Thai stir-fry (I got the small portion, and it was HUGE) and a soy milkshake. Both of which were delicious. My boyfriend got vegan nachos which were also good. I also ordered the "pesto-roni" pizza to take to a party afterward, and it was incredible! I wish I had had more of an appetite. I soon grew to love the format of ordering and picking up food at the counter because it is super efficient. The order-taker was very helpful in suggesting vegan options. He even warned us that we might have ordered too much food (before I told him the pizza was for later). Also, they gave me directions over the phone when I got lost, which was really nice. I wish I could go back, but I was just driving through the SC.
(5)Angus M.
Great portions for the price. Had an awesome breakfast burrito here. And next to one of the few pool halls in Santa Cruz!
(5)Fido D.
Was recently here and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Loved the wide range of vegetarian option. I only wish it were actually in Santa Cruz (where I live) so I can bike to it. I rarely bike into Capitola.
(5)Putty S.
Great place if you are looking for vegetarian, vegan, or gluten free food. A variety of options all with super fresh ingredients. The portion size is HUGE so I usually order things to share. This also cuts the price down. Lovely for lunch or dinner.
(4)Susana H.
Food is good,huge portions. kind of expensive. Owner is kind of cranky
(4)Daddy O.
A unique dining experience. The earth/veg friendly cuisine will defy your conventional expectations. Their portions are quite large, and I can never finish what they give me, but I do feel that it's pretty pricey for what you're actually eating. You can easily drop $20 on lunch or breakfast here, per person. I removed a star for that. The cafeteria style eating is fun, and I love that they're such sticklers about keeping the restaurant cell-phone free.
(4)Purple Lotus M.
Price is high, but VERY BIG Portions!!! The biggest portions I have ever got anywhere. I steer clear of their salads due to past incidents, but overall it is excellent food. Love their Nada chicken burrito, three dog morning burrito, gluten free (YES GLUTEN FREEEE!!!!) Dan Dan noodles w/ rice noodles (I try to cut back on gluten), and their garlic olive oil pasta is great. I also like their bluff sandwiches. You will like it overall, and if you are GLUTEN FREE, then you must go here!
(5)Martha A.
The BBQ tofu, vegan shakes, tempeh reuben, and vegan cookies are great. However, the vegan pancakes here are the worst I've ever had. Prices are high, so I only go on occasion.
(3)katrina s.
This place is all about large quantities of healthy vegetarian/vegan foods. Although prices are higher than what you would spend on the average burger, there meatless Mega burger is delicious! It comes with big potato wedge fries and a pickle. I think its about $11. Usually I split it with my boyfriend since its a lot of food. I've tried the salads which are good and their specials are almost always good. I recommend signing up for their weekly special e-mails. They send a $5 off coupon with each email. Breakfast burritos are also tasty but huge. I recommend splitting.
(4)Tross T.
I'm a SC native and this is my favorite restaurant and I'm not even close to vegetarian. Everything served here is fresh right out of a local field and tastes to me like it was picked just before I collected it. Whenever a friend comes from out of town to visit, I try and take them here, to show off the best vegetarian restaurant I've ever eaten at. A friend from Berkley said she drove all the way down, mainly to eat here, sniff sniff. I usually order the Large Gardner's salad with their spectacular tahinni dressing. After I've eaten it, I feel so damn healthy and full. All the portions here are more than generous and my friends usually order more than they can eat, so keep that in mind. Great concept and great execution.
(5)Desi H.
I love Dharmas! They have so many options for people with all sorts of dietary restrictions, I'm always dissapointed that I can't order more. Even their smoothies are ridiculous! My favorite item on the menu is the veggie burrito (not vegan), and it is soooo good! It's also huge, enough to eat for several meals! The only thing I've had here that I really didn't like was the hot dog, but I'm glad I went back because ever since then the food I've had has been wonderful!
(5)Johnny B.
In 1981 after a harbor mouth surf session two friends and I hopped into my 63 VW bus and headed up to a new restaurant called Mcdharma's located in the building that now houses the Aloha Grill. Since that day in in 81 I have been hooked on the healthy good quality food that Dharma's provides. Yes I miss their old name Mcdharma's and I miss them being located in the more friend little oceanside Portola building. I do not eat their as much as I use to because I have never liked the new location, feels like eating in a business office. When they were in the old drive-in on Portola Drive their food was excellent but cheaper more geared to be a healthy fast food joint. It was perfect for sufers and their families.
(4)Chris G.
Food is great but the price is steep.
(4)Amanda H.
The Nuclear Bluff was amazing! Nice to see 'milk'shakes and pesto. Although, the overall prices were high, and our sandwiches and salads took a really long time to come out.
(4)Katie B.
The food looked great, but just a note for people looking for gluten-free food: they have many "gluten-free" items, but there is a disclaimer on the gluten-free menu which warns that gluten-free items are prepared alongside gluten containing items and using the same equipment, so if you are highly sensitive to gluten, you may want to steer clear of this place.
(3)Tracy A.
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.
(4)Brian B.
Disclaimer: This is a review for non-vegetarians, by a non-vegetarian. For vegetarians and vegans, this place is for you. For everyone else, skip it. Though I have several friends who love the place (veggie or not), I don't care for the overpriced menu which features tons of meals that look great to order......until I remember there's no meat in them. The interior is ok. You got to wait in line to order. The service is kinda slow. The destination is pretty out of the way. So...not my favorite. What To Look For While You Wait For Your Food: You can look at yourself in a mirror, hearing your own growling stomach.
(1)Brian G.
I had some pretty decent vegan pizza here, although for paying 14 bucks (with tax) for "half" a pizza I was hoping to be fuller. My companions lunch (sandwich and smoothie) ran him 20 bucks with a small tip. I love supporting vegan/vegetarian businesses, but this is just a little above my range considering the portions.
(4)K o.
You won't leave this place hungry, that's for sure. Good healthy and tasty vegetarian food. Going there today for lunch. Would go more often if I lived closer!
(4)Joseph G.
Oh yes, this has to be a personal favorite. The first time I went, I had the Breakfast Burrito, just thinking about it is mouth watering. It was a perfect combination of ingredients and flavors. The second time I had the Blueberry Pancakes and wow they were incredible. There where whole blueberries on the bottom side of the pancakes and were serviced with maple syrup. "Hazel G." nailed it in regard to the Vegan/Vegetarian conscious. I am not vegetarian but that doesn't matter because all walks of life can enjoy Dharma's. I highly recommend coming here with a huge appetite or a friend to share with because portions are huge. I just wish they would open on in Los Angeles!!!
(5)Nate C.
fresh organic foods with really great flavors (not bland vegetarian!). surprised to find nutritional yeast as a condiment. a little on the pricey side but the portions are huge. you can pack leftovers in their compostable to-go containers. the only reason i didn't do full stars is because the decor is lame. cafeteria vibes and paintings that look like scenes from avatar... still, highly recommended!
(4)