4. Restaurants

Down To Earth

2525 S King St, Honolulu, HI, 96826
  • (808) 947-7678
  • Store is closed

Down To Earth Menu

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Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Sonia H.

    Clean and healthy! Loved visiting this store during my visit to Honolulu. This place resembled Whole Foods with the exception that everything is even pricier, except for tax. If you're craving organic foods and don't mind splurging though, this is the grocery store for you!

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    We as humans have no need for a cow's milk, or a chicken's unfertilized eggs. A cow's milk is her own and for her calf, her body is her own. I grew up vegetarian but have since realized that if I truly believe in opposing the slavery and cruelty of animals, that would mean opposing milk and eggs as well. They are being exploited, otherwise to mention how unhealthy a cow's milk and chicken eggs are for an adult human! Again I love your vegan products, but because your store sells animal products I am withdrawing my business. Stop supporting the slavery and rape of mothers who will soon be used for meat when they can no longer make milk for a sick and greedy purpose! What do you think happens to her babies when they are ripped away from her soon after birth? Please go Vegan!

    (1)

  • Mihir M.

    This is a vegetarian & vegan restaurant, smoothie & juice bar, & health & natural food store. I had their Asian noodles once - you pick the noodles, vegetables, & protein & they prepare it. I also took items from their buffet which includes salads & global hot food items, and their cookies. The food was very good, priced appropriately - slightly high perhaps, with fast service.

    (5)

  • Alison S.

    this place rocks!! i love where we live because we are close to every place we need to go to and this is one of them. before i moved out here my boyfriend was always telling me about this place. and the first time i went with him i was stoked. prices can be a little high but it is vegan/vegetarian, so you kind of expect it. although when they have things marked down on clearance definitely a bargain. their produce can be hit or miss, and same with their yogurts and soy milks. my favorite part though is their fresh baked cookies and pastries, and the hot food bar :) at 9.95/lb we rarely get food from there. but on fridays they mark it down. their bulk section is awesome, and they have a lot of boxed teas to choose from. their vitamin section is pretty great as well. i would suggest signing up for their down to earth card in which you rack up points for every certain amount you spend.

    (4)

  • Marisa T.

    This is one of my go to places when I feel like eating healthy. The food bar is always fully stocked and looks fresh. I pretty much like everything in the food bar. The flavors of some of the cold dishes are amazing. You can taste every ingredient in there...which just adds to the good for you quality of the food. Just a warning that it is healthy... So you know what that means right? It's expensive. Together with a plate and a drink I could easily spend 18 bucks. 4 dollars of that is my drink so I actually spend about 14 on the food. People often miss it, but there is an upstairs eating area. The stairs are tucked in the corner by the juice bar.

    (5)

  • Chad A.

    This place is the best vegetarian market on Oahu. Huge selection, and knowledgeable staff.

    (5)

  • Melissa O.

    Love eating at Down to Earth. Wish I had a Down to Earth where I live on The Big Island. The food is so ono and even the coffee is great. I would eat there everyday if I could. I think the price is right for some great ono grinds!

    (5)

  • David C.

    So after three days of Kalua pig, Lau Lau, Malasadas and other delights my body decided it couldn't take any more. Down to Earth did the trick and I proceeded to make myself a badass salad to detox. Great salad bar and hot foods. Also make great smoothies. Need to incorporate in your trip just to give your body a break sometimes.

    (4)

  • R W.

    I am so happy to have found Down to Earth. The selection of healthy grocery options is great and the juice bar and hot lunch is delicious. DTE is a great alternative to Wholefoods with better prices.

    (5)

  • Shayna K.

    I just can't seem to keep myself away from Down-to-Earth's 1) salad and hot food bar (love anything they make with phyllo dough, eggplant, spinach, curry) 2) bulk foods (granola, flaxseed, oats, chia seeds, quinoa, barley, grain-sweetened dark chocolate chips, rice sticks, veggie chips, you name it!) 3) baked goods (bird bar, all the vegan stuff, the berry cobbler thing--oh, God, it's good) But I have to say I've been tempted to boycott the place now and again because: 1) their prices just go up and up and up 2) the salad/hot food bar are high way robbery at $8.99/pound when you can get lettuce for like $1.59/pound 3) I really miss Huckleberry Farms because at least they had animal products. Down-to-Earth won't even carry fish oil supplements! 4) this may be just a rumor, but do they require all their employees to be vegetarian? Is that even legal? But still, it's the best place to go when you want something healthy but are too lazy to make it yourself.

    (4)

  • Ashley L.

    This place is seriously a vegans dream come true! Friendly service with amazing selection. They have a full vegetarian buffet style deli where you can scoop your own meals or order from their counter. Also has baked goods which they mark vegan if they are vegan. Full freezer, cruelty-free beauty, cereal, baking products, everything!

    (5)

  • Art H.

    This health food store has it all. With a kid that's gluten free, finding places like this when traveling is difficult. They have a great buffet that's not expensive at all. She got the gluten free pizza and it was very good. Will go back again (and again).

    (4)

  • Terry L.

    The down to earth Burger and peanut butter are great The burger was delicious And shake was great,

    (5)

  • Stevie D.

    Juice bar, salad/hot bar, pizza and baked fresh sweets are great! This restaurant and grocery store is vegetarian so you won't find any meat to buy or eat. They validate parking. The staff is always friendly. Grocery store is a bit small but good.

    (3)

  • Little D.

    Love their veggie burger! Two for $15, good healthy dinner. Used to enjoy their plate food but not recently. Their baking goods are ok. They have good selection of food we like to buy. A few parking on the side, street and upstairs from behind the building. After 1630, Moiliili Community Center parking is available. Check their website for deals, cool recipes, cooking events as well. Free member fee, and member get $5 every $300 spending. Better than nothing. YELP 365 - 21/365

    (4)

  • Russ S.

    Overall, it's a very nice store where one can find a good selection of organic and local food items! Their prices are generally high, but they always have something on sale. The only major problem is that they don't seem to carry any meat or fish. In any case, this is definitely the place that I will be frequenting on a regular basis!

    (4)

  • Shay F.

    I just had dinner here today and I must say, it's going down hill. I used to really enjoy coming here, but I had the kale salad, which was not fresh and tasted like crap...and I had half a plate and it was well over $6. My dinner was $9 or so, and 1) I'm still hungry 2) The food wasn't great. I don't think I'll be back anytime soon unless I really really need to go for some odd reason... Yelp 365 Challenge #03/365

    (2)

  • Cheri L.

    Yeah, it's expensive. But it's hippie-dippy organic/vegetarian/vegan/what-have-you stuff. People would be suspicious if it was reasonably priced. Unless I'm looking for ingredients for something to bring to a pot luck for one of my super-organic-vegan-vegetarian-"but is it gluten free?" friends, I just don't shop here for groceries. The selection is nice, but price-wise, well... ouch. I love a good steak, the rarer the better, so I'm not exactly Down To Earth's target clientele. However, their hot/cold/salad bar is excellent. Pricey, sure, but the items that they offer are shockingly delicious for veggie fare. Their mock-chicken salad and mac salad are my personal favorites (it's all about the seasonings, and they season very well). Four stars for the awesome food and the wide selection of healthy ingredients that I never buy.

    (4)

  • Stefanie D.

    Not a huge fan of Down to Earth now I've discovered more veg-friendly spots on the island. The lunch buffet is never really tastes fresh. Walk down to the Da Spot if you're looking for lunch instead. I'd only stop at DTE now if I was in the area and really needed an ingredient for something.

    (2)

  • Cii H.

    4 stars because I love their great delicious tasting vegan food, but WHYYYY must it be so expensive!? Also, this location is very tiny and not a lot of space to spread your arms out. I found myself huddling through the store and constantly bumping into people. There's also a tiny seating area where the customers can eat, BUT it's filled with homeless people most of the time. They should expand their eating area for their customers.

    (4)

  • Nishad J.

    It's hard to find interesting vegetarian food on Honolulu. Even a poi stand I found barely had anything taro based. This place though... this place hit the spot. Tons of options for vegetarians/vegans. I really liked the Teriyaki and Italian roll up front as well as the eggless white chocolate macadamia nut cookies!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    Wish they had one in Chicago. fairly expensive, but if your used to Food hole AKA Whole Paycheck AKA Whole foods then you should be primed. Good selection of gluten free, organinc, holistic, non GMO, vegan, vegetarian stuff, but where are the doritos? I kid. What I love is their prepared foods or salad bar area, they even have macaroni salad in there cuz they know where they are at. Lots of choices, but not a ton of gluten free bread choices. I got a corn bread version I have never tried before, it was tasty. Really cool place, worth a visit for the fresh Lilikoi alone. Free parking. Holler.

    (4)

  • Shaun G.

    I'm all for organic, local, healthy, and all natural... but can we make it at least a little affordable? Staff is friendly... but there are literally no reasonably priced foods there. The hot food bar is tasty, but you have to eat child sized portions if you want to be under $10... Now I get supporting local farms and helping a good cause, so I'm down to pay more for it... but the stuff on the shelves is double the price what you'd pay anywhere else... for the same product. Make your shit cheaper and I'll come more, seriously.

    (3)

  • Angela M.

    This store does not contain animal products. I once made the grave mistake of asking for fish oil capsules. The worker looked at me as though I asked for leg of human baby. "Do you know how those are made? How the fish are TORTURED?!!". They may not have literally said that, but the words they uttered definitely had an equivalent amount of judgement and horror. However, I do enjoy shopping here as they have a lovely bulk section,a hot food bar oozing with health, and great sale prices. Plus, on an especially auspicious day you may catch a glimpse of the mythical Vegan. If you touch the hem of their linen garments you will increase your life by exactly one year and your hair will be twice as lustrous.

    (4)

  • Renee S.

    Just stopped by to check prices, as I use to shop here quite frequently before Whole Foods opened. Prices are still fairly high, unless "on sale". Store looks cleaner than before; never liked the birds that hung around their big sign. Employees are friendly and helpful. Veggies nice and fresh selection, chill items (soy milk, Veganaise, yogurt fairly expensive). Then again, it's hard to beat prices when Costco sells the same items. I did find my sweet potato chips I've been looking for so I bought the big bag!

    (3)

  • Ed L.

    This place I have come to love and enjoy shopping here, whenever I need something other than costco, walmart, and Longs. I agree that it is pretty pricey, but they are a 100% vegetarian themed, organic supermarket. I once was a vegetarian, so I can relate to the organic speak they use in the industry. I love the fact that they do have several locations around the island, but the one I go to is the one in town, near UH. Most of the time, I like buying in bulk (ie Oatmeal and the cereals) they have in the bulk bins. It saves me a little bit and it tastes pretty good. I want to support the efforts of the organic industry in Hawaii, but with Whole Foods moving into Kahala Mall recently, it's easier for me to commute to Whole Foods than to Down to Earth. But when I'm in the area, I would support Down to Eath as much as possible. Down to Earth is a local company vs Whole Foods, so maybe I should shop here more. Love the hot entrees they serve, although they are limited.

    (4)

  • Theresa D.

    This is the BEST Down to Earth between Kapolei, Kailua, and Honolulu. Love how they stack the gluten free pizza's, larger gluten free cookies, large yummy soup selection. I'll come here when ever I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Victoria S.

    Amazing selection of vegan/vegetarian options, but their prices are astronomical. It costs almost double for an item here as it does at whole foods or kokua market. Their food bar is really good, but again, much pricier than at whole foods or kokua.

    (2)

  • Turquoise S.

    There is a seriously negligent situation at Down to Earth that needs some attention. I just had my twentieth unpleasant brush with a drug addicted, homeless, crazy person in the outdoor seating at Down to Earth. Most of these people are not even customers. I sat down with my food under the umbrella that did not quite protect me from the rain. At the table next to me were two homeless drug addicts who were not customers. They were deploying the F word a lot and talking about a drug deal in Chinatown. Normally I just sit through these things, but this time I asked them if they could not swear. The man proceeded to insult me. He called me the B word and then five other insults to my appearance. So you pay almost twenty dollars for a meal at Down To Earth, and this is what you get. The last time I sat there there was a druggy, shirtless customer next to me who was using the S word a lot and talking about the time this woman stabbed him and stuff. It had been years ago but he apparently felt the need to talk about it now, over lunch, at DTE. Seriously, if you don't want this stuff to happen on your watch, it doesn't happen. DTE employees pass by there umpteen times a day.

    (1)

  • Evan F.

    I like and I don't like Down to Earth. In other words, I like Down to Earth for some things but not all things. For instance, I like some of their food items (namely the summer rolls with peanut sauce and baked goods). I think that their food, though, is way too expensive for what you're actually getting. I personally feel they prey on people's ignorance of vegan-organic food. What I mean is that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg just because it's vegan-organic. While I understand that they offer a wide variety of groceries, vitamins, and goods that aren't offered at all grocery stores, a lot of the stuff that you can purchase else where can be purchased for much less. For instance, I found the same bottle of spirulina that they sell at Down to Earth at Costco for a third of the price. While I'm sure a lot of people get a tingle inside their heart for buying it from Down to Earth rather than Costco, I honestly would just rather spend less money than drive out of my way to Down to Earth to spend more money. That much said, when I'm in the area I have to grab a couple summer rolls with peanut sauce and an oatmeal raisin cookie or some sort of baked good from Down to Earth.

    (3)

  • Reney O.

    I swear I got a little teary eyed as I walked in the other day. The smell of fresh produce, and all the grains and spices *sniffles* aww this reminds me of my beloved hippy healthy organic all natural Oregon!! LOL With mixed feelings of nostalgia and joy, I checked out their wide selection of bulk seeds, grains, and nuts available in dispensers- an idea which I wish more stores would follow. When I'm cooking and I just need less than a couple of teaspoons of a spice, I don't wanna buy the $8 bottle of McCormick from the store, especially if I'm only gonna use it once! Dispensable ingredients- this is why I can guarantee to be back at Down to Earth time and time again. Very helpful and friendly workers, great quality produce and other products, and a very clean store. Haven't tried their food yet because I was broke at the time, but I'm sure I'll enjoy the healthiness. Parking's not bad at all, great location, and Falafel King is right nearby! Overall, a great go-to place for the hard to find ingredients, for good clean produce, and all things healthy.

    (4)

  • David C.

    I really love Down to Earth. I have not tried anything from their salad/food bar but the one thing that I keep going back for is their pizza! Their pizza's are very dense...heavy in weight. They have a vegetarian and a greek pizza that is really tasty that I am always ono for. Bird Bar is too addicting... it is full of different types of seeds... you name the seed and it has to be in it.... pumpkin, sesame, flax, etc.... it is very tasty, chewy and on the semi sweeeet side. I am always stocking up on their bulk selection.... organic oats, stone ground wheat flour and dried fruits... my kids love the dried bananas and dried apples and the big ole tub of yogurt. I have purchased their 5lb bag of organic apples for on sale in the past.. but of course that is because they are at the end of their shelf life.... hey no worry... we make apple smoothies for the next 3 days and it's all good! If you bring in your own bag...and do your part to recycle they will give you a .03 discount. I know several stores do this but I noticed if I go in and purchase something that I do not need a bag for... I do not get a .03 discount? ( BUT I DID NOT USE A BAG!) I will definitely not argue with anyone for .03 cents... You have to go to their website downtoearth.org . They have lots of recipes for everything from main courses to beverages. A section on Innocent Animals, Vegetarian Deli Menu, a Blog and more...

    (5)

  • Yuko A.

    What a great little health store when you can't get out to Whole Foods...I didn't buy any fruits or veggies but there was a nice selection...I bought a slice of artichoke, pesto, and sun-dried tomato pizza - yum! It had a wheat crust which I usually never get, and it tasted great...The crust was crispy which is what I prefer...Although a little oily, I honestly didn't feel that full after it...It was definitely a yummy lunch, but a little bit on the pricey side. $4.50 for a rectangular slice...They had Pesto, cheese, Hawaiian, and some other types of pieces as well....I got a slice of Blueberry loaf, but I wasn't really a fan...I think it tasted a little TOO healthy for me :-)...It did have a lot of blueberries in it though... They have a fairly decent size hot bar, with items such as spanakopita and potato augratin to name a few. They also have a deli-ish spot in the corner where you can order smoothies and sandwiches... Its definitely a place that I will stop by when I'm in the area, but probably not go out of my way to go to...just because it is on the pricey side...I went twice today and both cashiers that I got rung up by were super friendly which is always a plus...For those driving here, they validate so make sure you bring your ticket in while you are shopping...

    (4)

  • Gspot H.

    been coming here for years. There is validated parking; parking upstairs. They got a few out door tables now to grind out. their salad bar is GREAT!! but COSTLY. They have an amazing plethora of vitamins and supplements. Staff are knowlagable

    (4)

  • Jonathan L.

    Been here a handful of times and I only have bought one item everytime as everything is so expensive. Even when things are on "sale" it is still expensive. Before you enter the store at night there is always a flute player outside the store asking for money. I guess it's a good idea because I usually see people giving him money. When you first enter there are samples of various snacks. I've only bought the acai packs from here and a tub of yogurt. I like this place because they have items that no other store has. The store is not that big compared other grocery store but it does carry a lot of items. Just no meat. There is also a area where hot food is served in addition to pastry's and coffee. The food is sold by weight and there is a dining are upstairs on the second floor. You can purchase other readily available food such as smoothies and burgers I come here every so often cause my friends are health nuts. But its always good too eat healthy. Oh yea I even saw someone buy $400 worth of grocery's one time. Thats crazy!!!

    (3)

  • Debora L.

    Loved-- concept of all-vegetarian market hot-food bar with Whole-Foods style listing of ingredients two aisles of bulk bins open until 10pm compostable plastic bags bird bar Did not love-- prices - 8.99 for hot food?! i rarely see a supermarket more expensive than whole paycheck. all in all, good option for vegetarian food in honolulu (which is scarce in vegetarian offerings). but you definitely pay the price!

    (4)

  • Coco L.

    I am a sucker for Down To Earth! Making the almost daily quest over I find myself spending almost all my money there. The food is healthy and delicious. If your going there to buy groceries expect to leave with a hole in your pocket. Although the hot bar looks delicious stay away or be ready to pay an arm and a leg for just a little plate of food! It is the biggest scam. You can never go wrong with their pizzas, calzones, manapuas, and any of their yummy baked goodies, which are actually reasonably priced. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Anthony N.

    If you're looking for legal cocaine, come here. Their coffee gets you wired as ****!! I get so hyper! I'm thinking about a hundred things at once, I feel like I can sprint 60mph and I can take down 3 Samoans!! TEHE! I just kidding! but foreals... Their breakfast blend coffee is clean and crisp tasting, its very good. ....And then comes the coffee crash..............*KTFO! Their baked goods are baked fresh daily with lots of variety to choose from. They have scones, blueberry or banana loaf breads, assorted cookies and many others. I enjoy their hot food bar at $8.99/lb, their curry fried rice is super delicious! I've never thought of adding cranberries to my fried rice before but its an interesting touch. Their pesto pastas are also delicious. Some of the items that get my attention is their granolas, yogurts, coffee beans, acai packs to make the best acai bowls ever! Their in-house fresh pesto goes great with turkey sandwiches! :) True, prices can be a few dollars more for certain items versus other grocery stores but they have great products.

    (5)

  • Jesse T.

    Eating healthy is a "Catch 22" for a lot of people. People would like to eat healthy, but the healthy options are more expensive. So you always end up back to where you were. Look up the definition of "Catch 22" to understand what I'm talking about. Let's say that we reverse this "Catch 22" and made healthy food cheap, it could be a win-win for both the store and peoples' health. More people would buy healthy alternatives because it's affordable and that would up the sales for the store while people are eating healthy. This means someone should open a health food store and take the leap of faith to be cheaper than everyone else and hopefully the market share would shift to their store instead. These are the kind of theories I come up with in my head sometimes. Weird, I know. But anyways, on to Down to Earth. This place is located near the corner of King St., University Ave., and Beretania St. You can park on the street or they have additional parking in the back. The service here is great. Almost every employee I passed by greeted me. I thought to to myself, wow, everyone here is nice. haha. I had a couple of questions and they were knowledgeably answered. One of the questions I asked, I felt sooooo stupid asking but it was funny. I'm the kind of guy that loves meat so I asked one of their produce workers, "Do you guys have any grass-fed beef." He looked at me with a smile and said, "Sorry but this is a vegetarian store and we don't carry any meat." I kindly replied, "Oh... got it... sorry about that." We both laughed it off. He recommended some healthy places that carry meat. I then made it a mini mission to find some kind of meat in the store. Low and behold, there was no meat to be found. Just a lot of meat substitutes. So this place is literally heaven for vegetarians or vegans. Unfortunately, the prices here are really expensive. A handful of the exact same items they sell are a lot cheaper at Costco and Sam's Club. But if you want to support small local shops then shop here or at Umeke Market (which does have meat btw). I think their pricing is their major downfall. But their location is closer than Costco and Sam's for some people and you don't have to have a membership to shop here. As for their salad bar, that looked pretty tasty. Maybe I'll try that next time I'm in the area and wanting to eat healthy. Final Comments: Great place to eat healthy and a great place for vegans but the prices are on the high side. I won't be shopping here anytime soon. But the salad bar looks promising, so try that. Overall Rating: "AVERAGE" Be healthy, eat healthy, and stay healthy... if you can afford it...

    (3)

  • Jasmine L.

    Hmmmm...Where do I begin? I guess from the start of my journey. I wanted to go to Down to Earth to find some type of organic/natural type of baby wash or lotion for my baby nephew, who at the time was having skin troubles. When you arrive at the store the parking is not clearly marked. So I just randomly parked where I thought the sign was pointing to and when I got out of the car it looked like the parking look for a doctors office. I had my 2 year old with me, so I was like, whatev, I'm just parking here. Then I put my 2 year old, who likes to reorganize(knock sh*t down all over), in the teeny shopping cart and went in. The store has very poor lighting and is very crowded, not with people but with all their merchandise. Shelves are roof high and literally only 2 feet apart. The fresh vegetable section is gross, it looks dark and dirty. This store has a very crowded and unwelcoming atmosphere. The employees are not helpful. I asked a worker where the baby products were, because it's so crowded I can't see sh*t. She literally just pointed and said nothing. I eventually found the baby products and they were literally covered with a layer of dust. I thought, ummm..I don't think I want to buy a baby wash for $17.99, especially because who knows how old it is. Gosh. I did end up buying Goji juice, pomegranate juice and a couple of sweet teas. When trying to pay, my cashier and another cashier where chatting about this customer wants to use some kind of discount card from her husband but theyre not together can she still use it, somehow that confused the other cashier so she needed to explain herself for a looong time. Rude much. Later that day we went to Longs and I saw the same sweet teas for half the price I paid. Dammit. To sum it up, I don't think will be going back anything soon actually never but whatev.

    (1)

  • Louisa N.

    I like their hot food and salad bar selection. I like to try a little of everything so it's east to go overboard. Charged based on weight. Very yummy recipes and made with quality ingredients. Parking is upstairs and very easy to find stalls. I have not shopped there for groceries yet though, and will write a review on that when I do.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Came here after not being able to find any regular grocery stores in the area. This place is terrible! Super overpriced and no non-vegan options it seems like because I didn't see anything that contained meat in it! Couldn't believe how expensive some of the stuff was! $12 for a frozen pizza and $6 for a quart of milk? Wtf! And if you want a reusable bag instead of paper? That'll be 18 bucks...ridiculous!

    (2)

  • Frankie R.

    The staff at down to earth are really well prepared for every thing..notified the clerk that the zevia sodas neieds to be restocked especially the cola ones in the single cans. I hope more people will see the hard work these people have done and make sure that everything is well stocked and refilled. I am glad to have a, membership to this store and I can also earn points each time I shop and i am glad that I can shop for the things I like.

    (5)

  • Victoria J.

    I love Kokua, but one thing that DTE has that Kokua doesn't is the hot food bar! When I'm too lazy to cook or go out to something elaborate, picking up something fast and easy from DTE is my go to. They always have a tasty curry, I love their eggplant, and one of the things my MIL discovered is their summer rolls with peanut sauce. YUM. As for the rest of the store, it's a better than average health food store with a wide selection of your various food needs.

    (4)

  • Joseph Jr. S.

    Pros Great products Healthy food and salad bar Friendly employees Cons Terribly expensive! Extremely slow moving lines because of outdated cashier technology Food bar is inconsistent, sometimes it's good, other times it is lacking Homeless people frequent this store and hang out in front of it

    (3)

  • Therese B.

    Awesome food, definitely will find stuff you can't find in major supermarkets (and some that you can). Also their buffet is great for vegans! I'm not vegan but their food was yummy. It can be a little pricey, but that's the price that comes with specialty food and diets. Sadly. However, they do have great options for the lactose-intolerant and those with food allergies. Worth visiting at least once and formulating your own opinion about it.

    (4)

  • Dawn L.

    I have a theory that Oregon is the kindest place in the nation because the people that live there tend to lean towards vegan/vegetarianism, tend to be eco-friendly, are kind of hippie and would basically be Down To Earth shoppers. Totally characterizing, I know. But I can't explain why everyone there is so darn nice. Which leads me to the rest of my theory...either the workers at DTE are not vegetarian hippies, or I am just super off in all my theories...which is probably very likely all the way around. :) I'm a little torn here. I mean, I've been to DTE a few times before and the only real impression I had was that it was a little pricey but I give them wiggle room since they are local and I'd support them ANY DAY TWICE over Whole Foods on principle: I am a rabbit owner, Whole Foods slaughters 12 week old rabbits for their freezers, though they claim to do it "humanely." But I digress. Walking through the entire store twice, only one employee ever approached me and asked if I was finding everything I needed. No one else greeted me, screamed at me, smiled at me, or acknowledged me. I saw enough of them throughout the aisles but they all minded their own businesses or talked to eachother only, never acknowledging me or any other customers around them. They didn't seem particularly happy--no one smiled. I was pretty impressed with the selection. My family are normal eaters but I am vegetarian so I usually get what I need at regular markets like Costco, Foodland or Safeway, but naturally the selection is minimal. I wanted a mock chicken strip that I could incorporate into a pasta dish or stir fry which I haven't been able to find elsewhere and they have it here. I also found several ground beef substitutes and several hamburger patty subs to get me through the upcoming 4th of July weekend when everyone is grilling burgers and dogs. Another nice touch: bulk spices. Who the heck wants to buy 27 different containers of spices when you needs 2T for something you cook once every two months, right? Bulk spices are genius. Amen! I visited the cold food case adjacent to the registers and while the selection was not bad, the food looked a little soggy and not too fresh. So I went to see what other prepared foods were available. JACKPOT! The hot and cold food bar was stocked with fresh foods (I might have just caught a change over from breakfast to lunch?) and there is also a fresh juice bar that makes smoothies, wraps and sandwiches. I grabbed a couple small containers and packed up some of the enchiladas and a variety of cold salads to take home. I can report that the vegetarian enchiladas are ABSOLUTELY the best enchiladas everrrrrr and I'm willing to suck on the chef's big toe for the recipe (no, not really...but it's super good). I believe the food on the bar is $9.99/lb. When I stood in line to pay, I was not greeted by a chilly cashier. I was asked if I had a DTE card or something...I don't but she didn't ask me if I wanted one or explain what it was. I'll figure it out on my own maybe. I probably want one but it would be really nice if they would ask. I feel like any other grocery store does. But she was about par for the course with the other employees in the store so I wasn't surprised. Hoping the people get better. The products are great. I'd like to be a long time customer. I'll be back again and give them another shot since I hate Whole Foods.

    (3)

  • Sean Z.

    Woooo Down To Earth rocks. The food here is delicious. But don't worry, you do not have to be a vegetarian or vegan to appreciate their food. Their donuts and cookies are amazing. Especially in the morning when everything is right out of the oven. The hot bar and salad bar are also great. It is always usually filled with colorful ingredients that is appetizing for the body and soul. The wellness department has a ton of things for your health needs from dietary supplements, daily vitamins, and wellness formulas. Don't forget, they also have whey protein and natural soaps for that post workout. Some if not most, will say that Down to Earth is on the pricier side but it doesn't mean you have to eat there every day... To me, the customer service is one of the main aspects that make it worth the extra buck. From the wellness clerks to the deli counter to the cashiers, everyone is friendly and knowledgeable and willing to be of assistance. Parking isn't too bad during morning or night hours. Lunchtime can be a bit of a challenge. When school is in session, parking can become a tad creative. However, there is parking on the first floor behind the store as well as the second floor (free validation). After 4pm you do not need validation. There is also limited street parking which I wouldn't advise unless you are going in and out. Costco and Whole Foods Market also sell organic products at a competitive price. However, DTE tries its best to buy local and recycle it back into the community. They are all great shops, but buying local is a plus at shopping with DTE especially if you like their products and service!

    (5)

  • Grace L.

    We come to down to earth instead of whole foods because it's closer to us and I personally think it's less crowded. The main reason we frequent Down to Earth is for their selection of grains/beans. My mom has gotten into the habit of making our white rice "healthier" by putting in a variety of beans (and stuff)- chick peas, kidney beans, amaranth grain, etc. I'm also a really big sweet tooth so occasionally I'll pick up some snacks here and it'll satisfy my cravings in a "healthier" way. They also have a HUGE selection of gluten free items. I know people who can't eat baked goods because they're allergic to gluten and it's fantastic to have this alternative mix. I had short period where my doctors couldn't figure out what I was allergic to so they suggested I stay away from gluten. Everything worked out and I wasn't actually allergic to gluten but serious props to people who can't have gluten because it's so hard to stay away from it. There's gluten in everything! But they do have a bunch of mixes available-cake, bread, cookies, pancake/waffles, etc for those who are gluten sensitive. Another item we get here (because it's ACTUALLY cheaper) is the fine sea salt. At sams club we bought a container for a little under $3 but to fill up the same container (with extra left), it only costed $1.40. I definitely wish I could buy more everyday items but it's a little hard to purchase all of our food products here since it is quite expensive. It's hard to buy things like sugar or flour or olive oil when you can get those things at sams or costco for way cheaper. However, they do have a lot of items you won't be able to find anywhere else. In that case, I think spending a little extra is worth while. They validate for parking and if you sign up for their membership card you can collect points and get $$ off your purchases.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    The coming of Whole Foods has really raised DTE in my mind. I think of it as David, King of my Jewish brothers, battling it out with the Whole Foods Goliath...but as a bit of a Philistine champion myself, I'm a bit torn in this ancient bout. Anyway, that being said I want to like Down to Earth a lot, I really do. So I hit the hot food bar and there were really appetizing looking selections. I loaded up on some grilled veggies that looked like they were grilled lovingly by Turkish exchange students in jorts and ill-fitted bandanas. Unfortunately while they retained a nice balsamic flavor they were like my heart watching The Notebook...mushy. There was some good hummus and the Greek Salad boasted generous sprinklings of Feta cheese. I grabbed a summer roll and peanut sauce which was alright but the rice vermicelli type wrapper was soggy. The long and the short of it is that they had good stuff out I prolly just hit it too late and hence some of the soggy action that brought it down a star. Would be nice to know when the bar is freshened up or initially put out to time your visit just right. The new parking up top is convenient but the elevator was a bit jenky so I walked up the ramp on the way back cuz being stuck in an elevator ain't my idea of a fun time. Hopefully it gets recalibrated soon.

    (3)

  • Maria Shea A.

    I really want to rate this place higher because I appreciate that they are right down the road from my house and I'm addicted to clean eating but I can't. They are expensive. The parking is slightly inconvenient (park in the garage and take a ticket, get your ticket validated and the cashier will not remind you). Take the elevator down. I think that they could do better on pricing. The hot food bar is mostly yummy but beware, not all of that is "healthy". Anything laden with cheese=yum but fatty. I've experienced stale food from the "serve yourself" bins. Good selection of items though I have yet to find an actual "VEGAN" chocolate bar. They have outdoor seating but I don't think they wipe down the tables often. EW. That's all I have for now. Whole Foods is my preferred place but this will do from time-to-time.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    $12+ for a single frozen pizza. GURRRRRL PUHLLLLEEZE. Don't get me wrong. I shop at Whole Foods and even Dean and Deluca every once in awhile, so I'm not shocked by exorbitant prices but here... nope. I was shocked at the prices for just about everything that is sold here. Brian P. and I came here specifically looking for cereal, milk, any sort of meat, salad mix, a tomato, and bread. Basically, cereal and sandwiches. Alas, this place only sells fake soy jizzle jazzle so... guess sandwiches were not going to be happening. We looked at cereals - WOW. Cereal is definitely not a poor college kid staple here. It's $5-10 a bag. And not even fancy brands. This is the same organic Nature's Path cereal that is sold everywhere. We ended up with some casava chips and a few other snacks. We also got some clearance milk for a little less than $4, but unfortunately it was 1% (bleh.) I looked at other items - Ecos laundry detergent I get in Vegas, and the large Costco size at that, is $13 at home. For the small size here - $20+!!! I get that stuff has to be shipped here, but really? These prices are crazy. Overall, while the store looks nice inside, the selection is too small and the prices too high to warrant a repeat visit.

    (2)

  • Amara E.

    Down to Earth is a great place to grab healthy, organic food. I like this one in particular because of its convenient location by University and friendly service. They have amazing food at the salad and hot food bar. I personally like their meatless lasagna and Greek salad. DOE releases a newsletter that has month-long sales on select products. Sometimes, they also have clearance items: you can usually scoop up great deals on yogurt and chocolate bars. This place is pricier than regular grocery stores, but that is generally the case for health food stores. I opt for this place over Nijiya or Kokua Market, because of their store hours (open until 10:30!!), prices and stock (always current, never expired).

    (5)

  • Melissa A.

    I've lived in Santa Cruz, I've lived in the Bay Area, and have even lived in Seattle and I have NEVER found a better health food store than this. It's as if someone took the BEST of every vegan and vegetarian thing I've ever had and put in it one store. Almost all the produce is organic and to my knowledge, the whole store is vegetarian. I will be back. In fact, it's the only place we plan to eat at for the rest of the week!

    (5)

  • Ma F.

    They should change their name to Down to F*%#! And I don't mean it in a good way. I went in today after having been to the one on Maui a few times. I was famished, I was on the go and I needed something healthy so I grabbed an apple. Easy enough, so I go to pay for my apple and it rings up at $2! For one apple, didn't sound right. So the cashier tells me it's $3 a pound. Ok, I look over at the scale and the apple weighs 0.48lbs. That's less than half a pound. Half of 3 is 1.50! She then tries again and now my apple only cost $1.96. Look the price was still not what it should be but I was hungry so I paid for it and I won't be coming back. I love Whole Foods so I don't mind paying more for my quality food, but I'm not down to get F by Down to Earth. I'll pass and I'll stick to Whole Foods. I don't even know if that thing was organic!

    (1)

  • Brian R.

    AVOID Bulk food! 3 bulk items in 3 months with bugs. All were sealed in glass jars at our end so it did not originate with us. 3 strikes you're out.

    (1)

  • Bridget C.

    Love this store! New favorite place to come and get snacks or hit up the salad bar. Love all the vegan options!

    (5)

  • Amy Y.

    It's an organic/vegan supermarket. One of my friend took me here to try the deli food. I got the summer roll (it was a giant summer roll). ($3~) $0.50 for additional sauce. My friend picked the assorted ones. He said it was very good. I like the summer roll. But definitely need sauce with it because its blaaand. This place is legit vegaaaan and organic. Haha, Pricey. Parking is upstairs..left of the store entrance. Don't forget to validate because we forgot. Had to run back down to get it.

    (3)

  • Lyla D.

    Down to Earth market is my go-to place for healthy, organic and vegetarian food and products. It's a clean, friendly and fairly priced store that is locally owned. There are NO meat products here! This store is strictly VEGETARIAN AND ORGANIC. You'll come here for healthier choices to your diet. There's a smoothie station, salad bar and bakery to one side of the store so when enter, you'll be "greeted by" aromatic whiffs of either freshly baked goods or even a vege-lasagna. Okay, I'm NOT a vegetarian nor would I even pretend. But, every so often, I get the inkling to cook and eat healthy, fresh and plant-based foods. I like to use good nutrition as a gustatory panacea. Call it a sense of mortality but, I'm willing to try...

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    The food and everything is great, but for the price i expect more. Fix your half a** acai bowls and . I can walk to Da Spot 1min away and get one tripple the size for the same price. The only reason why you got 2 starts is because the employees are very nice.

    (2)

  • Dyan K.

    It's funny...when I first walked in here I was trying to find organic ground meats, not realizing that this place was a vegetarian store!! Ha! But other than the fact that you can't find any meat here, the selection of organic produce and other weird organic things are great! I say weird organic things because a lot of healthy products fly over my head (you know, like kelp powder), being that I am your typical McDonalds cheeseburger woman. But when I want to find healthy, organic products, grains, fruits, and veggies, I always come here. And it's a much more convenient location for me than Whole Foods. Yes, the prices may be quite high compared to shopping at Foodland or Target, but I expected that coming from a health food store. Whole Foods is just as pricey. It's a fun journey for me, shopping at Down to Earth, because I can find all sorts of organic things that Safeway does not have. I like to buy random things like organic poptarts, cereal bars, and soups...and it makes me feel healthier in the process. This location has ample parking, a hot food and salad bar section, and cooking demonstrations/classes!

    (4)

  • Jboogie B.

    Good place for the veggie vegan needs. Kumbuchu on tap along with a buffet style meals ready to go. Pricing is fair. Workers are knowledgeable.

    (5)

  • Katie L.

    My love for this place will never fade! +They have high quality food and a delicious salad bar. +Tons of organic options +Fresh, local, organic produce. +A huge cosmetics section I see people complaining about prices and I get it, paying a lot for food sucks. I wasn't around when prices were lower so I am okay with what I pay here. I'm just really happy this place exists. It's small, easy to find everything and all the staff are really friendly!

    (5)

  • Shama O.

    I've been shopping at this store for over a decade, so it's nice to know that this local store can hold its own against the big wig Whole Foods! The store is not exceptionally large, but manages to fit in a health & beauty section, a hot/cold food bar, grab & go sandwiches and wraps, pizzas and pastries, and made-to-order entrees and smoothies, fresh produce, chill and frozen section, dry goods, bulk bin food items, household supplies and pet food. They even have in-store seating upstairs and open-air seating on the street outside. The prices range from cheap to expensive, depending on the item, but there's always something on sale. One thing to note though is that this is a vegetarian store. You won't find any meat, eggs or gelatin here. They do sell dairy products, meat substitutes, dairy substitutes and gluten free foods. And many items on their shelves are organic or fair trade. They also provide recipes that you can try at home, using items found in the store. I'm never disappointed when shopping here. Just this morning I stopped in for one item and ended up buying ingredients to bake a delicious vegetarian treat!

    (4)

  • Yinyim L.

    The hot food and salad in the self-service bar is always my favorite! Always fresh and served warmly~ very suitable for busy bees to boost up energy and the staff are nice ~ Suggest register as a member to earn points and remember to BYOB!

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    Parking: There is parking on the ground level if you can find but additional parking is up the ramp. If you park upstairs, there is an elevator taking you down to the ground level so you don't have to walk down the ramp which is nice. In front are several street parking stalls that you can also opt to park in. Restaurant/Salad Bar: The salad bar here is very good. I've been here several times and left very satisfied. It's not Whole Foods but you do have many options here to choose from. There is ample seating upstairs and it doesn't feel like you're inside a grocery store which is nice. Grocery: It's local produce which is very nice. Got to support locals here. Everything is reasonably priced and very fresh. Quality is very good! To help the environment, bring your own bags and they will bag your items in it for you. If not, they bag the items in paper bags. We enjoy shopping here because it's convenient for us when we're in the area. Nice for students at UH and residents living near by. Great location off of King Street if you're driving or on The Bus. Make sure to sign up for their reward card program. It's free!

    (4)

  • Robin M.

    The pastry case is mostly vegan stuff and the pizza sold by the slice has a couple of vegan options too. They carried everything I usually buy at WF, and they had a lot of locally grown produce, including teeny bananas and the biggest avocados I've ever seen!

    (5)

  • Coco O.

    Deli is Delish, cashiers are friendly. Hot foods, cold salad bar, made to order, kombucha! They have it all! I just wish that patrons would clean up after themselves in the dining area! Come on people. Stop leaving a mess for someone else to clean up. I like to go here to eat, chill and study; seems like every time I'm in the dining area someone leaves a mess! Seriously if you can't hold your own in life what are you good for? Clean up your mess! I love the carob bars and kale salad!! Winnahs! Not to mention purified water in upstairs dining.

    (5)

  • Aaron Koichi C.

    I've been coming to Down to Earth for a while now, ever since the store opened on Hamakua Drive in Kailua. I now live in Manoa and I frequent this location on King St. Called in to the store about 8:49 p.m. this evening 10/30/14 and spoke to the deli by pressing #2 on the their phone directory. A women was assisting me with my question on the different bowls and I was hoping I could pre-order. They didn't have what I was looking for so I said I'm on my way and I can just order when I get there. I was happy to find parking outside in front, went in about 8:55 p.m. picked up some soap in the front. A women was there doing inventory; not a peep out of her mouth, good evening, finding everything ok, nothing!!!! Shrugged it off got the soap and made my way to the deli to order my Acai bowls, saw a closed sign on the counter of the deli, approached a gentleman stocking the water shelf and asked if the deli area was closed. He looked at his scanner and said " I think you may have some time" he looked over at a women cleaning the buffet and asked her "is it closed" she looked hesitantly as if she didn't want to answer or as if to say no we cannot help the customer we just closed. I looked at my iphone and it was 9:00 p.m. He said o they close at 9:00 p.m. Disappointed I went to the oats and grain bar to stocked up, looking for Agave I approached a guy in the aisle that was straightening the items on the shelf, he acknowledged me with a "wassup finding everything ok"? That was cool but had the look of damn I need to get out of here we close soon face! The best part of my experience was the cashier. Tall Caucasian guy with the best disposition. Courteous, friendly, helpful. I was so ticked that I failed to get his name. He made my night. Long story short....... I come to Down to Earth because I've always had the mom and pop feel in there. Kind of like City Mill compared to Lowes or Home Depot. I shop and eat at Whole Foods, and not once have I ever been treated disrespectfully, or with terrible service. The feeling I got tonight in Down to Earth was hurry up customers get your things so we can get the hell home. Not once was I ever treated this way at Whole Foods or any other comparable store. I'm always treated before closing at Whole Foods as if they just opened in the morning cheerful, helpful, and courteous. The women who answered the phone could have said that they closed at 9 so hurry, or when in person, o I'm so sorry try us back in the morning. My fault for not knowing that the bar closed earlier then the rest of the store, but an awesome response I would have appreciated instead of the feeling of I don't care. Managers of Down to Earth let me tell you from one Manager to another, things have to change and you need consistency with the service that's being provided and displayed by your employees. We work all day just as you do and when we walk in, we should feel appreciated. My experience tonight was very disappointing; do we have to succumb to the big boy stores to find good service? Is that why small businesses are closing up; because of poor service? You guys can change this. I have hope that things do.

    (1)

  • Marni T.

    Smallest Down to Earth, well maybe tied with Pearl City location. When I come here I always have to ask workers for help to find what I'm looking for. I love love love their salad bar/ hot bar. Its a little pricey for everything, but its worth it for your health. I ALWAYS come here for their bulk granola, they have a decent selection. Sometimes I can't find everything at this location so I end up going to Whole Foods in Kailua. The workers are decent, friendly, and helpful. Overall great little health food store in town.

    (4)

  • Jim Q.

    Last November (2013) I ate at the salad bar at Down to Earth and got very ill later in the evening. Since it was flu season I did not really connect the meal with the severe case of diarrhea I had. Thought I had picked up a bug. But I mean I REALLY got ill. I became very dehydrated and ended up going to the ER for two liters of IV solution after about two and a half days of the runs, fever, headache and general malaise. What I did not have were the achy joints that accompany the flu. I became suspicious of the salad. I have never had that happen before and for a guy my age I have never been hospitalized. The ER squared me away in few hours and I was good to go. Fast forward to Friday, Sept.6, 2014. Once again I ate from the salad bar. (To be fair I had eaten there a few times since the first incident.) However, same thing again - a few hours later I was sick again with diarrhea. Well, now I have scratched DTE off my list for salads which is a real shame. Other than Whole Foods I cannot think of a place that offers a full salad bar. Fortunately compared to last time this incident was not as severe and no trip to the ER. Maybe I am just unlucky but I think the health inspector should pay them a visit. We will still shop there for certain items but the salad bar is off limits.

    (1)

  • Jana M.

    We LOVE this place. One of the best places on island to get fresh LOCAL produce and products. The salad bar may not be as extensive as whole foods but it's got all you need to make a killer salad or vegetarian lunch! Did I mention the delicious baked goods and pizza?? Hubby takes the kids here to get cheese pizza regularly, and we love the pesto pizza and other yummy delights. Just had a cornbread muffin that was deliciousness. They have groceries of all sorts too :)

    (5)

  • Damon T.

    First of all I love this place, and go to it every week. Love the food, employees there, quality, etc. I totally support this store. But these are some of the reasons why I'm one star short from 5 stars... -Milk sold here. I don't think this is needed, let's support animals 100%. Period -Only $5 off with your card after spending like $300? I think. But I know the amount that you need to spend to get that discount went up recently. Come on guys, that's ridiculous. That wasn't needed. -Food went up to $9.99/lb. Again that's not needed, Whole foods is less and Wednesdays it's only $6.99/lb. How are we suppose to encourage people to eat healthy, let alone vegetarian, with prices like that? It's hard enough to survive in Hawaii as it is. Mainly my problem is the prices went up, which makes it tough for your loyal customers to be able to afford shopping there sometimes. I love ya in every way, but PLEASE consider bringing the prices down.

    (4)

  • Al D.

    Huge Down to Earth. It is 3x as large as the one at Pearl Ridge. Excellent hot and and cold bar. There is also pizza and baked goods, a smoothie and sandwich bar, and a decent sized produce section. Parking is behind the store.

    (4)

  • Darryl O.

    Down to Earth is great!!! Each time my wife and I come to Hawaii, we come to Down to Earth, either for breakfast or lunch. Today we got the tofu scramble with breakfast potatoes & a bowl of steel cut oatmeal. So good. They gave the BEST tofu scramble!!!

    (5)

  • Ward K.

    The people who I spoke to was very knowledgeable and always willing to help. If they don't know about something they look it up and help you find answers. From what I experienced so far, DTE is very competitive and in most cases cheaper than other similar stores as far as supplements, produce, and things like oats (yes I buy oats but it is for my bunnies just like the veggies I buy). If you crave hot deli food, sandwiches, or maybe a cool smoothie, they have it all! Check out their link for menu items. downtoearth.org/sites/de… For those of you who like a good acai bowl, you have to try their Amazon Warrior bowl. With a bunch of fresh fruits like blueberries, Strawberries, bananas, then add some coconut milk, granola drizzled with some honey... this is a winner for sure! The only bad thing when I come here is that I usually see a bunch of other things I want so I end up buying more than what I came for. Thumbs up DTE, keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Katie N.

    Great tea selection, great coffee, awesome salad bar and decent hot food bar. I love that their produce selection is clearly marked regarding where the produce is from. Workers are very nice and helpful. Parking can suck but there's not much space for expansion. Great place for some healthy eats!

    (4)

  • Jonn D.

    Date(s) visited: 7/15/2014, many times before. Rating: 2/5 stars I guess It's time to write a review for this place since I've been here numerous times. My most recent visit encouraged a review, after a below average service cashier was more in a rush to talk to his neighboring cashier, than making sure that I didn't need any more help.

    (2)

  • Melia K.

    I really like this down to earth. It is very spacious and clean. I like to come here to get lunch at their hot food bar! Their pesto items and herb potatoes are bomb! They also have a variety of natural sodas juices etc. they also have a regular cafe type of area to order foods and a salad bar. They have tables you can sit at and eat your food. The workers are very friendly and nice every time I come here. The store is kept nice and clean and shelves stocked. Parking can be a little tight here though. It's a private lot on the second floor or your can find street parking. Don't forget to validate your parking ticket!

    (5)

  • Jan T.

    Don't buy Ezekiel bread here. Every time I bought it here it's been moldy. I don't know why they don't keep it frozen like other stores do. Other than that, I basically like the store.

    (2)

  • Jennifer W.

    Still awesome!!! It's getting crowded. There's no seats when I dine with the family. At times, we had to wait for other customers to finish eating, before we get a seat! That's what happens. The secret is out! Great food and salad! Love it!

    (5)

  • Maka K.

    I've been to a couple other locations (Kailua & Pearlridge) and this one is definitely the best so far! It seems much cleaner, the store itself is larger, that aisle where you scoop and bag whatever you want and pay by weight (I can't remember what they're called right now...sorry?) is so much more extensive!! I love all the options, from cereal, to flours, dried fruits, nuts, etc.---I had to force myself to walk away with only a couple of things. Also, while I didn't actually buy any of the freshly made foods from the line or the sandwich/smoothie counter, I did notice that there seemed to be more available. Everything looked and smelled delicious too. Previous experience leads me to believe that it would have tasted good ^_^ While it is sort of reminiscent oI Whole Foods, it's much smaller and personal, is much less crowded, and feels more accessible (locationwise) for me. If I had more money, I would definitely be there shopping more. Also, they have a rewards card program, you just have to ask for an application. Unfortunately it's paper, so you have to bring it back with you the next time.

    (4)

  • Jonelle B.

    Yes it's healthy but no I'm not going pay $12.00 for a 24 oz smoothie I mean come on that's so ridiculous !!

    (1)

  • Jennifer N.

    Happy to find an alternative to whole foods, which i love but its so pricey. Went here today and was like a kid in a candy store... vegan pesto, delish juices, helpful girls in the supplement dept and lots of choices and SALES! Mahalo DTE

    (4)

  • Preston C.

    It's amazing how they have brainwashed people. Paying outrageously high prices for food that is obtainable from farmers markets and regular grocery stores. How could you charge $7 for soy milk or juice that other markets sell for $3 dollars? Tofu for $4 when it's $2 at the market? Does adding the words vegetarian cost that much? Your business rips people off and the people who shop there are too stupid to know any better.

    (1)

  • Hisoo H.

    This recent visit was good. In the past some items were spotty but today everything was fresh, clean and tasty. I like the hot food items, but they do change everyday so you get variety. I had the eggplant parmesan which isn't really breaded but baked eggplant with tomato sauce and cheese on top. Of course I love the salad bar with fresh beets, sprouts, etc. Coming back soon for sure!

    (4)

  • Tony N.

    I really like Down to Earth. Beside for having a good selection of organic produce, they have honey sesame sticks that are delicious. My other go-to item is their pina colata smoothie. No alcohol, but it's one of the best mixtures of pineapple and coconut I've ever tasted.

    (5)

  • Ruth S.

    I go to Down to Earth weekly, for produce. They have a good organic produce selection available. Their workers are knowledgeable and helpful. I recently tried their hot bar for the first time. It was delishous. I had a wonderful kale and beet salad, also some amazing "fried chicken" tofu, it really did taste just like fried chicken. I will definitely be back to try more from the hot bar, salad bar, and I want to try the sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Claudette K.

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cruelty free makeup brands such as Gabriel and others. :)) I have been buying Gabriel for years. gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/…

    (5)

  • Darcy K.

    I love Down to Earth because they have healthy options for all diets (gluten-free, cruelty-free, vegetarian, etc). I am always impressed at the supplements section, there's so many to choose from! They have delicious smoothies and baked goods. The hot deli has many healthy options but can end up being pricey since most items are very dense, and everything is sold by the pound. I absolutely love the So Delicious Coconut (or Almond) desserts. They are a healthy alternative to ice cream and they are really refreshing! It's about $7-$8 a pint though so I don't get to buy it too much. However; The deli workers have no zeal in their work. Well, they do for each other but each time I've been here, I got attitude from the cashiers. They look so pissed off to be helping customers, I really wonder why they choose to be miserable.

    (3)

  • Reimi D.

    I really like Down to Earth. Yes, they can be quite pricey, and while some people will say you pay more now but the lifelong benefits of eating/buying healthy will balance it out, DTE is still kinda pricey. It's a Hawaii thing because I've lived in other states where healthy food did not cost and arm and a leg. In order to get the best bang for your buck at DTE you just have to be a savvy shopper because their sales are pretty good. This is my go-to place for certain ingredients that I know they will have that regular grocery stores like foodland or safeway won't. I love their selection of yogurts, and you can buy granola, nuts, rice, beans, oats and other dry foods in bulk--which is very cost efficient. I like the size of their store too because it's not as overwhelming as Whole Foods, and parking is never an issue. If you don't already have their rewards card, you should get one. Their produce has good and bad days and I find better deals elsewhere often, but for almost everything else, it's love love love!

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Easy to find Non-GMO, organic foods store. Love their ready made food area..... I can make a healthy concoction plate lunch without feeling guilty afterwards. The clerks are always very helpful when you are trying to find a particular item. This is my first check-in here but I've been coming to Down to Earth for years. This location (near work) and the Aiea one (sorta near home). I just wish there were more Down to Earths around.... like...next door to my house hahaha

    (5)

  • Julie N.

    Went here for the first time & I love it! The name says it all. I walked in and it really felt down to earth. The workers are all really nice and asked if I needed help. Its a small store but has everything you need. I just started switching to ezekiel bread and bought a loaf at Whole Foods for $7.99! My trainer told me to go to Down to Earth instead cause Whole Foods ridiculously marks up their prices. He also told me about making your own all natural peanut butter so I went and tried it & I love it. The Ezekiel bread here is $5.99 and the small peanut butter was $2! This whole eating healthy and all natural is still new to me so I'm really learning a lot & I will definitely be coming back to try their hot food!!!

    (5)

  • Victoria M.

    If you're coming for something specific, call first. I find that they just don't have stuff in stock. They do offer to get it, usually, if you want to wait a week or two. They have some good produce, and if you're vegan, they have some great food. I'm not vegan, but I like their food! They make killer juices and smoothies, and you can bring your juice/smoothie/food upstairs into the little seating section. Free water! :-) Their spices are cheaper than at other places, and you can get them in bulk. They have a good selection of homeopathics, and they also sell KAVA, which is cool. I would come here more, but they tend to be out of stuff, and I'm sort of lazy, so I just go to Whole Foods a lot of the time. I try to support local businesses and all, but I don't want to go all over town to try to get something, and then it's not there. Call first! Really. I love the people who work there: They are usually super kind, helpful, and patient. They will answer your questions, and they will even hold stuff aside for you if you CALL FIRST to tell them you're coming in to get it. Parking seems annoying, if you don't know where to go: There's lots of room upstairs in the parking deck: Right after you go past the Down to Earth signs, turn into the weird garage building thing. Then skip the first turn, which looks tight and sketchy, and go up the small ramp. (Be careful: oncoming traffic comes down, and it's a small ramp!) Sometimes there's a guy there to give you a ticket to validate, but not always. I usually pull into the covered spots, and take the elevator down. Once you are in the elevator, you're in a weird little building. Exit toward the street, then walk up the street to the store. Easy!

    (4)

  • Iris J.

    Healthy living don't come cheap! Cheapest granola & widest variety is found here... I was stoked to finally find my acai sorbet after looking all over at other stores... like this convenient location!!#

    (4)

  • Aydee Z.

    This place is an oasis in a desert of unhealthy food choices, especially for vegetarians. Both prepared food and grocery selection are pretty good despite the small space and there is even some tables outside to eat while people watching.

    (5)

  • Terri L.

    This place is great, it's like a smaller, more local Whole Foods. The actual place itself is small but their capacity to carry a variety of products is impressive! I've tried their salad bar and one of their baked items and the price is probably about the same as Whole Foods. The food was delicious, and their upstairs seating area is a cute small place to enjoy your lunch and have a view of the entire store.

    (4)

  • Takeshi M.

    I asked a simple question on PROBIOTICS and the girl who answered the phone was very UNEDUCATED and rude! answered me like "what???"this was in the wellness section, she did not even know what DIVERTICULITIS was!!!!

    (1)

  • Nick I.

    We just had our meal interrupted by a little friend in our food, yes, the managers were really awesome in taking care of our bill and what have you. However, I really am displeased that we had a worm in our food. I understand as the manager told me that that's what you get with organic food, however, it's ridiculous that there was no quality control. I truly hope that this doesn't happen again, I really hope that no one else experiences having little friends in their food as well.

    (1)

  • Angie S.

    Absolutely the best place to get vegetarian meals on the island! All organic and natural products used here. VERY eco-friendly everything! The people who work there are extremely helpful and always really nice ! One of the best!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    I keep forgetting to write this review--I came here with a friend while I was on island for the holidays and we picked up dinner to go so we could watch a movie at her new place nearby. While I've shopped at Down to Earth locations before and, yeah, some of their stuff is a bit overpriced (it's like a miniature Whole Foods, so things are pricey, but usually because it's of good quality), but I have to say the deli food is pretty good :D I love that they have vegetarian and even vegan manapua and pizzas--so much so that I later brought my parents to a location closer to where they live, and they liked the food, too! I have Whole Foods in my area, and their deli is good, too, but being able to know you can pretty much eat anything there without worrying about cross-contamination from meat dishes and customers who will use whatever serving utensil they can reach for whatever they're after (extremely important for my vegan-for-religious-reasons mother) is priceless. Also, Down to Earth has a pretty good selection of vegetarian and vegan vitamins--I was able to find a nice brand of vitamin D chewables that actually don't taste bad here, which I haven't been able to find locally. Next time the parents visit, they may have to bring me another bottle :P This is an excellent place to shop as a vegetarian or vegan (or even someone with food allergies), because things are generally really well labeled (no more sitting and reading through tediously long ingredients lists to make sure something won't make you sick) and so much of it is also organic or otherwise striving to be environmentally friendly. And seriously, the deli is delicious.

    (4)

  • Krysten I.

    Down to Earth has been on King St. for many years, long before whole foods came around. Unlike Whole Foods, Down to Earth is completely vegetarian. If youre a complete vegetarian or health nut, Down to Earth is the place to go. Personally, I guess I don't love my body enough to pay this much for food all the time, but I will stop in to get a snack or smoothie (which are especially expensive). There is a plethora of parking on the second level, but I prefer to park on the street infront of the store.

    (3)

  • Julia S.

    Review for the store and not the prepared foods: I don't like supporting this place, but sometimes it's more convenient than going to Kokua or Whole Foods. The workers will never ask you if you're finding things okay, the produce looks gross, and everything is so cramped I feel like kicking the isles down. They have a limited selection of everything, with it all being super marked up. And the cashiers are always so dead looking/sounding. If they do seem alive, it's because they're judging you on your purchase. Maybe i'm just spoiled because I get treated so nicely at Whole Foods. Yeah, sure their prices may be steep as well, but the workers there are more than willing to help me. They even ask without me having to! At Down to Earth, they just watch me walk around trying to find what I need without saying word. A girl almost hit me with the ladder she was carrying once... It's just not a pleasant place to go grocery shop. But I guess if you're a vegetarian and don't want to weed through the meat products it's one of the few (if not only) places you can go. They'll probably treat you better too if you are. They have limited bulk items (not as many as Whole Foods), so don't expect to find what you're looking for. Go to Kokua or Whole Foods. The end.

    (2)

  • Garrett Y.

    I love eating their pancit and curry fried rice. It never fails me when I'm hungry, these 2 items are my go to when I am craving food. There tropical mango is amazing as well.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This Down to Earth is quite busy, but the staff are great! My husband and I often get acai bowls here after an early dawn patrol because they are the first/earliest open in town! I love their gluten free baked goods too. We also hit up the hot bar for dinner once and a while and the Korma and eggplant dishes are bomb! It's all pretty much da bomb.

    (5)

  • Jack L.

    Great selection of vegeterian and vegan food....

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    My eating habits fluctuates constantly. Some days I juice like crazy with my breville, avoid carbs, whilst other days I throw my hands up in the air eat whatever I want. Through it all, I do try my best to stick with foods that are natural and non processed. My favorites: Crofter's Organic Mango fruit spread! There's other flavors, but I tend to gravitate towards anything involving mangos! I practically use it on everything toast, waffles, whatever. The jar itself is really cute since it has an image of a bear :) Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate from the brand Chocolove. One bite and you'll fall in love with the complex yet familiar flavors! St. Dalfour teas and fruit spreads. The golden peach tea is absolutely delicious; it tastes just like lipton or snapple, without the horrible ingredients. St. Dalfour also makes fruit spreads, but I like Crofter's fruit spread texture a bit more. If you tend to shop here a lot, be sure to take advantage of their membership card program.

    (4)

  • Lynvi S.

    I'm a meat eater, but I love Down to Earth. It's a great place to find expensive local organic produce, funky herbal teas, lots of interesting seeds, and chips that taste like cardboard. I love Down to Earth's salad bar, so much that I'm there at least once (okay, more like twice) a week. Granted, the selection is not as extensive as Whole Foods' salad bar, but I love the shredded beets and the purple papaya seed salad dressing is terribly addictive. The curry quinoa salad is also a winner. The hot foods are awesome as well - winners include the vegetable korma, all of the curries, lasagna, stuffed pasta shells, and eggplant parmesan. There's a dining area upstairs where you can overhear grad student couples discuss their feelings with overreaching analogies while incorporating lots of hand motions and body gestures into their conversation. Needless to say, it's a fantastic place for people-watching at lunch. I just wish Down to Earth weren't so fricking expensive, as in $9.59/lb for the the salad and hot food bar.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    The food here is a little expensive, but still a lot cheaper than Whole Food! I filed a complaint about a cashier through their site, and a manager profusely apologized immediately. I was impressed by that manager's professionalism.

    (5)

  • Sheryl M.

    I can depend on getting quality, organic products here. Most produce is local and everything that is brought in is researched for its quality and organic properties. I much prefer shopping here than the big chain stores.

    (5)

  • Sarah J.

    I love this place but wish they would change up the salad bar organic options every now and again...and wish they would make some curries without coconut ;) still love it more than other grocery stores though!

    (4)

  • Nimai W.

    Grab a Chinese takeout box and start scoopin'! My favorite thing about Down to Earth is the food. They have an awesome hot food and salad bar, as well as a menu you can order off of. I've eaten here easily more than a dozen times - not once disappointed. Their mock-chicken sandwich is very tasty and hearty. Their chocolate milk shake is... well that's something fantastic. You gotta try it. They also have some great fresh squeezed juices and smoothies. Whatever I end up getting from the hot foods, I'll usually add some mock chicken tofu or herb roasted potatoes on the side. Love those! They keep things clean, and the treys full. They have seating upstairs, tables outside, and a nice selection of healthy drinks, conveniently facing the food bar. Parking: Either along S. King street, or turn right, into the driveway just after the store/building. You can head up the ramp where there's plentiful parking upstairs, or try your luck on the ground level behind the store. The grocery side of the store is decent. Not my favorite, so I don't shop here much. And the prices are kinda high. It's pretty small, but they used their space well. They've got the basics of a health food store, as well as some random odds and ends, including a vitamin and sundries section. I've bought bread from here that went moldy in a day. At the time I was pretty disappointed, but then I realized that these things happen everywhere. I've seen moldy bread on Whole Foods shelves that I had to point out to an employee. Oops! You're pressed for time, you want to eat healthy, or you haven't tried much vegetarian dishes and want to sample a munch at once - all good reasons to check this place out. Am I selling this place to you? Yeah, kinda. Whole Foods is awesome, but they are not the only game it town.

    (4)

  • Lala G.

    Your acai bowls are very filling, and great! By the time I got to my oatmeal, I was pretty full :)

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    Staff are very knowledgeable and wonderful to chat about a healthy life with...the selection is good and the prices are inflated, due to the small footprint of the store and inability to order in large quantities...the food in the cafe are touted as extremely healthy, although there are obvious very fattening ingredients to increase the sales with the more common delicious tastes...and all the food tastes amazing! Their restrooms are always very clean and available! Their natural food holistic medicine section can be very helpful as an option, but be sure not to discontinue your current doctor recommended medicines since most of the supplements and items have no proven objective promises...but I've tried some and replaced medicines with their options after consulting with my physician... If you want to lose weight, I highly recommend going to Down to Earth and purchasing the Master Cleanse book and work with their staff...they helped me lose a lot of weight about a decade ago and they were very supportive, they even wrote an article about my weight loss in their magazine...I dropped hundreds of pounds and maintain with Down to Earth's staff and products.

    (4)

  • Sasha L.

    This place has a delicious hot food bar! Whenever I eat too much bad food/feel unhealthy and gross, I like to come here for some delicious clean eating!!! The kale salad is really good here, as well as the pastries they have on the side.

    (4)

  • jazzy l.

    It's like a Whole Foods!

    (4)

  • Lori I.

    Yikes the sign said it's a VEGAN store! I'm a CARNIVORE. Right away this seemed like it was gonna be a disaster. I don't normally frequent "natural, organic health food" type stores...(Don't let my check-ins at Whole Foods fool you, I only go to get my bacon and eggs with cheese for breakfast on Wednesdays.) MY MISSION WAS TO FIND THIS GREEN CAN: yelp.com/biz_photos/WJ53… That stuff is better than Gatorade right after hard workout. To me, it's better than the other "coconut water" drinks on the market. They claim it is a natural isotonic beverage high in potassium and contains no added sugar, or other additives. It comes in a can, and it's best to drink it straight from the can, otherwise it looks like you're drinking backwash with all those little white floaties (aka the "pulp"). PRICE: It's my lucky lunar eclipse day! It's on sale today! $1.69/can!! I called several stores to see who had the best price. This was actually the last place I called, because of their reputation for being "super expensive." Kale's in Hawaii Kai was $2.65/can and they were all out...I also used my Red Laser app (thanks Kyle H.) to scan online prices, and the lowest online price was $2.18 without shipping. Since I don't know when the next sale will be, I bought several cases. CUSTOMER SERVICE: The lady on the phone was great. No attitude. She first checked to see if they had the can, and the price. When she told me the price, I asked her if she had cases or just a few cans. She put me on hold again and made sure there were cases in the back so I didn't have to drive down there only to be disappointed. When I got there, once I found a guy to get me the cases from the back, he was willing to use his handtruck to roll the cases all the way to my car. I told him "no need", but he said it wouldn't be a problem. BONUS: They have tons of gluten-free cookie mixes, bread, pizza, etc. which is great since it's baking season already and I need to bake gluten-free. I'll be back to get more gluten free stuff. However, I'm counting the hours til I can get my bacon and eggs with cheese tomorrow at Whole Foods ($6.99/lb!)

    (4)

  • Chelsea U.

    Love the selection here, but the prices are a little high. However, every item in the store is of high quality and great nutritional value. The hot food and salad bar offer great options, but it is a little pricey per lb. The baked goods are also always a hit as the items sound healthy, but always are tasty and delicious.

    (4)

  • Nikki G.

    First of all there are to bathrooms here for Down to Earth customers! Prices for the hot food and salad bar is not to cheap but most often the food is delicious! The walking space around the food bar can get quite cramped and hard to move around! They have quite a bit of seating to eat with tables outdoors and indoors! There are highchairs inside for keiki that really could use regular cleaning! They are quite dirty very often!

    (4)

  • Taylor Z.

    Ok, this one is for you Joe M. If heaven had a cafeteria it would be called . . . down to earth ! Yep, Yes it would because this place is divine. I could eat here everyday and never tire of it. Their hot food bar and salad bar are both a spiritual experience for me. The wonderful veggie food they make here, had me back day after day after day. The food: The salad bar was always a must. I'd pile on a ton of green leaves then sprinkle some sunflower seeds, tomatoes, olives, tofu, beets and a tiny scoop of cottage cheese. Then I would choose either their a vinaigrette or sunflower tahini dressing shake it up and voi là perfect salad. I have tried a couple of the sandwiches which were very good, such as the thai wraps or noodles, but I prefer getting a scoop of some hot veggies instead. My absolute favorites here are: the pineapple sweet yams, the veggie lasagna, veggie korma. All delish. And of course you can't come here without trying one of their baked goods. My favorite is the chocolate oatmeal cookie, it's a plus for me b/c it doesn't have nuts ; ) I would also pretty regularly stock up on chocolate covered cranberries here and try, try my hardest to make them last for a decent amount of time. (they aren't cheap) I didn't do much grocery shopping here b/c it's a bit expensive and I wanted to use my money to purchase their food bar stuff. But occasionally I would buy some cosmetic items that I couldn't find in the supermarket .. I like their ALBA hawaii line, specially the kona coffee after sun lotion, smelled so good I wanted to eat it : ) or at least it made me crave some coffee. If I didn't have plans and my friends were all busy, sometimes I would just wander in Down to Earth for some alone time and try out samples in their cosmetic aisle LOL, seriously this could keep me occupied for hours . . maybe grab a cookie and wonder across the street to san lorenzos or down to longs drugs (when it was there) to buy a bag of snowcaps . . . oh the ways I could occupy myself sometimes, seriously . . . pretty incredible The next time I come back to Hawaii, first stop ?? Down to earth !

    (5)

  • Ed K.

    Down to Earth is awesome. I might not normally give a health food store a 4 star rating, but I stumbled on this place after visiting a string of bad restaurants in Hawaii. The food is just plain good healthy food. If you are a person who wants a break from the constant bombardment of 2000-calorie resort trash that's all over Waikiki, this is a good place to come. Its mostly a typical health food grocery store. It has a good cold bar and a nice hot cafe with mock-meat sandwiches. As a warning, everything there is vegetarian, leaning toward vegan. I am a proud meat eater, and while there, I didn't feel like I was politically pressured in any way. If you go ask someone where the bacon is you might get an odd response, but come on people, its a hippy health food store. Take it for what it is.

    (4)

  • Dino K.

    I've been eating here recently, and I gotta say, for meatless food it taste awesome! I'm trying to make this a weekly thing where I eat a few meals here to better my diet. I recommend the quinoa salad and grilled squash medley! I don't think I'm gonna turn vegan anytime soon though. =P

    (4)

  • Michelle O.

    Good experience for my 1st trip. Bought some dried apples, organic carrots & just ate the best dinner I've had all wk--a veggie pasta salad from the refrigerated section. Then again, the last 2 nights my dinner consisted of reheated, canned corn... The store was clean, organized and had a great selection of foods. The staff were really nice and I rec'd a complimentary re-usable bag when I signed up for my DTE discount card. Despite parking located on the 2nd floor of the bldg, it was manageable.

    (4)

  • Eric N.

    Pricey but healthy options. Food bars offer great choices but it will cost you almost $10 per pound! Staff is great! There are specials that happen every month and sometimes there are good things on sale.

    (3)

  • Ryan C.

    Which came first...Down to earth has all the essentials of an organic whole foods market without the animal products. There always seems to be a great selection of open bar items to warm your soul or you can peruse the aisle to find a nutritious whole food item (or reach into the freezer for a packaged product). Yes you will be paying more for their organic produce...just know that before you go.

    (4)

  • Bhakti P.

    My favorite morning stop for my organic coffee with silk creamer, and stevia. Friendly, nice people always. Oh, another favorite pina colada muffin, Teriyaki Tofu, and Thai Coconut Soup. But, I do think they need to expand to more variety and add more vegan deli items. Love the knowledgeable staff in the wellness and bodycare area too.

    (4)

  • R K.

    Often the staff are extremely rude or ignore you altogether. Many times I bought grains that ended up having bugs in them. At the deli, you can also sometimes see insects in the case (or in the ice cubes back when they had a fountain). I guess as long as the insects are "organic" it's ok. Thankfully, now there are other options for the same products.

    (1)

  • Alyssa K.

    Great deli! My personal fave right now is the vegan chocolate pudding. Man that thing is good. it taste way better than non vegan chocolate pudding. The tapioca is amazing too. They now have a card to rack up points with. You only get like $5 off per every $300 or something but i guess its better than nothing. i got a free branded eco bag with card sign up.

    (4)

  • Margaret W.

    I love down to earth. The hot food and salad bar is my favorite lunch stop. They have a great selection but the prices are high, some items priced higher then Whole Foods, but i'm guessing if you shop at these places, price is not your main concern.

    (4)

  • Sheryl S.

    I swear, the workers there must think I own a black American Express card or something. Shhh... please don't tell them I have just the regular one... I love feeling like VIP. So, I was looking for a very particular coconut water, Zico (if you haven't tried it, it's absolutely the best....it's soo smooth & full of flavor without any sugar. I can go on & on about it.) Anyways, while I was in the beverage aisle, worker #1 asks if he can help me. I tell him I'm looking for Zico. He tells me, they don't carry it but will talk to the manager. Then, the manager after doing research on where to find the item & its price, hunts me down in the store & offers me to special order it.... even for just 1 can. Talk about service! With service like that, there's no need for me to drive to Kahala where Whole Foods is....Although they do have my favorite Kashi brand dark chocolate chip cookies. I'm sure if I really wanted though, DTE will special order it for me.... even if it's for just one box.

    (5)

  • Evette S.

    I am a strict vegetarian and I LOVE that I can go into any Down to Earth store and shop without reading labels! They do all the research for me! It's great. The salad bar is awesome too. I'm too lazy to make salad - even though it's one of my favorite things to eat - so I just buy it from Down to Earth. Organic, clean and already made. I just pick and choose what I want in it! I'm also very environmentally friendly, so I love that they do research on all the brands that they carry to make sure their products are actually healthy, they work with the GMO project, their bags are biodegradable, etc.... I wish they were a national chain - I travel a lot and I prefer Down To Earth over any other mainland "health food" chain. I also buy all of my supplements from here. Their wellness reps are SO on point! I'm very much into supporting local businesses and I hope that one day, this local chain goes national!

    (5)

  • Tessa t.

    i LOVE this place so much that i got a rewards card!!! they have oober yummy vegan foods!! a new dish called the "tofu scramble" is delish! and their italian dishes are just perfect enough to hit the spot if you're craving a pasta that isn't too fatty or unhealthy! they've got cheese filled pasta, pizza, pesto pasta, mac and cheese., calzones... not only that! they have my fave acai bowl!! the amazon warrior is to die for! i suggest this place for anyone who wants to eat yummy foods, but does not wanna eat unhealthy foods :) if you wanna watch your weight...this is the place to be!!!

    (5)

  • Eileen V.

    Great place; here almost daily. Fair prices, great take out food, extremely helpful staff, & overall clean positive environment. I sincerely enjoy shopping here :)

    (5)

  • Andy D.

    While I am a devout meat-a-tarian, I do like to enjoy a vegetarian meal from time to time. (It mostly happens after I eat a huge Mitsu-Ken breakfast special or something equally artery clogging.) I don't really frequent the grocery section of the store, as the prices are a bit too steep and I prefer my vegetables seasoned with pesticides - none of that sissy organic stuff. However, they do have a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan groceries. My vegan friend was so happy to find soy horchata there, something he couldn't find surprisingly in his home town of Phoenix. When I do come here, its usually to come to eat at the deli. They have a nice selection of different hot entrees as well as a salad bar. I normally steer clear of the salad bar. My biggest problem is I always get too much and end up spending too much. Today, I visited and got some mac & cheese and veggie curry, along with a summer roll. The veggie curry was really delicious. It was really flavorful, and had a lot of delicious vegetables - and the vegetables weren't boiled to mush either. The mac & cheese was disgusting, though, and had too much garlic and had a weird plastic-y taste to it. The summer roll was huge and tasted okay, but was a little bland. Some negatives - peanut sauce for summer roll is extra even though the on its own, the roll is totally bland - they were doing construction on the salad bar while people were getting food, and a really bad small emitted from the construction

    (3)

  • Mark M.

    Last resort... This place is overpriced, pretentious and has a limited inventory. If you want a small jar of Macadamia Nut butter for $21 or want to hang out with the rest of the uninformed health food snobs, you might like this place. Otherwise, head for Whole Foods in Kahala for your natural foods fix.

    (1)

  • Baba G.

    i love this store. I always get the mock chicken wrap. worth the price

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Had the mixed salad, No meat to put on top! What gives? Great day to sit outside and have lunch. I wonder who's nicely refurbished 1974 Volkswagon bus is sitting out front? I don't think it was bought on the island.

    (4)

  • matt s.

    They have a great selection of healthy food, but it's ridiculously expensive. And the staff is really rude. Not blatantly rude . .. . more, "I'm such a great person for tolerating your presence," rude. It's kind of creepy, actually. I've noticed it at the Honolulu and Kailua branches. Anyways, they have a slightly larger supplement section than Whole Foods, but Whole Foods is cheaper, bigger, and their staff is way friendlier.

    (2)

  • R C.

    Well, I used to shop here often, before... not anymore. I have read about their secret agendas and don't care to support it. Also, they have the "feedback" papers hanging in the front but they don't really care to know what the customers think. I have wrote my concerns before. Nothing has really changed. I like their local produce and DE isn't as expensive or as corporate as the Whole Food but they are very political. Grocery stores being very active in anti gay issues? WTF.! anyhow, sometimes their prices are a bit too much. I don't care to be their member. If everything is freshly made and baked inside, why are they charging ridiculous prices? Cut me a slack, we are all struggling , yet trying to be healthy!

    (2)

  • N T.

    Great vegetarian and vegan food! Hot food bar, hot soups, refrigerator case, fresh juice and smoothies, salad bar, and bakery! Yum. You can also order vegan, vegetarian, and even gluten free baked goods from the bakery. The only place on Oahu that I know of to order your vegan birthday cake, thanksgiving pie, etc from. The bakers come and go - so the quality of what you get really varies on who the current baker in residence is, but lately it seems the quality is consistently good. This is part of Down to Earth Market, so for more reviews check out the listing for Down to Earth proper. P.S. Bring your Vegetarian Society of Hawaii card for a discount

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    My all time favorite Health Food Store, and I have been to a lot on the mainland. Wish we had a store like this in Sacramento area. The hot food bar is great. One thing I'd like to point out, Down to Earth is not vegan like some posters said here, they have quite a few good quality organic dairy products as well.

    (5)

  • Giselle R.

    Buy local. Better than Whole foods, especially on prices. All vegetarian tho, so gotta find your meat and eggs elsewhere. Their dine in food is spectacular! The curry rice, spring rolls, lasagna and almond cookies are my favorites!

    (5)

  • Ikaika T.

    There are some unique items here you won't find anywhere else. And while I still enjoy the occasional fat piece of steak with gravy and a side of heart-attack, switching the home menu up with tofu spaghetti or vegetable lasagna is a good change for both your taste buds and your health. On the other hand, I am a human being. I want something that was once a living/breathing animal to be slaughtered and baked, fried, poached, marinated and served. You can't do that with tofu, it doesn't make all those cool sounds like the animals I see on PETA TV =)

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Been comin' to this joint since high school, which means that Down to Earth and I are very good friends at this point--and like a fine red wine, it's only been getting better as the years have passed. The deli alone, which they revamped in the past few years with the coming of Whole Foods, is amazing. Their mindbogglingly vast cold beverage section including the fresh juices they make and the sandwiches and wraps and the fresh salad bar and their cold deli side dishes (coleslaw, mock chicken salad, nori rolls, summer rolls, etc.) and their excellent, ever-rotating array of hot entrees that never disappoint (chow fun, curries, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, Indian stuff, rice and beans, etc. etc. etc.) are all so consistently mega-awesome that I think Satan himself works in Down to Earth's kitchen. Whenever I go I have a hard time ever deciding what I want and I end up mashing a bunch of different dishes together on a plate that usually weighs about 2 lbs. when I'm finished (also, seriously checked out the baked good cabinet, their chocolate chip cookies and coconut macadamia nut bars are so hard to beat) . And their produce is also super. They have consistently had the best peaches and papayas in town for years. Also, extra points earned for the fond memories of me and my friend Michelle always going down there during high school to scope out the hot boys who worked there.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    If you are vegan and stuck in Honolulu GO HERE FIRST. Every other place that wasn't thai or sushi sucked for vegan options. Unfortunately we didn't find Down to Earth until our second to last day there. Everything in the store is vegetarian and the vegan stuff is clearly marked. It was all delicious and amazing. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Lindsay T.

    I seriously could have eaten their vegan chili the whole trip in Honolulu rather than waste my time at all the other places. They have an awesome buffet, make great wraps, and the produce reminds me of the stuff in SF. If you're in Honolulu on vacation, stop here to get some produce for the trip. The fruit was off the hook.

    (5)

  • Dave L.

    Down to Earth doesn't have as big of a selection in organic/natural foods as places on the mainland, but we'll make do with what we get. Before Whole Foods opened, Down to Earth was renovating and also increasing prices and I thought,"When Whole Foods opens how will they compete?" but after checking out prices at Whole Foods, Down to Earth is actually "cheap" .

    (5)

  • Andrea H.

    Down to earth? really? I could do without the cloud of SMUG.

    (2)

  • S K.

    It's terrific to find an all-vegetarian store. In light of that, the bulk breakfast cereal selection was very disappointing: nothing different than I've found in numerous stores elsewhere, down to the same granola and muesli mixes, so they clearly have the same supplier. I haven't seen coconut or hemp milk before; presumably these don't make it onto the shelves of more mainstream stores. The food bar is indeed very good, and warrants the rating.

    (4)

  • Erik S.

    Although I laughed at the "organic antibacterial soap" in the entryway, the food selection here was pretty nice. I didn't have too long in this shop, but I got a muffin and a pizza from here. I didn't get a sandwich, because I thought the ingredients were a bit odd, and I'm also not sure why no meat = natural foods, but other than that, it was pretty good. I had a really good drink from there that I wish I remember the name of, because it was fantastic. The parking situation here is bizarre. We never could quite figure out how to get in, but again, we were pressed for time.

    (4)

  • Anita L.

    To be able to find something like this here in Honolulu is truly a blessing. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to purchase all the organic items we were used to in the Bay Area. The funniest thing was, the minute we went in there, my 5 yr old went "oh, this is Rainbow Grocery!". The prices are slightly higher than Rainbow Grocery (not that Rainbow wasn't high already) but it is a much smaller store also. There is a good sized bulk foods area as well as a excellent deli area where you can purchased cooked foods and deli stuff. I wish I hadn't eaten lunch just before visiting because the food was smelling damn good!! Organic produce was also on the high side, but you get what you pay for I guess.

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    The Deli in this place is fantastic. Getting tired of touristy restaurants? Come here and you will feel like you are back in California! The deli has a nice salad bar, an assortment of hot foods, great sandwiches, and a fantastic selection of desert-ish granola-ish fresh snack-ish foods. Yea, come here for a healty-ish desert!

    (5)

  • Evil E.

    The food and store are pretty much bad ass. The food is GREAT and the shakes are the bomb. Lots and lots of vegan options including vegan shakes. Did I mention they have peanut butter carob vegan shakes?? Because they do and they are awesome. The vegan muffins are tasty and so are the soups. They have a really extensive vegi/vegan deli with muffins, cakes, cookies, soups, calzones, pizzas, and other dishes.

    (5)

  • Doreen a.

    NOTE: YELP REQUIRES AT LEAST 1 STAR IN ORDER TO POST. THIS STORE GETS NO STARS. Walking into Down To Earth, I feel like a hypocrite. Vegan for 11 years and gay for my whole life, I can not leave or ignore a part of me. I will not patronize this store as long as bigots like the Gabbards own it. And if you or know anyone who is gay ever even THINK about going into this store: THINK AGAIN: The store is filled with hate. This store is good for nothing.

    (1)

  • Jaclyn L.

    OK OK I have to say that when I lived in Hawaii this market was mysterious to me...interesting smells wafting from this market as I sat at the bus stop on King Street. It kinda scared me to step foot in there so I never did....but dammit on this last trip home I was practically dying to get there because I forgot how the supermarkets in Hawaii suck shit! After living abundantly here in SF I realized the importance of organic, sustainable and natural foods...well they have it- not all of it-but enough of it to make my two week visit home a little more pleasant on the stomach...great choices of foods from fresh to frozen and everything-in-between...crunchy granola's or not i am in search of a "nut and fruit" store.

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    12/6/08: what else is there to do on a saturday night that to check out a local natural health foods store? my wife and i stopped by to check out this location after seeing the owner interviewed on the local pbs channel. i liked this place and thought their selection of veggies, dry/canned goods, frozen foods, dairy and juices were well represented. Many of the veggies that I looked at were grown locally (thank you). We wanted to grab a tub of greek yogurt, but unfortunately, they were already out of stock (bummer). i'll be back!

    (4)

  • Berna T.

    I used to shop here every week when I was a student at the University of Hawaii. They have the things that a Whole Foods or Rainbow Grocery would have, although they are a tiny tiny store. They have a great hot bar and their health and beauty section is pretty good. Food is expensive in general in Hawaii, but even more so when you go organic...but if that's really what you want, then this is your place!

    (4)

  • ra c.

    i've been going to de for many years, up to 3-4 x a week. i find that their take out food section and pastries are full of fructose corn syrup (even worse than sugar)---all the pastries have it. plus Dr. Joseph Mercola and Natural News' Mike Adams (2 of the best health websites in the U.S.-)--say that the only oils we should use are olive oil (not heated) a little butter, or coconut oil. all the other oils are really bad for you!!!!---so all of their cooked foods have the other oils. plus all the sweeteners they use are also bad for you. the only ones recommended are stevia and xylitol (maybe these are hard to put in pastries and may be too expensive to use in other cooked foods? I don't know. But no one seems to notice or know about all this!!!!---Organic cane sugar????, glucose, fructose , sucrose ----ose ose ose---molasses, honey, blah blah---they are all sugars and very harmful. Most of the people there are very nice,---especially ROY---who is not only a hunk, but nice to everyone!!!---He's very unusual. A very special person. Christine in wellness is also a treasure---and very knowledgable. The veggies are often old---but then, that's probably unescapable. It also smells like it needs a good cleaning. Also---(most people don't know about)--they have all those fluorescent lights shining down right on all the veggies and thru the whole store. These are very harmful (full of mercury, etc.)--unless they are FULL SPECTRUM FLUORESCENT LIGHTS,--WHICH i'M SURE THESE ARE NOT). this store is much better than kokua,---as ABDUL in the veggie dept. there is scary. He's very mean---but nice to certain people. Funny how 1 mean person can give the whole store a bad feeling. I have heard many bad things about him. They say the main boss is just as bad as he is, so don't bother complaining.

    (3)

  • Htwo H.

    Great place for vegetarian food. Had not eaten here since the 90's and it has improved and gotten more refined but still expensive...although that is probably because it is Hawaii. The food at the bar is sold by weight, but some items like rice are a bit cheaper than the hot items...so if u buy a mixture of items and put them in the same plate/box, you get charged the higher rate. Don't forget to validate your parking ticket.

    (5)

  • Linds A.

    By far, the best grocery I have ever been to, and I'm quite disappointed knowing that it will take a lot for other groceries to measure up to Down to Earth when I move from Hawai'i next month. They even have vegan treats in the deli!

    (5)

  • Reid K.

    I've been going to Down to Earth for most of my life, Long before Whole Foods came on the scene and before they renovated, Down to Earth was a homey, niche market that catered to the vegans and hyper aware health nuts (both categories described me). Nowadays, I have to admit that I visit Whole Foods more frequently than DTE, purely for economical reasons. Sometimes you can't find products at Whole Foods that DTE will carry, but for the most part, everything will be cheaper at the former. It's an unfortunate example of the massive, multinational coming in and pushing the mom and pop store to the fringes of the market, but I still believe DTE has some fighting spirit in it left. For one, their hot and cold food bars have still retained the "healthy" quality to them. I particularly like their orzo salad, curried rice, eggplant parmesan and pesto pasta. In fact, the by-weight price of their food bars is identical to Whole Foods'. If you plan to go grocery shopping, though, DTE can't compete, Everything is more expensive, unless you happen to catch items you need on sale, If you have disposable income or don't want to burn fossil fuels driving to Kahala, DTE is the right choice, If you're trying to live healthy on a budget, I might not frequent DTE that frequently.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    Their food is GOOD and surprisingly so even though it has no meat. However, I do steer clear from their "mock chicken salad". Tastes super funky to me. Friday is $2 off per lb. from their food bar! =) PS: You can save money with their daily specials but go broke buying a $5 drink there to go with your food.

    (4)

  • Gary N.

    I am impressed with this place. Just the sheer selection of delectable goodies is overwhelming. They sell everything from hot and healthy foods in their food bar, to healthy pastries, to every supplement that I could think of (and many that I couldn't), to dried fruits, to fresh organic produce, to fresh herbs still planted in soil, to just so many more items! If you're a vegan, this store has to be heaven for you. Though, even if you're not, it is still awesome! There's a little dining area right up the stairs to the left of the cashier at the back-left of the store. Just follow the wonderful aromas and you will find it! Parking is very easy at night, though during the day, you need to make sure you get a ticket from the parking attendant. He hides at the top of the ramp. To get to the store, just park near the elevator and take it down to the first floor. Then turn right to reach the double doors and then turn left once you go out of them to reach the store.

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    Yeah, it's expensive, but I love Down to Earth. I love that it's a locally owned store and they support local farmers. I love the customer service (they've always been responsive when I've run into difficulties). I love the selection of vegetarian foods. I love the ready-made hot foods. I love the eco-friendly cleaning products. When a grocery store gets me THIS jazzed, what more can you ask? My only gripe - which isn't directed at the retail store, so much as the buyers and suppliers - is that so much of the kids food products (with a cute little penguin on the front of the cereal box, and so on) is devoid of nutrition and offers minimal vitamin fortification. Doesn't matter that it's "organic" if It's no better than "Insert mass-marketed sugary cereal name here." What's the big deal, you ask? Well, for a store geared toward healthy lifestyles, they need to walk the walk. Yes it's pricy, but it's worth it. Just shop the sales (they post their sales online) and supplement your grocery purchases with the Farmers Market or Safeway. Can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Ckck S.

    I love this place!!! I buy lunch here everyday and have lost 30 lb+ and excercise of course. I love their veggie summer roll! They make the best peanut sauce. mmm...also their tofu nori rolls is out of this world..so good!

    (4)

  • Jason H.

    Great place for all your vegetarian needs. Has a small but good produce section. Little pricy but thats expected since its all from local farms. Employees all are friendly and helpful. They have a extensive section of green products from tooth past to vitamins. Great store, just wish it was not so expensive.

    (4)

  • Kelley M.

    I like the variety of herbal supplements at this Down to Earth better than the Aiea one. good prices too-join the rewards club!

    (4)

  • Herbert A.

    First time at Down to Earth, not a bad place, lots of variety. The prices are not bad but it's also not cheap but I'd still come back. It's worth checking out if your looking for organic and natural foods.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    Good prices in an expensive place make me a fan. Beware the organic produce shipped here from mainland. My spinach was kinda nasty upon getting it back to the telly yo.

    (4)

  • Jessica M.

    I have gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for the last 5 minutes, but I think 3 sums it up from my last visit. This review is for the Hot food/Salad Bar ONLY. Not the store. (Which is disgustingly overpriced.) Transitioning to vegetarianism is so much easier when you have options like Down to earth and Whole foods. The times I have come here, the food has either been GREAT or "just okay." It depends on the time of day and what they cooked. Let me just say first of all, this place is cramped. It's super tiny. I feel like an animal fighting to get up to the bar before someone eats all the food. (Maybe they think this garners sympathy for animals. hehe.) You feel extremely rushed. Some things, like the Red Thai Curry and Hawaiian sweet potatoes are to die for. Some things, like the vegan summer roll and eggplant mix are not that great. Sitting outside would be nice if it weren't for the plethora of homeless people making speeches, harassing you for the $12 bounty of food you just procurred, or just sleeping and smelling like pee. I will continue to eat here, just because I don't have to worry about what's in my food. It's all vegetarian/vegan, and that is convenient, however my visits have been a little less than pleasant most times.

    (3)

  • Kanya E.

    Another review spoiled by my experience on the mainland. Although I do like this store, it lacks in some areas. There are quite a few items that I am used to purchasing at a health store/grocery store that it does not offer. Their bulk section is highly lacking. If you want a million different types of dried snack foods, they have it. But their bulk herbs/supplement/spices section falls short. However, if you are coming here for a takeout meal, this is your place. Their selection is huge and tasty. Just don't come here expecting a steak as DTE is all vegan.

    (3)

  • Margie W.

    I didn't even know what I was eating but I don't think I'll ever care because it is just That good. Recommend: Everything from the food bar. Could use some work with the fresh juices though. I think I ordered something called Fresh and Fabulous that didn't taste too fabulous. I've had some good kale drinks before but this one wasn't it. Don't matta. Chase it down with some food from the food bar and it alll good.

    (5)

  • Shauna K.

    I love the products and staff at D2E (as me and my call it!). I wish the prices were better, but I understand that it costs more to eat better. :) The veggies can look a little old, but most of the time they are crisp and fresh. It just seems like whenever I go there's at least one veggie looking a little weepy. The herbs and other natural remedies are, again, good when it comes to selection, but I can usually find the same things online for much cheaper - even with shipping from the mainland. I will go to D2E if I absolutely need something right away or if the price is comparable to what I can get online. My favorite is the fresh bakery and food bar. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoy eating lunch there. Staff is knowledgeable and helpful too!!

    (4)

  • Midday W.

    such a good place, even if it is a little bit expensive, there is quality, great flavors, and the staff is so nice and warm. i love the hot meal they cook and the browniee and cookies are amazing. mahalo for existing, i wish all the stores in the future will be like yours. parking lot available.

    (5)

  • Cat T.

    OMG... I love Down to Earth's deli!! Since the last time I went there they remodeled to make it look a whole lot more organized. I love all the food there. Healthy yet tasty!! Its a great place for vegetarian food- there is just pretty much everything there. I have yet to try the bakery items which looks delicious. But I went there for lunch. All you do it fill up containers or plates and have it weighed. You can take-out or eat upstairs. FYI- Down to Earth validates up to an hour of parking and weekends are free.

    (5)

  • Sam O.

    Their deli is awaome and fresh. If you are Vegetarian, you will enjoy their fresh food deli corner. Well prepared and taste better. It is worth with paying!

    (5)

  • Evan A.

    If you're a hardcore vegan or hippy you'd love this place. Don't get me wrong, I love healthy food, but it doesn't mean it should taste have no taste what so ever. On a side note, I feel like an outcast when I come into the stores. Kind of like the employees know that I'm not a hardcore vegan or organic person or something. Not a big deal though.

    (2)

  • John O.

    I love this store! I remember coming here quit a few years ago. I am happy to see that the store is still thriving even after the expansion of Whole Foods to Hawaii! The size of the store is much smaller but has everything you could possibly want. I love the different varieties of organic cereal. At around $4-5 for a box, it is much cheaper than the standard cereal selection at the regular markets. The aisles don't seem as clutter as I remembered, and the appearance is pretty generic in decor. The deli seems more extensive and there are are tables to sit at to enjoy a quick meal. The staff are very friendly and are helpful. The store now offers an award program, where you can sign up for a card and after spending $300, they will reward you with a $5 discount. It is not much, but it is a nice gesture.

    (4)

  • Sara T.

    I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, and I don't have any dietary restrictions, but I come here to stock up on the giant cartons of WestSoy soymilk that we drink like water. Had the DTE Burger with Superburger again today, but this time without the ketchup, and it was much better and less salty without. It comes on a nicely toasted whole wheat/sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, and tons of sprouts. The whole store experience was not as pleasant as my previous experiences at the Pearlridge location. I didn't feel as much friendliness from the staff/cashiers. The other big problem I have with this location is the parking. I know it's free/validated, but the structure sucks, the elevator gives me a panic attack, and I always forget to get those stickers for my ticket. I tried to show the parking attendant my receipt today because I forgot to ask for stickers (and the cashier didn't ask if I needed validation, which I think they should do for every customer), and he made me repark and go back down to get the stickers. So annoying.

    (3)

  • H. K.

    Ok, so i'm no hippie or Occupy anything protester, but I am a fan of good food. And who says you have to be a hippie to eat here? Of course, one would automatically associate the words organic or vegetarian with a level 99 tree-hugger. But, their calzones are delicious! My favorite is the....actually, I won' tell you what my favorite is because they supplies are limited. Perhaps now is the time to write the Down to Earth kitchen staff a letter. Dear Staff, Why is your calzones either non-existent, or overly abundant at the wrong hour of the day? What i'm trying to say is, "Why can't your cooking times of when things should be prepared be consistent?" Furthermore, your prices for the Hot Food bar is too high. Whole foods market is cheaper. Especially on Wednesdays when Whole foods hot bar is only $6.99. All the best, Me. Ok now that i've got that out of the way, let's eat right.

    (4)

  • Gemma R.

    I really like their hot food section. Every thing else is the store is over priced and ridiculous. I was looking for hot dog buns. YES hot dog buns because I was too lazy to drive to Safeway. All they had were these wheat free, gluten free, organic hard as a rock rolls. Which YES, I understand that's what they sell. but still. Kinda gross. Poor people with gluten allergies, you are missing out. Anyways... everything here is ridiculously over priced. I wanted Justin's Hazelnut butter and for a small jar is was about $12.. For peanut butter. Oh well. i guess they cater to Hawaii's oober rich and fancy population.

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    I love the hot and cold food bar. It's a little pricey but worth it to feed yourself nutritious and delicious food.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    You caught me! I was the one lurking behind you as I tried to scan the sweet cabinet for the largest spelt muffin and choicest choco chip cookie! You won't miss the wheat or eggs in them, the muffins are super moist and the cookies, while not quite Cookie Corner material, demand to be paired with milk (hold the almond milk) Its every bite is full of chocolate then walnuts to keep you crunching away! Thought I'd abandon DTE once Whole Foods arrived, but it's been quite the opposite. I am back here constantly to stock my pantry with: *bulk spices selection (cardamon, cloves, whole cumin seeds, mustard seeds) for our homemade garam masala and chai mix *bulk lentils (daal galore, go crazy) and wild rice *bulk almonds (comes in handy) *frozen veggie burritos to keep at work (perfect hunger killer) *other "healthy" junk food (white cheddar puffs and animal crackers to keep my tyke happy) *local apple bananas and papaya (far better selection than at Whole Foods) *selection of Triple Leaf teas (my current fave: Detox tea) *popular Lijjat brand of papadums (had to wait months for these ones to come in and they're worth the wait) Don't forget the deals on the bag of organic apples while you're at it!

    (4)

  • Eric W.

    Great selection of vegan ready made food selection~! I still miss Trader Joe's, but Down to Earth is more than adequate~!!! I like 'em better than Whole Foods. Prices are a little steep, but I think it's worth it, especially their produce. Be sure to ask for vegetarian discount (if you're a vegetarian that is)

    (4)

  • Nikki M.

    (2/12/2013) I came here about an hour ago looking for liquid lecithin. It was here but wasn't the "exact" kind I was looking for. So, like the frugal person I am, I figured I'd shop around. Guess what........I ended up coming back and buying it here any way. Thanks DTE!

    (4)

  • nikonar k.

    Dammit. Why are their manapuas so freaking good? I'll really miss eating them because: 1. Their fu¢ked up intolerant/ homophobic politics. 2. Kitchen not so clean, people who've worked there in the past (left the cult) tell me, I used to ignore this a little, figuring my stomach is strong until:. 3. After finding metal splintery shards(!) in seaweed salad, the most concern they showed was asking "So are you expecting to hear back from someone or something? It looks like maybe metal from a can or the thing they use in the pot." They didn't even ask what item the shards were found in, make an effort to pull contaminated food or offer solution/ make good. I know what its like in a kitchen, but indifference to food contaminants is not the way to keep folks coming back...skip this place, go to Kokua, it's right down the street and the people are there for the community, not because they're brainwashed.

    (1)

  • Anna D.

    good buffet bar but man it's costly. I used to study upstairs when every place else was packed but i've noticed more recently even the eating area is busy. I like the vegetarian lasagna.. it's fab. you can purchase all the good stuff in the store that is organic and healthy. it's a nice little place that's open pretty early and closed late as well.

    (3)

  • Pinky And The B.

    When we went to Oahu in late 2009 it was about a week after my last surgery for breast cancer. We went to celebrate life! I discovered a remedy and take notes if you have cancer, are pregnant and nauseous or have food poisoning. None of those things should ruin your vacation. I use liquid acidophiles which is the same bacteria found in yogurt and it will cure any stomach problems you have! It is all natural and it tastes like fruit and it is usually made from fruit. We know you can only get it at a health food store so my husband asked at the front desk at the hotel where the nearest health food store was and it is here! The employee there also helped my husband get some extra digestive enzymes for me that we continue to get here in NYC.

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    I LOVE this place! I've been going here for YEARS!! The prices are very reasonable, I think amongst the cheapest in town for natural/vegetarian/organic food! They always have monthly sales, and weekly veggie sale specials, and it's just awesome!! Their almond butter is the BEST ever!! Freshly ground, and hot when it comes out!! Nothing better!! Their produce selection is very good and a little expensive if it's not on sale, but almost all organic! Their food bar is WAY better than Whole Foods!! It's SO good!! You have to try their food bar, salad bar, and smoothies!! SO worth it and definitely competitively priced! I am loyal to this place....join the club and get a $5 off when you spend a certain amount, and their selection and in-store specials can't be beat!! LOVE you Down to Earth!

    (5)

  • Tyler B.

    This place TRUMPS Whole Foods, I wish we had one in LA. So when I walk in, I immediately am refreshed to see they carry coconut water (I was hungover) and even more excited that they have the tasty "pink guava" flavor I like. Moving on there's a great selection of pre-made foods. I was so impressed. Whole Foods pre-made foods are not only far more overpriced but not nearly as good. I was able to treat myself to a curry quinoa, pesto pasta, pasta salad and a rice pilaf dish. Every single dish was delicious and totaled to about $12 WITH two coconut waters. WHAT?! I was in shock. There's outdoor seating which is fine because weather is Hawaii is (usually) always nice. Not the most scenic view in the world but it's a market so you really shouldn't be expecting an ocean view anyways. Additionally, they carried tons of other products that can be found at Whole Foods and other more natural grocery stores. Two thumbs up!

    (4)

  • Keesha G.

    I love this place. I go there just about everyday if not for groceries, for or the juice or salad bar. That salad bar is the best! Its better than wholefoods. Its totally vegetarian an gives me inspiration for my own vegetarian creations as I do sometimes feel stumped on what to make since the no meat thing is new to my life. I wish they still did the discount on Fridays but oh well. That little $5 discount that you get when you spend $300 makes me happy. I got it twice in the last month and a half and honestly any little break is good. Yes its expensive but its worth it and sometimes my cereal is on sale.

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    I'm no vegan but one day my girlfriend suggested we eat something uber healthy, so we stopped in to munch on their salad bar. I began hungrily piling loads of beautiful and fresh hydroponic lettuce into my to-go box. oooh feta, plop! oooh avocado, big spoonful of that! oh my those croutons look good, big scoop! Orzo? Potato salad? Greek Salad? Scoop! Scoop! Double scoop! (I have a thing for Green Salad and a good one's hard to find). Did I mention I'm also a 6 month preggo hungry mama? And what's on the menu for dressing.....hmmm they have a papaya seed dressing...I'm game. As I poured it it did NOT look like any papaya seed dressing I'd ever seen. Well, half my salad's already covered so keep it comin'. Oh snap! There's a hot bar...with...lasagna and pesto veggies?? Gees, what have I been missing all my life not trying out all this vegan goodness? Easy mama, don't eat the whole bar. Back away from the hot bar. Everything looked super yummy though. Got to the register and CHA-CHING! $10.35?????? All that organic goodness can really add up so go closer to pay day if you're squelching on the funds. They have a nice sit down area behind the salad bars so we parked ourselves and I proceeded to dive into all this rabbit food. Biz! Bang! Wow! and Guy would say. The salad with all my toppings and that Papaya seed dressing was absolute happiness in my mouth. The dressing has just enough sweetness and freshness and it's not at all tart. Serious dressing orgasm here! I have never felt this way about a salad dressing before...seriously, who has? The Greek salad and orzo were excellent too, just enough taste without overpowering Italian dressing. Dressing is apparently key in good salads I am learning here. I'm in love with this salad bar and all the fixins and get the onos for it atleast once a week. But my wallet cringes everytime I park the car here. It's well worth the price though and your body will thank you for it once you've devoured every last leaf!

    (4)

  • Gene K.

    We came here on the advice of some folks and wifey was interested in the Greek yogurt and the bulk food section. The parking kinda stinks and the ramp up to the parking area is cramped and is a pain to navigate around turns when someone else is trying to get in/go out. But on the plus side, they validate parking. Inside, there are lots of fresh and organic fruits and veggies. Their bulk food section is quite good also, with lots of granola. Most of the stuff is pretty expensive (which is not a surprise), while other things (namely the steel cut oats) are actually cheaper than other places like Whole Foods. The neat thing is, they have honey you can dispense into a plastic bottle, so we got the macadamia nut honey to try. There are also spices you can buy in separate little baggies by weight. Otherwise, everything is pretty expensive. We didn't find people to be really all that rude, but they weren't exactly welcoming or warm either.

    (3)

  • Andy G.

    Coming from the mainland, I'm spoiled on whole foods. However, whole foods finally opened in HI, but by the time they did I was already hooked on down to earth. First, I love that they are 100% vegetarian. They don't carry any meat products at all, and supporting them agrees 100% with my lifestyle. They have vegan options at their cafe and buffet while Whole Foods in HI has little if any vegan options for their hot foods. Whole foods has literally ZERO, ABSOLUTELY ZERO fresh vegan baked goods/desserts. Down to Earth carries fresh vegan baked goods. They are a little pricey, but I only get them when I need comfort food. They are also a local company from what I've heard, and that's always a good thing.

    (5)

  • Trav15t ..

    I wish Whole Foods moved in next door... I happened to walk by their health pamphlet section today on my way to the register with my $4 grip of kale and a trifold brochure on Diabetes caught my eye. As doctor who treats type 2 diabetes through lifestyle and diet, I was curious to see what Down to Earth had to say. The recommended food list was astonishing and inadequate at best... Can I highlight some of the top foods on their list for diabetics? -Popcorn -Crackers -Rice cakes -Mayo and catsup (just going down the list) -Pancake mix -Pasta and Pasta sauce -Breakfast cereal -Cookies -Grains and Rice -Bread -Last category: Frozen food --FROZEN WAFFLES -(this was ~80 percent of the food list) Clearly the people at Down to Earth don't understand the basic science behind diabetes. The answer is NOT more packaged foods made from grains and other "edible food-like substances" like crackers and cookies. It's clear to me that the proven regimin of whole foods, protein, fiber and easily teachable concepts like glycemic index, glucose control/carb counting were neglected in their "educational handout"... Two stars for an awesome produce isle, negative three stars for misinformation, high prices and an illusion of superiority from the staff. (see: Illusory superiority en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il… )

    (2)

  • Carolyn S.

    Really over priced compared to whole foods. Small gluten free selection, and to make it worse they sell the yucky dried out brands. Not worth the money. Decent salad bar though.

    (2)

  • Sara S.

    Very pricey, but has an awesome selection of anything organic and healthy you could ever want. I tried the Lanakai smoothie and it was sweet and delicious.

    (4)

  • Dustin E.

    As far as healthy eating is concerned, most of my friends would agree that vegetarian diets are considered bland and boring. Well that is not the case here at Down to Earth near Moiliili Center. Their deli department has improved so much! I have to give them 5 stars for creativity, appearance and flavor. I would not be bored if I could make it here every day. Really great job chefs! Yelp 365 Challenge : 72/365

    (5)

  • Dawn B.

    Despite its location on a busy part of King street, there is easy parking and a small urban community feel to this location. The staff is well-informed and helpful, though a bit intense at times. It's a good place to get almost anything you need at fairly reasonable prices, considering what they sell. This week I saw an employee give a really dirty guy with numerous bags a small plastic cup that he filled repeatedly from the hot food bar.I've seen similar sights before at this outlet, and it does hamper my willingness to eat the prepared foods. I prefer the Aiea location, but this one is more conveniently located, so I go about once a week, and I'm glad it's there.

    (3)

  • C.S. L.

    I hate buying anything from this place. Not because it's just so damned expensive (which it is) but because the environment is just awful. I am a conscientious eater (but NOT a vegetarian) and hate the holier-than-thouness that accompanies many vegetarians/vegans. I admit that maybe it wasn't the smartest move to ask at a vegetarian store (in my defense, I thought it was an ORGANIC grocery store) where I could purchase organic/grass-fed beef, but do I really deserve a dirty look and a lecture about unhealthy diet choices and the innocence of animals? I find the company strange and hypocritical. Their website spouts all this propaganda about how they care about the environment and their community etc., but then there are these rumors of intolerance and considering the rude and judgmental behavior of some of the employees . . . I believe it. Plus their job application (which I browsed while waiting in line) states that all applicants that pass interviews have to agree to a physical arranged by the company before employment. Sounds like the worst of the worst corporate bullshit if you ask me.

    (1)

  • Zenny Z.

    Massive selection of bulk food items including all types of cereals, spices, rices, grains, coffee, and more. Nearly all the produce is organic and some of it is locally grown. The salad bar is great but really pricey at over $9 a lb. The AC is kinda loud and detracts from the shopping experience. I suggest not coming during rush hour around 4 - 8pm if you hate dealing with crowds in confined spaces. Parking can be a challenge. There's some parking above the store, at a few stalls around the loading area, on the street (which is prohibited from 3:30 - 6:30) and at the Moilili community center lot after 4:30pm.

    (5)

  • Meera G.

    I'm SO glad I found this place! Great selection of bulk spices, which means I don't buy a ton of spices when I just need a little bit of each. I think I got around 10 or 15 different spices for less than $10. They also seem to have a decent selection of natural lotions and shampoos, etc.

    (5)

  • Brian A.

    Just so outsiders know, Hawaii has its share of coconut palm tree huggers as well. This is where they hang out. I mean literally hang out. Sitting right out front chillin' with their friends eating yogurt and granola. The smell, yeah that's the smell of a health food store. I should know, I lived in Oregon for 15 years. Most of that state smells like this, so I know that funny smell well. That and the lice powder that hippies/beatnicks put in their nappy dreadlocks so they don't have to wash their hair. Fortunately, Hawaii lacks the latter. Usually the two are synonymous (accompanied by an acrid smell that makes you weirdly famished), but I've been lucky to never seen or caught a whiff of it (the lice powder, not the acrid smell) here at least. Too hot here I guess. It's also small and can get congested. It's minuscule even for a health food grocery store, but it's well lighted, stocked, and has plenty of workers mulling around. I'm not really one to buy lots of organic junk or go green for that matter. The only thing that I ever really bought consistently from a health food store was some spaghetti sauce that was really good. The main reason being is most health food tastes like crap. Yeah I said it. I like to watch people try the samples and the looks on their faces afterward is quite entertaining. Anyway, this place fills a niche. Parking? They've got parking on the roof, but as with many other neighborhood health food stores, most of their patrons walk.

    (3)

  • F P.

    Great salad bar and a wide variety of fresh produce, body/haircare products, and other veg/vegan friendly groceries!! I miss this place and look forward to going back there when on the island again. So convenient to pick up a quick lunch too! Great customer service as well. They also have the best variety of local made soaps!!

    (5)

  • Karebear W.

    Must get: carrot juice w ginger. Tofu chocolate peanut butter pie. Cherry pecan trail mix. Avocado Sandwich. Yummers!! Also a hot/ cold entree bar.

    (5)

  • Iokepa D.

    I wish I could give this place no stars. Political views aside...The people were rude and cold, the place has a funky smell, and they kicked me not only out of the store for eating Burger King prior (I had the cup in my hand on top of me being 11 or 12 years old) and proceeded to give my mother a lecture of how wrong it is to eat meat, blah, blah, blah...anyway my mom said something to him Japanese and we left the store and never returned. My mom still boycotts it to this day, but more for the political reasons and after she saw the job application of a family friend who was going to apply here. I'm sorry Mr. Vegan with your waify lack of muscle definition (cause you don't eat real protein), spotty skin color, dark circles look in the mirror before giving a lecture about how great the vegan diet is because it's sure not working and please use deodorant, thanks! Years later, I went back with a friend who raved about their buffet salad bar. I'm sorry I found it over priced, didn't look appealing, again that funky smell just as I remembered, and what is up with all that imitation meat stuff it's weird and freaks me out. Anyway I walked out wait for my friend, and went across the way and got some real food! :)

    (1)

  • Kat P.

    I come here a lot for bulk foods and prepared hot food and salad. YOu can park your dog outside, no problem, i go to the Kailua one. It is pure vegetarian here, no meats at all, not even calcium as it comes from sea creatures shells. I like their smoothies- mango and acai ones. They have the basics at expected prices. I still like coming here although Whole Foods is nearby. Can't go wrong with this bulk food stuff, you have your niche in this one. The bird bar is my absolute favorite. One thing is the traffic, it is next to the Kaiser clinic and turning left is a little tricky when you are driving. Also crossing the road to Safeway for other groceries is also a little tricky but some cars slow down. I wish their cooking class was in the morning on Tuesdays...

    (4)

  • O O.

    Pricey, but then again, you pay for quality. You will find the freshest ingredients, dry goods and spices anywhere. They sell a seasoned garbanzo powder that you mix with water, oil and a little lemon juice or parsley and it's the knock down, drag out, best hummus around. You cannot tell that it is dehydrated because the taste is not compromised. Preparing hummus like this is more economical and green than buying already made in a plastic tub. Large selection of East Indian spices. Some already made in jars, others you have to roast and blend yourself. All good brands straight from the source. Fresh pappadum wafers that you must cook yourself. Get the one with the cracked, black lentils mixed in. I've tried several of their gluten free or whole grain breads. Gaaa, not for me. Makes me talk like Scooby doo. "Yuck-yuck-yuck!" Deli items and self serve food bar is fresh and tasty. But your food is weighed. Wow, it can get pretty expensive for a veggie lasagna or plate lunch. Take a membership application for discounts, mailed coupons and news updates. After spending $250.00 you get a $5.00 coupon good for in store products. Uku planny free parking upstairs and down. Their shopping bags are very flimsy. I doubt if they are very earth friendly if you have to chuck them just because the handles shred quickly. If you're looking for an all vegetarian committed store, close to the busline and the University crowd, this is the one you want. Namaste!

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    i used to go to Huckleberry since it was closer but now that I live near Ala Moana, I've been going to Down to Earth. It looks a lot better than I last remembered. I didn't think they'd be comparable to a Whole Foods but now that I can compare, I can happily say they are. Although DTE is smaller, I like the setup better. Plus it's cheaper and I think the employees are much more knowledgeable, helpful, and as an added bonus, cuter!

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    In addition to all of their food, toiletries, and vitamins/supplements, Down to Earth has a food bar. Just load up your plate or container with your hot food or salad and you are set. Many options, but not always as healthy as you'd expect....but I do like their potatoes au gratin. They have 3-4 soups available. You can also order sandwiches and smoothies. Good and quick if you are on the run. i think they have food available til 9pm!

    (4)

  • Ashiyan R.

    Excellent vegetarian/vegan salad and hot food bar - for a treat every now and then - as the prices are quite steep. But they do special offers which make it more attractive.

    (4)

  • Tiffani K.

    Any good health store needs to have a great bulk foods section... and they do! I think they're the most reasonably priced out of the few we have on this island. I like the idea of getting bulk spices, grains, cereal, anything in any amount that I want. Fresh made nut butters yum! It's perfect for when I need a little of something and that's it. Good selection of dairy products and local products. Not to mention their hot food bar is amazing, a little pricey but where isn't? It beats Safeway any day. Their baked goods are definitely well priced. Plus they have a little dining area outside or upstairs, where you can creepily stalk the people as they check out... The one thing I wouldn't get is their acai bowl. It was straight up lumpily blended acai ice bricks with some premade granola, a little honey, and a bit of banana. I watched her make it and by the time she brought it over to the counter, it was already kind of runny. The lady who served me that day was inexplicably in a bad mood so perhaps that's not the norm? It wasn't worth trying again either way when I can just go down the street to Da Spot for one that's much better in every way. They're in a really convenient location and if you can't find parking on the street, they validate upstairs during the day or you can park in the MCC parking lot after hours.

    (4)

  • Austin T.

    We like this place a lot ! Worth a $10 cab ride from Waikiki and free parking for the drivers.

    (5)

  • Ash R.

    I go here for their cafe!! They make some of the most delicious smoothies I've ever had, I promise! The prepared food bar is also really yummy. Great selection of salad, summer roll--huge, hot food-pastas and cold foods like quinoa, other whole grains. Bakery section, its a huge glass case filled to the brim with vegan and non-vegan baked goods, cookies, muffins, scones. convenient and easy parking. Get a whole foods card and you save.... 15% or something around that number.

    (5)

  • Norm G.

    In my past life, I sometimes made fun of people who frequented this place. I once even muttered an off-color remark, to the effect the store was for "sprout heads." Well my karma has grabbed me and knocked me on my gluteus maximus (keister, heinie, butt) for uttering such invective. The fact is, I was recently tested for food reactivity (something like food allergies), and found I was reactive to a number of foods, including milk and yeast (baker's and brewer's). What a shock when I would be in a regular supermarket and find a hidden culprit in the list of ingredients. I thought I would never be able to find enough to eat, and would ultimately fall into an epicurean funk. Finally, I swallowed my pride and headed over to Down To Earth. What a pleasant surprise to find foods that I could eat! Not only that, but many people shopping looked so healthy, the place smelled good, and the employees were absolutely delightful. After a month on this diet, I am not having the sinus problems I'd been having for years, so even though the prices are higher here, it is just so worth it to be feeling better. I can't believe I actually like the taste of soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk on my muesli in the morning. No, I'm not a total vegetarian...YET. However, I am happy (and proud) to say that I am now a Down To Earth Sprout-head Shopper!

    (5)

  • Shelley K.

    I love going to Down to Earth to dine on delish vegan food when I'm in the mood to be healthy!! From their store, I love to go buy Have'a Chips. They are cheap and delish! From the hot food bar, I love to get their salad with papaya seed dressing, eggplant parmesan, curry fried rice, mock chicken tofu and their pizzas. I guess its just all so good! Only con: their prices for the hot food bar is really expensive! which is why I only go there once a month or two lol.

    (4)

  • Talia R.

    We visited Down to Earth while vacationing in Oahu, Our resort although beautiful was really not vegan friendly, so when a member of the hotel staff recommended we check out this spot we happily obliged. I found helpful, friendly workers, a wide selection of food although we were limited as we only had a hot pot and a fridge in our hotel. The food that is packaged is more expensive in Hawaii than on the mainland, just a warning, Now to save the best for last: the bakery department! I was wanting something sweet and when I saw the vegan piña colata muffin I knew I had to try it. Let's just say I devoured it on the ride back to the hotel and wished I'd purchased more, Incredible!

    (5)

  • Erin G.

    Before Wholefoods was open, this was the place to shop and eat healthy, mainly because it was one of the few places that sells organic products and they were actually more attentive. But recently it has changed and prices got higher than most stores. Personnel's attitude became to avoid responsibility and pass the buck. Also, at the buffet, the tofu chicken often is overcooked and burned.

    (2)

  • Dmitry O.

    too clutered, no parking....

    (2)

  • Tajna Z.

    The fresh local produce. Treats such as dried persimmons,figs,Medjool dates,apricots,mulberries (if you don't grow your own like me). BEST DESSERT EVER: the wheat free Brazilian nut cookie,gluten,dairy,peanut,butter,soy,cane sugar free.So delicious and nutty and toasty! Don't downgrade yourself to trying their old slices of cakes and pies,this cookie is where it's at! Get lost in the incense section! Trip out in the teas! You can have fun just browsing,then go home and replicate it all! heat up some coconut oil,add carob and spices,chill and you'll have your own caffeine free "chocolate" bar! I LOVE YOU DOWN TO EARTH! ALOHA!

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    I love Down to Earth! Awesome prepared food, really great produce and packaged food. The bulk section rules pretty hard and the vanilla almond granola rules my world. The clerks are so nice here. Every one is! I like hanging outside on the tables with friends, drinking a Blue Sky cola and watching the traffic roll by.

    (4)

  • Richy R.

    Good selection of vegetarian items though they can be a bit pricey. Boca crumbled meat was like $8....yeah ill pass. They have a bunch of Indian food items which have been lacking at the other grocery stores ive shopped at since moving to Oahu. A huge plus is their salad/hot food bar. Alot of variety and international options. I had a small portion of enchiladas, polenta pizza, and pasta primavera (the pasta was soooooo good. I wish I could get the recipe) and some brown rice and that total was like $5.50 and made for a satisfying lunch. I would give it 3.5 and im giving it a 4 instead of a 3 because I like the fact that there is even a place like this on Oahu. I haven't been getting much vegetarian love since moving here. I dint know why some places out here think beef flavored curry is acceptable for a vegetarian. I would give it more stars if the prices werent so high. I guess that is just island life... I probably will only shop here for specific items. I saw Rose water so will be coming back for that when I try to make this Lebanese dessert.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    Down to Earth offers a delicious rich Coconut Blueberry Smoothie. This is the only place I have tasted full bodied coconut in a smoothie. The ingredients are simple: frozen banana, blueberries and coconut. Refreshing and filling! I get my coconut smoothie fix at the Moiliili store.

    (5)

  • Maka I.

    I love Down to Earth! :) ... Most of my food is organic so feel really grateful for stores like Down to Earth that provide real, uncontaminated food. Down to Earth has a great selection of products and educated employees in their health products area. I'm not a huge fan of salad bars as food is sitting out for who knows how long ... love the cafe where they make everything fresh. Most of the employees have been there for a long time and are friendly and helpful. If something isn't in stock it can be ordered right away and sometimes at a discount price. There is plenty of parking in back, up on top or out front on the meters. Sometimes I wish the prices were lower but there is a member card, free of charge, that tracks points and rewards shoppers with $5 off cards. Thanks Down to Earth for providing healthy food so I can stay young, healthy and energetic! :)

    (5)

  • Stacey K.

    When I walked in I swore a hairy, sweaty, smelly armpit smacked me in the face. fakkkk dat. FAKKK dat. for REAL. you are what you eat. shiet!

    (1)

  • Shane Z.

    Today after Manoa Falls hike we got a Mock Chicken Salad Wrap and the Roasted Pepper Hummus Wrap both were fresh and delicious. Great selection of health food!

    (5)

  • Leonna M.

    Politics are a def 0. Food is too expensive. Admittedly, I've been there only twice, and to the S. King location. I was none to impressed by the holier-than-thou attitude. I didn't realize it was a vegan/vegetarian store (I had happened to stumble in the first time), so when I asked if they had any local meats, I was given a look that I can only describe as complete and utter hatred. The girl then proceeded to lecture me on the benefits of being a vegan, etc etc etc. Needless to say, I turned around, bought my Govinda's juice and left. The second time I came in here was because Kokua Market was closed and I needed some juice at home.

    (1)

  • Ed K.

    was about a year and a half ago last time trying out down to earth. couldn't figure out exactly what it was that captured my attention about the place. was riot season and place was crowded! so i thought what if i could try being vegan for a day? went inside, looked around. basicly its a healthy supermarket. tried the bread. it was grainy, flaky, and crumbly. they had vegi sandwich with brussel sprouts (with the bread i just described). didn't like the taste of the marinara sauce on the lasagna or crust on the pizza, and concluded i wouldn't have the discipline. however by judging from the outside looking in, vegan dieters are STRONG! there was a dude wearing shin gaurds on his wrist with the words VEGAN on them, carrying a 5 foot tree trunk, 2 foot in diameter.. passed me up in the marathon! no lie.. maybe thats why my belly smiles.

    (2)

  • Melissa K.

    A very good store with a very good selection (for Hawaii). I used to think Down to Earth was expensive ... then I went to Whole Foods and realized that DE's prices (for the same products!) really weren't that bad. The service is hit or miss but usually pretty good. The folks in the produce dept. are awesome-- very helpful and nice. I don't like the customer card ... and am not digging the new renovations. BUT the deli is fabulous (been a fan of the mango muffins and spring rolls for years!) and they now have gluten-free pizza.

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    Love the curry quinoa from the deli. Tried almost all the hot food and have yet to be disappointed. Minus one star for the on-site dining experience. I live too far away to take out, but looking at King St makes re-heating the food at home a better alternative. Still, the flavo of the food and the purpose of the store make eating here one of the top expereinces in Honolulu.

    (4)

  • Murray B.

    This is an excellent place for those 'hard to find' organic foods or natural products. It reminds me of one of my favorite markets close to where I grew up called Berkeley Bowl but on a smaller scale and much less chaotic (not once did I almost get hit by a fellow shopper's cart!). In addition to groceries and a medium sized produce section, you will find a deli, a bakery, a salad bar and a wellness center (props to 'em for having the natural toothpaste that I couldn't find at longs, foodland or safeway).

    (4)

  • Sheryl M.

    How can you go wrong with being good to your body??? At DTE, I love buying the ready made foods in the deli section! Some of my faves include the 3-bean vegan chili, enchiladas, polenta pizza, and the thai veggie curry. These are so great I usually don't have to cook for a week!!! ~ It's probably much cheaper to make, but my philosophy is...why re-invent the wheel when it's already made and it tastes great?!?!!!

    (5)

  • Tania P.

    The parking isn't the best... The store is cramped... Their deli food didn't look very healthy... Overall, it just didn't look as good as Whole Foods...

    (2)

  • Susie G.

    I don't know about you, but when I travel, I get really really really sick of eating heavy food from restaurants really quickly. Down to Earth was the perfect solution for on-the-go meals after vigorous hikes and sunny snorkel sessions. Fill up a plate at 8.99 and go! From salads to stews, they've got a great range for any eater - and it's all vegetarian which is what brought me there in the first place. I recommend using one of their clamshell containers and eating off site at a park or something.

    (5)

  • Meredith P.

    Wow, three one-star reviews about the politics of the organization. Perhaps somebody would care to fill in the visiting mainlanders like myself? Personally, I loved Down to Earth. The ability to walk into a store and know that I can buy ANYTHING THERE is really amazing. I have been an ovo-lacto vegetarian since 1993 (with a brief stint of veganism in 2000) and I have NEVER seen anything like Down to Earth. Every health food store, natural food place, everything always has meat somewhere. Not at Down to Earth. I didn't do any grocery shopping here, but the ready-to-eat stuff was FANTASTIC. I got a slice of organic vegetarian pizza and it was fabulous. So was the chocolate bar I got from the grocery. There were soups, and sandwiches, it all looked so good! I bought a mock tuna sandwich to have later, and when I did...yummy. I've only had one mock tuna sandwich before (Healthway Natural Foods, Fairfax VA) and this was equal or better. Seriously, a vegetarian and a vegan can stuff themselves silly here. I don't know what the political issue is, but damn, they have good food.

    (5)

  • Jeni K.

    awesome place to eat on the go! they have an extensive salad bar that makes any carnivore question if meat is even worth the risk now-a-days. theyre selection of baked goods is amazing and very filling i may end up skipping a meal! its definately worth the price since all of their ingredients are of high quality and actually have real nutritional value and are the same prices as junk fast food on the go! how dare fast food joints charge so much for low quality food that doesnt fill you up. who said eating healthy was expensive? you gotta hit them up for grocery shopping during their monthly sales. all the necessities end up being the same prices as walmart (but of way better quality) for stuff like bread, soy milk, poptarts and soda. its amizing at how eating quality food (healthy or not) can make so much of a difference in how your body can work for you! i no longer have allergies or asthma and havent even gotten sick when everyone around me seems to be infectious. i've even lost weight eating organic chocolate and switching our all my sweets for their healthy counter parts without even exercising! i only wish everyone demanded the same quality in their foods so that the prices would go down to meet all our consuming needs.

    (5)

  • Chan K.

    I came here once because i was desperate for tuna (which i needed for my project). it was a specific type of tuna that no one else had, but Down to Earth did. so thats good. but the place is kinda run down. thats not so good.

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    I'm a vegetarian, so obviously I'd be frequenting here. Do I like it? Yes. Do I LOVE it? Ehh. It's a little pricey for some things, especially the almost all organic produce, but they do have sales on things and it's a place that I definitely know I can go to if I ever run out of Tofurkey. However, they do have amazing cookies and the hot bar is great (although again, pricey).

    (4)

  • Therese B.

    Awesome food, definitely will find stuff you can't find in major supermarkets (and some that you can). Also their buffet is great for vegans! I'm not vegan but their food was yummy. It can be a little pricey, but that's the price that comes with specialty food and diets. Sadly. However, they do have great options for the lactose-intolerant and those with food allergies. Worth visiting at least once and formulating your own opinion about it.

    (4)

  • Victoria J.

    I love Kokua, but one thing that DTE has that Kokua doesn't is the hot food bar! When I'm too lazy to cook or go out to something elaborate, picking up something fast and easy from DTE is my go to. They always have a tasty curry, I love their eggplant, and one of the things my MIL discovered is their summer rolls with peanut sauce. YUM. As for the rest of the store, it's a better than average health food store with a wide selection of your various food needs.

    (4)

  • Joseph Jr. S.

    Pros Great products Healthy food and salad bar Friendly employees Cons Terribly expensive! Extremely slow moving lines because of outdated cashier technology Food bar is inconsistent, sometimes it's good, other times it is lacking Homeless people frequent this store and hang out in front of it

    (3)

  • Dawn L.

    I have a theory that Oregon is the kindest place in the nation because the people that live there tend to lean towards vegan/vegetarianism, tend to be eco-friendly, are kind of hippie and would basically be Down To Earth shoppers. Totally characterizing, I know. But I can't explain why everyone there is so darn nice. Which leads me to the rest of my theory...either the workers at DTE are not vegetarian hippies, or I am just super off in all my theories...which is probably very likely all the way around. :) I'm a little torn here. I mean, I've been to DTE a few times before and the only real impression I had was that it was a little pricey but I give them wiggle room since they are local and I'd support them ANY DAY TWICE over Whole Foods on principle: I am a rabbit owner, Whole Foods slaughters 12 week old rabbits for their freezers, though they claim to do it "humanely." But I digress. Walking through the entire store twice, only one employee ever approached me and asked if I was finding everything I needed. No one else greeted me, screamed at me, smiled at me, or acknowledged me. I saw enough of them throughout the aisles but they all minded their own businesses or talked to eachother only, never acknowledging me or any other customers around them. They didn't seem particularly happy--no one smiled. I was pretty impressed with the selection. My family are normal eaters but I am vegetarian so I usually get what I need at regular markets like Costco, Foodland or Safeway, but naturally the selection is minimal. I wanted a mock chicken strip that I could incorporate into a pasta dish or stir fry which I haven't been able to find elsewhere and they have it here. I also found several ground beef substitutes and several hamburger patty subs to get me through the upcoming 4th of July weekend when everyone is grilling burgers and dogs. Another nice touch: bulk spices. Who the heck wants to buy 27 different containers of spices when you needs 2T for something you cook once every two months, right? Bulk spices are genius. Amen! I visited the cold food case adjacent to the registers and while the selection was not bad, the food looked a little soggy and not too fresh. So I went to see what other prepared foods were available. JACKPOT! The hot and cold food bar was stocked with fresh foods (I might have just caught a change over from breakfast to lunch?) and there is also a fresh juice bar that makes smoothies, wraps and sandwiches. I grabbed a couple small containers and packed up some of the enchiladas and a variety of cold salads to take home. I can report that the vegetarian enchiladas are ABSOLUTELY the best enchiladas everrrrrr and I'm willing to suck on the chef's big toe for the recipe (no, not really...but it's super good). I believe the food on the bar is $9.99/lb. When I stood in line to pay, I was not greeted by a chilly cashier. I was asked if I had a DTE card or something...I don't but she didn't ask me if I wanted one or explain what it was. I'll figure it out on my own maybe. I probably want one but it would be really nice if they would ask. I feel like any other grocery store does. But she was about par for the course with the other employees in the store so I wasn't surprised. Hoping the people get better. The products are great. I'd like to be a long time customer. I'll be back again and give them another shot since I hate Whole Foods.

    (3)

  • Sean Z.

    Woooo Down To Earth rocks. The food here is delicious. But don't worry, you do not have to be a vegetarian or vegan to appreciate their food. Their donuts and cookies are amazing. Especially in the morning when everything is right out of the oven. The hot bar and salad bar are also great. It is always usually filled with colorful ingredients that is appetizing for the body and soul. The wellness department has a ton of things for your health needs from dietary supplements, daily vitamins, and wellness formulas. Don't forget, they also have whey protein and natural soaps for that post workout. Some if not most, will say that Down to Earth is on the pricier side but it doesn't mean you have to eat there every day... To me, the customer service is one of the main aspects that make it worth the extra buck. From the wellness clerks to the deli counter to the cashiers, everyone is friendly and knowledgeable and willing to be of assistance. Parking isn't too bad during morning or night hours. Lunchtime can be a bit of a challenge. When school is in session, parking can become a tad creative. However, there is parking on the first floor behind the store as well as the second floor (free validation). After 4pm you do not need validation. There is also limited street parking which I wouldn't advise unless you are going in and out. Costco and Whole Foods Market also sell organic products at a competitive price. However, DTE tries its best to buy local and recycle it back into the community. They are all great shops, but buying local is a plus at shopping with DTE especially if you like their products and service!

    (5)

  • Grace L.

    We come to down to earth instead of whole foods because it's closer to us and I personally think it's less crowded. The main reason we frequent Down to Earth is for their selection of grains/beans. My mom has gotten into the habit of making our white rice "healthier" by putting in a variety of beans (and stuff)- chick peas, kidney beans, amaranth grain, etc. I'm also a really big sweet tooth so occasionally I'll pick up some snacks here and it'll satisfy my cravings in a "healthier" way. They also have a HUGE selection of gluten free items. I know people who can't eat baked goods because they're allergic to gluten and it's fantastic to have this alternative mix. I had short period where my doctors couldn't figure out what I was allergic to so they suggested I stay away from gluten. Everything worked out and I wasn't actually allergic to gluten but serious props to people who can't have gluten because it's so hard to stay away from it. There's gluten in everything! But they do have a bunch of mixes available-cake, bread, cookies, pancake/waffles, etc for those who are gluten sensitive. Another item we get here (because it's ACTUALLY cheaper) is the fine sea salt. At sams club we bought a container for a little under $3 but to fill up the same container (with extra left), it only costed $1.40. I definitely wish I could buy more everyday items but it's a little hard to purchase all of our food products here since it is quite expensive. It's hard to buy things like sugar or flour or olive oil when you can get those things at sams or costco for way cheaper. However, they do have a lot of items you won't be able to find anywhere else. In that case, I think spending a little extra is worth while. They validate for parking and if you sign up for their membership card you can collect points and get $$ off your purchases.

    (4)

  • Ryan M.

    The coming of Whole Foods has really raised DTE in my mind. I think of it as David, King of my Jewish brothers, battling it out with the Whole Foods Goliath...but as a bit of a Philistine champion myself, I'm a bit torn in this ancient bout. Anyway, that being said I want to like Down to Earth a lot, I really do. So I hit the hot food bar and there were really appetizing looking selections. I loaded up on some grilled veggies that looked like they were grilled lovingly by Turkish exchange students in jorts and ill-fitted bandanas. Unfortunately while they retained a nice balsamic flavor they were like my heart watching The Notebook...mushy. There was some good hummus and the Greek Salad boasted generous sprinklings of Feta cheese. I grabbed a summer roll and peanut sauce which was alright but the rice vermicelli type wrapper was soggy. The long and the short of it is that they had good stuff out I prolly just hit it too late and hence some of the soggy action that brought it down a star. Would be nice to know when the bar is freshened up or initially put out to time your visit just right. The new parking up top is convenient but the elevator was a bit jenky so I walked up the ramp on the way back cuz being stuck in an elevator ain't my idea of a fun time. Hopefully it gets recalibrated soon.

    (3)

  • Maria Shea A.

    I really want to rate this place higher because I appreciate that they are right down the road from my house and I'm addicted to clean eating but I can't. They are expensive. The parking is slightly inconvenient (park in the garage and take a ticket, get your ticket validated and the cashier will not remind you). Take the elevator down. I think that they could do better on pricing. The hot food bar is mostly yummy but beware, not all of that is "healthy". Anything laden with cheese=yum but fatty. I've experienced stale food from the "serve yourself" bins. Good selection of items though I have yet to find an actual "VEGAN" chocolate bar. They have outdoor seating but I don't think they wipe down the tables often. EW. That's all I have for now. Whole Foods is my preferred place but this will do from time-to-time.

    (3)

  • Rachel S.

    $12+ for a single frozen pizza. GURRRRRL PUHLLLLEEZE. Don't get me wrong. I shop at Whole Foods and even Dean and Deluca every once in awhile, so I'm not shocked by exorbitant prices but here... nope. I was shocked at the prices for just about everything that is sold here. Brian P. and I came here specifically looking for cereal, milk, any sort of meat, salad mix, a tomato, and bread. Basically, cereal and sandwiches. Alas, this place only sells fake soy jizzle jazzle so... guess sandwiches were not going to be happening. We looked at cereals - WOW. Cereal is definitely not a poor college kid staple here. It's $5-10 a bag. And not even fancy brands. This is the same organic Nature's Path cereal that is sold everywhere. We ended up with some casava chips and a few other snacks. We also got some clearance milk for a little less than $4, but unfortunately it was 1% (bleh.) I looked at other items - Ecos laundry detergent I get in Vegas, and the large Costco size at that, is $13 at home. For the small size here - $20+!!! I get that stuff has to be shipped here, but really? These prices are crazy. Overall, while the store looks nice inside, the selection is too small and the prices too high to warrant a repeat visit.

    (2)

  • Amara E.

    Down to Earth is a great place to grab healthy, organic food. I like this one in particular because of its convenient location by University and friendly service. They have amazing food at the salad and hot food bar. I personally like their meatless lasagna and Greek salad. DOE releases a newsletter that has month-long sales on select products. Sometimes, they also have clearance items: you can usually scoop up great deals on yogurt and chocolate bars. This place is pricier than regular grocery stores, but that is generally the case for health food stores. I opt for this place over Nijiya or Kokua Market, because of their store hours (open until 10:30!!), prices and stock (always current, never expired).

    (5)

  • Melissa A.

    I've lived in Santa Cruz, I've lived in the Bay Area, and have even lived in Seattle and I have NEVER found a better health food store than this. It's as if someone took the BEST of every vegan and vegetarian thing I've ever had and put in it one store. Almost all the produce is organic and to my knowledge, the whole store is vegetarian. I will be back. In fact, it's the only place we plan to eat at for the rest of the week!

    (5)

  • Ma F.

    They should change their name to Down to F*%#! And I don't mean it in a good way. I went in today after having been to the one on Maui a few times. I was famished, I was on the go and I needed something healthy so I grabbed an apple. Easy enough, so I go to pay for my apple and it rings up at $2! For one apple, didn't sound right. So the cashier tells me it's $3 a pound. Ok, I look over at the scale and the apple weighs 0.48lbs. That's less than half a pound. Half of 3 is 1.50! She then tries again and now my apple only cost $1.96. Look the price was still not what it should be but I was hungry so I paid for it and I won't be coming back. I love Whole Foods so I don't mind paying more for my quality food, but I'm not down to get F by Down to Earth. I'll pass and I'll stick to Whole Foods. I don't even know if that thing was organic!

    (1)

  • Brian R.

    AVOID Bulk food! 3 bulk items in 3 months with bugs. All were sealed in glass jars at our end so it did not originate with us. 3 strikes you're out.

    (1)

  • Bridget C.

    Love this store! New favorite place to come and get snacks or hit up the salad bar. Love all the vegan options!

    (5)

  • Amy Y.

    It's an organic/vegan supermarket. One of my friend took me here to try the deli food. I got the summer roll (it was a giant summer roll). ($3~) $0.50 for additional sauce. My friend picked the assorted ones. He said it was very good. I like the summer roll. But definitely need sauce with it because its blaaand. This place is legit vegaaaan and organic. Haha, Pricey. Parking is upstairs..left of the store entrance. Don't forget to validate because we forgot. Had to run back down to get it.

    (3)

  • Lyla D.

    Down to Earth market is my go-to place for healthy, organic and vegetarian food and products. It's a clean, friendly and fairly priced store that is locally owned. There are NO meat products here! This store is strictly VEGETARIAN AND ORGANIC. You'll come here for healthier choices to your diet. There's a smoothie station, salad bar and bakery to one side of the store so when enter, you'll be "greeted by" aromatic whiffs of either freshly baked goods or even a vege-lasagna. Okay, I'm NOT a vegetarian nor would I even pretend. But, every so often, I get the inkling to cook and eat healthy, fresh and plant-based foods. I like to use good nutrition as a gustatory panacea. Call it a sense of mortality but, I'm willing to try...

    (4)

  • Jessica K.

    The food and everything is great, but for the price i expect more. Fix your half a** acai bowls and . I can walk to Da Spot 1min away and get one tripple the size for the same price. The only reason why you got 2 starts is because the employees are very nice.

    (2)

  • Dyan K.

    It's funny...when I first walked in here I was trying to find organic ground meats, not realizing that this place was a vegetarian store!! Ha! But other than the fact that you can't find any meat here, the selection of organic produce and other weird organic things are great! I say weird organic things because a lot of healthy products fly over my head (you know, like kelp powder), being that I am your typical McDonalds cheeseburger woman. But when I want to find healthy, organic products, grains, fruits, and veggies, I always come here. And it's a much more convenient location for me than Whole Foods. Yes, the prices may be quite high compared to shopping at Foodland or Target, but I expected that coming from a health food store. Whole Foods is just as pricey. It's a fun journey for me, shopping at Down to Earth, because I can find all sorts of organic things that Safeway does not have. I like to buy random things like organic poptarts, cereal bars, and soups...and it makes me feel healthier in the process. This location has ample parking, a hot food and salad bar section, and cooking demonstrations/classes!

    (4)

  • Jboogie B.

    Good place for the veggie vegan needs. Kumbuchu on tap along with a buffet style meals ready to go. Pricing is fair. Workers are knowledgeable.

    (5)

  • Louisa N.

    I like their hot food and salad bar selection. I like to try a little of everything so it's east to go overboard. Charged based on weight. Very yummy recipes and made with quality ingredients. Parking is upstairs and very easy to find stalls. I have not shopped there for groceries yet though, and will write a review on that when I do.

    (5)

  • Brian P.

    Came here after not being able to find any regular grocery stores in the area. This place is terrible! Super overpriced and no non-vegan options it seems like because I didn't see anything that contained meat in it! Couldn't believe how expensive some of the stuff was! $12 for a frozen pizza and $6 for a quart of milk? Wtf! And if you want a reusable bag instead of paper? That'll be 18 bucks...ridiculous!

    (2)

  • Shama O.

    I've been shopping at this store for over a decade, so it's nice to know that this local store can hold its own against the big wig Whole Foods! The store is not exceptionally large, but manages to fit in a health & beauty section, a hot/cold food bar, grab & go sandwiches and wraps, pizzas and pastries, and made-to-order entrees and smoothies, fresh produce, chill and frozen section, dry goods, bulk bin food items, household supplies and pet food. They even have in-store seating upstairs and open-air seating on the street outside. The prices range from cheap to expensive, depending on the item, but there's always something on sale. One thing to note though is that this is a vegetarian store. You won't find any meat, eggs or gelatin here. They do sell dairy products, meat substitutes, dairy substitutes and gluten free foods. And many items on their shelves are organic or fair trade. They also provide recipes that you can try at home, using items found in the store. I'm never disappointed when shopping here. Just this morning I stopped in for one item and ended up buying ingredients to bake a delicious vegetarian treat!

    (4)

  • Yinyim L.

    The hot food and salad in the self-service bar is always my favorite! Always fresh and served warmly~ very suitable for busy bees to boost up energy and the staff are nice ~ Suggest register as a member to earn points and remember to BYOB!

    (4)

  • Daniel C.

    Parking: There is parking on the ground level if you can find but additional parking is up the ramp. If you park upstairs, there is an elevator taking you down to the ground level so you don't have to walk down the ramp which is nice. In front are several street parking stalls that you can also opt to park in. Restaurant/Salad Bar: The salad bar here is very good. I've been here several times and left very satisfied. It's not Whole Foods but you do have many options here to choose from. There is ample seating upstairs and it doesn't feel like you're inside a grocery store which is nice. Grocery: It's local produce which is very nice. Got to support locals here. Everything is reasonably priced and very fresh. Quality is very good! To help the environment, bring your own bags and they will bag your items in it for you. If not, they bag the items in paper bags. We enjoy shopping here because it's convenient for us when we're in the area. Nice for students at UH and residents living near by. Great location off of King Street if you're driving or on The Bus. Make sure to sign up for their reward card program. It's free!

    (4)

  • Robin M.

    The pastry case is mostly vegan stuff and the pizza sold by the slice has a couple of vegan options too. They carried everything I usually buy at WF, and they had a lot of locally grown produce, including teeny bananas and the biggest avocados I've ever seen!

    (5)

  • Coco O.

    Deli is Delish, cashiers are friendly. Hot foods, cold salad bar, made to order, kombucha! They have it all! I just wish that patrons would clean up after themselves in the dining area! Come on people. Stop leaving a mess for someone else to clean up. I like to go here to eat, chill and study; seems like every time I'm in the dining area someone leaves a mess! Seriously if you can't hold your own in life what are you good for? Clean up your mess! I love the carob bars and kale salad!! Winnahs! Not to mention purified water in upstairs dining.

    (5)

  • Aaron Koichi C.

    I've been coming to Down to Earth for a while now, ever since the store opened on Hamakua Drive in Kailua. I now live in Manoa and I frequent this location on King St. Called in to the store about 8:49 p.m. this evening 10/30/14 and spoke to the deli by pressing #2 on the their phone directory. A women was assisting me with my question on the different bowls and I was hoping I could pre-order. They didn't have what I was looking for so I said I'm on my way and I can just order when I get there. I was happy to find parking outside in front, went in about 8:55 p.m. picked up some soap in the front. A women was there doing inventory; not a peep out of her mouth, good evening, finding everything ok, nothing!!!! Shrugged it off got the soap and made my way to the deli to order my Acai bowls, saw a closed sign on the counter of the deli, approached a gentleman stocking the water shelf and asked if the deli area was closed. He looked at his scanner and said " I think you may have some time" he looked over at a women cleaning the buffet and asked her "is it closed" she looked hesitantly as if she didn't want to answer or as if to say no we cannot help the customer we just closed. I looked at my iphone and it was 9:00 p.m. He said o they close at 9:00 p.m. Disappointed I went to the oats and grain bar to stocked up, looking for Agave I approached a guy in the aisle that was straightening the items on the shelf, he acknowledged me with a "wassup finding everything ok"? That was cool but had the look of damn I need to get out of here we close soon face! The best part of my experience was the cashier. Tall Caucasian guy with the best disposition. Courteous, friendly, helpful. I was so ticked that I failed to get his name. He made my night. Long story short....... I come to Down to Earth because I've always had the mom and pop feel in there. Kind of like City Mill compared to Lowes or Home Depot. I shop and eat at Whole Foods, and not once have I ever been treated disrespectfully, or with terrible service. The feeling I got tonight in Down to Earth was hurry up customers get your things so we can get the hell home. Not once was I ever treated this way at Whole Foods or any other comparable store. I'm always treated before closing at Whole Foods as if they just opened in the morning cheerful, helpful, and courteous. The women who answered the phone could have said that they closed at 9 so hurry, or when in person, o I'm so sorry try us back in the morning. My fault for not knowing that the bar closed earlier then the rest of the store, but an awesome response I would have appreciated instead of the feeling of I don't care. Managers of Down to Earth let me tell you from one Manager to another, things have to change and you need consistency with the service that's being provided and displayed by your employees. We work all day just as you do and when we walk in, we should feel appreciated. My experience tonight was very disappointing; do we have to succumb to the big boy stores to find good service? Is that why small businesses are closing up; because of poor service? You guys can change this. I have hope that things do.

    (1)

  • Marni T.

    Smallest Down to Earth, well maybe tied with Pearl City location. When I come here I always have to ask workers for help to find what I'm looking for. I love love love their salad bar/ hot bar. Its a little pricey for everything, but its worth it for your health. I ALWAYS come here for their bulk granola, they have a decent selection. Sometimes I can't find everything at this location so I end up going to Whole Foods in Kailua. The workers are decent, friendly, and helpful. Overall great little health food store in town.

    (4)

  • Frankie R.

    The staff at down to earth are really well prepared for every thing..notified the clerk that the zevia sodas neieds to be restocked especially the cola ones in the single cans. I hope more people will see the hard work these people have done and make sure that everything is well stocked and refilled. I am glad to have a, membership to this store and I can also earn points each time I shop and i am glad that I can shop for the things I like.

    (5)

  • Jim Q.

    Last November (2013) I ate at the salad bar at Down to Earth and got very ill later in the evening. Since it was flu season I did not really connect the meal with the severe case of diarrhea I had. Thought I had picked up a bug. But I mean I REALLY got ill. I became very dehydrated and ended up going to the ER for two liters of IV solution after about two and a half days of the runs, fever, headache and general malaise. What I did not have were the achy joints that accompany the flu. I became suspicious of the salad. I have never had that happen before and for a guy my age I have never been hospitalized. The ER squared me away in few hours and I was good to go. Fast forward to Friday, Sept.6, 2014. Once again I ate from the salad bar. (To be fair I had eaten there a few times since the first incident.) However, same thing again - a few hours later I was sick again with diarrhea. Well, now I have scratched DTE off my list for salads which is a real shame. Other than Whole Foods I cannot think of a place that offers a full salad bar. Fortunately compared to last time this incident was not as severe and no trip to the ER. Maybe I am just unlucky but I think the health inspector should pay them a visit. We will still shop there for certain items but the salad bar is off limits.

    (1)

  • Jana M.

    We LOVE this place. One of the best places on island to get fresh LOCAL produce and products. The salad bar may not be as extensive as whole foods but it's got all you need to make a killer salad or vegetarian lunch! Did I mention the delicious baked goods and pizza?? Hubby takes the kids here to get cheese pizza regularly, and we love the pesto pizza and other yummy delights. Just had a cornbread muffin that was deliciousness. They have groceries of all sorts too :)

    (5)

  • Damon T.

    First of all I love this place, and go to it every week. Love the food, employees there, quality, etc. I totally support this store. But these are some of the reasons why I'm one star short from 5 stars... -Milk sold here. I don't think this is needed, let's support animals 100%. Period -Only $5 off with your card after spending like $300? I think. But I know the amount that you need to spend to get that discount went up recently. Come on guys, that's ridiculous. That wasn't needed. -Food went up to $9.99/lb. Again that's not needed, Whole foods is less and Wednesdays it's only $6.99/lb. How are we suppose to encourage people to eat healthy, let alone vegetarian, with prices like that? It's hard enough to survive in Hawaii as it is. Mainly my problem is the prices went up, which makes it tough for your loyal customers to be able to afford shopping there sometimes. I love ya in every way, but PLEASE consider bringing the prices down.

    (4)

  • Al D.

    Huge Down to Earth. It is 3x as large as the one at Pearl Ridge. Excellent hot and and cold bar. There is also pizza and baked goods, a smoothie and sandwich bar, and a decent sized produce section. Parking is behind the store.

    (4)

  • Darryl O.

    Down to Earth is great!!! Each time my wife and I come to Hawaii, we come to Down to Earth, either for breakfast or lunch. Today we got the tofu scramble with breakfast potatoes & a bowl of steel cut oatmeal. So good. They gave the BEST tofu scramble!!!

    (5)

  • Katie L.

    My love for this place will never fade! +They have high quality food and a delicious salad bar. +Tons of organic options +Fresh, local, organic produce. +A huge cosmetics section I see people complaining about prices and I get it, paying a lot for food sucks. I wasn't around when prices were lower so I am okay with what I pay here. I'm just really happy this place exists. It's small, easy to find everything and all the staff are really friendly!

    (5)

  • Ward K.

    The people who I spoke to was very knowledgeable and always willing to help. If they don't know about something they look it up and help you find answers. From what I experienced so far, DTE is very competitive and in most cases cheaper than other similar stores as far as supplements, produce, and things like oats (yes I buy oats but it is for my bunnies just like the veggies I buy). If you crave hot deli food, sandwiches, or maybe a cool smoothie, they have it all! Check out their link for menu items. downtoearth.org/sites/de… For those of you who like a good acai bowl, you have to try their Amazon Warrior bowl. With a bunch of fresh fruits like blueberries, Strawberries, bananas, then add some coconut milk, granola drizzled with some honey... this is a winner for sure! The only bad thing when I come here is that I usually see a bunch of other things I want so I end up buying more than what I came for. Thumbs up DTE, keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Katie N.

    Great tea selection, great coffee, awesome salad bar and decent hot food bar. I love that their produce selection is clearly marked regarding where the produce is from. Workers are very nice and helpful. Parking can suck but there's not much space for expansion. Great place for some healthy eats!

    (4)

  • Jonn D.

    Date(s) visited: 7/15/2014, many times before. Rating: 2/5 stars I guess It's time to write a review for this place since I've been here numerous times. My most recent visit encouraged a review, after a below average service cashier was more in a rush to talk to his neighboring cashier, than making sure that I didn't need any more help.

    (2)

  • Melia K.

    I really like this down to earth. It is very spacious and clean. I like to come here to get lunch at their hot food bar! Their pesto items and herb potatoes are bomb! They also have a variety of natural sodas juices etc. they also have a regular cafe type of area to order foods and a salad bar. They have tables you can sit at and eat your food. The workers are very friendly and nice every time I come here. The store is kept nice and clean and shelves stocked. Parking can be a little tight here though. It's a private lot on the second floor or your can find street parking. Don't forget to validate your parking ticket!

    (5)

  • Jan T.

    Don't buy Ezekiel bread here. Every time I bought it here it's been moldy. I don't know why they don't keep it frozen like other stores do. Other than that, I basically like the store.

    (2)

  • Jennifer W.

    Still awesome!!! It's getting crowded. There's no seats when I dine with the family. At times, we had to wait for other customers to finish eating, before we get a seat! That's what happens. The secret is out! Great food and salad! Love it!

    (5)

  • Maka K.

    I've been to a couple other locations (Kailua & Pearlridge) and this one is definitely the best so far! It seems much cleaner, the store itself is larger, that aisle where you scoop and bag whatever you want and pay by weight (I can't remember what they're called right now...sorry?) is so much more extensive!! I love all the options, from cereal, to flours, dried fruits, nuts, etc.---I had to force myself to walk away with only a couple of things. Also, while I didn't actually buy any of the freshly made foods from the line or the sandwich/smoothie counter, I did notice that there seemed to be more available. Everything looked and smelled delicious too. Previous experience leads me to believe that it would have tasted good ^_^ While it is sort of reminiscent oI Whole Foods, it's much smaller and personal, is much less crowded, and feels more accessible (locationwise) for me. If I had more money, I would definitely be there shopping more. Also, they have a rewards card program, you just have to ask for an application. Unfortunately it's paper, so you have to bring it back with you the next time.

    (4)

  • Jonelle B.

    Yes it's healthy but no I'm not going pay $12.00 for a 24 oz smoothie I mean come on that's so ridiculous !!

    (1)

  • Jennifer N.

    Happy to find an alternative to whole foods, which i love but its so pricey. Went here today and was like a kid in a candy store... vegan pesto, delish juices, helpful girls in the supplement dept and lots of choices and SALES! Mahalo DTE

    (4)

  • Preston C.

    It's amazing how they have brainwashed people. Paying outrageously high prices for food that is obtainable from farmers markets and regular grocery stores. How could you charge $7 for soy milk or juice that other markets sell for $3 dollars? Tofu for $4 when it's $2 at the market? Does adding the words vegetarian cost that much? Your business rips people off and the people who shop there are too stupid to know any better.

    (1)

  • Hisoo H.

    This recent visit was good. In the past some items were spotty but today everything was fresh, clean and tasty. I like the hot food items, but they do change everyday so you get variety. I had the eggplant parmesan which isn't really breaded but baked eggplant with tomato sauce and cheese on top. Of course I love the salad bar with fresh beets, sprouts, etc. Coming back soon for sure!

    (4)

  • Tony N.

    I really like Down to Earth. Beside for having a good selection of organic produce, they have honey sesame sticks that are delicious. My other go-to item is their pina colata smoothie. No alcohol, but it's one of the best mixtures of pineapple and coconut I've ever tasted.

    (5)

  • Ruth S.

    I go to Down to Earth weekly, for produce. They have a good organic produce selection available. Their workers are knowledgeable and helpful. I recently tried their hot bar for the first time. It was delishous. I had a wonderful kale and beet salad, also some amazing "fried chicken" tofu, it really did taste just like fried chicken. I will definitely be back to try more from the hot bar, salad bar, and I want to try the sandwiches.

    (4)

  • Claudette K.

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cruelty free makeup brands such as Gabriel and others. :)) I have been buying Gabriel for years. gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/…

    (5)

  • Darcy K.

    I love Down to Earth because they have healthy options for all diets (gluten-free, cruelty-free, vegetarian, etc). I am always impressed at the supplements section, there's so many to choose from! They have delicious smoothies and baked goods. The hot deli has many healthy options but can end up being pricey since most items are very dense, and everything is sold by the pound. I absolutely love the So Delicious Coconut (or Almond) desserts. They are a healthy alternative to ice cream and they are really refreshing! It's about $7-$8 a pint though so I don't get to buy it too much. However; The deli workers have no zeal in their work. Well, they do for each other but each time I've been here, I got attitude from the cashiers. They look so pissed off to be helping customers, I really wonder why they choose to be miserable.

    (3)

  • Reimi D.

    I really like Down to Earth. Yes, they can be quite pricey, and while some people will say you pay more now but the lifelong benefits of eating/buying healthy will balance it out, DTE is still kinda pricey. It's a Hawaii thing because I've lived in other states where healthy food did not cost and arm and a leg. In order to get the best bang for your buck at DTE you just have to be a savvy shopper because their sales are pretty good. This is my go-to place for certain ingredients that I know they will have that regular grocery stores like foodland or safeway won't. I love their selection of yogurts, and you can buy granola, nuts, rice, beans, oats and other dry foods in bulk--which is very cost efficient. I like the size of their store too because it's not as overwhelming as Whole Foods, and parking is never an issue. If you don't already have their rewards card, you should get one. Their produce has good and bad days and I find better deals elsewhere often, but for almost everything else, it's love love love!

    (4)

  • Jozlyn H.

    Easy to find Non-GMO, organic foods store. Love their ready made food area..... I can make a healthy concoction plate lunch without feeling guilty afterwards. The clerks are always very helpful when you are trying to find a particular item. This is my first check-in here but I've been coming to Down to Earth for years. This location (near work) and the Aiea one (sorta near home). I just wish there were more Down to Earths around.... like...next door to my house hahaha

    (5)

  • Julie N.

    Went here for the first time & I love it! The name says it all. I walked in and it really felt down to earth. The workers are all really nice and asked if I needed help. Its a small store but has everything you need. I just started switching to ezekiel bread and bought a loaf at Whole Foods for $7.99! My trainer told me to go to Down to Earth instead cause Whole Foods ridiculously marks up their prices. He also told me about making your own all natural peanut butter so I went and tried it & I love it. The Ezekiel bread here is $5.99 and the small peanut butter was $2! This whole eating healthy and all natural is still new to me so I'm really learning a lot & I will definitely be coming back to try their hot food!!!

    (5)

  • Victoria M.

    If you're coming for something specific, call first. I find that they just don't have stuff in stock. They do offer to get it, usually, if you want to wait a week or two. They have some good produce, and if you're vegan, they have some great food. I'm not vegan, but I like their food! They make killer juices and smoothies, and you can bring your juice/smoothie/food upstairs into the little seating section. Free water! :-) Their spices are cheaper than at other places, and you can get them in bulk. They have a good selection of homeopathics, and they also sell KAVA, which is cool. I would come here more, but they tend to be out of stuff, and I'm sort of lazy, so I just go to Whole Foods a lot of the time. I try to support local businesses and all, but I don't want to go all over town to try to get something, and then it's not there. Call first! Really. I love the people who work there: They are usually super kind, helpful, and patient. They will answer your questions, and they will even hold stuff aside for you if you CALL FIRST to tell them you're coming in to get it. Parking seems annoying, if you don't know where to go: There's lots of room upstairs in the parking deck: Right after you go past the Down to Earth signs, turn into the weird garage building thing. Then skip the first turn, which looks tight and sketchy, and go up the small ramp. (Be careful: oncoming traffic comes down, and it's a small ramp!) Sometimes there's a guy there to give you a ticket to validate, but not always. I usually pull into the covered spots, and take the elevator down. Once you are in the elevator, you're in a weird little building. Exit toward the street, then walk up the street to the store. Easy!

    (4)

  • Iris J.

    Healthy living don't come cheap! Cheapest granola & widest variety is found here... I was stoked to finally find my acai sorbet after looking all over at other stores... like this convenient location!!#

    (4)

  • Aydee Z.

    This place is an oasis in a desert of unhealthy food choices, especially for vegetarians. Both prepared food and grocery selection are pretty good despite the small space and there is even some tables outside to eat while people watching.

    (5)

  • Terri L.

    This place is great, it's like a smaller, more local Whole Foods. The actual place itself is small but their capacity to carry a variety of products is impressive! I've tried their salad bar and one of their baked items and the price is probably about the same as Whole Foods. The food was delicious, and their upstairs seating area is a cute small place to enjoy your lunch and have a view of the entire store.

    (4)

  • Takeshi M.

    I asked a simple question on PROBIOTICS and the girl who answered the phone was very UNEDUCATED and rude! answered me like "what???"this was in the wellness section, she did not even know what DIVERTICULITIS was!!!!

    (1)

  • Nick I.

    We just had our meal interrupted by a little friend in our food, yes, the managers were really awesome in taking care of our bill and what have you. However, I really am displeased that we had a worm in our food. I understand as the manager told me that that's what you get with organic food, however, it's ridiculous that there was no quality control. I truly hope that this doesn't happen again, I really hope that no one else experiences having little friends in their food as well.

    (1)

  • Angie S.

    Absolutely the best place to get vegetarian meals on the island! All organic and natural products used here. VERY eco-friendly everything! The people who work there are extremely helpful and always really nice ! One of the best!

    (5)

  • Stephanie C.

    I keep forgetting to write this review--I came here with a friend while I was on island for the holidays and we picked up dinner to go so we could watch a movie at her new place nearby. While I've shopped at Down to Earth locations before and, yeah, some of their stuff is a bit overpriced (it's like a miniature Whole Foods, so things are pricey, but usually because it's of good quality), but I have to say the deli food is pretty good :D I love that they have vegetarian and even vegan manapua and pizzas--so much so that I later brought my parents to a location closer to where they live, and they liked the food, too! I have Whole Foods in my area, and their deli is good, too, but being able to know you can pretty much eat anything there without worrying about cross-contamination from meat dishes and customers who will use whatever serving utensil they can reach for whatever they're after (extremely important for my vegan-for-religious-reasons mother) is priceless. Also, Down to Earth has a pretty good selection of vegetarian and vegan vitamins--I was able to find a nice brand of vitamin D chewables that actually don't taste bad here, which I haven't been able to find locally. Next time the parents visit, they may have to bring me another bottle :P This is an excellent place to shop as a vegetarian or vegan (or even someone with food allergies), because things are generally really well labeled (no more sitting and reading through tediously long ingredients lists to make sure something won't make you sick) and so much of it is also organic or otherwise striving to be environmentally friendly. And seriously, the deli is delicious.

    (4)

  • Krysten I.

    Down to Earth has been on King St. for many years, long before whole foods came around. Unlike Whole Foods, Down to Earth is completely vegetarian. If youre a complete vegetarian or health nut, Down to Earth is the place to go. Personally, I guess I don't love my body enough to pay this much for food all the time, but I will stop in to get a snack or smoothie (which are especially expensive). There is a plethora of parking on the second level, but I prefer to park on the street infront of the store.

    (3)

  • Julia S.

    Review for the store and not the prepared foods: I don't like supporting this place, but sometimes it's more convenient than going to Kokua or Whole Foods. The workers will never ask you if you're finding things okay, the produce looks gross, and everything is so cramped I feel like kicking the isles down. They have a limited selection of everything, with it all being super marked up. And the cashiers are always so dead looking/sounding. If they do seem alive, it's because they're judging you on your purchase. Maybe i'm just spoiled because I get treated so nicely at Whole Foods. Yeah, sure their prices may be steep as well, but the workers there are more than willing to help me. They even ask without me having to! At Down to Earth, they just watch me walk around trying to find what I need without saying word. A girl almost hit me with the ladder she was carrying once... It's just not a pleasant place to go grocery shop. But I guess if you're a vegetarian and don't want to weed through the meat products it's one of the few (if not only) places you can go. They'll probably treat you better too if you are. They have limited bulk items (not as many as Whole Foods), so don't expect to find what you're looking for. Go to Kokua or Whole Foods. The end.

    (2)

  • Garrett Y.

    I love eating their pancit and curry fried rice. It never fails me when I'm hungry, these 2 items are my go to when I am craving food. There tropical mango is amazing as well.

    (5)

  • Sarah M.

    This Down to Earth is quite busy, but the staff are great! My husband and I often get acai bowls here after an early dawn patrol because they are the first/earliest open in town! I love their gluten free baked goods too. We also hit up the hot bar for dinner once and a while and the Korma and eggplant dishes are bomb! It's all pretty much da bomb.

    (5)

  • Jack L.

    Great selection of vegeterian and vegan food....

    (4)

  • Connie M.

    My eating habits fluctuates constantly. Some days I juice like crazy with my breville, avoid carbs, whilst other days I throw my hands up in the air eat whatever I want. Through it all, I do try my best to stick with foods that are natural and non processed. My favorites: Crofter's Organic Mango fruit spread! There's other flavors, but I tend to gravitate towards anything involving mangos! I practically use it on everything toast, waffles, whatever. The jar itself is really cute since it has an image of a bear :) Almonds & Sea Salt in Dark Chocolate from the brand Chocolove. One bite and you'll fall in love with the complex yet familiar flavors! St. Dalfour teas and fruit spreads. The golden peach tea is absolutely delicious; it tastes just like lipton or snapple, without the horrible ingredients. St. Dalfour also makes fruit spreads, but I like Crofter's fruit spread texture a bit more. If you tend to shop here a lot, be sure to take advantage of their membership card program.

    (4)

  • Lynvi S.

    I'm a meat eater, but I love Down to Earth. It's a great place to find expensive local organic produce, funky herbal teas, lots of interesting seeds, and chips that taste like cardboard. I love Down to Earth's salad bar, so much that I'm there at least once (okay, more like twice) a week. Granted, the selection is not as extensive as Whole Foods' salad bar, but I love the shredded beets and the purple papaya seed salad dressing is terribly addictive. The curry quinoa salad is also a winner. The hot foods are awesome as well - winners include the vegetable korma, all of the curries, lasagna, stuffed pasta shells, and eggplant parmesan. There's a dining area upstairs where you can overhear grad student couples discuss their feelings with overreaching analogies while incorporating lots of hand motions and body gestures into their conversation. Needless to say, it's a fantastic place for people-watching at lunch. I just wish Down to Earth weren't so fricking expensive, as in $9.59/lb for the the salad and hot food bar.

    (4)

  • Julie M.

    The food here is a little expensive, but still a lot cheaper than Whole Food! I filed a complaint about a cashier through their site, and a manager profusely apologized immediately. I was impressed by that manager's professionalism.

    (5)

  • Sheryl M.

    I can depend on getting quality, organic products here. Most produce is local and everything that is brought in is researched for its quality and organic properties. I much prefer shopping here than the big chain stores.

    (5)

  • Sarah J.

    I love this place but wish they would change up the salad bar organic options every now and again...and wish they would make some curries without coconut ;) still love it more than other grocery stores though!

    (4)

  • David C.

    I really love Down to Earth. I have not tried anything from their salad/food bar but the one thing that I keep going back for is their pizza! Their pizza's are very dense...heavy in weight. They have a vegetarian and a greek pizza that is really tasty that I am always ono for. Bird Bar is too addicting... it is full of different types of seeds... you name the seed and it has to be in it.... pumpkin, sesame, flax, etc.... it is very tasty, chewy and on the semi sweeeet side. I am always stocking up on their bulk selection.... organic oats, stone ground wheat flour and dried fruits... my kids love the dried bananas and dried apples and the big ole tub of yogurt. I have purchased their 5lb bag of organic apples for on sale in the past.. but of course that is because they are at the end of their shelf life.... hey no worry... we make apple smoothies for the next 3 days and it's all good! If you bring in your own bag...and do your part to recycle they will give you a .03 discount. I know several stores do this but I noticed if I go in and purchase something that I do not need a bag for... I do not get a .03 discount? ( BUT I DID NOT USE A BAG!) I will definitely not argue with anyone for .03 cents... You have to go to their website downtoearth.org . They have lots of recipes for everything from main courses to beverages. A section on Innocent Animals, Vegetarian Deli Menu, a Blog and more...

    (5)

  • Yuko A.

    What a great little health store when you can't get out to Whole Foods...I didn't buy any fruits or veggies but there was a nice selection...I bought a slice of artichoke, pesto, and sun-dried tomato pizza - yum! It had a wheat crust which I usually never get, and it tasted great...The crust was crispy which is what I prefer...Although a little oily, I honestly didn't feel that full after it...It was definitely a yummy lunch, but a little bit on the pricey side. $4.50 for a rectangular slice...They had Pesto, cheese, Hawaiian, and some other types of pieces as well....I got a slice of Blueberry loaf, but I wasn't really a fan...I think it tasted a little TOO healthy for me :-)...It did have a lot of blueberries in it though... They have a fairly decent size hot bar, with items such as spanakopita and potato augratin to name a few. They also have a deli-ish spot in the corner where you can order smoothies and sandwiches... Its definitely a place that I will stop by when I'm in the area, but probably not go out of my way to go to...just because it is on the pricey side...I went twice today and both cashiers that I got rung up by were super friendly which is always a plus...For those driving here, they validate so make sure you bring your ticket in while you are shopping...

    (4)

  • Gspot H.

    been coming here for years. There is validated parking; parking upstairs. They got a few out door tables now to grind out. their salad bar is GREAT!! but COSTLY. They have an amazing plethora of vitamins and supplements. Staff are knowlagable

    (4)

  • Jonathan L.

    Been here a handful of times and I only have bought one item everytime as everything is so expensive. Even when things are on "sale" it is still expensive. Before you enter the store at night there is always a flute player outside the store asking for money. I guess it's a good idea because I usually see people giving him money. When you first enter there are samples of various snacks. I've only bought the acai packs from here and a tub of yogurt. I like this place because they have items that no other store has. The store is not that big compared other grocery store but it does carry a lot of items. Just no meat. There is also a area where hot food is served in addition to pastry's and coffee. The food is sold by weight and there is a dining are upstairs on the second floor. You can purchase other readily available food such as smoothies and burgers I come here every so often cause my friends are health nuts. But its always good too eat healthy. Oh yea I even saw someone buy $400 worth of grocery's one time. Thats crazy!!!

    (3)

  • Debora L.

    Loved-- concept of all-vegetarian market hot-food bar with Whole-Foods style listing of ingredients two aisles of bulk bins open until 10pm compostable plastic bags bird bar Did not love-- prices - 8.99 for hot food?! i rarely see a supermarket more expensive than whole paycheck. all in all, good option for vegetarian food in honolulu (which is scarce in vegetarian offerings). but you definitely pay the price!

    (4)

  • Coco L.

    I am a sucker for Down To Earth! Making the almost daily quest over I find myself spending almost all my money there. The food is healthy and delicious. If your going there to buy groceries expect to leave with a hole in your pocket. Although the hot bar looks delicious stay away or be ready to pay an arm and a leg for just a little plate of food! It is the biggest scam. You can never go wrong with their pizzas, calzones, manapuas, and any of their yummy baked goodies, which are actually reasonably priced. Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is worth it.

    (4)

  • Anthony N.

    If you're looking for legal cocaine, come here. Their coffee gets you wired as ****!! I get so hyper! I'm thinking about a hundred things at once, I feel like I can sprint 60mph and I can take down 3 Samoans!! TEHE! I just kidding! but foreals... Their breakfast blend coffee is clean and crisp tasting, its very good. ....And then comes the coffee crash..............*KTFO! Their baked goods are baked fresh daily with lots of variety to choose from. They have scones, blueberry or banana loaf breads, assorted cookies and many others. I enjoy their hot food bar at $8.99/lb, their curry fried rice is super delicious! I've never thought of adding cranberries to my fried rice before but its an interesting touch. Their pesto pastas are also delicious. Some of the items that get my attention is their granolas, yogurts, coffee beans, acai packs to make the best acai bowls ever! Their in-house fresh pesto goes great with turkey sandwiches! :) True, prices can be a few dollars more for certain items versus other grocery stores but they have great products.

    (5)

  • Jesse T.

    Eating healthy is a "Catch 22" for a lot of people. People would like to eat healthy, but the healthy options are more expensive. So you always end up back to where you were. Look up the definition of "Catch 22" to understand what I'm talking about. Let's say that we reverse this "Catch 22" and made healthy food cheap, it could be a win-win for both the store and peoples' health. More people would buy healthy alternatives because it's affordable and that would up the sales for the store while people are eating healthy. This means someone should open a health food store and take the leap of faith to be cheaper than everyone else and hopefully the market share would shift to their store instead. These are the kind of theories I come up with in my head sometimes. Weird, I know. But anyways, on to Down to Earth. This place is located near the corner of King St., University Ave., and Beretania St. You can park on the street or they have additional parking in the back. The service here is great. Almost every employee I passed by greeted me. I thought to to myself, wow, everyone here is nice. haha. I had a couple of questions and they were knowledgeably answered. One of the questions I asked, I felt sooooo stupid asking but it was funny. I'm the kind of guy that loves meat so I asked one of their produce workers, "Do you guys have any grass-fed beef." He looked at me with a smile and said, "Sorry but this is a vegetarian store and we don't carry any meat." I kindly replied, "Oh... got it... sorry about that." We both laughed it off. He recommended some healthy places that carry meat. I then made it a mini mission to find some kind of meat in the store. Low and behold, there was no meat to be found. Just a lot of meat substitutes. So this place is literally heaven for vegetarians or vegans. Unfortunately, the prices here are really expensive. A handful of the exact same items they sell are a lot cheaper at Costco and Sam's Club. But if you want to support small local shops then shop here or at Umeke Market (which does have meat btw). I think their pricing is their major downfall. But their location is closer than Costco and Sam's for some people and you don't have to have a membership to shop here. As for their salad bar, that looked pretty tasty. Maybe I'll try that next time I'm in the area and wanting to eat healthy. Final Comments: Great place to eat healthy and a great place for vegans but the prices are on the high side. I won't be shopping here anytime soon. But the salad bar looks promising, so try that. Overall Rating: "AVERAGE" Be healthy, eat healthy, and stay healthy... if you can afford it...

    (3)

  • Jasmine L.

    Hmmmm...Where do I begin? I guess from the start of my journey. I wanted to go to Down to Earth to find some type of organic/natural type of baby wash or lotion for my baby nephew, who at the time was having skin troubles. When you arrive at the store the parking is not clearly marked. So I just randomly parked where I thought the sign was pointing to and when I got out of the car it looked like the parking look for a doctors office. I had my 2 year old with me, so I was like, whatev, I'm just parking here. Then I put my 2 year old, who likes to reorganize(knock sh*t down all over), in the teeny shopping cart and went in. The store has very poor lighting and is very crowded, not with people but with all their merchandise. Shelves are roof high and literally only 2 feet apart. The fresh vegetable section is gross, it looks dark and dirty. This store has a very crowded and unwelcoming atmosphere. The employees are not helpful. I asked a worker where the baby products were, because it's so crowded I can't see sh*t. She literally just pointed and said nothing. I eventually found the baby products and they were literally covered with a layer of dust. I thought, ummm..I don't think I want to buy a baby wash for $17.99, especially because who knows how old it is. Gosh. I did end up buying Goji juice, pomegranate juice and a couple of sweet teas. When trying to pay, my cashier and another cashier where chatting about this customer wants to use some kind of discount card from her husband but theyre not together can she still use it, somehow that confused the other cashier so she needed to explain herself for a looong time. Rude much. Later that day we went to Longs and I saw the same sweet teas for half the price I paid. Dammit. To sum it up, I don't think will be going back anything soon actually never but whatev.

    (1)

  • Cat T.

    OMG... I love Down to Earth's deli!! Since the last time I went there they remodeled to make it look a whole lot more organized. I love all the food there. Healthy yet tasty!! Its a great place for vegetarian food- there is just pretty much everything there. I have yet to try the bakery items which looks delicious. But I went there for lunch. All you do it fill up containers or plates and have it weighed. You can take-out or eat upstairs. FYI- Down to Earth validates up to an hour of parking and weekends are free.

    (5)

  • Reid K.

    I've been going to Down to Earth for most of my life, Long before Whole Foods came on the scene and before they renovated, Down to Earth was a homey, niche market that catered to the vegans and hyper aware health nuts (both categories described me). Nowadays, I have to admit that I visit Whole Foods more frequently than DTE, purely for economical reasons. Sometimes you can't find products at Whole Foods that DTE will carry, but for the most part, everything will be cheaper at the former. It's an unfortunate example of the massive, multinational coming in and pushing the mom and pop store to the fringes of the market, but I still believe DTE has some fighting spirit in it left. For one, their hot and cold food bars have still retained the "healthy" quality to them. I particularly like their orzo salad, curried rice, eggplant parmesan and pesto pasta. In fact, the by-weight price of their food bars is identical to Whole Foods'. If you plan to go grocery shopping, though, DTE can't compete, Everything is more expensive, unless you happen to catch items you need on sale, If you have disposable income or don't want to burn fossil fuels driving to Kahala, DTE is the right choice, If you're trying to live healthy on a budget, I might not frequent DTE that frequently.

    (4)

  • Emily C.

    Their food is GOOD and surprisingly so even though it has no meat. However, I do steer clear from their "mock chicken salad". Tastes super funky to me. Friday is $2 off per lb. from their food bar! =) PS: You can save money with their daily specials but go broke buying a $5 drink there to go with your food.

    (4)

  • Htwo H.

    Great place for vegetarian food. Had not eaten here since the 90's and it has improved and gotten more refined but still expensive...although that is probably because it is Hawaii. The food at the bar is sold by weight, but some items like rice are a bit cheaper than the hot items...so if u buy a mixture of items and put them in the same plate/box, you get charged the higher rate. Don't forget to validate your parking ticket.

    (5)

  • Gary N.

    I am impressed with this place. Just the sheer selection of delectable goodies is overwhelming. They sell everything from hot and healthy foods in their food bar, to healthy pastries, to every supplement that I could think of (and many that I couldn't), to dried fruits, to fresh organic produce, to fresh herbs still planted in soil, to just so many more items! If you're a vegan, this store has to be heaven for you. Though, even if you're not, it is still awesome! There's a little dining area right up the stairs to the left of the cashier at the back-left of the store. Just follow the wonderful aromas and you will find it! Parking is very easy at night, though during the day, you need to make sure you get a ticket from the parking attendant. He hides at the top of the ramp. To get to the store, just park near the elevator and take it down to the first floor. Then turn right to reach the double doors and then turn left once you go out of them to reach the store.

    (4)

  • Lisa K.

    Yeah, it's expensive, but I love Down to Earth. I love that it's a locally owned store and they support local farmers. I love the customer service (they've always been responsive when I've run into difficulties). I love the selection of vegetarian foods. I love the ready-made hot foods. I love the eco-friendly cleaning products. When a grocery store gets me THIS jazzed, what more can you ask? My only gripe - which isn't directed at the retail store, so much as the buyers and suppliers - is that so much of the kids food products (with a cute little penguin on the front of the cereal box, and so on) is devoid of nutrition and offers minimal vitamin fortification. Doesn't matter that it's "organic" if It's no better than "Insert mass-marketed sugary cereal name here." What's the big deal, you ask? Well, for a store geared toward healthy lifestyles, they need to walk the walk. Yes it's pricy, but it's worth it. Just shop the sales (they post their sales online) and supplement your grocery purchases with the Farmers Market or Safeway. Can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Ckck S.

    I love this place!!! I buy lunch here everyday and have lost 30 lb+ and excercise of course. I love their veggie summer roll! They make the best peanut sauce. mmm...also their tofu nori rolls is out of this world..so good!

    (4)

  • Jason H.

    Great place for all your vegetarian needs. Has a small but good produce section. Little pricy but thats expected since its all from local farms. Employees all are friendly and helpful. They have a extensive section of green products from tooth past to vitamins. Great store, just wish it was not so expensive.

    (4)

  • Kelley M.

    I like the variety of herbal supplements at this Down to Earth better than the Aiea one. good prices too-join the rewards club!

    (4)

  • Herbert A.

    First time at Down to Earth, not a bad place, lots of variety. The prices are not bad but it's also not cheap but I'd still come back. It's worth checking out if your looking for organic and natural foods.

    (5)

  • Michael D.

    Good prices in an expensive place make me a fan. Beware the organic produce shipped here from mainland. My spinach was kinda nasty upon getting it back to the telly yo.

    (4)

  • Linds A.

    By far, the best grocery I have ever been to, and I'm quite disappointed knowing that it will take a lot for other groceries to measure up to Down to Earth when I move from Hawai'i next month. They even have vegan treats in the deli!

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    I have gone back and forth between 3 and 4 stars for the last 5 minutes, but I think 3 sums it up from my last visit. This review is for the Hot food/Salad Bar ONLY. Not the store. (Which is disgustingly overpriced.) Transitioning to vegetarianism is so much easier when you have options like Down to earth and Whole foods. The times I have come here, the food has either been GREAT or "just okay." It depends on the time of day and what they cooked. Let me just say first of all, this place is cramped. It's super tiny. I feel like an animal fighting to get up to the bar before someone eats all the food. (Maybe they think this garners sympathy for animals. hehe.) You feel extremely rushed. Some things, like the Red Thai Curry and Hawaiian sweet potatoes are to die for. Some things, like the vegan summer roll and eggplant mix are not that great. Sitting outside would be nice if it weren't for the plethora of homeless people making speeches, harassing you for the $12 bounty of food you just procurred, or just sleeping and smelling like pee. I will continue to eat here, just because I don't have to worry about what's in my food. It's all vegetarian/vegan, and that is convenient, however my visits have been a little less than pleasant most times.

    (3)

  • Kanya E.

    Another review spoiled by my experience on the mainland. Although I do like this store, it lacks in some areas. There are quite a few items that I am used to purchasing at a health store/grocery store that it does not offer. Their bulk section is highly lacking. If you want a million different types of dried snack foods, they have it. But their bulk herbs/supplement/spices section falls short. However, if you are coming here for a takeout meal, this is your place. Their selection is huge and tasty. Just don't come here expecting a steak as DTE is all vegan.

    (3)

  • Margie W.

    I didn't even know what I was eating but I don't think I'll ever care because it is just That good. Recommend: Everything from the food bar. Could use some work with the fresh juices though. I think I ordered something called Fresh and Fabulous that didn't taste too fabulous. I've had some good kale drinks before but this one wasn't it. Don't matta. Chase it down with some food from the food bar and it alll good.

    (5)

  • Shauna K.

    I love the products and staff at D2E (as me and my call it!). I wish the prices were better, but I understand that it costs more to eat better. :) The veggies can look a little old, but most of the time they are crisp and fresh. It just seems like whenever I go there's at least one veggie looking a little weepy. The herbs and other natural remedies are, again, good when it comes to selection, but I can usually find the same things online for much cheaper - even with shipping from the mainland. I will go to D2E if I absolutely need something right away or if the price is comparable to what I can get online. My favorite is the fresh bakery and food bar. I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoy eating lunch there. Staff is knowledgeable and helpful too!!

    (4)

  • Midday W.

    such a good place, even if it is a little bit expensive, there is quality, great flavors, and the staff is so nice and warm. i love the hot meal they cook and the browniee and cookies are amazing. mahalo for existing, i wish all the stores in the future will be like yours. parking lot available.

    (5)

  • Sam O.

    Their deli is awaome and fresh. If you are Vegetarian, you will enjoy their fresh food deli corner. Well prepared and taste better. It is worth with paying!

    (5)

  • Evan A.

    If you're a hardcore vegan or hippy you'd love this place. Don't get me wrong, I love healthy food, but it doesn't mean it should taste have no taste what so ever. On a side note, I feel like an outcast when I come into the stores. Kind of like the employees know that I'm not a hardcore vegan or organic person or something. Not a big deal though.

    (2)

  • John O.

    I love this store! I remember coming here quit a few years ago. I am happy to see that the store is still thriving even after the expansion of Whole Foods to Hawaii! The size of the store is much smaller but has everything you could possibly want. I love the different varieties of organic cereal. At around $4-5 for a box, it is much cheaper than the standard cereal selection at the regular markets. The aisles don't seem as clutter as I remembered, and the appearance is pretty generic in decor. The deli seems more extensive and there are are tables to sit at to enjoy a quick meal. The staff are very friendly and are helpful. The store now offers an award program, where you can sign up for a card and after spending $300, they will reward you with a $5 discount. It is not much, but it is a nice gesture.

    (4)

  • Sara T.

    I'm not a vegetarian or vegan, and I don't have any dietary restrictions, but I come here to stock up on the giant cartons of WestSoy soymilk that we drink like water. Had the DTE Burger with Superburger again today, but this time without the ketchup, and it was much better and less salty without. It comes on a nicely toasted whole wheat/sesame seed bun with lettuce, tomato, and tons of sprouts. The whole store experience was not as pleasant as my previous experiences at the Pearlridge location. I didn't feel as much friendliness from the staff/cashiers. The other big problem I have with this location is the parking. I know it's free/validated, but the structure sucks, the elevator gives me a panic attack, and I always forget to get those stickers for my ticket. I tried to show the parking attendant my receipt today because I forgot to ask for stickers (and the cashier didn't ask if I needed validation, which I think they should do for every customer), and he made me repark and go back down to get the stickers. So annoying.

    (3)

  • H. K.

    Ok, so i'm no hippie or Occupy anything protester, but I am a fan of good food. And who says you have to be a hippie to eat here? Of course, one would automatically associate the words organic or vegetarian with a level 99 tree-hugger. But, their calzones are delicious! My favorite is the....actually, I won' tell you what my favorite is because they supplies are limited. Perhaps now is the time to write the Down to Earth kitchen staff a letter. Dear Staff, Why is your calzones either non-existent, or overly abundant at the wrong hour of the day? What i'm trying to say is, "Why can't your cooking times of when things should be prepared be consistent?" Furthermore, your prices for the Hot Food bar is too high. Whole foods market is cheaper. Especially on Wednesdays when Whole foods hot bar is only $6.99. All the best, Me. Ok now that i've got that out of the way, let's eat right.

    (4)

  • Gemma R.

    I really like their hot food section. Every thing else is the store is over priced and ridiculous. I was looking for hot dog buns. YES hot dog buns because I was too lazy to drive to Safeway. All they had were these wheat free, gluten free, organic hard as a rock rolls. Which YES, I understand that's what they sell. but still. Kinda gross. Poor people with gluten allergies, you are missing out. Anyways... everything here is ridiculously over priced. I wanted Justin's Hazelnut butter and for a small jar is was about $12.. For peanut butter. Oh well. i guess they cater to Hawaii's oober rich and fancy population.

    (3)

  • Mary M.

    I love the hot and cold food bar. It's a little pricey but worth it to feed yourself nutritious and delicious food.

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    You caught me! I was the one lurking behind you as I tried to scan the sweet cabinet for the largest spelt muffin and choicest choco chip cookie! You won't miss the wheat or eggs in them, the muffins are super moist and the cookies, while not quite Cookie Corner material, demand to be paired with milk (hold the almond milk) Its every bite is full of chocolate then walnuts to keep you crunching away! Thought I'd abandon DTE once Whole Foods arrived, but it's been quite the opposite. I am back here constantly to stock my pantry with: *bulk spices selection (cardamon, cloves, whole cumin seeds, mustard seeds) for our homemade garam masala and chai mix *bulk lentils (daal galore, go crazy) and wild rice *bulk almonds (comes in handy) *frozen veggie burritos to keep at work (perfect hunger killer) *other "healthy" junk food (white cheddar puffs and animal crackers to keep my tyke happy) *local apple bananas and papaya (far better selection than at Whole Foods) *selection of Triple Leaf teas (my current fave: Detox tea) *popular Lijjat brand of papadums (had to wait months for these ones to come in and they're worth the wait) Don't forget the deals on the bag of organic apples while you're at it!

    (4)

  • Eric W.

    Great selection of vegan ready made food selection~! I still miss Trader Joe's, but Down to Earth is more than adequate~!!! I like 'em better than Whole Foods. Prices are a little steep, but I think it's worth it, especially their produce. Be sure to ask for vegetarian discount (if you're a vegetarian that is)

    (4)

  • Nikki M.

    (2/12/2013) I came here about an hour ago looking for liquid lecithin. It was here but wasn't the "exact" kind I was looking for. So, like the frugal person I am, I figured I'd shop around. Guess what........I ended up coming back and buying it here any way. Thanks DTE!

    (4)

  • Dustin E.

    As far as healthy eating is concerned, most of my friends would agree that vegetarian diets are considered bland and boring. Well that is not the case here at Down to Earth near Moiliili Center. Their deli department has improved so much! I have to give them 5 stars for creativity, appearance and flavor. I would not be bored if I could make it here every day. Really great job chefs! Yelp 365 Challenge : 72/365

    (5)

  • nikonar k.

    Dammit. Why are their manapuas so freaking good? I'll really miss eating them because: 1. Their fu¢ked up intolerant/ homophobic politics. 2. Kitchen not so clean, people who've worked there in the past (left the cult) tell me, I used to ignore this a little, figuring my stomach is strong until:. 3. After finding metal splintery shards(!) in seaweed salad, the most concern they showed was asking "So are you expecting to hear back from someone or something? It looks like maybe metal from a can or the thing they use in the pot." They didn't even ask what item the shards were found in, make an effort to pull contaminated food or offer solution/ make good. I know what its like in a kitchen, but indifference to food contaminants is not the way to keep folks coming back...skip this place, go to Kokua, it's right down the street and the people are there for the community, not because they're brainwashed.

    (1)

  • Anna D.

    good buffet bar but man it's costly. I used to study upstairs when every place else was packed but i've noticed more recently even the eating area is busy. I like the vegetarian lasagna.. it's fab. you can purchase all the good stuff in the store that is organic and healthy. it's a nice little place that's open pretty early and closed late as well.

    (3)

  • Pinky And The B.

    When we went to Oahu in late 2009 it was about a week after my last surgery for breast cancer. We went to celebrate life! I discovered a remedy and take notes if you have cancer, are pregnant and nauseous or have food poisoning. None of those things should ruin your vacation. I use liquid acidophiles which is the same bacteria found in yogurt and it will cure any stomach problems you have! It is all natural and it tastes like fruit and it is usually made from fruit. We know you can only get it at a health food store so my husband asked at the front desk at the hotel where the nearest health food store was and it is here! The employee there also helped my husband get some extra digestive enzymes for me that we continue to get here in NYC.

    (4)

  • Kalei F.

    I LOVE this place! I've been going here for YEARS!! The prices are very reasonable, I think amongst the cheapest in town for natural/vegetarian/organic food! They always have monthly sales, and weekly veggie sale specials, and it's just awesome!! Their almond butter is the BEST ever!! Freshly ground, and hot when it comes out!! Nothing better!! Their produce selection is very good and a little expensive if it's not on sale, but almost all organic! Their food bar is WAY better than Whole Foods!! It's SO good!! You have to try their food bar, salad bar, and smoothies!! SO worth it and definitely competitively priced! I am loyal to this place....join the club and get a $5 off when you spend a certain amount, and their selection and in-store specials can't be beat!! LOVE you Down to Earth!

    (5)

  • Tyler B.

    This place TRUMPS Whole Foods, I wish we had one in LA. So when I walk in, I immediately am refreshed to see they carry coconut water (I was hungover) and even more excited that they have the tasty "pink guava" flavor I like. Moving on there's a great selection of pre-made foods. I was so impressed. Whole Foods pre-made foods are not only far more overpriced but not nearly as good. I was able to treat myself to a curry quinoa, pesto pasta, pasta salad and a rice pilaf dish. Every single dish was delicious and totaled to about $12 WITH two coconut waters. WHAT?! I was in shock. There's outdoor seating which is fine because weather is Hawaii is (usually) always nice. Not the most scenic view in the world but it's a market so you really shouldn't be expecting an ocean view anyways. Additionally, they carried tons of other products that can be found at Whole Foods and other more natural grocery stores. Two thumbs up!

    (4)

  • Keesha G.

    I love this place. I go there just about everyday if not for groceries, for or the juice or salad bar. That salad bar is the best! Its better than wholefoods. Its totally vegetarian an gives me inspiration for my own vegetarian creations as I do sometimes feel stumped on what to make since the no meat thing is new to my life. I wish they still did the discount on Fridays but oh well. That little $5 discount that you get when you spend $300 makes me happy. I got it twice in the last month and a half and honestly any little break is good. Yes its expensive but its worth it and sometimes my cereal is on sale.

    (4)

  • Amber G.

    I'm no vegan but one day my girlfriend suggested we eat something uber healthy, so we stopped in to munch on their salad bar. I began hungrily piling loads of beautiful and fresh hydroponic lettuce into my to-go box. oooh feta, plop! oooh avocado, big spoonful of that! oh my those croutons look good, big scoop! Orzo? Potato salad? Greek Salad? Scoop! Scoop! Double scoop! (I have a thing for Green Salad and a good one's hard to find). Did I mention I'm also a 6 month preggo hungry mama? And what's on the menu for dressing.....hmmm they have a papaya seed dressing...I'm game. As I poured it it did NOT look like any papaya seed dressing I'd ever seen. Well, half my salad's already covered so keep it comin'. Oh snap! There's a hot bar...with...lasagna and pesto veggies?? Gees, what have I been missing all my life not trying out all this vegan goodness? Easy mama, don't eat the whole bar. Back away from the hot bar. Everything looked super yummy though. Got to the register and CHA-CHING! $10.35?????? All that organic goodness can really add up so go closer to pay day if you're squelching on the funds. They have a nice sit down area behind the salad bars so we parked ourselves and I proceeded to dive into all this rabbit food. Biz! Bang! Wow! and Guy would say. The salad with all my toppings and that Papaya seed dressing was absolute happiness in my mouth. The dressing has just enough sweetness and freshness and it's not at all tart. Serious dressing orgasm here! I have never felt this way about a salad dressing before...seriously, who has? The Greek salad and orzo were excellent too, just enough taste without overpowering Italian dressing. Dressing is apparently key in good salads I am learning here. I'm in love with this salad bar and all the fixins and get the onos for it atleast once a week. But my wallet cringes everytime I park the car here. It's well worth the price though and your body will thank you for it once you've devoured every last leaf!

    (4)

  • Gene K.

    We came here on the advice of some folks and wifey was interested in the Greek yogurt and the bulk food section. The parking kinda stinks and the ramp up to the parking area is cramped and is a pain to navigate around turns when someone else is trying to get in/go out. But on the plus side, they validate parking. Inside, there are lots of fresh and organic fruits and veggies. Their bulk food section is quite good also, with lots of granola. Most of the stuff is pretty expensive (which is not a surprise), while other things (namely the steel cut oats) are actually cheaper than other places like Whole Foods. The neat thing is, they have honey you can dispense into a plastic bottle, so we got the macadamia nut honey to try. There are also spices you can buy in separate little baggies by weight. Otherwise, everything is pretty expensive. We didn't find people to be really all that rude, but they weren't exactly welcoming or warm either.

    (3)

  • Andy G.

    Coming from the mainland, I'm spoiled on whole foods. However, whole foods finally opened in HI, but by the time they did I was already hooked on down to earth. First, I love that they are 100% vegetarian. They don't carry any meat products at all, and supporting them agrees 100% with my lifestyle. They have vegan options at their cafe and buffet while Whole Foods in HI has little if any vegan options for their hot foods. Whole foods has literally ZERO, ABSOLUTELY ZERO fresh vegan baked goods/desserts. Down to Earth carries fresh vegan baked goods. They are a little pricey, but I only get them when I need comfort food. They are also a local company from what I've heard, and that's always a good thing.

    (5)

  • Trav15t ..

    I wish Whole Foods moved in next door... I happened to walk by their health pamphlet section today on my way to the register with my $4 grip of kale and a trifold brochure on Diabetes caught my eye. As doctor who treats type 2 diabetes through lifestyle and diet, I was curious to see what Down to Earth had to say. The recommended food list was astonishing and inadequate at best... Can I highlight some of the top foods on their list for diabetics? -Popcorn -Crackers -Rice cakes -Mayo and catsup (just going down the list) -Pancake mix -Pasta and Pasta sauce -Breakfast cereal -Cookies -Grains and Rice -Bread -Last category: Frozen food --FROZEN WAFFLES -(this was ~80 percent of the food list) Clearly the people at Down to Earth don't understand the basic science behind diabetes. The answer is NOT more packaged foods made from grains and other "edible food-like substances" like crackers and cookies. It's clear to me that the proven regimin of whole foods, protein, fiber and easily teachable concepts like glycemic index, glucose control/carb counting were neglected in their "educational handout"... Two stars for an awesome produce isle, negative three stars for misinformation, high prices and an illusion of superiority from the staff. (see: Illusory superiority en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il… )

    (2)

  • Carolyn S.

    Really over priced compared to whole foods. Small gluten free selection, and to make it worse they sell the yucky dried out brands. Not worth the money. Decent salad bar though.

    (2)

  • Sara S.

    Very pricey, but has an awesome selection of anything organic and healthy you could ever want. I tried the Lanakai smoothie and it was sweet and delicious.

    (4)

  • Dawn B.

    Despite its location on a busy part of King street, there is easy parking and a small urban community feel to this location. The staff is well-informed and helpful, though a bit intense at times. It's a good place to get almost anything you need at fairly reasonable prices, considering what they sell. This week I saw an employee give a really dirty guy with numerous bags a small plastic cup that he filled repeatedly from the hot food bar.I've seen similar sights before at this outlet, and it does hamper my willingness to eat the prepared foods. I prefer the Aiea location, but this one is more conveniently located, so I go about once a week, and I'm glad it's there.

    (3)

  • C.S. L.

    I hate buying anything from this place. Not because it's just so damned expensive (which it is) but because the environment is just awful. I am a conscientious eater (but NOT a vegetarian) and hate the holier-than-thouness that accompanies many vegetarians/vegans. I admit that maybe it wasn't the smartest move to ask at a vegetarian store (in my defense, I thought it was an ORGANIC grocery store) where I could purchase organic/grass-fed beef, but do I really deserve a dirty look and a lecture about unhealthy diet choices and the innocence of animals? I find the company strange and hypocritical. Their website spouts all this propaganda about how they care about the environment and their community etc., but then there are these rumors of intolerance and considering the rude and judgmental behavior of some of the employees . . . I believe it. Plus their job application (which I browsed while waiting in line) states that all applicants that pass interviews have to agree to a physical arranged by the company before employment. Sounds like the worst of the worst corporate bullshit if you ask me.

    (1)

  • Brian A.

    Just so outsiders know, Hawaii has its share of coconut palm tree huggers as well. This is where they hang out. I mean literally hang out. Sitting right out front chillin' with their friends eating yogurt and granola. The smell, yeah that's the smell of a health food store. I should know, I lived in Oregon for 15 years. Most of that state smells like this, so I know that funny smell well. That and the lice powder that hippies/beatnicks put in their nappy dreadlocks so they don't have to wash their hair. Fortunately, Hawaii lacks the latter. Usually the two are synonymous (accompanied by an acrid smell that makes you weirdly famished), but I've been lucky to never seen or caught a whiff of it (the lice powder, not the acrid smell) here at least. Too hot here I guess. It's also small and can get congested. It's minuscule even for a health food grocery store, but it's well lighted, stocked, and has plenty of workers mulling around. I'm not really one to buy lots of organic junk or go green for that matter. The only thing that I ever really bought consistently from a health food store was some spaghetti sauce that was really good. The main reason being is most health food tastes like crap. Yeah I said it. I like to watch people try the samples and the looks on their faces afterward is quite entertaining. Anyway, this place fills a niche. Parking? They've got parking on the roof, but as with many other neighborhood health food stores, most of their patrons walk.

    (3)

  • F P.

    Great salad bar and a wide variety of fresh produce, body/haircare products, and other veg/vegan friendly groceries!! I miss this place and look forward to going back there when on the island again. So convenient to pick up a quick lunch too! Great customer service as well. They also have the best variety of local made soaps!!

    (5)

  • Karebear W.

    Must get: carrot juice w ginger. Tofu chocolate peanut butter pie. Cherry pecan trail mix. Avocado Sandwich. Yummers!! Also a hot/ cold entree bar.

    (5)

  • Iokepa D.

    I wish I could give this place no stars. Political views aside...The people were rude and cold, the place has a funky smell, and they kicked me not only out of the store for eating Burger King prior (I had the cup in my hand on top of me being 11 or 12 years old) and proceeded to give my mother a lecture of how wrong it is to eat meat, blah, blah, blah...anyway my mom said something to him Japanese and we left the store and never returned. My mom still boycotts it to this day, but more for the political reasons and after she saw the job application of a family friend who was going to apply here. I'm sorry Mr. Vegan with your waify lack of muscle definition (cause you don't eat real protein), spotty skin color, dark circles look in the mirror before giving a lecture about how great the vegan diet is because it's sure not working and please use deodorant, thanks! Years later, I went back with a friend who raved about their buffet salad bar. I'm sorry I found it over priced, didn't look appealing, again that funky smell just as I remembered, and what is up with all that imitation meat stuff it's weird and freaks me out. Anyway I walked out wait for my friend, and went across the way and got some real food! :)

    (1)

  • Zenny Z.

    Massive selection of bulk food items including all types of cereals, spices, rices, grains, coffee, and more. Nearly all the produce is organic and some of it is locally grown. The salad bar is great but really pricey at over $9 a lb. The AC is kinda loud and detracts from the shopping experience. I suggest not coming during rush hour around 4 - 8pm if you hate dealing with crowds in confined spaces. Parking can be a challenge. There's some parking above the store, at a few stalls around the loading area, on the street (which is prohibited from 3:30 - 6:30) and at the Moilili community center lot after 4:30pm.

    (5)

  • Meera G.

    I'm SO glad I found this place! Great selection of bulk spices, which means I don't buy a ton of spices when I just need a little bit of each. I think I got around 10 or 15 different spices for less than $10. They also seem to have a decent selection of natural lotions and shampoos, etc.

    (5)

  • Kat P.

    I come here a lot for bulk foods and prepared hot food and salad. YOu can park your dog outside, no problem, i go to the Kailua one. It is pure vegetarian here, no meats at all, not even calcium as it comes from sea creatures shells. I like their smoothies- mango and acai ones. They have the basics at expected prices. I still like coming here although Whole Foods is nearby. Can't go wrong with this bulk food stuff, you have your niche in this one. The bird bar is my absolute favorite. One thing is the traffic, it is next to the Kaiser clinic and turning left is a little tricky when you are driving. Also crossing the road to Safeway for other groceries is also a little tricky but some cars slow down. I wish their cooking class was in the morning on Tuesdays...

    (4)

  • O O.

    Pricey, but then again, you pay for quality. You will find the freshest ingredients, dry goods and spices anywhere. They sell a seasoned garbanzo powder that you mix with water, oil and a little lemon juice or parsley and it's the knock down, drag out, best hummus around. You cannot tell that it is dehydrated because the taste is not compromised. Preparing hummus like this is more economical and green than buying already made in a plastic tub. Large selection of East Indian spices. Some already made in jars, others you have to roast and blend yourself. All good brands straight from the source. Fresh pappadum wafers that you must cook yourself. Get the one with the cracked, black lentils mixed in. I've tried several of their gluten free or whole grain breads. Gaaa, not for me. Makes me talk like Scooby doo. "Yuck-yuck-yuck!" Deli items and self serve food bar is fresh and tasty. But your food is weighed. Wow, it can get pretty expensive for a veggie lasagna or plate lunch. Take a membership application for discounts, mailed coupons and news updates. After spending $250.00 you get a $5.00 coupon good for in store products. Uku planny free parking upstairs and down. Their shopping bags are very flimsy. I doubt if they are very earth friendly if you have to chuck them just because the handles shred quickly. If you're looking for an all vegetarian committed store, close to the busline and the University crowd, this is the one you want. Namaste!

    (4)

  • Linda M.

    i used to go to Huckleberry since it was closer but now that I live near Ala Moana, I've been going to Down to Earth. It looks a lot better than I last remembered. I didn't think they'd be comparable to a Whole Foods but now that I can compare, I can happily say they are. Although DTE is smaller, I like the setup better. Plus it's cheaper and I think the employees are much more knowledgeable, helpful, and as an added bonus, cuter!

    (4)

  • Robin W.

    In addition to all of their food, toiletries, and vitamins/supplements, Down to Earth has a food bar. Just load up your plate or container with your hot food or salad and you are set. Many options, but not always as healthy as you'd expect....but I do like their potatoes au gratin. They have 3-4 soups available. You can also order sandwiches and smoothies. Good and quick if you are on the run. i think they have food available til 9pm!

    (4)

  • Ashiyan R.

    Excellent vegetarian/vegan salad and hot food bar - for a treat every now and then - as the prices are quite steep. But they do special offers which make it more attractive.

    (4)

  • Tiffani K.

    Any good health store needs to have a great bulk foods section... and they do! I think they're the most reasonably priced out of the few we have on this island. I like the idea of getting bulk spices, grains, cereal, anything in any amount that I want. Fresh made nut butters yum! It's perfect for when I need a little of something and that's it. Good selection of dairy products and local products. Not to mention their hot food bar is amazing, a little pricey but where isn't? It beats Safeway any day. Their baked goods are definitely well priced. Plus they have a little dining area outside or upstairs, where you can creepily stalk the people as they check out... The one thing I wouldn't get is their acai bowl. It was straight up lumpily blended acai ice bricks with some premade granola, a little honey, and a bit of banana. I watched her make it and by the time she brought it over to the counter, it was already kind of runny. The lady who served me that day was inexplicably in a bad mood so perhaps that's not the norm? It wasn't worth trying again either way when I can just go down the street to Da Spot for one that's much better in every way. They're in a really convenient location and if you can't find parking on the street, they validate upstairs during the day or you can park in the MCC parking lot after hours.

    (4)

  • Austin T.

    We like this place a lot ! Worth a $10 cab ride from Waikiki and free parking for the drivers.

    (5)

  • Ash R.

    I go here for their cafe!! They make some of the most delicious smoothies I've ever had, I promise! The prepared food bar is also really yummy. Great selection of salad, summer roll--huge, hot food-pastas and cold foods like quinoa, other whole grains. Bakery section, its a huge glass case filled to the brim with vegan and non-vegan baked goods, cookies, muffins, scones. convenient and easy parking. Get a whole foods card and you save.... 15% or something around that number.

    (5)

  • Norm G.

    In my past life, I sometimes made fun of people who frequented this place. I once even muttered an off-color remark, to the effect the store was for "sprout heads." Well my karma has grabbed me and knocked me on my gluteus maximus (keister, heinie, butt) for uttering such invective. The fact is, I was recently tested for food reactivity (something like food allergies), and found I was reactive to a number of foods, including milk and yeast (baker's and brewer's). What a shock when I would be in a regular supermarket and find a hidden culprit in the list of ingredients. I thought I would never be able to find enough to eat, and would ultimately fall into an epicurean funk. Finally, I swallowed my pride and headed over to Down To Earth. What a pleasant surprise to find foods that I could eat! Not only that, but many people shopping looked so healthy, the place smelled good, and the employees were absolutely delightful. After a month on this diet, I am not having the sinus problems I'd been having for years, so even though the prices are higher here, it is just so worth it to be feeling better. I can't believe I actually like the taste of soy milk, almond milk, and rice milk on my muesli in the morning. No, I'm not a total vegetarian...YET. However, I am happy (and proud) to say that I am now a Down To Earth Sprout-head Shopper!

    (5)

  • Shelley K.

    I love going to Down to Earth to dine on delish vegan food when I'm in the mood to be healthy!! From their store, I love to go buy Have'a Chips. They are cheap and delish! From the hot food bar, I love to get their salad with papaya seed dressing, eggplant parmesan, curry fried rice, mock chicken tofu and their pizzas. I guess its just all so good! Only con: their prices for the hot food bar is really expensive! which is why I only go there once a month or two lol.

    (4)

  • Talia R.

    We visited Down to Earth while vacationing in Oahu, Our resort although beautiful was really not vegan friendly, so when a member of the hotel staff recommended we check out this spot we happily obliged. I found helpful, friendly workers, a wide selection of food although we were limited as we only had a hot pot and a fridge in our hotel. The food that is packaged is more expensive in Hawaii than on the mainland, just a warning, Now to save the best for last: the bakery department! I was wanting something sweet and when I saw the vegan piña colata muffin I knew I had to try it. Let's just say I devoured it on the ride back to the hotel and wished I'd purchased more, Incredible!

    (5)

  • Erin G.

    Before Wholefoods was open, this was the place to shop and eat healthy, mainly because it was one of the few places that sells organic products and they were actually more attentive. But recently it has changed and prices got higher than most stores. Personnel's attitude became to avoid responsibility and pass the buck. Also, at the buffet, the tofu chicken often is overcooked and burned.

    (2)

  • Dmitry O.

    too clutered, no parking....

    (2)

  • Tajna Z.

    The fresh local produce. Treats such as dried persimmons,figs,Medjool dates,apricots,mulberries (if you don't grow your own like me). BEST DESSERT EVER: the wheat free Brazilian nut cookie,gluten,dairy,peanut,butter,soy,cane sugar free.So delicious and nutty and toasty! Don't downgrade yourself to trying their old slices of cakes and pies,this cookie is where it's at! Get lost in the incense section! Trip out in the teas! You can have fun just browsing,then go home and replicate it all! heat up some coconut oil,add carob and spices,chill and you'll have your own caffeine free "chocolate" bar! I LOVE YOU DOWN TO EARTH! ALOHA!

    (4)

  • Thomas M.

    I love Down to Earth! Awesome prepared food, really great produce and packaged food. The bulk section rules pretty hard and the vanilla almond granola rules my world. The clerks are so nice here. Every one is! I like hanging outside on the tables with friends, drinking a Blue Sky cola and watching the traffic roll by.

    (4)

  • Richy R.

    Good selection of vegetarian items though they can be a bit pricey. Boca crumbled meat was like $8....yeah ill pass. They have a bunch of Indian food items which have been lacking at the other grocery stores ive shopped at since moving to Oahu. A huge plus is their salad/hot food bar. Alot of variety and international options. I had a small portion of enchiladas, polenta pizza, and pasta primavera (the pasta was soooooo good. I wish I could get the recipe) and some brown rice and that total was like $5.50 and made for a satisfying lunch. I would give it 3.5 and im giving it a 4 instead of a 3 because I like the fact that there is even a place like this on Oahu. I haven't been getting much vegetarian love since moving here. I dint know why some places out here think beef flavored curry is acceptable for a vegetarian. I would give it more stars if the prices werent so high. I guess that is just island life... I probably will only shop here for specific items. I saw Rose water so will be coming back for that when I try to make this Lebanese dessert.

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    Down to Earth offers a delicious rich Coconut Blueberry Smoothie. This is the only place I have tasted full bodied coconut in a smoothie. The ingredients are simple: frozen banana, blueberries and coconut. Refreshing and filling! I get my coconut smoothie fix at the Moiliili store.

    (5)

  • Maka I.

    I love Down to Earth! :) ... Most of my food is organic so feel really grateful for stores like Down to Earth that provide real, uncontaminated food. Down to Earth has a great selection of products and educated employees in their health products area. I'm not a huge fan of salad bars as food is sitting out for who knows how long ... love the cafe where they make everything fresh. Most of the employees have been there for a long time and are friendly and helpful. If something isn't in stock it can be ordered right away and sometimes at a discount price. There is plenty of parking in back, up on top or out front on the meters. Sometimes I wish the prices were lower but there is a member card, free of charge, that tracks points and rewards shoppers with $5 off cards. Thanks Down to Earth for providing healthy food so I can stay young, healthy and energetic! :)

    (5)

  • Stacey K.

    When I walked in I swore a hairy, sweaty, smelly armpit smacked me in the face. fakkkk dat. FAKKK dat. for REAL. you are what you eat. shiet!

    (1)

  • Shane Z.

    Today after Manoa Falls hike we got a Mock Chicken Salad Wrap and the Roasted Pepper Hummus Wrap both were fresh and delicious. Great selection of health food!

    (5)

  • Leonna M.

    Politics are a def 0. Food is too expensive. Admittedly, I've been there only twice, and to the S. King location. I was none to impressed by the holier-than-thou attitude. I didn't realize it was a vegan/vegetarian store (I had happened to stumble in the first time), so when I asked if they had any local meats, I was given a look that I can only describe as complete and utter hatred. The girl then proceeded to lecture me on the benefits of being a vegan, etc etc etc. Needless to say, I turned around, bought my Govinda's juice and left. The second time I came in here was because Kokua Market was closed and I needed some juice at home.

    (1)

  • Ed K.

    was about a year and a half ago last time trying out down to earth. couldn't figure out exactly what it was that captured my attention about the place. was riot season and place was crowded! so i thought what if i could try being vegan for a day? went inside, looked around. basicly its a healthy supermarket. tried the bread. it was grainy, flaky, and crumbly. they had vegi sandwich with brussel sprouts (with the bread i just described). didn't like the taste of the marinara sauce on the lasagna or crust on the pizza, and concluded i wouldn't have the discipline. however by judging from the outside looking in, vegan dieters are STRONG! there was a dude wearing shin gaurds on his wrist with the words VEGAN on them, carrying a 5 foot tree trunk, 2 foot in diameter.. passed me up in the marathon! no lie.. maybe thats why my belly smiles.

    (2)

  • Melissa K.

    A very good store with a very good selection (for Hawaii). I used to think Down to Earth was expensive ... then I went to Whole Foods and realized that DE's prices (for the same products!) really weren't that bad. The service is hit or miss but usually pretty good. The folks in the produce dept. are awesome-- very helpful and nice. I don't like the customer card ... and am not digging the new renovations. BUT the deli is fabulous (been a fan of the mango muffins and spring rolls for years!) and they now have gluten-free pizza.

    (4)

  • Jennifer H.

    Love the curry quinoa from the deli. Tried almost all the hot food and have yet to be disappointed. Minus one star for the on-site dining experience. I live too far away to take out, but looking at King St makes re-heating the food at home a better alternative. Still, the flavo of the food and the purpose of the store make eating here one of the top expereinces in Honolulu.

    (4)

  • Murray B.

    This is an excellent place for those 'hard to find' organic foods or natural products. It reminds me of one of my favorite markets close to where I grew up called Berkeley Bowl but on a smaller scale and much less chaotic (not once did I almost get hit by a fellow shopper's cart!). In addition to groceries and a medium sized produce section, you will find a deli, a bakery, a salad bar and a wellness center (props to 'em for having the natural toothpaste that I couldn't find at longs, foodland or safeway).

    (4)

  • Sheryl M.

    How can you go wrong with being good to your body??? At DTE, I love buying the ready made foods in the deli section! Some of my faves include the 3-bean vegan chili, enchiladas, polenta pizza, and the thai veggie curry. These are so great I usually don't have to cook for a week!!! ~ It's probably much cheaper to make, but my philosophy is...why re-invent the wheel when it's already made and it tastes great?!?!!!

    (5)

  • Tania P.

    The parking isn't the best... The store is cramped... Their deli food didn't look very healthy... Overall, it just didn't look as good as Whole Foods...

    (2)

  • Susie G.

    I don't know about you, but when I travel, I get really really really sick of eating heavy food from restaurants really quickly. Down to Earth was the perfect solution for on-the-go meals after vigorous hikes and sunny snorkel sessions. Fill up a plate at 8.99 and go! From salads to stews, they've got a great range for any eater - and it's all vegetarian which is what brought me there in the first place. I recommend using one of their clamshell containers and eating off site at a park or something.

    (5)

  • Meredith P.

    Wow, three one-star reviews about the politics of the organization. Perhaps somebody would care to fill in the visiting mainlanders like myself? Personally, I loved Down to Earth. The ability to walk into a store and know that I can buy ANYTHING THERE is really amazing. I have been an ovo-lacto vegetarian since 1993 (with a brief stint of veganism in 2000) and I have NEVER seen anything like Down to Earth. Every health food store, natural food place, everything always has meat somewhere. Not at Down to Earth. I didn't do any grocery shopping here, but the ready-to-eat stuff was FANTASTIC. I got a slice of organic vegetarian pizza and it was fabulous. So was the chocolate bar I got from the grocery. There were soups, and sandwiches, it all looked so good! I bought a mock tuna sandwich to have later, and when I did...yummy. I've only had one mock tuna sandwich before (Healthway Natural Foods, Fairfax VA) and this was equal or better. Seriously, a vegetarian and a vegan can stuff themselves silly here. I don't know what the political issue is, but damn, they have good food.

    (5)

  • Jeni K.

    awesome place to eat on the go! they have an extensive salad bar that makes any carnivore question if meat is even worth the risk now-a-days. theyre selection of baked goods is amazing and very filling i may end up skipping a meal! its definately worth the price since all of their ingredients are of high quality and actually have real nutritional value and are the same prices as junk fast food on the go! how dare fast food joints charge so much for low quality food that doesnt fill you up. who said eating healthy was expensive? you gotta hit them up for grocery shopping during their monthly sales. all the necessities end up being the same prices as walmart (but of way better quality) for stuff like bread, soy milk, poptarts and soda. its amizing at how eating quality food (healthy or not) can make so much of a difference in how your body can work for you! i no longer have allergies or asthma and havent even gotten sick when everyone around me seems to be infectious. i've even lost weight eating organic chocolate and switching our all my sweets for their healthy counter parts without even exercising! i only wish everyone demanded the same quality in their foods so that the prices would go down to meet all our consuming needs.

    (5)

  • Chan K.

    I came here once because i was desperate for tuna (which i needed for my project). it was a specific type of tuna that no one else had, but Down to Earth did. so thats good. but the place is kinda run down. thats not so good.

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    I'm a vegetarian, so obviously I'd be frequenting here. Do I like it? Yes. Do I LOVE it? Ehh. It's a little pricey for some things, especially the almost all organic produce, but they do have sales on things and it's a place that I definitely know I can go to if I ever run out of Tofurkey. However, they do have amazing cookies and the hot bar is great (although again, pricey).

    (4)

  • Ed K.

    Down to Earth is awesome. I might not normally give a health food store a 4 star rating, but I stumbled on this place after visiting a string of bad restaurants in Hawaii. The food is just plain good healthy food. If you are a person who wants a break from the constant bombardment of 2000-calorie resort trash that's all over Waikiki, this is a good place to come. Its mostly a typical health food grocery store. It has a good cold bar and a nice hot cafe with mock-meat sandwiches. As a warning, everything there is vegetarian, leaning toward vegan. I am a proud meat eater, and while there, I didn't feel like I was politically pressured in any way. If you go ask someone where the bacon is you might get an odd response, but come on people, its a hippy health food store. Take it for what it is.

    (4)

  • Dino K.

    I've been eating here recently, and I gotta say, for meatless food it taste awesome! I'm trying to make this a weekly thing where I eat a few meals here to better my diet. I recommend the quinoa salad and grilled squash medley! I don't think I'm gonna turn vegan anytime soon though. =P

    (4)

  • Michelle O.

    Good experience for my 1st trip. Bought some dried apples, organic carrots & just ate the best dinner I've had all wk--a veggie pasta salad from the refrigerated section. Then again, the last 2 nights my dinner consisted of reheated, canned corn... The store was clean, organized and had a great selection of foods. The staff were really nice and I rec'd a complimentary re-usable bag when I signed up for my DTE discount card. Despite parking located on the 2nd floor of the bldg, it was manageable.

    (4)

  • Eric N.

    Pricey but healthy options. Food bars offer great choices but it will cost you almost $10 per pound! Staff is great! There are specials that happen every month and sometimes there are good things on sale.

    (3)

  • Ryan C.

    Which came first...Down to earth has all the essentials of an organic whole foods market without the animal products. There always seems to be a great selection of open bar items to warm your soul or you can peruse the aisle to find a nutritious whole food item (or reach into the freezer for a packaged product). Yes you will be paying more for their organic produce...just know that before you go.

    (4)

  • Bhakti P.

    My favorite morning stop for my organic coffee with silk creamer, and stevia. Friendly, nice people always. Oh, another favorite pina colada muffin, Teriyaki Tofu, and Thai Coconut Soup. But, I do think they need to expand to more variety and add more vegan deli items. Love the knowledgeable staff in the wellness and bodycare area too.

    (4)

  • R K.

    Often the staff are extremely rude or ignore you altogether. Many times I bought grains that ended up having bugs in them. At the deli, you can also sometimes see insects in the case (or in the ice cubes back when they had a fountain). I guess as long as the insects are "organic" it's ok. Thankfully, now there are other options for the same products.

    (1)

  • Alyssa K.

    Great deli! My personal fave right now is the vegan chocolate pudding. Man that thing is good. it taste way better than non vegan chocolate pudding. The tapioca is amazing too. They now have a card to rack up points with. You only get like $5 off per every $300 or something but i guess its better than nothing. i got a free branded eco bag with card sign up.

    (4)

  • Margaret W.

    I love down to earth. The hot food and salad bar is my favorite lunch stop. They have a great selection but the prices are high, some items priced higher then Whole Foods, but i'm guessing if you shop at these places, price is not your main concern.

    (4)

  • Sheryl S.

    I swear, the workers there must think I own a black American Express card or something. Shhh... please don't tell them I have just the regular one... I love feeling like VIP. So, I was looking for a very particular coconut water, Zico (if you haven't tried it, it's absolutely the best....it's soo smooth & full of flavor without any sugar. I can go on & on about it.) Anyways, while I was in the beverage aisle, worker #1 asks if he can help me. I tell him I'm looking for Zico. He tells me, they don't carry it but will talk to the manager. Then, the manager after doing research on where to find the item & its price, hunts me down in the store & offers me to special order it.... even for just 1 can. Talk about service! With service like that, there's no need for me to drive to Kahala where Whole Foods is....Although they do have my favorite Kashi brand dark chocolate chip cookies. I'm sure if I really wanted though, DTE will special order it for me.... even if it's for just one box.

    (5)

  • Evette S.

    I am a strict vegetarian and I LOVE that I can go into any Down to Earth store and shop without reading labels! They do all the research for me! It's great. The salad bar is awesome too. I'm too lazy to make salad - even though it's one of my favorite things to eat - so I just buy it from Down to Earth. Organic, clean and already made. I just pick and choose what I want in it! I'm also very environmentally friendly, so I love that they do research on all the brands that they carry to make sure their products are actually healthy, they work with the GMO project, their bags are biodegradable, etc.... I wish they were a national chain - I travel a lot and I prefer Down To Earth over any other mainland "health food" chain. I also buy all of my supplements from here. Their wellness reps are SO on point! I'm very much into supporting local businesses and I hope that one day, this local chain goes national!

    (5)

  • Tessa t.

    i LOVE this place so much that i got a rewards card!!! they have oober yummy vegan foods!! a new dish called the "tofu scramble" is delish! and their italian dishes are just perfect enough to hit the spot if you're craving a pasta that isn't too fatty or unhealthy! they've got cheese filled pasta, pizza, pesto pasta, mac and cheese., calzones... not only that! they have my fave acai bowl!! the amazon warrior is to die for! i suggest this place for anyone who wants to eat yummy foods, but does not wanna eat unhealthy foods :) if you wanna watch your weight...this is the place to be!!!

    (5)

  • Eileen V.

    Great place; here almost daily. Fair prices, great take out food, extremely helpful staff, & overall clean positive environment. I sincerely enjoy shopping here :)

    (5)

  • Andy D.

    While I am a devout meat-a-tarian, I do like to enjoy a vegetarian meal from time to time. (It mostly happens after I eat a huge Mitsu-Ken breakfast special or something equally artery clogging.) I don't really frequent the grocery section of the store, as the prices are a bit too steep and I prefer my vegetables seasoned with pesticides - none of that sissy organic stuff. However, they do have a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan groceries. My vegan friend was so happy to find soy horchata there, something he couldn't find surprisingly in his home town of Phoenix. When I do come here, its usually to come to eat at the deli. They have a nice selection of different hot entrees as well as a salad bar. I normally steer clear of the salad bar. My biggest problem is I always get too much and end up spending too much. Today, I visited and got some mac & cheese and veggie curry, along with a summer roll. The veggie curry was really delicious. It was really flavorful, and had a lot of delicious vegetables - and the vegetables weren't boiled to mush either. The mac & cheese was disgusting, though, and had too much garlic and had a weird plastic-y taste to it. The summer roll was huge and tasted okay, but was a little bland. Some negatives - peanut sauce for summer roll is extra even though the on its own, the roll is totally bland - they were doing construction on the salad bar while people were getting food, and a really bad small emitted from the construction

    (3)

  • Mark M.

    Last resort... This place is overpriced, pretentious and has a limited inventory. If you want a small jar of Macadamia Nut butter for $21 or want to hang out with the rest of the uninformed health food snobs, you might like this place. Otherwise, head for Whole Foods in Kahala for your natural foods fix.

    (1)

  • Baba G.

    i love this store. I always get the mock chicken wrap. worth the price

    (5)

  • Michael K.

    Had the mixed salad, No meat to put on top! What gives? Great day to sit outside and have lunch. I wonder who's nicely refurbished 1974 Volkswagon bus is sitting out front? I don't think it was bought on the island.

    (4)

  • matt s.

    They have a great selection of healthy food, but it's ridiculously expensive. And the staff is really rude. Not blatantly rude . .. . more, "I'm such a great person for tolerating your presence," rude. It's kind of creepy, actually. I've noticed it at the Honolulu and Kailua branches. Anyways, they have a slightly larger supplement section than Whole Foods, but Whole Foods is cheaper, bigger, and their staff is way friendlier.

    (2)

  • R C.

    Well, I used to shop here often, before... not anymore. I have read about their secret agendas and don't care to support it. Also, they have the "feedback" papers hanging in the front but they don't really care to know what the customers think. I have wrote my concerns before. Nothing has really changed. I like their local produce and DE isn't as expensive or as corporate as the Whole Food but they are very political. Grocery stores being very active in anti gay issues? WTF.! anyhow, sometimes their prices are a bit too much. I don't care to be their member. If everything is freshly made and baked inside, why are they charging ridiculous prices? Cut me a slack, we are all struggling , yet trying to be healthy!

    (2)

  • N T.

    Great vegetarian and vegan food! Hot food bar, hot soups, refrigerator case, fresh juice and smoothies, salad bar, and bakery! Yum. You can also order vegan, vegetarian, and even gluten free baked goods from the bakery. The only place on Oahu that I know of to order your vegan birthday cake, thanksgiving pie, etc from. The bakers come and go - so the quality of what you get really varies on who the current baker in residence is, but lately it seems the quality is consistently good. This is part of Down to Earth Market, so for more reviews check out the listing for Down to Earth proper. P.S. Bring your Vegetarian Society of Hawaii card for a discount

    (5)

  • Tom W.

    My all time favorite Health Food Store, and I have been to a lot on the mainland. Wish we had a store like this in Sacramento area. The hot food bar is great. One thing I'd like to point out, Down to Earth is not vegan like some posters said here, they have quite a few good quality organic dairy products as well.

    (5)

  • Giselle R.

    Buy local. Better than Whole foods, especially on prices. All vegetarian tho, so gotta find your meat and eggs elsewhere. Their dine in food is spectacular! The curry rice, spring rolls, lasagna and almond cookies are my favorites!

    (5)

  • Ikaika T.

    There are some unique items here you won't find anywhere else. And while I still enjoy the occasional fat piece of steak with gravy and a side of heart-attack, switching the home menu up with tofu spaghetti or vegetable lasagna is a good change for both your taste buds and your health. On the other hand, I am a human being. I want something that was once a living/breathing animal to be slaughtered and baked, fried, poached, marinated and served. You can't do that with tofu, it doesn't make all those cool sounds like the animals I see on PETA TV =)

    (5)

  • Laura M.

    Been comin' to this joint since high school, which means that Down to Earth and I are very good friends at this point--and like a fine red wine, it's only been getting better as the years have passed. The deli alone, which they revamped in the past few years with the coming of Whole Foods, is amazing. Their mindbogglingly vast cold beverage section including the fresh juices they make and the sandwiches and wraps and the fresh salad bar and their cold deli side dishes (coleslaw, mock chicken salad, nori rolls, summer rolls, etc.) and their excellent, ever-rotating array of hot entrees that never disappoint (chow fun, curries, lasagna, eggplant parmesan, Indian stuff, rice and beans, etc. etc. etc.) are all so consistently mega-awesome that I think Satan himself works in Down to Earth's kitchen. Whenever I go I have a hard time ever deciding what I want and I end up mashing a bunch of different dishes together on a plate that usually weighs about 2 lbs. when I'm finished (also, seriously checked out the baked good cabinet, their chocolate chip cookies and coconut macadamia nut bars are so hard to beat) . And their produce is also super. They have consistently had the best peaches and papayas in town for years. Also, extra points earned for the fond memories of me and my friend Michelle always going down there during high school to scope out the hot boys who worked there.

    (5)

  • Rebecca B.

    If you are vegan and stuck in Honolulu GO HERE FIRST. Every other place that wasn't thai or sushi sucked for vegan options. Unfortunately we didn't find Down to Earth until our second to last day there. Everything in the store is vegetarian and the vegan stuff is clearly marked. It was all delicious and amazing. I highly recommend this place.

    (5)

  • Lindsay T.

    I seriously could have eaten their vegan chili the whole trip in Honolulu rather than waste my time at all the other places. They have an awesome buffet, make great wraps, and the produce reminds me of the stuff in SF. If you're in Honolulu on vacation, stop here to get some produce for the trip. The fruit was off the hook.

    (5)

  • Dave L.

    Down to Earth doesn't have as big of a selection in organic/natural foods as places on the mainland, but we'll make do with what we get. Before Whole Foods opened, Down to Earth was renovating and also increasing prices and I thought,"When Whole Foods opens how will they compete?" but after checking out prices at Whole Foods, Down to Earth is actually "cheap" .

    (5)

  • Andrea H.

    Down to earth? really? I could do without the cloud of SMUG.

    (2)

  • S K.

    It's terrific to find an all-vegetarian store. In light of that, the bulk breakfast cereal selection was very disappointing: nothing different than I've found in numerous stores elsewhere, down to the same granola and muesli mixes, so they clearly have the same supplier. I haven't seen coconut or hemp milk before; presumably these don't make it onto the shelves of more mainstream stores. The food bar is indeed very good, and warrants the rating.

    (4)

  • Erik S.

    Although I laughed at the "organic antibacterial soap" in the entryway, the food selection here was pretty nice. I didn't have too long in this shop, but I got a muffin and a pizza from here. I didn't get a sandwich, because I thought the ingredients were a bit odd, and I'm also not sure why no meat = natural foods, but other than that, it was pretty good. I had a really good drink from there that I wish I remember the name of, because it was fantastic. The parking situation here is bizarre. We never could quite figure out how to get in, but again, we were pressed for time.

    (4)

  • Anita L.

    To be able to find something like this here in Honolulu is truly a blessing. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to purchase all the organic items we were used to in the Bay Area. The funniest thing was, the minute we went in there, my 5 yr old went "oh, this is Rainbow Grocery!". The prices are slightly higher than Rainbow Grocery (not that Rainbow wasn't high already) but it is a much smaller store also. There is a good sized bulk foods area as well as a excellent deli area where you can purchased cooked foods and deli stuff. I wish I hadn't eaten lunch just before visiting because the food was smelling damn good!! Organic produce was also on the high side, but you get what you pay for I guess.

    (4)

  • Mark W.

    The Deli in this place is fantastic. Getting tired of touristy restaurants? Come here and you will feel like you are back in California! The deli has a nice salad bar, an assortment of hot foods, great sandwiches, and a fantastic selection of desert-ish granola-ish fresh snack-ish foods. Yea, come here for a healty-ish desert!

    (5)

  • Evil E.

    The food and store are pretty much bad ass. The food is GREAT and the shakes are the bomb. Lots and lots of vegan options including vegan shakes. Did I mention they have peanut butter carob vegan shakes?? Because they do and they are awesome. The vegan muffins are tasty and so are the soups. They have a really extensive vegi/vegan deli with muffins, cakes, cookies, soups, calzones, pizzas, and other dishes.

    (5)

  • Doreen a.

    NOTE: YELP REQUIRES AT LEAST 1 STAR IN ORDER TO POST. THIS STORE GETS NO STARS. Walking into Down To Earth, I feel like a hypocrite. Vegan for 11 years and gay for my whole life, I can not leave or ignore a part of me. I will not patronize this store as long as bigots like the Gabbards own it. And if you or know anyone who is gay ever even THINK about going into this store: THINK AGAIN: The store is filled with hate. This store is good for nothing.

    (1)

  • Jaclyn L.

    OK OK I have to say that when I lived in Hawaii this market was mysterious to me...interesting smells wafting from this market as I sat at the bus stop on King Street. It kinda scared me to step foot in there so I never did....but dammit on this last trip home I was practically dying to get there because I forgot how the supermarkets in Hawaii suck shit! After living abundantly here in SF I realized the importance of organic, sustainable and natural foods...well they have it- not all of it-but enough of it to make my two week visit home a little more pleasant on the stomach...great choices of foods from fresh to frozen and everything-in-between...crunchy granola's or not i am in search of a "nut and fruit" store.

    (3)

  • Jesse W.

    12/6/08: what else is there to do on a saturday night that to check out a local natural health foods store? my wife and i stopped by to check out this location after seeing the owner interviewed on the local pbs channel. i liked this place and thought their selection of veggies, dry/canned goods, frozen foods, dairy and juices were well represented. Many of the veggies that I looked at were grown locally (thank you). We wanted to grab a tub of greek yogurt, but unfortunately, they were already out of stock (bummer). i'll be back!

    (4)

  • Berna T.

    I used to shop here every week when I was a student at the University of Hawaii. They have the things that a Whole Foods or Rainbow Grocery would have, although they are a tiny tiny store. They have a great hot bar and their health and beauty section is pretty good. Food is expensive in general in Hawaii, but even more so when you go organic...but if that's really what you want, then this is your place!

    (4)

  • ra c.

    i've been going to de for many years, up to 3-4 x a week. i find that their take out food section and pastries are full of fructose corn syrup (even worse than sugar)---all the pastries have it. plus Dr. Joseph Mercola and Natural News' Mike Adams (2 of the best health websites in the U.S.-)--say that the only oils we should use are olive oil (not heated) a little butter, or coconut oil. all the other oils are really bad for you!!!!---so all of their cooked foods have the other oils. plus all the sweeteners they use are also bad for you. the only ones recommended are stevia and xylitol (maybe these are hard to put in pastries and may be too expensive to use in other cooked foods? I don't know. But no one seems to notice or know about all this!!!!---Organic cane sugar????, glucose, fructose , sucrose ----ose ose ose---molasses, honey, blah blah---they are all sugars and very harmful. Most of the people there are very nice,---especially ROY---who is not only a hunk, but nice to everyone!!!---He's very unusual. A very special person. Christine in wellness is also a treasure---and very knowledgable. The veggies are often old---but then, that's probably unescapable. It also smells like it needs a good cleaning. Also---(most people don't know about)--they have all those fluorescent lights shining down right on all the veggies and thru the whole store. These are very harmful (full of mercury, etc.)--unless they are FULL SPECTRUM FLUORESCENT LIGHTS,--WHICH i'M SURE THESE ARE NOT). this store is much better than kokua,---as ABDUL in the veggie dept. there is scary. He's very mean---but nice to certain people. Funny how 1 mean person can give the whole store a bad feeling. I have heard many bad things about him. They say the main boss is just as bad as he is, so don't bother complaining.

    (3)

  • Nimai W.

    Grab a Chinese takeout box and start scoopin'! My favorite thing about Down to Earth is the food. They have an awesome hot food and salad bar, as well as a menu you can order off of. I've eaten here easily more than a dozen times - not once disappointed. Their mock-chicken sandwich is very tasty and hearty. Their chocolate milk shake is... well that's something fantastic. You gotta try it. They also have some great fresh squeezed juices and smoothies. Whatever I end up getting from the hot foods, I'll usually add some mock chicken tofu or herb roasted potatoes on the side. Love those! They keep things clean, and the treys full. They have seating upstairs, tables outside, and a nice selection of healthy drinks, conveniently facing the food bar. Parking: Either along S. King street, or turn right, into the driveway just after the store/building. You can head up the ramp where there's plentiful parking upstairs, or try your luck on the ground level behind the store. The grocery side of the store is decent. Not my favorite, so I don't shop here much. And the prices are kinda high. It's pretty small, but they used their space well. They've got the basics of a health food store, as well as some random odds and ends, including a vitamin and sundries section. I've bought bread from here that went moldy in a day. At the time I was pretty disappointed, but then I realized that these things happen everywhere. I've seen moldy bread on Whole Foods shelves that I had to point out to an employee. Oops! You're pressed for time, you want to eat healthy, or you haven't tried much vegetarian dishes and want to sample a munch at once - all good reasons to check this place out. Am I selling this place to you? Yeah, kinda. Whole Foods is awesome, but they are not the only game it town.

    (4)

  • Lala G.

    Your acai bowls are very filling, and great! By the time I got to my oatmeal, I was pretty full :)

    (5)

  • Paul K.

    Staff are very knowledgeable and wonderful to chat about a healthy life with...the selection is good and the prices are inflated, due to the small footprint of the store and inability to order in large quantities...the food in the cafe are touted as extremely healthy, although there are obvious very fattening ingredients to increase the sales with the more common delicious tastes...and all the food tastes amazing! Their restrooms are always very clean and available! Their natural food holistic medicine section can be very helpful as an option, but be sure not to discontinue your current doctor recommended medicines since most of the supplements and items have no proven objective promises...but I've tried some and replaced medicines with their options after consulting with my physician... If you want to lose weight, I highly recommend going to Down to Earth and purchasing the Master Cleanse book and work with their staff...they helped me lose a lot of weight about a decade ago and they were very supportive, they even wrote an article about my weight loss in their magazine...I dropped hundreds of pounds and maintain with Down to Earth's staff and products.

    (4)

  • Sasha L.

    This place has a delicious hot food bar! Whenever I eat too much bad food/feel unhealthy and gross, I like to come here for some delicious clean eating!!! The kale salad is really good here, as well as the pastries they have on the side.

    (4)

  • jazzy l.

    It's like a Whole Foods!

    (4)

  • Lori I.

    Yikes the sign said it's a VEGAN store! I'm a CARNIVORE. Right away this seemed like it was gonna be a disaster. I don't normally frequent "natural, organic health food" type stores...(Don't let my check-ins at Whole Foods fool you, I only go to get my bacon and eggs with cheese for breakfast on Wednesdays.) MY MISSION WAS TO FIND THIS GREEN CAN: yelp.com/biz_photos/WJ53… That stuff is better than Gatorade right after hard workout. To me, it's better than the other "coconut water" drinks on the market. They claim it is a natural isotonic beverage high in potassium and contains no added sugar, or other additives. It comes in a can, and it's best to drink it straight from the can, otherwise it looks like you're drinking backwash with all those little white floaties (aka the "pulp"). PRICE: It's my lucky lunar eclipse day! It's on sale today! $1.69/can!! I called several stores to see who had the best price. This was actually the last place I called, because of their reputation for being "super expensive." Kale's in Hawaii Kai was $2.65/can and they were all out...I also used my Red Laser app (thanks Kyle H.) to scan online prices, and the lowest online price was $2.18 without shipping. Since I don't know when the next sale will be, I bought several cases. CUSTOMER SERVICE: The lady on the phone was great. No attitude. She first checked to see if they had the can, and the price. When she told me the price, I asked her if she had cases or just a few cans. She put me on hold again and made sure there were cases in the back so I didn't have to drive down there only to be disappointed. When I got there, once I found a guy to get me the cases from the back, he was willing to use his handtruck to roll the cases all the way to my car. I told him "no need", but he said it wouldn't be a problem. BONUS: They have tons of gluten-free cookie mixes, bread, pizza, etc. which is great since it's baking season already and I need to bake gluten-free. I'll be back to get more gluten free stuff. However, I'm counting the hours til I can get my bacon and eggs with cheese tomorrow at Whole Foods ($6.99/lb!)

    (4)

  • Chelsea U.

    Love the selection here, but the prices are a little high. However, every item in the store is of high quality and great nutritional value. The hot food and salad bar offer great options, but it is a little pricey per lb. The baked goods are also always a hit as the items sound healthy, but always are tasty and delicious.

    (4)

  • Nikki G.

    First of all there are to bathrooms here for Down to Earth customers! Prices for the hot food and salad bar is not to cheap but most often the food is delicious! The walking space around the food bar can get quite cramped and hard to move around! They have quite a bit of seating to eat with tables outdoors and indoors! There are highchairs inside for keiki that really could use regular cleaning! They are quite dirty very often!

    (4)

  • Taylor Z.

    Ok, this one is for you Joe M. If heaven had a cafeteria it would be called . . . down to earth ! Yep, Yes it would because this place is divine. I could eat here everyday and never tire of it. Their hot food bar and salad bar are both a spiritual experience for me. The wonderful veggie food they make here, had me back day after day after day. The food: The salad bar was always a must. I'd pile on a ton of green leaves then sprinkle some sunflower seeds, tomatoes, olives, tofu, beets and a tiny scoop of cottage cheese. Then I would choose either their a vinaigrette or sunflower tahini dressing shake it up and voi là perfect salad. I have tried a couple of the sandwiches which were very good, such as the thai wraps or noodles, but I prefer getting a scoop of some hot veggies instead. My absolute favorites here are: the pineapple sweet yams, the veggie lasagna, veggie korma. All delish. And of course you can't come here without trying one of their baked goods. My favorite is the chocolate oatmeal cookie, it's a plus for me b/c it doesn't have nuts ; ) I would also pretty regularly stock up on chocolate covered cranberries here and try, try my hardest to make them last for a decent amount of time. (they aren't cheap) I didn't do much grocery shopping here b/c it's a bit expensive and I wanted to use my money to purchase their food bar stuff. But occasionally I would buy some cosmetic items that I couldn't find in the supermarket .. I like their ALBA hawaii line, specially the kona coffee after sun lotion, smelled so good I wanted to eat it : ) or at least it made me crave some coffee. If I didn't have plans and my friends were all busy, sometimes I would just wander in Down to Earth for some alone time and try out samples in their cosmetic aisle LOL, seriously this could keep me occupied for hours . . maybe grab a cookie and wonder across the street to san lorenzos or down to longs drugs (when it was there) to buy a bag of snowcaps . . . oh the ways I could occupy myself sometimes, seriously . . . pretty incredible The next time I come back to Hawaii, first stop ?? Down to earth !

    (5)

  • Mihir M.

    This is a vegetarian & vegan restaurant, smoothie & juice bar, & health & natural food store. I had their Asian noodles once - you pick the noodles, vegetables, & protein & they prepare it. I also took items from their buffet which includes salads & global hot food items, and their cookies. The food was very good, priced appropriately - slightly high perhaps, with fast service.

    (5)

  • Sonia H.

    Clean and healthy! Loved visiting this store during my visit to Honolulu. This place resembled Whole Foods with the exception that everything is even pricier, except for tax. If you're craving organic foods and don't mind splurging though, this is the grocery store for you!

    (4)

  • Alex M.

    We as humans have no need for a cow's milk, or a chicken's unfertilized eggs. A cow's milk is her own and for her calf, her body is her own. I grew up vegetarian but have since realized that if I truly believe in opposing the slavery and cruelty of animals, that would mean opposing milk and eggs as well. They are being exploited, otherwise to mention how unhealthy a cow's milk and chicken eggs are for an adult human! Again I love your vegan products, but because your store sells animal products I am withdrawing my business. Stop supporting the slavery and rape of mothers who will soon be used for meat when they can no longer make milk for a sick and greedy purpose! What do you think happens to her babies when they are ripped away from her soon after birth? Please go Vegan!

    (1)

  • Alison S.

    this place rocks!! i love where we live because we are close to every place we need to go to and this is one of them. before i moved out here my boyfriend was always telling me about this place. and the first time i went with him i was stoked. prices can be a little high but it is vegan/vegetarian, so you kind of expect it. although when they have things marked down on clearance definitely a bargain. their produce can be hit or miss, and same with their yogurts and soy milks. my favorite part though is their fresh baked cookies and pastries, and the hot food bar :) at 9.95/lb we rarely get food from there. but on fridays they mark it down. their bulk section is awesome, and they have a lot of boxed teas to choose from. their vitamin section is pretty great as well. i would suggest signing up for their down to earth card in which you rack up points for every certain amount you spend.

    (4)

  • Marisa T.

    This is one of my go to places when I feel like eating healthy. The food bar is always fully stocked and looks fresh. I pretty much like everything in the food bar. The flavors of some of the cold dishes are amazing. You can taste every ingredient in there...which just adds to the good for you quality of the food. Just a warning that it is healthy... So you know what that means right? It's expensive. Together with a plate and a drink I could easily spend 18 bucks. 4 dollars of that is my drink so I actually spend about 14 on the food. People often miss it, but there is an upstairs eating area. The stairs are tucked in the corner by the juice bar.

    (5)

  • Chad A.

    This place is the best vegetarian market on Oahu. Huge selection, and knowledgeable staff.

    (5)

  • Melissa O.

    Love eating at Down to Earth. Wish I had a Down to Earth where I live on The Big Island. The food is so ono and even the coffee is great. I would eat there everyday if I could. I think the price is right for some great ono grinds!

    (5)

  • David C.

    So after three days of Kalua pig, Lau Lau, Malasadas and other delights my body decided it couldn't take any more. Down to Earth did the trick and I proceeded to make myself a badass salad to detox. Great salad bar and hot foods. Also make great smoothies. Need to incorporate in your trip just to give your body a break sometimes.

    (4)

  • R W.

    I am so happy to have found Down to Earth. The selection of healthy grocery options is great and the juice bar and hot lunch is delicious. DTE is a great alternative to Wholefoods with better prices.

    (5)

  • Shay F.

    I just had dinner here today and I must say, it's going down hill. I used to really enjoy coming here, but I had the kale salad, which was not fresh and tasted like crap...and I had half a plate and it was well over $6. My dinner was $9 or so, and 1) I'm still hungry 2) The food wasn't great. I don't think I'll be back anytime soon unless I really really need to go for some odd reason... Yelp 365 Challenge #03/365

    (2)

  • Shayna K.

    I just can't seem to keep myself away from Down-to-Earth's 1) salad and hot food bar (love anything they make with phyllo dough, eggplant, spinach, curry) 2) bulk foods (granola, flaxseed, oats, chia seeds, quinoa, barley, grain-sweetened dark chocolate chips, rice sticks, veggie chips, you name it!) 3) baked goods (bird bar, all the vegan stuff, the berry cobbler thing--oh, God, it's good) But I have to say I've been tempted to boycott the place now and again because: 1) their prices just go up and up and up 2) the salad/hot food bar are high way robbery at $8.99/pound when you can get lettuce for like $1.59/pound 3) I really miss Huckleberry Farms because at least they had animal products. Down-to-Earth won't even carry fish oil supplements! 4) this may be just a rumor, but do they require all their employees to be vegetarian? Is that even legal? But still, it's the best place to go when you want something healthy but are too lazy to make it yourself.

    (4)

  • Ashley L.

    This place is seriously a vegans dream come true! Friendly service with amazing selection. They have a full vegetarian buffet style deli where you can scoop your own meals or order from their counter. Also has baked goods which they mark vegan if they are vegan. Full freezer, cruelty-free beauty, cereal, baking products, everything!

    (5)

  • Art H.

    This health food store has it all. With a kid that's gluten free, finding places like this when traveling is difficult. They have a great buffet that's not expensive at all. She got the gluten free pizza and it was very good. Will go back again (and again).

    (4)

  • Terry L.

    The down to earth Burger and peanut butter are great The burger was delicious And shake was great,

    (5)

  • Stevie D.

    Juice bar, salad/hot bar, pizza and baked fresh sweets are great! This restaurant and grocery store is vegetarian so you won't find any meat to buy or eat. They validate parking. The staff is always friendly. Grocery store is a bit small but good.

    (3)

  • Little D.

    Love their veggie burger! Two for $15, good healthy dinner. Used to enjoy their plate food but not recently. Their baking goods are ok. They have good selection of food we like to buy. A few parking on the side, street and upstairs from behind the building. After 1630, Moiliili Community Center parking is available. Check their website for deals, cool recipes, cooking events as well. Free member fee, and member get $5 every $300 spending. Better than nothing. YELP 365 - 21/365

    (4)

  • Russ S.

    Overall, it's a very nice store where one can find a good selection of organic and local food items! Their prices are generally high, but they always have something on sale. The only major problem is that they don't seem to carry any meat or fish. In any case, this is definitely the place that I will be frequenting on a regular basis!

    (4)

  • Cheri L.

    Yeah, it's expensive. But it's hippie-dippy organic/vegetarian/vegan/what-have-you stuff. People would be suspicious if it was reasonably priced. Unless I'm looking for ingredients for something to bring to a pot luck for one of my super-organic-vegan-vegetarian-"but is it gluten free?" friends, I just don't shop here for groceries. The selection is nice, but price-wise, well... ouch. I love a good steak, the rarer the better, so I'm not exactly Down To Earth's target clientele. However, their hot/cold/salad bar is excellent. Pricey, sure, but the items that they offer are shockingly delicious for veggie fare. Their mock-chicken salad and mac salad are my personal favorites (it's all about the seasonings, and they season very well). Four stars for the awesome food and the wide selection of healthy ingredients that I never buy.

    (4)

  • Stefanie D.

    Not a huge fan of Down to Earth now I've discovered more veg-friendly spots on the island. The lunch buffet is never really tastes fresh. Walk down to the Da Spot if you're looking for lunch instead. I'd only stop at DTE now if I was in the area and really needed an ingredient for something.

    (2)

  • Cii H.

    4 stars because I love their great delicious tasting vegan food, but WHYYYY must it be so expensive!? Also, this location is very tiny and not a lot of space to spread your arms out. I found myself huddling through the store and constantly bumping into people. There's also a tiny seating area where the customers can eat, BUT it's filled with homeless people most of the time. They should expand their eating area for their customers.

    (4)

  • Nishad J.

    It's hard to find interesting vegetarian food on Honolulu. Even a poi stand I found barely had anything taro based. This place though... this place hit the spot. Tons of options for vegetarians/vegans. I really liked the Teriyaki and Italian roll up front as well as the eggless white chocolate macadamia nut cookies!

    (5)

  • Adam K.

    Wish they had one in Chicago. fairly expensive, but if your used to Food hole AKA Whole Paycheck AKA Whole foods then you should be primed. Good selection of gluten free, organinc, holistic, non GMO, vegan, vegetarian stuff, but where are the doritos? I kid. What I love is their prepared foods or salad bar area, they even have macaroni salad in there cuz they know where they are at. Lots of choices, but not a ton of gluten free bread choices. I got a corn bread version I have never tried before, it was tasty. Really cool place, worth a visit for the fresh Lilikoi alone. Free parking. Holler.

    (4)

  • Shaun G.

    I'm all for organic, local, healthy, and all natural... but can we make it at least a little affordable? Staff is friendly... but there are literally no reasonably priced foods there. The hot food bar is tasty, but you have to eat child sized portions if you want to be under $10... Now I get supporting local farms and helping a good cause, so I'm down to pay more for it... but the stuff on the shelves is double the price what you'd pay anywhere else... for the same product. Make your shit cheaper and I'll come more, seriously.

    (3)

  • Angela M.

    This store does not contain animal products. I once made the grave mistake of asking for fish oil capsules. The worker looked at me as though I asked for leg of human baby. "Do you know how those are made? How the fish are TORTURED?!!". They may not have literally said that, but the words they uttered definitely had an equivalent amount of judgement and horror. However, I do enjoy shopping here as they have a lovely bulk section,a hot food bar oozing with health, and great sale prices. Plus, on an especially auspicious day you may catch a glimpse of the mythical Vegan. If you touch the hem of their linen garments you will increase your life by exactly one year and your hair will be twice as lustrous.

    (4)

  • Renee S.

    Just stopped by to check prices, as I use to shop here quite frequently before Whole Foods opened. Prices are still fairly high, unless "on sale". Store looks cleaner than before; never liked the birds that hung around their big sign. Employees are friendly and helpful. Veggies nice and fresh selection, chill items (soy milk, Veganaise, yogurt fairly expensive). Then again, it's hard to beat prices when Costco sells the same items. I did find my sweet potato chips I've been looking for so I bought the big bag!

    (3)

  • Ed L.

    This place I have come to love and enjoy shopping here, whenever I need something other than costco, walmart, and Longs. I agree that it is pretty pricey, but they are a 100% vegetarian themed, organic supermarket. I once was a vegetarian, so I can relate to the organic speak they use in the industry. I love the fact that they do have several locations around the island, but the one I go to is the one in town, near UH. Most of the time, I like buying in bulk (ie Oatmeal and the cereals) they have in the bulk bins. It saves me a little bit and it tastes pretty good. I want to support the efforts of the organic industry in Hawaii, but with Whole Foods moving into Kahala Mall recently, it's easier for me to commute to Whole Foods than to Down to Earth. But when I'm in the area, I would support Down to Eath as much as possible. Down to Earth is a local company vs Whole Foods, so maybe I should shop here more. Love the hot entrees they serve, although they are limited.

    (4)

  • Theresa D.

    This is the BEST Down to Earth between Kapolei, Kailua, and Honolulu. Love how they stack the gluten free pizza's, larger gluten free cookies, large yummy soup selection. I'll come here when ever I am in the area.

    (5)

  • Victoria S.

    Amazing selection of vegan/vegetarian options, but their prices are astronomical. It costs almost double for an item here as it does at whole foods or kokua market. Their food bar is really good, but again, much pricier than at whole foods or kokua.

    (2)

  • Turquoise S.

    There is a seriously negligent situation at Down to Earth that needs some attention. I just had my twentieth unpleasant brush with a drug addicted, homeless, crazy person in the outdoor seating at Down to Earth. Most of these people are not even customers. I sat down with my food under the umbrella that did not quite protect me from the rain. At the table next to me were two homeless drug addicts who were not customers. They were deploying the F word a lot and talking about a drug deal in Chinatown. Normally I just sit through these things, but this time I asked them if they could not swear. The man proceeded to insult me. He called me the B word and then five other insults to my appearance. So you pay almost twenty dollars for a meal at Down To Earth, and this is what you get. The last time I sat there there was a druggy, shirtless customer next to me who was using the S word a lot and talking about the time this woman stabbed him and stuff. It had been years ago but he apparently felt the need to talk about it now, over lunch, at DTE. Seriously, if you don't want this stuff to happen on your watch, it doesn't happen. DTE employees pass by there umpteen times a day.

    (1)

  • Evan F.

    I like and I don't like Down to Earth. In other words, I like Down to Earth for some things but not all things. For instance, I like some of their food items (namely the summer rolls with peanut sauce and baked goods). I think that their food, though, is way too expensive for what you're actually getting. I personally feel they prey on people's ignorance of vegan-organic food. What I mean is that you don't have to pay an arm and a leg just because it's vegan-organic. While I understand that they offer a wide variety of groceries, vitamins, and goods that aren't offered at all grocery stores, a lot of the stuff that you can purchase else where can be purchased for much less. For instance, I found the same bottle of spirulina that they sell at Down to Earth at Costco for a third of the price. While I'm sure a lot of people get a tingle inside their heart for buying it from Down to Earth rather than Costco, I honestly would just rather spend less money than drive out of my way to Down to Earth to spend more money. That much said, when I'm in the area I have to grab a couple summer rolls with peanut sauce and an oatmeal raisin cookie or some sort of baked good from Down to Earth.

    (3)

  • Reney O.

    I swear I got a little teary eyed as I walked in the other day. The smell of fresh produce, and all the grains and spices *sniffles* aww this reminds me of my beloved hippy healthy organic all natural Oregon!! LOL With mixed feelings of nostalgia and joy, I checked out their wide selection of bulk seeds, grains, and nuts available in dispensers- an idea which I wish more stores would follow. When I'm cooking and I just need less than a couple of teaspoons of a spice, I don't wanna buy the $8 bottle of McCormick from the store, especially if I'm only gonna use it once! Dispensable ingredients- this is why I can guarantee to be back at Down to Earth time and time again. Very helpful and friendly workers, great quality produce and other products, and a very clean store. Haven't tried their food yet because I was broke at the time, but I'm sure I'll enjoy the healthiness. Parking's not bad at all, great location, and Falafel King is right nearby! Overall, a great go-to place for the hard to find ingredients, for good clean produce, and all things healthy.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :7:30 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Garage, Street, Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes

Down To Earth

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