Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Symbol Key:

•• Vegan or vegetarian restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Hawaii

Aiea

•• Down To Earth

98-129 Kaonohi St., Aiea, HI 96701

(808) 488-1375

Vegetarian/natural foods/organic. This deli offers a wide variety of made-to-order treats, including a Mock Chicken Salad Wrap, a Vegetarian Reuben, and a Fresh Mex Burrito. In addition, the deli also has a salad and hot food bar featuring organic ingredients whenever possible. Open daily for three meals. Deli-style, vegan options, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, soymilk, VISA/MC, $$.

Haleiwa

•• Paradise Found Café

Celestial Natural Foods, 66-443 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa, HI 96712

(808) 637-4540

Vegetarian. Minutes from the beaches on the North Shore of Oahu, Paradise Found offers organic and locally grown produce whenever possible. The menu is mostly vegan and includes soy mayo and soy cheese. Try their soups, the BBQ tempeh calzone, tofu walnut sandwich, or the ginger teriyaki tempeh burger. Open daily for lunch and early dinner. Full service, vegan/macrobiotic options, fresh juices, smoothies, soymilk, special drinks, take-out, $-$$.

Hanalei

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Kilauea.)

Post Cards Café

5-5075 Kuhio Hwy. # A, Hanalei, HI 96714

(808) 826-1191

Natural foods. Enjoy a wide variety of vegetarian dishes in a charming "old Hawaii" setting. Featured dishes include Marinated Grilled Italian Veggies, Thai Spring Rolls, Polenta Triangles, Nori Rolls, Taro Burgers (made from grated taro, tempeh, and whole grains), enchiladas, quesadillas, soups, salads, and much more. Open daily for dinner only. Full service, vegan options, fresh juices, espresso, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$-$$$.

Hilo

Abundant Life Natural Foods & Café

292 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-7411

Natural foods. This establishment offers a full deli with a hot table that is 97 percent vegetarian, except for one dish that contains fish and tuna sanwiches. Most of the ingredients are organic, and they offer lots of vegan options, raw dishes, and desserts. Open Monday through Saturday for three meals. Open Sunday for brunch through early dinner. Counter service, vegan options, fresh juices, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX, $-$$.

•• Down To Earth

303 Maka'ala St., Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-5515

Vegetarian/natural foods store deli. See description under Aiea, HI. This location is on the Big Island in the Waiakea Mall across from Wal-Mart.

Island Naturals Market & Deli

303 Makaala St., Hilo, HI 96720

(808) 935-5533

Natural foods deli. The Island Naturals Market & Deli offers local Hawaiian-style and international dishes. They have sandwiches and hot and cold buffet-style foods. Specials change daily. Open daily for three meals. Limited service, vegan/macrobiotic options, fresh juices, smoothies, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $.

Honolulu

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Aiea.)

Chiang Mai Thai Restaurant

2239 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96826

(808) 941-1151

Thai. Here you will find exotic northern Thai cuisine with a full vegetarian menu, and we mean full! The front of the menu says, "Vegetarians Welcome," and their excellent meatless selection reflects this. You'll find an impressive array of appetizers, salads, soups, noodle and rice dishes, and other tofu and vegetable entrées. Make sure to request no fish sauce. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, wine/beer, VISA/MC/AMEX, $.

•• Down To Earth

2525 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96826

(808) 947-7678

Vegetarian/natural foods/organic. See description under Aiea, HI.

•• Govinda's Vegetarian Cuisine

51 Coelho Way, Honolulu, HI 96817

(808) 595-3947

1118 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 271-4780

Vegetarian. This highly affordable buffet, located on a lovely three-acre estate in the hills of Nuuano, was formerly called Gauranga's Vegetarian Dining Club. Govinda's features a full salad bar, homemade whole-grain bread, fresh baked cookies, Mung Dahl soup, brown and jasmine rice, and more. A different ethnic theme is featured for each night of service. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Buffet, vegan options, fresh juices, take-out, VISA/MC, $.

HALE Macrobiotic Restaurant

1427 Makaloa St., Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 944-1555

Macrobiotic. HALE Macrobiotic Restaurant follows strict macrobiotic principles, which means that fish is served, but much of the menu is vegetarian. Nothing on the menu contains dairy or refined sugar. HALE's food is grown locally and organically whenever possible, and the menu changes to reflect what is in season. The restaurant is closed between lunch and dinner so please call ahead for hours. Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, beer/wine/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$-$$$.

I Love Country Café

451 Piikoi St., Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 596-8108

4211 Waialae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816

(808) 735-6965

Hawaiian. This café features a number of vegetarian and vegan entrées, water-cooked chow mein, stir-fries, tofu burgers, Thai vegetable curry, and chili. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Limited service, vegan options, smoothies, non-smoking, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $$.

India Bazaar Madras

2320 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96826

(808) 949-4840

Indian. Indian Bazaar features a menu of South Madras-style Indian cuisine that is nearly all vegetarian. The food is good yet inexpensive. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Cafeteria, BYOB, take-out, $.

Keo's In Waikiki

2028 Kuhio Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 951-9355

Thai. Gourmet Thai cuisine is served in a casually elegant, tropical garden setting. Vegetarian appetizers, salads, entrées, and curry dishes are available on the menu. Also, any item can be made vegetarian because all food is cooked to order. Open nightly for dinner. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch. Full service, vegan options, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

•• Legend Vegetarian Restaurant

100 N. Beretania St., Ste. 109, Honolulu, HI 96817

(808) 532-8218

Vegetarian/Chinese. Legend Vegetarian Restaurant serves Chinese Buddhist food that is completely vegetarian and mostly vegan. They have an extensive menu including their specialty, Dim Sum. Formerly called the Buddhist Vegetarian Restaurant, Legend is located in the Chinese Cultural Plaza. The restaurant is closed between lunch and dinner, so please call ahead for hours. Open Thursday through Tuesday for lunch and dinner. Closed Wednesday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, VISA/MC, $$.

Mekong Restaurant

1295 S. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 591-8841

Thai. The oldest Thai restaurant in Hawaii, Mekong includes vegetarian dishes on the menu. Open daily for dinner. Open Monday through Friday for lunch. Full service, non-smoking, BYOB, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $-$$.

Payao Thai Cuisine

500 Ala Moana Blvd. # 1 E, Honolulu, HI 96813

(808) 521-3511

Thai. Located on restaurant row, Payao Thai has two pages on the menu of sumptuous vegetarian dishes to choose from, including Crispy Thai Vegetarian Noodle, Sa-The Tofu, and Royal Tofu Soup. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open Sunday for dinner only. Full service, non-alcoholic and alcoholic wine/beer, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

Pineland Chinese Restaurant

1236 Keeaumoku St., Honolulu, HI 96814

(808) 955-2918

Chinese. Pineland features a special vegetarian menu with dishes such as Hot and Sour Noodles in Soup, Fried Bean Curd with Szechuan Orange Flavor, and Eggplant with Spicy Hunan Garlic Sauce. Open Monday through Saturday for dinner. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, BYOB, take-out, $.

Ruffage Natural Foods

2443 Kuhio Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815

(808) 922-2042

Natural foods. Ruffage offers a full sushi menu as well as other natural foods treats. Try the Vege Chili or an Avocado Burger. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, fresh juices, smoothies, soymilk, take-out, VISA/MC, $-$$.

•• Soy to the World

Manoa Marketplace, 2764 Woodlawn Dr., Honolulu, HI 96822

(808) 988-8555

Vegan café. Soy to the World really lives up to its name. They have 100% organic soymilk in creamy, extra creamy, and young barley flavors. They serve soy smoothies and soy puddings, too. Their lunch menu includes a vegan soy wrap, soy pasta salad, and a tofu burger sandwich. Soy to the World is mostly a take-out restaurant but they do have a few tables outside if you want to dine there. Open Tuesday through Saturday for breakfast and lunch. Closed Sunday and Monday. Limited service, take-out, fresh juices, smoothies, soymilk, VISA/MC, $.

Yen King Chinese Restaurant

Kahala Mall, 4211 Wailae Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816

(808) 732-5505

Chinese. Szechuan, Mandarin, and Shanghai cuisines are featured at Yen King. The back page of the Yen King menu lists 30 vegetarian dishes, including soups, assorted vegetable and noodle entrées, mock meats, and gluten dishes. MSG is not used in food preparation, but you may have to request that they not use chicken stock. Open daily. Full service, vegan options, wine/beer/alcohol, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$.

Kahului

•• Down To Earth

305 Dairy Rd., Kahului, HI 96732

(808) 877-2661

Vegetarian/natural foods/organic. See description under Aiea, HI. This location is centrally located on the island of Maui and offers a beautiful view of Haleakala Crater.

Kailua

•• Down To Earth

201 Hamakua Dr., Kailua, HI 96734

(808) 262-3838

Vegetarian/natural foods/organic. See description under Aiea, HI.

Willow Tree Restaurant

25 Kaneohe Bay Dr., Kailua, HI 96734

(808) 254-1139

Korean. Willow Tree Restaurant serves a wide variety of Korean dishes and is willing to accommodate vegetarians by substituting tofu for meat in some of their dishes. Request no chicken or fish sauce, though. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, take-out, VISA/MC, $$.

Kihei

Hawaiian Moons Natural Foods

2411 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, HI 96753

(808) 875-4356

Natural foods. Located across from Kama'ole Beach, this deli has a salad bar and hot food bar. Open Monday through Saturday for three meals. Closed Sunday. Cafeteria, soymilk, take-out, catering, VISA/MC/AMEX/DC, $$.

Joy's Place

1993 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, HI 96753

(808) 879-9258

Natural foods. Located in the Island Surf Building next to the Pacific Ocean. Dishes are prepared with organic and locally grown ingredients. Menu items include vegan vegetable soup, avocado salad roll, black bean salad wrap, and pesto wrap. Open Monday for breakfast and lunch. Open Tuesday through Saturday for three meals. Closed Sunday. Limited service, VISA/MC, $.

Kilauea

Mango Mama's

4460 Hookui Rd., Kilauea, HI 96754

(808) 828-1020

Juice bar. Mango Mama's claim to have "the best smoothies on the Hawaiian Islands," as well as fresh carrot and pineapple juices. For breakfast they offer bagels with non-dairy "butter," and for lunch try the Teriyaki Tofu sandwich or the Veggie Burger with avocado. Open daily for breakfast and lunch. Take-out, vegan options, $.

Maui

(For restaurant listings in the surrounding areas, see Kahului and Kihei.)

Cheeseburger In Paradise

811 Front St., Lahaina, Maui, HI 96761

(808) 661-4855

American. From the sound of its name, you would never expect Cheeseburger in Paradise to offer vegetarian food. However, it does list a tofu burger, a gardenburger, a Lahaina grilled cheese, and the Sort of Tuna Melt in its vegetarian section. This restaurant is located on the beach and offers live music during the evening. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, smoothies, wine/beer/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$.

Royal Thai Cuisine

1280 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, Maui, HI 96753

(808) 874-0813

Thai. Although not a vegetarian restaurant, Royal Thai Cuisine offers more than 25 vegetarian entrées. A great selection for reasonable prices. Open Monday through Friday for lunch and dinner. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Full service, take-out, VISA/MC/AMEX, $-$$.

Paia

•• Fresh Mint

115 Baldwin Ave., Paia, HI 96779

(808) 579-9144

Vegetarian/Vietnamese. Fresh Mint offers a cool, comfortable place to sit and take in good vegetarian food. The menu includes the signature "Fresh Mint" salad with soy shrimp or soy crab and veggies tossed with pineapple sauce, bamboo soup with tofu and veggie ham, golden mock chicken curry, veggie beef with lemon grass, and the Vietnamese Burrito with Grilled (mock) Fish. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, VISA/MC, $-$$.