Casa de Luz

Casa de Luz is a zen complex with an education center. Walk through the entrance and head straight to the large building in the back, that's the restaurant. The restaurant has a large open kitchen where you can see the food being prepared! I suggest going for breakfast, because they open early at 7 am and you can get super full on healthy food and have a great start to your day. Things to know about the casa: there is no menu, everything is vegan, there's one price, and it is serve yourself (although it's technically not an all-you-can eat buffet). This is what's served for breakfast: porridge with granola, cinnamon, and raisins, soup of the day, beans, sautéed vegetables, dark greens and handmade tortillas. Don't forget a cup or two of the wonderful hot tea that comes with the meal. Once you've made your plate, you'll sit down at large wooden communal tables inside or snag a single table outside if you want a private dining experience.

Everything is vegan. you get a fixed menu (dessert is extra). Average price but really like the setting, & enjoyed the food. Don't accidentally pass up the counter where you pay like I did

I am also whole foods plant based (like the reviewer below), and Casa is one of the few places to eat out that I don't have to substitute or fret that someone used butter or whatever. Their food is always delicious. The ambiance, whether indoor or outdoor, is delightful. I've volunteered in the kitchen before and the chefs are awesome folks. I would give this place six stars if I could!

I follow a WFPB diet and this is my favorite place to eat. The people have always been kind and the food has always been healthful and tasty. On top of that the prices are incredibly low given the quality.

The only cons are that the location can be a challenge to get to and there is no choice of meal. However, I still give it 5 stars because I have loved every meal and it is worth the trouble to get to

Just in terms of finding this place, it is a bit off the street - you have to walk through school grounds to find the restaurant, which is at the back.

I wasn't hungry when we went there so I just ordered a dessert - it was a fruit jelly bowl, which was really nice and refreshing in the heat.

My partner ordered the set lunch, which comes with soup and salad, as well as plate full of a variety of things - beans, veggies etc. He was looking forward to this healthy food after eating a lot of the more junkie (though delicious!) vegan food in Austin. While it was nutritious whole foods, he didn't enjoy it much, as he found the food a bit cold and not very flavoursome. He also ordered a chocolate cheese cake for dessert, which was also quite flavourless.

Casa de Luz is set up unusually - you getg a large bowl of soup and a plate of salad (self served) with your meal. The staff brings out the entree to you. They were very attentive. The food was well done - the soup was hearty kabocha squash, the salad was good. The entree was soft tacos, with sides of rice and beans, greens and pickled beets. Desserts in a case are extra, but worth trying. I had the pecan pie and flan - both very good. It was an appetizing and filling meal. The communal seating is not that different from a usual restaurant, especially when the place is not crowded. Parking is not an issue, there is plenty of metered parking nearby. This is a great and friendly place to go.

Love this place! It's so good, everything. I even bring my non-veg husband here and he likes it.

Like most people posting I really like this place. They have a set meal every day that is always pretty healthy. The community seating may be off putting to some but I don't think it is a big deal. It is on the pricy side but you get what you paid for. It is a high quality, great tasting healthy meal.

The one place in Austin where you can go where you're guaranteed that the food is organic and you're not eating any GMO food. Absolutely delicious, beautiful restaurant, would like to eat there every day. Prices are very reasonable, and it's a very big gift for Austin.

This wonderful place changes their menu everyday, but is delightful every time.
It is highly self serve, so don't forget the soup, the salad and they will usually bring your main dish to you.
I usually skip on the desserts, but they have a lot to choose from too.

I was visiting Austin on a business trip, found Casa de Luz on this website, and decided to give it a try. I was impressed and will be back the next time I visit Austin. I might even skip the oatmeal at the hotel and visit for breakfast.

The night I visited (2/11/2013), the soup was a Miso vegetable with ginger. The ginger was just a subtle background note, and the was great. The salad was mixed greens with sunflower hemp cucumber dressing. The main course included red beans that were cooked to perfection, a pilaf with basmati rice, onions, celery, carrots, and almonds, steamed sweet potato, blanched greens with a tahini-basil sauce, and a small pile of pickled cucumber, etc. Everything was prepared perfectly.

If you're interested in healthy eating and cooking, then you cannot find a meal that's healthier than this. Outstanding!

They also sell some of the harder-to-find ingredients for macrobiotic cooking and a selection of related books.

A great discovery in Austin. Very healthy, clean, tasty food prepared for you fresh in front of your eyes. The blend of spices and flavors were unique and very appealing to the taste buds. The portions were large and you leave feeling satiated, but in a clean, not stuffed way. The soup on our night was sweet potato, which I'm not usually a fan of, but this was very good. The hummus had a mashed potato feel and taste to it, again, in a good way..VERY good! The greens were prepared perfectly. No dish was over salty or over spiced, which is so common these days--kudos to Casa de Luz for not doing that! You could actually taste the delicious food. The 2 cold herb teas were equally delicious and satisfying. I would highly recommend eating here and enjoying the outside deck during a nice warm evening. Oh, and setting is very lovely, inspired by Japanese architecture, with areas for children to play, adults to meditate, or just lie in the hammock...this place has it all!

The welcoming staff and other-worldly atmosphere are just two highlights of this fabulous restaurant. Being vegan is normally SO hard in restaurants, that to have all the choice taken away and a wonderful soup, salad and entree decided for me was great. The food is super nice and super healthy. I discovered Casa de Luz this lunchtime, and it was so good I went back for dinner. 12 dollars for all 3 courses including their tea is good value in my opinion. Treat yourself... Give it a go :)

I know there are many junk food vegans and I can be one at times but this place is amazing. I have had two amazing experiences here and would love many more. Always friendly with amazing food and a great vibe almost like y ou are at a friends house for a pot luck.

Went to Casa de Luz for brunch once. I keep hearing how fantastic it is, but it wasn't when I went. The food was just "ok". Will probably give it another shot in the future.

Relaxing environment, extremely healthy and tasty food (always!)...honestly my favorite restaurant in Austin. The food will make you buzz :)

I love this place and because it's a little far and tucked away, I feel as if it's this special place. The atmosphere and the way it works is definitely unique, including how it's communal and largely self-serve, and I love being surprised every time I come with what they have to offer that day. No matter what they have, I always love it as it's not overly seasoned, delicious, and fresh. The only thing is that it's a bit far and because of the prices, I wouldn't go regularly, but other than that, on those special outings or just for a treat, I would definitely go.

The food is fresh. The menu is decided daily as they have to find out what is available locally daily. I love that. Everyone is friendly. It has a very "Austin" feel to it. It is tucked away. I like that it feels like a secret. I think you get so much for your money. It is all local, fresh, and amazing. Nothing normal here. Unusual dishes. It is always a treat. So many new things to try. I feel you get a lot for you money. You get a soup, salad and tea - all self serve and then you get a main dish. A plate full of food. All this fresh food and you don't have anyone to tip. I wish we lived closer so we could eat here all the time.