Vegan-friendly
American
International
Delivery
Take-out
Catering
Breakfast
Casual setting, order at the counter. Offers breakfast items until noon, veggieburgers, salads, stir frys, Mexican plates, pasta, and more. Has a children's menu. Gluten free options. Originally known as McDharmas. Open Mon-Sun 11:00am-8:00pm.
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4250 Capitola Rd, Capitola, California, USA, 95010
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Last update on 06 Nov 2023 by VeganChatLady
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55 Reviews
First Review by Delmar831
krysteleal
Points +632
Uaaaaau! - Edit
I had lunch with my husband in this restaurant and we loved. The portions are very well served and the burritos and salads are delicious. Try the chocolate cake: it’s 😱😱🤤🤤
Read moreGuest
ellesmera
Points +217
Casual and healthy - Edit
This restaurant has a winning formula. Simple, healthy and varied dishes served out fast. Plenty of vegan options - anything on the menu can be made vegan except a few items market with a crossed out 'V'. We were a party of 7 do we got to sample a lot. Some dishes were a great success, like the Bo Thai and the vegan chocolate cake. However I must say the quesadilla plate and the Dharma dog were pretty sad looking. Would love to go back and try more dishes.
Read moreGuest
A-K.M.N
Points +32
Fab Szechuan Tofu dish - enormous! Best vegan/vegetarian so far in the bay area! - Edit
Canteen like service but big and airy, zen and relaxed. Loved it!
Read moreGuest
GalacticGypsy
Points +11
I Love Dharma’s - Edit
Dharma’s has a delicious and healthy menu, with great soups, salads, and all kinds of western and international menu items. I love the vegetarian lasagna and the soul & salad. Their salad dressings are amazing. I highly recommend this place.
Read morePros: Tons of delicious vegan/veg options., Nice and spacious inside., Diverse international menu.
Cons: A little pricey. Join their email list for promos
Guest
NathanielRhett
Points +363
A solid go to! - Edit
I eat here at least once a week. An order of spring rolls and a dharma dog is the best dinner. With so many vegan options to chose from it is great for people visiting and locals a like.
Read morePros: Huge menu , Great taste, Huge portions
Cons: Expensive
Guest
ericgoldman
Points +129
A Family Favorite - Edit
Dharma's is a crowdpleaser for the entire family. We will literally drive many miles out of our way to visit. When we go, we often order extra food to-go so we can enjoy another meal or two later. On our most recent visit, we got over $100 of food to enjoy there and take home. Note that many portion sizes are large, so the high nominal price of a dish might be more reasonable if it results in 2 meals.
Read moreThey have an extensive menu, and everything on it is delicious. There's no way I can pick a single favorite menu. Still, I'll mention a few:
* Every single option under the "International Entrees" is awesome. I'd happily eat any of them. If I had to pick only one, I'll single out the American Saute. It's a simple dish but so tasty, and big enough to take some home and enjoy a second meal. Also, the Indian Curry plate may not be 100% authentic, but it's a huge plate of delicious food.
* My wife always gets a Gardener's Salad to go. It's also simple but generously-sized.
* I love the kitchari, a simple but flavorful lentil/rice dish.
The restaurant is vegetarian, not vegan, but many dishes are inherently vegan and almost all other dishes can be converted into vegan with little loss of flavor.
Dharma's is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in the whole world. Thank you for so many awesome meals!
Pros: Big portions, Tasty, Big menu
Cons: Sometimes indifferent service
Guest
badgirlsvegan
Points +2040
Love this place - Edit
I have so many fond memories here back when I was going to UCSC. The burritos here can satisfy any munchy-tummy!
Read moreGuest
gakulesa
Points +30
Just okay - Edit
I’m not crazy about Dharmas. I appreciate that the menu is huge, but I find the food to always be extremely oily. Definitely the kind of food that leaves me feeling crappy after eating. Be aware that their standard dressing has honey in it.
Read morePros: Good selection of sweets, Huge menu, Friendly staff
Cons: Oily, No cheese substitutes on menu
Guest
parsavval831
Points +32
Pros & Cons - Edit
I got the Nuclear Bluff on my first visit along with Samurai soup and spring rolls. The spring rolls (and sauce) were amazing. The samurai soup was terrible. I've seen many good reviews for it but it had no flavor! It tasted like noodles with veggies in water. The nuclear bluff was also great which came with chips and salad. The chips were also lacking flavor- just regular tortilla chips with no salsa or dips. The salad had a wonderful vinaigrette dressing (I ordered my nuclear bluff vegan. It was only the second time I ordered that they told me the dressing had honey. The only non-vegan thing I eat is honey, so they got lucky or else my review would be terrible.) I appreciated that the salad wasn't drenched and soggy in the dressing, just a light drizzle. The man at the register was old and grumpy. The second time I went I ordered the same thing (besides the samurai soup). The cashier was kind and was being trained. She forgot one of my items on the order so I had to reorder. The lady that gave me my food didn't even apologize about the inconvenience. Overall, some of the food is good. An okay place, you just have to find the stuff you like. I was almost going to order a strawberry shake but it was $9!! I could make 5 homemade ones for that same price!!
Read morePros: One friendly cashier, Salads are not soggy, Large portions
Cons: Expensive, Poor customer service , Non-vegan items not marked
Guest
veganmonster
Points +272
vegans beware - Edit
Used to go to this place for years and enjoyed the food until we found out they use honey in their menu items listed as vegan and do not mention it in the description of food. Found out from the owner and he was super blase about it when I told him it should be disclosed. I do not go there anymore. =[
Read moreCons: not all vegan
Guest
shafess
Points +600
Good place for all tastes - Edit
I went here with my family when visiting my brother in Santa Cruz. I was really impressed with the size of the menu and the size of the location itself. I would go here again if I was ever in the area in the future. The food was good and the portions were substantial.
Read morePros: Large selection, Good food
Cons: A little greasy
Guest
LeeTracy
Points +24
Definitely worth a visit - Edit
Visiting family in Santa Cruz, we ended up going here two days in a row, once for lunch, then for breakfast.
Read moreThere's only one thing I don't like about this place, and that's the artwork on the wall by Bruce Harman. I think most patrons will adore this dopey stuff. This is the usual sort of New-Age art, with awesome technical ability weighted down by every imaginable New Age cliché. And the worst part is that everyone is portrayed as Caucasian. With Pele, for example, you see a darker skinned woman with facial features that are not Polynesian at all. Jesus looks very Goyish in several works. Rainbows, auras, blah blah. It's just awful stuff, but again, most of you will eat this up. If you are like me, at least you can distract yourself from the art by playing with the plastic animals sitting around the place.
Aside from the art, Dharma's is great. The food is good. Selection is great. Portions are HUGE. And that leads me to my favorite thing. Dharma's kind of plans for you to have leftovers. They have a leftover station in a corner, with several sizes of to-go containers (all recycled materials of course) and bags and even saran wrap, so you can pack up and take home anything very easily.
Pros: great menu, friendly faces, taking some to go is made super easy
Cons: The awful art (you'll probably adore it)
Guest
BouncyHouseVegan
Points +81
Vegan BLT sandwich totally hit the spot - Edit
Upon entering Dharma's in Capitola, CA. I immediately felt comfortable. The walls were covered in beautiful art, there were adorable old plastic animals and dinosaurs around all of the booths for anyone to play with while their food is being prepared, casual cafeteria style seating and pick-up.
Read moreThe meal was a "BLT", the "B" being Seitan cleverly seasoned to fool even the pickiest of omnivores. I chose to have avocado instead of mayo(they have vegan versions of that as well), the sandwich was filling and came with a side of crispy fries and a delicious crunchy dill pickle spear.
I will most definitely be returning to their restaurant.
Updated from previous review on Saturday February 27, 2016
Pros: Vegetarian and Vegan options galore, Gluten Free Options as well., Delicious food in large portions.
Cons: Can occasionally have sticky tables.
Guest
steveveg
Points +2186
Lively - Edit
Dharma is a busy, lively and thriving place. Service is fairly quick. The food Menu had a large selection,especially of Mexican cuisine. I had the Mexican Saute, and was pleased with it.
Read moreGuest
Conniemm
Points +1627
Good vegetarian/vegan food - Edit
Dharma's offers vegetarian and vegan food. I've often thought that it's pretty pricey for a meal but the portions are generous and I always come home with leftovers.
Read moreThey often offer Groupons and if you sign up for their emails they send weekly $6 coupons to be used on orders over $25.
We ate their last night. I had the Bo Thai with brown rice noodles. It has a mildy spicy peanut sauce over noodles and loads of veggies (cauliflower, broccoli, red cabbage and carrots). It was tasty.
My son had the Portobello-Artichoke sandwich which included a side salad. They were happy to substitute vegan cheese for the dairy cheese.
We brought two omni friends who enjoyed their meals of the Brahma Burger and Greek Pasta.
They have toy dinosaurs around the place for kids to play with which is fun.
The atmosphere isn't much to speak of but the food is tasty.
Pros: Huge menu, Large portions
Cons: Kind of pricey, Atmosphere so-so
Guest
Dai4Hay
Points +86
Yummm! Something for everyone :) - Edit
I've come here with friends that are stuck in their unhealthy eating ways, and loved the food here. I've had friends tell me many times that they have returned once I took them. Menu is a little overwhelming (lots of choices) limited if you are a Gluten Free Vegan unfortunately. Portions have gotten smaller and smaller over time but yet are still very filling (just no left overs to take home any more). Even the house salad can fill a grown man so its worth the pretty penny. Staff can be awkward, their attitudes are rotten some days and unpleasant to deal with. You gotta over look it and just get excited for the food to come, haha. It can be really relaxing or REALLY LOUD. So sit outside (if there is room) if it gets to loud for you.
Read moreEnjoy :)
Update June, 8, 2015.
Hadn't been in awhile but the quality of the food has gone down even more. Spent $13+ for one dish that was literally ONLY rice, steamed veggies and a side of salsa. The menu said the veggies would be sautéed in salsa put on a bed of rice.. very misleading! Bummer that the quality of food is going down :(
Pros: a lot of dishes to choose from, fills up the tummy, vegan gluten free options
Cons: quality of food, staff, cleanliness in dining area
Guest
mimibutters
Points +24
Great, friendly, casual eatery. - Edit
Dharma's is a great place to take people who aren't technically a fan of vegetarian/vegan options. Its menu includes comfort food, familiar classics that have been made vegetarian, and also has gluten free options as well. It is a good place to go with a group as well as you can pay separately at the counter, or all together. One of the only places in Santa Cruz where you can always get kitchari soup, an Ayuvedic cleansing digestive-friendly soup, as well as the best salad and lemon-tahini dressing in town. The tempeh reuben is a delight, as well as their tofu scrambles. The pancakes (vegan version uses corn) are as big as your head, or a dinner plate. Be sure to bus your own tables!! Also has a delightful vegan shortbread tart with raspberry jam. Hard to find vegan shortbread!
Read morePros: huge options, casual vibe, great food
Cons: not too many raw options
Guest
robivore
Points +329
I eat here way too much - Edit
Love everything I've tried on the menu. Favorites being Bo Thai, vegan pesto pizza, the BBQ bluff, and Sichuan tofu . The specials are often awesome as well - "the beast" was my favorite (I wish it was a regular thing on the menu)
Read morePros: good food, nice staff, lots of vegan stuff
Cons: some things can't be made vegan
Guest
CKay
Points +142
Good stuff.. - Edit
Just went here for the first time, and thought it was great. Yellow curry tofu scramble was delicious. Prices are decent, the breakfast portions are large, the and staff was friendly. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the area..
Read morePros: Tasty, Large Portions, Good Value
Guest
norcal girl
Points +32
in my top 3! :) - Edit
This cute little place is at the top of my list of favorite places in ca to get delicious vegan food. prices are moderate, setting is laid back/hippyish which i like, and the food is sooo good, and generous size portions. I'd list my favorites but then id be here all day. love this place!
Read moreGuest
halrhp
Points +48
One long time staple for local vegetarians - Edit
Formerly McDharmas, but McDonalds sued and when you are a big fat bully, you usually get your way. When you eat a lot of Big Macs, you will more likely be a big fat bully than the gentle folks who eat at Dharmas where there is a highly diverse menu, always good.
Read morePros: variety, quality
Cons: stand, order and wait, crowded at times
Guest
vegboy2009
Points +86
Been a fave for years... - Edit
When I used to live in Santa Cruz, I went here all the time and loved it, but although still pretty good, the quality and attention has slipped a bit. I really miss the air fries, and regular sunflower sprouts.
Read morePros: Quality food, Good selection, Happy, peaceful ambience
Cons: Air fries gone ;'(, Sunflower sprouts not always there
Guest
AmandaUCSC
Points +64
To the point - Edit
Ok, I've lived around the world and I spent 3 years in Santa Cruz. Dharma's is, hands-down, the only mostly vegan (entirely vegetarian) restaurant I've *ever* visited that has many dishes it does quite well (not all are terrific: I would recommend the "Asian-style" dishes for vegan Pad Thai and I LOVE the dan dan noodles, but I was only so-so on the vegan pizza). The Mexican entrees and Italian ones aren't bad either, but I was most impressed with the Asian-style and the salads. The salads are not just fresh and very green, but have a variety of ingredients in them so you won't get bored. :)
Read moreBut here's the best thing this restaurant has: dairy-free 'milk'shakes with about 8-12 different flavors!!! It may cost a lot (I think $5+) for the shake, but you get a pint glass of dairy-free heaven, I am not kidding you I have travelled to Dharma's just for the mint chocolate chip shake, and I've even just ordered a single slice of pizza or small salad in order to save room for it.
The other big item on the dessert menu are any of the cakes they have that day made my Black China bakery - vegan double chocolate, vegan German chocolate ETC. You won't be disappointed. I tasted BC here and then called the company to order my wedding cake.
The major problem with Dharma's is that it's too expensive (please charge me half the cost and give me half the food!) and it's out of the way for those without cars. I lived in downtown Santa Cruz with a bike and no car, and public transport is kind of backwards (often inconvenient and behind schedule), so I wished it had been closer. It makes for a nice afternoon bike ride, but it's definitely not the kind of place you want to be traveling to in the dark on a foggy or cold night in SC (which is often).
Still, I have to say, I have yet to find its match anywhere else I've been or lived (several places in Europe and East Asia).
Note to gluten-free people: they have vegan, gluten-free pizza on the menu.
Pros: lots of variety, fresh ingredients, can share big portions, the dairy-free shakes
Cons: the prices, location
Guest
goodeaten
Points +34
The best resturant ever in the world - Edit
I tell my friend im visiting him in Santa Cruz but really im going there to eat here. All of the breakfast and lunch items are amazing.
Read morePros: good tasting healthy food
Cons: expensive but well worth it
Guest
Sangita
Points +17
Something for everyone - Edit
Dharmas used to be called McDharma's but McDonalds sued them and they changed the name. This restaraunt always has something for every taste from mexican to asian to italian inspired dishes. The food is very good and the portions are gigantic. The atmosphere is really relaxed but it is important to know that they don't allow use of cell phones inside the restaraunt.
Read moreThe only downside are the prices which can be really high.
Pros: variety of vegan and vegetarian dishes
Cons: Pricey
Guest
Benfell
Points +110
Capitola classic - Edit
Yeah, Dharma's.
Read moreEverybody (from around here) knows about Dharma's. It's been here since 1981. It's an institution.
So it is not surprising that on a Monday night, I found a line for dinner when I went in. Neither should it be surprising that parents are bringing in their toddlers, who of course, were running amok.
Yet, cell phones are forbidden. You can't miss the signs; they're all over the place.
As one who brings neither form of annoyance, I was bemused by the preference. I also noticed the menu seemed to favor lunch and breakfast items over dinner items.
So I came back on a Tuesday afternoon and had a Brahma burger. At this writing, there's a salmonella scare on tomatoes; the burger came with only lettuce and a bun, accompanied by what appeared to be boiled potato wedges. There was still a line, but it wasn't as long, and this time, the toddlers were no where in sight. This was a much more pleasant experience, but the burger seemed dry--I really missed the tomatoes.
Guest
groovyvegan
Points +299
Consistently Delicious :-) - Edit
Dharma's has a large selection of food choices, about 95% of which are already vegan or an be made vegan upon request. Their food is not gourmet, but consistently delicious home/deli-style cooking. I've eaten here more times than I can count, and never had anything that was less than 3 stars on a 5 star scale. Most items are 4 or 5 stars. A worker there told me 95% of ingredients are organic.
Read moreMenu categories are Burgers & Dogs, Sandwiches, Mexican Naturals, Salads, Soups, Side Orders, Pasta, International Saute's, Breakfast, Beverages (over 30 choices), Desserts, and New Items. In addition, there are always specials on the board. I especially like their blueberry pancakes, pestoroni (pesto-vegan pepperoni) pizza (a special), bo thai saute, aloha burger, and any salad with tahini lemon dressing. Salad ingredients are always quite fresh. I'd give their soy mint chocolate shake 3 stars, and their Mexican corn bread about 3 1/2.
You wait in line, order at the counter, and pick up your meal when your name is called. At prime meal times, the line can be long. There are lots more seats than a typical vegetarian restaurant, and some outdoor seating where people often eat with their dogs along. Non-sandwich meals often cost in the $10 to $12, but portion sizes are HUGE. I can easily split meals here with my 6'5", 250 lb partner, and we both get plenty to eat. Order takers have never messed up my order.
I really don't have any complaints about this Dharmas. My suggestions are: add some raw foods items, expand the dessert menu to include some vegan chocolate mousse and fruit pies other than just apple, make the nacho's vegan, and expand the fresh juice options.
Pros: Lots of delicious vegan choices, 95% organic, Lots of parking
Cons: Nacho's can't be made vegan, Sometimes a long line, wait
Guest
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