The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - San Diego, CA
San Diego boasts fine vegetarian cuisine by Chris Faust
The lowly vegetable, scorned in our youth in favor of meats or sweets, has risen to the top in terms of a flavorful and healthy way to eat. Meat, once the main part of a meal is increasingly being looked upon as a condiment. It seems all the more so in warmer climates like San Diego where "stick to your ribs" food just seems to weigh you down. Chefs in their on going search for new ideas and flavors have embraced this often overlooked part of fine cuisine. In California no one can tell you what ranch produced their meats but many of the finest restaurants boast the origin of their vegetables as having been grown at Chino Farms, the finest quality organic vegetable farm in the state. Vegetarian only restaurants are few and far between, but with the increasing demand for fine vegetarian cuisine many restaurants feature a large selection of vegetarian dishes. Many fine ethnic restaurants, such as Indian, Afghani and Asian among others have a strong vegetarian tradition. Some of the best vegetarian restaurants in San Diego are listed below.
SOUPLANTATION 6171 Mission Gorge Road San Diego, CA 92120 ph. (619) 280-7087 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110 ph. (619)222-7404 8105 Mira Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92126 ph. (858) 566-1172 17210 Bernardo Center Drive San Diego, CA 92128 ph. (858) 675-1600 7095 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. San Diego, CA 92111 ph. (858) 715-6824 Hours, (Sun.-Thur.) 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., (Fri.-Sat) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Originally started in San Diego at the Mission Gorge location listed above, this is the mother of all soup and salad bars. Souplantation loped along for a while until they took over the next space in their center and began baking fresh rolls and muffins daily. The smell of the freshly baked muffins and the great price for this all you can eat salad bar and a trend was born. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, if so the Souplantation has been very flattered. With many clones of this once novel restaurant concept the Souplantation stands out as not only the original but also the best. With two 55-foot salad bars at each location this friendly and informal dining room is a pleasure for the whole family. There are every conceivable vegetable, legumes, pasta salads, condiments and much more. The Souplantation has a soup bar with five soups, chowder and chili. Then there is the bakery, with as many as five freshly baked choices of muffins, Focaccia bread, pizza and other breads. A dessert bar centered on frozen yogurt with many toppings and a selection of fresh fruits and puddings. All this for one low price and all vegetarian. There are a few non-vegetarian selections such as pepperoni pizza. The Souplantation is a healthy, friendly and inexpensive place for the whole family.
Dinner $9.00 per person
Holiday schedule, open all holidays except Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day
KYBER PASS 523 University Avenue (Hillcrest) San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 294-7579 Open from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Kyber Pass is an intimate little gem with a 20-year history in the San Diego area. Afghani cuisine has a strong vegetarian component and indeed anything on this menu can be made "vegetarian". The menu has many vegetarian selections, which are not just meat dishes without the meat. The Vegetarian Combo at $13.95 is a delicious meal, which allows you to experience many of the fine individual dishes on the menu. Sort of an Afghani dim sum on one plate. With four differently spiced rice's including Chili Rice, Spinach and Cilantro Rice, Basmanti Rice and a Cardoman-Cummin Rice, which has the true spiced flavor you might taste in Afghanistan. The Vegetarian Combo also has Potato and Green Peas baked and sautéed in Corn Oil and Banana Squash and Eggplant sautéed in Olive Oil and baked to a crispy finish. Enjoy sophisticated service and a nice glass of wine with this and other vegetarian selections at Kyber Pass.
Dinner is $25.00 - $30.00 per person
Holiday Schedule, Open 365 days a year
DAILY'S RESTAURANT 8915 Towne Center Drive San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 453-1112 Hours: (Mon.-Sat.) 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., (Sun.) 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dr. Pat O. Daily, a cardiologist, created Daily's to fill the need for delicious, healthy food. Daily's menu is designed to help prevent disease, assist in weight loss yet satisfies with interesting and flavorful meals. All the meals at Daily's restaurant have 10 or less grams of fat and derive 20% or less of their calories from fat. Naturally a restaurant with this mission has many creative and delicious vegetarian options on their menu. The vegetable lasagna is a house favorite and comes with a garden salad with your choice of dressing for $6.49. The Lentil and rice soup is more like a vegetarian stew for $5.95. Daily's a healthy and sophisticated way to enjoy some fine vegetarian cuisine.
Dinner $18.00 to $24.00 per person
Holiday Schedule, Closed July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Years Day
CAFÉ INDIA 3760 Sports Arena Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110 (858) 224-7500 Hours: (Mon.-Sat.) 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., (Sun.) 12:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. One of the oldest recognized vegetarian cuisine's in the world is Indian cuisine. This oasis of fine food, Café India, is located in an otherwise desert of fast food chains. Café India is a family run business therefor is operated with pride and attention to detail. Once you enter you will feel the family like atmosphere and from there the aromas will whisk you away to a previously unexplored part of your being. Vegetarians will delight in Café India's "all you can eat" vegetarian buffet served at lunch. Highlights are the vegetable curries which come in every color and temperature and the Lentil soup. India has many delicious regional specialty breads and flat breads. Café India has a remarkable selection of these fine regional breads including, Malt Roti, Tandoori Roti, Garlic Naan, well there are eleven in all, and so variety won't be a problem. The specialty bread at Café India is "Kulcha" flatbread and you had better not leave without trying it. There are seventeen "Shabahari Bhojan" (vegetarian entrees with Basmanti rice). Among them is "Bengan Bharta" Tandoori clay oven baked eggplant sautéed with onions, garlic, tomatoes and peas for $7.50. There are many non-vegetarian items as well so bring the whole family and the lone meat eater won't feel left out :o).
Dinner, $15.00 per person
Holiday schedule, closed July 4th, Memorial Day and Christmas day
GOLACKA Fine Art Gallery Restaurant and Jazz Scene 5662 La Jolla Blvd. La Jolla, CA 92037 (858) 551-8610 Hours: (Tues.- Sat) from 5:00 p.m. Specializing in vegetarian fine dining, Golaka creates traditional Indian, Indo-fusion and vegan recipes including desserts. Golacka is more than just a vegetarian restaurant; it is a house of art. Golaka combines the second-generation culinary arts of the Srivastava family with the sights, sounds and rhythms of Jazz, the visual arts and the spoken word. Great food, fine wines and spirits combine with Jazz, poetry and a weekly lecture such as "You're Never Too Old To Become Young" hosted by Dr.'s David Carmos and Shawn Miller. Hip, friendly and provocative to the senses Golaka Gallery is "dedicated to a deeper understanding of healthy living". Using at least 60% organic ingredients Golaka's cuisine includes Indian Ayurvedic healing herbs and spices in every recipe. Starting with a fine made fresh soup or salad then on to appetizers, which include Samosas, potato turnovers spiced with cumin, ginger and fennel and served with housemade chutney for only $4.95. Entrees such as Chana Marsala, Aloo Vindaloo or Vegetable Byriani, seasonal fresh vegetables and Tofu sautéed to perfection with onions and bell peppers, then cooked with Basmanti rice and topped with nuts and raisins, $13.95. Golacka is a respite from the harried everyday world of long hours, fast food and superficial thinking. Treat all your senses to the tastes, aromas, sights and sounds at Golaka.
Dinner $20.00 per person
Holiday schedule, closed Memorial Day, July 4th and Christmas Day
HILL STREET COFFEE HOUSE 524 Coast Hwy Oceanside, CA 92054 (760) 966-0985 Hours: (Mon-Wed., Fri.-Sun.) 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., (Thur.) until 9:30 With a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu stuffed with choices The Hill Street Coffee House is located in the registered historic landmark, the Weitzel House. The Wietzel House is a beautifully restored Victorian home built in 1888. The Hill Street Café has another registration as well, that of a Certified Green Restaurant. They use no harmful chemicals, recycle all glass, plastic and paper, compost all coffee grounds and food waste and are a styrofoam free environment. All the coffee served here is organically grown and all produce is organic when available. Hill Street is a place where you can enjoy a great vegetarian meal and leave knowing you have contributed to a clean environment. Vegetarian entrees include Greco Roman Pasta, Penne pasta with fresh tomato, garlic, onion, olive, basil and roasted eggplant with red bell pepper, Feta cheese and avocado, $10.50. The menu says forgo the Feta for Veganicity. The Hill Street Coffee House espresso bar has over 35 choices of espresso drinks and other beverages. Enjoy an environmentally conscience dining experience at The Hill Street Coffee House.
Dinner, is around $20.00 to $25.00 per person
Holiday schedule, "We play it by ear every year"
JYOTI BIHANGA 3351 Adams Avenue San Diego, CA 92116 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 pm., except Wed. until 3 p.m. (Sat) 12:00 a.m. to 9 p.m., (Sun) brunch 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The original vegetarian restaurant in San Diego, Jyoti Bihanga, an extension of Sri Chinmoy's meditation center, began as a respite for the weary. Originally the food was free as long as you were willing to listen to a pep talk about Sri Chinmoy's style of meditation. Born out of an altruistic vision of feeding the hungry and attending to their spiritual needs this grandfather of vegetarian restaurants has re-created itself into a for profit enterprise (all the profits going to the center) and dropped the lecture. While the presentation has changed the value system has not. There is no compromise regarding meats, there are no meats served here. There is something else different here; the entire staff is made up of volunteers. This makes a delightful difference in that the waiters are not trying to upsell you to increase their tip, but are looking out for your needs hoping you may return and continue to contribute to the center. Ahh, now that is refreshing. Jyoti Bihanga has a full menu of appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, wraps, entrees and beverages. Many of the selections are Vegan and organic produce is used when available. Next time you are searching for a deliciously prepared vegetarian meal try Jyoti Bihanga, it is a spiritually uplifting experience, culinarilly speaking that is.
Dinner, $18.00 to $22.00 per person
Holiday schedule, Closed all major holidays and certain spiritual holidays, please call for exact schedule.
The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - San Diego, CA