Top Vegetarian Restaurant in Santa Clara
Udupi Cafe Indian Restaurant & Catering Service
2690 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051, United States
I really wanted to like this place, tried 2x before pandemic and the experience was really good one time and so so the 2nd. Decided to give it another try as it's been a few years.I went on Wednesday evening and they were offering live dosa in addition to regular menu service. Decided to try it as they offered 6 or so varieties and it was unlimited for $17.99.The first couple of dosa came out very dark and crispy so had slight bitter aftertaste. So the next rounds instructed cooked to make it less brown and it was slightly better. I tried mysore masala, andhra masala, onion, gongura paneer, cheese dosas. You are probably thinking I am a pig and how was I able to eat this many dosas. They were mini dosas luckily otherwise no way I can try all of these varieties.I didn't find most of the combinations that impressive in terms of flavors unfortunately it could be due to the fact stuffing of dosa wasn't very generous thus insufficient amount to bring out the flavor. Even the potato masala wasn't that great as compared to other South Indian restaurants.They gave pani puri for those who got live dosa. I didn't find it very good and would be disappointed if I had paid for it separately. Puri was too crisp and lacked taste. Stuffing didn't seem to be traditional potato Chana but tomato onion mixture. There may have been potato but was such a scanty amount I missed it. Pani was meh, not terrible but not great either.The coconut chutney and sambar were delicious and the saving grace of the meal. You get serve yourself from the station set up next to live dosa. Sambar is vessel that stays warm which is awesome.Overall not sure I will do live dosa again as I felt I overate to feel I get my $ worth lol. For 2 ppl this meal + mango lassi came out to $50 after tax and tip. This is tad pricy when food wasn't satisfying taste wise. Those of you with less discerning taste and big appetite definitely come here.I love the concept of live dosa. And will come back to try their breakfast buffet sometime in near future.
Tofoo Com Chay Vegetarian Cuisine
388 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95113, United States
This is a tiny hole in the wall place. It was a cold and windy day so I was craving for something hot (noodle soup) and spicy is even better. Decided to try this place out since it was a late lunch (around 2pm).This is in downtown San Jose so no parking. Paid street parking only so take that into consideration your time of arrival. The shop has about 2-3 tiny tables (seat 1 each side but youre pushing it for 2) as its extremely cramp.Originally, I wanted to order just the spring rolls and spicy Hue noodle soup. I ended up ordering probably a weeks worth of take-out. In addition to the 2 items above, instead of the steam rice + entrée combo from the hot bar, I bought the entrée individually. Small round container is $6.00, large is $8.50 (I think)?.I got the braised lemongrass tofu, braised pickled Chinese mustard & tofu (this can be very spicy level) for the average person and lastly fried wonton (but they look and tasted more like goyza.This is a no frill, no thrill, tasty yet homey take-out vegetarian Vietnamese cuisine restaurant. Another vegetarian/vegan option for plant based dinners.
Vegetarian House - Vegan
520 E Santa Clara St, San Jose, CA 95112, United States
I recently tried Vegetarian House in San Jose, California and it was an absolute delight! As a vegan, I was excited to find a fully plant-based restaurant in the area and Vegetarian House definitely exceeded my expectations.We ordered the dumplings and spring rolls, and they were both amazing - perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. The quality of the ingredients really shone through in every bite.But what made the experience even more special was the owners warm and friendly demeanor. Despite being a takeout order, the owner took the time to chat with us and make sure we were happy with our meal. It was a small gesture, but it made a big difference in our overall experience. And when we said goodbye, he even bowed respectfully - it was a very authentic touch that made us feel valued as customers.Overall, I highly recommend Vegetarian House for anyone looking for delicious, authentic vegan food in San Jose. The food is top-notch, the owner is incredibly kind and welcoming, and the whole experience was just wonderful. I cant wait to go back and try more of their menu!
Loving Hut
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
Simply great vegan food. Had the glass noodles, which were a really great staple surprisingly not too heavy on the stomach. The Mongolian beef was savory and rich and aromstic. I had this other tofu entree Ill update this review with the name. That was perfect as well.I washed it down with the kale citrus drink, which was really refreshing and light and made the kale shine (and I tend to dislike kale too). It was definitely a highlight to the meal.Also has a crispy roll which was pretty disappointing and unmemorable but a nice change of pace. The food was overall a teeny little bit oily but I didnt at all mind.Kinda pricey ($20+) for food court mall eats, but despite the $$ price the flavors were terrific. Not a lot of people were getting vegan food so it was really cool also avoiding a line on a Sunday afternoon.Definitely returning. Food feels karmically wholesome too.
Fox Tale Fermentation Project
30 E Santa Clara St #120, San Jose, CA 95113, United States
I recently discovered this unique brewery + fermentation restaurant serving some of the most creative Kombuchas, mocktails and flavorful plant-based bites.Parking: You can find street parking per east in the weekend.Space /Ambiance: They have indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor wall art of the giant fox illustration and vibrant colors give the place a very eclectic and refreshing vibe.Food/drinks: It's mostly plant-based except a couple of items. They have a seasonally rotating menu. We got the Half spread which comes with 1 fermented item and it was delish! We also got the popular Cultured Cashew Queso with Salsa Macha and chips, definitely a must try. The queso was perfectly cheesy, cant even tell its plant-based, and the Salsa Matcha was so unique combination. The mocktails look insanely good and taste amazing- Butterfly Pea Mocktail was great!Service: They have very kind staff, incredibly helpful in recommending some items. The service was also pretty quick.Community oriented: Their concept of being a place for the community is amazing, they host Open mic and other events too. Highly recommend it and I cant wait to go back.Plan a trip to visit Fox Tale and try their amazing drinks and bites, youll love it.
Deedees
341 Lafayette St Wellness Center, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
I had heard from various friends, over the course of last two years, about a good vegetarian Indian restaurant in Santa Clara called Deedees. Now the name sounded odd to me and call me stupid, but I put off visiting the place purely based on that. I am used to seeing Indian sounding names for Indian restaurants- a Shalimar or a Madras Cafe or a Bangalore Cafe or a Andhra Bhavan or Aachi Aappa Kadai. So the name Deedees rang no bell and didnt really work for me.Fast forward to last week when a good friend suggested that we meet at that place for a weekday lunch. I figured if nothing else, I could claim that I had been to Deedees and write a review about it. On a surprisingly warm Bay Area afternoon, three of us met for lunch at Deedees. The place is slightly bigger than a hole in the wall, not too far from Santa Clara University. It is hard to find and pretty small. We arrived a tad earlier than peak noon hour and were able to find a good place to sit. I took a peek at the buffet and it seemed, well, different. And so started an excellent culinary experience.Deedees, as I researched once I got back to my computer, is a Gujarati style restaurant with a history. It made its name at a previous location in Mountain View until the economy and a series of unexpected events brought them to their current location in Santa Clara. They were trying to regain their past glory and going by the food, I can confidently say they are on their way.The buffet had some native Gujju dishes, of which I recognized Gujarati Kadhi, Khaman Dhokla, and Shrikhand. They also had poori’s instead of the usual naan. The sabzis were excellent. There was also lemon rice. A lady brought warm rotis (not naans) to our table. The food was great. It felt close to home cooked. The typical masala flavors of an Indian buffet were surprisingly absent. And then there is the Shrikhand. It was heavenly. I went in for seconds and enjoyed every smooth and buttery inch of it.I kicked myself for not going to this place earlier. Now I know where I am recommending folks at work. Deedees reminded me that sometimes, its all about the food. The name is just that.
Ikes Love & Sandwiches
2235 The Alameda, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
Going to a concert at Mission Santa Clara, I was looking for a good place for some dinner. We live in Gilroy and are not familiar with this area but the pictures of the sandwiches looked good! Parking was definitely a challenge, but didnt take too long. There were SO many selections and different sandwiches, they listed probably 30-40 sandwiches (about 1/3 vegetarian and also listed chicken as halal). They prepared our sandwiches very quickly and the sandwiches were delicious, absolutely a place I would go to again. The restaurant had a very pleasant atmosphere and they gave us lollipops for dessert!
Dusita Thai Cuisine
2325 El Camino Real STE 104, Santa Clara, CA 95050, United States
Dusita Thai Restaurant offers exceptionally tasty Thai cuisine with generous portions and high-quality dishes. The food is quite spicy, so if you prefer less heat, consider ordering mild. The staff is friendly and attentive, especially accommodating dietary preferences like vegetarian options. Each dish costs around $16-$17. Be aware that a 15% service fee is added to all orders. Parking is limited, so you may need to find street parking nearby.THE Reasturant has good food BUT NO CLEAR indication of 15% service fees is going to be charged on top of food price + tax.. so In had to do research if service fee was legal to be chargedand this is what I fiound-----In San Jose, as well as the rest of California, the legality of restaurant service charges has recently changed due to the enactment of Senate Bill 478, which bans additional fees that are not included in the advertised price of goods or services. This law aims to eliminate so-called junk fees, which includes mandatory service fees added on top of the bill. Therefore, it is now illegal for restaurants in California to add a 15% service fee on top of the tax if it is not clearly disclosed and included in the advertised price of the meal.However, if the service fee is included in the advertised price and disclosed upfront, it may still be permissible. Its essential for restaurants to ensure full transparency with their pricing to comply with the new regulations (OB Rag) (Shouse Law Group).If you have specific concerns or need more detailed advice, consulting a legal expert familiar with Californias current laws would be advisable.
Athena Grill & Catering
1505 Space Park Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States
I recently had a fantastic experience at this Greek food establishment and was thrilled to have discovered it. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, including more than one vegetarian option! all at reasonable prices with large portions (with this economy, yes, please!). The food had great flavor and seasoning, and the service was fast and friendly. I highly recommend visiting this restaurant.I ordered:- A medium sampler with hummus, tirokaftreri (feta, metzithra, ricotta blended w/ peppers and olive oil), and melitzanosalata (Roasted eggplant whipped w/garlic, onion, parsley, roasted red pepper, herbs, vinegar and olive oil).- Briami (Vegetarian). A roasted vegetable dish featuring squash, zucchini, potatoes, and green beans in a light tomato sauce.- Combination. A variety plate featuring pastitsio, mousaka, spanakopita, & gyro with tomato and tzatziki, served with garlic fries.Please note that the establishment is located in an industrial area with limited parking. Additionally, it is closed on Sundays.
UlavacharU Tiffins
3530 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051, United States
We wanted to have some Southern Indian food for breakfast today morning but didnt wanted to drive far off so choose UlavacharuU Tiffins.We have tried many times before but always it was Togo so thought of having a sit down experience this time.Since we were the first customer to the restaurant the whole restaurant was empty so we can choose any seating except the last area they are been reserved for family ( I think they mean family with kids) .We ordered some breakfast items-1) Idly - the No of idlies in this plate are 3 to accompany it comes with Sambhar & 3 different chutneys.It took some time almost 20-25 mins to come since it was being freshly made as per the staff ( David) who informed us when ordering we didnt mind to wait. My husband got the chance to read his novel & I was enjoying some Bollywood songs .When the Idli came I didnt see any coconut chutney so asked David about it, he informed only with Dosa they give coconut chutney but he graciously agreed to give us some.Idli was piping hot & soft enjoyed it with all chutneys & sambhar. Their chutneys are really good - spicy tomato & Red Chilli chutney, Peanut chutney, Ginger & jaggery ( unrefined cane sugar) this is my favorite so far I have not seen in any Bay Area restaurants & last but not the least coconut chutney it was made with fresh coconut (not descicated or coconut powder which many restaurants make it) we enjoyed every bite of this as well.2) Idly Vada combo we choose 3 Idli & 1 Vada-This was also very good pipping hot Idli & Vada it was freshly made . Their Vada was freshly made & crunchy. We shared the 1 Vada.3) Ghee Masala Dosa - again very flavorful due to ghee ( clarified butter) cant go wrong with it !!!The main reason we went for sit down is whenever we do Togo especially with Dosa the crispy Dosa turns soggy/ soft by the time we reach home . So were really looking forward to have it.The Ghee Dosa when served we didnt see any Masala ( potato filling) which my husband loves it so asked about it ... David informed us they have to remake the potato batch again from starch since the early batch became very salty so it will take time, we were bummed but couldnt wait that long so agreed to eat it with chutney & sambhar.As we were enjoying the Dosa, David came back again & apologized for it again & comped us either with Medhu Vada or Idli so we choose Medhu Vada. We loved their customer service.4) Mysore Dosa - it was good on its own as well as their chutneys & sambhar.Its been ages since I have eaten it, Its a childhood nostalgia. I grew up eating Ram Ashraya ( Matunga Bombay) restaurant Mysore Dosa so nothing comes closer to that taste for me ...We ended up our breakfast with 1 Filter Coffee it was very strong but good.Overall we loved the food & will come back again in a heartbeat.