Best vegetarian and
vegan restaurants
in Hawaii
Our list includes some long-established favorites, as well as some new hot spots from four Hawaiian Islands. These top picks are serving up delicious plant-based foods inspired by essentially every culture. You will find some exciting and new creative culinary plates in addition to many perfected classics. With so many satisfying high-concept cooked and raw plant-based food eateries to choose from, even the most abiding carnivores will be delighted with these vegetarian and vegan gems.
What is what and glossary of terms
Choice Health BarMaui
Choice Health Bar is an amazing spot for healthy food on Maui. This vegan-vegetarian restaurant has two locations. The first is a sit-down cafe on Baldwin Avenue in Paia and the second is a counter-order cafe on the West side at Whaler’s Village in Ka’anapali. Both spots are delightful and offer a wide range of nourishing options. Guests will love their acai bowls, fresh fruit smoothies, refreshing cold-pressed juices, and an assortment of homemade soups, salads, and raw foods.
Veg OutMaui
Veg Out is a quaint, no-frills restaurant with an expansive menu located in the town of Haiku on Maui’s North Shore. Their 100% vegetarian menu is inspired by a variety of cultures including Middle Eastern, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Greek, and Indian. They also have some tasty vegan dishes on the menu.
Joy's Place LIVE!Maui
For over 27 years, Joy’s Place has been serving Maui’s community with fresh and healthy veggie dishes. From the original spot in Kihei, Joy’s Place LIVE! has now moved Upcountry, in between Makawao and Pukalani. Guests should have no worries though. They can still find their favorite menu items, plus more, at this awesome Maui restaurant with its incredible vegetarian options.
Fork & SaladMaui
Fork & Salad was founded by chef-owners Cody Christopher, Jaron Blosser, and Travis Morrin. They have two restaurants on Maui with locations in Kihei and Kahului.
Their mission is: “to redefine the possibilities of farm-to-table cuisine – as healthy, quick, convenient, and affordable, so it can be enjoyed every day by everyone.”
A’a RootsMaui
A’a Roots is one of Maui’s newest vegan eateries. This cute and endearing vegan cafe is located in the Napili Plaza in West Maui.
Upon entering their doors, diners will be instantly infused into an upbeat, cheerful and cozy setting. The decor is definitely unique with vegan and locavore messages throughout. Their indoor seating allows private nooks for personal meals and internet time, and group seating for families and larger groups.
Moku RootsMaui
Moku Roots has significantly impacted Maui’s vegetarian and vegan culinary scene. It was originally in Lahaina but has relocated to Kula after the devastating wildfires. This move Upcountry has not only given them a fresh start but has put them closer to the lush farmlands that supply their kitchen. As such, every dish boasts the freshest local produce they can get.
Umeke MarketO‘ahu
Umeke Market is offering delicious and healthy bites. Since its reopening in March of 2017, Umeke Market has been creating one-hundred-percent plant-based vegan food. New owner, Robert Daguio teamed up with Mama T’s Ital Kitchen to produce a unique menu that showcases the fundamental staple of the Hawaiian-Polynesian culture, Kalo (taro) and it is used throughout the menu. This is not your average poi!
Peace CaféO‘ahu
Peace Café in Mo’ili’ili is vegan home cooking at its finest. The concept of Peace Café came from owner-chef Shota Terai’s vision for “peace on earth.” Shota is passionate about creating delicious and healthy vegan food that promotes harmony between man and animals.
The Beet Box CaféO‘ahu
The Beet Box Café is a spot like no other, on the windward side of Oahu, in Kailua Town. Here guests will find a strictly vegetarian menu with many delicious vegan and gluten-free options. They aim to keep their food as locally sourced and organic as possible while maintaining 100% GMO-free foods.
Simple Joy Vegetarian CuisineO‘ahu
Simple Joy Vegetarian Cuisine is serving up delectable vegetarian and vegan dishes for lunch and dinner in a quaint, casual setting. Don’t let the modest decor fool you. At first glance, Simple Joy may not look like much.
Plant Based ParadiseO‘ahu
Plant Based Paradise is a place that truly lives up to its name. They can be found in Yoga Under the Palms studios in three cities on O‘ahu: Kaka’ako, Kaimukī, and Kailua. Each of the three has a few items that are unique to that spot, and all three of them are superb!
Thuong An LacO‘ahu
Tucked away in Honolulu’s own Chinatown is a truly rare gem, Thuong An Lac. It is the only Vietnamese Vegan restaurant in town and can be found on the corner of King St. and Kekaulike St. Guests will find the atmosphere to be cozy, the staff warm and friendly, and the menu 100% vegan.
Leahi HealthO‘ahu & Kauai
With four locations on Oahu and one on Kauai, Leahi Health is taking Hawaii by storm thanks to all of their yummy healthy menu offerings!
Leahi Health serves up a special twist on plant-based foods. They are committed to using incredible local produce in their dishes whenever they can. This eatery champions a menu that is dedicated entirely to vegan and vegetarian options. It’s designed to nourish and delight the palate with yummy flavor combos and wholesome ingredients.
Russell's by Eat Healthy KauaiKauai
Russell’s by Eat Healthy Kauai is a quaint bistro-style outdoor garden café, Serving up a 100% vegan menu since its doors reopened in 2017. This spot has a welcoming atmosphere, offering cozy patio seating with glass beach pebbles, strung lights, colorful shade umbrellas and witty kitchen sayings on signs.
Papaya's Natural Foods & CaféKauai
Papaya’s Natural Foods grocery has been around for almost 25 years, offering local organic produce, non-GMO cereals and snacks, cooking oils, vitamin supplements, and more. The attached café, “The Kitchen at Papaya’s offers a wide-ranged hot and cold salad bar.
Kauai Juice CompanyKauai
Kauai is known for being a strong health-conscious and nature loving community. If you are looking for delicious and healthy, fresh pressed juices, elixir shots and Kombucha, Kauai Juice Co is the place for you. Offering three locations around the island of Kauai., you can find them in Kapaa, Kilauea, and Poipu.
Holey Grail DonutsKauai
Holey Grail Donuts is a family run business ran out of a red food truck in Hanalei beside the Hanalei Liquor Store. Through many years of trial and error, the owners and creators have perfected delicious Kalo (taro) dough donuts. These all plant-based vegan donuts are made from locally sourced Kalo (taro) and fried in coconut oil to have the perfect texture with just the right crisp around the edges.
Sweet Cane CaféBig Island
Sweet Cane Café is a family-owned and operated café that is an accurate representation of the farm to table movement. Serving cane juice based smoothies, elixirs, and gluten-free and vegan baked goods. Salads, homemade soups, and sandwiches are all made with as many organic and locally sourced ingredients as possible. They make all of their sauces and bread fresh daily in house.
Café OnoBig Island
Café Ono is one of those rare cases where it’s impossible to decide what is better- the food or the atmosphere. Café Ono is a vibrant eco-friendly vegetarian eatery off the beaten path. Nuzzled in a picturesque atmosphere, surrounded with amazing greenery offering an outdoor patio, greenhouse, and pond.
Herbivores Vegan CaféBig Island
Those who find themselves in downtown Kailua-Kona on Big Island are in for a vegan treat! Nestled in the Kona Center is Herbivores Vegan Café, serving up some top-notch vegan food with a touch of Hispanic and Native American roots.
Where are your
favorite vegetarian
eats on the
islands?
For a complete listing of vegetarian, vegan, and veg-friendly options on the islands, visit Happy Cow.
Mahalo for reading our list of the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants on the islands! Maybe it’s just one vegetarian meal while vacationing in Hawaii, or maybe it’s once a year, a week, a day, or everyday.
You leave full but not weighed down and energized for all your Hawaiian activities. For most of these restaurants, they are not merely running a business; they are passionate about healthy lifestyles.