Vegan Restaurants Kona
Guide to Vegan Restaurants Kona, Hawaii
Kona has a varied but somewhat limited restaurant variety. If you like Thai there are 5 different options but when it comes to vegan and vegetarian cuisine the options are a bit more limited. Here’s the current list of vegan restaurants Kona has.
Kona Vegan Restaurants
Journey Cafe
Currently the best sit-down vegan option in Kona, this cute little establishment has an adjoining ice cream shop and a load of character. Off the main drag of Ali’i Drive this little alley cafe feels like something out of Europe. The menu is entirely vegan so whether you’re vegan or vegetarian there’s going to be something for you. The jackfruit and smoked eggplant fillings are superbly flavored and most mains come with a bowl of soup and crispy baked bread for dipping. Currently our favorite vegan spot in Kona. You can even get delivery from Foods O’ Hawaii!
Dosa Grill
Located in a food court with other food options nearby and open seating, Dosa Grill stands out in that it is both vegan/vegetarian only and Indian cuisine. There are no meat options here. Food is ordered via an app on the web from your smartphone or a Kiosk. Interesting drink options like masala lemonade make for an interesting adventure in flavor. Since the crepe can get soggy from the filling it’s recommended you eat it on premises unless you plan to eat it with a knife and fork.
The Dosa is essentially a southern Indian version of a crepe made with rice and lentil flour.
Loko Wraps
Not so much of a restaurant as a take out and eat outside fast food establishment, there are fresh juices, açaí cups, and kombucha drink options as well as a menu mixing and matching meat and vegan options. You can, for example, get jackfruit tacos, wrap, nachos, salad or plate lunch style. The jackfruit is good but we prefer the jackfruit and smoked eggplant options from journey cafe.
Herbivores
With an entirely vegan menu this is one of the longest running vegan restaurants in Kona. Located in a small hut in the middle of a parking lot Herbivores has some tasty options. Dining is available on-premesis under a tent in the parking lot our you can pick up and take out. The walnut tacos are great and there’s plenty of options with a menu that is often changing and adapting.
Cultivate Good Food (in Kealakekua)
Located 15 minutes south of Kona in Kealakekua this little roadside take-out cafe is a good option for those who don’t want to make the drive into Kona with plenty of vegan options to choose from. The menu is simple featuring only juices, wraps, and salads.
Other Kona Restaurants with vegan friendly options
American Food: Kai Eats
While the menu is mostly typical American burgers, pizza, and tacos, all food can be ordered with impossible crumbles or patties and without cheese.
Upscale Option: Beach Tree Grill
Upscale restaurant located in the fours seasons resort has plenty of vegan and vegetarian friendly options.
Indian: Kamana Kitchen
While there are plenty of meat dishes here there are also some good vegan options with a segment of the menu dedicated to them. The only sit-down Indian restaurant on the west side of the Big Island.
Original Thai
One of our favorite Thai restaurants in Kona. The mango, and pumpkin curries are among our favorites. Almost everything can be ordered with tofu or extra veggies instead of meat. Careful as the green papaya salad contains fish sauce!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some highly rated vegan in Kailua-Kona, HI?
Journey Cafe is rated 4.7 stars on google and is our current favorite vegan food restaurant in Kona.
Where can I get Vegan Poke in Kona?
Umekes has a vegan poke option made with purple sweet potato.
How is Loko Wraps Rated?
4.3 stars on google reviews.
Does Loko Wraps offer takeout?
It only offers takeout or Delivery
The Challenge of Eating Vegan
When it comes to vegan food options sometimes it can be difficult to find something suitable with enough protein to meet your daily requirements. We can only eat so much carbs and veggies before we need a little protein! Even many of the international cuisines like Vietnamese or Thai, which don’t use dairy, will have a large portion of the menu dedicated to food with meat proteins. Even salads like the green papaya salad at Thai restaurants contains fish sauce. The cuisine in Kona is mostly dedicated to local Hawaiian, or American cuisine but the options for vegan restaurants in Kona continues to expand with seafood restaurants like Umekes offering vegan poke. Even many of the mainstream restaurants are offering a plant based protein option as a substitute for meat. Sometimes they will uncharge for it but as time goes by we feel this is becoming less of a thing (the restaurants in this guide don’t upcharge). That being said this guide covers all of the vegan restaurants Kona currently has. When it comes to the best Kona restaurants we are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest. If you’re on the west side of this volcano in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and you’re on the hunt for vegan restaurants Big Island Hawaii has this guide is for you!
About Us
I’m Byron Kay, the owner of Kona Honu Divers and Kona Snorkel Trips. I grew up in Southern California with a variety of different cuisine options. The town of Tustin where I grew up had Indian, Italian, and German markets with loads of international food options. I love exploring new foods and am constantly ordering new and interesting dishes just to try them. My significant other, Zazz, is vegetarian and so we are always looking for the very best in vegetarian food options in Kona and on the Big Island. We are constantly scouring menus and sampling the very best vegan restaurants Kona and the Big Island have to offer.