The Vegan Diet Guide for Honolulu

From vibrant açaí bowls to plant-based sushi and tofu katsu bento boxes, Honolulu offers a wide and diverse range of vegan dishes that reflect Hawaii’s history as a cultural melting pot. The nice weather makes it the perfect place to grab a bite to eat al fresco. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating and grab-and-go options, so you can camp on the beach with a satisfying vegan spread. From cozy cafes to impressive multi-course tasting menus, here are just 12 of the fabulous vegan restaurants Honolulu has to offer.

Nature Waikiki

1 Nature Waikiki

Looking for a vegan gourmet experience in Honolulu? Nature Waikiki offers an authentic farm-to-table experience. Dinner can be chosen between a preset six-course, plant-based menu featuring local and seasonal organic produce, and an a la carte menu with several vegan options. Look for dishes like Macadamia Nut Pesto Linguine, Portobello Mushroom Laulau Pithivier, Organic Local Harvest Salad and the Roasted Beets Poke. Call ahead as this place fills up quickly.
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Leahi health

2 Leahi health

Located in Kaimuki, an eclectic neighborhood of chic boutiques and fine-dining restaurants, Leahi Health is an unassuming beachfront restaurant with only outdoor seating. This is your go-to restaurant for all things healthy, vegan, and consistently delicious. Think vegan poke bowls, breakfast tacos, refreshing green smoothies, pizzas, and flavorful, filling salads and bowls. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite to eat before heading out on a hike or snorkeling adventure.
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Tane

3 Tane

Fancy vegan sushi beyond the usual avocado and cucumber roll? This vegan izakaya restaurant prepares intricate plant-based sushi and other delicious Japanese dishes. Located on Beretania Street, the restaurant features a stunning interior with wood and steel details for a hip ambiance. The cuisine applies traditional Japanese cooking techniques to vegetables, fruits, tofu, nuts and flowers to provide guests with an unforgettable upscale experience. Whether you’re eating the poke salad, savoring the tomato nigiri, or nibbling on one of Tane’s 12 signature buns, you won’t leave dinner disappointed or hungry.
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Dara X./Yelp

4 Floralia pizza

Formerly known as What It Dough, this mobile food truck churns out cakes worthy of its more sophisticated name. Parked on Kona Street, this artisan-style pizzeria offers the only vegan wood-fired pizzas in Honolulu. The preset menu includes classic pies like white, margherita, and pesto royale, but customers are also encouraged to create their own with the medley of plant-based cheeses, meats, and toppings. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert, because you won’t find an ultra-decadent and creamy Basque-style cheesecake anywhere else. It’s worth noting that their opening times vary, so make sure to check their Facebook page for the most up-to-date opening times check over.
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A V

5 A V

Located in the Kaimuki district, All Vegan, aka AV, has a chic, upscale vibe. Led by Executive Chef Kenny Lee, the restaurant offers upscale American and Asian fusion cuisine through a 14- to 16-course vegan tasting menu. Many of the courses are interactive. For example, the White Peach Dragon’s Breath is served with liquid nitrogen foam that you crush between your front teeth while expelling air, making you look like a dragon. The Intermezzo, a melon soda encased in white chocolate, comes with pop rock and a pinch of nostalgia. The whole immersive, edible experience will cost you $200 per person and last around 90 minutes.
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Peace Cafe

6 Peace Cafe

This quaint, family-run restaurant in the Waikiki neighborhood offers clean and delicious vegan food at a great price and in large portions. Try the tempeh katsu curry or the mapo tofu plate. The health-conscious cafe also offers garlic-free options for those sensitive to allium.
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Juicy brew

7 Juicy brew

The menu at Juicy Brew is exceptional. Open for lunch and late afternoon, dining embodies the best of Hawaiian fusion. Choose from wabi-sabi moco (a vegan hamburger, mushroom sauce, scrambled egg, and furikake dish); a smoked jackfruit donburi bento; or Lemon Yuzu Poppy Seed Chicken Buns. Each dish is complex in flavors and textures, making you want to order one of everything. That includes dessert. Don’t leave without trying the Spiced Banana Hand Pie, Peach Mochi, or Lilikoi Mango Bar.
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Umeke market

8th Umeke market

For a breakfast option that goes beyond an açaí bowl, head to Umeke Market. The vegan spot boosts oatmeal with fruits and nuts; tofu scrambled eggs; and vegan breakfast rolls with eggs, cheese and sausage. Anyone who sleeps after 10:30 a.m. and misses breakfast will find strength in the form of a self-made vegan lunch plate. From braised taro leaves to pono chili and fried bread, this option is a must for anyone interested in sampling culture through food.
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blondes

9 blondes

There’s no shame in chasing a food truck when it’s Blondie’s. Usually parked in the Lowes Iwilei parking lot several days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., this plant-based mobile restaurant serves meaty sandwiches, tacos and quesadillas until it sells out. The store is working on a brick building, but while that’s in the works, follow the truck on Instagram for the latest menus and hours of operation.
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Kaimana farm

10 Kaimana farm

This daytime eatery serves breakfast ’til after work, but we’re here for the bento boxes and classic Hawaiian lunch specials. Feel free to mix and match from the plethora of vegan side dishes including vegan hamburger steak, organic kale salad, spicy tofu sack, rainbow hijiki (seaweed), Japanese lotus root, soba noodle salad and more.
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wave of smiles

11 wave of smiles

This chef’s concept takes nutrition seriously – you’ll need to read a paragraph on health before you even get to the food options when perusing the menu. Granted, this dedication to nutrition is what makes Ripple of Smiles so vegan-friendly. Plant-based options are plentiful, ranging from spring rolls to vegan pho and other authentic Thai dishes. Just ask for the vegan menu and take a few minutes to make your decision – you will need it.
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sunrise hut

12 sunrise hut

A morning at the beach isn’t incomplete without at least one açaí bowl, and there’s no better place to get one than in a sun-kissed shack surrounded by palm trees. This mico chain has multiple locations on O’ahu, all offering vibrant smoothie bowls filled with Instagram-worthy fruits and nuts. Just make sure you don’t request honey when ordering your bowl or smoothie.
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banana

13 banana

Bananas have never tasted so good. This three-location candy store turns bananas into creamy, cool, and swirly soft serve. Toppings are gourmet and an absolute must. Choose from homemade mac nut butter, fresh fruit, cacao nibs, granola, grated coconut and more. Pro tip: save yourself the indecision and opt for a pre-made creation. From açaí-swirled Amazon to chocolate-soaked dark fantasy, you’re sure to go home with a refreshing sweet treat to fuel all of your island adventures.
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Read more about vegan travel:
The Complete Vegan Guide to Walt Disney World
How to pack the perfect vegan beach bag
5 Vegan-Friendly Beach Towns You Must Visit

Tanya Flink is a VegNews digital editor, writer and runner based in Orange County, CA.