Govinda's Restaurant

Beautiful and peaceful place surrounded by nature. The huge banyan tree is stunning and adds to the calm vibe. The vegetarian restaurant serves food buffet-style, and you pay by weight. Everything was fresh, tasty, and well-prepared. One of the best vegetarian spots in Honolulu. Highly recommend visiting if you’re in the area!

Update: they open on Saturdays and a food truck! There are two things that make the food here so awesome - consistency and quality. The food is high quality, all the time. I've never had a bad or mediocre experience here. The food is ALWAYS good. A truly hidden gem on Oahu. Such a peaceful place. The food is out of this world! I forgot this was all vegetarian. I don't know what any of this stuff is called, but it tastes and looks great! So delicious!

Sometimes going with no expectation brings you a positive result. Good quality buffet. Small place with limited food item. Salad, and entree with sides. There’s home baked desserts. The warm entree of the day and curry were very yummy. It tasted like it was prepared with good intention. Beautiful tree in the back yard of the temple.

Vegan-friendly lunch buffet, calm, and peaceful atmosphere. It was fantastic to see Iskcon Hawaii have almost all of their dishes Vegan on Mondays. This was the menu on Apr 15, 2024. I was told that on other days too, they usually have many of their dishes as Vegan. They mark it clearly as seen in this pic.

Located at the site of ISKCON, this place has delicious Sathvik/Vegetarian/Vegan food options. Clean place, hot delicious food served with love and devotion as prasad from the main deity Sri Krishna. Buffet style and pay by weight (lbs).

Anyone looking for the best freshly cooked everyday vegetarian and vegan meals, don’t look any further than Govinda. You can taste the love in every bite. Blessed be all the devotees who are participating in offering this blessed foods for anyone to enjoy!

Nice place for Indian lunch. Small place with seating for ~20 people. Clean and calm. Price: - Kids under 5 are free - Buffet options ($13 for adults; $8 for kids 6-11) - Pay by weight ($5.60 for 10oz) Note: Buffet is not all you can eat. First plate is as per charges mentioned above. Second plate is lower price (adults as an example is $5). Parking: Ample parking for 15 cars. Finding the place: It’s within the temple hence be careful to look for it.

The temple is a little hard to find. I enjoy it here because it's so peaceful. The buffet here is pretty good. There's specials for each day. I go Wednesdays (lasagna) and Fridays (enchiladas). I haven't tried the other days. The best thing is the ginger mint lemonade. It's a must try and it's not very expensive either.

I really wanted to like this place more than I did :-/ It is off the beaten path, with a quiet & serene ambiance. The shopkeeper is super cute, and the buffet had 10-12 items to pick from, including rice, salad, samosas, dal, spiced potatoes, mixed veggies, and a few rotating special kinds of curry. The downside is the food really did not have flavor. You can tell it was "made with love" (as the sign says at the front of the buffet) but some salt & pepper would have been nice too!

I've been looking for authentic Indian food and I as impressed with GovInda's. Got there about 1:30 pm (closes at 2:30), it's buffet style, pay something like $11.99 per pound. The young lady gave us paper plates and cups. It's all vegetarian, very flavorful and fresh. There's a quaint dining area to sit in. The food included a refreshing ginger iced tea that you can help yourself to.

Located at a temple. Beautiful large garden to sit in. You go there, fill a plate, and they weigh it to determine the price. It is located in a residential area with no other businesses around. Parking is no problem on the premises. I used to go to their food truck at UH Mānoa more than 20 years ago. Delicious.

I've meant to do this review for a while. About 12 years ago, this company donated food for my Syrian children fundraiser without even batting an eyelash, and their food was sooo good. The quality is incredible and you can tell their food is made with love and aloha. Highly recommend!!

Excellent vegan and vegetarian food in a very peaceful and friendly environment. Love this place!

Best Indian food on the island. I would eat there everyday if Govinda was closer to my home. Having lived in Nepal & India, it is a wonderful treat to have these authentic dishes available. A lot of Indian folks come to Govinda and that says it all. Namaste.

Haven't eaten here in a long time, but they upped their game. Loved it before, but they said the got a new chef from India & it tastes like it. Even the samosas came with mint chutney.

Vegetarian buffet is back! M-F 11-2:30 This is located in a temple (which looks like a house from the street) and is in a quiet residential area. You don't have to be the religion they believe in, just remove your shoes before you walk in. You might get stares but they are friendly and harmless. After being closed for much of the pandemic, this place finally reopened in March 2022. Check their website for updated closures as they are hosting a huge global anniversary of some sort this week. I hadn't been here for probably a decade but when I saw that they were open again, we went after a round of golf, because I really want to see these little local places come back to life. The buffet is now by weight (long ago when I went it was AYCE) $11.20/lb and choices change daily, Mondays are vegan and other days are vegetarian. The flavors are Indian inspired, so think "curry and cumin" type flavors. They don't use garlic or onions, I'm not sure if that's a religious thing or not (if you know why, lmk!), but they make note of that on signs and on their website. It's not as extensive or as unique as Down to Earth's vegetarian buffet but it'll be enough. I'm definitely not vegan or vegetarian (I am 99% carnivore, every meal) but I can appreciate a meatless meal every now and then, and this was fine. You can take your food and eat on plastic picnic chairs in the back under the large banyan tree, this is actually my favorite part of this place. You can meditate if you want, or just eat your food in a throwback to old Hawaii. I didn't take any pictures like I usually do, I guess I was immersed in the throwback.

An absolutely lovely Indian buffet. All of the food looked beautiful, fresh, was aromatic, and tasted incredible. This looks like a big old estate that has been turned into a business. The grounds are really pretty and the entire place has such a peaceful vibe. I was greeted very politely, and can't wait to go back. Everything was delicious. There's a sign that says that the food is made with love and I believe it!

Been here a few times and the food is delicious. 4/5 good. The price is by weight per plate. They have a good daily mix of Indian and Italian vegan buffet. The con is it's expensive, otherwise I'd come more often. I'm a small woman, I'd always need to spend at least $20-25 per plate to get full. (Rice and pasta is heavy) For the same price, you can easily go buy larger plates or go to a fancier restaurant. Why do I keep coming back? I love the view of the big tree in the back, and the vegan Italian food! The Italian/Pasta dishes are better than the Indian food here. (I cook Indian food at home) The restaurant is inside a Hindu temple. The strange thing is there's hardly any Indians that come here, it's mostly Caucasian people and yogis that visit regularly. I wish they had a richer Indian culture and community here.

Simple and tasty vegetarian food served with love. Very reasonable and one of its kind place where your price for the meal is by the weight of the food on the plate! Good Indian food and very pleasant experience.

Came here for the special Thanksgiving meal for the Vegan Society of Hawaii and it did not disappoint. Everything was ono ono ono! I wished I had ordered a second meal to take home and eat the following day. Some items were a tad bit salty for my liking, but still wonderfully delicious. I definitely want to come back to try the regular menu during the week. Menu: Vegan Gluten-Free Turkey Stuffing (Or Gluten-Free Stuffing) Nut Loaf with Walnuts & Almonds (Or Extra Nut-Free Serving Turkey/Stuffing/Mashed Potatoes) Mashed Potatoes Chickpea Gravy Green Beans Almondine (Or Nut-Free Green Beans) Cranberry Sauce Green Salad Almond Dressing (Or Nut-Free Raspberry Vinaigrette) Dessert Pumpkin Pie with Walnut Gram Crust (Or Nut-Free Pumpkin Pudding) Beverages Mint Ginger Lemon Drink Hot Herbal Blueberry Tea

First time returning since Govinda's has finally reopened its doors since the onset of CoVid! Amazing and very good prashadam!!!

A wonderful, sensory experience. As a vegetarian (sometimes pescatarian) living on Oahu, decent vegetarian options on Oahu are a treasure. I first read about Govinda'a in 2018 but it wasn't on the main bus route or easily accessible without a car (or so I thought) so i never visited. Fast forward to November 2023 and I was finally able to visit Govinda's on a beautiful rainy and partly sunny day. As mentioned in other reviews, you are expected to take your shoes off before entering the building as it is a temple. Staff/volunteers were helpful. . There are plenty of places in front of the temple to put your slippers/shoes. The restaurant is located inside to your left. The floors inside the temple were very clean. Actually , everything else was clean too!There was a young man working the cash register who explained the food bar process to me. There were more than enough food options for me. In fact, there were a couple of dishes I didn't get to try because I didn't have enough room on my plate. I was super excited to try the Halva. I have never had it before and it was delicious. The other food items I had were delicious. I was very surprised to find that every dish was perfectly seasoned. There were only three other people sitting together in the restaurant so there were plenty of places to sit inside. However, as I was paying for my food, I saw the beautiful banyan tree and grassy area outside. So, I decided to sit outside in the wind and Hawaiian blessings (that turned into rain)and enjoy my lunch. It was such a rare and wonderful experience for me to walk on green grass and dirt barefoot. *Please note that I walk barefoot on sand often. * Overall, the food was good, really good, and parking was easy. For those of you that take the bus, the location is easily accessible by bus - the temple and restaurant is located on a small quiet street that intersects with or just barely intersects with the Pali highway. The atmosphere was absolutely lovely. Please note that: You pay for the food by weight and the cost of the food is about what you would pay at Down to Earth or Whole foods. The temple actually looks like a large house. That is not a bad thing, I just mention this to help you find Govinda's. Don't rush -block of enough time to eat and explore and appreciate Govinda's.

Delicious vegetarian dishes in a peaceful setting. There's a beautiful bayan tree out back that you can sit under. It's nice that their prices are reasonable.

This is my favorite place to take lunch everything is vegetarian no onion no Garlic I love this place I request everyone to come and try

This place is very relaxing, they welcome everyone Good food but no longer a buffet. Pay by weight.

I was so happy to see Govinda's in Hawaii, we have Govinda's in Brooklyn New York and I knew the food would be great. I was right! The food was excellent, the environment was beautiful and peaceful. They have a big outdoor garden with tables to eat your food and you can also eat indoors too. They also have a store with supplies (clothing, incense, books, jewelry, etc). You are not allow to wear your shoes in the temple and the people are extremely nice. The food is made fresh everyday, each day is a different menu and the establishment is very clean. If you are vegan and/or vegetarian you must check this place out. Let me know your thoughts.

As you're driving towards this place you might think to yourself that you might be lost because it's in a residential area. I would have never expected this restaurant to be in the temple, or for there to be a temple in this neighborhood. in any case if you're looking for really good and reasonably priced vegetarian food this is definitely the place to go. I let them know that I was both gluten and dairy free and they were able to show me what items I could and could not eat. There was only one item that I was unable to eat due to the fact that have cheese in it. Other than that I grabbed on every thing they offered. They currently charge $13 a person, however they had a notice that as of November 1st they will increase their prices to $13.99 for the first plate and an additional five for the second plate, or $8 99 a pound. Eat here for sure!!

Delicious vegetarian buffet but pricey because all the items are weighed by the ounce. But we did get free fresh baked cookies and muffins too! Yummy! The outdoors are so beautiful and calming. The enormous banyan tree is something to come and see and just relax around. No need to eat and run. Take it easy once you get onto property.

I was craving a vegetarian lunch so I went to Govindas. First u need to fill a paper plate with your buffet selections then bring it over to a scale by the gift shop cashier. The new prices are $8.99 a pound or $13 a plate - u would pay the cheaper of the 2 prices. Second helpings are $5. Beverages are complimentary with lunch purchase. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Peaceful surroundings are well worth the price.

My wife and I had our lunch yesterday at this place. It was simply out of this world. We tasted many items in their menu such as emon Rice, Cauliflower Curry, Mixed Veggie Stir Fry, Eggplant veggie, Lentil soup, Kitachri and Mixed Nut Halva. You select the items from buffet table and pay by the weight of the plate. Very reasonably priced. Highly recommend this place.

In Nuuanu, hidden amongst residences, the buffet kitchen and dining area - inside and outside on a large lawn - is situated within the Hare Krishna Temple. Once you take off your footwear and enter - just take a left and a gift store fronts the kitchen and dining room. What was clearly a former residence, it is quite a large facility. I did not explore elsewhere but helped myself to a plate. There is a restroom available for use and it was quite clean. I took only hot foods, curried stew and roasted veggies, which were nicely flavored. The ginger mint lemonade was nice...not sweet but balanced. The star of the buffet was the Farina dessert. The gentleman who greeted me at the entrance and took my payment explained Farina as similar to semolina. It was quite sweet but very good, containing cashews and raisins. The dining room had a few tables but I decided to eat in the backyard...and was joined briefly by a cat. Apparently, pets can be brought into the lawn even if not a service animal, as someone brought their dog.

Govinda's is the best vegetarian restaurant I've been to in Honolulu. Not only is Govinda's an all-you-can-eat buffet for $13, but the food is actually homemade, delicious, and healthy. Govinda's is located at Hare Krishna Temple in the natural serenity of Nuuanu Valley. There is a seating area inside next to the gift shop, or you can eat your meal in the backyard under beautiful old banyan trees. The cash register is inside the gift shop as you enter into the restaurant. You can choose to pay before or after eating. Next to the buffet line is this refreshing ginger mint lemonade made from fresh pressed ginger, fresh mint, lemon juice, and organic cane sugar. The salad is so fresh and colorful. I recommend adding homemade vegan spicy jalapeno & cilantro salad dressing for an extra kick. It goes so well with the ginger mint lemonade. Some of my other favorites were the chickpea spinach curry, the kitchri loaded with tasty cumin seeds, and the halava that had a slightly sweet but mostly savory peanut butter flavor. So good! As an omnivore, I am looking forward to returning for more delicious vegetarian dishes, and wish there was a restaurant like this closer to town.

You must remove your footwear upon entry. I arrived around 12:30, so there was about 2 more hours left. I paid for the buffet and then an announcement was made that they were running out of food. The lettuce mix was near empty, with just about half a cup left of it. I took the rest of the lettuce. A lot of dishes had about 3 tablespoons left. I scraped the last bits of these just so I could try everything. The last few dishes were half full. I ate outside in the back yard. There's a beautiful giant banyan tree and it is peaceful. Overall the food was tasty, but I gave three stars for being low on food halfway through the buffet open hours.

Please be on guard if the person ringing you up says she's going to "eyeball" it and says you "got a deal!" We were overcharged. The person at the desk said their tablet wasn't charged so credit cards couldn't be taken and we'd have to pay cash. My companion took out her cash and revealed she had more than enough, so that may have affected the rest of the transaction. The person at the desk then weighed our plates of food and even though the weights were very different, she said it'd be $15 each for a total of $30. I wasn't clear on why she couldn't use her smart phone, which was face-up on the counter with a brightly lit screen so not out of battery like the tablet, to calculate the correct total. I didn't say anything since my companion was already paying but when we had come just last week, our plates had come out to about $12 each so $15 each sounded high to me. Sure enough when I later did a quick calculation based on the weights that'd been displayed on the scale, our total should've only been $25. Before pandemic, we used to come regularly, at least once a week. Sadly after this experience, I don't think we'll be back as much. It's not about the money, just the funny feeling I got from it.

I stopped by in 2020 a few times but there was no longer any restaurant. Even though it says it's open, I don't think they are serving food again. Last time I went was before COVID lock down. My favorite days were tues and Thursday because i loved thé quiche and curries on those days. I do hope it opens back up. Please let your usuals know when you're serving again!

Hard to find. Food not as tasty as I'd like. All vegetarian which is a plus and there's a big tree in the back where you can sit to eat, hence why there's 3 stars instead of 1, ideally 0. Food sold by weight. Not many options. Unflavorful. I will not be back but still wish them the best. Go elsewhere, seriously. Unless you feel like overpaying (donating) for a steam table with only 3 unflavored options and rice. Huge disappointment.

Vegetarian buffet in Honolulu for $13... I dined here a couple of years ago and have always wanted to return. The opportunity arrived when my cousins were in town for their father's celebration of life. This was the perfect setting for our reunion. Parking is free and the grounds are beautiful. The gardens are lush and green...this is Mother Nature's best! My cousin noticed the shoe racks at the entrance, so we removed our shoes before entering. My cousin is so intune with Asian cultures and was able to recognize the various decor and explain what was happening in certain photographs that were displayed. We were welcomed by the cashier who told us that there was a group of students with us who were learning about Hare Krishna. They provided a cheerful energy to the dining room. There were about 6 tables inside and I know that there was outdoor seating, but we didn't look. We wanted to be near to the food and there was a passing shower that we avoided! We went to the buffet line, got our utensils, paper plates, and ginger beverage (highly recommended), then proceeded to the salad bar, hot entrees, and dessert! The seasoned potatoes, coconut mochi-like dessert (with little pieces of pineapple it), and cauliflower quiche (with good crust) were standouts for me. The soup was a bit bland, so my cousin and I added curry and parmesan cheese to it. We also tossed in some peas from the salad bar. I added in some corn, too! We also enjoyed the puffed, crisp crackers (papadum?)! We were really satisfied with a healthy meal and a spiritual environment. We could feel the crossbreeze through the screened open doors; we saw the wind playing in the leaves on the shrubbery; and we heard the falling rain and birds chirping outside! It was a fantastic experience!

***GOVINDA'S VEGETARIAN/VEGAN RESTAURANT IS NOW OPEN*** Govinda's Restaurant is now open starting March 21st, 2022 on Monday-Friday from 11:00 am -2:30pm . We are so excited to be open again and we accept both cash and card. You can visit the website https://www.iskconhawaii.com to see the full weekly menu as well as the prices. You can also call the restaurant number for the most updated news. We hope to see you all there. Mahalo!

Hidden right off of the Pali Highway, Govinda's Vegetarian Buffet is a hidden gem. Wednesday is lasagna day so that's the best day to stop by. Their lasagna is amazing. This place was practically empty when we stopped by around noon. It has a country atmosphere even though it is in a residential neighborhood because you don't really notice the houses next door once you're inside. It is $13 for as much as you can pile on your paper plate, which is a steal! I only piled half as much food as I wanted because I'm on a diet, but it was still a considerable amount. For $5 more, you can do it again. Fun! This includes their complimentary ginger lemonade as well. When we stopped by, there was work being done outside. Also, there was a large gnat population, so it is probably best to stay indoors in the open-air, screened dining room. If you're curious about the Hare Krishna shrine area, just ask if you can take a look. I haven't been turned down yet for an exploratory adventure. One interesting thing is that they require you to remove your footwear before entering. Parking is limited so it is best to come early.

It's a very small cozy place for vegetarians. It's situated within temple grounds. The choices are very limited and it doesn't get refilled once the initial offerings are finished. It's popular amongst its people.

Yesterday's vegetarian lunch. Previously Govindas was $13 for all you can eat. Recently they charge $8.99 per pound. From what they said they were losing money. Food was still Ono tho I'll be back

Excellent vegetarian/vegan food! We went on a Wednesday (lasagna day) and everything we had was superb! Gora, the hostess, was sweet, kind, and welcoming. I'd eat here everyday if i could.

I live so close to Govinda's I always wonder why I never venture here more often. It's tucked away on a corner residential street off the Pali in Nuuanu. It's hard to explain the location so I recommend google mapping it. They have a private lot with about 15 stalls for parking, but at peak lunch hours it can be full. However, there's ample street parking available. Before you enter be sure to remove your shoes and slippahs since the buffet is located in a Hare Krishna temple. The buffet is completely vegetarian and filled with delicious curries and daily specials. For $13 the quality of the food is a steal. They accept credit card now too! On this particular day we visited there was a quiche for the special. It was unlike most quiches I ever had as it didn't taste egg or cheese heavy, it was very tasty. They also had three different curries with various vegetables like eggplant and potatoes. Homemade papadum, which is a cracker like crisp flavored with indian spices, super good! They also offer a nice salad bar and this refreshing ginger minty water. They had two desserts as well, one that was kind of like a cream of wheat baked fruit thing that was tasty despite my poor description of it lol. Also they had a noodle dessert, which was not as good unfortunately. You can enjoy your food on a few small tables next to the buffet line inside the building or take it outside to the outdoor tables and benches. The only junk thing about eating outside is there are thirsty mosquitoes seeking blood filled prey. But overall, Govinda's makes very delicious vegetarian food for an unbelievable price! It's random when they make their samosas but I highly recommend them. The buffet is open from 11:00am-2:00pm and they close promptly at 2:00pm (meaning you have to be done eating by then).

For a meat-lover like myself, I somehow enjoyed being at all vegetarian buffet! I was a bit skeptical wondering if I was going to like being here but from the two times I ventured out here, I enjoyed the food. I really love the specials of the day that they have like the Quiche or the Lasagna! I find myself grabbing more after I finish the first plate of it. It's definitely hard for me to eat purely all vegetables so it's a struggle for me to eat my money's worth here but the way they make the specials makes me not really miss meat in them. I also love their Baklava! It depends on the day of which flavor they make but I don't think you could go wrong on any of them. I wouldn't mind eating here again if I ever feel like I need a cleanse from all the meat I eat in a day.

I realllllly wanted to love this place based on reviews and a friend that dined here. My daughter is on day 5 of 7 being vegan so thought we'd venture here together. $13/pp for lunch. Also $5/# for takeout. As soon as you walk in, there is a remarkably strong scent of incense. If you enjoy that smell, it should not bother you. It did bother me. Reminded me of funerals especially w the chanting going on. I understand that it also a place of worship, but for some reason, didn't think it would occur during lunch hour. The outdoor tables were full with the exception of one. We opted to stay in as kids were running in the yard (perfectly fine as that's what outdoors are for) but we wanted a more "meditative" experience. We saw some relaxing pics that looked like we could "namaste" outside, but it was deceiving and we didn't see these areas. We didn't get that relaxing feeling at all. The tables inside were full and it was suggested to sit in the front where you enter. It is a strange location to put a table to dine at. The incense was overwhelming and the flies surrounding us was irritating. We moved back to the dining area as there were seats available. The scent was diminished tremendously in the dining area which was a plus. I think we were also anticipating more of a Down to Earth meal experience. It is more on the Indian side. Flavors we action don't care for. Again, if you enjoy those flavors, you may enjoy the food. The lasagne was ok and only 2 pcs left. It was never refilled and the pieces we got were crispy and old looking. Nothing was labeled so I have no idea what was what on the line. The curry I assume, was ok but lacked flavor. The house potatoes were good but on the saltier side. The curry mellowed out the salt. Yellow rice was fair. No soup bowls provided for what looked like soup. Even the curry you could probably eat in a bowl. The garbanzo beans seemed undercooked and bathed in a soup. Again, bowls would've been better as everything on our plate got soaked with many of their dishes in a soupy base. Idk what the drink was as again it wasn't labeled, but it tasted like a ginger soda. It wasn't bad. There's no hot sauce and everything is bland. There are red pepper flakes. I hate to complain, but it just wasn't in the cards for us. I'm glad I got to experience it, I'm just saddened we didn't enjoy it.

What a lovely place to dine on healthy vegan and vegetarian options for dinner. My husband and I decided we wanted to try Govinda's today and we were glad we did. The place is very quiet and relaxing. The food was lovely. There is also a huge beautiful bayan tree out back. What a great combination. Good food, serene surrounding and the best ginger drink on earth.

Tucked away in a beautiful, quiet Nuuanu neighborhood is this amazing gem. It's located in a Hari Krishna temple with beautiful meditation gardens in the back. Before you enter, you remove your shoes. Once inside, you will find a quaint gift/trinket shop with the buffet luncheon adjacent. For $13, you get an all-you-can-eat amazing buffet of vegetarian and vegan options. (Mondays and Saturdays, it's 100% Vegan.). On the buffet were a couple of different curries, an amazing lentil/nut loaf, plus various side dishes, including a couple of dessert options. The food - made with NO garlic - was tasty, delicious, wonderful....did I say delicious?! There was a 5-gallon container of ginger lemonade to help yourself. The lemonade was refreshing and light with a hint of sugar and ginger. Couldn't get enough of this amazing drink! For seating, they have 5-6 seating areas inside but lots of garden seating under a huge, beautiful tree! What a wonderful place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and sit back, relax and enjoy a tasty lunch.

One of my fave places. I feel at ease and if I am in need of some spiritual healing, I come here. It is adjacent to the Hare Krishna temple and ran by the people. The hosts, cooks, music, ambience and food are so delicate and sweet, and unassuming. The food is vegetarian and some parts are consistent like the bread crackers, mint lemon tea, but there are some different varieties every day. They are now also open on Saturdays for lunch which is nice. I absolutely love it here and to go take pics by the Banyan tree and Ganesha up front are priceless. The taste of the food is unique, and feels like you are transported to a different land and culture, which is so amazing. Highly recommend !!!

One of the best vegan foods that is have tasted so far. This is my first vegetarian buffet ever and for sure it is the best buffet.

Aloha, this Vegetarian buffet restaurant has been around for a very long time in the Harikrishna temple in Nuuanu. I will give it 3.5 stars. Maybe I caught in on a wrong day, but the flavors were quite bland. Not much spice, or salt, or pepper, sorry. Affordable if you're a big eater but I typically don't eat much for lunch. The salad was nice. Also, you had to take off your footwear. The biggest turn-off which lowered the stars to 3 was the solicitation/invitation to "join", just wasn't expecting that part of the experience.

The restaurant is located in a residential neighborhood in a large house with beautiful grounds. We had our lunch in the rear lawn area although most diners were seated in the indoor dining room. The staff were very friendly and helpful. Lunch was served as a buffet. All of the selections were vegetarian or vegan. The quality was nice and appeared to be in a home made style. I would consider returning and again enjoy the pleasant rear grounds.

It was quite a surprise to find this place in Honolulu. I do respect, what they have been doing. Raising money through the buffet service for Temple. Since this is not a restaurant, I had no expectation with respect to the service or the space. Neither did I expect it to be extremely delicious, as again it's not a restaurant with professional chefs cooking. The place is located in a residential area, very quite. Private parking lot. Lot of outside space to have your food with a few tables inside, near the buffet. But the food here was very disappointing. Food wasn't fresh when we arrived, the salad had started turning brown. The food was cold, and it was lacking minimal flavor. Overall, it's a beautiful place. We might visit again to the temple but not for the food.

This is one of those places that is very hidden away and yet such a healthy and delicious option for vegetarians. There is outdoor and indoor seating. Took wifey here and we both enjoyed our meals. Your food options consist of about a dozen choices. We opted to try everything, plates are weighed and pricing is based on your food weight minus the plate weight. Fair pricing system and such a good feeling eating healthy and yummy food. Will go back for sure. There is a temple on this property that free to browse through. Sandals must be taken off when eating inside this place and simply left at the front entrance.

"Real Men Don't Eat Quiche" - Bruce Feirstein, American Author I heard my husband mutter that phrase when I mentioned that I wanted to return to Govinda's on Thursday. Fortunately, he said it in jest because I have made quiches before but never vegetable-based. Being omnivores, it's pretty obvious that we don't have any dietary restrictions and our tastebuds run the gamut through ethnic groups. Govinda's is a great value ($13 pp) for a vegetarian AYCE lunch that leans toward Indian/Pakistani flavors. They only operate their buffet M-F during lunch hours, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Their main entrée and sides change daily. There are no alcoholic beverages as this little gem is also an active temple for Krishna devotees. For beverages, they serve an iced ginger-mint lemonade or filtered water. Quiche Thursday featured a big (hotel) pan of tofu-based quiche that was filled with chopped spinach and cheese with a pastry-like crust. Also on the buffet line was tasty, thick, stick-to-your-ribs potato curry, Indian lentil dhal, almond-cranberry halawah, fresh baked bread rolls and tossed greens. We arrived around 1:00 PM and apparently, there must have been a crowd ahead of us as the pan of quiche was nearly empty. It was a sunny, hot day so we decided to dine outdoors (which by the way is NOT my favorite). We sat under the beautiful sprawling banyan tree while cool Nu'uanu breezes blew through the backyard of this temple. We did hear some chanting from the temple but it was sort of relaxing to us. If you're in the lower Nu'uanu area and have the desire to eat good and tasty Indian/Pakistani vegetarian cuisine, you should come to check out this hidden gem at 51 Coelho Way. It's a peaceful lunchtime treat that is just minutes away from busy Downtown Honolulu. #361

I came here years ago and was pleasantly reminded how amazing the food is when I visited today! Delicious, all you can eat, vegetarian buffet. I'm not even vegetarian, but still thought everything was so good. The people here are amazingly friendly and are super open to sharing their culture with the visitors. The property is beautiful and peaceful. I highly recommend! Food: The food reminds me of Indian food. The menu consisted of fresh salad, homemade dressings, yogurt, a potato and eggplant dish, a coconut based curry, lentil soup, bread, delicious spicy beans, rice, and a fried tempura like vegetable. The curry like dishes were so flavorful. Every dish had a unique flavor. I also really enjoyed the "avocado chutney" made from avocados in their yard! Price/Ambiance/Service: The temple is able to run based on the money it makes from the lunch service and donations. The lunch price is $13, but we gave $15 each because everything was awesome. Ambiance is calming - a beautiful old Pali home with a huge yard. You can even take your meal to enjoy outdoors. It's a seat yourself, casual type of service. The manager, who was so friendly, would bring refill our tea and brought us things to sample. He was very nice. Overall, I'll be back for sure when I am craving some awesome vegetarian food. Parking: Lots of free parking in front of the temple

The first time I came to Gonvinda's was several years ago and the price was $10! Today it's $13 for the same buffet! That's a pretty big price jump and why I deduct a star! Govinda's is open Monday-Friday during lunch hours. The buffet changes daily but you're guaranteed a good fresh meal no matter the day. Lasagna Wednesday's are the best! Other days the main course is spaghetti, nut loaf, quiche and enchilada. Salads, sides, mint lemonade included. You can sit inside or in the meditation garden. I guess you could scoop more to make up for the inflation but it is what it is! Just clear your thoughts and eat away!

I got introduced to this place by some friends, and my girlfriend and I are so glad we tried it! The food was fresh, healthy, and tasty. It was a nice and sunny day when we went, so it was very pleasant to eat outside and walk around. A very quaint and relaxing place, plus good vegetarian eats. The staff were very chill and welcoming. I love the salads, quiche, and curry.