Lotus Cafe & Juice Bar

Really yummy açaí bowls and the menu is very unique. I’ve only done takeout but the staff is super friendly. If I lived in the area I have a feeling I’d be coming here a lot for quick, reasonably priced healthy meals

I was not expecting such a beautiful atmosphere inside. The cashier was very helpful at helping me decide but my mind was set on the curry bowl. She explained to me about the spices they use for flavor and not heat. Such a great vibe. Go and enjoy

East Indian themed healthy restaurant with gluten-free and vegan options. The three egg omelet was pretty good and a frittata was even a little better. The coffee is very standard with no exotic options such as butter coffee or espresso tonic or pour over. The seating is very comfortable and the Wi-Fi was about 100/20. Overall this is the place I would recommend trying when you're in Encinitas.

So glad to have found this restaurant while passing through! A friend and I stayed in Encinitas and ate dinner here. It was so good we came back for a snack the next day before leaving town! I got the curry dish and it was full of veggies and so creamy and delish- tasted like a green curry without being spicy. For me it was 2 meals. I also got the pumpkin spice cupcake- it wasn't overly sweet which I liked. It was a little dense and had a lot of spice flavors (not spicy, but rather spiceful). It's refreshing to have so many options on a menu as a GF DF rarely-eat-meat-just-chicken person!! I wish we had this in Colorado! Can't wait to visit again. If you have time, you must visit the store around the corner for books, Oracle decks, gifts and crystals!

A magical and beautiful restaurant with personable staff. Highly recommend the vegetarian burrito. A great experience!

This is one of my all time favorite places, it's worth every penny. We love the atmosphere, the food is so unique and the tofu dill salad dressing is amazing. I wish I could buy bottles of it!

Picture a diner that serves only the most delicious, healthy, nourishing foods, add some of the kindest, most lighthearted people you’ll ever meet and beautiful ambience and music and you’ll begin to discover the beauty that is Lotus Cafe. This is one of my go to places for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The food is fantastic, the service is excellent and fast, and there is a ton of seating inside and outside in the shade and in the sun. Whether you’re local, or visiting from out of town, look no further for any meal of the day than this fantastic cafe

The whole menu is amazing. Food isn't cheap. But it's worth every penny. So many great flavors from stir fry to curry, Mexican to turkey burgers, all made with health and wholesomeness in mind. My favorite is the Lotus Bowl with blackened chicken. Staff is always friendly and informative. 11/10 place.

Ordered the Cobb salad with Turkey and my wife ordered the strawberry salad and added chucked. Everything was excellent and we were treated like VIP. We also order and build your own juice (green apple, carrot, cucumber) super delicious Inside is super cool and restaurant is in a nice area and Super clean.

The best part of Lotus is the extensive menu and the staff. They are super kind and attentive, it makes you feel at home. They have loads of vegan/ veggie/ gluten free items, which is a plus. The service is also prompt! The downsides include that it's expensive & the food can be bland. I think they do this so everyone can have it - but it could use some extra flavoring. Otherwise, highly recommend!

Really nice service Unfortunately my green juice tasted like it only had kale and it was warm , no ice and not cooled. Not my fav.

Picture a diner that serves only the most delicious, healthy, nourishing foods, add some of the kindest, most lighthearted people you'll ever meet and beautiful ambience and music and you'll begin to discover the beauty that is Lotus Cafe. This is one of my go to places for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The food is fantastic, the service is excellent and fast, and there is a ton of seating inside and outside in the shade and in the sun. Whether you're local, or visiting from out of town, but no further for any meal of the day than this fantastic cafe

Order at the counter and food will be brought out. The menu is extensive but I appreciate that there are many ways to modify the meal for vegan or gluten free. The staff was very pleasant and eager to answer questions. I love that you can get your veggies steamed. Good meal and something for everyone

It's been a while since I've been here, and after my most recent visit, I don't know that I will be back. Service is still good. Servers are still friendly. I still enjoy dining outdoors, and the decor is always interesting. Unfortunately, the food did not measure up to all my previous meals here. My friend had the Grilled Portobello sandwich. I had the Black Bean Enchiladas. The portions are still generous, but both meals were bland.

I always hear so much about Lotus Cafe, and I think it's an iconic establishment in downtown Encinitas, but I've surprisingly never been--until now! To be honest, I did not know what to expect, but I have to admit that my experience was very positive. The cafe is located in a shopping center, which is very convenient because there's no need to fight for parking. The ambiance is very casual; you line up to order at the counter, they give you a number, you find a table, and they'll bring your food to you! They do accept Apple Pay. There are tables inside, outside, and in a covered patio, so plenty of places to choose from. I went around dinner time, and it wasn't very crowded, though there were other patrons. There is also a little station where you can help yourself to napkins, water/ice, straws, utensils, etc. It's self serve. The bathroom has a code, but you can easily ask the employees for it. The interior and menu are decorated with this theme of "lotuses" in mind, so I think it's very cute. In terms of the food, I love how they serve breakfast all day! Breakfast is my favorite meal, so of course I opted for a pitaya bowl. I got it with apple juice, no honey. It was, as expected, a beautiful bowl! It tasted strongly of apple juice, but other than that, it was just your basic bowl. With that in mind, it was on the pricier side for an acai bowl, though the portion size is larger than most. Meanwhile, my friend ordered the Moonlight pasta with a salad and garlic bread. She loved the garlic bread, but the pasta was a pass from the both of us. Despite its fancy name, the dish is basically just pesto pasta with cheese; my gripe with it is that the pesto was chunky yet watery at the same time? It was not very flavorful. I think this was a miss. Overall, I liked Lotus Cafe, but I don't think anything stood out to me, besides the ambiance. I don't think I'll go out of my way to come back, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying it again either. It's very cute though!

DAY AFTER: Just a Heads Up. I checked my 2 bills this morning that came to $42. And that I was charged $1,00 For the "BOWL" of soup. Who does that?? I was also under the impression that the cornbread came with the soup. $1.95 For a very small square. Overall, I do recommend this place. Just ask about the extra charges. REALLY health food! Wonderful staff, very organized and clean. Of course, I had to read the reviews and the majority of them were very positive. I enjoyed looking over the menu the day before and decided on what I wanted to eat and drink. The cashier, will you walk up to an order like in many places these days. Rashal was eager to wait on us and explain what the specials were for the day. I ordered the ginger kombucha, lental barley soup With the most perfect corn bread. I never eat cornbread it's always dry. This didn't have gluten in it so it was very moist and delicious. I also had a to go order a grilled portable mushroom on sour bread and espresso shake.Yum! My friend ordered the beautiful looking acia bowl and blueberry shake. Looking forward to going back here and trying more of their menu. It's huge! Lots of parking in the Lumber yard it's called, many tables outside, inside and booths. Nice artwork all over. We arrived around 12:30 just before the crowds.

Upon walking in, there was a line and full restaurant around 1 on a Saturday. They have plenty of outdoor seating, lots of doggos sunbathing while their owners ate which was a pleasure to see. Menu is great for keto/paleo, vegan/vegetarian, and gluten free diets. Food: I got the Buddha bowl with mock chicken, side of chips and salsa and a juice (carrot, beet, celery) and a ginger shot. The menu is eclectic from Mexican flavors, Indian, Italian and American. There seemed to be a lot of veggies loaded in each dish (which I love). I really enjoyed my food, portion wasn't too big which I was happy about but to be honest I expected leftovers from a $16 dish (only downside). I needed to add salt because beans were a little bland and there wasn't any dressing on the veggies but it felt nourishing and hit the spot. Mock chicken had a nice bite and spice to it. Ambiance/service: fast- casual dining experience, the food runners are attentive though and very quick to clean tables for the next patron. This place is very casual and down to earth, perfect for a relaxing lunch date with loved ones or solo trip. 10/10 recommend!

Pricey? Sure. Fresh, delicious, and too many vegetarian/vegan options to count? ALSO YES!!! As a vegetarian of forever I sometimes struggle having so many options, but everything was so good (they have a few fish/meat options too! Plenty of in and outdoor seating. Order at the counter. The lotus bowl was the table fave, but the vegan shakes also slapped. Felt full and good after eating their food. Would recommend!

Such a cute place. So many options for gluten-free and dairy-free. We ordered: Chicken sandwich- so good!! Fries were hot and delicious. Salmon sandwich with gluten-free bread- yummy and fresh Guac and chips- the chips tasted homemade and the Guac was delicious. Right on 101 it is a great place to stop and people watch with seating outside.

Hit or miss brunch spot. It is a casual restaurant where you order food/drink upfront and seat yourself. Don't expect any service. Need to get your own silverware and request water. Their French toast with chicken sausage was very delicious. Taste great. Do not recommend getting their sandwiches. Super stale and dry. Not much flavor. Also the smoothies were a bit bland and expensive for what it is.

Low key super healthy restaurant in the heart of Encinitas. Vegan options, Gluten-free, paleo, keto - it's all here. Order at the bar and the server will bring your food. Everyone is nice, chill and exuding a health and surf-culture vibe. Check it out! You'll be glad you did.

Thank you to Ava and Sveti (I apologize for spelling) they both were so incredibly kind. I came in with stomach aches and luckily Sveti was able to use her knowledge of health and nutrition to help me choose the right nutritious foods to heal me. Because it was towards closing time, there weren't many people and it was spacious. 10/10 would recommend people to come here and ask for Sveti. I really appreciate her.

It's all about the homemade Chai. So tasty and comforting. Forget the powdered offerings of so many other places. Add in a lovely decor, super comfortable booths and an eclectic menu, and you have a recipe for a great experience at Lotus Cafe.

No Notes--the açaí bowl is simply perfect. Friendly staff, not too crowded, plenty of seating, huge menu. Lotus cafe has been consistently great for years.

We stumbled upon Lotus Cafe close to Moonlight and Swami's Beach in Encinitas. Lots of vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and healthy options. I was craving a green juice and something for my toddlers. For my to go order, I went with their Daily Greens smoothie and OJ for the kids. While their Daily Greens smoothie was fresh pressed juice, their OJ was not fresh. A little disappointed about the OJ, but they did inform me as I ordered. I also ordered a Turkey Burger with ketchup for my 3 and 2 year and they gobbled it quickly! I ordered a hot peppermint tea to enjoy in the cool and foggy weather. They had our order ready pretty quickly and provide lots of condiment options. Decent prices for the quality and portion sizes. Loved the ambiance of this place. Tons of healthy tasty options to choose from. Would definitely return when in town.

If a vegan or vegetarian finds one's self in the San Diego area, highly recommend this gem, replete with delicious, healthy, and ample options, great vibe, and such a gracious host in proprietor, Vishal.

Great place for people with special dietary needs. Really nice staff and they made good recommendations. The food was tasty and nice ambiance. Indoor and outdoor seating.

A consistent favorite where I meet for a delicious meal with all my friends and family. Service is so very welcoming, friendly, and efficient. There is something delicious for everyone because they have so many vegan and vegetarian options - and it's all delicious from salsa to smoothies!

Stop by for some green juice. Not too busy here for Saturday night. Also have diner section. They have a middle eastern vibe

My wife and I enjoyed this place and they had great tasty and healthy options on their menu. The entire restaurant was super hot and felt a bit uncomfortable. The service was great and we enjoyed our time. This is a unique experience and worth trying for sure.

Lotus has been a consistent and local favorite of mine for many years. It's fast casual, lots of vegetarian and vegan options, plenty of indoor and outdoor dining space, cozy ambiance with quirky decor, fantastic and friendly service, and a wide variety of menu options for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

If you want quality food that tastes great, look no farther! Even though it's located in plain sight on Highway 101, it's easy to breeze past Lotus Cafe. In that sense, it's a hidden gem in the area. Offering a surprisingly diverse menu with a wide assortment of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free, Lotus Cafe seems to take great pride in sourcing fresh, natural foods. My wife and I came here one Saturday afternoon and enjoyed a relaxing lunch out on the patio. We shared a Harvest Salad with Balsamic Dressing and a Pilgrim Sandwich, subbing in chicken for turkey. Both were very well prepared and the crunchy blue corn tortilla chips were a nice complement to the sandwich. We were left feeling satiated and energized, but not overly stuffed. After an awesome experience, we'll definitely be returning sometime soon. PRO TIP: Lotus Cafe is great if your dining with someone who has dietary restrictions. Beyond specializing in vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options, they're also very accommodating with special requests. However, if you order gluten free bread on a sandwich, I recommend having it toasted because it falls apart easily.

Overall experience was good. Just that its a self service and food was ok for me, I thought there would be indian fusion based on name but its mostly Mexican food. The menu is so huge I got so confused on what to order.

spent some time walking around & was craving a smoothie. Lotus cafe was PERFECT! Delicious smoothies, good variety, and a perfect treat on a hot day.

Updating my review after a few years to 3 stars. The buckwheat pancakes were just okay this time around. For the up charge, i would have expected more blueberries. The syrup portion is small and if you want more it's extra. My husband unknowingly ordered "ALL" the veggies for the tofu scramble. I wish the employee would have told us it was $1 each topping because we payed the price of two meals for one person. They do have a self serve coffee station and been though the employee was kind enough to give us vegan creamer from his personal stash, the restaurant really should have their own for customers. My daughter didn't love her buckwheat pancakes and with the small amount of syrup they give, I don't blame her. The tofu scramble it good, as is the potatoes, toast, vegan bacon. The pancakes were just meh, this time around. I really wish the employee would have told us how much each topping was when we ordered to make sure it was okay. Anyway, I'll prob continue to make my own tofu scrambles at home because they are much cheaper.

I can start by saying I have been coming here happily for many years and normally would rate 5 stars. All the employees they hire are always so nice, friendly, and accommodating. The menu is diverse with a lot of healthy options. I have always loved sitting at the big wooden booth-style tables. The inside is really quite beautiful, with lots of natural light and plenty of space. In the past, I could reliably come here for a comforting meal. I am writing this review because recently I have been left disappointed by my visits to Lotus Cafe. I understand that many places are struggling post-Covid, so I wonder if that's part of it. Most recently, I ordered food to-go and my meal was missing the guacamole and sour cream. That is not insignificant when you are paying $18 for a meal! This wouldn't be a big deal if I was eating there, and would just ask for the missing items. In this case, I did not want to drive back since I had my dog with me. In the future I will double-check what I ordered before leaving, and I hope whoever packages up the to-go orders can make a habit of double-checking orders, too. :)

LOVE Lotus!!! So good and they have something for everyone!!! They accommodate every dietary concern and still make everything delicious!!! We brought a gluten-free, vegan, carnivore, vegetarian, celery-allergic group and everyone of the six of us loved our food and the patio where we enjoyed the sunshine and our delicious brunch!!! Tofu scramble was amazing!!! Tempeh ranchero was my favorite!!! Gluten-free, vegan pancakes were a hit!!! And the carnivores loved the French toast combo!!! Such a lovely patio and beautiful interior!!! For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Lotus has you covered!!!

workers were very efficient, pleasant, kind and helpful... there were 2 of us and one meal was served within 10 minutes.the second meal did not arrive for half an hour.... what's up with that? my falafel bowl was terrible... falafels dried out and over cooked.. hummus also very dry and flavorless as well.. . salad greens were three days too old... If my bag of mixed greens gets like that at home, I throw it into compost....come on people... I was very disappointed. the only good thing was the environment and the lovely people who work there..

Just feeling so grateful for mindful and beautiful substance. I love everything about Lotus Cafe.

This was my "gf burrito". How am I suppose to eat that? I wish they would specify that it would be wrapped like that.

Another great Encinitas spot for fresh food and tons of healthy options. We have hitting up the Lotus Cafe for years now and we are never disappointed. The staff is very welcoming and super helpful with recommendations from their large menu. The great vibe of the restaurant is enhanced with the beautiful Buddhist decor. From breakfast served all day and tons of vegan options if that's what your in to.

Came back here after a not so great experience a few years ago. So much better. My sandwich was made to perfection. Still a bit slow getting the food out but it was worth the wait.

A nice neat place with so many vegetarian and vegan options . I liked what I tried but spouse was not so much thrilled about his salad and told it was a bit bland and not much flavourful. I liked the sandwich artichoke pesto with mock chicken it was quite good. Will go back to try some more options to know if this is a solid vegetarian joint .so far liked what I tried and the prices are okay too.

I drive long distance just to come to this cafe. I am in love with their peanut butter milkshake. It is creamy and thick. It tastes kind of like butterfinger in a glass. I ordered the avocado heaven sandwich and it was fresh and tasted great even with no fish or meat in it. My husband ordered fish tacos. they ran out of cod and substituted salmon. He still loved it. The staff is friendly and they have so many healthy options. There are always open seats and parking which is convenient.

Ate here last weekend and just had to comment on how great the ambience and food was. The staff was so friendly and attentive. Highly Recommend!!

My friend and I came here for brunch because I haven't been before and I was disappointed. I can get down with crunchy hippie food for sure, but the breakfast burrito was not it. My first grievance is that the cheese was on the outside of the burrito, so not a handheld situation, and then it tasted/was presented like someone made it in a college dorm. I want to come back and try more things since the menu is so big, but definitely not a burrito.

My husband and I were walking around en route to another eating spot when I noticed this gem. I decided to take a quick look at the menu conveniently located on a stand located on the front porch and was immediately captivated by various menu items. I selected the Tofu scramble for my meal and my husband ordered the red velvet cheesecake. My meal was served with veggie sausage and sweet potatoes and I chose to have my tofu scrambled with mushrooms and red onions. This meal was perfect...hot, fresh and packed with flavor. If you have ever cooked tofu you know it's not the easiest thing to cook or season. The chef here definitely knows what he/she is doing. Loved my meal and even helped my husband with his dessert which was equally delicious. I can't wait for my next visit so I can try the veggie burrito.

Love this place, everything about it. Staff is super friendly and accommodating. Food is consistently fantastic. I always get the stuffed avocado, but everything on the menu is delicious. Well run business all around.

Overall Lotus Cafe is very delicious and wonderful environment and place to be. We enjoyed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey bacon and a delicious Açaí Bowl. I had a Cafe Mocha Iced. The mark was missed in a few places, we didn't get any peanut butter in our açaí bowl, we were asked if we wanted it added and we said yes and the whipped cream was missing from my coffee, again I was asked if I wanted this and said yes. In general though Lotus Cafe is wonderful and has something for everyone. There is plenty of seating and the menu caters to many types of dietary needs.

We love Lotus- whenever we have a birthday to celebrate or want to take the whole family out to dinner, Lotus is our choice. We have several dietary needs in our family and it's very hard to find a healthy resaurant that can appeal to all of us. Lotus is our answer. We always enjoy the food and Eric the manager and his great staff are always friendly and awesome. Highly recommend to all locals and out-of-town visitors!! Brad H

Definition of eating healthy while out is this place. It is walk up and order, so just be sure to do so when you arrive. Outside of that, very fair portion sizes. Not overpriced. I'd recommend if you're in the area looking for a healthy substitute.

Love this place! Always a friendly face, and great food. Me and the family eat here once a week, at least. Heavy users, as they say :D We go for the fish tacos quite often. Enjoyable smoothies, too. Vast menu with something for everyone. On a side note: very happy that they've put a code on the bathroom. Used to be hit or miss, cleanliness-wise. Most people would miss, it seemed. Now, super clean.

went here on a wednesday morning, service and food were amazing! restaurant wasn't too busy, which was nice. i got the breakfast burrito and the fried egg sandwich, both were delicious. the fried egg sandwich was probably one of the best breakfast sandwiches i've ever had. 10/10 experience.

Who says Vegan can't be tasty! Lotus cafe brings out zen vibes making you feel your best with the organic energy has through its food and dining area.

Food, service, atmosphere...everything about this place is delightful. Highly recommend!

Great place for vegans and vegetarians! Employees are super friendly! Fresh juices are delicious!

I ordered an açaí bowl with almond butter on top for a quick snack on a Saturday. It wasn't busy, so I got my bowl in about 10mins. The acai was good, but the price was not what I expected... I paid $19 with tip included but even then, that's a lot for an acai bowl. I would try something else on the menu another day.

This is my favorite place to get a smoothie. High vibrations. My colleague recommends the açaí bowl. Truly an Enci institution.