Going Meatless for World Vegetarian Day? Check Out These O‘ahu Restaurant Posts
Move over, Meatless Monday. Here’s all our recent vegan and vegetarian coverage of plant-based Honolulu to help you plan for Friday, Oct. 1.
Vegan Magic Island roll. Photo courtesy of Tane Vegan Izakaya
On the calendar of food celebration days, there are strange ones (National Ice Cream for Breakfast Day was Feb. 21 this year) and days that are all over the place. Take Oct. 1: It’s simultaneously World Sake Day, National Homemade Cookies Day, and—the point of this post—World Vegetarian Day. This last one is especially timely, considering October is the start of the most intensive snacking and feasting season of the year.
Honolulu’s vegetarian and vegan offerings are expanding, though this foodscape is changing: Vegan Hills in Kaimukī and other plant-based eateries are gone, and Waimānalo’s Ai Love Nalo is at least temporarily closed. So if you’re going vegetarian or vegan this Friday, here’s a roundup of our recent meatless coverage with updated hours for each business. Click on the headlines to see the full posts.
Raised by the Waves / ‘Ōlena Cafe
Going Vegan Is Hard. These Two Cafés Helped a Meat Addict Transition
When a carnivore’s doctor orders him to go vegan, two cafes help save his sanity.
Raised by the Waves open daily except Monday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., 56-565 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, raisedbythewaves.square.site, @raisedbythewaveshawaii
‘Ōlena Cafe open Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1631 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 941-9342, olenacafe.com, @olenacafe
Vegan City
Loco Mocos and Meatball Subs: Vegan City on Kapahulu Is All About Flavor Bomb Comfort Food
Kapahulu’s home of vegan comfort foods. Note: Online orders only since mid-September. Check Instagram for updates.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., online orders only since mid-September 2021. 760 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 888-7007, vegancityhawaii.com, @vegan_city_hawaii
Tane Vegan Izakaya
At Mō‘ili‘ili’s Tane Vegan Izakaya, a Fiery Tale of Suspense
Happy Veganuary: Revisiting Tane Vegan Izakaya in Honolulu
Still Honolulu’s only plant-based izakaya—creative, flavorful and elegant.
Open Tuesday to Saturday 4:30 to 10 p.m., 2065 S. Beretania St., (808) 888-7678, tanevegan.com, @tanevegan
Ganesh Dosa
Townies’ Loss Is Windward’s Gain: Ganesh Dosa Moves to Kailua
Nutella dosas! Plus all the dosa choices from Ganesh’s former home at ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 315 Uluniu St., (808) 762-7517, ganeshdosa.com, @ganeshdosa
Blondie’s Plant-Based Food Truck
This Food Truck Slings Up Vegan Cheeseburgers, Tacos and Breakfast Plates in Iwilei
Comfort dishes from a mother-daughter team that makes their own vegan starter mixes, in the parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 411 Pacific St., blondiesfoodtruck.com, @blondiesfoodtruck
Istanbul
Taste Flavors from Turkey at the New Istanbul Restaurant in Kaka‘ako
A good portion of the menu at this elegant eatery is vegetarian and vegan.
Open from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. 1108 Auahi St., (808) 772-4440, istanbulhawaii.com, @istanbulhawaii
The Other Side Diner
New Riff on Chinatown Restaurant-Bar Brings Back Vegan and Vegetarian Fare
Meat-free Honolulu breathed a collective sign of relief when new owners kept much of the old Downbeat Diner’s meatless menu.
42 N. Hotel St., (808) 533-2328, theothersidehi.com, @theothersidehi
Muki Dogs
Find Vegan Hot Dogs at a Tiny Cart in Kaimukī
Who knew Honolulu was waiting for plant-based dogs? This tiny cart has expanded to a second location in Kaka‘ako.
Multiple locations, @mukidogs
Holey Grail
Holey Grail Doughnuts Is Expanding with a 5-Month Pop-Up
It’s been more than five months, but fans of these taro-based doughnuts aren’t counting!
Multiple locations, @holeygraildonuts
Ripple of Smiles
Comfort Eats: Find Pho and Vegan Vietnamese at The Ripple of Smiles
Yes, there’s meat, but also Meatless Mondays and an entire menu section of vegan dishes including pho and stir-fried bamboo shoots.
Open Wednesday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., 3040 Wai‘alae Ave., (808) 354-2572, therippleofsmiles.com, @the_ripple_of_smiles (Delivery also available via BiteSquad, DoorDash and Grubhub, but if you can, order directly from the restaurant for pickup: delivery services charge restaurants up to 30% in fees.)
Mother Bake Shop
Mother Bake Shop: The Bakery That Doesn’t Want You To Know It’s Vegan
Bountiful loaded toasts, cinnamon rolls and now, pizza on Friday nights in Kailua.
Open Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. with pizza from 5 to 8:30 p.m. 131 Hekili St., Suite 101, Kailua, (808) 379-0076, motherbakeshop.com
