Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
Take-out
Veggie cafe operated by students of Sri Chinmoy since 1986. Menu features wraps, sandwiches, main entrees. Closed August month. Open Mon-Tue 11:00am-9:00pm, Wed 11:00am-3:00pm, Thu-Fri 11:00am-9:00pm, Sat 12:00pm-9:00pm.
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3351 Adams Ave (at Normal Heights), San Diego, California, USA, 92116
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Last update on 16 Aug 2014 by Guest
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34 Reviews
First Review by vixyash
jaygovinda108
Points +25
Great food and pleasant atmosphere - Edit
My favorite vegetarian place in San Diego. I have been coming here for over 25 years.
Read moreI live in Florida, but whenever I am in town to visit my sister, I make it a point to come here at least once.
Updated from previous review on 2023-08-02
Guest
MysticMerman
Points +83
A Normal Heights Historical Monument - Edit
Well, that might be exaggerating, but Jyoti Bihanga has been the veggie restaurant in the Normal Heights community for about 50 years. The food is always fresh and healthy. They are most famous for their Neatloaf (they have a vegan option) and their calm servers (all students of the meditation practiced there). It's still very affordable, too!
Read morePros: Great food., The service.
Guest
Yahmeesh
Points +246
Comfort food - Edit
It was raining and the freeway was gridlocked. I pulled over and had some v. meatloaf l, mashed potatoes, gravy, chocolate raw pie and Russian soup. I am grateful.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-03-29
Guest
kale_and_trail
Points +289
Good food, good prices - Edit
I’m really glad I visited this place on my trip to San Diego. It’s vegetarian with plenty of vegan options for decent prices. The food tasted fresh and flavorful. I got a dinner salad (which was $6) and a bowl with lots of veggies. Just what I wanted!
Read morePros: Lots of vegan options, Decent prices, Interesting menu
Cons: Somewhat forgetful service
Guest
ViktoriaNieva-Gomez
Points +1330
Nice vegan options - Edit
Lovely place with delicious food and peaceful atmosphere!
Read moreGuest
VegLegion
Points +68
Great vegan “Neatloaf” and Chai - Edit
The vegan meatloaf with mashed potato’s and mushroom gravy is delicious and filling. The space is unconventional and interesting. Prices are very reasonable. The waitstaff are friendly and welcoming.
Read moreGuest
AshleyCarvalho
Points +22
My favorite place - Edit
I’ve been eating at Jyoti for a few years now! They have delicious, healthy options with yummy specials every day.
Read moreI love the yoga bowl and curry specials & my boyfriend loves the vegan neatloaf, neatloaf sandwich and so many of the daily specials.
Pros: Healthy options , Great service , Delicious food
Cons: Close early some days , Not a ton of fully vegan options
Guest
Celenorma
Points +16
Delicious!!! - Edit
Had the portabella quesadilla and was highly impressed right away. The mystic salad was heavenly. The goat cheese had a subtle taste and the combination of the walnuts, cheese, portabella and greens were delicious!
Read morePros: Served fast, Deliciousness, Fresh
Cons: Far from my house., Not a highly advertised
Guest
Granercyrules
Points +412
Delicious! - Edit
I had the vegan neatloaf sandwich and I was impressed! It was delicious
Read moreGuest
MurpheyParker
Points +13
Great service! This was an impromptu find on vacation- very fresh! - Edit
Great diverse menu with Vegan and GF options.
Read moreGuest
stelloich
Points +20
Beautiful - Edit
Delicious place. So so healthy and wholesome. So much color in all their dishes. Always get a good dose of beets from there. The shiva wrap is my go to. Neatloaf is super good.
Read morePros: Pretty place, Desserts are good
Guest
CastlesInTheSky
Points +54
They have a really good breakfast buffet every now and then on Sunday... - Edit
This may change now though due to Covid. Every once in awhile when I lived in San Diego I would go there for breakfast by myself early in the morning (it's the kind of place you go with friends and family). The buffet itself is limited, but the quality is very good. Prices are reasonable and the people working there have always been nice. Note though, you will want to go to the bathroom immediately after you eat there and I believe they only have 1 toilet LOL.
Read moreGuest
lynneranney
Points +56
Traditional vegetarian with some good vegan options - Edit
Long-time veg restaurant of the hippy / Alice’s Restaurant / 1960s genre. That’s a good thing. The nut loaf fantastic.
Read morePros: Nut loaf
Guest
ferdiekho
Points +98
Tasty - Edit
I had Vegan Neatloaf and it was delicious.
Read morePros: Vegan option , Clean
Cons: Parking
Guest
Llamalover2580
Points +241
Good Energy - Edit
I got the Neatloaf. Super good. The friend got the veggie burger and she liked it.
Read moreGuest
KellyBone
Points +2802
NEAT LOAF - Edit
Some of the food here is bad. Like, really really. But that damn Neat Loaf erases all poor dishes endured. It's a baked block of tofu and seasoned Special K smeared with a tangy ketchup based sauce that vouched for all 70's vegetarian hippy food.
Read moreBut if you hate good renditions of Americana, the Yoga Bowl is pretty okay too.
Pros: Vegan marked menu , NEAT LOAF
Guest
ted939
Points +37
Excellent food - Edit
Of course many people know the NeatLoaf. It is so good. Whether I'm buying a tray of it for thanksgiving dinner, the NeatLoaf sandwich, or just getting the lowest priced side dish of it, you can never go wrong.
Read morePlus, EVERYthing else they serve is great.
And the occasional (not regular) all you can eat Sunday brunch is great great great.
Definitely a little pricey for me (like most restaurants), but this restaurant is worth it!
Oh, and the mashed potatoes & mushroom gravy is another personal fave of mine.
So much good stuff here :-)
Pros: great taste, healthy/nutritious, environmentally-friendly, relaxing atmosphere, nice staff
Cons: There's only one branch of this restaurant, Not open 24 hours for my every whim, Not cheap priced
Guest
wyldblueangel
Points +47
I always get the vegan Neat loaf - Edit
And love it. The mashed potatoes and gravy are delicious too! We've been to the Sunday breakfast buffet a couple of times as well. Actually took the kids on mothers day when hubby was out of town. Be sure to get there early for the buffet, they fill up fast. Thankful for wonderful food and a great atmosphere. They changed their hummus, unfortunately, to a beet hummus, kids didn't like it as much as the other.
Read morePros: Lots of Vegan Options, Friendly Staff, Sun Breakfast Buffet (not every Sun tho)
Guest
merimac
Points +160
Delicious Healthy Food - Edit
Salads are large and complex. Curries very fragrant and flavorful. Interesting dishes. Large portions. Very reasonable prices.
Read moreCons: Very noisy
Guest
ShantiPeace
Points +496
Quaint - Edit
I've been here just a few times over the years. I'd probably have gone more if closer to where I live. I've had their nut loaf and other dishes. Interesting energy there with an air of religious and friendly energy.
Read moreGuest
pyatrus
Points +171
Wonderful Veggie Cafe in a Historic Building - Edit
A very nice, small cafe for a quiet healthy meal.
Read moreI mainly go for the Sunday brunch buffet & for many years (phone first to verify they are open -- they are closed many Sundays), and it's a great place to meet & chat with friends.
Vegan items are clearly identified. Tasty vegan blueberry pancakes, tofu scramble, home fries w/gravy, etc. Simple menu but enough choices to keep things interesting.
As their blog points out, building was to be a bank (1928) that never opened but eventually became this great cafe with vaulted ceilings and big windows in the 80's. (Too bad the health food store across the street closed.)
(easy to find near Normal Heights sign on Adams Ave.)
Pros: Veggie Sunday brunch (vegan items IDed), limited but good menu, unique, historic building (calm colors)
Cons: Limited parking (some spaces at side), More of cafe than restaurant, Sunday brunch buffet gets very crowded
Guest
Meggie and Ben
Points +1786
Nice, calming place - Edit
Very cute little place. Better for vegetarians than vegans, but some good options that change daily.
Read morePros: Nice atmosphere, Staff is knowledgeable
Cons: Limited vegan options
Guest
philjdomm
Points +945
Raw Diet - Edit
Well suits better for someone who is not a raw vegan as I was eyeballing their infamous neatloaf
Read morePros: Hindi, Location
Cons: Not Raw Friendly
Guest
pandapharmd
Points +89
Warm and friendly - Edit
It's been a few years since my last visit here but I still recall the friendly environment and the neatloaf. If I ever make it back out to San Diego this will be my first stop!
Read morePros: Neatloaf, Everyone was so nice, Great energy
Guest
Mateusz
Points +22
Exellent food, and excellent service. - Edit
I (vegan) went there for the first time with two out of town friends (one considering vegetarianism, and the other omni), as well as my fiancé (vegetarian), so it was a pretty good mix of veg and non-veg.
Read moreAll of us were more than satisfied with the food, including the vegan apple pie. The entrees were delicious, and there were no shortcuts for flavor (no reliance on sugar or fat to make it taste better). Prices for everything were quite reasonable. It wasn't the cheapest, but most certainly worth it (about $8-10 for an entree, which came with soup or salad).
The only thing that surpassed the food was the service. Our waiter was very friendly, and never pushy. He was happy to answer all questions, and talk a bit. It all felt very causal and comfortable. This seemed to be pretty much indicative of the service as a whole, since I noticed the rest of the staff getting on well with the customers.
I also appreciated the spiritual atmosphere of the restaurant. While it wasn't forced on anyone, it was still present, and the staff was more than willing to talk about it.
I definitely want to go there again.
Pros: Spiritual atmosphere, Excellent food, Very friendly staff
Cons: Not 100% vegan
Guest
OperationChowhound
Points +7282
Blissful Brunch - Edit
I went to the brunch buffet. They labeled all the items and almost everything was vegan. The restaurant has a religious affiliation, but the employees/members did not even mention it, so I did not feel uncomfortable. They continuously refilled buffet items and cleared dishes. Good price for "all-you-can-eat." It started to get crowded as we were finishing, so go early.
Read morePros: mostly vegan, good brunch selection, good value
Guest
berrychamp
Points +29
I'm a regular - Edit
I volunteer next door to this restaurant once a week and usually get food to go from there. The PLB (peace-light-bliss) burger with mashed potatoes and gravy is one of my favorites. If I am wanting something lighter I will have the soup and salad combo. The staff is friendly and the place is clean and bright. This is probably the longest lasting vegetarian restaurant in San Diego-it has been here for at least 20 years and the quality of the food has been consistent. There is a connection to Sri Chinmoy, and there are pictures and books of his there. The service can be a little slow at times but part of that is because they make everything fresh to order. The food is not strictly vegan, as they use some dairy and eggs, however they are very clear about what is vegan and what is not and there are plenty of vegan choices. The neat loaf, one of their most popular plates, has eggs, though they do have a vegan version.
Read morePros: Atmosphere, Vegetarian choices, Good portions
Cons: Can be slow, A little bland for my taste
Guest
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