Kona, Hawaii, known for its natural beauty, offers a growing array of plant-based dining options. The island’s focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients naturally complements a plant-forward approach, making it an inviting place for herbivores.
Top Herbivore-Friendly Restaurants in Kona
Kona offers various dining establishments catering to plant-based preferences, from dedicated vegan eateries to restaurants with extensive vegetarian and vegan menus. Herbivores is a fully vegan drive-thru offering healthy fast food alternatives like breakfast bagels, burgers, sandwiches, and jackfruit nachos. Journey Cafe, another entirely plant-based option, emphasizes handcrafted cuisine using organic produce from Big Island farms. It is known for sourdough pockets, breakfast wraps, and smoothie and salad bowls.
Loko Wraps offers a Mexican-Hawaiian fusion experience with a focus on sustainability, using compostable utensils and local organic produce. Their menu includes smoothies, vegan bowls like the Kahuna Bowl with Kona coffee, and a jackfruit BBQ wrap with coconut rice and pineapple salsa.
Swami’s Dosa Grill, in the Kona International Market food court, offers Indian dishes with clearly marked vegan options. HiCO Hawaiian Coffee features plant-based items like vegan musubi, Ube or Mushroom Lattes, and a vegan mac nut cheese panini. Orchid Thai Cafe and Papa Kona also accommodate plant-based diners. Orchid Thai provides a separate cooking area for vegan dishes, and Papa Kona offers labeled vegan options like a tofu poke bowl and Beyond burger in an oceanfront setting.
Exploring Local Plant-Based Provisions
Beyond dining out, Kona offers opportunities to source fresh, plant-based ingredients for self-catering or snacks. Island Naturals Market & Deli is a comprehensive health food store. It features a wide selection of organic produce, much from local growers, including microgreens, mushrooms, and leafy greens. The market also offers a bulk section with organic beans, grains, nuts, and dried fruits, plus a bakery with vegan and gluten-free baked goods like pumpkin cranberry bread. Their deli section includes prepared foods such as purple potato salad, dill potato salad, and curried tofu dip, all marked for dietary preferences.
Local farmers markets are another resource for fresh, island-grown produce. The Keauhou Farmers Market, held every Saturday morning, showcases products grown and made on the Big Island. Visitors can find seasonal fruits like avocados, papayas, and Hawaiian apple bananas, along with vegetables, taro, and tropical greens. Some vendors offer fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, microgreens, and edible flowers.
Roadside stands throughout Kona also offer fresh, seasonal fruits such as butter avocados and sapote, often operating on an honor system where small cash is useful. These markets and stores emphasize the Big Island’s agricultural diversity, allowing direct access to fresh plant-based foods.
Navigating Plant-Based Dining in Kona
Navigating plant-based dining in Kona involves a few strategies for a satisfying experience. Many restaurants allow substitutions, such as replacing animal protein with tofu. Always communicate dietary needs and inquire about ingredients, especially noting the exclusion of egg or fish sauce in dishes that might otherwise appear plant-based.
Utilizing online resources like HappyCow can help identify vegan-friendly restaurants and read reviews. While many establishments offer vegetarian choices, confirm they do not contain dairy or other animal products, as some “vegetarian” items might include cheese. For those with kitchen facilities, visiting local markets and health food stores to prepare meals can be a rewarding way to experience the island’s fresh produce. This allows greater control over ingredients and an opportunity to savor locally grown fruits and vegetables.