Vegan
American
Beer/Wine
Take-out
Asian
Fusion
Vegan establishment serving artisan ales and stouts and a variety of food items such as salads, Thai curry, dal or burritos. Open Tue-Sat 11:00am-9:00pm, Sun 12:00pm-8:00pm. Closed Mon.
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37 S 1st St, San Jose, California, USA, 95113
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Last update on 15 Nov 2022 by villain
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109 Reviews
First Review by cyndiesel
JimmyQue
Points +15
Fantastic Food and Beer Selection - Edit
I've long admired the food coming out of Good Karma's kitchen. Simply delectable. And the beer selection is top notch, featuring beers from some of my very favorite brewers such as Sante Adairius.
Read morePros: Amazing food , Always good beers on tap
Cons: Fills up quickly!, Getting a beer can take a while
Guest
Passittowill
Points +3423
Great Food Great Service - Edit
Came here late night and got some Budda Buns, Chips and Dip, Bakalava and Mayan Cake. All were absolutely fantastic and big portions. The staff were very helpful and welcoming. Highly recommend.
Read morePros: All Vegan, Big portions, Friendly Staff
Cons: Parking, Tad small inside
Guest
karolina_teresa
Points +72
Fantastic place - Edit
Tried Jamaican jerk burrito and it was spectacular. Will be back to try more!
Read moreGuest
SuzT
Points +937
Fast and friendly service - Edit
Friendly staff and delicious food! The kale salad is now my favorite! Lots of beer options as well as ciders.
Read morePros: Delicious food , Fast and friendly staff
Guest
ajnaresh
Points +94
Unique Bar and Grill type vegan restaurant - Edit
Loved the unique ambiance and the wonderful service. Food was also great (ordered quessedilla and jackfruit tacos).
Read morePros: Unique design, Great service, Good tasting food
Cons: Slightly expensive: around $17/person
Guest
badgirlsvegan
Points +2102
In the heart of downtown - Edit
Most convenient location ever! Great atmosphere and food. Somewhat bland, but people usually go for drinks anyway.
Read moreGuest
ericgoldman
Points +132
My Favorite Place in San Jose - Edit
Good Karma has evolved over the years. Food used to be its raison d'etre--you'd see the options behind the glass, and then they'd run to the back to warm it up. Now everything you see is about beer, and the food has been visually deemphasized. On their website, you have to scroll way down before you even see any mention of food. Over the years, some favorite dishes have dropped from the menu, and prices are up and portion sizes are down.
Read moreDespite this, Good Karma still rocks. For a fair price, you can get a plate stuffed with 1-3 delicious options and a pile of brown rice. The food is nourishing and tasty. It's not gourmet--the food is pre-prepared, and they used to just warm it up in the microwave (I assume they still do). Yet, it's satisfying and comforting. Some of my favorites include the dal, channa masala, and Jamaican jerk tofu. I never leave a scrap of food on my plate.
The place is small and often crowded. It can be hard to get a seat in their small outdoor patio.
There are limited free parking options nearby. As a result, I usually swing by when I have some other reason to be in downtown San Jose. If you're still hungry after Good Karma, Cream has delicious ice cream sandwiches a couple doors down with a few good vegan options (always ask them to warm the cookies).
Updated from previous review on 2019-02-17
Pros: Fair price for what you get, Lots of craft beer options
Cons: Small and crowded
Guest
melarish
Points +682
Mostly a drink place with a cool ambiance but also ok for lunch - Edit
I agree with some of the other reviewers that the food is not the greatest ever but it's a nice lunch option with a bunch of different vegan things to try (they also have a combo plate option so you can try multiple dishes). I had the Chile Verde with Jamaican jerk and a kombucha.
Read moreLooks like a really fun place to come for drinks and the guy who was at the bar is really funny😄Decor is really well done - love it!
It got really busy around noon with a line out the door
Guest
TammyM
Points +57
Yummy - Edit
Visiting SJ and we used ap to find this gem. Yummy jackfruit tacos. Indoor /outdoor seating a plus.
Read morePros: Indoor / outdoor seating
Guest
craycrayjmey
Points +182
Great beers, good food! *GEM* - Edit
Went here before a Sharks game and I’m so happy we did! They offer many craft beer options that do not disappoint & the whole menu is vegan! Cool! The layout of their menu is interesting with rice/quinoa bowl options. I wish they had one closer to me I’d come all the time! Also I loved the decor of this place!
Read moreGuest
peppitaly
Points +1852
Nice - Edit
This is a craft beers bar that serves vegan food. I mean.... What do you want more!
Read moreGuest
ronitw
Points +741
Fun in San Jose - Edit
We enjoyed a late lunch after a day in San Jose. Had some burritos and pickles, it was too early in the day for beer! This was pleasant and we hope to return.
Read morePros: Good food, Nice atmosphere
Guest
kristengrayhound
Points +76
No thanks. - Edit
I don’t know why everyone tries to make me eat here. The food all tastes the same and is loaded with cumin and although it’s a fine place for a craft beer it’s not at all what I look for in a vegan eatery.
Read morePros: Cumin , Curry, Meh
Guest
pomange
Points +1375
Great food and vibe - Edit
Tasty food, big portions and great music. Went twice during a short stay in San Jose, both times happy with the food.
Read morePros: Big portions
Guest
missfury
Points +285
Torn - Edit
It’s great that it exists, but the staff has not exactly been forthcoming with good vibes in the past. The food is pretty good. They have an off the charts beer selection, and maybe service has improved.
Read moreGuest
theevetree
Points +158
maybe i should’ve ordered something else? - Edit
i feel so bad giving 2 stars to an all vegan restaurant—especially one with a great staff & good atmosphere. but the flavor just wasn’t there. i ordered the jamaican jerk & the buddha bun bc they were the most recommended, but i didn’t taste any jerk—it was actually bland, no spice or flavor. the bun was too artificial tasting. i actually had a stomach ache after, but it could be because i don’t eat a lot of fake meat. i’m sure it tastes great after a beer or two though...i will come back tho bc i have hope they have some more flavorful items. great prices tho!
Read moreGuest
royalt213
Points +80
I wish there were more places like this. - Edit
This place has a personality. It's a refreshing retreat from the yuppy atmosphere of most other vegan restaurants in the area, with their saccharine service. It's a cozy place that looks like someone converted their early 20th century house into a café for college students, revolutionaries, and artists. The walls are covered in obscure posters with good artwork for past musical acts. There's a little area for flyers for shows and vegan-related events, giving it a coffee shop kinda feel. The staff are cool, laid-back people. But don't expect them to treat you like you are a VIP and be all kittens and rainbows.
Read moreAnyway, the food...
The food is really good, and not nearly as expensive as a lot of vegan places in the area. At first I thought the portions were small, but the takeout containers are a little deceptive. I ordered a plate with Jamaican Jerk and Spicy Basil Tofu. Both were fantastic and, combined with the massive heap of quinoa, I couldn't finish the whole plate despite being really hungry at the outset. For ~$10, that's a definite win in my book. My girlfriend said the Buddha Bun is her favorite vegan item she's had in San Jose, and the drumsticks on little bamboo shoots are fantastic. They might creep you out with how much they seem like real chicken. It's up to you whether that's good or bad, but the taste of them with their house sauce is superb.
It's a pretty small place and is usually pretty full. I'm pretty sure there are a couple of tables out on the sidewalk as well, for the al fresco-ites out there. As with a lot of downtown, free/cheap parking is very minimal. There's a lot around the corner for about $5 or so for the first hour. But it's also right off the 902 light rail line, which would probably be the cheapest and easiest option to get there.
Also, it's worth mentioning that their menu is quite small. They are equal parts café and brewhouse. Their selection of craft beers absolutely dwarfs their food selection. The prices are steep, but I don't drink so I don't really care. They have a cool beer selection display though, to make picking a beer easier.
Pros: Great food at a good price, Not your typical SV atmosphere, Craft beers for days
Cons: Lots of craft beers, not a lot of food choices, Pretty small and pretty packed
Guest
100%vegan
Points +585
Great lunch - Edit
Small little place with great vegan food, cheerful staff and awesome selection of beer and wine. I had street tacos and they were fresh, good mix of flavors and perfect size to fill me up for lunch. The dessert selection wasn’t huge, but they had a few cookies (tasty) and cupcakes on display.
Read morePros: Fresh and tasty
Guest
jeanha
Points +136
great beer selection, good food, fun eclectic atmosphere - Edit
We've had fun trying a lot of different beers here. They have a large rotating selection, and they've sometimes let us try little samples before ordering.
Read moreThe food quality is somewhat uneven, but some of it is really good, particularly the jackfruit tacos and the jerk tofu.
The atmosphere is fun, too, with lots of art on the walls and ceiling.
It's always pretty crowded, but we've always been able to find a couple of seats.
(You do have to go into the kitchen for the restroom, but it's a nice clean restroom, so it's okay.)
Updated from previous review on 2018-06-07
Pros: large selection of beers
Cons: crowded
Guest
HauntedNix
Points +58
Amazing experience - Edit
Where do I even begin? The two guys working behind the counter deserve 10 thumbs up for making me feel right at home. I was asked about the best part of my day, which hadn't been good at all, which brought me to block out the negativity for a moment and just be happy. Jackfruit tacos were recommended and did not disappoint. BEST VEGAN TACO EVER!Hands down. I'd bet on it. Not pricey either. I had some of the.... Black Dragon Tea? Yummmm. Since I was a loner today, I sat at the bar and had some lovely conversation. I was asked who my favorite band was and the nice guy pulled it up and played Bon Jovi for me. I've never had vegan food outside of home where I was so excited, I called the hubby afterwards. Will be returning!!!!
Read morePros: Affordable , Friendly , Variety
Guest
CaitlinJulia
Points +321
very good food - dive bar ambiance - Edit
Staff was very nice, food was amazing but I wish their menu were more diverse. It’s very small in there. Counter service only.
Read morePros: quality food, fast, cheap
Cons: divey
Guest
misterunderhill
Points +36
Great Place to Grab a Drink - Edit
Good Karma specializes in comfort food and beer. There really isn't another place that compares. Their beer menu is superb and the staff is very knowledgeable. They rotate beers pretty often so there's always something new to try. If you like your drink I'd recommend recording what it was since they may not have it the next time you visit. I've tried just about everything on their food menu and it's all very good. To me the big standouts are the Jerk Tofu and the Chile Verde. On weekends the place can be a bit of a madhouse, so come early or be prepared to deal with a crowd. This is kind of the case for the best places in downtown San Jose though.
Read morePros: Excellent beer menu which rotates frequently, Lots of good food options
Cons: Finding seating can be a challenge, Noisy on weekends
Guest
brirod17
Points +38
ran out of food - Edit
They ran out of food on a Saturday night by 7:30 but the food was good
Read moreGuest
phytophile
Points +1184
a treasure downtown - Edit
It's nice to find vegan food but vegan beer is a great thing!
Read moreGuest
blake_stew
Points +22
Affordable and Delicious - Edit
I had the Pulled 'Pork' Tacos. They were delicious and filling. They were a little under $8 and made with jackfruit. They were also gluten-free; my friend with celiac disease was in taco HEAVEN.
Read moreIf you care about ambience this place has a bunch of it. It's has a cool diver bar/family vibe to it. A lot of cool art too
Pros: Affordable., Great selection of beers, Bartender was super friendly and inviting
Guest
EmiOh
Points +28
Recommended by a meat lover! - Edit
Went here for the first time last week. A former co-worker recommended the place. He is a meat lover and he LOVES this restaurant.
Read moreI am really picky about textures, so I didn't really like the vegan chicken wings. But I LOVED the kale and quinoa with black beans and avocado salad!!
I would go back for that.
Would have tried the Buddha Buns, but they have mushrooms in them, and 'shrooms are not on my list of things I will eat.
Did I mention I am a picky vegetarian?
Pros: Vegan kitchen-no worries about meat contamination, Friendly staff, good atmosphere, Good food
Cons: Small restaurant, Gets crowded
Guest
jel172
Points +178
Good Karma, Good Eats... - Edit
Really enjoyed my meal here. The jackfruit tacos were excellent, with the right amount of sweet and spicy. Plus, the arugula and beet salad was spot on.
Read moreGF/SF foods are marked on the menus. If you have to avoid nuts, let them know and the staff can guide you.
The space itself is more bar than restaurant, with a bar to sit at and then maybe 20 other seats available, split between counters and tables. There's also an outdoor seating area in the front, but it was raining, so I stayed inside.
Despite the cramped quarters (or maybe because of it), the place has an intimate feel and lots of happy folks drinking and eating. I'll certainly come back the next time I'm in San Jose.
Pros: Great vegan food, Extensive list of beverages, Happy staff
Cons: Small space, with potentially cramped seating
Guest
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