Vegan
American
Take-out
Catering
Breakfast
Vegan restaurant with an extensive menu of breakfast selections, combination plates, salads, burgers, sandwiches, specials, and beverages. Lunch prices are moderate, dinner entrees are a bit more. Est. since the 2000s, moved here in 2010, and became fully vegan in 2013. Open Tue-Sun 11:00am-9:00pm.
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1000 Main St, Belmar, New Jersey, USA, 07719
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Last update on 11 Nov 2023 by diggs1984
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119 Reviews
First Review by myboyfriendisdead
BrieM
Points +137
Best NJ vegan restaurant - Edit
Easily a great spot for vegans visiting the shore. The food is delicious and, if dining in, it's very quaint and staff is attentive. We look forward to the certain nights when they have live music.
Read moreDo yourself a favor. If you plan on visiting or have visited but haven't tried it yet, get yourself a Kayas Combo appetizer (consists of a side of Mississippi ribs, chicken nuggets and buffalo wings) and the grilled seitan flank. With its garlic smokey flavor, its typically my go to meal when I come.
If you're looking for a pizza, Kayas didn't really nail the flavor for me. It was okay enough but not the greatest vegan pizza I ever had. The crust is thin and ours was burnt. It took nearly 2 hours for it to be finished - and to the restaurants defense, they apologized profusely and to make up for the wait they didn't charge us for it.
All in all, Kayas is a small blink and you miss it restaurant in Belmar but its food and staff service is phenomenal so KEEP THOSE EYES OPEN. We've brought other vegans (and our non veg friends) and all enjoyed the food. Definitely consider them next time you're in the area and craving a good meal.
Guest
fulltimeherbivore
Points +50
A M A Z I N G - Edit
everything is amazing.
Read moreGuest
Joannadedios
Points +20
love! - Edit
Best vegan restaurant in Jersey.
Read moreGuest
LET4
Points +153
seriously! - Edit
Had time to kill while our son is at a movie and granted it is Valentine's Day; walked in and restaurant was almost completely empty at 6:30 pm. She asked us if we had a reservation which we didn't then asked what time it was and said they are booked with reservations we could order take out. She could have said we could eat quick and be out of there by 7pm. I mean seriously maybe 3 tables were taken and that counts one in the front section.
Read moreGuest
dtrisker
Points +48
reheated frozen food - Edit
we used to go there regularly until owner was nasty. they also reheat frozen good - from veggiebrothers.com back then. we switched and have been going to good karma cafe instead. great service, owners, good and atmosphere
Read moreCons: good not very goodowner terrible service
Guest
lotusrkay
Points +28
Heavenly - Edit
Kayas kitchen changed my life!. I had the best meals of my life! I recommend the Mac and cheese, pirogies. And cheesecake..also the steak, the quesadilla, and basically everything! Some things are spicy but the foods I recommended are spice friendly and SOOO delicious!
Read morePros: you will fall in love
Cons: you will miss the food dearly when you leave
Guest
Nini
Points +16
Very Good! - Edit
Decided to take a day trip to the beach based on what vegan restaurants were available. I found Kaya's Kitchen and chose Belmar Beach and I was not disappointed. The macaroni and cheese and tofu wings were great, even my younger sister who has a terrible standard american diet enjoyed it. The only thing is they were out of gluten free buns and I was craving a sandwich!! We had cupcakes for dessert and they were delicious. The staff was very friendly, and the decor was beautiful. Also heard some Damian Marley and SOJA playing and was happy about that! Happy with Kaya's and will be back.
Read morePros: Friendly Staff, Great Flavor, Awesome Decor
Guest
Mopramo1
Points +28
Can Not Be Beat - Edit
Food was absolutely phenomenal and so was the service. Will be back every time I'm in the area.
Read moreSo glad places like this exist.
Pros: vegan, chill atmosphere
Guest
lexcoupe96
Points +30
1 vegan and 2 reluctants - Edit
Popped into Kayas Kitchen after picking my daughter and her college roommate up from the train station for spring break. They're both 19, both carnivores. Our waiter Matt took some extra time with us to explain some of the items on the menu to the girls and offered several suggestions.
Read moreWe ordered the appetizer sampler, macaroni and cheese, chik'n nuggets and the sloppy joe.
Even my carnivore daughter and her roommate liked the food....haha! I had the sloppy Joe and fries, I thought it was great! The sampler was delish too!
Will definitely be back!
Pros: EVERYTHING is vegan....made it so easy to choose.
Cons: n/a
Guest
beachgypsyy
Points +36
so many options - Edit
Whoever said that vegans must not eat a lot has clearly never been here! How come I've never heard of Kaya's Kitchen sooner?! They're menu is FULL of so many different vegan meals! Best for lunch and dinner! So good even my non-vegan friends love it !
Read morePros: lots of options, friendly staff, amazing food
Guest
tallman95
Points +16
a huge variety of fantastic vegan cuisine - Edit
The menu is phenomenal-- there were so many different things I wanted to try. Everything I ordered was very tasty. The atmosphere and wait service is great. Vegan food is so hard to come by at school in Massachusetts so it was great to find this restaurant so close to my new home in Spring Lake.
Read morePros: food, atmosphere, wait service
Guest
Isamara
Points +1081
Comfort food! - Edit
Great food! Perfect place to invite family members who are not vegan. They will be happily surprised with the delicious, fulfilling, and beautiful looking options.
Read moreP.S.: Try the "Tofu wings" (formerly known as "Karma Wings")!
Updated from previous review on Tuesday January 27, 2015
Updated from previous review on Saturday March 14, 2015
Pros: Comfort food, Delicious , Good portions
Cons: A bit fattening :)
Guest
TammyLove
Points +18
Great Food!! - Edit
The food here is amazing!!!
Read moreGuest
NatalieF77
Points +29
great vegan food! - Edit
Make no mistake, the food isn't "light" or particularly healthy. But it's delicious! Server was friendly and food came out quick. I will definitely go back.
Read morePros: huge menu, great food
Guest
rhebes01
Points +86
excellent - extremely hardy too! - Edit
The dinner portions were large and really satisfying. I had the lentil loaf which came with a side of mashed potatoes and veggies (kale, cauliflower, carrots and broccoli). I will definitely return!
Read moreGuest
MikeV
Points +28
Too big for itself - Edit
Kaya's Kitchen of Bellmar seems to have fallen in with the same attitude adjustment problems as some other vegan establishments that we, the customers, helped them to achieve. Papa Ganache Bakery being another such place with poor management and an even worse attitude. Strike one came last Summer when my cousin came out to visit from upper Westchester NY and we thought we would treat her to a vegan meal during their heavily advertised Sunday Brunches. We get there only to be told, "yeah we serve brunch but we aren't open today." Strike 2 came when I contacted them about a price list for potentially catering a vegan wedding and it only took countless requests and 3 months of waiting for a response. By the time they did get back to me another facility and caterer had been contacted. Strike 3 happened this evening. We just came back from "For Animals Sanctuary" in Blairstown NJ whose proximity is not exactly around the corner to the restaurant. We walk through the door at 7:40 PM only to be told there will be no more seating for the evening because they close at 8 p.m. The door clearly states 9 p.m. and I mentioned this to the hostess who rolled her eyes, shrugged her shoulders and replied "I know it does." I'm not sure if Kaya's is suffering from lack of management or having the headset that they are "too big to fail." Unfortunately, in a consumer driven business, establishments need to maintain the client base who keep them in business during the off season periods after the tourists have left the shore. At this point in time, this vegan will seek out other vegan restaurants who are happy to have the business.
Read morePros: vegan food , well cooked meals, sometimes friendly staff
Cons: a bit pricey, chef consistency lacking, poor management
Guest
lfusfeld
Points +268
delicious - Edit
We had a great experience here. Our server was great. We came for Sunday brunch which was a choice of platters for $15. The pancakes were a huge portion and delicious, and the many sides were also great. The rancheros scramble was also a delicious option and a sizable portion. The juices were tasty and I think only $5 or so for freshly made juice. And we got a free dessert for spending over $25 on a Sunday. Wow! The cake was also delicious. Wish we lived near such a yummy vegan organic restaurant. Would go all the time.
Read morePros: nice brunch portions, good service, great food
Guest
LukasT
Points +16
Family favorite - Edit
My lovely wife and daughter frequent here often. We have been to this restaurant for many years, even before the baby was born.
Read moreWe have tried about 30% of the menu, and have liked most of it. The service is friendly... but not over barring.
The only set back is the prices. We would eat here more often if we could afford to. Being organic and vegan the prices are almost reasonable.
Pros: tasty, convinient, friendly
Cons: pricey, sometimes busy, sometimes food is inconsistant
Guest
baruchadam
Points +418
one of the best NJ Veg restaurants - Edit
Competes with Vege Heaven for the status of the best New Jersey vegetarian restaurant.
Read morePros: even the bathrooms are nice, well conceived vege food
Guest
Jewlelil
Points +31
Awful - Edit
My husband and I have given Kaya's kitchen many chances because we want to be able to like their food so that we can go to a local all vegan restaurant, sadly they continually disappoint us with both their poor to mediocre service and the poor flavor quality of their food. We have tried many things off the menu and the only thing we both enjoy are the karma wings which we both admitted could be easily made at home. We have tried their entrees, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, etc. and everything is very bland and lacking in flavor. One of the things that disappoints me most concerning the entree is the side vegetables: mashed potatoes and steamed kale (this comes with ALL of their entrees which also makes no sense). I seriously think that they could be more creative with sides by adding interesting flavor profiles, yet they fail every time. We ordered a curried tempeh sandwich that is no longer on the menu and it had absolutely no flavor in it at all.
Read moreWe decided to give them one last chance by going to Sunday brunch and we both decided it was probably one of the worst meals we have ever paid for: the tofu scramble consisted of tofu heavily coated in turmeric with NOTHING else, the potatoes were mediocre but no better than you would get anywhere else at a much more reasonable price, the bacon/ham seems unnecessary as it is not very flavorful- I had the french toast which was very bland and did not have "vanilla" flavor as suggested, my husband had the buttermilk biscuit which quite honestly tasted as though it was flour and water and was stark white- really awful. If you enjoy bland food and mediocre service, then sure, go to Kaya's kitchen. If you are looking for excellent food in the area where you won't have a vegan-only experience but your food will be awesome, I suggest Via Roma and Siam Spice where they both succeed in giving food amazing flavors.
I WISH I could give them a 1 cow, unfortunately, happy cow does not allow this for vegan restaurants.
Pros: Nice Ambience, Vegan Only
Cons: Food lacking flavor, Staff seems unconcerned , Very poor food
Guest
nycvegan
Points +45
Simply Awesome Food - Edit
We stumbled into here the first time a couple of years ago while house hunting in the area and decided we needed to buy a place nearby. The food is WONDERFUL. Everything is tasty, portions are good (although the bread for sandwiches is just too LARGE) and the staff is always nice.
Read moreThe BBQ Tofu is AMAZING. This summer whenever I was surfing I'd stop by on the way home just to take an order for a takeout snack when I might otherwise have craved a cookie. Recently they've started to add some great deserts as well. My only complaint is that they don't make their incredible mashed potatoes for lunch, it is a dinner only item.
During the summer, make a reservation for weekend dinner. During the off season, go for the Sunday all you can eat meals.
Pros: Killer food, fair portions
Cons: slow service
Guest
jonpaladin
Points +121
So good - Edit
this place changed my life
Read moreGuest
passedout
Points +300
Huge Improvement From the Old Days - Edit
I went to this place back in the day when it was called Veggie Works. Back then the service was always pretty sub par, as it seemed everyone working there was a bit out of it.
Read moreSince they changed owners and changed their name to Kaya's Kitchen I saw a vast improvement in the food and service. Since they moved across the way to their bigger location a couple years back it's gotten even better.
The entrees are a little on the pricy side, so I usually go for the sandwiches here. They are huge! Excellent choices are the Thai Peanut Club, Chicken Salad, Sloppy Joe and Jerk Tofu sandwich. If I'm going to spring for an entree I usually get the peppered tempeh, it's a delicious breaded tempeh with a lemon-pepper spice. The deserts are usually hit or miss.
Keep up the great work.
Pros: Good Service, Good Food, Huge Portions
Cons: Entrees are Expensive
Guest
L.Estelle
Points +236
best place ever - Edit
Food is always yummy!!!! My favorite place. Burgers r real good. "Chicken" drum sticks r the best
Read morePros: awesome food, great variety
Cons: needs more waiters, often kept waiting long
Guest
dianec
Points +40
Great - Edit
We only had cake since we could not find Kaya's at first. The address is misleading. While the building address is correct, the entrance is around the corner and you can't see from the other street. Therefore, we missed the opportunity to eat from the menu and only had desserts. However, they were vegan and delicious. We will return
Read moreCons: hard to find
Guest
Redheaded Vegan
Points +500
Shame on Kaya's - Edit
I can't speak for the quality of the food, because I'll never get the chance to eat it. Their customer service is severely lacking. I called and spoke to the owner twice because I am getting married in Jersey (I'm a transplant to Colorado and we're coming home for the big day) and had heard good things about their food. After my first phone call, I was assured he would put together a menu and email me. After I hadn't heard from him in a week, I called back and was told, "Oh, I lost the little piece of paper that had your email address on it." I was annoyed, but things happen.
Read moreThis time I gave him my email again as well as my phone number and was promised that he would send me something that evening. Once again I have heard nothing. I certainly would not trust them to be reliable for our big day. We're doing a low-key backyard wedding, but I still need to work with people who are professional.
Again, I certainly cannot speak to the quality of their food, but based on the way I've been treated as a potential customer, I will never step foot in their restaurant.
For shame, Kaya's.
Cons: Customer Service, Reliability
Guest
onlyahuman
Points +214
Bad experience! - Edit
My experience here is that the staff is rude, the food is very overpriced, and it's subpar. The stories I've heard are far worse.
Read morePros: some vegan options
Cons: many
Guest
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