Do chay — Vietnamese vegetarian food — has a surprisingly strong scene in Honolulu, anchored by one of the best Vietnamese vegan restaurants on any island. Buddhist vegetarian traditions run deep in Vietnamese culture, and Honolulu's Vietnamese Buddhist community keeps the options authentic and varied.
Thuong An Lac Vietnamese Vegan Restaurant top-pick
Tue-Sun 11AM-8PM
Thuong An Lac is Honolulu's premier Vietnamese vegan restaurant and one of the highest-rated Vietnamese spots on the island. The menu covers the full range of Vietnamese dishes made plant-based — from vegan pho and spring rolls to Hainan chicken rice and vegan banh xeo. Every dish is carefully prepared with deep understanding of Vietnamese flavors.
Pho & Rolls Vegan Plus best-value
Mon-Sun 11AM-9PM
Pho & Rolls Vegan Plus is Honolulu's dedicated vegan Vietnamese restaurant at Discovery Bay. Their menu spans vegan pho, spring rolls, Vietnamese curry, and banh mi with plant-based proteins. Convenient for tourists and downtown workers. Their vegan spring rolls and banh mi are consistently praised.
Viet Chubby Boy hidden-gem
Mon-Sun 11AM-9:30PM
Viet Chubby Boy offers a solid vegan pho with tofu and veggies among their specialties, and their vegetable-forward dishes like papaya salad and vegetarian spring rolls are excellent. While not a vegetarian restaurant, their vegan options go beyond an afterthought — the vegan pho has its own developed broth rather than just removing meat from the standard version.