I have been coming to this east Dallas vegetarian restaurant since it first opened thirty-five years ago, before vegetarian restaurants were common. And there is nothing common about this place even decades later. It is the only restaurant I know that is under the same roof as a Hare Krishna (Hindu) temple. It is staffed by its kind and friendly devotees. The food is also anything but common. The lunch and dinner buffet menus change daily, and the dishes are influenced by Indian cuisine, yet have an originality about them that enhances rather than diminishes their flavor. I am not vegetarian myself, but never miss meat when I eat here.
On my last visit the menu included lentil soup which was intensely flavored with just a hint of heat. There was also turiah squash with coconut milk, bitter melon and potato, a very savory blackeye pea curry, bok choy stir fry, broccoli and carrot with lemon tahini dressing, and a few other items in addition to the basmati and brown rice, freshly baked wheat bread and cinnamon raisin bread, and salad bar which are always on the menu. Many of the vegetables are grown across the street in their community garden. The salad bar has a wide variety of ingredients, including ones not frequently seen, such as shredded beet and daikon radish. The dressings are all freshly made, and include some unusual offerings such as lemon tahini, almond, and green goddess. They serve a refreshing tamarind tea which is both sweet and tart like lemonade, but better! Patrons can eat inside in one of two dining rooms, or outside in the lush courtyard dominated by a large tree in the center with fountains adjacent. The courtyard is even pleasant on many summer days because of the covered areas with ceiling fans.
When you visit, I recommend spending some time in the small, but well stocked gift shop. They have beautiful clothing for men and women, including some loose fitting cotton shirts, sarees, and skirts. They also sell hand crafted jewelry and have some of the most fragrant incense I have smelled anywhere.
You can also pay a visit to the temple located down the hall from the restaurant. There is a separate room to put your shoes since they are not allowed to be worn inside the temple area. The temple includes a number of large murals depicting the stories of Krishna, one of the most prominent Hindu deities.
Kalachandji’s is open for lunch and dinner, and is closed on Mondays.
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