Jyoti-Bihanga: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Jyoti-Bihanga is a vegetarian restaurant at 3351 Adams Avenue in San Diego. The kitchen has served no meat or fish since 1986, and the owners call it San Diego’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. Eggs and dairy appear on the main menu, and a separate vegan menu marks the plant-based dishes, so vegetarians and vegans can both eat well here.

The teachings of Sri Chinmoy, a spiritual teacher, inspire the place. Peace is the stated goal. The site wants a room where people gather, eat healthy food, and feel calm. The menu follows the theme, so you can order a Nirvana Tea and a bowl named for Rama.

Start with the Neatloaf. It bakes grains, soy, eggs, and ricotta into a loaf, then tops it with a tangy red sauce, mashed potatoes, mushroom gravy, and toasted 9-grain bread. A Vegan Neatloaf leaves out the eggs and dairy. Both come as sandwiches too, served with mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy or a small salad. The Rama Bowl layers brown rice, greens, avocado, and three small housemade beet burger patties under cashew dressing and crispy coconut bacon.

Meat substitutes cover the usual orders. Grilled soy turkey fills the Turkey Avocado Wrap. A soy protein patty anchors the Buddha Burger, with melted jack cheese. Reubens use marinated tempeh. The regular one stacks it with Swiss cheese and Russian dressing, and a Vegan Reuben swaps in vegan cheese and Thousand Island dressing. Beyond sausage and vegan gouda fill the Almighty Sandwich.

Entrees range widely. Thai Stir Fry brings organic tofu and peanut sauce over brown rice. Yoga Bowl pairs beet hummus with quinoa. Infinite Blue plates zucchini, broccoli, and red peppers on brown rice. A daily Indian curry and a rotating Peace Special change with the chef’s plans.

Look for the v mark. Dishes tagged vegan include the Adora Bowl, the Mediterranean Bowl, the Portobello Tempeh Wrap, and the Golden Hummus Wrap. You can also ask for vegan cheddar on nachos and quesadillas. Many other dishes use jack, Swiss, or goat cheese, so vegans should order from the vegan menu or ask.

The salad list includes the Greek Goat Cheese Salad, the Mystic Forest with grilled portobello and maple glazed walnuts, and the Sita Salad with coconut bacon and grilled tempeh. Dessert means Apple Pie, Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting, and a Chocolate Mousse cake made without eggs or dairy. The drink list covers fresh squeezed juices, almond milk smoothies, milkshakes, and a house chai that comes traditional or vegan.

Check the hours before you go. The site lists Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:30am to 8:30pm. Wednesday runs 11:30am to 3pm. Sunday runs 9am to 1pm on the two or three days a month when the restaurant holds its breakfast buffet, so call before you plan a Sunday visit. The phone is (619) 282-4116, and the staff will read you the day’s curry and soups.

The restaurant is marking its 40th anniversary, and the site posts a 2026 menu. Bring a friend who has never tried tempeh, order the Neatloaf, and ask what the Peace Special is.