THE VELI Restaurant — Restaurant in Hawaii

Truly Exceptional Plant-Based Food—A Must-Visit in Pahoa

The Veli Pahoa absolutely blew me away. As someone who’s eaten at top vegan spots across the country, I can confidently say this place belongs on the shortlist of truly standout plant-based restaurants. The flavors, the creativity, and the quality of the ingredients were on another level.

I had the burrito (packed with bold, satisfying flavors and perfect seasoning) and the Chunky Monkey shake, which was ridiculously good—thick, creamy, and indulgent without being overly sweet. My friends ordered the nachos and the Maulka bowl, and both were total hits. The nachos came fully loaded with layers of texture and flavor, while the Maulka bowl was fresh, vibrant, and beautifully composed.

The space is casual but thoughtfully designed, and the staff was helpful and efficient. You can tell the people behind The Veli care deeply about what they’re doing. This isn’t just good vegan food—it’s exceptional food, period.

If you’re anywhere near Pahoa, make the trip. You...

I tried out their vegan "BLT wrap" and was pleasantly surprised (not being a vegan myself) with the meal I recieved. The cucumber, tomato, beets, sprouts, avacado and "coconut bacon" comprised an excellent flavor composition with very pleasant texture contrast. I'm not sure exactly what spices they chose, but they all blended very well to create a complex and savory taste.

The atmosphere of the restaurant itself is artful and pleasant, and I like their selection of ucommon healthy alternative drinks, like natural sodas or kombuchas. I also appreciate that they exclusively use biodegradeable to-go packaging and cutlery, being a person who cares for my environment.

Staff were polite and helpful, and the meal was ready in a timeley fashion. All in all, the neal was delicious and I like the vibe of the restaurant, I definitely look forward to eating here again, especially with my vegan or vegetarian friends. Seems like a good place for those who don't want to compromise between eating healthy and actually...

The Veli is a wonderful addition to vegan options in Pahoa. The menu is full of delicious options such as sandwich wraps, protein bowls and salads that are 100% plant based and gluten free. I haven't tried the food yet but it looks absolutely amazing and will be going back very soon. Me and my kid just stopped in and shared a berry nice-cream desert dish that was absolutely delicious and it was dairy free and made from bananas. The inside setting has beautiful hard wood epoxy dining tables and a small yet elegant seating arrangement. The walls were painted with some pretty amazing murals of waterfalls in a beautiful jungle setting, giving the place a very authentic Hawaiian vibe. The staff was very friendly and helpful and made the food in a timely manner. The Veli will definitely be my new go to option for delicious vegan food in Pahoa! Definitely stop in and check it out my friends, it is such an amazing place! Well done!!! Stay blessed...