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Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Specialty Food Health Food Store Restaurants Vegetarian Coffee & Tea, Health Food Store, Vegetarian [Edit]
4773 N 20th StPhoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 283-1210
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11 am - 3 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
Jimena M. said: "A great place for a vegetarian/vegan or anyone open-minded about trying new foods. There are some options for meat eaters. The service has always been fast." read more »
57 reviews for Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"First of all the Town & Country shopping center where it's..." In 5 reviews -
"I got the quinoa pilaf as my side dish." In 3 reviews -
"I got the black bean sunflower wrap and it was great." In 3 reviews
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57 reviews in English
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Review from Christopher M.
Bala Cynwyd, PA
2/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is really as good as it gets for a vegetarian. (Well I have been to better, but Phoenix is not Manhattan.)
I wish I could have ordered about 5 menu items. Many good choices. -
Review from Mike L.
Phoenix, AZ
3/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great selection of teas, but didn't seem all that knowledgable or helpful in selecting them. I expected a little more from a place not competing on price or convenience. The experience was pretty standard hippie meh.
I expect specialty stores to command subject expertise. I thought it was a bit lacking. I might go back but not in the near future. -
Review from Francesca H.
Phoenix, AZ
2/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love the food... Love it. When you can walk-in to a restaurant and feel cleaner walking out, they've done a good job. I had the carrot-coconut soup, golden hummus, and I had pesto foccacia with nut cheese, and a gorgeous salad with yellow bell peppers, mint, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, and spring mix. This was fresh and wonderful.
The raw vegan shooters were tasty! Try them. I forgot which one my fiancé got, but I stole a sip and it was lovely. They sub in nut cheese for any dairy cheese, and serve teas and a lot of raw foods. My fiancé got the raw zucchini alfredo that was amazing (you know I stole some!!).
Then we went to the market that it's adjoined with... For items you can buy at Whole Foods and Sprouts, they GOUGE. 2 ounces of goji berries for $14!? I can get them at a health food store for $20 for a POUND, 8 times that!
Go there for the food, specialty teas, and maybe some tinctures. But don't get your normal stuff there. -
Review from Lily N.
Paradise Valley, AZ
5/7/2012
First let me say that the food was definitely some of the most original and flavorful I've had. It was refreshing, inviting and complex. You can tell that the food is made with love and attention; you can see the chef's vision for the dish while you eat it. I appreciate the masterful manipulation of flavors to create such original and healthy dishes.
My family was out celebrating my boyfriend's birthday, we had a party of six, so we tried A LOT of food! My boyfriend got the ice tea and I got the chai tea--the ice tea is...very mild. It is alright; if you like a very light tea flavor, go for it. My chai tea was unique, you will not find another tea the way they made it, as they make their own almond milk.
We got the Rawvocado Dip, excellent!! Sooo tasty and fresh. We had their specialty which was the Vegan Cheddar Soup, amazing! After eating these two appetizers, I already felt light and great.
We got the Zucchini Pasta, more like a salad than an entree, honestly. We shared the pizza made with vegan cheese and it's definitely one of the best pizzas I've ever had! So fresh, made with quality olives. Now I am not an olive person at all but I certainly enjoyed that pizza!
I tried a little bit of the Mediterranean Wrap and it was good as well.
The quesadillas were excellent with their "nut cheese," I definitely recommend it.
Their bread is AMAZING. They make their own I believe, and it was some of the best I've ever had. It was so unique, they add berries to the bread and bake it like that and the end result is incredible! I had their Nut Jammie Sammie with sunflower nut butter and strawberry jam, SO WORTH EATING. It comes with fresh fruit. I believe it is the only kind of peanut butter and jelly kids, or anyone for that matter, should be eating.
The desserts were phenomenal!! They're all vegan and soy-free, I am truly impressed. They had a vegan tiramisu and it was amazing, better than any tiramisu with milk and eggs that I've ever tried! Their chocolate ganache and banana cream cake were vegan and raw and they deserve an applause for making it so mouthwatering under those conditions!
I would say that the only issue was the service--it was very slow. Our waitress was very calm and nice, nothing wrong with her attitude, but it was just so slow. The food came out slow, ice tea refills were slow, we would ask for some hot sauce or bread to eat with our meals and we would already be finished with our food by the time we got it. It's not that it was busy, there was only one or two more tables in the restaurant other than us.
I understand that the food is fresh and they want to make it with love and attention, but should it really take 45 minutes? And 10 minutes to get a side of bread?
Other than that, it was absolutely fabulous. They have the store alongside the restaurant, so it is a good past time to look at all of their unique herbs and powders (there are A LOT, very impressive) while you wait.
I love the concept and everything that the owner created. It has become one of my favorite restaurants and I will definitely be back. -
Review from Emina L.
Glendale, AZ
5/16/2012
This USED to be my favorite restaurant! I've introduced my mom, my boyfriend, a few friends and cousins to this place because I am absolutely in love with the Mediterranean Wrap with cashew cheese! Yum! And, the salad that you can order with it, delicious! After my meal I would usually order the vegan Tiramisu, which by the way, also delicious. Never had a bad experience. Today, after shopping I decided to stop by to get a table, I was mainly going for the Tiramisu and some almond chai. I came in and stood there, for a while, a few people were behind the counter, nobody acknowledged me. I finally approached the guy by the cash register and asked him if they had the Tiramisu, he just said, "If you don't see it, then we don't have it." I looked some more, didn't see it, I then asked if he maybe knew when they would have it, he just said, "No I don't know." And, I continued standing there, he just then walked away. How awkward and so rude. I can't say I am mad or angry, I am just EXTREMELY sad and disappointed because I have introduced so many people to this restaurant and have always educated people the benefits of eating there and I felt so shut down. I mean even if they didn't have the Tiramisu (which is fine) I would have still loved a table for some drinks and maybe another dessert. Ugh. I cannot believe I let this guy ruin my experience, despite how much I love the food, the value of the food and the ethics behind the food, I am just too embarrassed to go back and I just don't feel comfortable. Am so sad and disappointed, this was my FAVORITE restaurant :'-(
Comment from Nick B. of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant 5/17/2012
Hi Emina, First, I am very sorry that you had a bad… More » -
Review from Anton Q.
5/4/2012
Great little tea shop that serves some excellent vegetarian cuisine.
Not a large selection but a refreshing change from all the prepackaged processed stuff you can get at the food marts and chain store franchises.
It's worth the effort to find because it is tuck in behind on a back lane of a mall that has trees, nice shade and pleasantly cool to sit outside while served.
Service was excellent they went over above and food above average and a little more expensive price wise than I expected. -
Review from John L.
Scottsdale, AZ
3/7/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Message salad of Kale
Glad Kitchen only open thurs - sat or i would be there every night -
Review from Evan B.
1/6/2012 6 photos
This place is great, but there a few things that keep it from being 5 stars.
First off, the hours, they close at 3 on some days at at 7 on others, this makes it hard to even get here for me as I do not work near by.
Secondly the prices. $15 for a salad and $18 for a large wrap is pretty steep considering I don't get table cloths.
Those two issues aside I like it, Great smells from the herbs, many healthy items in salad wrap or entree form and a extensive herbal tea selection.
We had a cow girl wrap large ($18) yes it was large, it was a bit burrito like with the beans, spicy mayo and avacado.I t was good, the quinoa salad on the side was nothing too special. You decide if that is a good value or not.
We also had a quinoa salad, topped with many fresh veggies. ($15) this was good too (not great).
Service was sporadic as all of my refills on my iced tea came at the end of the meal
I would go back but not too often as the prices are roughly double what I think they should be. -
Review from Amelia S.
Portland, OR
12/14/2011
I tend to become stressed when I visit family for the holidays. Not only because of the tight enclosed homes that as the days get shorter and chillier, more people with similar DNA pile in and everyone gets claustrophobic from hearing the same stories they've heard since they were young...for the fourth time that day. Visiting folks in Phoenix, I got nervous about what I would be able to eat, what would be safe for me to eat, to be totally honest. It was like a gastro-zombie apocalypse, and my stomach was grumbling.
And then I remembered Chakra 4 Tea House.
For the time when I briefly in PHX, I would come here for their wonderful herbs (unaware of anywhere other than a garden to acquire what I was searching for) and teas. They have a beautiful and vast selection of dried plants, spices and teas. Nom nom nom. What great medicine!
This time, I went for their food medicine.
Service is wonderful-they let my friend and I chat without being intrusive with their service, didn't try to kiss our butts, and were generally very friendly and chill. This place also does the all organic thing/no GMOs and supports local farms, so I felt safe eating what I wanted to eat here...I am not a raw vegan or even a vegetarian-I just like to eat healthily and responsibly.
I got their nutty ravocado...which was pretty darn tasty. It made my taste buds, body and brain feel really happy, though I wanted more!! My friend got the Hercules-this vegany burrito-I had a divine bite. So did the dog. Everyone had a happy tummy. The Johnny Apple Wrap sounds like a party-I think I may have to replicate one in my kitchen! I also got some tea, a couple raw macaroons, and a booster/shooter/something.
This place is a gem tucked away in a strip mall in the city where strip malls go to die. My distaste for PHX aside, Chakra 4 made my trip heaps better, and tastier. I am so glad they are still goin' strong! -
Review from Rachel R.
Scottsdale, AZ
11/15/2011
The fact that there's a hippy-dippy herb and tea house that seems like it's straight out of Sedona, smack dab in a shopping center in Phoenix, never fails to surprise and impress me.
Chakra 4 offers a totally unique experience. It's not strictly vegan, but everything can be made vegan. Unlike every other vegan restaurant in the area, it's not about comfort food or proving that vegan food tastes like "normal food". They don't do fake meat and sauces, but instead, focus on vegetables, legumes, nuts spreads, and herbs.
If you're unaccustomed to raw food, the menu may seem pretty foreign to you, but still allows for exploration of more nutritious food without any flavors that are too out of the ordinary (unless you only eat fast food). For health aficionados, though, an eatery that leaves you feeling better than when you walked in is gratefully received and appreciated.
My currents favorites include The Hercules, a black bean burrito with sweet potatoes, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, guacamole, and vegan or jack cheese, and the Mediterranean Wrapsody, a sun dried tomato wrap filled with greens, tomato, olives, walnuts, feta, red onion, and raw sun-dried tomato cashew spread. Definitely the more health-nut tasting of the two, this hearty wrap leaves me fully beyond full, but never sick.
If you start feeling like you might not have room for dessert, buck up. The chocolates are amazing. All the truffles are naturally sweetened, dark and rich. If you're feeling adventurous, try a raw dessert. Warning: the raw desserts are so filling that they can actually serve as a meal. If you want to try a few things, either go with a group, or prepare to take a lot home.
While Chakra 4 may not be suited for everyone's tastes, it's definitely a must-try at least once. -
Review from Frances L.
Los Angeles, CA
10/17/2011
*This review is for the herbal shop only*
Chakra was such a wonderful discovery for me a few years ago when I was suffering from some chronic pain and bad desert allergies. I wasn't too well-versed on herbal/natural remedies, but a friend of mine who is allergic to most modern medications brought me here when she needed to stock up on some stuff to help her regulate her hormones and depression.
The staff here are very caring and friendly and I make it a point to drop in whenever I am in Phoenix. In the past couple of years they have expanded into a full-blown vegetarian restaurant, but I haven't tried it yet. Among various tea varieties (loose leaf, bark, etc.), you can also purchase herbs and spices by the ounce as well as special oils, natural ointments, and TONS of herbals pills. The nice thing about Chakra is that you can buy individual pills for mere cents...so you don't have to commit to buying a big bottle of something. I have gotten vitamins and herbal supplements here for the cold/flu season as well as very specific herb blends like Butcher's Broom to help my mom's circulation (she's on her feet a lot). I have also gotten stuff to help with digestive woes and even over 5 different kinds of ginseng to help with energy and mental fogginess.
Tucked within the Town & Country shopping center, Chakra is a destination for those looking for a pick-me-up, to pursue natural wellness, and even just to try a new soothing tea. -
Review from Gabi M.
I recently read somewhere that Red Raspberry leaf tea is beneficial during pregnancy, and that it specifically helps to strengthen the pelvic and uterine muscles so that once labor does start the muscles will be more efficient. Hmm... considering I'm past my due date, I figured it couldn't hurt to get some of this stuff!
I'd dined at Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant once before and had a lovely experience... it's not my typical meal as everything there is vegetarian or vegan, but it's healthy and almost like a unique escape from my usual rotation of restaurants. So, when I decided to search for Red Raspberry leaf tea, this place came to mind, and they delivered!
Jared joined me for lunch here, and I was pleasantly surprised that he really liked it... Maggie was our server and couldn't have been sweeter. Jared started with an iced chai tea and ordered a wrap / soup combo for his meal. I went with the Red Raspberry leaf tea and had "Chef Justin's Special Raw Living Raw Living Garden Burger" for my meal. (See pic of menu description).
The food here is pricey but I guarantee you will feel super healthy no matter what you order! We opted out of dessert both visits, but there were plenty of delicious looking options to choose from, so save room if you'd like to end your meal with something sweet.
I took some of the Red Raspberry leaf tea home with me and have been drinking a ton of it in hopes that I will have an easy labor/delivery real soon. The tea was very moderately priced when taken to-go by the way, which was a pleasant surprise.
Regardless of what happens in the next few days, I do recommend Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant and their tea room, and I will be back! -
Review from Gabrielle M.
Phoenix, AZ
12/10/2011
Yeah, it's a great concept, as there are more and more people becoming vegan. They also have an extensive selection of herbs and such. The place is clean.
But the 3 most important things to me in a restaurant are: the quality of the food, the value for the price, and the service. Chakra failed on all 3 counts.
The service: awful. I waited and waited at the counter, and I was ignored, even by the woman at the register who's evidently doing some kind of accounting. Fine, I can understand the need for business processes, but she could at least have LOOKED UP and smiled and told me she'd be with me in a moment. I had to be standing there for over 5 minutes, more like 10 - and ignoring me for that long was beyond rude. Or one of the staff could have checked on me. Nope. I actually felt like I was bothering them for being there.
The food: also awful. Granted, I only went there once (but once was enough for me). I forget exactly which one I ordered, it was some sort of wrap or burrito. It sounded really good on the menu - a delicious mix chock-full of greens and various crunchy veggies. Well, I got to my car and took a few bites and gave up. It was almost entirely some sort of greens with very paltry portions of other vegetables (a couple of string-like shreds of celery) - I actually opened it up in my car to look for them. What made it even worse was that the greens were wet, and the whole thing was water-logged and the tortilla got soaked through. And there was absolutely ZERO seasoning! Appalling. Disgusting and unacceptable. I threw it out.
The value: I cannot believe I paid $13 for this piece of garbage. Not only that, it was supposed to come with a side of salsa, and wouldn't you know it, it did not. It's rare for me to get so angry about an establishment, and I would have returned it had I not been on the go & headed to an appointment.Comment from Nick B. of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant 12/12/2011
Gabrielle, That sounds awful! We're SO sorry this… More » -
Review from Lindsay T.
Tempe, AZ
10/16/2011
I must begin this review by stating how sad I am that I waited so long to discover this place. Really. OK, I'll be honest- it does have a little bit of a hippie-ish feel to it, but I am partially a team of that squad anyway so I really do not mind. It just makes me feel healthy to be around it.
We were seated right away, no air headed employees made us wait. I quickly decided on the Kaliedescope salad and my mom had a wrap with a side of the quinoa pilaf. My salad, at a whopping $15, was not nearly what I expected given I was trying to use it AS the meal : / Honestly, kind of a rip for that much but, it was a damn good salad. A little bit to salty but the mix of different ingredients was amazing. My mom's wrap was indeed quite large, but the quinoa pilaf that accompanied it was *amazing*!!! So, so flavorful.
We did not order dessert, mainly because their dessert portions are TINY and, well, I make raw vegan desserts at home myself. No need to buy them. Overall though, I will certainly return!! -
Review from Eireen C.
Phoenix, AZ
Tucked in back of Trader Joe's (look for the hot pink chairs in the courtyard), this is such a find for vegans. They do serve cooked food and dairy, but all I know is the nori rolls. Raw, vegan, low-fat, low-carb...and paired with a ginger sauce that is simply divine. It is one of those sauces that exalts the taste buds to a new level. Mouth 2.0, if you will, complete with eye roll heaven-ward and knee buckling.
I've had other dishes on their menu, but nothing is as good as those rolls. And a light meal like that pairs so nicely with the raw cheesecake, when they have it. Or the raw chocolate caramel turtles. I don't care for dark chocolate at all, but the caramel (it may be lightly salted) utterly redeems it. Do be careful...it's slightly addictive.
The restaurant has limited hours: Su-W 11-3, Th-Sa 11-7. I hope that someday soon they will expand their hours to more typical restaurant hours....even something like 11-3 and 5-9 everyday would be a major improvement. I really wanted to have my birthday dinner there this year, and couldn't because it fell on a Tuesday. So maybe in 2013, when my birthday falls on a Thursday? Looking forward to it! -
Review from Becky A.
Gilbert, AZ
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
My parents took me to Chakra 4 for my birthday and it was fabulous! First of all the Town & Country shopping center where it's located is absolutely charming in itself! The restaurant is small and cozy and has a lot of character. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We had a large press of the "joyful" (i think) tea which we also got 50% a discount on because of my yelp "check in". I also ordered their special water carafe which had muddled oranges, mint and some flower I can't remember. Super yummy!
My parents are both currently eating raw so my mom got the "noritos" which were amazing! So fresh and yummy! My dad got the "tacos carnivale" which were also incredible! I ordered the "veggie-dilla" which was very good too, but after tasting both of my parents dishes I really wish I would have ordered one of those. I definitely will next time. For dessert we split a piece of the "raw chocolate cherry cheesecake" which was incredibly rich and satisfying.
I highly recommend this place and can't wait to get back there myself to try one of those raw dishes! -
Review from Rosa P.
Phoenix, AZ
This little tea house and herb shop is a healing oasis of healthful, hippie goodness.
Lots of teas, tonics and elixirs to choose from. Food is vegetarian, mostly raw, vegan and organic. Super pure and fresh, great flavors. They will work around your dietary restrictions. Wonderful scents from the tea and herb shop. Yummy chocolates.
Yes, the service is slow, this is *not* fast food, take-out or Starbucks! It is a place to slow down, relax and enjoy your meal or tea. Whenever I come here, I leave totally refreshed and revitalized.
Open only for tea time, not for dinner. -
Review from Caleb B.
Phoenix, AZ
Chakra easily gets 4 starts in my book because if I try to access the website at work it is blocked - "The Websense category "Supplements and Unregulated Compounds" is filtered." You know it's got to be good stuff if it's filtered at work, all the best stuff is filtered at work.
Onto the cafe...
I should really visit Chakra more often. It's actually healthy Vegan food, usually when I head out we are going for more of the junk Vegan food variety but for 2011 maybe I will make some changes.....maybe not.
The food is great, I had soup and the their version of a quesadilla. Everything had great flavor and wasn't heavy on anything besides the good healthy stuff. Place is very chill and waitstaff was great.
My only complaint being that when I entered I was not sure if I was supposed to seat myself or wait to be seated. I stood there for a few minutes like some protein deficient vegan moron and subsequently got ignored a few times till I finally just asked and was seated. Also, everything appears to be healthy here and they make it a point to tell you on the menu, yet they also make it a point to exclude ALL soy products but they have dairy products??! What?! Ok, not all soy products are created equal and there isn't much concrete evidence surrounding this great soy debate anyway. You won't lose me as a customer but I wouldn't mind if there was some organic tofu or tempeh on the menu either. Just know I am laughing inside that you are including dairy products but excluding soy and I will drop it. In total I guess that is two complaints.
Don't let my minor annoyances discourage you (most of my annoyances are relateable by .5% of the population), this place is solid with solid healthy food. I would not give it 4 stars if it wasn't. Go eat and enjoy.Listed in: Vegan in the Valley
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Review from Francesca M.
Tempe, AZ
1/2/2011
The food? Absolutely amazing.
And that's where it ends.
As a vegetarian, I am always looking for new places to eat. I work near Chakra and a co-worker and I decided to head over there on our (hour) lunch break. We walked in and saw a sign that said "please wait to be greeted!" so... we did. For almost ten minutes. A few employees glanced at us and didn't say anything. Finally, an employee told us we could "sit anywhere we wanted" - why did we need to wait to be greeted, then? Oh well.
The food isn't cheap. A tea and the Nutty Raw-vacado ran me nearly 20 bucks with tip. Our server was all right, but it took ten minutes just to get her over to get our drink orders. Another 25-30 minutes passed (we were looking at around 1:45 and we had to be back to work by 2PM) and our food was finally out.
And it was REALLY good. The plate was overflowing with greens and my sandwich was delicious. We stuffed our faces pretty quickly - I didn't get to enjoy my food half as much as I would've liked! My co-worker mentioned that last time he had eaten at Chakra, he had ended up having a nearly 2-hour lunch because of the slow service.
I hate to say it, but, for almost all raw food, what the heck is taking so long in the kitchen?
As delicious as the food was, I have to say - I probably won't be back to Chakra.Comment from Nick B. of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant 1/27/2011
Hi Francesca. While we are thrilled that you loved the… More » -
Review from Wendall J.
Chandler, AZ
12/27/2011
Good Place to eat
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Review from Diana W.
Phoenix, AZ
3/2/2011
The food here is tas-teee, and all vegetarian to boot! I would come here more often but it's pretty pricey. I've also always hungered for those delicious-looking vegan chocolates in the display case, but I've never been able to bring myself to spend the money. Maybe on a special occasion I'll suprise my boyfriend with some.
I'm not crazy about the atmosphere; It's a little too frou-frou for me. I'm a vegetarian, but I don't buy into the whole new age thing, so their decorations and ads for tea leaf readings, ear candling, and all that pagan stuff strike me as a little hokey. That's no problem though...I'll get my food to go. -
Review from Meschelle H.
Phoenix, AZ
I have found my new favorite veg friendly restaurant! First off, everything is organic and as local as possible. They don't have any mock meats, just pure food. They have salads, wraps, soup, desserts, starters, and entrees. Everything is vegetarian but can be made vegan, and a good portion of their items are raw. They have a wide variety of loose leaf teas (can be ordered in a small or large press), they have healthy shooters (I love the Alkalize Now), elixers, house-made almond milk (tastes divine with the Vanilla Rooibos tea!!), iced tea and more. As for the food, whoa mama! It's a culinary slam dunk in my opinion. I have had several dishes here, including: The Rawvacado Wrap with the nut cheese substitute, the Nori Rolls (I drool), The Kaleidescope Salad (seeds, nuts, fresh herbs, kale, carrots, celery, lemon vinaigrette, side of bread), and let's not forget the amazingly vegan/raw desserts. My favorite is the vanilla bean cheesecake! So good we had to order more! This place is a tad pricey for some, but for the quality of food you're getting, think of it as a tiny investment towards good health. The vibe is super chill and laid back and the staff is knowledgeable and friendly. When the bill is presented, they even give you a small bowl of fennel seeds to "help cleanse your palte and aid in digestion"! Will definitely continue coming here for great, healthy food!
Listed in: Best Veg Eats
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Review from AMANDA A.
Phoenix, AZ
8/23/2011
Although I am impressed with the herb store that is part of this establishment, the restaurant leaves a lot to be desired.
Let's start with the tables & chairs: very tiny (like for children's tea parties) and rickety (although it adds to a sense of excitement and paranoia -- to compliment the sense of inferiority they attempt to engender with their "we will wait on you when we feel like it because we are more elightened about veganism than you" treatment).
A few of the items that interested my husband on the menu happened to be unavailable and apparently this is not ucommon at Chakra 4 according to some other reviews here.
I ordered the watermelon gespacho (sp?), which was very good.
Their bread / toast is another matter. It was very hard (think thin patio paver). Although it was drenched in olive oil, I broke the corner of my lower left tooth completely off (I think I must have swallowed it) when biting into it. Since I didn't realize it until about an hour after leaving the restaurant, they would not refund the meal or offer to pay my resulting dental bill. They have a very limited and uncooperative refund policy when it comes to having issues with their food. I think the only way they would have refunded the meal was if I were accompanied by a camera team who filmed the entire meal and the broken tooth incident, as well as a forensic team who could analyze the contents of my stomach/bowels for the tooth chip, and a cement engineer to test the hardness of their bread/toast versus that of my tooth, which doesn't seem cost effective... At least I got my calcium when I swallowed my own tooth chip -- I literally got "my calcium"!
If you have any old, stale bread that you are considering throwing out, or that has sat in the sun for a few days after accidentally being left on your back patio table following a meal outside, by all means send it to Chakra 4 so they can then TOAST it, then drizzle a little EVOO on it and serve it to their customers -- RECYCLE PEOPLE! But don't expect any sympathy or cooperation if you leave their restaurant with your smile looking like Wil-E-Coyote's after he accidentally missed the Roadrunner and instead bit down on an Acme metal plate. -
Review from Renzo V.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/22/2010
Very good for vegan restaurant. Prices are a little high, $11 for a large wrap, but very big and worth it!
I actually sat down and looked at the menu and thought to myself "i really feel like a burger". I was very impressed when my wrap came and it had great flavor. If you are in to eating healthy, definitely give this place a try! -
Review from Blaise F.
Phoenix, AZ
4/21/2011
Chakra 4 is most likely the best place in town for tea, tea infusions and herbal desires. While I've never eaten at the cafe, the treats and plates always look yum. The dried herbal goods are very reasonably priced. The extracts are a little on the pricey side, but being the best place to find obscure things, it makes sense. The actual tea (camellia sinensis - not herbal infusions) leaves (pun not intended!) a bit to be desired. I can respect that there is actually a decent selection of teas in store, but the broadness of them leaves a picky tea aficionado like myself less than impressed (that's why I give Chakra 4 four stars instead of five). Green tea goes much deeper than "Green Tea", as does Darjeeling, white, oolong, black.
If you are in need of something in town, this is the place to go (for instance, I needed some herbs for a tea remedy today - I could not wait). If you want to talk to a knowledgeable, friendly person, this is the place for you. If you are looking for strange and highest quality estate teas, you won't find a place in Phoenix...move somewhere else. -
Review from Regi B.
Phoenix, AZ
6/29/2010
(For those not aware, a chakra is one of the seven centers of spiritual energy in the human body according to yoga philosophy. The fourth chakra is the heart chakra.)
Tucked away in the Town & Country Shopping Center is Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House, a unique establishment that provides herbs, teas, advice, a specialized diet menu (vegetarian, vegan and raw) as well as scheduled events.
The Store:
I first found Chakra 4 when searching for teas and herbs on the Internet to accompany my raw food diet. Upon my entrance I was greeted happily by the proprietor and offered immediate assistance. Upon request, advice was given (for they had three versions of the tea I was looking for) further suggestions regarding preparation, and quick checkout. This has been the standard for service whenever I visit the Store
There are _walls_ of herbs and normally two to four staff to assist the many customers. Check out their website to see the depth of their product selection and knowledge.
The Cafe':
I have eaten here a few times over the weekend (weekdays they close at 7). The food is excellent, tasty and oh, so good for you. As I said, I have been on a raw food diet and have found plenty to be had on their menu. They also have a separate menu for teas and infusions to address any number of health issues or moods.
The only problem I have with Chakra 4 is the cafe's service. Unlike the store, the cafe' is not as attentive. I have witnessed people confused about the outside seating because when they sit down, no server approaches them. I have also had to come to the counter a couple times to ask for my bill.
You should also check regularly for their hours, as sometimes they close the store for events such as a solstice celebration or cooking classes. -
Review from Ali C.
Phoenix, AZ
8/24/2010
Cafe Review
I can see why raw foodists adore this place. It has a lot to offer.
If you are huge into vegetables, raw foods, fresh tea this is a fantastic place for you. Its about a fresh as fresh can get, and tastes green.
Its good, portions are large, you can split a wrap easily.
If you're looking for cooked dishes this really isn't your place, they don't really seem to have much to offer on that. However their soup was good. -
Review from Fred M.
Phoenix, AZ
11/10/2009
This review is on the store side, not the restaurant side, of chakra four.
I love coming here for their loose leaf teas because they have so many, probably over 100 and you can smell all the jars and open them all up to your hearts content. Every one of them which I have smelled and then purchsed, tasted exactly as it smelled when I got home and brewed it. They are not cheap, but what you get is a high quality product and the people who work here are very nice.
They also offer many medicinal herbs and suppliments with creative and sometimes humorus names. -
Review from Rhonda P.
Laveen, AZ
10/10/2009 2 photos
Tucked in the back of the Town and Country shopping center in Phoenix, is one of the best places for gluten-free foods, especially desserts, called Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House. This unique store is a favorite among many healthy foodies and is the source for all things herbal, and the home to wonderful vegan and raw foods. Every time customers enter the store they are greeted by the wonderful aroma of herbs and spices; and the view of a display case filled with petite delectable chocolate desserts!
The list of menu items is quite extensive, but my favorite menu item it the Mother Earth Fudge Bar! OMG, this chunky, chocolate bar is a chocolate-lover's dream! This bar is so rich and yummy that you cannot eat the whole thing in the same day. I typically divide it into thirds or fourths and eat a little bit every day. Fabulous!!! Apparently I am not the only one whole loves these bars because as soon as they make these, they sell out quickly! Below are the ingredients:
Mother Earth Fudge Bar (Ingredients: acai berries, cacao, spirulina, beet powder, coconut flakes, mineral salt, walnuts, cranberries, goji berries, almond butter, cacao nibs, and agave nectar syrup).
Though majority of the menu items are gluten-free, please note that this restaurant is not a 100% gluten-free environment, so be sure to tell the waiter if you have gluten or other intolerance/allergies. -
Review from Erin G.
Fairfax, VA
2/6/2009
I picked up a copy of a natural remedies book a few months ago but was dissuaded from trying any of the more complex recipes for facial cleansers, moisturizers, and home care because I had to order herbs online and I really like being able to see what I'm purchasing. Now that I live in Phoenix I am blessed to have found Chakra 4 Herb which holds a cornucopia of herbal concoctions. I went in with a list of herbs that frankly I've never heard of and they had all of them and dozens more.
The store is tucked on the interior path of the Town & Country strip mall and even though it's small it is well organized and spacious and they have even opened up their business with a cafe! The menu seems limited but delicious, I didn't stop to eat as I was on a shopping spree through the area but I will definitely be back for a meal and an infusion!
You can buy herbs by the ounce and they are somewhat expensive...yet less so than having to buy in bulk online and pay for shipping. I would say the range was about $2 - $4 for each ounce of herby things I got yesterday. Really friendly staff too, I am so excited to try out making my own natural beauty products! -
Review from Gina D.
Phoenix, AZ
10/17/2009 1 Check-in Here
Finally got to go here for lunch today. It was so delicious. The food tastes very fresh and super healthy. They have whole and half wraps....very glad I went with the half wrap because it is humongous! Also came with a side of quinoa pilaf which was tasty, I treated myself to one of their chocolate truffles afterwards. They have a selection of hand crafted chocolates for each chakra. I had the 6th chakra truffle which was infused with blueberry and lavendar.
The staff is super friendly and helpful. Looking forward to visiting again when it's a less busy time to browse the store and get a tea leaf reading. -
Review from Ana C.
Phoenix, AZ
4/26/2010
I haven't eaten at a Vegan eatery, but being hungry and wanting to eat something good for me and a friend picking and driving got me to Chakra 4! I was very impressed, we started with tea, a Black Tea flavoured with Summerfruit. Perfect! I had the Bread Plate and my friend the White Bean and Saffron Soup, my plate came with Basil Pesto/Sundried Tomatoe CreamChees/Sunflower Butter, I loved the Pesto and Sunflower butter, the bread was very very good too!!!
I did try the soup, it was delish! I had the Golden Hummus 1/2 wrap, a substantial and tasty beast I must say, and my friend had the Rawsome Avocado wrap, and wow, that was amazing!
I am pretty cheap right now and I will say that I got my money's worth for sure, the food was great. The atmosphere is really delightful and welcoming. I would go again and indeed probably will! -
Review from Nicole J.
Portland, OR
3/3/2010
This was my second outing to Chakra 4 Herb and Tea House. I just love this place. I got there 30 mins before lunch. So I decided to get some tea and people watch. Well it is a good thing I got there 30 mins prior because it took me just about that long to figure out what I wanted. The menu is small but the choices all sound heavenly. Choices, choices, choices. I got the black bean sunflower wrap and it was great. Not to mention huge and that was the 1/2. I got the quinoa pilaf as my side dish. I love quinoa. It was the best I ever had. Very simple with mint, dill, pumpkins seeds a little lemon and oil. I could eat this all day. A must have if you like quinoa.
I also had the chance to sample the soups of the day. The lemon potato soup was nice and creamy and with a zest of lemon.
This is of course a tea house. I love tea. The varieties there are just awesome. You will not be disappointed if you are a tea lover. But don't get offended if they offer you sweetener. No sweetener for me. I just want to enjoy the flavor of the tea, which btw was An Elephant Never Forgets. According to the description this tea was for mental clarity and focus etc. However, I was so sleepy after lunch I could barely keep my eyes open on the trek back to the east side.
The service is great. Very attentive and knowledgeable.
I would give it 5 stars if it was not so small. But other than that it is all good. -
Review from candee s.
Phoenix, AZ
2/15/2011
I have eaten here several times and always enjoy the food. The food is always very fresh and with a great deal of flavor. My favorite wrap is the black bean sunflower--the half wrap is very filling and a symphony of tastes. I love being able to get a pot of tea to make ice tea with as well. on my recent visit--I had a nori roll with a great peanut dipping sauce--it was again a wonderful blend of tastes. if you are in the mood for vegetarian done right--try Chakra.
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Review from Jenni P.
Mesa, AZ
2/24/2011
My boyfriend & I visited Chakra's cafe on Valentine's day, Monday 2/14/11, around 1:30pm for a special lunch to celebrate our 6 years together. It was our first visit & we were looking forward to trying something different. We were immediately seated by the exit door by a young female hostess. She gave us our menus & told us the drink specials. After more than 5 minutes went by, an older female server finally came over to get our drink order. She didn't smile, she didn't say hi, she seemed like she was in a rush to get our order. I asked my boyfriend if he wanted to split one of the iced tea specials while she was standing there. We went back & forth for probably 15 to 30 seconds & finally agreed to split one of the iced tea specials. The server rudely & rather bluntly told us that we would have to pay for two drinks if we intended to share the one. We were pretty peeved & ordered water instead.
She then proceeded to take our order. We decided to get individual orders as Chakra charges a split plate fee of $2 (we have been to vegan restaurants all over the world & not ONCE have we ever encountered a split plate fee). I went first, I ordered the Basil Pesto Foccacia. The server yelled across the room to the hostess to ask if they had foccacia. She replied "no." While I browsed the menu further, my boyfriend ordered the Paesan Picnic Plate & the server snapped "someone should have told you we don't have bread today" & stood there impatiently waiting for us to pick something else. She didn't say "I'm sorry" or offer any alternate recommendations. I said to my boyfriend "I don't like this" & that's when we just got up & walked out. We were really bothered by both the hostess & the server's attitudes - sort of a "better than you" attitude, in addition to showing no concept of valuing the customer.
After my experience, I posted a review on http://HappyCow.net where I original found Chakra's listing. The same day, Nick (claiming to be a manager) responded rudely stating that there was no way my story was true. He said if I contacted him to give him more details, he would buy us lunch at Green (another area vegan restaurant). I contacted him directly via email with more details as he requested & he failed to respond. He also got http://HappyCow.net to remove the review. In addition, I posted a comment on their Facebook page which they removed & never respond to. I thought they would have taken the time to talk with their servers & apologize to me as a valued customer after my http://HappyCow.net review, but instead it is clear they would rather attack me & sweep me under the rug. Even HappyCow.net's moderator Eric contacted me personally to say "It's obvious to us that this owner has issues, and since he was able to read your post it hopefully has served a purpose." Unfortunately, I don't think the review served it's purpose as I'm now being ignored by this Nick person.
Chakra failed us as customers that day & to make things worse, they have been exceedingly rude since. We could have dealt with the unavailability of bread & drinking water instead of splitting a meal & tea like we wanted to, but it was the attitudes of the servers that ultimately led us to walk out the door. Now it is the attitude of the manager that has led me to review the business with the BBB & on other web sites.Comment from Nick B. of Chakra 4 Vegetarian Restaurant 2/24/2011
Jenni, I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.… More » -
Review from Trixie J.
Scottsdale, AZ
2/27/2010
Very nice little shop. I love the teas and the truffles. I haven't had the time for lunch, but after glancing at the menu I might just have to make time. Everything sounded SO good.
Very friendly and helpful staff. I love looking around on my lunch break. It's great to get out of the office and walk around. And when I do, I always find myself there! -
Review from Brett P.
Pasadena, CA
12/21/2010
It's been a while since I ate at this cafe, but the experience was so good that it stays with me. My friend and I were traveling through Arizona on tour and met some girls at a bar one night, I asked them where one should go for great vegan breakfast the next morning and this was the suggestion. I remember the decor seeming like an intelligent use of low-budget furniture and decorations (read: IKEA), the bathroom had a toilet featuring full flush and half flush buttons, and there was a crisp use of contrasting colors and mosaic stones to add to the modern hip feel. I felt like there was some actual caring behind the design of both the cafe as well as their menu. The staff members were all super friendly and the waitress we had was excellent at suggesting the perfect tea. The food was scrumptious, and if I had more money I would have still spent it all there. So worth it!
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Review from Omrama S.
Phoenix, AZ
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Really delicious fresh tasting food at reasonable prices and a very friendly staff. I look forward to my next visit!
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Review from Aimee R.
Buckeye, AZ
4/9/2011
AMAZING! Food is outstanding. I can't believe i haven't come here sooner. I guess i had the impression that a "tea house" wouldn't sell much more than tea, but boy was i wrong. The menu is huge here, and i was very impressed with all the vegan offerings. Food was incredible. I will be back!
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Review from M E.
Phoenix, AZ
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Summer squash chowder. Warm, not hot. Need I say more. Absolutely delish.
