3764 Watseka Ave. (@ Venice Blvd.) ~ 310-836-1269 ~ Culver City (TACO Map)
305 Rose Ave. ( @ 2nd St.) ~ 310-836-1269 ~ Santa Monica (TACO Map)
I know I've been all up in the Hare Krishna's salad lately, but Govinda's is a treasure for vegetarians and healthy eaters. Located inside of the Krishna temples of Culver City and Santa Monica, the Govinda's (the Govindases? Govindi?) are tiny diners that resemble hostels. Both feature cheap, all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffets with a slight Indian twist as well as an occasional eavesdropped exsistential conversation.
For $6 in Culver and around $9 at Radha Govinda's near the shore (higher rents), you get a salad bar of fresh, colorful variety with sunflower seeds, peppers, and tofu, among many other choices and different light dressings. Then there is usually a pasta course with a hearty sauce low on oil. Last time I was there it was a corkscrew pasta in a peppery creamy white sauce that had me back three times. Next comes the small section that usually has three to four Indian influenced curries, daal, and one or two side snacks. The curry tinged broths are intricately spiced, pleasing my picky tastes for Indian with flavors familiar and creative. The crunchy, lightly-fried red-peppers I had at the Santa Monica localation were some of the best things I've ever tasted.
