Updated in 2021! Playa Bowls was founded by two surfers from Jersey Shore with a passion for nourishing eats. Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor traveled to Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, California, and Hawaii in pursuit of big waves, but they also discovered many local variations of acai and pitaya bowls.
Abby and Rob started blending their own bowls at home, and eventually began selling them at a pop-up stand in front of a pizza shop in Belmar, NJ. From those humble beginnings, they’ve since expanded to an empire of counter-serve restaurants, with a rather lengthy menu.
Playa Bowls Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Vegan Options
You will find ample options at Playa Bowls. Their entire menu is dairy-free and plant-based, or can be easily modified for dairy-free needs. They even package some protein snacks with dairy-free options.
Acai / Pitaya / Coconut / Green / Banana Bowls
Heads Up! All varieties are dairy-free, except the Power Bowls. For the Power Bowls, omit the whey protein, and optionally add pea protein – there might be an extra charge. For vegan bowls, omit honey if used as a topping or sub agave nectar. Omit the bee pollen in the Tide Banana Bowl.
Chia Bowls
- Almond Joy
- Oh Mega (vegan)
- The Jetty
- Trailblazer (no whey protein; extra charge for pea protein)
Vegan Options: On non-vegan bowls, omit honey from the topping or sub agave nectar.
Oatmeal Bowls
- #2 Blueberry, Strawberry & Almonds (vegan)
- #3 Power Bowl (no whey protein; extra charge for pea protein; vegan)
- #4 Maple & Brown Sugar (vegan)
- #5 Banana, Cinnamon, Figs & Walnuts (vegan)
Bowl Add-Ons or Custom Bowl Ingredients
- Banana
- Blueberry
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Pineapple
- Strawberry
- Granola
- GF/Vegan Granola
- Agave
- Almond Butter
- Honey
- Peanut Butter
- Bee Pollen
- Brown Sugar
- Cacao Nibs
- Chia Seeds
- Cinnamon
- Coconut Flakes
- Figs
- Flax Oil
- Goji Berries
- Hemp Seeds
- Maple Syrup
- Matcha
- Mint
- Sliced Almonds
- Spirulina
- Walnuts
- Wheatgrass
- Chocolate Plant Protein (Pea)
- Vanilla Plant Protein (Pea)
- Kale
- Spinach
Heads Up! According to Playa Bowls, the only dairy foods they use are Nutella, White Chocolate Chocolate Whey Protein, and Vanilla Whey Protein.
Smoothies
Heads Up! All smoothies at Playa Bowls are dairy-free and vegan, except for the ones that contain whey protein. Omit the whey protein, or ask to sub pea protein – there might be a surcharge for the swap.
Juices
Heads Up! All juices at at Playa Bowls are dairy-free and vegan.
Poke Bowls (select locations)
- Basic Beet Bowl (vegan)
- Classic Shoyu Ahi Tuna Bowl
- Rock-n-Roll Shrimp Bowl
- Salmon Avocado Bowl
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Where to Find Playa Bowls
They currently have about 100 locations, with a heavy concentration in New Jersey. But Playa Bowls also has shops in 15 other U.S. states and Puerto Rico. See their website below for locations, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.playabowls.com
Average Reader Review
Rate Your Dairy-Free Experience with this Restaurant
What Others Are Saying ...
Best Ever
Anywhere I go I am always Googling “Playa Bowls near me”. Traded my Starbucks addiction for this healthy and delish treat. I am lactose intolerant so finding a place to accommodate my health was not so easy. But this place offers SO MANY varieties for even the pickiest eater (aka my daughter).
