Buddha Bowls

Buddha Bowls operates at 117 W Howry Ave, sharing the same quieter downtown DeLand street as Chicas Cuban Cafe, a few blocks southwest of the busiest Woodland Boulevard storefronts. The name points directly at the acai bowl and smoothie bowl format that has grown substantially in popularity across Florida over the past decade, built around a thick, spoonable blended fruit base topped with granola, fresh fruit, and other toppings, generally positioned as a healthier alternative to a traditional milkshake or ice cream treat.

Restaurants specializing in this format typically serve a health conscious customer base looking for a lighter breakfast or lunch option, often built around acai, a Brazilian superfruit that has become widely available frozen and pureed across the country, alongside a broader menu of fresh smoothies and juices. That focus gives DeLand’s food scene a genuine option for diners looking for something other than the barbecue, pizza, and diner fare that otherwise dominates much of downtown’s menu options.

Howry Avenue’s slightly quieter setting, away from the busiest Woodland Boulevard foot traffic, suits a health focused cafe well, drawing a customer base that tends to seek out this kind of restaurant specifically rather than stumble across it while browsing other downtown shops. That intentional visit pattern is typical of specialty health food restaurants generally, which build loyalty through consistent quality and ingredient sourcing rather than impulse foot traffic.

A shop specializing in acai and smoothie bowls also generally appeals to a demographic overlapping with Stetson University’s student population, who often seek out these kinds of lighter, nutrient dense options between classes or after a workout, giving Buddha Bowls a built in customer base within walking or short driving distance of campus.

For DeLand residents and Stetson students looking for a healthier alternative to the city’s more traditional comfort food options, Buddha Bowls on Howry Avenue offers a dedicated, locally owned acai and smoothie bowl option tucked into a quieter corner of downtown.

The presence of a dedicated health food concept on a quiet downtown side street also reflects how DeLand’s food scene has diversified over time, adding options for diners with specific dietary preferences alongside the more traditional barbecue joints, pizzerias, and diners that have anchored the city for decades. That range gives DeLand’s downtown a broader appeal than a food scene built around only one style of eating could offer, useful for a group of friends or a family where not everyone wants the same kind of meal.