6
Jul, 2023
The 13 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chiang Mai

The 13 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chiang Mai

The vegetarian scene in the northern city of Chiang Mai is a thriving one. Visitors cannot stroll far in this quaint city before stumbling upon yet another meat-free venue. Whether you are a vegetarian, the strictest of vegans, or a carnivore trying to implement Meatless Mondays, here are https://bombaysandwichco.com/ presenting the best vegetarian restaurants in Chiang Mai.

The 13 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Chiang Mai

Free Bird Cafe

Free Bird Cafe is a venue with a cause – one that feeds your belly, heart, and mind. This social enterprise cafe came to be in 2009, and all of the profits go towards supporting language and art learning centres for refugees from Burma at the Thai Freedom House. The cafe began with the hopes of bringing financial support to the learning centre for refugees from Myanmar and the ethnic people of Thailand, all the while serving up delicious, 100 percent vegan cuisine.

The cafe is a social enterprise in every aspect. Every ingredient used in the dishes here are top quality and were ethically, responsibility, and thoughtfully sourced. Profits from the Pre-Loved Shop at the back of the cafe further aid their projects. Feel free to donate any household item including cookery, dishes, towels, bedding, clothing, and more when you visit. The entire menu is served all day long, including their delicious breakfast. Favourite dishes include their Burmese chickpea salad (฿95), the cacao smoothie bowl (฿250), and their delicious desserts, like the homemade vegan gluten-free brownie (฿100). Free Bird Cafe’s drink menu includes coffee, tea, milkshakes, smoothies, and more.

Location: 116 Maneenopparat Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 81 028 5383
Hours: Closed on Sundays and Mondays | Open Tuesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Sri Chiang Yeun House 

If Free Bird Cafe is full and you are unlikely to get a seat anytime soon, then walk on over to Sri Chiang Yeun House. Though seemingly less trendy (as it was quite empty when we ventured here) the seating area certainly trumps Free Bird Cafe’s for the simple fact that there is more of it. The furniture is all made of dark wood and black and blue ironwork, with floor-to-ceiling paneled doors allowing for light to shine in on diners. The meals here are strictly meat-free, with small, photo indicators of which dishes are vegan and which ones are vegetarian, as well.

The menu includes Thai and Western appetizers, salads, fried dishes, noodles, rice dishes, soups, roti, steak, desserts, and more. They are also serving up coffee, tea, and juices. Food starts at ฿69 and favorites include the stir-fried mushroom with chili and basil leaves (฿99), stir-fried sweet and sour (฿99), and the mixed spicy herb rice (฿119). The restaurant doubles as a hotel.

Location: 138/5,6,7, Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 214 624

Aum Vegetarian

If you are on the hunt for the best vegetarian cheap eats in Chiang Mai, Aum Vegetarian is one restaurant serving up delicious food that won’t drain your wallet. The venue came to be in 1982 and has been impressing meat-free diners since its conception. The restaurant is tucked away a quiet soi (street) and looks like a house rather than an eatery, but don’t let its inconspicuous exterior fool you: this venue has some of the best vegetarian food in town. The menu indicates which dishes are vegan and which ones are vegetarian,  and none of the dishes feature MSG. Diners love the signature maki rolls, which feature everything from avocado to pumpkin.

Location: 1/4 Suriyawong Road Haiya, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 278 315
Hours: Daily from 10:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

Khun Kae’s Juice Bar

Drink your way to happiness at Khun Kae’s Juice Bar. This tiny shop is serving up arguably the freshest juice in the city, and visitors can watch as their fresh glass of fruits and veggies is blended right before their eyes. This almost vegan shop (except for bee pollen) has a number of tropical and tasty favorites to choose from, including the chocolate smoothie bowl (฿80). In addition to being delicious, Khun Kae’s Juice Bar is also one of the healthiest vegetarian restaurants on our list. If you are still not sold, then the prices here will surely entice even the most broke of backpackers to visit, with juices starting at less than $1. You can also get shots filled with healthy goodness, like the sunflower sprout shot for only ฿30.

Location: Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 84 378 3738
Hours: Daily from 10 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Taste From Heaven

Taste From Heaven is a vegan and vegetarian restaurant featuring delicious, home-cooked food that does not contain MSG, chemicals, or preservatives. Every single dish on the menu can be made vegan, as the chef is happy to substitute or omit ingredients in any meal. Phayungchit Khidhen (aka Nan) is the owner. She originally opened a vegan restaurant in 2003 in Australia before moving to Chiang Mai and opening Taste From Heaven in 2008. The restaurant was moved to its current location in 2014.

Be sure to add s faux meat options to your meal, like the vegan sausage (฿40 each) or rashers of vegan bacon (฿30 for two). Western dishes include burgers, a vegan hotdog, sandwiches, pasta, and even a chicken wrap. There are also light meals and appetizers, soups, salads, curries, stir-fries, rice and noodles, and last but not least, desserts. Vegan ice cream and a vegan chocolate brownie will certainly appeal to all meat-free diners with a sweet tooth, while those hoping for something a bit more healthy may instead opt for a fresh-pressed juice or kombucha.

Location: 34/1 Ratmakka Road (opposite Ratmakka Soi 1), Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 091 859 8920
Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Dada Kafe

Found a stone’s throw away from Taste From Heaven is Dada Kafe. The restaurant features an extensive array of Thai and Western dishes that all have two things in common: the delicious taste and lack of meat. The restaurant is so proud of their food, in fact, that we were not allowed to even take photographs of the menu in fear that we would steal their recipes! Alas, be prepared to find fresh juices and more when you dine here. We recommend trying the vegetarian Khao Soi, a popular dish in Northern Thailand that is made with rice or egg noodles and coconut milk. Dried noodles are added to the top making for an interesting combination of both texture and flavor.

Location: 20/1 Ratmakka Rd, Phra Singh, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 53 449 718 
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. | Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 8:45 p.m. | Sundays from 9 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.

Bee Vegan

Located a short drive from the city center but worth the commute is Bee Vegan. This restaurant is essentially a handful of tables tucked inside what seems to be an old garage. The walls have since been painted white and a few wicker-rimmed lights were hung from the ceiling. What this restaurant lacks in decor or ambiance, if you will, it makes up for in price and delicious vegan food. The menu does not feature a single photograph, so customers have to use their imagination when picturing what it is each dish on the extensive menu looks like. Fret not, as each one is delicious!

Visitors will find appetizers, salads, stir-frys, deep-fried items, noodles, soups, curries, spicy and sour salads, and more. Be sure to try one of their shakes and smoothies, with everything from detox to anti-cancer drinks available for as little as ฿40 (about $1). To order, you have to grab the blue paper from the main counter and write down the letter and number of what it is you want, as the staff hardly speaks a word of English. The staff actually got my order incorrect, but my meal was delicious all the same, so no complaints here. Grab a vegan banana cupcake or cookie to-go, as well.

Location: 19, 1 Suthep Rd, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 96 795 7704
Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. (kitchen closes at 8:45 p.m.)

Amrita Garden

Arguably the quaintest restaurant on our list is Amrita Garden. This vegan restaurant is sneaking ingredients like soy into their yogurt and homemade tofu mayonnaise onto their vegan burger. Reset your body with their probiotic lunch set menu or instead indulge in their delicious bolognese with organic rice pasta (our favorite dish). This restaurant is king of the vegan sweets, as well, with everything from vegan cupcakes to vegan mango cheesecake to indulge in that are only about $1. The restaurant also doubles as a hotel.

Location: 2/1 Soi 5, Samlan Road, T. Phrasing, A Muang, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 90 321 2857
Hours: Closed Tuesdays | Wednesdays to Mondays from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Anchan Vegetarian

With a slogan like, “vegetarian food so delicious, you won’t miss the meat,” everyone attempting to give up their carnivorous ways need to check out Anchan Vegetarian. There are only a handful of tables, so be sure to avoid any peak dining hours if you want a seat. The restaurant only takes up a floor of a building and features an open-air dining style, with the entirety of one wall opening up to the city. The menu is written up on a chalkboard behind diners and changes depending on what vegetables are in season. The large portion sizes of every dish are matched with surprisingly affordable prices, and no diner will leave without a swollen (and happy) belly.

Location: Nimmana Haeminda Between Lane 6 – Lane 10, Suthep, Mueang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 83 581 1689
Hours: Daily from 11:30 a.m. until 8:15 p.m.

Da’s Home Bakery

Da’s Home Bakery’s selection of vegan treats is simply mind-blowing. Better yet, the restaurant also serves up an array of baked goods that is simply heaven for those vegans who normally avoid treats like these because of the added egg and dairy products. Da’s Home Bakery also has breakfast, muesli, egg dishes, avocado dishes, sandwiches, French toast, porridge and oatmeal, pancakes, and your usual selection of fresh coffee and tea on their menu. There are also healthy and fruit shakes, 100 percent fresh fruit juice, and herbal teas to choose from.

There is a section of the menu dedicated to homemade bread, muesli, and yogurt dishes. The peanut butter chocolate balls are to die for, and they are only ฿25 each. The cinnamon roll (฿40) is also a great sweet go-to. Be sure to ask the owner to heat it up for you! We recommend the tofu and avocado sandwich with mustard dressing (฿90) or any one of the pancakes featuring everything from apple and cinnamon to chocolate and cashew nuts.

Location: 11/4 Soi 6 Moon Muang Road, Muang Chiangmai Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand —
Contact: +66 081 980 2588 
Hours: Daily from 6:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. (kitchen closes at 6 p.m.)

Reform Kafe

Nestled inside the Green Tiger House accommodation option is Reform Kafe. It is conveniently located near the popular North Gate of the city and is serving up an array of delicious vegan cuisine. The quality food is matched by the equally inviting dining area, with green foliage hanging throughout. All of the dishes are MSG free and made with fresh and locally sourced ingredients.

The menu features starters, salads, soups, curries, fried noodles, noodle soups, stir-fries, rice dishes, fries, raw items, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, and desserts. Pair any one of these with an organic coffee, tea, lassi, or fresh juice. Feel great after indulging in a healthy drink, whether it be kombucha (฿80) or fermented kefir beverage. Favorite dishes include the fried mushroom sandwich (฿100) and the pumpkin soup with curry (฿100).

Location: 1/4 Sripoom Road Lane 7, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 93 182 8299
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. | Sundays from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Goodsouls Kitchen

Goodsouls Kitchen is a huge hit amongst vegan diners with a sweet tooth. This restaurant is the sister business of Reform Kafe, and it certainly lives up to its high standards. The vegan restaurant has some interesting finds on its extensive menu, with dishes featuring things like homemade vegan cashew nut cream sauce and ice cream made with coconut milk.

Speaking of desserts, this is arguably the best spot in the city to frequent if you are wanting something sweet. In addition to ice cream, visitors will find vegan mango and passion fruit cheesecake (raw), carrot cake, chocolate brownies, and more on the menu. Vegan desserts that are both so convincing and delicious are certainly hard to find in Thailand, but not anymore thanks to Goodsouls. The restaurant is also serving up interesting faux meat options like their steaks made mushrooms, beetroot, chickpeas, and more.

Location: 52/2 Singharat Road, Chiang Mai, Thailand — 
Contact: +66 88 819 9669
Hours: Daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m.

J Station Vegetarian Restaurant

Do not let its exterior fool you: J Station Vegetarian Restaurant is serving up some of the best meat-free dishes in town. This eatery is basically just a hole in the wall but it offers loads of Thai vegetarian food. It is found near the North Gate. When you visit, simply point and choose which dishes you want to try. Fill up on a plate of tasty finds for only a few bucks or less. This buffet-style dining restaurant is also serving up loads of fresh fruit.

Location: 248/3 Sahasriphun Place, Maneenopparat Rd, Amphoe Muang Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand —
Contact: +66 87 577 7788
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m.

6
Jul, 2023
33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Ubud, Bali

33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Ubud, Bali

Ubud rivals Chiang Mai and San Francisco as our favourite vegetarian-friendly destination in the world.

During our visits we tried over 50 of the best restaurants in Ubud, many of which were entirely vegetarian or vegan, or had plenty of meat-free options.

Ubud isn’t a big city—it’s a collection of villages that, outside the small congested centre, has a rural feel with rice paddies dominating the landscape.

The food scene is surprisingly varied—as well as Balinese dishes we found excellent Mexican, Indian, and Italian food; beautifully presented raw vegan meals; and even vegetarian tasting menus at fancy fine dining restaurants.

It’s easy to eat healthily with many restaurants serving organic food from local ingredients. The influence of the yoga scene means green juices, superfood salads, macrobiotic meals, and gluten-free options abound.

All this delicious vegan food in Ubud is very affordable with Indonesian meals from $2 and western and raw dishes around $4, although many restaurants charge an extra 10% tax and 5% (occasionally 10%) service charge (I’ve noted when in the listings below). A meal for two with one or two courses plus juices costs from $7-20.

Most restaurants deliver and they usually open all day from breakfast to dinner. I’ve noted if they close on a particular day.

This bombaysandwichco.com post shares my picks for the best vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Ubud, Bali. At the end, you will find a map with everywhere mentioned.

33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Ubud, Bali

Vegetarian Indonesian Dishes to Try

Indonesians eat plenty of meat, but their diet also includes tofu, tempeh, vegetables, and rice so it’s easy to adapt dishes for vegetarians.

Although we had a lot less choice once we left the Ubud bubble, there are usually a few local dishes we could eat.

We love tempeh which originates from Indonesia. This soybean patty is like a fermented version of tofu; it’s considered to be healthier as it is less processed and the beans are whole—I prefer its firmer texture.

  • Nasi Campur – A staple of the diet here, this is the Balinese thali, a plate of rice with various small vegetable, tempeh, and tofu dishes, and a dollop of spicy sambal. It’s often the best option for vegetarian food in Ubud and is very affordable.
  • Gado Gado – Cold vegetables with peanut sauce.
  • Jukut Arab – A Balinese salad of lightly blanched vegetables (typically bean sprouts and green beans) and grated coconut.
  • Tempeh Satay – Tempeh skewers with peanut sauce. I don’t know how easy this is to find in the rest of Indonesia, but it’s common in Ubud.
  • Nasi Goreng – Fried rice that can be made with just vegetables.
  • Mie Goreng – Fried noodles that can be made with just vegetables.

Our Top 5 Ubud Vegetarian Restaurants

These are the restaurants that we kept going back to. While they are not all entirely vegan, they all have good meat-free choices.

1) Melting Wok

Tempeh coconut noodle curry

Don’t miss Melting Wok! The tempeh coconut curry with rice noodles is our favourite dish in Ubud—it’s full of flavour, packed with vegetables, crispy tempeh and fresh herbs, and served with a delicious spicy pickled salad.

They only serve curry (plus a few meaty specials), but you can customise it with your choice of meats, tempeh or tofu, rice or noodles, and how spicy you’d like it (a blessing in Ubud where the curries are often bland).

It’s proof of our theory that the smaller the menu, the better the food.

The staff are absolutely lovely—from the welcoming French owner Geraldine to the friendly, attentive servers who explain the menu in detail. The desserts are tasty too, and it’s all good value.

Melting Wok is one of the best restaurants in Ubud for vegetarians and is very popular so make a reservation (usually a day in advance is enough) by emailing Geraldine at [email protected] or calling 082 144 174 906.

Cuisine: Meat, fish and vegetarian Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 53,000 IDR.
Details: 13 Jalan Gootama. Closed Mondays.

2) Sage

House salad, tempeh tacos, and tempeh buffalo wings
Sage would not be out of place in California. Their menu is refreshingly different from other places in town, with a mix of Mexican inspired dishes and healthy vegetable bowls.

Everything is great at this vegan cafe in Ubud, but we particularly love their tempeh tacos, cauliflower fritas (oh, that chipotle sauce), potato flautas, and go jolly green giant bowl full of veggies, quinoa, and tempeh or tofu (get the garlic tahini dressing).

The cakes are my favourite in Ubud—especially the coconut and the cinnamony apple—and it’s one of the few places where you can find non-raw vegan cakes.

Sage also gets our vote for the best breakfast in Ubud—the brekky burrito with scrambled tofu and hash browns is amazing, the green smoothie bowl is a healthy way to start the day, and the blueberry pancakes are fluffy and delicious.

Sage’s decor is simple but elegant with comfy booths and lots of light. Their WiFi was variable, but when it worked was much faster than most places in town (10 Mbps down) and we often worked here.

They also offer delivery or pick-up including farm boxes full of delicious fresh seasonal produce.

Cuisine: Vegan Mexican and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 65,000-75,000 IDR + 16%.
Details: 1 Jalan Nyuh Bulan.

3) The Elephant

Sweet potato fritters, polenta chips, spring rolls, and toasted sourdough with tomato and feta.
The Elephant is a classy Ubud vegetarian restaurant with a great view overlooking the Camphuan Ridge.

The menu is a mix of Asian and Western dishes and I actually preferred the pasta and gnocchi here to the Italian restaurants in Ubud.

The salads were my favourite in town with mixed greens and interesting toppings, and we loved the tofu spaghetti bolognese, pesto gnocchi, polenta chips, smashed potatoes, and all the cakes we tried (raw chocolate, carrot, and lemon almond).

Vegan and gluten-free dishes are marked on the menu.

As a bonus, you can use the pool at the attached hotel for 30,000 IDR.

Cuisine: Vegetarian International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 65,000-100,000 IDR.
Details: Hotel Taman Indrakila, Jalan Raya Sanggingan.

4) Taco Casa

Nachos!

The best Mexican food in Asia? Quite possibly. Taco Casa makes surprisingly good Tex-Mex classics (tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, nachos) using fresh homemade ingredients.

They do serve meat but everything can be made with stir-fried veggies instead.

Simon is obsessed with their nachos which are perfectly topped with melted cheese, refried beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, and jalapeños (and sour cream if you want it).

I love their mammoth 8-layer burrito packed with red rice, black beans, vegetables, guacamole, pico, cheddar cheese, and lettuce.

The service is quick and friendly and it’s always busy (you might struggle to get a table later in the evening).

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Mexican.
Cost for a Main Dish: From 74,000 IDR for a burrito + 15.5%.
Details: Jalan Pengosekan.

5) Warung Sharaswaty

Aloo gobi, bengan tamatar, and chapatis
We can’t go too long without an Indian food fix, so we were happy to discover the family-run Warung Sharaswaty, one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Ubud.

The food is flavourful and delicious—we particularly enjoyed the samosas, bengan tamatar (an eggplant and tomato dish), dhal, and chapati.

Most dishes can be made vegan and you can choose your spice level.

The food is cooked to order so it can be slow. The open-air bamboo loft, with comfy bean bag chairs and colourful fabrics draped from the ceiling, is a great place to relax while you wait.

Cuisine: Vegetarian Indian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 40,000 IDR + 10%.
Details: Jalan Raya Penestanan.

Cheap Eats in Ubud

A great cheap eat option is nasi campur—rice with lots of small vegetable and tempeh dishes—in the traditional manner displayed in a glass cabinet and served cold (although some of these restaurants serve it hot).

Another option if you are travelling with meat-eaters is Puspa’s Warung in the centre of Ubud. Nasi campur is only 40,000 IDR and they have meat or vegan options.

6) Wulan Vegetarian Warung

Wulan’s 7 dish nasi campur is some of the best vegan food in Ubud
Wulan Vegetarian Warung is a small vegan place with colourful decor and a short menu written on a blackboard.

We love the 7 item nasi campur, which includes red rice, sweetcorn fritter, crispy tempeh, and various vegetable dishes, and the spicy-hottie veg tempeh.

The food is simple but tasty and the aloe vera juice was delicious.

Cuisine: Vegan Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 35,000-55,000 IDR.
Details: 1 Jalan Sugriwa.

7) Warung Sopa

Nasi campur
Warung Sopa serves good vegetarian nasi campur from a cabinet for 9000 IDR per item.

You can choose from curries like tofu, banana leaf, eggplant, and lentil, as well as samosas, spring rolls, and fried tempeh, all served with red rice.

They also have lots of soups and a few other dishes on their menu.

Cuisine: Vegetarian Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 33,000 IDR for four nasi campur items. 29,000 IDR for a large soup.
Details: 36 Jalan Sugriwa.

8) PriMa Warung Pure Vegetarian

Nasi campur
PriMa is a very simple vegan warung run by a friendly lady.

It’s only open at lunch and just serves nasi campur—a bowl of pumpkin soup plus a massive plate of red rice, vegetables, tempeh, and a corn fritter.

There was so much food we could have shared, making it great value.

Cuisine: Vegan Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 35,000 IDR.
Details: Jalan Raya Penestanan. Lunch only. Closed Sundays.

9) Dayu’s Warung

Dayu’s Warung serves healthy, organic, gluten-free meals with plenty of vegetarian options including salads, soups, and Indonesian classics.

The nasi campur is one of my favourites in Ubud, but some of the other dishes can be bland, and the service is slow.

They also have gluten-free and vegan desserts.

Cuisine: Meat, fish and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 30,000-40,000 IDR + 10%.
Details: 18 Jalan Sugriwa.

10) Warung Bintangbali

French fries and My Mom’s Terong
Warung Bintangbali is the cheapest place we ate in Ubud—it was only a few minutes’ walk from our house so we ate here a lot.

It’s a lovely setting with colourful fabrics draped from the bamboo structure and lovely views of the rice paddies.

It does serve meat but there’s a whole page of vegetarian options at bargain prices and everything is organic with vegetables from a nearby garden.

We liked the vege curry, My Mom’s Terong (an eggplant, tempeh and pineapple stir fry), sweet and spicy grilled corn, and the excellent french fries which are proper chunky chips.

On Monday nights there’s live music.

Cuisine: Meat, fish and vegetarian Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 25,000-80,000 IDR + 5%.
Details: Jalan Tirta Tawar, Junjungan village. Closed Sundays.

11) Abe-Do Organic Warung

Abe-Do is a tiny art-filled warung run by very friendly owners who took the time to chat with us.

Their menu includes lots of juices (and they deliver for juice detoxes), salads, and a number of vegetarian Indonesian dishes.

The tempeh satay was the best we had in Ubud and is served with rice, sayar urub (beansprouts and green bean salad), and a tasty peanut sauce.

All the vegetables come from an organic farm 2 km away and everything is cooked fresh to order.

Cuisine: Meat, fish and vegetarian Indonesian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 25,000-37,000 IDR.
Details: Jalan Tirta Tawar.

12) Umah Pizza

Umah Pizza has great value pizza—just 44,000 IDR for a large margherita, when everywhere else charges at least 50,000 plus tax.

We didn’t expect much for the price, but we actually preferred it to Mamma Mia, which is generally considered to have the best pizza.

In truth, although we enjoyed all the pizzas we tried in Ubud (Pizza Bagus also does great value pizza and pasta), they lacked the wow factor—for that you’ll have to travel a few hours away to Classico Italiano on the tiny island Gili Air.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Italian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 44,000-70,000 IDR.
Details: Jalan Bisma.

13) Siboghana Waroeng

The family compound where Siboghana Waroeng is located

Siboghana is one of the best vegan restaurants in Ubud. It’s set in a family compound south of the centre and the Balinese dishes feel like home-cooking.

Everything is plant-based and cooked in coconut oil with no MSG. The food is flavourful, delicious and incredibly good value. The only downside is that the food takes a while but that’s because everything is cooked to order.

You can’t go wrong but the nasi campur is a highlight with red rice, vegetable curry, sayur urap vegetables, tempeh, satay, crispy mushrooms, begedil potato cutlet, and a dollop of spicy ginger sambal.

Cuisine: Vegan Balinese.
Cost for a Main Dish: 20–30,000 IDR.
Details:36 Jalan Made Lebah.

14) Sawobali Cake and Coffee shop

Sawobali is another welcome addition to the Ubud vegan scene and we were regulars at their all-you-can-eat vegan buffet.

I’m not usually a buffet fan, but the food here is fresh and tasty and it’s perfect for a quick, inexpensive meal. For 50,000 IDR you can choose from 10 hot dishes, a soup, rice, and salad. Water is also included.

They describe the food as Indonesian fusion so there are classic local dishes like tempeh, tofu, curry, and vegetables, and more international dishes like a delicious tomato eggplant dish that tastes like an Italian melanzane parmigiana without the cheese.

Everything is vegan, gluten-free, and made without onions or garlic.

Sawobali also has a range of cakes including vegan and gluten-free options.

Cuisine: Vegan Indonesian Fusion.
Cost for a Main Dish: 50,000 IDR for the buffet.
Details: 19 Jalan Sukma Kesuma. Buffet from 1pm – 10.30pm every day.

15) Mumbai Station

Based at The Shala Bali Yoga Retreat and Spa, Mumbai Station has just a few tables in a small garden (bring mosquito repellant!).

They serve a couple of curries but their speciality is masala dosas (Indian crispy rice pancakes stuffed with spicy potato) with a choice of chutneys.

We love dosas and these are authentic and delicious. All the food is vegan and gluten-free.

Cuisine: Vegan Indian.
Cost for a Main Dish: 58,000 IDR for a dosa + 17% tax.
Details: 90 Jalan Raya Sanggingan.

Best Setting

In addition to these, The Elephant has a lovely view of Camphuan Ridge and Warung Bintangbali overlooks rice fields.

16) Clear Cafe

Love lasagna and tropical twister juice
Clear is a multi-storey restaurant with stylish decor, tables decorated with flowers, a pond and a fireman’s pole (!).

They serve organic, locally sourced food with many vegetarian options and something to suit everyone from raw dishes like the love lasagna to veggie burgers and burritos.

There are plenty of healthy drinks—I like the tropical twister with pineapple, orange and passionfruit.

Cuisine: Meat, fish, vegetarian and raw International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 50,000-95,000 IDR + 20%.
Details: Jalan Hanoman 8.

17) Yellow Flower

Vegan nasi campur
Yellow Flower is hidden away down a pedestrian path amongst the rice fields in the village of Penestanan.

There isn’t exactly a view but it’s a lovely, quiet space surrounded by trees above a lush valley. The bamboo building is decorated with colourful cushions and bamboo chairs.

Most menu items are vegetarian but there is the option to make dishes with chicken instead. We really enjoyed the vegan nasi campur, corn fritters, and tempeh candlenut curry.

It’s near the Intuitive Flow yoga studio so makes a good stop after a class. They have a buffet on Sunday nights.

Directions: Coming from Ubud it’s a five-minute walk up the Penestanan steps from Jalan Campuhan. Turn right when you reach the sign for Intuitive Flow. Alternatively, from the centre of Penestanan follow the signs down the pedestrian path across the road from Alchemy restaurant. It’s a seven-minute walk this way.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 45,000-75,000 IDR + 10%.
Details: Penestanan Steps.

18) La Pacha Mama

La Pacha Mama is a stylish vegetarian Mexican restaurant in a dramatic high-ceilinged bamboo structure in Penestanan. With cool decor, regular live music, and attentive staff who learn your name, it doesn’t feel like anywhere else in Ubud.

The Mixed Platter is the best way to try a little bit of everything—nachos, guacamole, quesadilla, burrito, flauta and cauliflower buffalo wings. Perfect for sharing with friends over a cocktail (Simon recommends the espresso martini).

I didn’t enjoy the mains quite as much. The tempeh tacos were small and the filling wasn’t very exciting (the tempeh tacos at Sage are far better).

They do make their own authentic corn tortillas, though—the only place we’ve found in Ubud that does. The jackfruit burrito was good but just felt like it was missing something.

Dessert was fun—a chef came out and flambeed my bananas in tequila in front of me.

We enjoyed our meal at La Pacha Mama—the decor, service, cocktails and some dishes are excellent—but it’s expensive and the food didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

We will definitely return, but not as regularly as we do for Mexican at Sage and Taco Casa.

Cuisine: Vegetarian Mexican.
Cost for a Main Dish: 69,000-120,000 IDR plus 16%.
Details: 1 Jalan Raya Penestana Kelod.

Raw Vegan Food in Ubud

Ubud has to be the best destination for raw food in Asia, if not the world, especially if you take price into account.

There are plenty of raw restaurants, raw cooking classes, and many of the vegetarian-friendly places have a choice of raw mains (and not just salads) and desserts.

19) Moksa

Raw lasagna
Moksa is a vegan restaurant in Sayan, just beyond Penestanan. Produce comes from their onsite permaculture garden which you have a view of as you eat.

The food is a mix of raw and cooked vegan and everything is creative, delicious, and beautifully presented. The raw lasagna, eggplant redang, and tofu curry were all very good.

The amuse-bouche was a nice touch—a tumeric jamu shot on our first visit, and a raw bruschetta on our second.

The service is excellent and the staff make an effort to remember your name. If you are vegan, or just enjoy farm to table cuisine, don’t miss it.

Cuisine: Raw and cooked vegan.
Cost for a Main Dish: 70,000-90,000 IDR plus 15%.
Details: Puskesmas Ubud II.

20) The Seeds of Life

Mexican raw lasagna

The Seeds of Life serves raw vegan food and a huge range of healthy elixirs and juices.

Their Mexican raw lasagna is my favourite in Ubud and very different from the usual layers of zucchini—it felt creamier and more substantial. It’s a mix of creamy cashew cheese and beetroot pate with layers of corn tortillas, greens and a seed and avocado topping. It’s served slightly warm (but still raw apparently).

Simon’s vege wrap was a little boring. Their raw desserts are highly recommended but we didn’t try them.

They also have Mysore ashtanga yoga classes here.

Cuisine: Raw vegan.
Cost for a Main Dish: 25,000-75,000 IDR + 15%.
Details: 2 Jalan Gautama.

21) Taksu Garden Cafe

Almond tostadas
Taksu Spa has an upstairs restaurant with a varied menu including one that is entirely vegan and mostly raw.

It’s hard to choose from the innovative menu, but everything we ate was flavourful and presented like a work of art.

We love the hidden jungle setting right in the heart of Ubud. Make sure you look around Taksu after your meal, or do a yoga class or spa treatment—it’s an incredible place. The cafe looks down into a jungle gorge in the centre of Ubud.

Cuisine: Meat, fish, vegetarian, raw and cooked vegan International
Cost for a Main Dish: 50,000-115,000 IDR + 15%.
Details: Jalan Gautama.

22) Alchemy

Alchemy is one of the most well known Ubud vegan restaurants. It has a small raw vegan menu, but the real highlight is the salad bar with many interesting toppings like pink sauerkraut, curry rawmesan, and kale sprinkle.

They also serve juices, sweet treats, and health food items in their shop.

Cuisine: Raw vegan.
Cost for a Main Dish: 65,000-85,000 IDR + 16%.
Details: 75 Jalan Penestanan Kelod.

23) Soma Cafe (Update 2023: Sadly, now closed)

A mostly raw vegan restaurant (you can add fish) with lots of healthy drinks and raw desserts.

It was all a bit too healthy for Simon and his rainbow coco curry was very bland. I enjoyed my live love pasta—raw zucchini noodles with cashew cheese, pesto, olives, tomatoes, and capers.

Cuisine: Fish, raw and vegan.
Cost for a Main Dish: 52,000-74,000 IDR + 17%.

24) Sayuri Healing Food Cafe

High-vibowl with “cheese” croutons
Sayuri is one of my favourite raw vegan restaurants in Ubud with a bright space, fast WiFi, and delicious healthy food.

I love the bowls that come with lots of veggies, sauerkraut, and a choice of dressing and toppings. The “cheese” croutons are amazing and I couldn’t believe they were made from coconut (sadly on my second visit they weren’t crunchy though).

I’m a fan of the Pick Me Up green smoothie with berries and pineapple so it doesn’t taste too “green”. You can also have it as a smoothie bowl with a choice of toppings—the coconut cinnamon chips are delicious. The raw desserts look tempting.

If you are looking for a flavourful, creative, and healthy meal, then give it a try.

Cuisine: Raw vegan with a few cooked dishes.
Cost for a Main Dish: 35,000-79,000 IDR plus 15%.
Details: 2 Jalan Sukma Kesuma.

Best Cafes in Ubud for Working

In addition to Lazy Cats, we often worked at Sage.

25) Lazy Cats Cafe

Lazy Cats is one of the best Ubud vegetarian cafes for digital nomads

Lazy Cats is an Instagrammable cafe with cool artwork and comfy armchairs overlooking the main road of Ubud.

The WiFi is fast (10 Mbps down/20 Mbps up) so it’s the perfect place to work over a leisurely breakfast or lunch.

The coffee is excellent and all the food is vegetarian with vegan options available (they have cashew-coco milk and yoghurt).

Breakfast includes delicious pancakes—both the Chocoholics and Colada (pineapple and coconut) were delectable, as were the hash browns topped with caramelised onions and sour cream.

The green smoothie bowl was good, but not quite as good as my favourite at Sage.

Lunch options include wraps, salads, quesadilla, and a BBQ tofu bowl. From 7pm they serve interesting-sounding cocktails and tapas—we’ll be back to try those.

Cuisine: Vegetarian and vegan International
Cost for a Main Dish: 40,000-70,000 IDR + 16%.
Details: 11 Jalan Raya.

Something for Everyone

These are Ubud institutions that offer a wide range of Indonesian and Western dishes, mostly vegetarian but with some chicken and fish.

26) Kafe & Garden Kafe

Kafe serves everything from nachos to healthy salads and tasty raw cakes. We found the food good, but not exceptional.

Their second branch, Garden Kafe, is at The Yoga Barn so is convenient for after a yoga class. The menu is a little smaller and more health focused, with Ayurvedic, macrobiotic, and raw vegan menus. I enjoyed the tofu scramble (ask for some sambal).

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 45,000-155,000 IDR + 15%.
Details: 44b Jalan Hanoman.

27) Bali Buda

Garden salad

Bali Buda is another vegetarian-friendly restaurant with a bit of everything—salads, sandwiches, soups, pasta, Mexican, and Indonesian.

Our favourite dish is the creamy tofu and cashew curry, full of chickpeas and vegetables.

We often went to their health food shop a few doors down for good rye and wholemeal bread, kombucha, and bulk buy nuts, seeds, and lentils.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 55,000-98,000 IDR + 15%.
Details: 1 Jalan Jembawan.

Best Special Occasion Ubud Restaurants

Ubud has some very fancy restaurants if you are looking for somewhere to celebrate.

Most of these have vegetarian tasting menus and can cater for vegans if you let them know in advance.

They’re expensive but it’s much less than you would pay for fine dining elsewhere. Just be careful with your drinks—alcohol is pricey in Indonesia and you can end up doubling your food costs.

28) Locavore

Locavore creates contemporary European cuisine using local ingredients. Eating here was one of our most memorable restaurant experiences.

We chose the five-course vegetarian tasting menu (seven courses is also an option), but ended up being served 12 small bites in addition to the courses—the stream of food lasted hours.

We never knew what to expect—my berry cocktail was served with a side of thyme set on fire so the aroma would enhance the flavour; the flowers arranged on the table were part of the meal; and when we finished dessert and thought it was all over, we were brought five more sweet treats including potato doughnuts balanced on a log.

It was all simple but flavourful and beautifully presented.

Reservations are essential—Locavore usually books up a month in advance.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian European tasting menus.
Cost for a Main Dish: 1,250,000 IDR + 20.5% for seasonal tasting menu.
Details: Jalan Dewi Sita.

29) Mozaic

Tofu, curry puree and popcorn
Mozaic feels much more formal and fancy than Locavore with ultra-attentive service and a romantic candle-lit garden setting.

Each course was a work of art—creative and delicious, mixing European and Balinese flavours.

Highlights were the tofu with curry puree and popcorn, melt-in-the-mouth linguine with parmesan foam, and an excellent coconut sorbet with coconut chips.

It was another special experience that lasted hours and was the perfect place to celebrate Simon’s birthday.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian European tasting menus.
Cost for a Main Dish: 650,000 IDR + 21% for 6 course vegetarian tasting menu.
Details: Jalan Raya Sanggingan.

30) Uma Cucina

Uma Cucina is the best Italian in Ubud but at Italy prices (ask for the vegetarian menu).

Based at COMO Hotel the restaurant has outdoor terraces and a large communal table at the heart of the dining space.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian European.
Cost for a Main Dish: 90,000-300,000 IDR + 21%
Details: COMO Uma Ubud, Jalan Raya Sanggingan.

31) Kubu

For a real treat go to Kubu at the Ritz Carlton where you can enjoy a vegetarian tasting menu in a private bamboo cocoon overlooking the river, the perfect intimate setting for that special occasion.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian European.
Cost for a Main Dish: 750,000 IDR + 21% for 6 course vegetarian tasting menu.
Details: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Jalan Kedewatan.

Restaurants with Swimming Pools

If you fancy a swim after your meal, the restaurants below offer free use of their pool. You can also use the pool at the hotel next to The Elephant for a small fee.

The infinity pool at Jungle Fish looks amazing and they have vegetarian options, but there’s a minimum spend of 500,000 IDR.

For somewhere central, Folk on Monkey Forest Road has an attractive pool and good Western and Indonesian dishes.

32) Swasti Beloved Cafe

Monster salad
The organic cafe at Swasti Eco Cottages uses vegetables from their garden. It’s not entirely vegetarian but they label the menu with vegan, raw, and gluten-free options.

The setting is lovely in a bamboo building overlooking the garden, or you can eat by the pool.

My monster salad was fantastic with lots of interesting ingredients including tempeh, edible flowers, kimchi, and coconut chips. Simon was less impressed with his veggie burger.

They also serve great smoothies (2 for 1 from 5.30-7pm) and raw desserts.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 45,000-80,000 IDR + 21%.
Details: 3 Jalan Nyuh Bojog.

33) The Onion Collective (Delicious Onion)

The Onion Collective is a co-working space with a cafe and swimming pool (with slide!). It has a cool vibe and often hosts live music.

Half the menu is vegetarian and although we enjoyed our burgers, especially the bean burger, mine was completely cold and the service was flaky.

Cuisine: Meat and vegetarian Indonesian and International.
Cost for a Main Dish: 52,000-98,000 IDR + 15%.
Details: Jalan Raya Pengosekan.

Best Coffee and Sweet Treats in Ubud

Cappuccino, almond croissant, and pain aux raisins at Monsieur Spoon
My favourite treat is the vegan cakes at Sage. You can also find raw cakes at the restaurants listed in the Raw section above, and many of the others. Some contain honey so if you’re a strict vegan, you’ll need to check.

  • Seminan Coffee Studio – A hipster cafe that takes its coffee seriously. Simon loves the coffee here and also buys freshly ground beans to use at home. The french toast, smoothie bowl, and croissants make it a great option for breakfast.
  • Room4Dessert – Innovative (but pricey) desserts and cocktails in an ultra-cool bar that feels more New York than Ubud.
  • Monsieur Spoon – The best croissants in Ubud.
  • Caramel Patisserie– Simon’s favourite cakes, especially the trichoc and red velvet. They can custom make birthday cakes.
  • Gaya Gelato – Our favourite gelato in Ubud. The chocolate, pistachio, and coconut are especially good and took us back to Italy.
  • Kokolato – Vegan ice cream made with healthy ingredients. I like the moringa mint chip. Many of the above restaurants sell it.

Summary

Ubud is definitely one of the most vegetarian and vegan friendly places in Asia. There is an absurd amount of choice—I left many restaurants off this list that in most other places we’d love. If you are vegetarian or just love healthy food, don’t miss it.

4
Jul, 2023
Diet-Friendly & Vegan Options in Indian Food

Diet-Friendly & Vegan Options in Indian Food

Eating out can be a challenge if you have dietary restrictions. Many restaurants offer special dishes to cater to various diets, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian dietary restrictions, but these meal options are often less flavorful than other menu choices. However, Indian food naturally caters to vegan and vegetarian diets and the menu options offered at https://bombaysandwichco.com/ don’t compromise on flavor. Our menu is filled with a wide variety of healthy Indian food that caters to every preference, from lean proteins to vegetarian and vegan entrees. Choose from any of the flavorful meals below to enjoy vegan Indian food that is completely satisfying.

Diet-Friendly & Vegan Options in Indian Food

Chana Masala

One name you’ll see often repeated throughout the menu at any Indian restaurant is masala. Masala is simply a traditional blend of spices used in many dishes of India, in this case in chickpea dishes. The chickpeas are cooked in a tomato-based masala sauce that is made with cumin, coriander, chili powder, and turmeric. It is flavored with our signature spice mix.

Dal

Dal is a thick stew or dish made with lentils and is typically vegetarian as long as you make sure it has not been prepared or served with ghee (butter). For instance, bombaysandwichco serves two different dal dishes, a dal soup, and Dal Makhni, which are lentils with garlic, ginger, tomatoes, and spices.

Dal Makhni

Lentils are a nutrient-dense food that keeps you satisfied for hours, making them incredibly popular for people following a vegan diet. Our dish is made with red and yellow lentils that are cooked to perfection and seasoned with ginger, garlic, and tomato in addition to other spices.

Malai Kofta

This dish is traditionally vegetarian as it is made by frying balls of potato and paneer and then smothering them in gravy or creamy sauce. If you want to customize Malai Kofta to accommodate your diet, simply ask for koftas made without paneer and then cover them with our rich gravy seasoned with a variety of spices.

Vegetable Biryani

Biryani is the perfect dish for special occasions and the vegetable variety allows you to indulge in a flavorful meal while sticking to your vegan diet. Our vegetable biryani features layers of long-grain rice and seasoned vegetables covered in a rich, thick gravy. The entire dish is flavored with exotic spices and herbs and then is cooked over a low flame.

Vegetable Curry

Curry is a staple Indian dish, and there are many different varieties to cater to various tastes. Our vegetable curry features a flavorful sauce seasoned with the Chef’s signature spice mix. It is combined with an array of fresh vegetables for a healthy meal option.

Alu Mutter

Although the consumption of potatoes is restricted on other diets, the starchy vegetable is a staple for the vegan diet. Alu Mutter is a healthy combination of potatoes and green peas flavored with a variety of traditional Indian spices

Alu Gobi

Indian cuisine offers a lot of vegetable dishes, and one of the healthiest Indian dishes is Alu Gobi, which is just potatoes and cauliflower seasoned with a blend of herbs and spices that give them the traditional Indian flavor. Both vegetables are nutrient-dense, making them ideal for any vegan diet. One of the main spices in this dish, turmeric, gives the food a yellow color, while ginger, coriander, cumin, garlic, and onion combine with the turmeric to provide the plate with a distinctive flavor.

Bombay Alu

Bombay Alu features our signature curry sauce made with tomatoes, chilies, spices, and herbs. Diced potatoes, seasoned with our signature spice blend, are mixed into the curry to thicken the rich sauce.

Navratan Korma

Because they are satisfying and filled with essential nutrients, vegetables should be the cornerstone of any diet, but they are a critical component of a vegan diet. This dish features a blend of seasoned mixed vegetables that are cooked in delectable whipped cream and topped with flavorful nuts for a satisfying crunch.

Mushroom Mutter

The hearty, earthy taste of mushrooms makes them a wonderful addition to many dishes and this traditional Indian meal makes them the main event. Whole mushrooms are cooked with green peas, tomato, and onions and flavored with herbs and spices.

Bhindi Masala

As with all Indian dishes, the spices are what make bhindi masala so flavorful. This dish features okra as the main ingredient and combines it with tomato and onion for enhanced flavor and texture. Exotic Indian spices make this dish come to life.

Alu Saag

Spinach is a superfood with many health benefits and when it is seasoned with traditional Indian herbs and spices, it becomes a flavorful dish that many vegans love. This dish combines chopped spinach with diced potatoes and coats them in an exotic spice blend.

Saag Chole

Made with flavorful chickpeas, this dish enhances the taste by seasoning them with our signature spice blend. Chopped spinach enriches the dish and makes it a delicious option for people following a vegan diet.

Roti

Vegans needn’t give up bread at an Indian restaurant. While naan is traditionally made with yogurt, making it off-limits for vegans, roti is a vegan flatbread that will pair perfectly with your food.

4
Jul, 2023
12 Vegan Indian Dishes You Must Try at Least Once

12 Vegan Indian Dishes You Must Try at Least Once

You’ve probably heard that India is great for lacto-vegetarian travelers, but did you know that there are also plenty of vegan Indian food items to choose from?​

The vegan movement is really taking off in India. But even before veganism was popular, there were already many vegan dishes in Indian cuisine, and even some vegan Indian desserts.

Today’s post from this website https://bombaysandwichco.com/ , an Indian travel enthusiast who’s here to share eight vegan Indian dishes that you definitely don’t want to miss.

12 Vegan Indian Dishes You Must Try at Least Once

Vegan Indian Food: 12 Dishes You Must Try

1. Chana Masala

Chana masala is my favorite vegan Indian dish. Watch the video to learn all about it!

Chana masala is primarily a northern Indian dish, although it is also eaten as a breakfast food in the south of India.

Chana means “chickpea” and masala means “spice”, so this dish is a chickpea curry made with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, onion, plenty of spices … and chickpeas, of course!

It’s usually vegan by default. The only non-vegan ingredient that you might find in this dish is ghee – a type of clarified butter that is sometimes used as a cooking fat in India.

If that’s the case, you can ask the restaurant staff to replace the ghee with a plant-based oil. Chana masala can be eaten with rice or with a bread such as chapati or naan. Or both!

2. Dal Chaawal

This is a common dish prepared in every household in India. Depending on the region, some families even prepare it three or four times a week.

Dal means “lentil” and chawal means “rice”, so this is a dish of lentils and rice. Indians use different kinds of lentils for making different lentil soups.

I remember there used to be more than 10 types of lentils in my mom’s kitchen. Each kind of soup uses a different combination of spices.

Thus, each of them differs in taste significantly. Indians love to eat lentil soup with rice and sometimes with roti (Indian flatbread). Interestingly, this dish is more popular in homes than in restaurants.

Often Indian families add a little bit of ghee or butter in the serving of lentil soup once it is ready. If you are traveling as a vegan, make sure you let your host or server know that you do not want ghee or butter.

In restaurants, you will probably find two kinds of lentil soups:

Dal Fry or Dal Tadka

This one is mostly prepared with yellow lentils (arhar or toor dal). It is possible that the restaurant staff might add butter or ghee to your serving without consulting you, so be sure to let them know you want a vegan meal.

And of course, to make this a complete dal chaawal (lentils and rice), just order rice as an accompaniment.

Dal Makhani

This is another popular lentil soup in India. However, the word “makhani” means butter, which is always an ingredient in this dish. For that reason, this type of lentil soup is not easily veganized.

You should either confirm with your server that the restaurant serves a vegan version of it or just order something else.

3. Kofta

Kofta actually means “meatball”. However, in India, it is common to see vegetarian and vegan varieties of kofta.

Vegan versions often include kofta made with lentils or potatoes or mixed vegetables. Kofta is usually served with spicy curry or gravy. If you are familiar with Indian cuisine, then you probably know that there are different kinds of gravies in India.

Some gravies may contain butter or cream as an essential ingredient, so confirm with your server which gravy they serve with the kofta. If it’s a creamy gravy, ask if they can swap it out for a vegan one.

4. Kashmiri Dum Aloo

This dum aloo is a traditional dish from Kashmir that is made with small deep-fried potatoes cooked slowly in a spicy gravy. Although the dish originates from the state of Kashmir, it is also very popular in the rest of India.

You will easily find it in most Indian restaurants, both in India and in other countries. When it is prepared at home, it is almost always vegan.

However, some restaurants serve it in a gravy that contains cream or curd (yogurt). Confirm with your server whether they can offer a vegan version of this dish.

5. Vegetable Biryani

The first dish on this list is for all the rice lovers out there! No matter where you are traveling in India, you’re never far away from a sumptuous plate of vegetable biryani.This is the Indian version of vegetable fried rice.

The fragrant rice cooked with succulent vegetables and a heaping mix of aromatic spices like nutmeg, pepper mace, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, and mint can make your senses go wild. And trust me, you’ll end up craving more.

6. Rajma

Rajma is a popular vegan Indian dish made of red kidney beans cooked with many Indian whole spices in a thick gravy. It’s usually served with roti (an Indian flatbread) and steaming hot rice. Even though the kidney bean is not of Indian origin, it’s still an integral part of the typical diet in Northern India.

7. Masala Dosa

Made from fermented rice and dal (lentils), masala dosa is a super-thin, crispy, savory pancake wrapped around a mix of curried potatoes, onions and spices. It’s popular mainly in South India, and also in neighboring Sri Lanka.

This scrumptious dish is served with chutney and sambar and is best suited for breakfast or lunch. The southern city of Bangalore is particularly famous for its many dosa joints, and it was also recently named India’s most vegan-friendly city.

Just be aware that some chefs will use yogurt (curd) in the fermentation process when making the batter.

8. Hara Bhara Kabab

If you enjoy munching on snacks but still want to get all the nutrients your body needs, then Hara Bhara Kabab is the perfect snack food for you.

These little round patties look similar to falafel but are made from potatoes, green peas and spinach. They are a tasty alternative to the typical meat kabab.

9. Baingan Bharta

Baingan Bharta is a smoked eggplant curry, somewhat like a warm version of the baba ghanoush that is eaten as a cold dip in Middle Eastern countries.

Baingan Bharta is a simple combination of spices and herbs with chargrilled eggplant (known as “brinjals” in India). It is a flavorful dish that is easy to whip up and is healthy and tasty to boot.

10. Aloo Puri

The next vegan Indian food item on this list is a bit of a decadent treat but is worth every calorie. An essential part of North Indian cuisine, puri bhaji is a must-try dish for those who like their food on the spicy side. Puri refers to the delicious, crispy deep-fried, puffed bread that is served with a delectable spicy gravy made of aloo (potato).

If you’re traveling by train (a quintessential Indian experience in itself), you’ll find vendors selling Aloo Puri at almost every station. For hygiene reasons, though, it’s best to stick to government-authorized vendors or the one that you get with your official IRCTC ticket.

11. Pakoras

When it comes to vegan Indian food, pakoras are undoubtedly the perfect snack! They are basically Indian fritters made of besan (chickpea flour) with added vegetables like potato, bell peppers, cabbage, and spices. This item is usually served with a delicious mint or coriander chutney.

12. Chole Bathure

A guaranteed crowd-pleasing vegan Indian food item, chole is enjoyed by people of all ages. This chickpea-based curry not only tastes good but is also packed with lots of healthy ingredients. The spicy, mouthwatering dish is accompanied by puris or bhatura (fried Indian bread).

These 12 vegan Indian food items should all be on your must-eat list while traveling in India. Happy travels!