Snapshots
Vegetarian cuisines are not only sustainable in their approach but also complex and delicious when executed right. The five amazing restaurants nominated in the category “Best Vegetarian Restaurants” are innovating this cuisine and making vegetables irresistible. How? Read to find out.
Shree Thaker Bhojanalay, Mumbai
Despite the fact that the once-large first-floor hall has been divided into smaller rooms and air conditioning has been installed, the quality of the vegetarian Gujarati cuisine and the charm that comes from the restaurant still being family-owned have remained constant. Shree Thaker Bhojanalay was founded in 1945 down a crowded lane in old Mumbai, and it still reeks of old-world charm.
You should order the big, heavy thalis, which are piled high with miniature containers of chutneys, dals, farsan, curries, bhajis, samosas, and more, all ready to be dipped into roti, puri, or bhakri. Given the great deal, it's not surprising that there will be a wait on weekends. We recommend you bring your hunger with you because the portions are just so large.
Soam, Mumbai
The queue outside this neighbourhood veggie establishment is going to be long always. Customers from the nearby neighbourhoods, who are mostly descendants of long-gone business families from Gujarat and Rajasthan, fill the restaurant on most weekends without reservations and engage in lively conversation at the tables. At Soam, you'll mostly find dishes from these two states, cooked by maharajas, who have long been employed by the affluent families of Western India.
Notable dishes include spiced dumplings in a rich lentil broth aka Dal Dhokli, and a variety of savoury snacks like the Farsan platter that will spoil you silly, Samosas filled with spinach and cheese and fluffy yellow Dhoklas (served with tamarind chutney). For dessert, try a glass of Thick Mango Lassi garnished with pistachio and nutmeg shavings. Vegetarian food can't get more sinful and luxurious than this!
Street Storyss, Bengaluru
The vegetarian artisan kitchen, Street Storyss in Bengaluru pays homage to street food—but in a unique way. Dishes such as Avocado Mousse Papdi with Raw Mango Salsa and Rajma Khichdi Risotto with Parmesan and Khakra crumbs are available here. The restaurant's comfortable ambience and aesthetically beautiful decor, with its magnificent teal blue colour scheme mixed with pastel hues, are as impressive as the food. The atmosphere is a direct reflection of their menu!
For the purpose of creating a harmonious blend of modern and antique, the team intentionally retained some brass components, such as trumpet lights, along with coordinating salvaged wood and classic live edge tables juxtaposed with vibrant, contemporary furnishings. They were going for a similarly styled space, where the cuisine would be visually appealing but still bursting with classic tastes in innovative forms to complement the contemporary modern Indian menu.
Saravana Bhavan, Chennai
Saravana Bhavan, an internationally acclaimed Indian vegetarian restaurant brand, has built its reputation on three key pillars: quickness, authenticity, and taste. Customer praise for the Thalaavai Virundhu special plated meal, the Vada and Pongal combo, and, of course, the crispy dosas continues unabated with each new restaurant opening, as does the tradition of high-quality food.
Saravana Bhavan introduced the small idli—the little rice cakes that are about the size of a coin dipped in a bowl of sambar that has a comforting hint of melting ghee. The trademark 14 Idli remains a fan favourite around the globe, from Dallas to Paris, but we'd venture to say that it really shines in Chennai.
Agashiye, Ahmedabad
A stunning eatery in the well-known House of MG, Agashiye means "terrace" in Gujarati and has become something of a landmark in its own right. The eatery, which spans two terraces, offers a varied menu that pays homage to traditional Gujarati food. Indulge all your senses with the daily changing menu and watch as the food is cooked right before your eyes at the terrace kitchen. The Kansa Thali, with its sixteen mouth-watering dishes, and the bigger Silver Thali are the two thali options at Agashiye, and a little tip?
Kansa Thali—which costs around Rs 1,400—is more than adequate. The thali has dishes that showcase the exquisite intricacies of Gujarati cuisine, such as Bajari Ni Rab (soup of bajra), Masedar Bataka (a dry potato curry), and Fangavelu Kathol (mixed green sprouts). Whereas the Silver Thali features their signature farsan, sharbat, various choices for pickles and chutneys, their khichdi, chaat and buttermilk!
Vegetarian cuisine in India is traditional, rooted, delicious, and luxurious! These restaurants in India are constantly making this cuisine shine, not just here but all over the globe. These restaurants redefine what sustainability can mean for the future—whether that’s the simplicity of using banana leaves as crockery, emphasis on vegan food, or locally sourced ingredients.