Eating out in India

Before you order

Mention that you don't eat any dairy - like ghee or butter - when you place the order. That covers most menus.

Don't assume vegetarian means vegan. In India, many vegetarian dishes still contain dairy in the form of ghee, butter, cream, paneer or curd.

Cuisine reference

South Indian - one of the easiest

Already mostly vegan.

• Safe: idli, sambar, vada, plain dosa, masala dosa (ask no ghee), uttapam, rasam, lemon rice, sambar, all the chutneys.
• Ask: "No ghee on dosa please." (Most places brush it on.)
• Coconut chutney: Most coconut chutneys are vegan (some restaurants add curd, so it's worth checking).
• Filter coffee: Some cafés now offer plant milks, but traditional South Indian restaurants usually don't.

North Indian - needs filtering

Many restaurant-style North Indian gravies contain butter, cream, ghee or yoghurt, so it's always worth checking before ordering.

• Safe (usually): dal tadka, chana masala, bhindi do pyaza, jeera rice, mixed veg curry, baingan bharta, aloo gobi.
• Bread: Ask whether naan or kulcha contain milk or yoghurt, as recipes vary by restaurant. Tandoori roti without butter or ghee is often the safest choice. Rumali roti is also usually a good option.
• Customise: Many restaurants are happy to make a dish vegan by leaving out butter or cream, so don't hesitate to ask.

Chinese (Indo-Chinese) - very safe

• Safe: veg fried rice, hakka noodles, chilli mushroom, gobi manchurian, schezwan rice, hot and sour soup (ask, sometimes has egg), spring rolls (check whether the wrapper contains egg).
• Ask: "No egg in the noodles."

Italian

• Safe: any tomato-based pasta (arrabiata, marinara, puttanesca), bruschetta, pizza marinara (no cheese), salads (no dressing or oil + vinegar).
• Ask: "No cheese, no cream please." Most chefs are used to this now.
• Pizza: ask for olive oil + vegetables + extra basil instead of cheese. Some pizzerias now offer vegan cheese - it's worth asking.

Thai

• Safe: green/red/yellow curry with tofu (ask no fish sauce), tom yum (ask no fish sauce), papaya salad (ask no fish sauce - ), jasmine rice, mango sticky rice (ask whether it's made with coconut milk rather than dairy or condensed milk, as recipes vary).
• Ask: "No fish sauce please." (Fish sauce sneaks into everything.)

Lebanese / Middle Eastern - very safe

• Safe: hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabouleh, fattoush, mutabal, pita, olives, dolma.
• Skip: tzatziki (yoghurt), labneh.

Japanese

• Safe: vegetable maki, avocado roll, edamame, vegetable tempura (ask if batter has egg), miso soup (often has dashi/fish - ask).
• Ask: "No dashi, no fish."
• Sauces: Soy sauce is usually vegan, but always check speciality sauces.

Mexican

• Safe: bean burrito (ask no cheese, no sour cream), guacamole, salsa, beans, rice.
• Ask: "No cheese, no sour cream."

Street food

Most Indian street food is vegan or one tweak away.

• Often vegan: pani puri, sev puri, bhel puri, jhal muri, samosas and vada pav. Some vendors use butter, mayonnaise or dairy chutneys.
• Ask: for pav bhaji and grilled sandwiches, request preparation with oil rather than butter.
• Avoid: dahi puri, dahi vada, any preparation containing curd, and lassi.
• Vendors: Street food recipes vary from vendor to vendor, so when in doubt, ask how the dish is prepared.
• Chaat: many chaat dishes can be made vegan (check for curd and butter).

Apps - Swiggy & Zomato

• The "Pure Veg" filter only means the restaurant doesn't serve meat. Dairy and eggs may still be used, so always read the ingredients or leave clear instructions.
• Some restaurants have a 'Vegan' tag - fewer than there should be.
• Best instruction line: "No dairy - no ghee, butter or cream. Vegan."
• For pizza, search 'vegan cheese' - some pizzerias now offer it.
• Photos and menu descriptions aren't always accurate. If you have allergies or strict dietary requirements, it's worth calling the restaurant after placing your order.

Cafés and coffee

Most city cafés now stock at least one plant milk, usually oat or almond, sometimes at a small surcharge. Ask before ordering, and check that syrups, hot chocolate and baked goods are dairy-free.

Don't be afraid to customise

Most restaurants are happy to make small changes such as:

• Leaving off butter
• Using oil instead of ghee
• Omitting cheese
• Skipping cream
• Leaving out mayonnaise

Simple requests are usually much easier for the kitchen than ordering something completely different.