10 Best Vegetarian Joints in New Delhi

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In a place where even McDonald’s threw in the towel and went vegetarian, delicious meat-free food is easy to come by. Give the meat lover a rest and embrace OTP’s Top 10 Vegetarian Joints in New Delhi, veg-head capital of the universe.

Working class joint Sarvana Bhavan is so good they’ve taken their southern Indian fare to the USA. The Delhi branch is simple and cafeteria-style, but that doesn’t stop the Prime Minister himself from ordering his breakfast from here. Attempt to demolish an entire 2 foot long paper dosa (rice and lentil flour pancake) and ease it down with masala buttermilk.

Unlike the stripped-down Sarvana Bhavan, Naivedyam is heavy on décor. A Nandi (bull statue) welcomes you at the entrance to the flagship Hauz Khas Village location, while beautiful Tanjore paintings adorn the walls. Feast backpacker-style and start your meal with a complementary glass of rasam (traditional South-Indian spicy lentil soup) before moving on to familiar favorites like idli, dosa and bisi bebe bhath, all served on a mammoth banana leaf.

Rajdhani has outlets all over India, but the first (and best) is in Connaught Place. The thali fixed menu, featuring small half-bowls of cuisine from all over India, will have you begging for mercy as the deceptively-smiling wait staff relentlessly come by with food – over and over again. During the binge, try to keep one hand free (while the other clutches your stomach to make sure it comes home with you) to ring the gong on the way out. A chorus of waiters will cheer ‘aavjo!’(come again) in exuberant Gujarati.

Residing inside the Select City Walk Mall in Saket, Sattvik (“pure”) takes conscious eating to a whole new level. The Jain sector of vegetarianism does not consume root vegetables (potatoes, garlic, onions, etc.) on principle. Focused on peaceful, cooperative existence, these peaceniks don’t want an entire plant dying or to disturb a whole world of underground life just for us to munch on a root. This extreme “plants have feelings” mentality actually transforms into some good eats. Order a couple plates of dahi kebab and dingri amkai mushroom at this classy (but not too pricey) establishment.

While not a strictly vegetarian eatery, Gunpowder has plenty of options to keep herbivores happy. Tucked away in a shady corner of Hauz Khaz Village and up four flights of workout-worthy stairs, finding this joint is an adventure in itself. Plastic tables and chairs, checkered tablecloths and orders scribbled on a greasy beat up notebook don’t take away from the goodness on their ever-changing menu (ask for veggie specials of the day). Watch the journalist-anthropologist owner duo prepare your Malayali meal in the kitchen or lose yourself in the spectacular view of the reservoir.

The Big Chill’s Italian-American chow took the city by storm several years ago, creating somewhat of a phenomenon. Delhi-ites have now fully jumped on the fusion train and four more locations opened to feed the need. This place is loaded with feel-good, cheesy-creamy goodness and has a great selection of vegetarian options. To inspire a hint of home, the menu is decked out with images of Audrey Hepburn and their banoffie pie ice-cream will change your life.

Build your appetite on a ‘food-walk’, Delhi-style. Buried in a cranny of Chandni Chowk in Old Delhi is a whole lane dedicated to the wondrous paratha (Indian flat bread). Unlike the homemade variety, these grease bombs are deep fried and served with a side of yogurt and a pickle. For dessert, head over to Old and Famous Jalebiwala in the adjacent Dariba lane for the most succulent deep-fried jalebis in town. People from all corners of the city brave the crowds to tap that juicy jalebee.

While traditional cuisine from the easternmost corner of India (Assam) is a little fishy and pigeon-heavy, the exotic flavors aren’t limited to fleshy foods. Most Indian food packs a lot of spice; the Assamese preparation methods focus more on using herbs and unique combinations of fruits and vegetables (often dried) to draw out the drool. Rice is mandatory and Jakoi kicks up the rest of the meal with their coconut and bamboo-infused veggies.

Cafe Diva, the city’s latest little latte joint is a spin-off from its out-of-your-budget, Italian fine-dining cousin, Diva. Try the salads and paninis but blow your load on the spectacular cheese tart. Get virginal with juices and smoothies at the bar while their liquor license pends. The friendly owner herself waits on the guests and is always open to suggestions for her brand-new baby.

Bengali Sweet House is where the proletariat breaks bread. Mostly open air (although there is a small air-conditioned section), savor a plate of chaat or pav bhaji. With every Indian fast food covered on the menu and all varieties of Indian sweets behind the glass counters, this is the perfect place to satiate your grease craving after a debaucherous night.

If the foreign names make reading a menu overwhelming, just order the ‘thali‘, a (pre-fixed) regional Indian meal consisting of many dishes served in small bowls. In a country where religion dictates diet, it’s not hard for vegetarians to stuff their insides with good grub.

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