5 vegetarian spots across India, editor-picked. All India guides.
Cafe Madras ★ 4.5 · Mumbai
matunga · Kamakshi Building, 391/B Bhaudaji Road, Matunga East, Mumbai 400019
Cafe Madras at Kings Circle is a Udupi pure-veg room since 1940. Filter coffee, idli, Mysore masala dosa and a vegetarian lunch thali on banana leaves daily.
Tip: Closed Mondays; weekend mornings queue from 07:00. Cash and card both accepted.
A Rama Nayak Udipi Shri Krishna ★ 4.5 · Mumbai
matunga · 1st Floor LBS Market Building, Lakhamsi Nappu Road, Matunga East, Mumbai 400019
A Rama Nayak's Udupi Shri Krishna Boarding has run an unlimited South Indian vegetarian thali in Matunga since 1942. Editor's TableJourney pick.
Tip: Lunch only on weekdays; weekend dinner runs quietest. Cash and card both accepted.
Swati Snacks ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
tardeo · 248 Karai Estate, Tardeo Road, Opposite Bhatia Hospital, Tardeo, Mumbai 400007
Swati Snacks runs a pure-veg Gujarati menu in Tardeo. Panki on banana leaves, faraali pattice, seasonal aamras-puri. Three generations of the same family.
Tip: Aamras season runs March to May; weekend reservations needed in those months.
Soam ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
chowpatty · Sadguru Sadan, Ground Floor, Babulnath Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007
Soam's Gujarati menu is fully vegetarian: saat dana khichdi, undhiyo, bhinda nu shaak and seasonal aamras. Three-generation family operation since 2005.
Tip: Weekends busiest; weekday lunches calmest. Cash and card both accepted.
Cream Centre ★ 4.2 · Mumbai
chowpatty · 25/B Chowpatty Seaface, Chowpatty, Girgaon, Mumbai 400007
Cream Centre opened at Chowpatty Seaface in 1958 as a vegetarian sweets-and-snacks counter. The channa bhatura is the canonical dish; the hot fudge sundae.
Tip: Family-friendly with a high-chair stock; weekday lunches are quietest.