Last updated on May 17, 2026 by Shannon
The spicy mingling of scents when you first step foot into India is among my favorite memories of my months in South Asia. Before traveling across India on my round the world trip, I had backpacked through Southeast Asia.
India offers hundreds of traditional dishes, and all vary from north to south. Each region has its own dishes and flavor profiles.
Finding Vegetarian Food in India
Strolling Mumbai’s densely-packed streets, the air was thick with the tantalizing aroma of sizzling samosas and the sweet scent of chai simmering at roadside stalls. I’d catch a scent drifting through the street and immediately start trying to track down where it was coming from.
I would follow the scent and find the crowd of locals around a tasty street stall chai stand, or a piping hot samosa ready to find its way into my hand. My love for Indian cuisine deepened with each meal, especially as I discovered dishes like malai kofta—a delightful blend of paneer and potato dumplings in a creamy tomato sauce.
Much of the country is primarily vegetarian—a few states, primarily in the north, add meat into the diet, and some souther coastal area feature fish. But for the first time in my life, I walked into a restaurant and I could eat nearly every dish on offer.
Usually, when I eat at a restaurant back home in the States, there is a token salad or pasta on the menu, but even then it’s often a dish that I have to order without the meat.
India is different—the cuisine was never built around meat in the first place. There’s no sense that vegetarian dishes are trying to imitate meat—they’re complete dishes on their own.
As I journeyed from the coastal flavors of Kerala to the rich curries of Punjab, I discovered that each region boasts its own delectable specialties. With that in mind, I could never fully cover all the dishes available. Instead, I’ll run down my favorite eats that I found on my trip.
I traveled from Mumbai to McLeod Ganj, stopping along the way. And while I did eat at South Indian restaurants on my travels north, I haven’t had the pleasure of eating exclusively in that part of the country.
Wait, Is Indian Food All Vegetarian?
The spicy mingling of scents when I first stepped into India remains one of my strongest memories from months backpacking across South Asia.
Strolling Mumbai’s densely packed streets, the air smelled of sizzling samosas and chai simmering at roadside stalls. I’d catch a scent drifting through the crowd and instinctively follow it until I found a cluster of locals gathered around some tiny food stand.
India was also the first place where being vegetarian felt easy instead of limiting.
Much of the country is deeply vegetarian, and for the first time in my life I could walk into a restaurant and order nearly anything on the menu.
Why I Fell So Hard for Indian Vegetarian Food
One of the things that surprised me most about traveling through India was how expansive vegetarian food felt there.
Back home, vegetarian menus often revolved around substitutions—meatless versions of something else. In India, many dishes were designed from the beginning to stand entirely on their own.
I never felt limited while eating across the country. If anything, I felt overwhelmed by the number of dishes I still wanted to try.
Some meals were incredibly simple: fresh chapati, dhal, curd, and a vegetable curry eaten at a plastic table beside the road. Others felt elaborate and celebratory, with giant thalis arriving crowded with tiny bowls of flavors I couldn’t immediately identify.
Even after months in the region, I still regularly encountered dishes I’d never even heard of.
That constant sense of discovery is part of why Indian food stayed with me long after the trip itself ended. Here are the dishes I still think about years later.
My Favorite Indian Dishes
The Indian Thali
My hands-down ultimate recommendation for a tourist in India—particularly if you’re only in the country for a few days—is to try the Indian thali. At the right establishment, this dish will rock your world.
A thali in India is more than just a meal—it’s one of the best ways to understand regional food culture.
The first thali I ate arrived with what felt like an absurd number of little metal bowls circling a giant tray. Curries, dals, vegetables, chutneys, rice, breads, pickles, and something sweet all appeared at once. I had absolutely no idea where to begin.
That’s part of the fun.
In many casual restaurants, servers roam the room refilling whatever runs low. Finish a spoonful of dhal and someone may silently appear with more. If I clearly loved a certain vegetable curry, another scoop would land on my tray before I even asked.
Thalis vary wildly by region. In Rajasthan, I often found richer curries and breads; in South India, rice, sambar, rasam, and coconut flavors dominate the tray. Some were simple and inexpensive, others felt endless.
If you only have time to try one style of meal in India, make it a thali. It gave me the clearest sense of how varied and generous Indian food culture really is. And if you’re in Udaipur, head straight to Natraj Lodge.
South Indian Masala Dosa
With my six weeks of sampling and taste testing as I backpacked through India, I ended my trip with several favorite dishes: tomato aubergine curry, palak paneer, and bhel puri (it’s the crunchy—I love the crunch thingies!).
My cousin, also a vegetarian (how ideal was that!), was mildly obsessed with South Indian dosas. And when they’re good, they are incredibly tasty. I liked dosas, though I never became quite as obsessed as my cousin.
If the thali looks amazing, a dosa is a spectacle in its own right: a crispy layer covering a variety of tasty fillings—most commonly, a spiced potato mixture. Though the paper-thin crispiness of the exterior is a dosa’s hallmark, its true versatility shines through in the many fillings and accompanying chutneys and dips it can be served with.
I originally thought dosas were mostly dinner food, but in South India they showed up morning, noon, and night.
Street vendors, casual eateries, and upscale restaurants alike offer them throughout the day if you’re in the south. If you’re in places like Chennai or Bangalore, head to popular breakfast joints to kickstart your day with a dosa.
Dosa menus can be expansive, featuring various types from the classic ‘Masala Dosa’ filled with spiced potatoes to innovative variations like ‘Rava Dosa’ made from semolina or the protein-packed ‘Pesarattu’ made of green gram.
If your dosa is accompanied by a small bowl of a white, creamy substance, that’s the coconut chutney—a sidekick that’s light, cooling, and designed to balance out the dish. It can either intensify the flavors of your dosa or provide a soothing contrast, especially if you’ve ventured into spicier territory.
Curd, Lassi, and Dairy
The dairy in India surprised me, with its flavor profile and texture making it markedly different from what I was accustomed to elsewhere. Fresh curd is a morning ritual at most restaurants and eateries. If you’re an early bird like me, you might find yourself in the unique situation of waiting for that curd delivery to arrive, a fresh batch heralding the start of a new day.
Curd vs Yogurt
Curd showed up constantly during my travels in India—at breakfast tables, alongside spicy meals, blended into drinks, or spooned over rice.
At first I assumed it was just yogurt by another name, but it tasted noticeably different from the yogurt I grew up eating in the United States. Indian curd is often softer, tangier, and less sweet, especially when it’s made fresh in homes or small restaurants.
In the heat, it also became one of my favorite ways to cool down after a spicy meal.
I still remember waiting one morning at a guesthouse while the owner told us the fresh curd “wasn’t ready yet.” That tiny delay somehow made the whole breakfast feel more local and memorable.
If you order a thali or eat at family-run restaurants, chances are good you’ll encounter curd constantly—even if you don’t specifically seek it out.
Indian Curds
Pairing curd with a fruit salad is an unparalleled treat. The quality of fresh fruit in India lends itself beautifully to this dairy delight. However, a word to the wise: exercise caution when consuming raw fruits. Skip unskinned apples and grapes, as they’re susceptible to contamination from local water, which will make you sick if you’re unaccustomed to the local water (if you’re a traveler, spoiler alert: you’re not accustomed).
Curd also shows up alongside meals in the form of raita, a cooling yogurt-based side dish often mixed with cucumber and spices. I especially appreciated it with spicier curries and thalis—it cuts the heat and balances the meal beautifully.
Lassi: India’s Famous Yogurt Drink
I drank lassis constantly in India. Contrary to the misconception that it’s a ‘tourist-only’ beverage, lassi is a household staple. I watched families, couples, and chatting men slurp down a delicious yogurt lassi drink with their meals.
Made from yogurt, water, and sometimes spices and fruits, it’s a drink enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
After spicy meals and long hot travel days, I understood quickly why people drank lassis constantly.
And really, the lassi is an easy addition to any meal; most restaurants offer the drink, and since you can’t drink tap water, you might as well order something delicious!
I most often opted for the traditional and refreshingly simple “sweet lassi.” But then a rare find in Pushkar produced the Makhania lassi; it’s infused with saffron extract, almond extract, cardamom, and rose. Then it’s topped with cashews, pistachios, pomegranate seeds, pine nuts, and a sprinkle of coconut.
My mouth waters at the memory. In fact, I have made it using this Makhaniya Lassi recipe back home and it’s stellar. Plan on sampling these drinks widely and try the unique and fun flavors offered in various regions and cities.
Paneer Tikka and Paneer Tikka Masala
Paneer tikka masala became one of my reliable “I know this will hit the spot” meals while traveling around India.
Chunks of paneer are marinated, cooked in a tandoor or over high heat, then served in a rich tomato-based sauce that’s smoky, creamy, and usually a little buttery. The contrast between the charred edges of the paneer and the softer sauce is what makes the dish work so well.
It’s also one of the dishes that varies enormously from restaurant to restaurant. Some versions leaned heavily into cream and sweetness, while others had more spice and a deeper tomato flavor.
I found myself ordering it most often on travel days when I was tired and wanted something familiar and filling. Paired with naan and a cold lassi, it was basically my comfort-food order across North India.
And unlike some dishes that felt built for tourists, paneer tikka masala was something I saw plenty of Indian families eating too—which usually felt like a good sign.
Malai Kofta
Malai kofta quickly became one of the dishes I ordered whenever I wanted something comforting and a little indulgent.
The dish is made from soft fried dumplings—usually potato and paneer—served in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. It’s heavier than many everyday Indian dishes, but that’s part of why I love it.
I especially loved scooping up the sauce with garlic naan, which I ordered almost embarrassingly often across India.
Like many North Indian dishes, versions varied wildly from place to place. Some restaurants leaned sweeter and creamier, while others added more spice and depth. I rarely had two that tasted exactly alike.
It’s probably not the dish I’d recommend for your very first meal in India on a scorching hot afternoon, but on cooler evenings or long travel days, it was exactly what I wanted.
Indian Breads (And My Garlic Naan Problem)
I ate an unreasonable amount of bread in India.
Before traveling there, naan was basically the only Indian bread I knew. Then suddenly there were dozens of variations appearing on tables across the country—roti, paratha, chapati, dosa, bhatura, puri, and more.
And yet, despite all those options, I repeatedly ordered garlic naan whenever I had the chance.
Fresh naan arriving at the table still puffed from the tandoor is hard to beat. Slightly blistered, brushed with butter, and warm enough to tear apart with your hands—it became one of those foods I craved constantly while backpacking around India.
That said, some of my favorite breads were actually the simpler everyday ones. Chapati showed up everywhere, especially at small local restaurants and family-run spots, while flaky parathas made fillings breakfasts when served alongside chai and pickle.
My cousin became mildly obsessed with dosas in South India and happily planned entire meals around finding good ones. I leaned harder toward the breads best suited for scooping up rich curries—or even just crispy papadams. If you order them, be prepared for an amazing selection of chutneys—I live for Indian chutneys.
One thing I loved about Indian breads is that they rarely felt interchangeable. Different regions favored different styles, and each one changed the meal a little.
Where to Find Traditional Indian Foods
India is an enormous subcontinent and every Indian state and region has its own culture, customs, and food. There may be foods that you have to actively seek out if you want to sample them outside of the region where they’re most commonly found.
You can find dosa throughout India, but it’s not as common in the north, for example, so you’ll need to find a South Indian restaurant. The same is true of some Punjabi specialities—which are among my favorite dishes we tried.
We had nearly two months to explore the menus and flavors of India and I still only sampled a small percentage of India’s most typical foods. Even after two months, I left feeling like I’d barely scratched the surface.
Really enjoyed this roundup of traditional Indian foods from around the world! It’s fascinating how dishes—from comforting dosas to regional favourites you might never see on a restaurant menu—carry so much culture and history with every bite. I love how the post makes you appreciate Indian cuisine’s diversity and the stories behind each dish. Definitely made me want to explore more of these flavours!
btw the food looked yummy
Thanks for the appreciation and love for Indian food :)
Next time you visit India, make sure you land in Bengaluru or Chennai or Hyderabad…
You will be surprised by the range of vegetarian food and especially of dosas….
Also if you visit Karnataka never miss a chance to taste the local breads- Akki Rotti/Jowar Roti/Ragi Roti…
You will definitely love them.
Hey Shannon Great blog though but there are very tasty non veg food also. Have you been to Goa? I would suggest you to explore it to discover immense number of seafood!!!
Thanks for the tip Raja! I actually don’t eat fish (full vegetarian, not pescatarian), but I have friends who raved about Goa’s seafood. :)
Wow!!! This food is so much mouth-watering, also try Karnataka’s special dish surely you will love it!!
Hey, I am so glad to read your post because I love masala dosa and lassi. Ahhhh!!! I finished my meal. But, after reading your post, again I have to eat. Lol! Anyways, The way you explain traditional Indian food is truly awesome.
Glad it resonated! Indian food is also one of my favorite cuisines in the world!
Hey Shannon, The food in India is really awesome, Changes the specialty of foods according to the changes in 200-500 miles.. hehe :). Broadly classified in to 3 areas, North Indian foods, South Indian foods and West Indian Foods. I was automatically changed in to Vegetarian food lover when I was in North India :) . Really delicious Foods, South India is Famous for Sea food and Lake food, the Fish Curry… It’s really superb!!! , I didn’t visit West India to taste their variety of Foods, but I tasted when I was in Delhi, It was MOMO, very Tasty!
You should also try the fish Curry whenever you find a chance to travel in in Alleppey, Kerala, we can do fishing and cook fish curry with experts in Houseboats.. :)
Hey Shannon, This is great to read that you like our country, Actually there is a lot of dishes you must taste while traveling India. Have you been to Kerala before? Actually I am from Kerala and I can’t even express you, the feeling that I have when it comes to food. Kerala also have huge varieties of foods including Kerala Sadya. When ever you plan to kerala do not forget to have appam, sadya, special malabar snacks etc.
I have not yet been to Kerala and I deeply would love to explore the area and the food especially! Thank you for the recommendations, you can be sure that I have noted them down and will certainly try each one when I make it to southern India! :)
It is with a very broad smile that I read this entry. I can't actually stop smiling. It feels so nice that all the people here had nice experience with the humble Indian cuisine. It is a matter of immense happiness for a local like me. I too, like Mary, am brought up in the deep South and yes, the taste of local food there is exotic. I have been to Udaipur a couple of years ago. Dinner at Natraj restaurant was a mouth-watering treat. I like to share my blog here.
http://creativefactory.blogspot.com
The food in India is truly one of those things that I wax poetic about – and
the southern food, oh so delicious. I truly have not met a single traveler
who does not rave about the eating experience in India – like the people it
is varied and completely unique.
I remember that I was so hesitant before to try Indian cuisine but I changed right after I had some. Its the thought of trying the unknown that got me scared.
I dream about Indian food – it's hands down a fav! :-) Glad you had the
guts to try it!
I dream about Indian food – it's hands down a fav! :-) Glad you had the
guts to try it!
I remember that I was so hesitant before to try Indian cuisine but I changed right after I had some. Its the thought of trying the unknown that got me scared.
Thali's are our favorite too. I love how the food just keeps on coming. More scoops of rice, more curries, more anything you want. I am always overstuffed when leaving the restaurant. People say that you lose weight in India, Dave and I gained weight!!! (yep, we are a little on the piggy side:) I can't get enough of paneer.
I am right there with you on the gaining weight…at least I did until I
started getting sick regularly – perhaps that's why everyone says they lose
weight too! So perhaps it's a sign you guys are doing well on that front
:-)
I am right there with you on the gaining weight…at least I did until I
started getting sick regularly – perhaps that's why everyone says they lose
weight too! So perhaps it's a sign you guys are doing well on that front
:-)
Thali's are our favorite too. I love how the food just keeps on coming. More scoops of rice, more curries, more anything you want. I am always overstuffed when leaving the restaurant. People say that you lose weight in India, Dave and I gained weight!!! (yep, we are a little on the piggy side:) I can't get enough of paneer.
Mission accomplished then, enjoy dinner. ;-)
I LOVE Indian food, especially Thali!! Have never tried the dosas though, I haven't heard of them until now. Will definitely look out for them next time I eat Indian.
Actually I just wrote a blog about the best countries to visit for vegetarian food lovers, and India is by far number one, the choices are just endless..
Oh man! You definitely need to try a dosa at the next opportunity. I was
traveling w/my cousin and it is her absolutely favorite Indian dish. As for
the vegetarian countries – you are so right, it was pretty fabulous to
travel there and have endless, endless foodie choices. :-)
Chicken Saag. Veggie Samosa. Turka daal. Palak paneer.
Oh my god. I LOVE INDIAN.
Any other questions?
With you on the palak paneer – with all that I have tried, I still come back
to it as my fav too :-) Your carnivorous self is on your own with the
Chicken Saag – blech ;-)
With you on the palak paneer – with all that I have tried, I still come back
to it as my fav too :-) Your carnivorous self is on your own with the
Chicken Saag – blech ;-)
Oh man! You definitely need to try a dosa at the next opportunity. I was
traveling w/my cousin and it is her absolutely favorite Indian dish. As for
the vegetarian countries – you are so right, it was pretty fabulous to
travel there and have endless, endless foodie choices. :-)
I LOVE Indian food, especially Thali!! Have never tried the dosas though, I haven't heard of them until now. Will definitely look out for them next time I eat Indian.
Actually I just wrote a blog about the best countries to visit for vegetarian food lovers, and India is by far number one, the choices are just endless..
Chicken Saag. Veggie Samosa. Turka daal. Palak paneer.
Oh my god. I LOVE INDIAN.
Any other questions?
So hungry. Waiting for dinner and tummy grumbling extra loud now :)
Mission accomplished then, enjoy dinner. ;-)
So hungry. Waiting for dinner and tummy grumbling extra loud now :)
As soon as I read the post I had a feeling it would be the same place! I remember sitting upstairs at Natraj's as the only foreigner there as well and loving every minute…two, three, four servings…I couldn't stop!
What a fabulous post… I love Indian food and I'm happy that it seems to be going more mainstream in many cities. Where I grew up in the states (deep south), you were considered sort of weird if you liked it.
The spices are really good for you
I'm not from the particularly deep south, but I definitely know what you
mean – there are still not a lot of great choices for Indian restaurants in
the places that I have lived in Florida – some of my “home” friends would be
perfectly mystified if I suggested going for Indian! :-)
I'm not from the particularly deep south, but I definitely know what you
mean – there are still not a lot of great choices for Indian restaurants in
the places that I have lived in Florida – some of my “home” friends would be
perfectly mystified if I suggested going for Indian! :-)
I hear you – it's after writing these entries that I decided that Indian
foods were top on my list of restaurants to find when I was in NYC these
past couple days! You're lucky to live in a big city with a lot of great
choices!! :-)
Thanks for the correction – I had no idea. One of the restaurants in the
north told us we couldnt order a dosa because the Tandoor oven was down!
Chalk that up to being a tourist I guess :-)
All of those curries you describe sound absolutely amazing – I am a sucker
for any of the coconut curries and dishes, so you have certainly given a few
fantastic ones for me to add to my list for next time I'm in the country!
I'll have to keep a keen eye out for the Ishtoo if I'm in any more homey
environments. Thanks again for the feedback, you have me excited to get back
to India and try some new dishes :-)
I completely agree on the South Indian dishes, although I didn't make it to
the south, so I am sure that there were a bunch of specialties that I missed
out on. When I get back to India I definitely starting the exploration in
the south :-) Those crispy dosas and street samosas are just too alluring –
hope you found a good substitute for lunch in South America! :-)
That is EXACTLY the one!! I love that you went there too – it was one of my
fav foodie experiences in India becuase I was absolutely the only Westerner
there :-)
Will have to add the Gujarati thali to my list of things to try when I get
back to India – I am with you on the India longing, pondering how soon I can
get back over there… :-)
What a fabulous post… I love Indian food and I'm happy that it seems to be going more mainstream in many cities. Where I grew up in the states (deep south), you were considered sort of weird if you liked it.
The spices are really good for you
I'm lucky, Vancouver offers many types of Indian cuisine. I've tried dosas and thalis. Ooh, those pics are making my mouth water.
I hear you – it's after writing these entries that I decided that Indian
foods were top on my list of restaurants to find when I was in NYC these
past couple days! You're lucky to live in a big city with a lot of great
choices!! :-)
Actually Dosas are not cooked in the tandoor (a relatively recent introduction to the south) but on either a griddle top or a 'tawa', a flat, usually cast iron (but nowadays often nonstick) pan. Much like a crepe!
As for favorites, I love avial (which you might have in the thali there, it's a dry coconut and vegetable curry) and pumpkin curry. But my favorite dish of all must be vellayappam and ishtoo. Vellayappam is like a hybrid of a dosa and idli – the batter is fermented overnight and is slightly sweeter than either dosa or idli, it's cooked in a special curve bottomed pan. Ishtoo is the simplest curry – potatoes, onions, a chili pepper, salt and coconut milk, simmered in a clay pot. You'd rarely find it in a restaurant, but it's the most wonderful and comforting food.
Thanks for the correction – I had no idea. One of the restaurants in the
north told us we couldnt order a dosa because the Tandoor oven was down!
Chalk that up to being a tourist I guess :-)
All of those curries you describe sound absolutely amazing – I am a sucker
for any of the coconut curries and dishes, so you have certainly given a few
fantastic ones for me to add to my list for next time I'm in the country!
I'll have to keep a keen eye out for the Ishtoo if I'm in any more homey
environments. Thanks again for the feedback, you have me excited to get back
to India and try some new dishes :-)
You don't happen to be talking about Natraj's restaurant in Udaipur??? I love their thalis! Although the best I've ever had were in Ahmedabad. A Gujarati thali is my favorite meal on the planet…
Why do I have to be so far away from India right now?! Ahhhh!!
That is EXACTLY the one!! I love that you went there too – it was one of my
fav foodie experiences in India becuase I was absolutely the only Westerner
there :-)
Will have to add the Gujarati thali to my list of things to try when I get
back to India – I am with you on the India longing, pondering how soon I can
get back over there… :-)
As soon as I read the post I had a feeling it would be the same place! I remember sitting upstairs at Natraj's as the only foreigner there as well and loving every minute…two, three, four servings…I couldn't stop!
I should not have clicked on this before lunch! Most Indian restaurants in the United States and Europe focus on northern Indian dishes that are usually creamy, heavy curries. But, after traveling through India our favorite meals were thalis, dosas and snack food (e.g., samosa chaat). We are always on the lookout now for southern Indian restaurants when we travel but the dosas never seem to be the same.
I completely agree on the South Indian dishes, although I didn't make it to
the south, so I am sure that there were a bunch of specialties that I missed
out on. When I get back to India I definitely starting the exploration in
the south :-) Those crispy dosas and street samosas are just too alluring –
hope you found a good substitute for lunch in South America! :-)
I'm lucky, Vancouver offers many types of Indian cuisine. I've tried dosas and thalis. Ooh, those pics are making my mouth water.
Actually Dosas are not cooked in the tandoor (a relatively recent introduction to the south) but on either a griddle top or a 'tawa', a flat, usually cast iron (but nowadays often nonstick) pan. Much like a crepe!
As for favorites, I love avial (which you might have in the thali there, it's a dry coconut and vegetable curry) and pumpkin curry. But my favorite dish of all must be vellayappam and ishtoo. Vellayappam is like a hybrid of a dosa and idli – the batter is fermented overnight and is slightly sweeter than either dosa or idli, it's cooked in a special curve bottomed pan. Ishtoo is the simplest curry – potatoes, onions, a chili pepper, salt and coconut milk, simmered in a clay pot. You'd rarely find it in a restaurant, but it's the most wonderful and comforting food.
You don't happen to be talking about Natraj's restaurant in Udaipur??? I love their thalis! Although the best I've ever had were in Ahmedabad. A Gujarati thali is my favorite meal on the planet…
Why do I have to be so far away from India right now?! Ahhhh!!
I should not have clicked on this before lunch! Most Indian restaurants in the United States and Europe focus on northern Indian dishes that are usually creamy, heavy curries. But, after traveling through India our favorite meals were thalis, dosas and snack food (e.g., samosa chaat). We are always on the lookout now for southern Indian restaurants when we travel but the dosas never seem to be the same.