Did you know that the largest expat population in Dubai is made of Indians? Moreover, millions of Indian tourists visit the city of gold every year by booking Dubai tour packages. To cater to the Indian palette, Dubai is filled with Indian restaurants, including pure vegetarian ones, as a major population of Indians are vegetarians. Among the vegetarians, there is a small population of people who are Jains, followers of Jainism. Jains are not only vegetarians but also do not eat onion, garlic, or any other root vegetables. Most vegetarian restaurants in Dubai offer a Jain menu to cater to the Jain residents as well as tourists in the city. Here we give you all the information you about the best restaurants where you can enjoy Jain food in Dubai.
Veganesha
Opened in 2016 in Dubai’s famous Meena Bazaar, Veganesha is a plant-based restaurant that is known for its vegetarian dishes. The best thing about this restaurant is that apart from Indian dishes, you can also enjoy vegetarian Chinese, Italian, and French cuisines here. One of the specialties of Veganesha is that they customize your orders as per your dietary preferences. So, if you want Jain food, almost all the dishes on the menu would be tailored for you, ensuring that the dishes do not have any onion, garlic, or root vegetables. The décor of the restaurant is stylish, and the place is perfect for enjoying a meal with family and friends.
Must-Try Dishes: Mocktails, chaat, Chinese dishes, fusion-style dishes, special pav bhaji, multi-course thaali, etc.
Location: Meena Bazar
Timing: 10 AM to 12 AM
Price for Two: AED 120
My Govinda’s
My Govinda’s is a vegetarian restaurant with a difference. This is the only Satvik restaurant in this city. In short, My Govinda’s is one of the only no onion no garlic restaurants in Dubai. A family-run restaurant, the focus of My Govinda’s is to serve food that is simple, wholesome, flavorful, and made with fresh ingredients. This is an all-day restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. The menu of the restaurant offers plenty of options, including traditional drinks, chaat, Indian street food, main course, and more. The restaurant offers a huge list of classic Indian mithais for dessert. There are a few Chinese options too. The décor of the restaurant is simple, yet stylish, making dining at My Govinda’s a pleasant experience.
Must-Try Dishes: Chaat platter, panner or mixed vegetable biriyani, thaali, soya based dishes, etc.
Location: Jumeirah Lake Towers and Karama
Timing: 8.30 AM to 11.30 PM
Price for Two: AED 125
Dip Dash Restaurant & Café
If you want to enjoy unique vegetarian and vegan food, Dip Dash Restaurant & Café is the one for you. This vegetarian and vegan restaurant focuses on Asian, Pan Asian, and fusion food cuisines. You will get to enjoy the vegetarian and vegan versions of some of the most internationally acclaimed dishes like bao, sushi, dim sum, and more. And the best part? The restaurant can prepare the Jain version (without onion, garlic, and root vegetables) upon your request. The décor of the restaurant and café is warm, trendy, and cozy, perfect for an informal meal or coffee with your loved ones.
Must-Try Dishes: Vegan sushi rolls, dim sum and bao, Thai curries, Japanese soba noodles, lotus leaf rice, Malaysian bamboo curry, cold-millet pizza, cakes, fudge, etc.
Location: Al Barsha and Social Distrikt (Dubai Mall)
Timing: 11.30 AM to 11 PM
Price for Two: AED 215
Sai Dham Vegetarian Restaurant
Another one of the Indian restaurants in Dubai that serves mouthwatering vegetarian fare is the Sai Dham Vegetarian Restaurant. Established in 2006, this restaurant focuses on serving some of the most delicious North Indian cuisine. The restaurant also caters to Jain patrons by serving most of the dishes on the menu without onion and garlic. In short, it is easy to get your favorite dishes customized as per your requirements at this restaurant. Sai Dham Vegetarian Restaurant is one of the most affordable restaurants in Dubai. The décor of the place is basic, simple, and clean. It is the ideal place to go if you want to enjoy a hearty meal without spending too much.
Must-Try Dishes: Nargisi Kofta, tawa-sabzi, dal khichadi, masala paneer, palak khichdi, masala paneer, and panipuri shots.
Location: Oud Metha
Timing: 10.30 AM to midnight
Price for Two: AED 115
Rasoi Ghar
Rasoi Ghar is one of the Indian vegetarian restaurants in Dubai that serves Gujarati, Kathyawadi, and Rajasthani cuisines. You will get to taste authentic flavors of the northwestern regions of India here. The unique thing about this restaurant is that it serves a 3-course thali, and there is a different menu for each day of the week. Whatever might be the day, the menu begins with a welcome drink, followed by appetizers, main course, and then desserts. Each day, you will get to taste a unique blend of vegetables and spices. The restaurant also caters to those patrons who want to enjoy Jain food. There is a separate Jain menu where you can order food without onion and garlic. Depending on your requirements, you can order Jain Royal Meal Box, Jain Express Delight Box, and Jain Executive Meal Box. The food is served in the traditional, home style in a large plate with small bowls and trays for the different dishes.
Must-Try Dishes: Thali, snacks, starters, Gujarati/Kathyawadi style curries, desserts, and traditional drinks like buttermilk, kesar Chandan sharbat, boondi jaljeera, etc.
Location: Al Karama
Timing: 10 AM to 10 PM
Price for Two: AED 50 to AED 100
Saravana Bhavan
If you are craving for vegetarian South Indian cuisine, Saravana Bhavan should be your first choice. Saravana Bhavan is a chain of restaurants with multiple branches in India and across the world. Dubai itself has several branches of this restaurant. You will get to enjoy all the classic South Indian dishes like Dosas, Idlis, Vada, etc. While Saravana Bhavan does not have a separate Jain menu, dishes would be prepared without onion and garlic if you specify the same at the time of ordering. Saravana Bhavan is a casual dining place, with a simple décor, where flavors are given more importance than style. This is another budget-friendly place to enjoy an authentic vegetarian meal in Dubai.
Must-Try Dishes: Ghee roast masala dosa, coriander chutney, mini idlis, sambhar, and filter coffee
Location: Al Barsha, Oud Metha, Al Karama, etc.
Timing: 7 AM to 11 PM (may vary as per the location)
Price for Two: AED 115
Veg World Restaurant
Another casual dining place in Dubai that offers mouthwatering vegetarian Indian cuisine is Veg World Restaurant. A wide variety of food items await you at this restaurant. The highlights here are the street food snacks and chaat items. The vegetarian thalis are also worth tasting. The best part about Veg World Restaurant is that you get to taste food from different parts of India here. The restaurant serves dishes from cuisines like North Indian, South Indian, Gujarati, Rajasthani, etc., here. Most importantly, you will get the Jain versions of a variety of dishes here, be it starter, chaat, main course, etc.
Must-Try Dishes: Jain paav bhaji, Jain dhokla chaat, Jain tomato chilla, Jain combo boxes, Jain rajma masala, Jain samosa, etc.
Location: Meena Bazaar
Timing: 9 AM to 12 AM
Price for Two: AED 70
Conclusion
Vegetarians, especially those looking for Jain food, generally worry about getting the right food for them during international travel. However, you do not need to worry about the same in Dubai. The city welcomes people from all over the world every year and ensures the right facilities and amenities for everyone, including opening restaurants that cater to different palettes and dietary lifestyles.
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