Vegetarian Indian food is not an afterthought on our menu. At our West End restaurant on Charing Cross Road, there are vegetarian starters, tandoori dishes, a full list of vegetable specials, a thali and meat-free versions of every one of our traditional curries. You can eat very well without touching meat or fish.
Here is a guide to the best of it, course by course.
Vegetarian starters
Start with something crisp and something from the tandoor.
- Onion Bhajee and Chutney: crispy onion fritters with aromatic spices and house chutney.
- Hara Bhara Kebab: crispy spinach, pea and potato patties with delicate Indian spices.
- Paneer Tikka: yoghurt-and-spice marinated paneer, cooked in the tandoor.
- Vegetable Samosa Chaat: samosas, chickpeas, yoghurt, chutneys and fresh garnish.
- Chilli Paneer or Paneer 65: crispy paneer with plenty of chilli, for anyone who likes a bit of heat early on.
If you want something from the grill as a main, Paneer Shashlik (paneer with peppers, red onion and tomato, chargrilled) and Tandoori Mixed Vegetables both come from the tandoor.
Vegetable specials worth ordering
Our vegetable special section is where vegetarians have the most choice. A few standouts:
- Dall Makhani: subtle smoky lentils with a creamy finish and gentle spice. Rich and comforting.
- Saag Paneer: paneer with spinach in a creamy, savoury sauce.
- Paneer Butter Masala: paneer in a rich, smooth and creamy butter masala sauce. The vegetarian answer to butter chicken.
- Gobi Manchurian: crispy cauliflower with vegetables in a savoury Indo-Chinese sauce.
- Chana Masala: chickpeas with garlic, onions, tomatoes and lime in a medium-spiced sauce.
- Bhindi Bhaji: green okra cooked with onions, butter and medium spices.
There is plenty more: Tarka Dall, Saag Dall, Bombay Aloo, Saag Aloo, Aloo Gobi, Brinjal Bhaji, Mushroom Bhaji and Mixed Vegetables. Ordering two or three of these to share, with rice and bread, makes a full and varied meal.
Paneer in the traditional curries
Every one of our Indian traditional dishes can be made with paneer. That means a creamy Korma, a Sagwala with fresh spinach and garlic, a Bhuna, a tangy Pathia, a hot Madras or Jalfrezi, and even an extremely hot Phall are all open to vegetarians. Paneer soaks up sauce beautifully, so it works across the whole range of heat.
The Vegetable Thali
If you would rather not choose, the Vegetable Thali brings a selection together: onion pakora, veg samosa, mixed vegetable curry, sag aloo, dall tarka, pilau rice, naan and raita. It is a good way to try several dishes in one sitting, and a useful order for anyone eating on their own.
There is also a Vegetable Biryani and a Paneer Tikka Biryani, both made with basmati rice.
Breads, rice and sides
Round the meal off with breads and rice. Plain Naan, Butter Naan, Garlic or Kulcha Naan, Cheese Naan, Chilli Naan and Peshwari Naan are all meat-free, as are Paratha, Aloo Paratha, Tandoori Roti and Chapati. For rice, choose from Pilau Rice, Lemon Rice, Mushroom Rice, Coconut Rice, Garlic Rice and Zeera Rice, and add Raita or an Onion Salad for something cool and fresh. Just skip the Keema Naan and Keema Rice, which are made with minced meat.
Vegetarian, vegan and allergies
Many of our vegetable dishes use dairy, such as paneer, butter, cream or yoghurt, so vegetarian does not always mean vegan. If you are vegan, our guide to vegan Indian food is the place to start, and please ask us when you order.
Please tell us about allergies when you book. Our kitchen handles nuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, fish, shellfish, soya and sesame.
For more on how to build a balanced order, see our guide on how to order Indian food, or browse our full menu.
Vegetarian options for groups
Our group set menu gives every guest the Maharaja Mixed Starter, one main, pilau rice and plain naan, and vegetarian choices are available. Option A, the Classic, includes two paneer mains, Paneer Butter Masala and Paneer Chilli Masala, alongside favourites such as Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken. All guests in a party dine from the same option, so it is an easy way to feed a mixed table of vegetarians and meat eaters without anyone missing out.
Planning a meal for a mixed group? Book a table for our group set menu and let us know how many vegetarians are in your party, along with any allergies, when you book.
