The index
Jain food by city
Where to eat no onion, no garlic food in 442 cities across 12 countries — fully-Jain kitchens, pure veg restaurants, and ordinary places that will cook without root vegetables if you ask. Pick a city to see what people have actually managed to order there.
New to this? Read what counts as Jain food first.
USA
United States
India
Canada
Japan
Hong Kong
Australia
Singapore
Indonesia
United Kingdom
Italy
United Arab Emirates
Common questions about eating Jain
What is Jain food?
Jain food excludes all meat, fish and eggs, and also excludes root vegetables — onion, garlic, potato, carrot, beetroot, radish and ginger — because harvesting a root kills the whole plant and the organisms in the soil around it. It follows the principle of Ahimsa, or non-violence. Honey and some fermented foods are usually avoided too.
Is Jain food the same as vegetarian or vegan?
No. A pure vegetarian kitchen still cooks with onion, garlic and potato, and a vegan kitchen still uses all of them. Jain food is stricter on root vegetables than either, but unlike vegan food it does allow dairy. This is why 'pure veg' on a restaurant sign is not a guarantee that you can eat there.
Can I get Jain food at a restaurant that isn't Jain?
Often yes. Most kitchens can leave out onion and garlic if you ask before the dish is started, though it depends on whether the base gravy or stock is made fresh. Of the 1,489 places in this directory, most are ordinary restaurants that will customise rather than dedicated Jain kitchens. Our guide on how to order Jain food covers the phrases that work.
How do I find Jain food when I'm travelling?
Pick your destination from the city list on this page. Each city page shows which kitchens are fully Jain, which are pure veg, and which will cook to order — plus notes from other travellers on what to actually order. The directory currently covers 442 cities across 12 countries.