Vegetarian Restaurants in Kashmir: Where to Eat Pure Veg in Srinagar, Gulmarg and Pahalgam

Last updated: 10 November 2026. By Kashmir Pulse Editorial. Kashmir Pulse is Via Kashmir's editorial channel, written by our team in Srinagar.

Kashmir is famous for wazwan, a feast built almost entirely on mutton, so vegetarian travellers often arrive worried about what they will eat. They need not be. Srinagar has a handful of pure-vegetarian restaurants that have fed pilgrims, families and tourists for decades, and each of the mountain towns on a normal trip has at least one vegetarian kitchen. This guide lists the ones that are well known and consistently recommended, town by town, with what each does best.

One local tip before the list: in Jammu and Kashmir, a restaurant with "Vaishno" in its name (Vaishno Dhaba, Vaishno Bhojnalaya) is a pure-vegetarian place, a naming custom that comes from the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Inside Srinagar, these dhabas cluster around Dalgate, at the southern end of Dal Lake.

Best vegetarian restaurants in Srinagar

Krishna Vaishno Dhaba, Durganag near Dalgate

Krishna Vaishno Dhaba is the name almost everyone gives you first. It has served vegetarian food in Srinagar for more than 80 years, in a lane by the Durganag temple a few minutes' walk from Dalgate. The menu is simple North Indian dhaba food: thalis, dal, paneer dishes, rotis and, most famously, rajma chawal, which regulars describe as the best they have eaten. It also makes a few South Indian and Gujarati dishes. Mornings are calm; evenings get crowded, so expect to share a table.

Vishal Vaishno Dhaba, next to Krishna Dhaba

Vishal Vaishno Dhaba stands right next door and is the other half of Srinagar's best-known vegetarian corner. The menu runs from North Indian to South Indian and Gujarati dishes, and some regulars prefer its taste and service to Krishna's. It is a good choice if you want a dosa or a Jain preparation; ask when you order.

Amritsar Haveli, Bishember Nagar, Munawarabad

Amritsar Haveli is a newer arrival in Bishember Nagar, Munawarabad, carrying the name of the well-known Amritsari vegetarian restaurant. Its draw is the Amritsari thali, kulcha and a tall glass of lassi, in a family-friendly dining room. It is the closest thing in Kashmir to a proper Amritsari meal.

Gulab Sweets and Restaurant, Sonwar

Gulab Sweets and Restaurant in Sonwar, near the Boulevard, is a pure-vegetarian multi-cuisine restaurant with a sweet shop. The Tribune reported how it found an audience in "the land of wazwan": locals use it as a break from heavy meat meals, and tourists for a familiar vegetarian menu and Indian sweets.

Kake Di Hatti, Khayam Chowk

Kake Di Hatti at Khayam Chowk, next to Hotel Royal Batoo, serves vegetarian Punjabi food. Reviewers single out the thali and the naan. Service can be slow at busy times, but the food is the reason people come back.

Papa Leaf, Lal Chowk

Papa Leaf is a pure-vegetarian option in the Lal Chowk area, useful if you are shopping on Residency Road or Polo View and want a vegetarian meal without going back to Dalgate.

Vegetarian restaurants in Gulmarg

Bakshi Restaurant, in the main market near the police station, is Gulmarg's classic vegetarian stop and has cooked homely vegetarian and Jain food for about 40 years. Order the paneer chaman (paneer in a Kashmiri gravy), dum aloo or rajma. A few steps away, Pandit Brothers Vegetarian Dhaba is a simple, inexpensive pure-veg dhaba that also cooks for Jain guests.

On a day trip, eat before you queue for the gondola or after you come down: the restaurants by the base station are mostly mixed menus. In snow season the market can close early, so plan lunch, not a late dinner.

Related reading: Kashmiri Monji Haak: The Kohlrabi Green That Anchors the Valley Kitchen

Vegetarian restaurants in Pahalgam

Dana Pani, on Chandanwari Road near the taxi stand, is Pahalgam's best-known pure-vegetarian restaurant, cooking Punjabi food; the dal tadka is the dish people mention. Call ahead if you need Jain food. On the main street, Nathu's Rasoi is a well-known vegetarian place, especially for breakfast; it gets crowded at peak times.

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Vegetarian food in Sonamarg

Sonamarg has very few vegetarian restaurants. The one most travellers find is Dogra Vaishno Bhojnalaya, a pure-veg bhojnalaya serving dal fry and rajma chawal. Prices are higher than in Srinagar, as everything is in Sonamarg. On a Sonamarg day trip, many vegetarian families eat breakfast in Srinagar and carry snacks for the meadow.

Related reading: Kashmiri Doon Chetin: The Walnut Chutney That Defines the Valley Table

All the vegetarian restaurants at a glance

Hours and menus change with the season. Each name above opens Google Maps, where you can check today's hours and recent reviews before you go. We list these places for your convenience; none of them pays us and we take no commission.

Jain food in Kashmir

Jain meals are possible but need planning. Vishal Vaishno Dhaba in Srinagar and Bakshi Restaurant and Pandit Brothers in Gulmarg are the places most often recommended for Jain food. Say clearly what to leave out: Kashmiri and North Indian kitchens use potatoes, onions, garlic and other root vegetables freely. Interestingly, traditional Kashmiri Pandit cooking uses no onion or garlic at all, flavouring with asafoetida, fennel and dry ginger, so some Kashmiri vegetarian dishes are closer to Jain food than you might expect. Read more in our guide to Kashmiri Pandit cooking.

Vegetarian meals at hotels and houseboats

Most travellers eat breakfast and dinner where they stay, so the hotel kitchen matters more than any restaurant. Almost every hotel and houseboat that hosts tourists cooks North Indian vegetarian food daily: dal, a paneer or vegetable curry, rice and roti. Houseboat cooks will make simple vegetarian meals if you tell them a day ahead. When you book a Kashmir tour package or a houseboat with us, mention vegetarian or Jain meals and we confirm with each kitchen before we quote.

Kashmiri vegetarian dishes worth one meal

Even if you stick to familiar food, try one Kashmiri vegetarian meal: dum aloo (small potatoes in a red gravy), chaman (paneer in turmeric or red gravy), nadru yakhni (lotus stem in yoghurt), haak (collard greens) with rice, and Kashmiri rajma. Finish with kahwa, green tea with saffron, cardamom and almonds. Our Kashmiri vegetarian cuisine guide explains each dish, and the Srinagar street food guide covers vegetarian snacks such as masala tchot and bakery breads.

Tips for vegetarian travellers in Kashmir

• ✓Look for "Vaishno" in the name. It marks a pure-vegetarian restaurant across Jammu and Kashmir.
• ✓Base yourself near Dalgate if vegetarian food matters most: Krishna and Vishal dhabas are a short walk from the Boulevard hotels and Dal Lake houseboats.
• ✓Eat early in winter. From December to February many restaurants in Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg close soon after dark.
• ✓Wazwan is meat by definition. If you are invited to a wazwan, ask your host for vegetarian dishes; many Srinagar restaurants now offer vegetarian substitutes. See what wazwan is.
• ✓Bakery bread is vegetarian. Girda, kulcha and tchot from the kandur (neighbourhood baker) with tea make the everyday Kashmiri breakfast.
• ✓Carry snacks for long days. Sonamarg, Doodhpathri and the Pahalgam valleys have few vegetarian options away from the main market.

Frequently asked questions

Is vegetarian food easily available in Kashmir?

Yes. Srinagar has several long-running pure-vegetarian restaurants, mainly around Dalgate, and Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg each have at least one. Almost all tourist hotels and houseboats cook vegetarian meals every day.

Which is the most famous vegetarian restaurant in Srinagar?

Krishna Vaishno Dhaba near Dalgate, which has served vegetarian food for more than 80 years and is known for its rajma chawal. Vishal Vaishno Dhaba next door is equally popular.

Where can I get Jain food in Kashmir?

Vishal Vaishno Dhaba in Srinagar, and Bakshi Restaurant and Pandit Brothers in Gulmarg, cook Jain meals on request. Tell your hotel in advance and say clearly which ingredients to leave out.

Is there pure vegetarian food in Pahalgam and Sonamarg?

Yes. In Pahalgam, Dana Pani on Chandanwari Road and Nathu's Rasoi in the main market are vegetarian. Sonamarg has fewer choices; Dogra Vaishno Bhojnalaya is the pure-veg option most travellers use.

Can I get South Indian food in Kashmir?

In Srinagar, yes: the vegetarian dhabas near Dalgate, especially Vishal Vaishno Dhaba, serve dosa and other South Indian dishes. In the mountain towns, menus are mostly North Indian.