Pratik Hans

Bhubaneswar, also referred to as the city of temples, has become a foodie’s paradise. The number of food outlets has grown from 1.5 lakh in the 1990s to close to 10 lakh in just 30 years. From the top American fast food chains to local restaurants serving Chinese and Italian; from north and south Indian dishes to delicious local Odia cuisines, you will find everything inside this smart city. 

The locals here opt for pure vegetarian food on certain days of the week. However, more than 90% of the population is not vegetarian. But this did not stop some pure vegetarian restaurants from operating successfully for decades.

Finding a pure vegetarian restaurant over here is not always an easy job. While you can find delicious vegetarian food in many of the top restaurants, today we focus on places that only provide vegetarian cuisine. Interestingly, the world’s largest kitchen is located at the Jagannath temple in Puri, where food is cooked without the use of onions, garlic, or potatoes. The cuisine of Odisha has its own vegetarian tale.

Some famous vegetarian dishes of Odisha

The famous local street food of Odisha, which has now gained international recognition as aloo dum dahi vada, provides a livelihood to thousands of families in Bhubaneswar. You will find a vendor on almost every street in the city, and locals prefer this food on hot, sunny days. March 1st is celebrated as Aludum Dahivada Day.

Similarly, another local dish rarely found elsewhere in the world, called dahi pakhala, is also getting nationwide recognition and is also preferred during the hot lunch hours. The 20th of March is celebrated as Pakhala Diwas.

Another popular vegetarian dish in Odisha is dalma. And who can leave out the all-famous sweet rasgulla? And last but not least, Odisha’s very own cheesecake, the chena poda!

So, yes, one can easily and happily survive only on vegetarian food during their stay in Bhubaneswar. So much so that some items can become your all-time favourites or regulars at your tables. A returning customer means a happy customer. You will often find revisitors in these locations, thanks to the quality of the food, the family-friendly ambience, the manners and time efficiency of the staff, and also the value for what you are paying.

Let’s take a look at the top five vegetarian restaurants in Bhubaneswar.

1. Hare Krishna Restaurant 

Address: Lalchand Market Complex, Janpath, Kharabela Nagar, Bhubaneswar 751001, OD

Must haves: Paneer butter masala, navratana korma, fried rice, Indian breads

Price: Approximately Rs 600 for 2 persons

Meals offered: Lunch and dinner

Hare Krishna serves food without the use of onions and garlic. Centrally located near the railway station, the place has the perfect ambience for families. You will find a number of foreign and domestic tourists in this place. It serves Indian and Chinese cuisine. It also provides a number of starters, including tandoori options. Hare Krishna Restaurant has a number of hand sculptures and patachitras of Krishna. Together with the soothing music, you are bound to have a peaceful time.

2. Venus Inn Restaurant

Address: 7R4P+M9R, Bapuji Nagar Main St, Bapuji Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751009

Meals offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Price: Approximately Rs 300 for 2 persons

Venus Inn is the oldest existing South Indian restaurant in the city. Established in 1980, the restaurant also serves a number of Indian and Chinese cuisines. Located in Bapuji Nagar, the ground floor is entirely dedicated to selling sweets and other snacks. The main restaurant is on the second floor, with a simple yet elegant decor. It is famous for having more than 50 varieties of dosas on its menu. Other South Indian dishes are also quite tasty and authentic. It also has a thali system, where food is served on a banana leaf. 

For the last 30 years, every single day has produced packed tables. Yet the seating is comfortable, and the staff is efficient. The service time is what is most impressive. One can enjoy breakfast with various South Indian options like dosas, uttapam, vada, and idli. Or go for some samosas and chole-bhature. South Indian is served throughout the day. In-house sweets like rasmalai are also a must-try. Do not forget to try the filter coffee after your perfect meal.

3. Truptee Restaurant

Address: 67, Buddha Nagar, Kalpana Chowk, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751006

Plot No. 157, Unit 4, Madhusudan Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751022

Bivab Gulmohar, Nuasahi, Nayapalli, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751012

Meals offered: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Price: Approximately Rs 500 for 2 persons

You will be pleasantly surprised by the variety of dishes that Truptee has to offer. It also has a number of starters, salads, sandwiches, Indian curries, South Indian dishes, etc. It also provides lassis and smoothies, which are usually in high demand during lunch hours in the summer. The place is also a perfect spot for breakfast with its varieties of parathas and South Indian cuisine. Truptee has opened a couple of more branches in the city after the success of the original place. What is impressive is that even with the list of orders and demand it gets every day, the staff is so well trained that every single order is taken care of without any error. This makes people fall in love with this place, as they not only get lip-smacking vegetarian dishes, but the service is also top-notch, especially considering the hundreds of customers it gets on a daily basis.

4. Jugaad Junction

Address: KIIT Rd., Opposite SBI, Patia, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751024

Price: Approximately Rs 250 for 2 persons

Jugaad Junction is one of the more pocket-friendly places in the city, with a beautiful ambience. The lighting and seating will win your hearts. It is famous for its variety of street foods as well as some thali options. From raj-kachori, papdi chats, golgappas, and chole bhatures to pav bhajis, you will find it all here. The customised thali option will satisfy all your cravings within your budget. Veg pulao, shahi paneer, dal makhani, lachha parathas, and gulab jamuns are some common items you will find in your veg thali. The place and ambience attract the youth of the city, making it a perfect hangout place to enjoy one of the city’s finest kesar chais. 

5. Satvik by Varenya’S

Address: The Pinnacle, Plot 7, Unit 8, Near D.A.V. School, Nayapalli, Surya Nagar, Bhubaneswar

Price: Approximately Rs 600 for 2 persons

The Rajasthani and South Indian thalis are a major attraction; the food is served on banana leaf during lunch hours. The restaurant provides one of the best dessert menus; kaju pista apple and baked rasgulla are a must-try. It also provides a number of tandoori starters. Indian curries and Chinese cuisine are also up to par. It provides a variety of dosas and other South Indian dishes for breakfast.