2026
Top Dharamkot Vegetarian Places
This is not a 2–3 day visit, nor is it a two-dish review based on the top results for "vegetarian restaurants near me" on Google. This comes from a vegetarian who has lived in Dharamshala — including McLeod Ganj, Bhagsu, and Dharamkot — for more than 730 days. It is shaped by conversations with vegetarians, vegans, and people with different dietary preferences, as well as by the experiences of fellow travellers. And if you understand that most travellers are looking for local things to try, then let's head to the heaven of home-cooked food — a place run by a local family.
Pinku family place.
a local guy who simply loves to cook. And when I say "home-cooked," I mean food literally cooked in his home. The place is famous for its ₹150 veg thali, which includes fresh dal and sabji that change every other day, along with two rotis, rice, and dahi. Still, one thing that a few people didn't like was the presence of flies near his open kitchen. Therefore, if you are particularly concerned about hygiene, have a low tolerance for such conditions, or have health issues, you may want to avoid this place. However, if that isn't a concern for you, you can try their aloo paratha, coconut lassi, and paneer dishes, which are served in generous portions at affordable prices. And speaking of chai, you know how every place has its specialty? Pinku's tea is just tea—simple and comforting. But there is another place that serves a truly unique tea. In fact, I've seen people bring their hostel friends there specifically to introduce them to that tea:
Mowgli Cafe.
Mowgli Cafe is more of a kitchen than a cafe, run by an Andhra guy named Sannath. He fell in love with Dharamkot and wanted to stay, so he started making dosas with peanut chutney instead of the usual sambar. Over time, he expanded the menu and began serving Pulihora (tamarind rice) as well. The funny part about his dosas is that, according to some people from Andhra, they aren't really dosas at all. More than once, I've heard Andhra natives say, "He's not making dosas!" In other words, don't come here expecting authenticity. And yet, people love the place. They come for the famous badam tea—with floating almond pieces and a nutty, almost magical flavor—and they stay for the conversations with Sannath. Now, let's talk about hygiene. The seating is basically inside the kitchen, and Sannath enjoys listening to music while cooking. If I had to rate the hygiene, I'd give it 3 out of 5. But unlike many cafes, you can actually watch him prepare your food, rather than wondering what might be hidden behind closed doors. Regardless of the lack of authenticity or perfect cleanliness, the generous portions, average spending of around ₹90, and Sannath's warm hospitality make this place a favorite among backpackers, students, and anyone looking for good food and even better conversations. Alright, we've had Andhra-style karam dosa. Now it's time to travel about 279 miles southwest—from Andhra to Karnataka—to try a Mysore dosa at:
Mysore cafe.
Opened in 2024, this cafe is located below Packer's in Upper Dharamkot. It serves South Indian food and is run by hosts from Bangalore, Karnataka, who are spending their retirement years doing what they love—serving food. What's remarkable is that even South Indians enjoy the food here. After talking to many people, I realized that this is probably the only vegetarian place in Dharamshala that consistently delivers authentic South Indian flavors. From the filter coffee to the idlis—everything tastes just right. The interesting part? To this day, I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the place. Even the hygiene deserves a solid 4.5 out of 5. And you know, we've talked a lot about hygiene so far, but we've finally reached the end of that discussion. From here onward, we won't be talking much about hygiene, quantity, or prices. Most of the places that follow offer decent portions, average spending of ₹300–500 per meal, and maintain a hygiene standard of around 4.7 out of 5. What makes them different is that they are niche places—vegan, Jain, healthy, and mindful. So, enough about dosas. Let's begin with sattvic Jain food:
Joy Food.
This place is heaven for North Indian vegetarian food. The taste is simple and homely—almost like something your mom would cook. Although they advertise themselves as a Jain cafe, you'll need to specifically ask for no onion and no garlic if that's what you're looking for. Their puri halwa, puri bhaji, upma, dal khichdi, plain halwa, and other Indian dishes are all tasty and freshly prepared. Since the food is cooked fresh, meals arrive at a relaxed pace, giving people more time to enjoy conversations. That's probably one reason why this place is also great for making friends. And now, enough of comfort food. Let's take a trip to Kangra and enter the world of healthy vegan cuisine:
bhodi Greens
The OG vegan spot in Dharamkot is run by a local Kangra guy, Varun—better known around town as Chef Varun. He has built a reputation for creating unique dishes and desserts that contain no dairy, no eggs, and no honey. Many of my friends who are into health, wellness, and veganism genuinely enjoy the food here. They especially praise Chef Varun's homemade tofu, saying it's much softer and creamier than the regular tofu found in markets—almost like paneer in texture.And if you visit, don't miss the Almond Chocolate Mousse and the Mango Cheesecake. Even non-vegans come back for those.
And finally, we've reached the end. Tired, perhaps—but if you're still in the mood to explore, there are a couple more places worth checking out. Try South Cliff, a Kerala-inspired vegetarian cafe, and don't miss their Kozhukatta. Or head to Once in Nature, a vegan cafe that often turns into a party spot, and enjoy their wholesome veg thali. After all, the journey through Dharamkot's vegetarian food scene never really ends. So, if any of these places caught your attention, be sure to check out their complete menus:
Who knows? Your favorite vegetarian meal in Dharamkot might be waiting somewhere on one of those menus.