Karachi, Pakistan’s industrial and financial hub, has recently become a hotspot for authentic Indian vegetarian cuisine, with dishes like ‘soyabean aloo biryani,’ ‘aloo tikkis,’ ‘vada pav,’ ‘masala dosa,’ and ‘dhokla’ gaining popularity. This shift reflects the city’s diverse culinary landscape, which caters to a wide range of tastes and budgets.
The city’s food scene now includes a growing demand for ‘pure vegetarian’ dishes. Mahesh Kumar, owner of Maharaj Karamchand Vegetarian Foods Inn, located in a historic area of M A Jinnah Road, notes the rising popularity of vegetarian fare. “Our Soyabean Aloo Biryani, Aloo Tikkis, Paneer Karahi, and Mixed Vegetables are famous, and we see a lot of rush during lunchtime with many takeaways and deliveries,” Kumar shared. Despite not advertising due to cultural sensitivities, his restaurant remains popular among both Muslim and non-Muslim patrons.
Other parts of Karachi also feature entrepreneurial ventures offering refined Indian vegetarian dishes. Kavita, who started a stall in the Cantt area eight months ago, has seen high demand for her food. She expressed surprise at how meat-loving Karachites have embraced vegetarian options. Her family, alongside Mary Richards, who runs a stall selling ‘dhoklas,’ ‘aam panna,’ and ‘dal samosas,’ has benefitted from this trend.
In Hussainabad, sisters Mahreen and Lubna operate a stall amidst traditional meat-focused eateries. They serve dishes like ‘masala dosa,’ ‘vada pav,’ and ‘pav bhaji,’ learned from their ancestors who migrated post-partition. “People are now eating these dishes because they are inexpensive, tasty, and quick to prepare,” Mahreen noted.
A Muslim Gujarati-speaking family has also been serving masala dosas in Bahadurabad for over fifty years. Zafar, whose father started the stall on a Suzuki van, believes the liberal food preferences of Karachi’s Indian migrants contribute to the popularity of vegetarian dishes.
Upscale establishments like Rajdhani Delight and Nawab Dynasty in Clifton further cater to this growing demand with their “pure vegetarian” and mixed thalis. Jerome Earnest of Rajdhani Delight described their ‘Navratan Vegetarian Thali’ as a popular choice among families, offering a diverse spread of Rajasthani and Gujarati dishes for 1500 rupees.
Food critic Huma Sheikh attributes the increasing interest in Indian vegetarian cuisine to Karachiites’ frequent dining out and willingness to explore new food experiences. She notes that this trend reflects the city’s evolving culinary preferences, with more options now accessible to households across different income levels.
