As a foodie, I’m all the time looking out for vegan, wholesome, natural, ethically-sourced, ideally gluten free, world-inspired meals. Goa is probably the one place in India the place that’s not an excessive amount of to ask for!
Over the previous 10 years of visiting, and the previous 2 years of residing right here, I’ve delightfully witnessed an explosion of vegan eating places in Goa.
I’ve additionally learnt that Goa’s personal Saraswat delicacies has historically been vegan-friendly – and encompasses a scrumptious vary of native dishes and flavors.
Finest vegan eating places in Goa – My present prime 4
Since I started frequenting Goa within the monsoon means again in 2013, I’ve fallen in love with many cozy cafes, hole-in-the-wall thali joints, and tremendous(r) eating spots. Maybe the largest problem for a vegan in Goa is that there’s an ever-growing alternative of locations to strive.
Cantine Indienne – Palolem, South Goa (all vegan)
Cantine Indienne is a country, totally vegan, farm-to-table, values-oriented cafe in Palolem. The meals is so scrumptious that we *virtually* moved to South Goa simply to have the ability to eat there on a regular basis!
The French-Tamil house owners, Manon and Satish, develop natural oyster mushrooms of their yard (sure!), and serve up scrumptious, home made thalis that includes an eclectic tackle the flavors of Tanjore. Suppose pesserattu (inexperienced mung dosa), beetroot curry, oyster mushroom pickles, wild spinach and horsegram stir fry, and even crunchy oyster mushroom ‘wings!’ My mouth’s watering simply typing this.
Instagram: Cantine Indienne
Tien – Vagator, North Goa
Sushi spots are popping up throughout Goa, however none can compete with Tien – the second outlet by sushi chef Abhishek Thakkar.
He lately revamped the sushi menu to experiment with salad sushis – and OMFG, they’re unbelievable! I by no means imagined I’d like rocket leaves in my sushi, however I may return each week to devour the Magic Mushroom maki roll.
There are solely 2 vegan sushis on the menu, and a 3rd one – an avocado, edamame roll might be made vegan on request.
Instagram: Tien
The Various – Mandrem, North Goa (all vegan)
In a fantastically restored Goan home and backyard, The Various is a plant-based cafe with a variety of consolation meals – home made kombucha, Center Jap and Mexican bowls, beetroot hummus salad, open sandwiches on home made bread, a poi toastie with vegan cheese, and essentially the most unbelievable darkish chocolate ice cream made out of candy potatoes! Proprietor Jasneet is equally passionate concerning the backyard out entrance, rising contemporary mint, basil and salad leaves for a farm-to-table indulgence.
Chef Arev additionally gives a uncooked vegan menu on the cafe, with hardly ever discovered delights like sun-dried coconut tacos, cauliflower wraps and uncooked desserts.
[Temporarily closed for the monsoon season]
Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia – Raia, South Goa
The extraordinary Goan chef Fernando dug out a few of Goa’s oldest recipes and secrets and techniques for his kitchen. Sadly, he handed away however his legacy lives on on this outdated Portuguese home, largely frequented by locals. The massive vegan / vegetarian Goan choice reassures me that conventional Goan meals isn’t solely about seafood or meat.
My favourite is the ambade curry (made with hog plum or mango if in season), with a facet of the sweetish sanna bread. Oh so good.
Web site: Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia
Vegan Eating places in North Goa
Apart from my evolving prime ones, listed below are some vegan eating places in North Goa (or vegan-friendly ones) that I really like:
Bodhi Greens – Ashwem (all vegan)
Chef Varun, the founding father of Bodhi Greens, began out as an animal rights activist however quickly felt that among the best methods to introduce individuals to veganism is to create entry to unbelievable vegan meals. I’m glad he did, as a result of with shops in Ladakh, Dharamsala and Goa, he’s undoubtedly busting the parable that vegan meals is boring.
Bodhi Greens in Ashwem is the chef’s cozy house terrace, with an elaborate vegan kitchen. The Buddha bowl – with panko-crusted tofu, avocado tahini dip, and veggies in a cashew-peanut sauce – is among the greatest I’ve had! I additionally love their thin-crust teriyaki tempeh pizza, and baked beetroot and kidney bean burger burrito.
With so many progressive choices on the menu and such hearty parts, I’ve by no means made it to dessert. Their uncooked desserts are undoubtedly calling out to me although.
Instagram: Bodhi Greens
Vanakkam – Morjim
Lastly a spot for foodies to hunt an genuine style of South Indian meals in Goa! After a night of figuring out, we frequently feast on ragi puttu with kadala curry (millets and black chickpeas), crispy dosa with home made chutneys, and comfortable masala idlis. Such pleasure.
The native desk – Candolim
This small, rustic, easy-to-miss joint in Candolim lives as much as its title. We dropped by for an early breakfast of patal bhaji (sometimes white or black chickpeas in a spicy coconut-based gravy) and pao. I hope to strive their veg thali quickly!
Web site: The native desk
Izumi – Assagao
A sister outlet of the one in Mumbai and the newest Japanese hang-out in Assagao, Izumi’s partially outside location in a Goan-Portuguese home is breathtaking. And so is the meals, with clearly labelled vegan choices. I really like their miso soup and seaweed salad, although for sushi, I’d choose Tien anyday.
The Rice Mill – Morjim
Jazz with a facet of Goan-style kidney beans or a grilled eggplant poi is why I really like The Rice Mill, a neighborhood cafe and bar set in an outdated rice mill in Morjim.
Instagram: The Rice Mill
Ankita’s Basic – Pernem
A few of my favourite thali joints in Goa have both shut down (Wooden’s Inn) or misplaced their authenticity (Vinayak’s). However Ankita’s Basic, regardless of its random, faraway location in Pernem, stays a basic. It’s full of locals at mealtimes, so be ready to attend round a bit.
Their veg thali is generally vegan (ask for it with out curd or the dessert), and comes with seasonal veggies, curries, rice and kokum. Mighty satisfying.
Web site: Ankita’s Basic
Sakana – Anjuna
Sakana gives a chilled, semi-outdoor, diner-style vibe with an genuine Japanese menu. My go-to order is a wakame seaweed salad, with a veg set consisting of a miso soup, teriyaki tofu (examine which tofu dish might be ready with out honey), rice and salad. Pair it with a Japanese whiskey from their distinctive bar choice!
Sappadu – Assagao
An eclectic mixture of Tamil and Gujarati meals, served up on banana leaves on a flooring seating! I’ve solely been for his or her pop-up meal again when it wasn’t a full-fledged restaurant, however can’t wait to strive it once more.
Voltaire – Closed 🙁
I used to be shattered to listen to that Voltaire, considered one of my favourite Goan meals joints off the Reis Margos Fort, shut down in the course of the pandemic. And determined to incorporate it on this checklist simply as an ode to one of the best uddamethi I’ve had in Goa, served up with an area bread une, and seasonal urakh (an area cashew brew, extra flavorful and fewer potent than fenny).
Vegan eating places in Panjim
Mum’s Kitchen
Mum’s Kitchen is considered one of my favourite vegan eats in Goa, with conventional Saraswat dishes that may in any other case be onerous to seek out. I extremely suggest making an attempt their uddamethi (a candy and bitter curry made with lentils, fenugreek and seasonal mango or plums), tamde bhaji (a flavorful amaranth preparation) with sanna. Keep away from their Assagao outlet – it looks as if a franchise and isn’t half pretty much as good as the unique in Panjim.
Web site: Mum’s kitchen
Gourmestan (a good selection for gluten free eating places in Goa)
Panjim doesn’t have a ton of vegan-friendly locations, however Gourmestan, a brand new addition to town’s meals scene, is price a strive. Vegan dishes are well-marked. I loved their smoothies, tofu akuri on sourdough, and hummus and roasted bell peppers sandwich. It’s additionally one of many few locations (someplace between a restaurant and a restaurant) to seize vegan and gluten free focaccia and burger buns in Goa!
Instagram: Gourmestan
Vegan eating places in South Goa
Cantine Indienne – Palolem (all vegan)
As talked about above, Catine Indienne stays considered one of my favourite locations to eat, not simply in South Goa however all of Goa!
Chef Fernando’s Nostalgia – Raia
For genuine Goan meals in South Goa, look no additional. There’s often stay music on weekends and a nostalgic Goan vibe that may solely be present in just a few locations now.
Finest Vegan Cafes in Goa
Earth Mama – Anjuna (all vegan)
I really like my day by day inexperienced and fruit smoothies, however Earth Mama’s smoothies are one thing else! Indulgent, creamy, decadent, well-worth placing up with the Anjuna crowds for. I really like their cacao and berry smoothies, and their open-face chickpea mayo and two-bean hummus toast.
Instagram: Earth Mama
Bibhitaki – Palolem (among the many greatest vegan cafes in South Goa)
Which means “fearless of illness” in its historic Ayurvedic translation, Bibhitaki is an all-vegan cafe that provides healthy-ish consolation meals with an Ayurvedic twist. The ice cream-like tropical smoothie bowl is ideal to keep off the afternoon warmth, the Mexican bhel is an indulgent tackle nachos, and the hearty Mexican and Japanese Buddha bowls are immensely satisfying.
Instagram: Bibhitaki
Hoop’s Espresso – Morjim
I suppose I used to be first drawn to Hoop’s Espresso by its charming, minimalist cafe vibe. And completely taken abruptly to see solely waffles on the menu – with a vegan choice! Plus vegan desserts and the choice of coconut, almond and soy milk for espresso and sizzling chocolate.
Over the months, I landed up at Hoops many occasions, searching for a quiet, artistic area to work from with a sizzling cuppa, tucking into vegan waffles made with oats and wheat and topped with peanut butter and maple syrup, and simply to whereas away a breezy night with a ebook.
(Nowadays, the highway in entrance is dug up and a little bit of a multitude although).
Instagram: Hoop’s Espresso
Bloom and Brew – Assagao
We drove previous it many occasions, till the board lastly caught our consideration! I instantly fell in love with their minimalist decor, with flooring cushions for seating, desks for co-working, and a menu with a ton of vegan choices. The parts are small however delish, particularly the Center Jap toast and ‘for the love of burrito.’ It’s one of many solely locations in Goa that serves up air-fried candy potato fries – and I’m eyeing their vegan black bean brownie!
Instagram: Bloom and Brew
The Mill – Palolem
To not be confused with The Rice Mill in Morjim (featured above), The Mill in Palolem is a surprising cafe set inside a Goan home, with a number of areas to sit back, work from, and feast on some indulgent smoothies, smoothie bowls and burgers.
Web site: The Mill
Gratitude cafe – Anjuna (all vegan)
I frequented Gratitude Cafe in the course of the pandemic, and beloved its courtyard vibe in a refurbished Portuguese home in a quiet a part of Anjuna. The founder Jeet give up his soft job in Canada, and moved to Goa searching for a slower life. That is his try to supply consolation meals whereas bringing collectively Goa’s rising vegan neighborhood!
The menu feels impressed by Bean Me Up – Goa’s OG vegan hub – however the vibe is kind of completely different. I’ve spent breezy afternoons there with my laptop computer or ebook, indulging in every thing from vegan pancakes served with a berries compote and whipped cashew cream, to their tackle the Vietnamese Bahn Mi, to the flourless darkish chocolate mousse cake.
Web site: Gratitude Cafe
Okapi Vegan Kitchen – Moira (all vegan)
Gone are the times when there was nothing and nowhere vegan to eat within the Aldona-Moira space. Okapi has revolutionized the vegan and social scene within the quiet village of Quitla, with its setting in a beautiful Goan home. Their homely thali with day by day specials is price a strive!
Instagram: Okapi Vegan Kitchen
Saraya – Porvorim
I’ve been frequenting Saraya for years, and love their skinny crust, mud oven pizzas on gluten free or sourdough base. They make inhouse cashew and tahini cheeses for vegan pizzas (ask for these vegan choices, and ensure it’s not the stretchy dairy cheese), topped with vegan pesto, seasonal veggies and a few farm-to-table produce from their inhouse backyard.
Instagram: Saraya
Bean Me Up – Vagator (all vegan)
Bean Me Up isn’t just a vegan cafe in Goa, it’s an establishment – and one of many oldest, most profitable vegan spots in all of India. It gives a laidback ambiance below tree canopies, and an enormous number of consolation vegan meals. It additionally stays open all day, day by day, with no ordinary siesta hours!
Value making an attempt are Bean Me Up’s acai berry smoothie bowl, tacky vegan nachos, succulent black bean burger (although its consistency can differ fairly a bit), tempeh tacos, Mexican Buddha bowl, and the melt-in-the-mouth darkish chocolate mousse.
Web site: Bean Me Up
Bonus! The primary totally vegan retailer in Goa: Gras – Assagao
Because of Instagram, I used to be excited to step into the newly opened Gras – Goa’s first all vegan retailer. Aparna, the passionate vegan founder, makes contemporary cashew-oat milk, vegan butter, and comfortable and stretchy vegan cheeses (sans preservatives) on order, below the model title Saorsa.
She additionally shares a curated number of vegan merchandise which might be in any other case onerous to seek out in Goa, just like the dates-sweetened Benalato ice cream!
What are your favourite vegan spots in Goa? What are you most excited to strive?
Welcome to my weblog, The Taking pictures Star. I’ve been referred to as a storyteller, author, photographer, digital nomad, instagrammer, social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism marketing consultant and environmentalist. However in my coronary heart, I’m only a woman who believes within the transformative energy of journey.