November 1 is World Vegan Day. Vegan food leaves out milk, ghee, meat and eggs entirely. To mark it, Siasat published a guide to plant-based eating in Hyderabad.
How the scene has changed
Around 2019, Hyderabad had five or six fully vegan cafes, and most closed over the next four or five years, says food blogger Sharmistha, who runs the all-vegan cloud kitchen The Flavour Therapy with her mother. She puts it down to a small base of strict vegans and low awareness. Home kitchens and community pop-ups now carry the scene. She notes that much South Indian street food is already plant-based if you skip the ghee or butter.
Where to eat
- The Flavour Therapy: jackfruit pickle, jackfruit biryani, jackfruit 65
- Ewoke: vegan haleem, mock meat pizza, with a vegan supermarket attached
- Vibrant Living: an all-vegan chain, including a branch at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
- Dhadhi: cashew curd and cashew curd rice
- Burma Burma, Gabru Di Chaap and KV's: marked vegan options
- Plantarium's monthly vegan bazaar: local vegan vendors and sustainable goods
In a city known for biryani and haleem, plant-based versions of the same dishes show a small shift in Hyderabad's food culture.
