It's not just vegetarian food on offer in Ahmedabad

From dal gosht to dosa omelette, there are excellent meat-based options in the city if you look in the right places

- Shirin Mehrotra

Spicy omlette sandwich at Sandwichworkz; (right) street food in Ahmedabad.

In 2024, Ahmedabad was awarded the country’s “most vegan-friendly city” by Peta India, even though it is one of the highest consumers of cheese.

The city is often touted as vegetarian if not vegan. This is where big food brands such as Pizza Hut opened their all-vegetarian outlet, and a KFC outlet was forced to have a vegetarian menu with a separate kitchen and staff.

That it is difficult to find non-vegetarian food here is a myth. Most eateries that offer meat dishes are located in areas with higher Muslim population, either in Mirzapur and Bhadra in Old City, or in Juhapura. Unlike the cuisines of Delhi and Lucknow, where there is a heavy Mughal influence, Ahmedabad's non-vegetarian food is largely influenced by the Dawoodi Bohra community and the Irani Muslims. Bhatiyar Galli, named after bhatiyars or cooks who cater to large gatherings, is known for its shops and carts selling fresh meat and dried fish along with kebabs and other grilled meats. A guide to Ahmedabad's unique non-vegetarian food: