Jackfruit biryani to haleem, exploring Hyderabad’s vegan scene

On World Vegan Day, local dining conversations often turn to substitute ingredients, plant-based swaps, and the search for animal-free options. While eating plant-based in a meat-centric culinary landscape can seem challenging, Hyderabad’s ecosystem has been steadily carving out its own space through community initiatives, dedicated home kitchens, and adaptable dining practices.

To understand the reality of living and eating plant-based in the city today, Siasat.com spoke with Hyderabad-based food blogger Sharmistha, founder of the all-vegan cloud kitchen The Flavour Therapy, who has spent years mapping the local community.

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Behind the scenes of Hyderabad’s vegan movement

Reflecting on how the city’s dedicated vegan footprint has shifted over the past few years, Sharmistha offers a candid look at the challenges local plant-based businesses face.

“Honestly, it’s a mix of feelings,” admits Sharmistha. “Around 2019, we had about five or six 100% vegan cafes running. But over the next four or five years, most of them closed down. The number of strict vegans was small, and there simply was not enough general awareness to keep those businesses afloat.”

Despite the closure of early brick-and-mortar spaces, the passion for plant-based cooking moved into home kitchens and community pop-ups. Sharmistha took that exact philosophy into her own kitchen, launching the cloud kitchen The Flavour Therapy alongside her mother. Rather than pushing restrictive health menus, they focus on recreating nostalgic childhood favourites, using peanut curd and her mother’s classic family chicken recipes to prepare jackfruit biryanis, jackfruit 65, and meaty jackfruit pickles that win over everyone.

Beyond specialised kitchens, Sharmistha emphasises that local diners do not always need an exclusively vegan establishment to enjoy a completely plant-based meal in Hyderabad.

“Our basic South Indian street food is naturally plant-based as long as you skip the ghee or butter,” she tells Siasat.com. “Pan-Asian spots like Burma Burma stand out with extensive, clearly marked vegan menus.”

Sharmistha’s guide to vegan food in Hyderabad

For those celebrating World Vegan Day or simply curious about exploring plant-based dining across the city, here is Sharmistha’s handpicked list of top-rated meat alternatives, home businesses, physical cafes, and community hubs.

1. The Flavour Therapy: Sharmistha’s own cloud kitchen is famous for their Andhra-style Jackfruit Pickle, crafted using her mother’s ancestral chicken pickle recipe. Their Jackfruit Biryani and Jackfruit 65 offer textures that appeal to both vegans and meat lovers. The 100% vegan home business is also actively expanding into mock meat preparations.

2. Ewoke: One of the city’s rare 100% vegan physical cafes, offering comforting plant-based comfort foods such as Vegan Meatball Curry, Butter Chicken, Mock Meat Pizza, and Vegan Haleem. The cafe also features an attached Vegan Supermarket stocking packaged plant-based meats, dairy alternatives, and cruelty-free lifestyle goods.

3. Vibrant Living: Operating as one of the only other 100% physical all-vegan spaces in Hyderabad, with branches across the city, including the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

4. Burma Burma: Celebrated for its clearly marked plant-based options and standout Mock Meat Skewers.

5. Gabru Di Chaap: A go-to destination for street-style alternatives, particularly their Vegan Karari Chaap, which closely mimics the smoky flavours of traditional Amritsari fish tikka for Sharmistha.

6. KV’s: Highly recommended for customised, artisanal Vegan Mock Meat Burgers.

7. Dhadhi: A trusted local home brand specialising in rich, fermented Cashew Curd and comforting Cashew Curd Rice.

8. Plantarium’s Monthly Vegan Bazar: Organised by Plantarium, this monthly community event serves as a central hub for vegans across the city. It provides a rare single-window market for discovering local plant-based food vendors, sustainable home goods, and cruelty-free lifestyle products under one roof.

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