Kolkata: The “City of Joy,” a paradise for street food and the capital of culinary culture, has just earned a significant new title: India’s Most Vegan-Friendly City for 2025. PETA India officially bestowed this honor upon Kolkata during World Vegan Month. The award was formally presented to Firhad Hakim, the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and the state’s Minister of Urban Development.
PETA India recognizes Kolkata not just for its iconic street food and traditional recipes, but also because many Bengalis naturally incorporate vegan food into their diet. Thanks to a rapidly growing number of vegan-supportive restaurants, a surge in ‘cruelty-free’ fashion, and a general increase in this trend, the City of Joy is now considered the most vegan-friendly destination in the country.
Naturally Vegan: The Unseen Side of Bengali Cuisine
The common perception that Bengali food revolves around fish overlooks a vast treasure trove of naturally plant-forward dishes. Many everyday Bengali meals are prepared without any ingredients from cows, goats, or chickens, and are inherently vegan (excluding the use of ghee, which is often an optional addition).
Examples of these naturally vegan Bengali staples include:
Aloo Posto (Potatoes with poppy seeds)
Alur Chop (Spiced potato fritters)
Potoler Dolma (Stuffed pointed gourd, often prepared with a vegetable stuffing)
Labra (Mixed vegetable curry)
Chholar Dal / Motor Dal / Biulir Dal (Various lentil preparations)
Phulkopi-Badhakopir Torkari (Cauliflower and cabbage curry)
Tomato-Khejur Chutney (Tomato and date relish)
Phuchka (The iconic street food snack)
Rich in flavor, variety, and nutrition, these dishes demonstrate just how much of Bengali cooking is truly ‘plant-forward’.
Vegan-Supportive Restaurants & Cafés: Growing Alternatives
The city’s modern food culture is also rapidly embracing vegan options. A number of restaurants and cafés are stepping up to meet the demand:
Burma Burma and The Flaming Bowl offer innovative star-fries, tofu preparations, and other Asian plant-based dishes.
Cafés like AllDO Cafe, Out and Beyond, Glenburn Cafe, and Sienna Cafe now prominently feature plant-based milk alternatives and a variety of vegan beverages.
Kolkata is also seeing a rise in specialized vegan baked goods, including vegan cakes and dairy-free ice cream. Oven & Plate is noted as a completely vegan cloud bakery.
The Vegan Ethos in Kolkata: A Message of Compassion at Festivals
This year, Kolkata witnessed a significant number of animal welfare events and installations. PETA India created a special Durga Puja installation that advocated for vegan food, spread animal-friendly messages, and encouraged the use of heritage-style motorized vehicles instead of traditional horse-drawn carriages. This highlights the city’s increasing sensitivity to animal consciousness, even within its grandest cultural celebrations.
Why Kolkata Stands Apart
Dr. Kiran Ahuja, Senior Manager at PETA India, stated: “From the delicious Bengali plant-based cuisine to sustainable vegan fashion and animal-friendly festivals, Kolkata is a unique destination for vegans. With its growing vegan offerings, the city is pioneering the path towards a more compassionate world.”
Kolkata is not just preserving its culinary heritage; it’s also evolving into a modern, conscious metropolis, making it the undeniable leader in India’s vegan movement.
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