Jain Food Abroad: How to Eat Jain on International Trips
By Vihaan Patel (Priya Venkatesh is a food writer and frequent flyer who has eaten her way through 30+ countries while navigating vegetarian menus, airline meals, and street food stalls — always from an Indian traveller's perspective.) · Published · 10 min read
Jain dietary restrictions go beyond vegetarian — no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables, no eating after sunset. This guide covers how to manage Jain food needs across 12 popular international destinations.
Quick answer
Jain food abroad is manageable but requires advance planning. The core challenge is not vegetarianism (many countries handle that) — it is the no-onion, no-garlic, no-root-vegetable restriction that most international kitchens do not understand. Your best tools are: a laminated dietary card in the local language, self-catering accommodation with a kitchen, Indian restaurants that specifically serve Jain food, and airline VJML (Jain vegetarian) meal pre-orders.
Understanding Jain dietary rules for travel context
For readers unfamiliar with the specifics: Jain food excludes all meat, fish, eggs, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, turnips, radishes, and all other root vegetables. Some Jain travellers also avoid mushrooms, aubergine (brinjal), and fermented foods. Eating after sunset is avoided by observant Jain families, though many modern Jain travellers are flexible on this point during travel.
The practical implication is that even a "vegetarian" dish at a European or Southeast Asian restaurant will almost always contain onion or garlic — these are base aromatics in virtually every global cuisine. A plain cheese pizza? The sauce has garlic. A stir-fried vegetable dish in Thailand? Garlic is the first ingredient in the wok. Pasta al pomodoro? Onion is sauteed into the sauce base. This is why generic vegetarian advice does not work for Jain travellers.
Airlines that offer Jain meals (VJML)
Most full-service carriers offer a Jain Vegetarian Meal (VJML) as a special meal code. Air India, IndiGo (on long-haul), Emirates, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Lufthansa all accept VJML requests. The meal must be ordered at least 24 to 48 hours before departure through the airline website or by calling the reservation desk. Check airline pages for contact details.
Quality varies significantly. Air India VJML meals are typically the most authentic — they understand the restrictions natively. Gulf carriers generally do a reasonable job because they cater to large Indian passenger volumes. European carriers can be inconsistent. Always carry backup snacks (khakhra, dry fruit, thepla) in case the meal does not arrive or does not meet your standards.
Best destinations for Jain travellers
Dubai and the UAE are arguably the easiest international destination for Jain food. The large Gujarati and Marwari community means dedicated Jain restaurants exist in Karama, Bur Dubai, and Meena Bazaar. Restaurants like Rajdhani, Maharaja Bhog, and Bikanervala serve thalis that are explicitly Jain — no onion, no garlic, no root vegetables. Dubai flights from Indian cities are frequent and affordable.
Singapore has a strong Indian food corridor along Little India (Serangoon Road) and Race Course Road. Komala Vilas, Ananda Bhavan, and several Gujarati restaurants serve Jain-friendly options. Always confirm "no onion, no garlic" when ordering — South Indian restaurants sometimes add these to chutneys.
London has Jain-friendly options in Wembley, Harrow, and the Drummond Street corridor near Euston. Sakonis, Chetna, and Woodlands serve explicitly Jain dishes on their menus. London flights via Gulf hubs are the most common routing from India.
Bangkok is tricky despite being vegetarian-friendly overall — Thai cooking uses garlic as a foundational ingredient. Your best bet is the Indian restaurants on Sukhumvit Soi 11 and Soi 3/1 (Nana area), where several North Indian kitchens cater to Jain guests on request.
Self-catering strategy
The most reliable approach for strict Jain travellers is booking accommodation with a kitchenette. Serviced apartments and Airbnbs with cooking facilities let you prepare simple meals — dal, rice, sabzi, rotis — using local vegetables (excluding root vegetables). Supermarkets in most developed countries stock paneer or tofu, bell peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, green beans, peas, and leafy greens — all Jain-safe.
Carry a small spice kit from home: cumin, turmeric, red chilli powder, hing (asafoetida), and salt. These weigh almost nothing and transform bland foreign vegetables into familiar food. Instant rava upma, poha mix, and khichdi packets from MTR or Haldiram's are worth packing as well.
The dietary card approach
Print or laminate a card in the local language that says: "I follow a Jain vegetarian diet. I cannot eat: meat, fish, eggs, onion, garlic, potatoes, carrots, beetroot, turnips, radish, or any root vegetables. Please prepare my food without these ingredients." Have this translated into the language of every country you visit. Google Translate handles this adequately for major languages. Show the card to the chef, not the waiter — waiters often say yes without understanding, but chefs take ingredient restrictions seriously.
Our guide to dietary restriction cards covers how to prepare these for multiple languages and restrictions.
Country-by-country difficulty rating
Easy: UAE, Singapore, UK (London specifically), USA (major cities with Indian populations), Kenya/East Africa (large Jain diaspora in Nairobi). Medium: Italy (can get plain pasta with olive oil and vegetables, pizza without sauce is possible, but requires communication), Thailand (Indian restaurants only), Malaysia (Indian restaurants in KL). Hard: Japan (garlic and onion are in everything, even vegetable tempura batter sometimes), France (onion and garlic are sacred to French cooking), South Korea, Eastern Europe. Very hard: Central Asia, South America, most of Africa outside East Africa.
For destinations rated "hard" or above, self-catering is not optional — it is essential. Browse destination guides for more detail on specific cities.
Frequently asked questions
Do airlines serve Jain meals?
Yes. Most full-service carriers offer VJML (Jain Vegetarian Meal) as a special meal code. Order it 24 to 48 hours before departure through the airline website.
Which country is easiest for Jain food abroad?
The UAE (especially Dubai) is the easiest, with dedicated Jain restaurants in Karama and Bur Dubai run by Gujarati and Marwari families.
Should Jain travellers carry food from India?
Yes. Khakhra, thepla, dry fruits, instant upma/poha packets, and a small spice kit are essential backups even in easy destinations.