With the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya around the corner, the amount of people planning a pilgrimage to Ayodhya is insane. Of course, it’s the birthplace of Lord Ram and a pilgrimage is always a great way to get a spiritual cleanse. You can find a lot about trip planning what to do, and what not to do on your pilgrimage, but not a lot of sites talk about the food. When you’re a foodie on a trip, nearly every trip, even a pilgrimage can be a hunt to find the best eats. Today, we’re going to take you on a tour to explore the world of specialty nonveg dishes that you can find in Ayodhya. 

Non-Veg Specialities in Ayodhya

Foodies on tours can be the most adventurous people, looking to try new dishes, no combinations, new flavors, and whatnot. But are non-vegetarian foodies on a pilgrimage? Don’t get me started. People around the world might have that misconception about us that we Indians are all vegetarians but only we know how much some of us are crazy about nonvegetarian food. But then, most people on a pilgrimage prefer to dine all vegetarian for spiritual purposes. Well, if you’re not one of them, this one’s for you.

Mutton and Chicken Dishes

North Indians, South Indians, East Indians, all of us are divided by a million things but United by a few, like, our love for chicken. Ayodhya has a unique way of preparing and serving their chicken and mutton dishes that might be different from our visual way of eating but we’re all up for it. The local favorites are that you should not leave the city without trying.

1. Mutton curry
2. Chicken masala 
3. Kebabs

 Here we have a few places that serve lip-smacking mutton and chicken dishes 

• UP 42 Nonveg Dhaba
• Kaleka Chulha Restaurant
• Raje Biriyani

Fish and Seafood Delights

Just like mutton and chicken, there is a special fan base for seafood. Fresh fish, cooking in a savory and spicy sauce or gravy and served with a side of rice or roti just sounds like a delight no matter what the time of the day is. Ayodhya has its special kinds of seafood dishes that are served uniquely and nonetheless, taste incredible. The fish is locally sourced from rivers and ponds nearby. You must enjoy some of the tasty seafood delights from Ayodhya like 

1. Fish curries
2. Tandoori fish 
3. Seafood thalis. 

Here are some of our picks for places that serve amazing seafood- 

• Hotel Fish World
• Zaika Restaurant
• Banjara Dhaba

Non-Veg Street Food

If there’s one thing we foodies love, it’s street food and nonvegetarian food. Combine these two, and we have an unbeatable dish. Ayodhya has so many nonvegetarian street food options which are a great way to grab a quick bite and, let’s be honest, no restaurant can give you the delicious taste of street food. Speaking of that, some of the most famous nonvegetarian street items in Ayodhya are 

• chicken roll
• street kebab
• fried fish, etc.

You can find these on roadside food stalls.

Dining Tips and Etiquettes

Just like the dishes and their taste change when you visit different places, so does the dining etiquette there. Oftentimes things that you usually do back home, might be offensive to people in a different city. This is why, it’s best to prepare the dining etiquette and take extra tips about dining while you’re in a different city. It is just as important to take prior tips on which places to eat at and which to avoid. Here’s our 2 cents on dining in Ayodhya. 

Non-Veg Restaurants

If you and your group of travelers are keen on enjoying nonveg food everywhere you go, it’s best if you visit places that are famous for nonvegetarian food. Why choose a place that serves moderately good nonvegetarian food along with other dishes instead of a place that specializes in nonvegetarian food? Also, while on the adventure, be sure to try unique items from the restaurant’s menu that is a local favorite instead of eating the same dishes that you do back home. This way, you get to broaden your horizons and try things out of your comfort zone. Here are a few restaurants that specialize in nonvegetarian dishes like chicken, mutton and seafood.

• UP 42 Nonveg Dhaba
• Banjara Dhaba
• Hotel Fish World

Respectful Dining

Now, this goes without saying but when you’re a nonvegetarian on a trip to a religious city, you have to respect the local culture and cultural preferences of these places. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy nonveg food, but, make sure you don’t hurt the feelings of the local people. For example, in rare cases, some hotels might not allow ordering of nonveg food on their premises. Similarly, it’s important to know about the boundaries of eating veg food and entering a temple afterward. In buffets as well, one should remember that most people around you might not prefer nonveg food like you.

Special Occasions 

While it is uncommon, there are many occasions featuring special non-veg food in Ayodhya. If you’re visiting around the festive season, you will get to enjoy traditional feasts and special meals featuring non-vegetarian food. Ayodhya has so much diversity when it comes to culinary that you will get to see everything from vegetarian to non-vegetarian along with sweets and snacks, all included during special occasions. 

Culinary Adventures Beyond Food

As foodies, it’s obvious that adventures related to food don’t just end at enjoying food served before us at restaurants. They go beyond that. Culinary Adventures are everything from learning the insights on what goes inside a dish how the ingredients are found how can we recreate them and so much more. 

Food Markets And Vendors

Ayodhya has a full house in all the food markets that are flooded with vendors selling out lovely raw materials to make your nonveg dishes cooked at home, taste like the ones here. If you’re looking to go beyond the ordinary and to learn and recreate the art of cooking delicious nonvegetarian meals that taste like the ones in Ayodhya, you should explore these markets. Here, you will find stuff like

• Spices
• Fresh Meats
• Marinades 

And all the other stuff that you need to bring your ordinary nonvegetarian dishes to life. If you’re one of the interactive ones, you might even land a few inside tips on cooking from the locals here.

Cooking Experiences

Once you’ve gone through the lovely and vibrant markets of Ayodhya, the next stepping stone on your culinary adventure in Ayodhya would be to master the art of cooking nonveg dishes with the guidance of experts. If you’ve got some time on your hands from your pilgrimage, we suggest you take some cooking Workshops where you will get to learn the art of cooking lovely dishes from the city of Ayodhya. These workshops are a great way of spending time doing something you love, while also learning more about the culture here and the cooking style, which broadens your knowledge about the same. Here’s a few of them 

• Sulekha Cooking Classes
• Food Wave Cooking Classes
• Arpana Cooking Classes

Non Veg Souvenirs

Once you’re past the learning and the eating and cooking, the next stop on the foodie express would be to share your lovely Culinary experience from Ayodhya with people you love back home. When shopping to go back home, it’s so confusing as to what to get for your loved ones, when there are too many exciting things out there. Well, if your loved ones are foodies like you are and hard-core non-vegetarian food enthusiasts, we suggest you grab something that will give them a little part of what you have experienced here. That is, nonvegetarian souvenirs like

• Special Masalas 
• Dried/Dehydrated Fish
• Pickles
• Marinades

And other stuff that you rarely find anywhere around home. You can pick up these items up at the local shops right before the day of your departure.

Conclusion

Once you step outside to visit a different place, it’s great to have an open mind and to broaden your horizons to let yourself free and experience the beauty and uniqueness in the food, people, and culture of the people there. When you open your heart to the different types of foods that are served there, you let yourself free and enjoy whatever comes your way. Let’s make a pact to be nothing but open-minded when visiting different places because, how else are we going to have new experiences if we refuse to let ourselves free? With these same thoughts, go out on that pilgrimage and do not come back before you’ve tried everything new around!