Indian cuisine is one of the world's great plant-based traditions. The vegan dishes to order on Costa Rica's Pacific coast — and how to order them well.
Costa Rica is an easy country to eat plant-based in, and Indian cuisine may be the easiest food of all to eat that way. Centuries of vegetarian cooking left India with an enormous repertoire of dishes built on lentils, chickpeas, vegetables, coconut and spice — no substitutes required.
Why Indian food works for vegans
Where many cuisines remove something to make a dish vegan, Indian cooking simply never added it. Dals, chaats, vegetable curries and coconut gravies are complete recipes in their own right, rich in protein and fibre and satisfying enough that nobody at the table feels they are eating a side dish.
Vegan dishes to order
- Chana masala — chickpeas simmered with tomato, onion and warm spice.
- Dal tadka — yellow lentils tempered with cumin, garlic and chilli.
- Aloo gobhi — potato and cauliflower, dry-spiced and fragrant.
- Subzi handi — seasonal vegetables in a slow-cooked masala.
- Vegetable biryani — basmati layered with vegetables and whole spices.
- Samosa and pakoras — classic vegan starters, crisp and hot.
- Tandoori roti — clay-oven flatbread, no dairy.
The complete vegetarian and vegan range is listed on our menu.
How to order like a regular
Say "vegan, no ghee, no cream, no yogurt" when you order and the kitchen will adapt. Many curries can be finished with coconut instead of cream, which suits the coast anyway. Choose roti or plain rice over naan, and skip paneer dishes — paneer is cheese.
Eating vegan on the Pacific coast
We serve daily from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM in Manuel Antonio and Jacó. Note your diet when you book a table, or get in touch if you are planning a plant-based group dinner — our catering team builds fully vegan menus for events.
Plan your visit
Taste it in Manuel Antonio or Jacó
Open daily, 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM. Reserve a table or explore the menu before you arrive.
