Vegetarian & Jain Food in the USA — A Practical Guide for Indian Travellers

For many Indian travellers — especially vegetarians, Jains and senior family members — food is the biggest worry about a USA holiday. The good news: with a little planning (or a guided tour that handles it for you), eating well in the USA is easy.

Is it easy to find vegetarian food in the USA?

In big cities — New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas — yes. You’ll find Indian restaurants and plenty of vegetarian options. The challenge is the in-between places: smaller towns, long drive days, and late evenings after sightseeing, when finding suitable food on your own can be stressful.

What about Jain food?

Pure Jain food (no onion, garlic, root vegetables) is harder to find in regular US restaurants, but Indian restaurants in major cities can usually prepare it on request, and a planned tour can arrange it in advance. Always mention “Jain” clearly and specifically when ordering.

Tips for eating vegetarian or Jain in the USA

• Carry some Indian snacks (within import rules) for travel days.
• Learn a few US menu terms — “vegan” dishes are reliably plant-based; ask whether items contain egg, as US “vegetarian” sometimes includes egg.
• Use Indian grocery stores in big cities for familiar items.
• Tell your server clearly about onion/garlic if you’re Jain — don’t assume.
• Book breakfast at the hotel so at least one meal a day is sorted.

How guided tours make it effortless

On a TourAmericas tour, a hot Indian dinner is included every day — vegetarian, Jain and non-vegetarian options available on request. We plan meals in advance across the whole route, including the smaller stops where Indian food is hard to find on your own. A Hindi-speaking tour manager travels with the group and handles any dietary needs along the way.

That means no evenings spent searching for a restaurant, and no settling for whatever’s nearby — just sightseeing all day and a familiar, satisfying meal each night.

See how we handle meals on every tour — USA tours with Indian food — or get a quote and tell us your dietary preferences.