The London Traveler

Finding a purely vegetarian place in central London can be a bit tricky. Come to that, it’s also difficult to find a budget eating place of any quality. Govinda’s solves both problems.

Old Soho hounds will probably know it well. Govinda’s serves good, cheap Indian vegetarian food, with a number of vegan options. I particularly like the thali, a selection of different dal (lentil or split pea) and vegetable dishes with rice.

Devotees of the curry house may find this food a little bland, since Govinda’s doesn’t use onions or garlic, in line with the dictates of Ayurvedic medicine. It’s also generally served a little less than piping hot – though that is in fact another authentic Indian trait according to people who know. (Having slightly sensitive teeth I actually prefer it that way.)

On the other hand the food is jolly good, nutritious stuff and you can actually taste what you’re eating – sometimes a problem with the more aggressively spiced curry.

Depending on how great your hunger is and how much you decide to eat, you might pay between a fiver and a tenner for a meal here. Budget or what?

Now, the potential downside. If you find Hare Krishna devotees creepy, this is not the place for you. It’s one of a number of restaurants run by the Hare Krishna order around the world, and your food will have been offered to Lord Krishna before it’s brought to you. But you’re not going to be hassled to convert – at least in my experience.

Whether you’re a veggie or not, if you keep a list of good, cheap lunchtime places to eat in London, Govinda’s should be on it.

Where: 10 Soho Street, W1 (Tottenham Court tube)

Photo credit: Ewan Munro, on flickr

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