Source: https://verify-veg.com/blog/is-vada-pav-vegan/
Language: en

# Is Vada Pav Vegan? (Mumbai's Potato Burger)

Vada pav is Mumbai's street-food burger: a spiced potato fritter in a soft bun. The fritter and
chutneys are vegan, but the bun might not be. Here is how to be sure.

> **Key Takeaways**
> - Vada pav is usually vegan: a spiced potato fritter in a bun with chutneys.
> - The fritter and the chutneys are plant-based.
> - The bun (pav) may contain milk or butter.
> - Ask if the bun is dairy-free to keep it vegan.

**TL;DR: Vada pav is usually vegan**: a spiced potato fritter ("vada") in a soft bun ("pav"),
with garlic and coriander chutneys. The main thing to check is the bun (some contain milk or
butter).

## What's in vada pav

- **Vada (fritter)**: mashed potato, chili, garlic, mustard seed, turmeric, coated in gram
  (chickpea) flour and fried. Vegan.
- **Chutneys**: garlic-coconut and coriander-mint. Usually vegan.
- **Pav (bun)**: soft white bread; **sometimes made with milk or butter**, which would make it
  non-vegan (though still vegetarian).

## The one thing to check

Ask if the bun is **vegan** (made without milk/butter). The fritter and chutneys are already
plant-based.

## The bottom line

- **Vegetarian?** Yes.
- **Vegan?** Usually: confirm the bun is dairy-free.

See our [Vada Pav dish guide](/food/india/country-india-vada-pav/) for the full breakdown.

**Check before you eat.** The Verify Veg app scans a barcode or reads an ingredient list from a
photo and flags ingredients against your diet (vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, Jain and more).
[Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verifyveg-vegan-scanner/id6758276834) - 
Android is coming soon.

*Written by Samir Narain, founder of Verify Veg. Verify Veg helps people check packaged food
against their diet by scanning barcodes and reading ingredient lists from photos.*

*Note: Verify Veg provides ingredient-based compatibility checks, not certification. Recipes and
preparations vary by restaurant, region and cook, so always confirm with the restaurant, brand or vendor.*