The short answer
Ashoka Authentic Indian Cuisine: what visitors should know first
Go here if you want dal, roti and a vegetable curry after several days of seafood. Ask for the vegetarian menu, order rice and bread separately, carry cash or GCash because cards are not taken, and confirm opening hours on the day.
Diet
What we checked
- Indian. An Indian restaurant outside India. Checked November 2026 · Source
Menus and kitchens change. If you follow a strict diet or have an allergy, confirm with the restaurant before you order.
Useful facts
Ashoka Authentic Indian Cuisine facts at a glance
- Location
- San Joaquin St, at the turn by Midtown Bakery, El Nido town
- Dining style
- Casual Indian restaurant, large seating area
- Price signal
- High for El Nido; rice and bread charged separately
- Signature order
- Try: dal fry or chana masala with roti or vegan naan
- Payment
- Cash or GCash only, no cards
- Good for
- Vegetarian and vegan travellers, family groups
Why it matters
Why Ashoka Authentic Indian Cuisine is worth your time
Most of El Nido's restaurants are built around grilled fish, Italian cooking and cafe menus for backpackers, so a kitchen that treats lentils, chickpeas and flatbread as the centre of the menu matters for vegetarian travellers from India. A separate vegetarian menu means you are not hunting for a side dish.
It is also one of the few places in town with a large dining room and step-free access, which counts when you are travelling with parents. The trade-off is cost and uneven seasoning, so go in with modest expectations and use the vegan and vegetarian flexibility the staff are said to offer.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Separate vegetarian menu
Starters such as samosas and pakoras sit beside mains like dal fry and aloo jeera, so vegetarians can order without sorting through meat dishes.
- 02
Vegan on request
Reviewers say most vegetarian mains, and the naan and paratha, can be made vegan if you ask. Confirm ghee and cream before ordering.
- 03
Bring cash
Cards are not accepted. Withdraw pesos in town before you arrive and keep some for rice and bread, which are billed separately.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
Ask for the vegetarian menu, which HappyCow describes as two pages of mains plus starters. Dishes the listings name include samosas, pakoras, dal fry, dal makhani, aloo jeera, chana masala, palak paneer and jalfrezi. Rice and bread are charged separately, so add roti, naan or paratha to the order; reviewers report that the breads and most vegetarian curries can be made vegan if you ask.
Families who eat non-vegetarian food will find mutton and chicken curries on the same menu, so this is not a pure vegetarian kitchen. If anyone at the table avoids onion, garlic or animal fat, say so when ordering and ask the staff what can be changed; the restaurant does not advertise Jain cooking, so treat any such request as unconfirmed.
Expect higher prices than a local eatery. HappyCow reviews from 2024 put dal dishes at around 470 to 500 pesos, and reviewers call the pricing steep, while Spinach notes inconsistent seasoning. Share two or three dishes between a family rather than ordering one each, and treat the figures as indicative only.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Carry cash or use GCash; cards are not accepted
- Ask for the vegetarian menu
- Order rice and bread separately
- Confirm opening hours on the day
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Turn at Midtown Bakery, San Joaquin Street, Barangay Buena Suerte, El Nido town
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Best time
- Lunch or an early dinner, before the evening rush
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- HappyCow and Spinach both describe a large seating area with wheelchair access, so there is room to sit comfortably. The street is a short walk from the town centre; ask your hotel whether a tricycle can drop you at the door.
- Tickets and access
- No booking is normally needed, but a group of six or more should call ahead. Payment is cash or GCash only per HappyCow and Spinach. Opening hours differ between listings (roughly 9 or 10 am to 10 pm), so please confirm hours before you go.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Ashoka Authentic Indian Cuisine
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
HappyCow and Spinach both describe a large seating area with wheelchair access, so there is room to sit comfortably. The street is a short walk from the town centre; ask your hotel whether a tricycle can drop you at the door.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is Ashoka pure vegetarian?
No. It has a separate vegetarian menu but also serves mutton and chicken dishes, so it is not a pure vegetarian restaurant.
Can I get vegan food at Ashoka?
HappyCow and Spinach report that most vegetarian mains, naan and paratha can be made vegan on request. Ask the staff to confirm, as availability varies.
Does Ashoka take cards?
No. HappyCow and Spinach both say cash or GCash only, so bring pesos.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
