The short answer
Sri Ananda Bahwan (Vegetarian Branch): what visitors should know first
A practical all-day vegetarian stop in Little India for Indian families. Check you are at number 25, since a non-vegetarian restaurant of the same name stands on the same street, and ask about egg and ghee if you are strict.
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
Sri Ananda Bahwan (Vegetarian Branch) facts at a glance
- Location
- 25 Lebuh Penang, Little India
- Dining style
- Banana leaf restaurant with buffet and takeaway
- Cuisine
- North and South Indian vegetarian
- Signature order
- Try: banana leaf rice, masala dosa or a thali
- Open
- Daily 07:00 to 23:00 per HappyCow
- Price signal
- Budget
Why it matters
Why Sri Ananda Bahwan (Vegetarian Branch) is worth your time
Little India in George Town is the easiest district for Indian visitors, but many kitchens there cook meat and fish. This branch is listed by HappyCow and Penang Travel Tips as a vegetarian restaurant for strict vegetarians, which makes it a dependable meal for families who avoid meat.
The warning on the listing matters: a non-vegetarian restaurant of the same name stands on the same street, so the number 25 is the detail to check. The opening hours are long, which suits older travellers who prefer an early breakfast or a late dinner after temple visits nearby.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
Check the number
Go to number 25; a non-vegetarian restaurant with the same name is on the same street.
- 02
Banana leaf meal
Rice with vegetable curries and dal served on a banana leaf.
- 03
Long hours
Listed as open from 7:00 to 23:00 every day.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
HappyCow lists a wide menu: masala and onion dosas, thalis, vegetable biryani, samosa, paneer butter masala, garlic naan, roti canai, banana leaf rice, mango lassi and Indian sweets. There is also a self-service buffet and takeaway, so you can see dishes before choosing.
For a first visit, a banana leaf meal or a thali gives the widest sample of vegetable curries, dal and rice at a modest price. Dosas suit a lighter morning meal. Reviewers on HappyCow are mixed on buffet pricing, so ask what a plate or the buffet costs before you serve yourself.
HappyCow marks the branch Lacto and calls it pure vegetarian, but the page does not say outright that the menu excludes egg, so we have not given it a Pure Veg tag. Reviewers report dairy and ghee in cooking and staff unsure about vegan dishes, so strict diners should ask. It also lists mock meat dishes and veggie nasi goreng.
Plan with confidence
Small checks that make a better meal.
- Confirm you are at number 25, not the same-name branch
- Ask what a buffet plate costs before serving
- Ask about egg, ghee and dairy if you are strict
- Phone ahead before a late evening visit
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- 25 Lebuh Penang, Little India, George Town
- Time needed
- 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Best time
- Breakfast, lunch or an early dinner
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- Seating is at ordinary tables and the street is level, but the pavements of Lebuh Penang are narrow and busy. Choose a mid-morning or early evening visit to avoid the midday heat and the lunch rush.
- Tickets and access
- No booking is normally needed. HappyCow and Penang Travel Tips list daily hours of 7:00 to 23:00, but reviewers mention early closing, so confirm by phone before a late visit.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Sri Ananda Bahwan (Vegetarian Branch)
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
Seating is at ordinary tables and the street is level, but the pavements of Lebuh Penang are narrow and busy. Choose a mid-morning or early evening visit to avoid the midday heat and the lunch rush.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Is it the same as the other Sri Ananda Bahwan?
No. HappyCow warns that a non-vegetarian restaurant with the same name is on the same street; the vegetarian one is at number 25.
Is it Pure Veg?
HappyCow calls it pure vegetarian and tags it Lacto, but does not state egg is excluded, so we have not tagged it Pure Veg.
Is it vegan or Jain?
No. Reviewers report dairy and ghee, and we found no Jain claim.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
