Where to Eat in Bodh Gaya
Bodh Gaya's restaurants cluster around the temple and along the road to the monasteries. They are simple, cheap and used to feeding people who were up before dawn.
1 place
Bodh Gaya
1 place
Mastipur
1 place
Monastery Road
1 place
Near Mahabodhi
Not sure what to order? The Bodh Gaya food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
Near the temple
Mohammad Restaurant is close to the Mahabodhi Temple and has fed travellers for years. It serves Indian meals, including litti chokha and sattu paratha, and suits a quick lunch between temple visits.
Be Happy Café is a vegetarian café popular with travellers for breakfast, coffee and Tibetan dishes. It is a good place to sit after an early morning under the Bodhi Tree.
Tibetan food
Fujia Green Restaurant is known for momos and thukpa, along with simple Chinese dishes. It fills up on winter evenings, when the town is full of pilgrims.
Vegetarian thalis
Tapovan Restaurant is a calm vegetarian place for thalis, sattu dishes and Bihari cooking. Ask for thekua to take away. A thali here is the easiest way to taste several Bihari dishes in one sitting, and it suits anyone who is not sure what to order.
Choosing where to go
If you are staying near the temple, the cafés on the monastery side are the most convenient for an early breakfast. For a proper Bihari lunch, pick a thali place or order litti chokha at one of the Indian restaurants. For a warm dinner on a winter night, go Tibetan. Most places here are relaxed about solo diners and groups, and many are used to pilgrims who eat simply and early.
When to eat
- Breakfast starts early here, because many visitors go to the temple at dawn.
- In summer, eat lunch before the afternoon heat and rest until evening.
- In December and January, busy places can have a wait at dinner. Go a little early.
A note on hours
Some cafés in Bodh Gaya change their hours with the season, or close for part of the hot months. Check before you walk across town.
For what each dish is, see the Bodh Gaya food guide.
Questions
Bodh Gaya — FAQ
Where should I eat in Bodh Gaya?
4 places are listed here, across 4 areas. Each entry says what that kitchen is known for rather than reprinting its menu, so pick by the dish you want and the area you'll be in.
Are there good vegetarian restaurants in Bodh Gaya?
Yes — 1 of the places listed is pure vegetarian, and the food-type badge on every card tells you before you set out.
What should I order in Bodh Gaya?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Bodh Gaya food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Where can I eat near the Mahabodhi Temple?
Mohammad Restaurant and Be Happy Café are both close to the temple and serve simple meals from early in the day.
Where can I get momos and thukpa in Bodh Gaya?
Fujia Green Restaurant is a long-running choice for Tibetan food. Be Happy Café also serves Tibetan dishes.
Are restaurants in Bodh Gaya open all year?
Most are, but some cafés change their hours or close for a while in the hot, quiet months. Check before you go.