Where to Eat in Ellora
Two of the places listed here are at Ellora and on the road in, and two are in Aurangabad, about 30 km away. Eat lunch near the caves and save dinner for the city.
2 places
Aurangabad
1 place
Ellora
1 place
Ellora Road
Not sure what to order? The Ellora food guide starts from the dishes — what each one is, when to eat it, and which of these kitchens is known for it.
At Verul, near the caves
Hotel Kailas Restaurant is close to the cave entrance and serves Maharashtrian thalis, misal pav and standard Indian meals. It is also handy for breakfast if you are staying in Verul, and it is the obvious place for a lunch break between Kailasa and the Jain caves.
On the Ellora road
Madhuban Restaurant is on the road between Ellora and Aurangabad. It is a family restaurant with vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, including thalis and naan qalia, and it suits a late lunch on the drive back.
In Aurangabad
Tandoor Restaurant is known for Aurangabad's naan qalia and biryani, and for Mughlai food in general. Go in the evening after the caves, when you have earned a heavy meal. Bhoj is a vegetarian thali house serving unlimited Maharashtrian and Gujarati thalis with shrikhand. It suits groups where some people do not eat meat.
Plan meals around the caves
The caves are long and hot, so eat a solid breakfast before you go in. If you arrive at opening time, you can be out of Kailasa and one other group by lunch. A thali near the entrance then gives you energy for the afternoon, when the light is best for photos. Opening hours for all four places change, so check before you set out, particularly on festival days.
At Grishneshwar
The lanes leading to Grishneshwar Temple have small stalls selling tea, snacks and prasad. For a proper meal, walk back towards the main road and the caves.
Questions
Ellora — FAQ
Where should I eat in Ellora?
4 places are listed here, across 3 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 Ellora?
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 Ellora?
Start from the dishes rather than the restaurants — the Ellora food guide covers what each dish is and when to eat it, then links to the places that do it well.
Is there a restaurant inside the Ellora Caves complex?
Not a full one. Stalls near the entrance sell tea, water and snacks. For a sit-down meal, use the restaurants on the main road in Verul.
How far are the Aurangabad restaurants from Ellora?
About 30 km, usually under an hour by road. Most visitors eat lunch at Ellora and dinner in Aurangabad.
Where can I eat near Grishneshwar Temple?
There are tea and snack stalls on the approach to the temple. For a thali, walk or take an auto back to the restaurants near the caves, about 1.5 km away.