Vegetarian McDonalds Coming to India

One veggie location will be based in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in northern India and another in Katra near the Vaishno Devi cave shrine in Indian Kashmir, said spokeswoman Becca Hary in a statement.  

The chain expanded into India through New Delhi and Mumbai in 1996. Many Indians avoid meat – especially beef and pork – for religious reasons.

At the fewer than 300 McDonald’s locations around India, the potato-based McAloo Tikki burger is the runaway bestseller. The Maharaja Mac, which is made from chicken, and the McSpicy Paneer are also popular.

“McDonald’s respects local cultures and has adapted our menu and dining experiences to local preferences,” Hary said. “In India, our McDonald’s kitchens have always been divided into separate sections for cooking vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and the restaurants there do not sell beef or pork.”