India's vegetarian restaurant boom flattens regional diversity into paneer-heavy delivery menus

Opinion piece argues viral chains like Rameswaram Cafe and Benne reflect a vegetarian food economy increasingly shaped by delivery platforms, migrant labour economics and social-media theatre — at the cost of regional culinary imagination.

— Filed Mon, 18 May, 2026, 21:26 IST · Source NDTV Profit · Updated

Opinion piece argues India's vegetarian restaurant economy, including viral South Indian chains like Rameswaram Cafe, is flattening regional diversity into standardised paneer-heavy menus driven by delivery platforms, migrant labour economics and social-media-led consumer theatre.