Can Gujaratis Eat Chicken? Understanding Food Culture and Dietary Practices

Ask a Gujarati person if they eat chicken, and you might get a pause - not because they’re unsure, but because the answer isn’t simple. It’s not just about food. It’s about family, faith, tradition, and identity. In Gujarat, where vegetarianism is deeply woven into daily life, chicken doesn’t just sit on the menu - it sits at the center of a quiet but powerful cultural tension.

Most Gujaratis Are Vegetarian - But Not All

Over 70% of Gujaratis follow a strict vegetarian diet, according to surveys by the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21). That’s one of the highest rates in India. The reason? Religion, yes - many are Jain, Hindu, or Swaminarayan, and these communities emphasize ahimsa, or non-violence, toward all living beings. But it’s also practical. For generations, families in Gujarat have lived on grains, lentils, dairy, and vegetables because the land is dry, water is scarce, and farming favors crops over livestock.

So when you see a Gujarati home-cooked meal - dal, kadhi, thepla, bhaji, undhiyu - it’s almost always plant-based. No meat. No eggs. No fish. Just clean, simple flavors built around turmeric, cumin, ginger, and jaggery.

But here’s the thing: that 70% leaves 30%. And that 30% includes people who eat chicken regularly.

Who Eats Chicken in Gujarat?

It’s not random. It’s generational, urban, and often tied to identity.

Younger Gujaratis in cities like Ahmedabad, Surat, or Vadodara are more likely to eat chicken. They’ve traveled, studied abroad, or work in tech and hospitality - industries where meals aren’t always home-cooked. A chicken tikka wrap for lunch? Common. Grilled chicken with rice after a long day? Normal.

Then there are the non-Jain Hindus. Many Hindu families in Gujarat avoid beef and pork out of religious respect, but chicken isn’t banned in scripture. Some follow a lacto-vegetarian diet; others are pesco-vegetarian (eat fish), and a growing number are pollo-vegetarian - meaning they eat poultry but avoid red meat.

And then there’s the business side. Gujarat has over 12,000 chicken farms as of 2024, according to the state’s Animal Husbandry Department. Chicken is cheap, abundant, and sold everywhere - from roadside stalls in Surat to supermarket freezers in Gandhinagar. You can’t ignore availability.

Family Rules vs. Personal Choice

Many Gujarati families have clear rules: no chicken at home. But those rules don’t always stick outside the house.

Imagine a 22-year-old Gujarati woman studying in London. Her parents eat only vegetables. But she’s tired of lentils. One Friday, she buys a chicken curry from a local Indian takeaway. She eats it alone. She doesn’t tell her parents. She feels guilty - not because it’s wrong, but because she’s breaking an unspoken promise.

This isn’t rebellion. It’s adaptation.

In many homes, the rule isn’t written down. It’s inherited. Grandmothers taught it. Mothers live by it. But children, especially those raised in mixed households or exposed to global food trends, start asking: Why not chicken?

There’s no fatwa. No temple decree. Just tradition holding tight.

Chicken Is Not Forbidden - Just Uncommon

Unlike beef, which is taboo across most Hindu communities, chicken doesn’t carry the same religious stigma in Gujarat. It’s not sacred. It’s not banned. It’s just… not part of the norm.

There’s a difference between prohibited and uncommon. In a Gujarati household, chicken isn’t served because it’s not needed. Vegetarian food is rich, satisfying, and culturally complete. Why add something that doesn’t fit?

But when you step outside the home - into a restaurant, a friend’s house, or a college hostel - chicken appears. You’ll find chicken biryani at wedding buffets in Vadodara. You’ll see chicken tikka on menus at Gujarati-owned pubs in Mumbai. Even in traditional Gujarati eateries like Shree Thaker Bhojanalaya, you’ll find a separate non-veg section - quietly tucked away, often behind a curtain or in a different corner.

It’s not hidden out of shame. It’s out of respect.

What About Eggs and Fish?

Chicken isn’t the only question. Eggs are another gray area.

Jains and many orthodox Hindus avoid eggs entirely - they see them as potential life. But many other Gujaratis, especially in urban areas, eat eggs regularly. Hard-boiled eggs for breakfast? Common. Egg curry with rice? Not unusual.

Fish is even more complicated. Coastal Gujarat - places like Porbandar, Diu, and Surat - has long had fishing communities. Many of these families, even if Hindu, eat fish. It’s not called “non-vegetarian” in their homes. It’s just sea food. A different category.

So when people say “Gujaratis don’t eat meat,” they’re usually thinking of red meat and chicken. But the truth is more layered.

Changing Tastes, Changing Identities

Over the last 15 years, chicken consumption in Gujarat has risen by 47%, according to the Indian Poultry Association (2024). That’s faster than the national average.

Why? Protein awareness. Fitness culture. Working women with less time to cook. The rise of meal delivery apps. A new generation that doesn’t see vegetarianism as a moral test, but as a personal choice.

Some young Gujaratis now proudly say: “I’m vegetarian by upbringing, but I eat chicken when I want.” Others say: “I’m not vegetarian. I’m just Gujarati.”

There’s no shame in either. But there is tension - quiet, unspoken, and real.

One mother told me: “I don’t cook chicken at home. But if my son wants it at a party, I don’t stop him. I just pray he doesn’t eat it in front of his grandmother.”

What Does This Mean for Visitors?

If you’re visiting Gujarat and wondering whether to order chicken - yes, you can. But be mindful.

At a family dinner, don’t order chicken unless invited. If you’re invited to a home, ask: “Is it okay if I eat chicken?” Most will say yes - but some will feel uncomfortable. Don’t push.

At restaurants, chicken is everywhere. But many places have two menus: one for vegetarian, one for non-vegetarian. Look for the sign: “Shuddh Shakahari” - pure vegetarian - and you’ll know you’re in a space that respects tradition.

And if you’re curious about the food? Try the vegetarian dishes first. The flavors are complex, layered, and unforgettable. You might not need chicken.

It’s Not About Right or Wrong

There’s no single answer to “Can Gujaratis eat chicken?”

Some can. Some won’t. Some do, but only outside the house. Some are changing their minds. Some are doubling down.

What’s clear is this: food in Gujarat isn’t just about taste. It’s about belonging. It’s about honoring your parents. It’s about staying connected to a culture that values peace, simplicity, and discipline.

Chicken doesn’t break that. But choosing it - or rejecting it - changes the story.