Hindu vegetarianism traditions

The practical impact of Hindu dietary traditions on LA’s South Asian dining scene is that restaurants in Artesia and Glendale explicitly cater to specific restrictions, but the level of accommodation varies.

• Jain dietary restrictions (no root vegetables, no onion/garlic) are directly accommodated by at least one restaurant. Wok N Tandoor in Artesia offers a dedicated “Jain Menu” ^[2], which includes items like Tardka Daal, Paneer Tikka Masala, and Shahi Navratan Korma ^[2]. This menu explicitly avoids root vegetables and alliums, meeting Jain requirements.
• Brahmin vegetarianism (strict vegetarian, with some sects avoiding onion/garlic) is partially accommodated. Rajdhani Restaurant in Artesia is a vegetarian restaurant ^[1], but its menu does not explicitly state whether it excludes onion/garlic for stricter Brahmin sects. The source does not provide enough detail to confirm full accommodation for all Brahmin sub-traditions.
• Lingayat vegetarianism (vegetarian, no Brahmin restrictions on onion/garlic) is not specifically mentioned in any source. General vegetarian options are widely available at both restaurants, but no source confirms a dedicated Lingayat menu or policy.
• General vegetarian options are abundant. Both Rajdhani ^[1] and Wok N Tandoor ^[2] offer extensive vegetarian menus, including dishes like Chole, Daal Bhindi, and Paneer Tikka Masala ^[2].

Mexican-origin ingredients appear opportunistically in the menus. Wok N Tandoor uses tomatoes (e.g., in Paneer Tikka Masala and Daal Bhindi) ^[2], corn (Makai soup) ^[2], and chiles (Chili Focaccia, Dry Chilli Baby Corn) ^[2]. These ingredients are common in South Asian fusion cooking but are not highlighted as Mexican-origin.

Key finding: Only Jain restrictions have a dedicated menu. For stricter Brahmin or Lingayat needs, diners must inquire directly, as the sources do not provide explicit confirmation.