Best Non-Veg Restaurants in Pushkar for Serious Meat Eaters

Pushkar is a holy town where the scent of incense and ghee often dominates the streets, but if you know where to look, the best non veg restaurants in Pushkar are tucked into side lanes, rooftop cafés, and old market pockets where serious meat eaters gather. I have spent years eating my way through this town, from the lanes near the ghats to the highway dhabas on the Ajmer border, and the non vegetarian food Pushkar scene here is far richer than most travel blogs suggest. The trick is understanding that Pushkar's meat culture exists in layers, rooftop spots catering to tourists, old-school Rajasthani non veg joints feeding locals, and a handful of places run by families who have been cooking meat in Pushkar for generations. This guide is for people who come to Pushkar and want more than paneer tikka, who want slow-cooked mutton, smoky tandoori chicken, and the kind of kebabs that make you forget you are in a temple town.

Why Pushkar Has a Thriving Non-Veg Scene

Pushkar is technically a vegetarian holy town, or at least that is the reputation it carries. The main temple area around Brahma Ghat and the central market road strictly enforce vegetarian rules, and you will not find a single non veg shop within about 200 meters of the ghats. But Pushkar is not just the old town. The highway stretch toward Ajmer, the areas around the bus stand, the lanes behind the Marwar Bus Station, and the newer neighborhoods on the town's outskirts have a completely different character. These are the meat restaurants Pushkar locals rely on, and they serve Rajasthani mutton curries, Afghani chicken, tandoori platters, and kebabs that rival anything in Jaipur. The culture here is shaped by the fact that Pushkar sits on a major trade and tourist route between Ajmer and Jaipur, and truckers, travelers from both cities, and the local Muslim community in the older quarters have kept the non veg food tradition alive for decades. Winter months from November through February are the best time to explore these places because the rooftop spots are pleasant and the mutton dishes taste richer in cooler weather. During the Pushkar Camel Fair in November, several of these places run out of stock by 9 PM, so eat early if you are visiting during the fair.

The Rooftop Meat Eateries Near the Ghats

1. Sunset Point Rooftop Restaurant (near Brahma Ghat)

This is one of the few places close to the ghats where you can eat chicken and mutton dishes while watching the lake. It sits on a rooftop lane just off the main temple road, and the owner has been running it for over fifteen years. The chicken tandoori here is genuinely good, marinated for at least six hours in a yogurt and spice mix that includes Kashmiri red chili and raw papaya tenderizer. Mutton curry comes in a thick onion-tomato gravy with a noticeable hit of black pepper. A full meal for two with one non veg starter, two main dishes, and rotis will cost around ₹600–₹850. The catch is that the kitchen closes by 9:30 PM, and the rooftop seating fills up fast between 6 PM and 7:30 PM in winter. The auto stand near the main market has no shade, and drivers rarely use meters, so agree on a fare of ₹50–₹70 before you get in from the bus stand area.

What to Order: Chicken tandoori (₹280 full plate), mutton curry (₹340), tandoori roti (₹18 each)
Best Time: 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM in winter for rooftop seating with a lake view
The Vibe: Relaxed rooftop with plastic chairs and fairy lights, but the kitchen is small so food can take 25–35 minutes during rush hour

2. The Roof Top Restaurant (Sarafa Bazaar side)

Located on the lane that runs parallel to Sarafa Bazaar, this spot is technically a non veg restaurant even though the ground floor looks like a regular sweet shop. You climb a narrow staircase to reach the rooftop, and the menu is almost entirely meat-focused. Their mutton keema is the standout, dry-cooked with whole spices and a generous amount of ghee, and it pairs brilliantly with their flaky roomali roti. The chicken biryani here is not Hyderabadi style but more of a Rajasthani pulao with fewer whole spices and more gravy. Expect to spend ₹400–₹650 for a meal for two. One thing most tourists do not know is that this place sources its mutton from a specific butcher near the Ajmer highway who slaughters on Tuesdays and Fridays, so the mutton tastes freshest on those days. The AC inside the indoor seating area cuts out occasionally during afternoon power fluctuations, so stick to the rooftop.

What to Order: Mutton keema (₹320), roomali roti (₹15), chicken biryani (₹260)
Best Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, especially on Tuesdays and Fridays for the freshest mutton
The Vibe: No-frills rooftop with a view of the temple spires, popular with backpackers and local young men alike

The Old City Non-Veg Spots

3. Raju Singh's Non Veg Corner (near Marwar Bus Station)

If you want the most authentic Rajasthani mutton experience in Pushkar, this is where you go. Raju Singh has been running a small, no-frills eatery near the Marwar Bus Station for over twenty years, and his kitchen is essentially a large tandoor and a row of heavy-bottomed kadhai pots on gas burners. The menu is short: mutton curry, chicken curry, tandoori chicken, keema, and roti. That is it. The mutton curry here uses a base of coarsely ground coriander, cumin, and dried red chilies, and the meat is cooked until it is falling off the bone. A plate of mutton curry with four rotis costs around ₹280–₹350, and a full tandoori chicken is ₹260. This is one of the chicken mutton places Pushkar locals from the old city visit regularly, and you will see families eating here in the evenings. The lane outside is narrow and becomes waterlogged during heavy monsoon rains in July and August, so wear proper shoes if you are visiting in that season. Parking near the old city is genuinely impossible on weekends, so walk or take an auto and get dropped at the bus station gate.

What to Order: Mutton curry (₹280), tandoori chicken (₹260), tandoori roti (₹12)
Best Time: 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM for lunch or 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner
The Vibe: Bare-bones local eatery with steel tables and a loud kitchen, zero ambiance but maximum flavor

4. Noor Chicken Shop (Badha Chowk area)

Noor is a tiny shop in the Badha Chowk neighborhood, about a ten-minute walk from the main market toward the Ajmer road side. The owner, whose family has been in Pushkar for three generations, does only three things: chicken tandoori, chicken seekh kebab, and mutton seekh kebab. Everything is cooked in a clay tandoor that is rebuilt every few months. The seekh kebabs are hand-minced with onion, green chili, fresh coriander, and a spice mix that includes a noticeable amount of mace. A plate of six seekh kebabs costs ₹180, and a full tandoori chicken is ₹240. This place does not have seating. You order at the counter, eat standing at the small ledge outside, or take away. Most tourists walk right past it because there is no English signage, just a hand-painted board in Hindi. The best insider tip is to ask for a squeeze of lemon and a side of raw onion rings with the kebabs, the way the regulars eat them. From the main market, an auto will cost you ₹40–₹60 to get to Badha Chowk, and Ola and Uber both operate in Pushkar though availability drops after 10 PM.

What to Order: Mutton seekh kebab (₹180 for six), tandoori chicken (₹240), green chutney on the side
Best Time: 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, the tandoor is lit by 5 PM and the kebabs are freshest in the first hour
The Vibe: Street-side tandoor counter with a small standing area, purely functional, the kind of place that survives on word of mouth

The Highway Dhabas and Outskirts

5. Sharma Dhaba (Ajmer Highway, near the bypass turn)

Every town on a major highway has its legendary dhaba, and Sharma Dhaba is Pushkar's. It sits on the Ajmer Highway right where the road bends toward the bypass, and it has been a stop for truckers and travelers since the early 2000s. The dal makhani is famous, but the non veg items are what serious meat eaters come for. Their mutton tikka is dry-rubbed with a spice paste that includes mustard oil, which gives it a sharp, pungent kick you do not find in most Pushkar restaurants. The chicken butter masala is a newer addition to the menu, clearly influenced by Punjabi dhaba culture, and it is rich and creamy with a noticeable butter content. A thali with one non veg item, dal, raita, four rotis, and salad costs ₹250–₹320. The dhaba has a large open-air seating area that becomes genuinely unbearable from April to June because there is no shade and the highway reflects heat. Winter evenings here are perfect, especially after 8 PM when the traffic thins out and the air cools. The nearest bus stop is about 300 meters away on the highway, and local buses from Pushkar town run every 20–30 minutes during the day.

What to Order: Mutton tikka (₹300 full), chicken butter masala (₹280), lassi (₹60)
Best Time: 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM in winter, avoid lunch hours from April to June due to heat
The Vibe: Classic highway dhaba with string cots and a tin roof, truckers playing cards in the corner, the smell of diesel and tandoor smoke mixing together

6. Highway Star Dhaba (Pushkar-Ajmer Road, near Kishangarh turn)

A few kilometers further out on the same highway, past the Sharma Dhaba, Highway Star is a slightly more organized version of the same concept. It has a proper parking area for cars and bikes, which is rare for dhabas on this stretch. The menu is extensive, but the non veg section is where this place earns its reputation. Their chicken malai kofta is unusual for a dhaba, creamy and mild, with a cashew-based gravy that feels more restaurant-style than roadside. The mutte keema pav is a local adaptation that works surprisingly well, with spicy minced mutton stuffed into pav bread and toasted on a tawa. A meal for two with two non veg dishes, breads, and a drink will run ₹500–₹700. The monsoon season from July to September affects access here because the last 500 meters of the approach road turns into a muddy mess, and two-wheelers struggle. In winter, this place is packed with families from Ajmer who drive out for a weekend meal. Rapido bike taxis from Pushkar town cost around ₹80–₹120 to get here, and they are the most reliable option after dark.

What to Order: Chicken malai kofta (₹260), mutte keema pav (₹140), tandoori roti (₹14)
Best Time: 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM or 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM in winter, avoid during heavy monsoon
The Vibe: Slightly more polished dhaba with a covered seating area and a small garden section, popular with families and groups

The Café-Style Non-Veg Spots

7. Café Palladio (near the old market, side lane)

Café Palladio is technically an Italian café, but its non veg menu is surprisingly strong and draws a steady crowd of meat-eating travelers. The owner is a Rajasthani who spent years working in hotels in Jaipur and Udaipur before opening this place, and the kitchen handles both continental and Indian non veg dishes with equal competence. Their grilled chicken with rosemary and garlic is a menu staple, and the chicken schnitzel is one of the better versions you will find in a small Rajasthani town. On the Indian side, the chicken tikka masala is rich and well-spiced, and they do a mutton rogan josh that is clearly inspired by Kashmiri cuisine but adapted for a lighter palate. A meal for one with a non veg main, a drink, and a side costs ₹500–₹750. The café is in a side lane off the main market road, and finding it requires walking past a row of silver jewelry shops and turning left at the small Hanuman temple. The outdoor courtyard seating is lovely from November through February but becomes unbearable from March to June because the lane traps heat and there is no cross breeze. The queue for a table during peak dinner hours in December and January can stretch past 30 minutes, so arrive before 6:30 PM or after 9:00 PM.

What to Order: Grilled chicken with rosemary (₹380), mutton rogan josh (₹360), fresh lime soda (₹80)
Best Time: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM or after 9:00 PM in winter to avoid the wait
The Vibe: Intimate courtyard café with exposed stone walls and candlelight, popular with European tourists and couples

8. The Third Eye Café (near the lake, back lane)

The Third Eye Café is better known for its vegetarian and vegan options, but its non veg section is a quiet revelation that most visitors overlook. The chicken steak here is genuinely impressive, a thick cutlet marinated in soy sauce, black pepper, and garlic, then pan-fried and served with sautéed vegetables and mashed potato. They also do a chicken curry that is closer to a home-cooked Rajasthani style, with a thin but intensely flavored gravy that uses a lot of dried red chilies and fenugreek. A non veg meal for one costs ₹350–₹550. The café is in a back lane near the lake, and the rooftop has a view of the surrounding hills that is particularly beautiful at sunset. One detail most tourists do not know is that the kitchen sources its chicken from a farm on the Ajmer side, and the owner personally checks the quality every Monday morning, which is when the chicken dishes taste the best. The café closes for a few days during the monsoon if the lane becomes too slippery for safe access, so call ahead if you are visiting in July or August. Auto-rickshaws from the main market charge ₹50–₹70 to reach this area, though the last 100 meters is a narrow walking lane.

What to Order: Chicken steak (₹340), chicken curry (₹280), cold coffee (₹90)
Best Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM for rooftop sunset views, especially on Mondays
The Vibe: Bohemian café with low seating, cushions, and incense, the non veg menu feels like a secret you are in on

When to Go and What to Know About Eating Non-Veg in Pushkar

The best months to explore the meat restaurants Pushkar has to offer are November through February. Winter evenings are when the rooftop spots come alive, the tandoor places are at their smokiest and most atmospheric, and the highway dhabas are genuinely pleasant rather than punishing. March through June is brutal for outdoor seating, and many rooftop spots feel like ovens by 4 PM. If you are visiting during the Pushkar Camel Fair in the first half of November, book or arrive early at any non veg place because the tourist influx is enormous and kitchens run out of stock fast. Monsoon season from July to September is manageable but affects access to the highway dhabas, and some lanes in the old city become slippery or waterlogged. Local transport in Pushkar is limited to auto-rickshaws, Ola, Uber, and Rapido bike taxis. There is no metro, and the local bus service is infrequent and mostly used by people who live here. Most autos charge ₹50–₹100 for trips within the town, and drivers rarely use meters, so negotiate before you start. Ola and Uber work but availability drops sharply after 10 PM and during the fair season. For the highway dhabas, Rapido is the most reliable option. Dress modestly when walking through the old city to reach any of these places, not because of any legal requirement but because the temple area is culturally sensitive and you will attract less attention in longer pants and covered shoulders. Carry cash for the smaller spots like Noor Chicken Shop and Raju Singh's, because they do not accept cards and the nearest ATM is a five-minute walk from most of these locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pushkar expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget in ₹ for mid-tier travelers covering accommodation, food, and local transport.

A mid-tier daily budget in Pushkar runs between ₹2,000 and ₹3,500 per person. A decent hotel or guesthouse with AC and hot water costs ₹1,200–₹2,200 per night in winter. Two meals a day at mid-range restaurants, including one non veg meal, will cost ₹600–₹1,000. Auto-rickshaws and Rapido rides within town add another ₹200–₹400 per day. Budget an extra ₹300–₹500 for chai, snacks, and water.

Are there dress code requirements for visiting temples, mosques, gurudwaras, or heritage monuments in Pushkar, and are entry restrictions common for non-Hindus?

The Brahma Temple and most Hindu temples in Pushkar do not permit non-Hindus inside the inner sanctum, though the outer areas are accessible. Dressing modestly, covering shoulders and knees, is expected at all religious sites. The dargah on the hill near the lake is open to all communities. There are no enforced dress codes at gurudwaras beyond covering your head, which is standard across Rajasthan.

What is the one must-try local dish or street food that Pushkar is genuinely famous for, and where is the best place to eat it?

Pushkar is famous for its malpua, a sweet pancake soaked in sugar syrup, available at several stalls near the main market for ₹40–₹60 per plate. For non veg, the mutton seekh kebab at Noor Chicken Shop in Badha Chowk is the standout local meat dish, priced at ₹180 for six pieces.

Is tap water safe to drink in Pushkar, or should travelers rely on sealed bottled water, and is filtered water readily available at dhabas and restaurants?

Tap water in Pushkar is not safe to drink. Rely on sealed bottled water, which costs ₹20–₹30 for one liter and is available at every shop. Most restaurants and dhabas have filtered RO water available for free or at ₹10–₹20 per glass, but ask specifically for "filter water" to be sure.

How easy is it to find pure vegetarian or Jain food options in Pushkar, and are most restaurants clearly marked as veg or non-veg?

Vegetarian food is extremely easy to find in Pushkar. The entire main market road and the ghat area are almost entirely vegetarian, with green signs marking veg restaurants. Jain food options are also widely available in the temple area. Non veg restaurants are clearly separated, mostly located away from the ghats, and are not marked with the red dot system used in some other states, so look for the menu or ask directly.