Vegetarian Indian catering in Melbourne is one of the easiest ways to feed a mixed crowd. Paneer, lentils, fresh vegetables, warm breads and fragrant rice make a full feast, and nobody leaves the table hungry or left out. At Jai Ho Indian Restaurant in Hoppers Crossing, we cook for weddings, birthdays and corporate events across Melbourne’s west, so we know what works on a buffet table and what doesn’t.
This guide walks you through menu ideas for every occasion, real package prices from our catering page, and a simple checklist you can use whether you’re feeding 25 colleagues or 150 wedding guests.
Vegetarian Indian food suits almost every guest list because it delivers variety, bold flavour and real choice without leaning on meat. Indian kitchens have cooked vegetarian dishes for centuries, so your guests get a proper feast, not a sad side plate.
Melbourne gatherings rarely have one dietary need. You might host vegetarian grandparents, a vegan friend, a colleague who skips gluten and a cousin who eats anything. A well planned vegetarian Indian menu covers most of them at once. Here’s why hosts choose it:
A balanced vegetarian Indian catering menu covers five parts: entrees, mains, rice and breads, sides, and dessert. Think of them as building blocks, then pick the dishes that match your crowd. Your final menu comes from a conversation with the chef, so treat the ideas below as a starting point.
Entrees set the mood while guests arrive and mingle. Popular vegetarian choices include samosas, mixed pakoras, aloo tikki and paneer tikka. If you want something with a kick, try the Gobhi 65 and Paneer 65, two of our chef’s suggestions. We marinate them in South Indian spices, fry them crisp and toss them with garlic, chilli and curry leaves. You can browse more starters on our menu page.
Mains carry the meal, so mix creamy dishes with lighter ones. Reliable crowd pleasers include paneer butter masala, kadai paneer, dal makhani, chana masala, palak paneer and malai kofta. A mixed vegetable curry rounds out the spread nicely.
Rice and breads soak up every gravy on the plate. Vegetable biryani or jeera rice pairs well with butter naan, and a fresh salad and raita cool the heat. Our standard catering packages already include rice, naan, salad and raita.
Sweet endings finish the night on a high. Gulab jamun, kheer and rasmalai remain the most requested choices for celebrations.
The best menu matches the mood of the event. Use these ideas as a starting point, then adjust the dishes for your guests, your budget and your venue.
Wedding guests expect abundance, so build a menu with more choice. Our wedding catering enquiry form lets you choose three, four or five entrees and mains, which suits both intimate ceremonies and big celebrations. A strong wedding line up might include:
Birthday menus work best when guests can graze, share and go back for seconds. Choose finger foods such as pakoras, aloo tikki and Paneer 65, then add mild mains like butter paneer and a gentle dal so children can eat happily. If you’d rather celebrate in a venue, our function rooms host birthdays and anniversaries with a menu we tailor to you.
Office catering needs to be quick to serve and easy to eat. Pick samosas and pakoras for the start, then one paneer dish, one lentil dish, one vegetable dish and a vegetable biryani. Our catering service offers a $250 delivery option that includes one staff member to set up and look after the buffet, so your team just walks up and eats.
Festival and temple gatherings often call for a simple, comforting vegetarian menu. We publish dedicated religious events packages so you can see current options before you enquire. Tell us about any food restrictions when you reach out, and our team will plan the menu around them.
Smaller gatherings suit sharing platters best. Our menu page includes a Platter by the Metre option that packs tandoori specialties, curries and street food favourites into one eye catching spread.
Our catering packages start at $35 per person, with a minimum of 25 guests. The figures below come from our website at the time of writing, so please confirm your final quote when you enquire.
You can see the full list on our catering packages page.
If you’d rather host at our venue, our function room packages start at $40 per person with a $1,500 minimum food spend. Every package includes soft drinks, rice, naan, salad and raita, plus chair covers and table covers.
Lunch functions run from 12 pm to 4 pm and dinner functions from 6 pm to 11 pm. Corkage charges apply, and DJ charges are $500
Yes, if you want your catering to feel like a show. A live station puts fresh, hot food in front of your guests and gives the room a real buzz. We bring a live tandoor and fryer with a chef to cook entrees and breads on the spot for $1,000, and the live option runs for four hours.
Pick a caterer who answers your questions clearly before you pay a deposit. Experienced hosts check the same handful of things every time, and you can too.
We deliver and pick up within 12 km of our Hoppers Crossing kitchen. That covers Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Laverton, Truganina, Tarneit, Point Cook, Seabrook and Williams Landing. Planning something bigger or further out? Call us and we will talk it through.
You can learn more about our story on the about page, see upcoming events or read more guides on our blog.
Prices vary by caterer, menu size and service level. At Jai Ho, catering packages start at $35 per person for 25 guests or more, and the $40 package adds a fourth entree and main. Delivery with a setup staff member costs $250, and live cooking costs $1,000. Check our catering packages for current details.
Choose three entrees and three mains for smaller events, and move to four or five of each for weddings and large celebrations. Make sure your picks include a paneer dish, a lentil dish and a vegetable dish so the table feels complete.
Yes. We deliver within 12 km of Hoppers Crossing, including Werribee, Laverton, Truganina, Tarneit, Point Cook, Seabrook and Williams Landing.
Yes. Our live tandoor and fryer option brings a chef to cook entrees and breads fresh at your event for four hours. Desserts cost extra, and you can ask us to organise disposable plates and cutlery.
Tell us about every dietary requirement in the dietary field of our enquiry form, and our chefs will plan the menu around it. Our kitchen also prepares meat dishes, so mention strict vegetarian or Jain needs early.
Book as early as you can, especially for weddings and busy festival periods. Early bookings give you more time to fine tune the menu and lock in your date. Visit our wedding catering page to start your enquiry.
Great vegetarian Indian catering in Melbourne comes down to three things: a balanced menu, clear pricing and a team that handles the details. Pick your occasion, shortlist your favourite dishes and send us a few details. We will shape a menu that suits your guests and your budget.
Start with our catering enquiry form, explore the full menu or call us on 0483 944 442. Let us handle the food while you enjoy the moment.