Indian street food
What is veg Manchurian?
Veg Manchurian is fried vegetable balls cooked in a tangy, garlicky soy sauce. It is the best-loved dish in Indo-Chinese cooking, served dry as a starter or in gravy with rice and noodles.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Balls
Fried vegetables
Sauce
Soy, garlic, chilli
Two styles
Dry or gravy
Pair with
Hakka noodles
01
What is in it
Finely grated cabbage, carrot and other vegetables are mixed with flour and spices, shaped into small balls and deep-fried. The balls are then tossed in a wok with ginger, garlic, green chilli, soy sauce and vinegar, and, for the gravy version, a cornflour-thickened sauce.
02
Dry vs gravy
The same dish has two forms, and the one you order depends on how you want to eat it:
- Dry: glazed in a thick sauce, served as a starter with toothpicks.
- Gravy: swimming in a thin, glossy sauce, meant for rice or noodles.
03
Where the name comes from
The dish is named after Manchuria, though it was invented in India. It is commonly credited to a Mumbai chef in the 1970s and has since spread through every Indian city’s restaurants, street carts and catering menus.
04
What it tastes like
Crispy edges, a soft inside and a sauce that is salty, tangy, garlicky and a little hot. The sauce clings to the balls and, in the gravy version, to whatever you pour it over.
05
Veg Manchurian at Tapri Chai
Our Veg Manchurian is vegetable balls in a spicy soy-garlic sauce and thick gravy, $14.99 in the Tapri Bowls section. For a bigger meal, order it with our Hakka Noodles ($14.99), the classic pairing. Visit us at 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven, Ottawa.
Questions, answered.
Is veg Manchurian from China?
No. It was created in India as part of Indo-Chinese cuisine and is not a traditional Chinese dish.
What is the difference between dry and gravy Manchurian?
Dry is a starter with a thick glaze. Gravy has more sauce and is served with rice or noodles.
Is Manchurian spicy?
It has a moderate heat from chilli and garlic, which is adjustable.
Is veg Manchurian vegetarian?
Yes, it is made from vegetables. All of Tapri Chai’s food is vegetarian.
How much is Veg Manchurian at Tapri Chai?
Veg Manchurian is $14.99 CAD.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.