McDonald's To Go McVegetarian In India

American fast-food chain McDonald's has confirmed its plans to open two vegetarian-only McDonald's restaurants in India, one at the Golden Temple in the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in northern India and the other in Katra near the Vaishno Devi cave shrine in Indian Kashmir.

"McDonald's respects local cultures and has adapted our menu and dining experience to local preferences," said McDonald's in a statement to The Daily Meal.

The kitchens of McDonald's restaurants in India have been divided into separate sections for cooking vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, and have not sold beef or pork since the company opened its first restaurants in New Delhi and Mumbai in 1996. The new restaurants will be vegetarian-only because the two locations are located in pilgrimage areas.

On the menu at the McDonald's restaurants in India that serve meat is the Maharaja Mac, a chicken version of the Big Mac. The menus at the new McDonald's locations will include some of the other regional best-sellers, like the McAloo Tikki, a breaded potato and pea patty on a regular bun topped with special vegetable sauce, ketchup, red onions, and two tomato slices; and the McCurry pan, a rectangular crust with a creamy sauce topped with curried vegetables like broccoli, baby corn, mushrooms, and red bell pepper that is baked and served with or without chicken. 

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.