IRCTC Menu Guide for Indian Railway Catering Services
The irctc menu is the official food guide provided to passengers traveling on Indian Railways trains across the country. It helps travelers understand what food items are available, how much they cost, and when meals are served during the journey. This menu brings transparency and ensures that passengers receive food at fixed prices without confusion or overcharging.
The catering system is managed by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, which operates under the Ministry of Railways. IRCTC plays a key role in maintaining food quality, hygiene standards, and vendor control across train services. The company focuses on improving passenger comfort by offering standardized meals that follow the official irctc menu during train travel.
What Is IRCTC Menu?
The irctc menu is the official food list provided to passengers traveling on Indian Railways trains. It shows the meals, snacks, and beverages available during the journey along with fixed prices. This menu helps passengers understand what food they can order and when meals are served on different trains. It also ensures transparency and protects passengers from overcharging.
The catering system works under Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, which manages food quality and service standards. The menu includes vegetarian, non vegetarian, Jain, and regional meal options depending on the route. By following the irctc menu, IRCTC aims to provide safe, hygienic, and affordable food during train travel.
Ownership Details of IRCTC
The catering services and food system under the irctc menu are owned and managed by a government organization. This ownership structure ensures transparency, fixed pricing, and accountability in food services provided to railway passengers. Being a public sector enterprise, IRCTC works under strict policies and guidelines framed by Indian Railways.
The ownership by the Government of India helps IRCTC maintain nationwide consistency in food quality and service standards. It also allows better control over vendors, hygiene audits, and passenger grievance handling. This structure plays a major role in keeping the irctc menu regulated and reliable.
IRCTC Owner Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization Name | Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation |
| Ownership Type | Government of India |
| Parent Authority | Ministry of Railways |
| Year Established | 1999 |
| Role in Catering | Food service, pricing, vendor control |
IRCTC Service Locations
The food services offered under the irctc menu are available across a wide railway network in India. IRCTC delivers meals through pantry cars, base kitchens, and station vendors depending on the train type and route. This wide presence ensures that passengers receive food services during long and short journeys.
Apart from domestic operations, IRCTC also maintains offices in several countries for tourism and ticketing services. These international locations do not provide catering services but support railway related travel needs. Food availability under the irctc menu remains limited to Indian railway routes only.
IRCTC Location Coverage Table
| Location Type | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| India | All major railway zones and long distance routes |
| North India | Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana routes |
| South India | Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh routes |
| East India | West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand routes |
| West India | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan routes |
| Pantry Car Trains | Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat |
| International Offices | USA, UK, UAE (tourism services only) |
IRCTC Opening and Closing Time
Food service under the irctc menu does not follow fixed restaurant hours. Meal availability depends on train schedules, journey duration, and train category. Long distance and premium trains usually offer full day meal services, while short route trains provide limited food options.
IRCTC plans meal service timings to match passenger travel needs. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served within defined time windows during the journey. These timings help passengers know when they can expect food service onboard.
IRCTC Food Service Timing Table
| Meal Type | Opening Time | Closing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 6:00 AM | 10:00 AM |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM | 3:00 PM |
| Evening Snacks | 4:00 PM | 6:30 PM |
| Dinner | 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| E Catering Delivery | Based on train halt | Based on train halt |
What the IRCTC Menu Includes?
The irctc menu includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and beverages designed for train travel. It offers vegetarian and non vegetarian meals along with special options like Jain food on request. The menu also includes packaged food items to improve safety and shelf life.
Prices mentioned in the menu are standardized across railway zones. This rule helps prevent price manipulation by vendors and ensures fairness. IRCTC updates food offerings based on regional preferences, season, and train category to meet passenger expectations.
Breakfast Items Available
| Dish Name | Description | Price Range (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Veg Cutlet Meal | Cutlet with bread, butter, and tea | 70–90 |
| Omelette Meal | Omelette with bread and tea | 80–100 |
| Poha | Light flattened rice dish | 50–60 |
| Upma | South Indian breakfast item | 50–60 |
| Bread Butter | Two bread slices with butter | 30–40 |
Breakfast meals are prepared to be light and easy to digest. These items suit early morning travel and long journeys. The irctc menu follows basic nutrition standards while keeping meals affordable for passengers.
Lunch Meal Options
| Dish Name | Description | Price Range (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Veg Thali | Rice, roti, dal, sabzi, curd | 120–150 |
| Non Veg Thali | Rice, roti, curry, dal | 150–180 |
| Rajma Chawal | Kidney beans with rice | 90–110 |
| Chole Chawal | Chickpea curry with rice | 90–110 |
| Curd Rice | Rice mixed with curd | 70–90 |
Lunch meals provide balanced nutrition and energy for long travel hours. Oil and spice levels remain moderate to suit passengers of all age groups. The irctc menu ensures portion control and consistent quality across routes.
Dinner Food Selection
| Dish Name | Description | Price Range (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Veg Thali | Roti, rice, dal, sabzi | 120–150 |
| Non Veg Thali | Roti, rice, curry | 150–180 |
| Paneer Curry | Paneer in gravy | 110–130 |
| Chicken Curry | Chicken with spices | 130–160 |
| Dal Tadka | Yellow lentils with seasoning | 80–100 |
Dinner meals are served in sealed trays to maintain hygiene. Food is prepared fresh and served according to train schedules. The irctc menu ensures that dinner remains filling yet comfortable for overnight journeys.
Snacks and Beverages
| Item Name | Description | Price Range (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Samosa | Fried snack item | 20–30 |
| Veg Pakora | Fried vegetable snack | 40–60 |
| Tea | Milk tea | 10–20 |
| Coffee | Instant coffee | 20–30 |
| Mineral Water | Sealed bottle | 15–20 |
Snacks and beverages are suitable for short journeys and evening travel. Packaged items help reduce hygiene risks during transit. The irctc menu allows only approved brands and sealed products for safety.
Special Meals and Food Safety
IRCTC offers special meals such as Jain food upon advance request. Regional meals are also available on selected routes based on passenger demand. E catering allows travelers to order food online from partner restaurants at specific stations.
Food safety remains a top priority for IRCTC. Vendors undergo regular hygiene audits and staff training programs. Complaint contact numbers are printed on bills so passengers can report issues easily.
Customer Reviews
Passenger feedback available on Google shows different experiences with food services on Indian Railways. Many travelers report better hygiene, sealed meal trays, and timely service on premium trains. Some passengers still feel that taste and variety can improve on certain long distance routes.
IRCTC uses these reviews and ratings to monitor vendor performance and service quality. Regular feedback helps the organization take corrective actions where needed. The irctc menu benefits from this system as it keeps food pricing and service transparent.
| Reviewer Name | Travel Route | Review Summary | Rating (Out of 5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahul Sharma | Delhi to Mumbai | Food was fresh and properly packed on Rajdhani train. | 4.2 |
| Anjali Verma | Lucknow to New Delhi | Breakfast quality was good but food options were limited. | 3.5 |
| Suresh Kumar | Chennai to Bangalore | Meals arrived on time and hygiene was well maintained. | 4.0 |
| Pooja Mehta | Jaipur to Ahmedabad | Taste was average but pricing felt reasonable. | 3.6 |
| Amit Singh | Patna to Howrah | Dinner thali was hot and filling during night travel. | 4.1 |
Conclusion
The irctc menu helps passengers plan meals with clarity and confidence during train journeys. It provides fixed pricing, food variety, and quality assurance under a regulated system. This transparency improves the overall travel experience.
With better monitoring, digital ordering, and passenger feedback, IRCTC continues to improve its catering services. Travelers can rely on the irctc menu for safe, affordable, and convenient food while traveling on Indian Railways.
