Mumbai’s cuisine culture is characterised by its street food.
Roadside food vendors in Mumbai provide some of the greatest local food, sometimes a shade better than many restaurants, to people of all economic strata.
Without the famed street food shops lining the main roads, at traffic intersections, or small alleyways that lend the much-needed flavour to our life, Mumbai‘s streets appear incomplete, almost lifeless.
Vada Pav, bhelpuri, panipuri, sevpuri, Bombay sandwich, ragda-pattice, pav bhaji, omlette pav, and kebabs are some of Mumbai’s most popular street foods. Kulfi and Ice Gola are two of Mumbai’s most popular sweets.
10 Must-Visit Street Food Places in Mumbai
Pav Bhaji @Sardar
This shop, located a 5-minute walk from the central station, is a favourite among Mumbai pav bhaji fans and foodies. Bhaji (thick vegetable masala) topped with a slab of butter and the fluffiest pav (bread rolls) makes for a great snack. Sardar is known for its steamy, spicy, and tangy pav and bhaji that is featured in many restaurant aggregator’s perfect pav bhaji collections, and believe us when we say that this pav bhaji is a mouth-watering dish.
Pav Bhaji is unquestionably Mumbai’s best vegetarian street food. Fresh fruit juices are also available on the side.
Where: 166-A,Tardeo Road Junction, Janta Nagar, Tardeo, Mumbai
Price: INR 250 for two
What you also must try: Butter Pav Bhaaji, Cheese Pav Bhaaji, Sitafal Shake, Mango Milkshake
Falooda @ Badshah
The Mughal kings are responsible for introducing us to falooda, which we can thank them for. Falooda is a modern take on Faloodeh, a Persian dessert made with vermicelli, rose syrup, and sabza seeds in a creamy, thick milk. Many of its variations include kulfi, giving it the name kulfi-falooda.
There isn’t a single falooda enthusiast in Mumbai who wouldn’t recommend Badshah on Crawford Street for its creamy pleasure. Badshah has become an icon in its own right, with over 100 years of unwavering devotion to its devoted consumers.
You must try the Badshahi and Royal Falooda at this legendary cafe if you have a sweet taste that can’t resist the charm of this cool dessert.
Where: Dr DN Road, Crawford Market, Mumbai CST Area, Mumbai
Price: INR 150 for two
What you also must try: Butterscotch Ice Cream, Pav Bhajji, Dahi Batata Puri, Pomegranate Juice, Corn Sandwich
Samosa with Chola @Guru Kripa, Sion
This delicacy, known as Mumbai’s most renowned samosa, is served with a chickpea sauce and has a tamarind flavour. It is topped with onion and coriander bits. For those who like to explore Mumbai street cuisine, this is a must-try.
Where: 40, Guru Kripa Building, Road 24, Near SIES College, Sion, Mumbai
Price: INR 300 for two
What you must try: Gulab Jamun, Sweet Lassi, Chole – Bhature, Samosa Chole, Chole tikki Parantha Thali, Pattice Chole, Tikki Pav, Samosa Ragda, Ragda Puri
Non-Veg Snacks @ Aaron’s, Orlem Church, Malad
Aaron’s Bake and Brew is light on your wallet but heavy on your taste senses, and an afternoon spent here eating its delicious croissants and other simple and light pleasures will leave you feeling fulfilled.
Where: 5, Lourdes Heritage, MarveRoad, Orlem, Marve, Mumbai
Price: INR 250 for two
What you must try: Chicken Mayo Sandwich, Chicken Makhanwala rolls
Pani puri @ Elco Pani Puri Centre
Many people believe that the pani puri served here is the greatest they’ve ever eaten. This claim is definitely well-deserved, with its crispy puri (round, hollow, fried chips), mouth-watering pani (flavoured water with tamarind chutney, chilli, and chaat masala), and onion-potato filling.
Please note that the pani used is made from mineral water, making it a popular choice among health-conscious individuals. Elco has been operating for almost 40 years and is currently serving delectable treats.
Where: 2A, Elco Market, Hill Rd, Bandra West
Price: INR 150 for two
What you must try: Dilli Ki Chaat, Basket Chaat, Ragda Patty, Dahi Puri Chaat, Pani Puris, Matka Rabdi
Misal Pav @Aaswad
At the worldwide Foodie Hub Awards held in London only last month, Aaswad won the accolade for The World’s Tastiest Vegetarian Dish for their Misal Pav. This dish, comprised of mixed beans sprouts, spices, chopped onions, and tomatoes, is not only a treat for your taste buds, but also a full nutritious meal.
For the past 30 years, homemade spices and the allure of crispy farsan (a Maharashtrian snack made of gramme flour) have made Aaswad’s misal irresistible.
Where: Aaswad, outlets across Mumbai
Price: INR 150 for two
What you must try: Other authentic Maharashtrian delicacies
Vada Pav @Kirti College vada pav or Ashok vada pav stall
This vada pav kiosk, run by Ashok Thakur, is undoubtedly the city’s most popular. It opened its doors to hungry people 35 years ago, near Dadar’s Kirti college, after the proprietor couldn’t find work in the navy, and we doubt he ever anticipated it would become such a rage. Since then, Ashok Vada Pav Stall has been consistently distributing vada pavs. Only one sort of vada pav is produced.
Where: Off Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane, Prabhadevi, Mumbai
Price: INR 100 for two
What you must try: Churi Pav, Crispy Vada Pav, Butter Vadapav, Potato Fritters
Bhel Puri @Chowpatty
Mumbaikars enjoy a leisurely walk along Chowpatty beach with their loved ones while snacking on some bhel puri with the chilly saltwater lapping at their feet, the setting sun, and calming air. Bhel puri, a form of chaat prepared with puffed rice, exotic spices, onions, and tangy chutneys, has always enthralled both young and old.
Where: 2A, Elco Market, Hill Rd, Bandra West,
Price: INR 150 for two
What you must try: Dilli Ki Chaat, Basket Chaat, Ragda Patty, Dahi Puri Chaat, Pani Puris, Matka Rabdi
Ice Gola
With temperatures in Mumbai regularly hitting the 80s and 90s F, sampling cuisine on the streets may be tough. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across a seller offering ice gola, a sweet and salty snack that can help you battle the heat while also recharging your batteries for more food adventures.
Ice gola is made out of a ball of shaved ice that the seller moulds into an oblong form around the end of a stick and a cup of snow, to which the seller adds various fruit flavourings and salt, depending on the type of gola you want.
Where: At a local vendor
Price: INR 100 for two
What you must try: All the available flavours of the gola
Dara Singh Thali @ The Mini Punjab group
When in Mumbai, however, we highly recommend trying the Dara Singh Thali, which is billed as Mumbai’s largest Thali, with over 44 items including pani puri, black bean dal, fish curry, paneer cubes, butter chicken, fish koduva, minced mutton, Chicken Amritsari, prawn curry, chicken achar, khichdi, lamb curry, chicken biryani, and more.
This gigantic meal is wonderfully wonderful and diverse, but it’s so large that I wouldn’t advocate attempting to eat it on your own, as I did. I hardly scratched the surface! Get a group of five or six buddies to join you and have fun!
Where: At all chains of Mini Punjab across Mumbai
Price: INR 1500 for five
What you must try: Koliwada Prawn, Rawas Fry, Fish Chilli, Authentic Punjabi Food, Boneless Chicken, Chicken Masala
Mumbai- the city that never sleeps
The Indian state of Maharashtra’s capital is Mumbai (formally known as Bombay until 1995). With a population of roughly 20 million people, Mumbai is India’s second-most inhabited metropolitan after Delhi and the world’s seventh-most inhabited city, according to the United Nations. Previously, the seven islands that makeup Mumbai were home to Koli people who spoke Marathi.
Mumbai, a sprawling, congested, and chaotic metropolis, is one of the world’s most fascinating and interesting cities. Mumbai, home to Bollywood, India’s fashion hub, and the state capital of Maharashtra, might be overpowering at times, but it is also endlessly intriguing.
Mumbai, India’s largest metropolis and financial epicenter, is crammed into a small island connected to the mainland by bridges and home to immense riches, gleaming skyscrapers, and fashion-conscious residents. Mumbai, on the other hand, is a city of tremendous disparity, where affluence and abject poverty coexist. At one end of the spectrum, the city has exorbitant real estate values, while at the other, Mumbai has Asia’s biggest slum population.
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