Mumbai is a city that people from all across the country fondly call home. It’s our happy place, a city that never sleeps. If you’re a Mumbaikar, you’d totally relate when I say that we’re all – always in a hurry to be somewhere. But if there’s something that makes home so unique it is that people of so many different ethnicities live together in harmony. And when there’s so much cultural diversity, there’s bound to be a burst of flavours around.
Mumbaikars thrive on street food, food that’s easy to eat and tasty (although far from nutritious). I’m talking vada pav, panipuri and other finger lickin’ delicacies that are unique to aamchi Mumbai. If you’re new to the city and you’re looking for absolutely delectable food – here’s a list of the best street food you can have.
The Best Street Food In Mumbai
Before we proceed let me warn you that this is a city obsessed with bread (pav). We really love good, soft bread. A lot of the street foods that you get in Mumbai are served on a bed of soft, buttery bun!
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Vada Pav
You don’t have to be a Mumbaikar to understand our obsession with vada pav. Deep-fried besan coated masala aloo on a bed of soft pav, drizzled in teekha and meetha chutney. Salivating? Me too! You can have it for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime in between to satisfy those mid-day cravings.
Where: Any chai wala or vada pav wala make great vada pav
How much: Approximately 10-20 Rupees
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Kanda Bhajiya
A nice garam chai and some kanda bhajiya is the perfect monsoon snack. Sit by your window or by the ocean and munch on this deliciousness! If you’re fond of bread, you can also have bhajiya pav. You won’t regret the calories, trust me.
Where: Any chai wala or vada pav wala makes great Kanda Bhajiya
How much: Approximately 20-30 Rupees
Pav Bhaji
Pav bhaji is basically mixed vegetables mashed into a pulp, drenched in butter and if you’d like – a generous drizzle of cheese. Served with butter pav and cooked on a flat-griddle pan, this is one dish you don’t want to miss. It’s served at almost every fast-food Indian restaurant and even on the streets.
Where: The best places to have pav bhaji in Mumbai are Juhu Beach, Amar Juice Centre in Vile Parle and Sardar Pav Bhaji in Tardeo
How much: Approximately Rs. 150-200
Schezwan Cheese Dosa
This Chinese spin on South Indian food will leave you drooling! While making the dosa, a generous amount of Shezwan sauce is spread over the uncooked side followed with a huge block of cheese grated over it. Best eaten fresh out of the pan, this dosa will be your guilty indulgence.
Where: Any Shiv Sagar Outlet in Mumbai
How much: Approximately Rs 150
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Jini Dosa
A little bit of Chinese, a little bit of Indian and a whole lotta cheese all wrapped into one delicious dosa. Served with orange and green chutney, I guarantee you’ll be licking your fingers after this meal.
Where: Outside Mithibai College, Vile Parle West
How much: Approximately Rs. 150
Kala Khatta Gola
If there’s one thing everyone does when they visit Mumbai, it’s a trip to the beach. And you know what goes hand in hand with the beach? Ice Candy! Gola is crushed ice candy balled up and dunked into a tall glass of khatta, meetha sherbet. It’s a burst of flavours and textures in your mouth that you absolutely must try. Telltale signs of a person who’s enjoyed some kala-khatta recently are their lips and tongue – they’d be tinted black and purple for hours! You get gola in a whole bunch of flavours, so if kala khatta isn’t palatable, you can try orange or strawberry.
Where: Juhu Beach or Chowpatty
How much: Approximately Rs 100
Kheema Pav
Kheema pav is basically minced meat served on a bed of buttery, soft bread. As a city obsessed with bread, absolutely everything served to us on a warm bun is comforting. The Kheema Pav is delicious as a meal or even a snack in between, you absolutely must try one served at Prithvi Cafe in Juhu.
Where: Prithvi Cafe, Juhu
How much: Approximately Rs 250
Pani Puri
Deep fried puri’s stuffed with a mixture of boiled aloo, boondi and a burst of imli chutney and some spicy water. Pani puri tastes different everywhere but if you haven’t tried the Mumbai style pani puri, yet, head right over to Elco Market in Bandra. The Pani Puri here is a sweet and spicy love affair waiting to happen, promise!
Where: Elco Market, Hill Road, Bandra West
How much: Approximately Rs 100
Cheese Pani Puri
If regular Pani Puri is too passe for you, try the cheesy pani puri at Shreeji’s The Fusion Kitchen in Borivali West. It’s every bit of pizza and ani puri fused into one extravagant dish you wouldn’t want to miss. That’s not the exciting bit though, the restaurant uses a blow torch to melt the shredded cheese on your Pani Puri!
Where: Shreeji’s in Borivali West
How much: Approximately Rs. 200
Rolls and Kebabs
If you’d rather be gorging on non-vegetarian delicacies, the Kebabs and Rolls at Bademiya’s in Colaba can be both, healthy and delicious. There’s always a line here, so be prepared to wait a bit before you get served. The food is totally worth the wait though, we promise. You must try the Baida Roti and the Sheekh Kebabs here!
Where: Bademiya’s in Colaba
How much: Approximately Rs 300
Grilled Cheese Toast
Grilled cheese toast is what I like to call the Mumbai-style sandwich. While you might think eh, what’s so special about a sandwich, stop by the Anand Stall outside Mithibai college in Vile Parle or Jai’s Sandwich outside National college in Bandra and order yourself one. It’s multi-layered, buttered bread with a healthy serving of vegetables and of course, cheese! Toasted to perfection and served with green chutney, this is one (veg) sandwich that will have your heart.
Where: Anand Stall outside Mithibai college in Vile Parle or Jai’s Sandwich outside National college in Bandra
How much: Approximately Rs. 150
Strawberry Milkshakes and Kulfi Falooda
If you’re a sucker for a good milkshake or even a kulfi falooda, the milkshakes at Bachelor’s in Chowpatty will quickly turn any bad mood into a good one. They serve up some of the best seasonal fruits and milkshakes. I’ve known people who drive from the other side of town to Chowpatty just to have the fresh strawberries and cream that is served here.
Where: Bachelorr’s, Churni Road, Chowpatty
How much: Approximately Rs 250
Dabeli
If you’re looking for a taste of Gujarat in Mumbai, head to Irla market in Vile Parle West. It’s got some of the yummiest food stalls here that will make you feel like you’re home again. There’s a stall outside a snack shop called Trendy Taste (which by the way is home to some authentic gujju-friendly snacks) that sells the best dabeli. Soft, warm and tasty, I challenge you to eat just one!
Where: Outside Trendy Taste, Irla Market
How much: Approximately Rs 50
Butter Chicken Frankie
If you love a good frankie, Breadkraft Bakery in Lokhandwala, Andheri West and Carter’s Express at Carter Road in Bandra make some delicious ones. Tossed in eggs and drizzled with cheese and a special masala mix, you must try the Butter Chicken Frankie or the Shezwan Cheese Frankie here.
Where: Breadkraft Bakery in Lokhandwala, Andheri West and Carter’s Express at Carter Road in Bandra
How much: Approximately Rs 150
Prawn Koliwada
While this isn’t technically street food, if you’re looking for great seafood on a budget – head to Pal’s Fish Corner at Pali Hill In Bandra West. It’s a small cosy street side restaurant that serves up some finger licking seafood and butter chicken.
Where: Pals Fish Corner
How much: Approximately Rs 500
Momos
If you love Tibetan food, you must try the momo’s at Momo Station in Bandra. There’s a small stall here that sells some of the yummiest momos in town. The sauces served here are like the cherry on the icing.
Where: Momo Station, Carter Road, Bandra West
How much: Approximately Rs. 200
Misal Pav
Technically a dish from Pune, the misal pav was a hot favourite in college. Partial to the misal served in my college, the place has some of the yummiest misal I’ve ever eaten. If you do happen to visit Mithibai college, try to get into the N.M college canteen and order yourself a plate of misal pav. And if you’re fond of samosa’s, I would also recommend you try the samosa – sambhar!
Where: N.M College Canteen
How much: Approximately Rs. 50
Paan
Had a little too much to eat? Paan is the perfect post-dinner digestif. The Calcutta Meetha Paan at Mishra Pan Bhandar and the Meetha Paan at Mucchad are definitely a must-try. Please don’t go spitting on walls though, thanks!
Where: Mishra Pan Bhandar, Juhu Beach and Mucchad Pan Wala, Breach Candy
How much: Approximately Rs 50
Tandoori Prawns
Craving some tandoori prawns or perhaps some grilled fish? Jai Jawan has some absolutely tasty must-have dishes that will keep you coming back for more. Perfectly nestled into one of Bandra’s by lanes, you can hit this street-side restaurant once you’re done shopping. The Tandoori prawns and Amritsari Fish Fry are some of my favourites. While this is a little expensive, the taste will be worth your money.
Where: Jai Jawan Outlets, Linking Road and Khar
How much: Approximately Rs. 500
Chaat
Craving some good ol’ chaat? Sev Puri, Bhel Puri, Dahi Puri, Diet Chaat, you name it and you’ll get it at Ram and Shyam Chaat Wala. Always crowded and really easy to miss, this chat will become your en-route home stop over (guilty as charged!). While the chaat here is slightly more expensive than your regular streetside vendors, they use good quality ingredients and more importantly – water. Rumour has it, thanks to the immense success and popularity of their stall since so many decades, Ram and Shyam’s children are studying in the US!
Where: Near Rose Manor School, Santacruz West
How much: Approximately Rs 50-100
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