Mumbai is not only the city of dreams in India for silver-screen actors, but it is also a food haven for all the epicureans out there. Beyond glitz and glamor, the essence of Mumbai is best defined by its rich food culture. If you happen to be in Juhu Beach or Andheri West, you can savor the best street foods in Mumbai over there.
No gourmet food can match the level of sheer delight and satisfaction the Mumbai street food items offer its eaters. The reality is that the street food in Mumbai is not simply a food item or a culinary delight; it is an emotion for every Mumbaikar.
Grab a plate and a few napkins as we explore the list of 15 names of mouth-watering street food dishes in Mumbai. Reading the names alone is going to leave your mouth salivating and there is no doubt about it.
1. Pav bhaji
The most sought-after Mumbai street food popular for over 150 years is Pav bhaji. Originating as a lunch dish for textile workers in the 1850s, it soon became the best street food in Mumbai in no time.
- Food preparation – Pav bhaji is served in two parts- mashed vegetables with spices made into a thick curry paired with 2 fluffy bread rolls toasted in butter. The curry is generally cooked and topped with a generous amount of butter. When you dip the pav into the rich flavorsome bhaji, and take a mouthful of a bite with pieces of onion and pickle, the feeling is no less than heavenly. The burst of flavors in your mouth feels exceptionally delightful.
It comes in variants like Cheese pav bhaji, Paneer Pav bhaji, and mushroom pav bhaji.
Famous spots to try pav bhaji
- Sardar pav bhaji from Sardar Refreshments (Tardeo Road)
- Ordinary pav bhaji from Cannon Pav bhaji (opposite CST station)
- Shree Siddhivinayak fast food (Juhu Beach)
- Marine lines Khao Gully
2. Vada pav
Vada pav
One of the favorites of Mumbaikars, vada pav is a widespread and commonly available street food in Mumbai. It resembles a burger physically, but the preparation is different.
- Food Preparation– this best veg street food is a batter-fried potato( batata vada) sandwiched between two fluffy bread buns (pavs). It is garnished with mouth-watering sweet chutney, green chutney, and dry garlic chutney that gives you a burst of heat when you eat it with all the toppings. The taste of the vada pav increases tenfold when you have it with Indian chai, fried chilies, coriander, or any chutney you choose.
There is never a fixed time to have a vada pav. One can have it for breakfast, brunch, or even for an evening snack. It is such a grab-and-go kind of food that will immediately cheer your spirits in a trice.
Though most street vendors and high-end restaurants sell vada pav, however, the satisfaction of having a plate of vada pav or grilled vada pav from street vendors hits different.
Famous spots to try vada pao
- Ashok Vada Pav (Kirti College Lane)
- Anand Stall in Vile Parle West,
- vada pav stall at Juhu Beach
So, if you are planning to visit Mumbai any time soon, you must definitely relish the authentic taste of vada pav from these stalls.
A word of caution: Never call vada pav an Indian Burger in front of the natives of Mumbai city.
3. Bombay Sandwich
Bombay Sandwich
Never mistake the Bombay sandwich for the regular sandwich because it is prepared with ingredients you least expect to find in an ordinary sandwich. The Mumbai sandwich version is an outworldly take on the traditional English sandwich we commonly have.
- Food preparation- Just like a regular two-white bread sandwich, the Bombay sandwich is also prepared with two slices of bread. It has a reasonably effortless recipe, which includes boiled potatoes, slices of onions, beetroot, cucumber, tomato, and pepper. All these vegetables are placed between the two slices of bread, slathered with a generous amount of butter and piquant, fresh mint chutney.
Bombay Sandwich also has a toasted version that is crispy on the outside but steamed on the inside. Also, to meet the taste expectations of the new generation, it now comes with cheese grated on the sliced vegetables.
There are plenty of good Bombay sandwiches around the city, but street vendors sell the best ones. Locals stand in long queues to eat the Bombay sandwich from these stalls. Each bite fills your mouth with healthy vegetables and savory green chutneys.
Famous spots to try Bombay sandwich
- Stalls at the Mafco farm fair on Worli Sea Face
- Sandwich wallah outside Xavier’s College in VT
- Unnamed stall along Veer Nariman Road.
4. Pani Puri
Pani Puri
The name of the one street food that needs no introduction is enough to have people salivating within seconds. However, it is none but the most famous street food, Pani Puri. You get to taste the combination of tangy, sweet, and sour in one food item.
- Food preparation– Puris are small, crispy, hollow spheres made from semolina flour stuffed with mashed potatoes, chickpeas, onion, and chili ( if asked). Pani puri is generally served with tamarind or mint-flavored water, but you can also choose other options. You can customize the fillings and water as per your choice.
The much-loved street food in Mumbai is a literal explosion of textures: the crunch of the puri with the soft potato filling followed by the tangy and savory cool water to soothe the spice of the filling.
Famous spots to try pani puri
- The Badshah pani puri from Girgaon Chowpatty,
- Elco Pani Puri Centre (Bandra West),
- Juhu Beach
These chaat counters are absolute stunners. They hit the right buttons and tickle your taste buds like nothing else.
Have you had a long day at work or feel low? Gobble down some pani puris and witness your mood hit the power-up button within seconds
5. Misal Pav
A popular quintessential street food of Mumbai, Misal pav is a food item served in 2 parts. A spicy curry cooked with sprouted lentils served with fluffy crusty bread buns. It is a scrumptious, albeit hot way, to get your daily dose of protein and nutritional spices.
Food preparation- the curry (usal) is simmered with sprouted lentils (moth beans), coconut tomato, and spices. It is topped with crunchy farsan (sev) and bread buns to temper the spicy sensation of the usal.
Famous spots to try misal pav
Aaswad’s Misal Pav
Mamledar Kacheri at Naupada in Thane West
If you are craving something extremely spicy yet healthy food, try misal pav from these stalls.
