Mumbai Street Foods You Should Know

It would be just wrong to not begin the list with Mumbai’s favorite street snack – the Vada Pav. Dubbed as the Indian-style burger by some, the poor man’s burger by others, this fabulous snack is undoubtedly the most popular and one of the cheapest meal options around the city, which is why you will find a stall on every corner of the city. Check out our list of the most popular vada pav stalls in the city featuring the likes of Ashok Vada Pav, a favourite among Bollywood celebrities, and Aaram Vada Pav which has been serving thousands of customers on a daily basis for the past 70 years.

Medu Vadas are usually made from a batter heavy in lentils in a doughnut-shape, with a crispy fried exterior and melt-in-your-mouth soft interior. While it is integral to most South Indian cuisines, a small town in the state of Karnataka claims to be its birthplace. All we know for certain is that this is one of the most delicious and popular snacks in India. Café Madras in Matunga is one of the most popular South Indian joints in the city and one of the best places to grab your vada.

Much like the medu vadas, idlis are also central items to certain South Indian cuisines and one of the most popular culinary exports to the restaurants in the rest of the country. Udipi Idli House is another extremely popular South Indian eatery selling freshly steamed idlis.

Another Maharashtrian snack the city cannot function without, Pav Bhaji consists of a buttery and rich vegetable curry accompanied by buttered bread rolls. This is a strong competitor to the Vada Pav as the city’s favourite snack with a variety of interesting variations as well. Head to the Sukh Sagar in Charni Road to try one of the best prepared classic Pav Bhajis in the city.

This popular snack is said to have first been served by old Bombay vendors during the early twentieth century. Consisting of a flour wrap or flatbread stuffed with diced vegetables, meat and mashed potatoes among other ingredients. Tibb’s Frankies have outlets across the city.

Also known as gol gappa, this savoury snack is sold on roadside carts all over India. Consisting of a round, hollow, fried crisp called puri, a mixture of flavoured water, tamarind chutney and other items including chaat masala, diced potatoes, onions and chickpeas are poured right inside before it is eaten whole. Bhagat Tarachand in Kalbadevi is a popular fast food joint to grab fresh pani puris.

Mumbai’s favorite cold dessert is a must-have during the scorching hot summers. Made usually by mixing a variety of ingredients along the likes of rose syrup, vermicelli and pieces of gelatin with milk or water, this dessert is a must-grab before heading into the city of Mumxbai for some sightseeing.

Another hugely popular cold dessert using dairy, Kulfi is said to be India’s traditional ice cream. Much more dense and creamy than the typical ice cream, this rich wholesome dessert has always come in a variety of flavors with milk cream or malai, rose, cardamom, saffron and pistachio being the traditional options.

This fried snack is a popular hit during monsoons. With a crunchy fried covering, enveloping various vegetables and onions, this is the perfect snack to munch on with your hot masala chai. Fast food and tea places across the city serve delicious variations of this snack.

Samosas in some form or the other can be found throughout South Asia. Variations of the snack can even be found across the world. Indian samosas are mostly vegetarian, with a fried or baked covering and a savoury filling, including spiced potatoes, onions, peas and lentils. Meat samosas are also common in most parts of the country.

Mumbai’s kebab offerings are often overlooked, with the likes of Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad using their relatively richer Mughal heritage to claim more authenticity to their kebabs. But Mumbai’s kebabs are just as fabulously delicious as that of any other city, and are integral to the city’s rich street food culture.