Authentic Maharastrian Food In Girgaon

There are not many eateries that serve authentic Marathi food in Mumbai today. Girgaon is one of the areas in Mumbai that has been a center for Marathi culture for decades. Here are five places from Girgaon that whip up traditional, mut-try Marathi delicacies.

Prakash Dugdha Mandir

‘Prakash is exactly the same as it used to be back in 1947,’ said my grandfather who religiously had his lunch there every time he was fasting. Prakash is famous for sabudana vada, sabudana puri and other dishes suitable for fasting. One of the unique dishes served at Prakash is vangi-pohe or eggplant-poha. Piyush, a unique cold beverage offered here, tastes like liquid shrikhand and is absolutely delicious. The sweets are quite nice too: you should try doodhi-vadi, which is a solid barfi form of doodhi halwa (a bottle gourd sweet). This is a small space that can accommodate 8-10 people at a time. So, on most days you will find a queue waiting outside.

Sujata Uphar Griha

Restaurant, Indian, Fast Food

This is one of the oldest restaurants in Girgaon. The restaurant and the menu have transformed with the changing times, but you will still find some classics that cannot be missed. It is one of the few places where you will find freshly prepared Maharastrian sweets like modak, tel-poli and puran-poli, available all year round. The dalimbi usali, or bean sprouts cooked in coconut curry is a must-try at this location. The thali served here is very authentic too.

Vinay Health Home

The facade of Vinay restaurant is adorned with more than 40 adjectives used to admire food in the Marathi language. This is an indication of how seriously they take the food they serve. Vinay is famous for its misal-pav, a delight for people who love spicy food. The kothimbir vadi and ola vatana patties are crispy on the outside and full of flavor inside. They are served with distinct sweet and spicy coconut chutney. In addition, you will find the batata vada here to be much more homely and less like the vada pav sold elsewhere.

Vinay Health Home, Jawahar Mansion, Dr Babasaheb Jaykar Marg, Thakurdwar, Mumbai, India +91 222 208 1211

Kshudha Shanti Bhuvan

This place is a remnant of the old times, when each area had a famous mess or khanaval that all the bachelors and travelers could rely on. Kshudha Shanti Bhuvan is essentially a thali place. The thali served here includes two large rotis, two bowls of rice, two vegetables, dal, salad, pickle and buttermilk. The food is carefully prepared, mildly spiced and wholesome. The zhunka served here is also one of the best in Mumbai. If you are missing simple, no-frills home cooking, then a visit to Kshudha Shanti will not disappoint. What makes it even more authentic: coal-fired stoves are used to cook all the food here.

Address: Kshudha Shanti Bhuvan, Opposite Satkar Hotel, Moga Niwas, Dr Babasaheb Jaykar Marg, Thakurdwar Naka, Girgaon, Mumbai, India

Panshikar Aahar

This is a veue famous for its misal; along with regular misal, the farali misal (or ‘misal for fasting’) is a must-try here. The thalipeeth is very tasty and is served with white butter. Another unique dish that should be tried here is rajgira puri bhaji: tasty puris made of rajgira, Amaranth flour, which is considered a ‘superfood’ nowadays.