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
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
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
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.
6. Bhel Puri
A popular Indian street food of Mumbai, and commonly referred to as a beach snack in Mumbai, Bhel Puri is a mass favorite. It is extremely popular along the busy beaches and every street in Mumbai.
- Food preparation– the preparation of this simple yet lip-smacking street food of Mumbai is a cinch. It is a delightful mixture of puffed rice and sev, blended with chopped potatoes, onions, and tomatoes. Sometimes, it is seasoned with raw mango or lemon. Various chutneys, primarily tamarind chutney and chaat masala, are also added to give it a tangy, piquant, and sweetish taste. The other variations include savory Sev puri and dahi bhel puri.
Famous spots to try Bhel puri
- Stalls at Juhu Beach, Chowpatty
- Sharma Bhel Puri House (Vile Parle East)
- Elco Restaurant
7. Batata Vada
Just like aloo bondas are the go-to food for south Indians, for the people of Mumbai, it is batata vada. These batata vadas serve as the patty to pav bhaji.
- Food preparation – the patty is made from mashed potatoes, seasoned with salt, turmeric, and red chili powder, and then coated with chickpea flour. After deep-frying, it is served with green chutney and fried green chillies.
The all-day favorite street food of every Mumbaikar, batata vada has a special place in their hearts. You will find batata vada sellers everywhere in Mumbai. The irreplaceable liking people of Mumbai city have for this food item is unimaginable.
Famous spots to try Batata Vada
- Ashok Vada Pav, near Kirti College, Dadar
8. Bun Maska
The ultimate breakfast of all the people, bun maska is one of the famous street food items in Mumbai. It is a beloved street food of Mumbaikars because of its simplicity.
- Food preparation – two soft buns are generously slathered with fresh creamy butter. It is often served with a hot cup of milk tea to balance the sweetness with warmth. Lastly, the bun is toasted on a girdle to give it a crunchy exterior however the fluffiness is still maintained.
Famous spots to try bun muska
- B. Merwan & Co.
- Cafe Iranii Chai
- Kyani and Co., Marine lines
The level of satisfaction Bun Maska offers is truly remarkable. No other food item can beat the happiness and fulfillment this breakfast gives to an eater. It is not just food, it is an emotion to all the Mumbaikars. One bite of bun maska from Merwan’s, with a sip of hit Iranian chai is nothing less than pure bliss.
9. Kheema Pav
Mumbai street food is not only about vegetarian food items. The Crawford market is a haven for all non-vegetarians because of its famous kheema pav at Gulshan-e-Iran. It is a signature Parsi dish that is highly famous among the Mumbaikars. Kheema pav is a ubiquitous snack for all three meals in a day.
- Food preparation- this mouth-watering food consists of delicious kheema (minced mutton) served with a light, fluffy, butter-toasted bread bun. The kheema is stuffed inside the pavs or served separately like pasta and bread. It is often garnished with coriander or mint leaves, sliced onions, and lime wedges. Squeeze the lime to enhance the savoriness of the kheema pav.
Famous spots to try keema pav
- Gulshan-e-Iran, Crawford market
- Mohammed Ali road
There is nothing equivalent to the Mumbai-style rich and flavorful kheema pav. The mix of authentic Indian spices and herbs added in the kheema, complemented by the pav, makes it the best street food in Mumbai. It is so appetizing that you will often find yourself wiping the plate clean and licking your fingers after finishing your meal.
10. Frankies
One of the most beloved street food items of the people of Mumbai city, Frankies is often called the Bombay Burrito. This simplified version of the Mexican burrito is essentially a roti-wrap with vegetable or chicken stuffing.
- Food preparation: Thin rotis made from all-purpose flour are stuffed with sauteed vegetables and slathered with chutneys. The vegan stuffing is made from mashed potatoes, roasted cauliflower, chickpeas, spinach, and pickled onions with mint chutney spread. In the case of non-veg Frankie, the wrap has a layer of omelet, sliced onions with chicken filling, often garnished with Frankie masala powder to give it a piquant taste, unlike other wraps.
Apart from the essential Frankie, you have other options like Panner Chilli Frankie, Egg Panner Tikka Frankie, and Butter Chicken Chipotle Frankie.
Famous spots to try Frankie
- Gurukrupa Sandwich And Frankie Corner, Sion.
- Tibb’s Frankie outlets
- Move n Pick in Dadar market
- Breadkraft atLokhandwala in Andheri West
11. Samosa with Chola
The best go-to street food in Mumbai is the absolute favorite Chole samosa. It is a delectable combination of crunchiness and spiciness.
- Food preparation – The samosas made from all-purpose flour are stuffed with a filling of mashed potatoes. It is then deep-fried till golden creating an amazing crunch outside. Then it is served with chickpea gravy(chole) that is made with spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala to give it a savory taste.
When samosa is combined with the rich chole gravy, the explosion of flavors in the mouth is simply inexplicable. The crispy samosa shell, complemented by the soft and flavorsome chickpea gravy and the potato filling, offers a delightful taste in every bite.
Famous spots to try samosa with chole
- Gurukripa, Near SIES College, Sion.
- Hiralal Kashidas Bhajiawala, Marine Lines
- Kailash Parbat, Andheri West.
12. Chocolate Sandwich
Chocolate sandwiches are common in the Mumbai street food scene; hence, they are one of the best street food items in Mumbai. People who have an immeasurable love for chocolate will love this sandwich, hands down,
- Food preparation: Two slices of bread are slathered in a generous amount of butter, chocolate spread, and sauce. Then, it is grilled and served piping hot. Take a bite of this sandwich, which guarantees your taste buds a fantastic chocolatey ride.
Famous spots to try Chocolate sandwich
- Mamaji near Ruia College.
- Tasty Sandwich & Pizza Corner – Shivaji Park, Dadar (West)
However, before trying this sandwich, make sure to avoid taking this sandwich with ordinary chocolate syrup in it.
13. Ragda Pattice
If you do not have this ‘must-eat’ street food in Mumbai, then your gastronomical experience of visiting Mumbai falls flat. The street food we are talking about here is the tongue-tickling spicy Ragda pattice which is a unique flavorsome dish of Mumbai city.
Food preparation – This Mumbai street food comes in two parts; the ragda (gravy) and pattice (potato cakes). The gravy is made using chickpeas and spices and the pattice is a pan-fried mashed potato cake (patties). when served, two patties are drowned in ragda, then garnished with chopped onions, green chutney, coriander leaves, tamarind chutney, and the quintessential sev.
Famous spots to try Ragda pattice
- GuruKripa (SIES College)
- Sharma Chaat Bandar (Vile Parle West)
- Gupta Chaat Centre (Matunga).
14. Panki
Do you enjoy Gujarati snacks? Well then, have you tried panki? It is a traditional Konkani dish resembling a pancake. Though it is a Gujarati snack, it is widely popular throughout Mumbai and readily available on every street.
- Food preparation – made from rice flour, urad, and some spice, panki are essentially rice pancakes. It is made into thin pancakes by placing them between banana leaves and steaming them. Those searing pankis are served with green chutney. It can be made from moong daal and rice flour.
Famous spot to try panki
- Swati snacks
15. Falooda
Even after having piquant and spicy street foods in Mumbai, there is always some space for some sweet dishes. When in Mumbai, if you want to end your meal on a sweet note, you must try out this famous street food in Mumbai which is Falooda. It is an Indian take on the Persian desert. This street food, or rather a desert, is a healthier way to cool off the heat of Mumbai summers.
- Food preparation – it is a rich, cold drink with a thick, sweetened milk base. At first, it is layered with Rose syrup to give the drink a beautiful red color and sweet flavor. It is followed by sabja seeds and vermicelli and topped with a dollop of ice cream or sometimes kulfi. Garnishing is done with finely chopped dry fruits, jelly, fresh juicy fruits, and rose petals.
Famous spots to try Falooda
- Baadshah at LT Marg in Crawford Market desert
- Bachelorr’s at Chowpatty Sea Face.
Give your sweet tooth an excellent, delightful treat by having Falooda from these spots.
Wrap up!
Street vendors selling the best street foods in Mumbai are no less than any Michelin chef. They cook wonders out of simple ingredients and make everyone fall in love with Mumbai street food.
Starting from classics like pav bhaji, bun maska, misal pav, and sev puri to luscious kebabs, Frankies, Bombay sandwiches, and kheema pav, the street food of Mumbai is a food paradise in the true sense.
