Street food in Mumbai is just as entertaining as it is delectable and sumptuous.
Not only do you have an opportunity to try those unbelievably flavorful blends of flavors, but it is part of what contributes to your experience to linger along the humid lanes of Mumbai, watching numerous people go by.
I’m going to be parting with you of the best street foods in Mumbai in this blog post, as well as where to enjoy them.
Vada Pav
You are bound to easily come upon vada pav, one of Mumbai’s most common and readily available street food snacks if you take a stroll down any street in Mumbai.
Vada pav, also refers to as the Mumbai vegetarian burger, consists of a flavored mashed potato blend deeply fried into a patty, tucked into a fluffy white bun, and decorated with a selection of seasoning chutneys and spices.
Although it sounds relatively simplistic, and it is, it’s one of the most amazing vegetarian burgers you’ll possibly ever eat. All the difference is rendered by the chutney. And also, to get you a kick of heat and spice, don’t forget those fried chillies on the top.
Best: Anywhere in Mumbai, but Ashok Vada Pav, Kashinath Dhuru Marg, Dadar, Mumbai (near Kriti College, Dadar). Open hours: 11 am – 9:30 pm on Monday – Saturday (closed on Sunday)
Bhelpuri
Bhelpuri is yet another Mumbai street food that you’ll usually find throughout the city, notably along the famous beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu. While it’s popular now with many variations across India, bhelpuri is one of Mumbai’s indigenous Indian snacks.
The simple recipe involves puffed rice and sev, combined with a variety of chutney, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, and again, and sometimes sprinkled with a dash of chopped cilantro. The outcome is a crunchy snack with all the tangy, salty, and sweet ingredients, with a delicious flavor balance. It’s the kind of street food in Mumbai that you can’t stop until you start consuming it.
Best: Om Sai Sagar Chaat Centre. Juhu Beach Food Centre. 10 am – 1 am daily
Sev Puri
Chaat is a term used in India to describe a vast range of mainly savory snacks. Still, if there were a variety of potential varieties of chaat, it would not be disappointed. I’ve eaten a couple of them, and so far, Mumbai Sev puri is one of our personal favorites.
To give it an impressive blend of taste, Sev puri starts with a flat puri, which is basically that little circular chip, topped with mashed potatoes, onions, cilantro, sev, and a trio of garlic, tamarind, and chili sauces. Finally, as the name implies, sev puri is served with a pinch of sev and topped with such little green sour mango pieces.
Best: 6th Road on Foursquare, corner of Indravadan Oza and 6th road, close to Juhu Beach. Not sure of their hours, but maybe around 4 pm in the afternoon.
Also Read, The origin story of Gol Gappe
Pav Bhaji
You must have eaten the Mumbai pav bhaji.
Pav bhaji has a fascinating past, and initially, it was a late-night meal made from leftovers for staff. Mixed with seasoning and spices and mixed with pasta, a mixture of vegetables was mashed up.
Today, potatoes and tomatoes, pounded with spices and paired with buttered, toasted bread to mop it up, are part of the typical recipe. It’s easy and tasty, and you can’t just leave Mumbai before trying the street food.
Best: Sardar Pav Bhaji, 166-A, Tardeo Road, Junction, Janata Nagar, Tardeo, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400034, Time: 12pm – 2am
Kebabs and Rolls
You will see much vegetarian food on this list of top Mumbai street foods, but kebabs and rolls are definitely non-veg.
There is a range of legendary restaurants in Mumbai that serve delicious kebabs and rolls. The Mumbai bhuna rolls are one of our personal favorites. Bhuna rolls are produced with boneless chicken baked in a gravy filled with spice and rolled in a perfectly baked rumali roti. This small roti is somewhat similar to a tortilla.
The best late-night snack that you’d like to enjoy at around 3 am in the morning is a bhuna roll, and you feel excellent about it.
Best: Bademiya in Colaba, Tulloch Road, Apollo Bunder, Colaba, Mumbai, Time: 7 pm – 3 am daily
Pani Puri
To cook up something like pani puri needs some real street food genius; who would dream of applying flavored water to a circular chip that gets damp?
I’m here to tell you, it goes incredibly well, and Indian cuisine is a total stunner.
Half packed with potatoes and chickpeas, flavored with spices, and loaded with chutney and flavored water, those little puris are punched with a hole. You have to eat it on the spot directly as soon as the vendor gives you one because the puri stays crunchy, and the spice-filled water with the potatoes and chickpeas will crumble in your mouth.
Pani puri is a great item to enjoy. Because it does include water, however, be careful where you eat it.
Best: At Girgaum Chowpatty, there’s a stall called Badshah Pani Puri, 3 pm – 12 am-midnight daily
Bombay Duck Fry
While Bombay duck is also eaten at indoor restaurants and regional spots in Mumbai, since it’s a favorite food in Mumbai, I had to include it on the food list. Although it’s called the Bombay duck, it’s not exactly a duck. Instead, it’s a sort of lizardfish.
A coating of semolina is filled with the lizardfish, then fried to a crispy. A crisp outer edge is a product, and the fish inside stays smooth and oily. Bombay duck is a great dish to eat in Mumbai. It goes exceptionally well with a complete thali meal that contains rice, chapati, and a range of side curries to improve anything.
When I toured Mumbai, one of the meals I was most looked forward to enjoying was Bombay duck. Still, with every bite, it was absolutely satisfying.
Best: Gomantak Boarding House Restaurant, 301 Miranda Chawl, Kelkar Road, Dadar West, Mumbai. Time: 11 am – 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm – 11:30 pm daily
Sandwich Mumbai (Bombay Sandwich)
If you’re like me, a taco isn’t the first thought that springs to mind when you hear of Indian cuisine. But when it happens to Mumbai street food, the Bombay sandwiches are a local favorite. You’ll find food vendors cooking up grilled sandwiches with skill in busy areas of the city.
The sandwiches are usually vegetarian. They all begin with a few white bread slices that are toasted on either side. , A mixture of cilantro and mint chutney is then added, with thin vegetable slices that may include beetroot, onion, cucumber, tomato, and a coating of masala potatoes, accompanied by grated cheese and a splash of chili cumin and cucumber.
Ordering it toasted is the perfect way to eat your Mumbai sandwich because you get it hot and fresh and crisp on the sides. Before taking a chunk, don’t forget to dunk your street food sandwich in some more chutney!
Best? Anywhere in Mumbai
