Top 10 Mumbai Street Food

Despite being one of the most expensive cities in India, Mumbai remains to be the pinnacle of street food. The capital city of Maharashtra is a paradise for all food lovers. The exotic, mouth-watering flavors of street food in Mumbai are bound to please your palate. Street food brings glamour to the City of Dreams, Mumbai. If you are travelling to Mumbai, make sure you try these delicacies, the city is famous for.

1. Vada Pav

If you haven’t snacked on Vada Pav in Mumbai, you haven’t tasted anything! Aptly called poor man’s burger, this dish is definitely one of the top 10 Mumbai street foods to try, native to the state of Maharashtra. This is the go-to snack for everyone residing in Mumbai. Mumbaikars love it so much that the number of Vada Pav stalls is more likely going to outnumber the population of the city. For Mumbaikars who are always on-the-move, this serves as breakfast, lunch, and snack.

This gastronomical wonder is created when the mashed potato is mixed with chillies, garlic, and coriander and is deep-fried. The deep-fried patty is then sandwiched in a bun smeared generously with butter and a pinch of garlic. Kirti College Vada Pav or Ashok Vada Pav Stall on Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane are the best places for Vada Pav in Mumbai.

2. Pani Puri

From besuited businessmen to the poorest residents of Mumbai, you’ll see how this snack attracts the crowd. This hollow crisp deep-fried puri stuffed with a blend of mashed potatoes, peas and more, dipped in tangy and spicy flavored water leaves you drooling. Although this seems like culinary chaos, the Chaat that originated in UttarPradesh has travelled wide across India and made people fall head over heels in love with it. Also called by Gol Gappa, Phuchka, and many more names, this culinary gem is one of the top Mumbai street food to try, best served at Elco Market in Bandra West.

3. Pav Bhaji

Street food which is a meal in itself, Pav Bhaji is one of the other snacks native to Mumbai. Pav is the soft bread roll toasted with loads of butter. Boiled and mashed vegetables with a lot of spices cooked into a vegetable curry form the Bhaji. What can perfect an evening better than hot Pav Bhaji served with butter and topped with onion and lemon juice? Head to Sardar’s Refreshments, opposite to Tardeo Bus Depot for one of the best Pav Bhajis in Mumbai.

4. Falooda

There cannot be a better dessert than Falooda for an after-meal treat. Falooda is a thoughtful concoction of rose syrup, vermicelli, basil, almonds, and pistachios in a pool of milk, topped with ice cream. Mumbaikars have excelled in mastering this Persian dessert. The best Falooda is available at Badshah, LT Marg in Crawford Market, Mumbai. Don’t miss this top Mumbai street food.

5. Bun-Maska

With the establishment of Irani Cafes in Mumbai, Bun-Maska came into existence. This is an evening-snack best enjoyed with a hot cup of tea. The soft and spongy bun is slightly sweet and studded with gem-like raisins. The bun is sliced through the middle and smeared with a lump of butter. The best way to savior this snack is to dip the bun in a piping hot cup of tea. This snack speaks of the city itself in terms of welcoming new variants and adapting to it. Kyani & Co. is an old Irani cafe located in Lohar Chawl, Mumbai that is famous for its Bun-Maska.

6. Bombay Sandwich

Is there any place better than Mumbai to eat the Bombay sandwich? Mind you, this is not your regular sandwich. A plethora of spices in the sandwich is what makes it Indian. The specialty of the Bombay sandwich is the layers of masala that goes into it. This moist and crunchy-snack served with ketchup makes perfect for an evening snack. Choice of vegetables like potatoes, beetroot, cucumber, tomato and many more makes it as healthy as it can get. Sandwich smeared with butter and served with green chutney and ketchup tastes heavenly. Baba Sandwich Stall, Juhu Vile Parle West, Mumbai is a must-visit place if you want to grab a bite.

7. Frankie

This famous street food of Mumbai comes in two variants - vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Why should only non-vegetarians have all the fun, right? This is also sometimes called as Mumbai Burritos. The specialty of Frankie is how the wraps are coated with eggs and stuffed with meat pieces and a generous amount of mayonnaise. However, the vegetarian variant does not use eggs. The variety of stuffing made of paneer, mushroom, chickpeas, cauliflower, potatoes, and many more make Frankie lip-smackingly good. Tibbs Frankie is one of the best places appreciated by locals and tourists, and their outlets are all over the city.

8. Bhel Puri

When puffed rice is tossed with vegetables like onions, tomatoes, chillies, and sev, flavored with spicy and tangy sauces, the crunchy divine snack that you get is Bhel Puri. There are so many variants available that you’re sure to want more than one of these addictive Chaats. This easy to eat snack goes well with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Ram and Shyam, Santacruz West offer the best chaats in Mumbai. There are plenty of other chaats available here that you can indulge in.

9. Kheema Pav

This is the best non-veg street food in Mumbai. Your trip to Mumbai is incomplete without tasting the delicious Kheema Pav. From stalls to restaurants, Kheema Pav is ubiquitous. Minced meat is cooked slowly with spices so the mutton absorbs the exotic flavors of the spices and then sauteed with onions, tomatoes, ginger, and garlic. The delicious Kheema Pav is an excellent balance of proteins and carbs. When this culinary wonder is served with a lightly toasted bun, you are bound to fall head-over-heels in love with it. Onion slices and lemon act as brilliant sides. The best Kheema pav in Mumbai can be found at Prithvi Cafe, Bandra.

10. Misal Pav

The love between Mumbaikars and Pav is inseparable, you must have figured that by now, isn’t it? Misal is a protein-rich curry that is a mixture of sprouts, lentils and elective spices sauteed with onions, chillies, garlic, and ginger. It is topped with onion, potatoes, and chillies garnished with coriander. This exotic curry served with butter toasted pav has paved its way into the hearts of locals and tourists. A glass of buttermilk along with spicy yet tasty-Misal Pav makes it all the tastier and filling. Aaswad, Shivaji Park is where you have to go to try the best Misal Pav in town.