Street food of Mumbai is the food sold by Hawker trade hawkers from portable Market stalls in Mumbai. It is one of the characteristics of the city. The city is known for its distinctive street foods. Although street food is common all over India, street food in Mumbai is noted because people from all economic classes eat on the roadside almost round the clock and it is sometimes felt that the taste of street food is better than restaurants in the city. Many Mumbaikars like a small snack on the road in the evening. People of Mumbai cut across barriers of class, religion, gender and ethnicity are passionate about street food. Street food vendors are credited by some for developing the city's food culture. Street food in Mumbai is relatively inexpensive as compared to restaurants and vendors tend to be clustered around crowded areas such as colleges and railway stations.
Mumbai being Capital (and largest urban area) of Maharashtra is dominated by Maharashtrian food. Vada Pav is noted as the most popular street food in Mumbai. Other noted street foods in Mumbai include Panipuri, Bhelpuri, Sevpuri, Dahipuri, Sandwiches, Ragda-pattice, Pav Bhaji, Chinese bhel, idlis and Dosas, all of which are vegetarian. In terms of non-vegetarian offerings omelette-pav, kebabs and fish are found on Mumbai streets. The amount of variety of street food is attributed to the cosmopolitan culture of the city. In the 1980s Indianised Chinese food was an emerging trend on Mumbai streets. Other popular street food items include Misal Pav (spicy curry made of sprouted moth beans which is eaten with pav, an Indian bread), and vegetable frankie (a popular and cheaper version of wraps and rolls).
Kulfi (a type of ice cream) and gola (type of ice cone) are among the desserts and coolants found on Mumbai streets. Apart from snacks, Mumbai has several juice and milkshake bars on the roadside that offer a variety of juices and milkshakes. Fresh Sugarcane juice vendors are synonymous with Mumbai roads and offer a cheap form of refreshment. Tea vendors cycle around the city, selling the beverage hot on the streets. Street vendors normally remain unaffected by general strike calls and do business all year around. Paan, a betel leaf preparation eaten as a mouth freshener post meals in India is also sold at Mumbai's roadside stalls.
Vada Paav
Vada Pav, alternatively spelt Vada Pao, Wada Pav, or Wada Pao, is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the Indian state of Maharashtra. The dish consists of a deep fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun (pav) sliced almost in half through the middle. It is generally accompanied with one or more chutneys and a green chilli pepper. It originated as cheap street food in Mumbai, but is now served in food stalls and restaurants across India. It is also called Bombay Burger in keeping with its origins and its resemblance in physical form to a burger.
Also referred to as a ‘poor man’s burger,’ Vada Pav is one thing that you will find in every street, corner, crossroad and turn. Pav is Indian for a bread bun, and the a fritter stuffed with mashed potato in between the bread is called ‘Vada’. This mouthwatering dish is served with spicy and sweet chutneys, fried chilies and garlic powder chutney.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Mumbai food culture is vada pav. This spicy, garlicky potato stuffing, battered and fried before being stuffed into a pav along with a variety of chutneys and butter is a real delight. It’s comfort food taken to a new level. You’ll find it at street food stalls across the city.
Misal Paav
Misal pav (Marathi)(मिसळपाव) is a popular dish from Maharashtra, India. It consists of misal (a spicy curry usually made of sprouted moth beans) and pav (a type of Indian bread roll). The final dish is topped with potato-chiwda mix, "farsan" or "sev", onions, lemon and coriander (cilantro). It is usually served with bread or rolls toasted with butter and buttermilk or curd and papad. It is served as a breakfast dish, as a snack and also as a full meal.
This spicy lentil gravy has its origins in Maharashtra, and is a wholesome brunch that can be eaten at any time of the day. Accompanied by some pav, chopped onions, a slice of lemon and some farsan, this dish is delicious. The spice gravy, called tarri/rassa is what makes the missal what it is.
Frankie
Traditionally a frankie is a roti made out of all purpose flour, stuffed with a mildly spiced potato filling, lots of chopped onions, some vinegar, a unique spice mix and rolled and served. Nowadays, you also get it in a variety of stuffings like a cheese schezwan frankie, manchurian frankie, paneer frankie, noodle frankie, mayonnaise frankie and chilli cheese frankie. You’ll find it at most street food stalls in the city. Difficult to get in a restaurant.
Mumbai is the birthplace of Frankie which consists of flour wraps filled with mutton, eggs, mashed potatoes, chicken, or anything else you can imagine. The main ingredient is often complemented by raw onion and spicy sauces. This dish was created by Mr. Amarjit Tibb who was inspired Lebanese style pita bread wraps when he visited Beirut. After some experimentation, Frankie was born and is currently found in many stalls across Mumbai, though the best one still remains Tibb’s Frankie which has its branches all over the city.
Bhel Puri
Bhelpuri is a savoury snack originating from the Indian subcontinent, and is also a type of chaat. It is made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce.
Bhel is often identified with the beaches of Mumbai, such as Chowpatty or Juhu. Bhelpuri is thought to have originated within the Gucafes and street food stalls of Mumbai, and the recipe has spread to most parts of India where it has been modified to suit local food availability. It is also said to be originated from Bhadang (भडंग), a spicy namkeen from Western Maharashtra. Dry Bhel is made from Bhadang, The Kolkata variant of Bhelpuri is called Jhalmuri (meaning "spicy puffed rice"). A native Mysore variant of Bhelpuri is known as Churumuri or Churmuri in Mangalore. A dry variant of Bhelpuri popularly known as Bhadang is consumed after garnishing with onions, coriander and lemon juice.
Another Mumbai street food you’ll commonly find throughout the city, especially along the busy beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, is bhelpuri. Although it’s common around India now with many variations, bhelpuri is one of the homegrown Indian snacks from Mumbai.
The basic recipe includes puffed rice and sev, which are mixed together with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, again a variety of chutney, and it’s often topped with a handful of chopped cilantro. The result is a crunchy snack that’s tangy, spicy, and sweet from all the sauces, with a wonderful balance of flavor. It’s the type of Mumbai street food that once you start eating it, you can’t stop.
Bhel Puri is a type of flavorful chaat. It consists of puffed rice mixed with raw vegetables like tomatoes, onions and is seasoned in a tamarind sauce. There are many variations of this snack all over the country, but the best Bhel Puri is available on the beaches on Mumbai. If there is something that Juhu and Girguam Chowpatty beach is famous for, it’s definitely the Bhel Puri that the many stalls there offer. You can try any of the stalls at these beaches; they all offer the traditional Mumbai Bhel Puri that will leave you wanting more.
Sev Puri
Sev puri is an Indian snack and a type of chaat. It is a speciality that originates from Mumbai, Maharashtra.
In Mumbai and Pune, sev puri is strongly associated with street food, but is also served at upscale locations.Recently, supermarkets have started stocking ready-to-eat packets of sev puri and similar snacks like bhelpuri.
Although there is no fixed recipe for sev puri, the basic ingredients used widely are the same. Sev puri is essentially made of puri which is loaded with diced potatoes, onions, three types of chutneys: tamarind, chili and garlic and topped with sev. It is seasoned with raw mango, when raw mango is in season or with a hint of lemon and chaat masala.
Sev puri can be made with a variety of fillings and garnishing ingredients. Some popular variations are dahi sev batata puri (sev puri with yogurt and potato), palak sev puri (Sev Puri with spinach) and corn sev puri. Sometimes mint chutney and paneer are also added in its preparation.
Dosa
Cutting Chai
This is not really a food, but I had to include it on this list because of its importance and dominance in the street food arena in India. Chai is not just a cup of tea, but it’s a hot and soothing brew that offers a time to take a rest from the chaotic streets of the city, to slowly sip and enjoy.
Although it’s not served in clay cups like in Kolkata, chai in Mumbai is just as delicious and omnipresent. The tea is usually brewed quite strong, then supplemented with plenty of creamy milk, and seasoned with cardamom, masala, or ginger to give it an extra kick of flavor and spice.
Drinking cups of hot chai on the side of the street is one of the joys of Mumbai.
You’ll literally find chai everywhere you look while walking around Mumbai. A cup should cost anywhere from 5 – 15 Rupees depending on where you are and the size of the cup.
Vada Paav
Vada Pav, alternatively spelt Vada Pao, Wada Pav, or Wada Pao, is a vegetarian fast food dish native to the Indian state of Maharashtra. The dish consists of a deep fried potato dumpling placed inside a bread bun (pav) sliced almost in half through the middle. It is generally accompanied with one or more chutneys and a green chilli pepper. It originated as cheap street food in Mumbai, but is now served in food stalls and restaurants across India. It is also called Bombay Burger in keeping with its origins and its resemblance in physical form to a burger.
Also referred to as a ‘poor man’s burger,’ Vada Pav is one thing that you will find in every street, corner, crossroad and turn. Pav is Indian for a bread bun, and the a fritter stuffed with mashed potato in between the bread is called ‘Vada’. This mouthwatering dish is served with spicy and sweet chutneys, fried chilies and garlic powder chutney.
The first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Mumbai food culture is vada pav. This spicy, garlicky potato stuffing, battered and fried before being stuffed into a pav along with a variety of chutneys and butter is a real delight. It’s comfort food taken to a new level. You’ll find it at street food stalls across the city.
Misal Paav
Misal pav (Marathi)(मिसळपाव) is a popular dish from Maharashtra, India. It consists of misal (a spicy curry usually made of sprouted moth beans) and pav (a type of Indian bread roll). The final dish is topped with potato-chiwda mix, "farsan" or "sev", onions, lemon and coriander (cilantro). It is usually served with bread or rolls toasted with butter and buttermilk or curd and papad. It is served as a breakfast dish, as a snack and also as a full meal.
Frankie
Traditionally a frankie is a roti made out of all purpose flour, stuffed with a mildly spiced potato filling, lots of chopped onions, some vinegar, a unique spice mix and rolled and served. Nowadays, you also get it in a variety of stuffings like a cheese schezwan frankie, manchurian frankie, paneer frankie, noodle frankie, mayonnaise frankie and chilli cheese frankie. You’ll find it at most street food stalls in the city. Difficult to get in a restaurant.
Mumbai is the birthplace of Frankie which consists of flour wraps filled with mutton, eggs, mashed potatoes, chicken, or anything else you can imagine. The main ingredient is often complemented by raw onion and spicy sauces. This dish was created by Mr. Amarjit Tibb who was inspired Lebanese style pita bread wraps when he visited Beirut. After some experimentation, Frankie was born and is currently found in many stalls across Mumbai, though the best one still remains Tibb’s Frankie which has its branches all over the city.
Bhel Puri
Bhelpuri is a savoury snack originating from the Indian subcontinent, and is also a type of chaat. It is made of puffed rice, vegetables and a tangy tamarind sauce.
Bhel is often identified with the beaches of Mumbai, such as Chowpatty or Juhu. Bhelpuri is thought to have originated within the Gucafes and street food stalls of Mumbai, and the recipe has spread to most parts of India where it has been modified to suit local food availability. It is also said to be originated from Bhadang (भडंग), a spicy namkeen from Western Maharashtra. Dry Bhel is made from Bhadang, The Kolkata variant of Bhelpuri is called Jhalmuri (meaning "spicy puffed rice"). A native Mysore variant of Bhelpuri is known as Churumuri or Churmuri in Mangalore. A dry variant of Bhelpuri popularly known as Bhadang is consumed after garnishing with onions, coriander and lemon juice.
Another Mumbai street food you’ll commonly find throughout the city, especially along the busy beaches like Girgaum Chowpatty and Juhu, is bhelpuri. Although it’s common around India now with many variations, bhelpuri is one of the homegrown Indian snacks from Mumbai.
The basic recipe includes puffed rice and sev, which are mixed together with potatoes, onions, tomatoes, again a variety of chutney, and it’s often topped with a handful of chopped cilantro. The result is a crunchy snack that’s tangy, spicy, and sweet from all the sauces, with a wonderful balance of flavor. It’s the type of Mumbai street food that once you start eating it, you can’t stop.
Bhel Puri is a type of flavorful chaat. It consists of puffed rice mixed with raw vegetables like tomatoes, onions and is seasoned in a tamarind sauce. There are many variations of this snack all over the country, but the best Bhel Puri is available on the beaches on Mumbai. If there is something that Juhu and Girguam Chowpatty beach is famous for, it’s definitely the Bhel Puri that the many stalls there offer. You can try any of the stalls at these beaches; they all offer the traditional Mumbai Bhel Puri that will leave you wanting more.
Sev Puri
Sev puri is an Indian snack and a type of chaat. It is a speciality that originates from Mumbai, Maharashtra.
In Mumbai and Pune, sev puri is strongly associated with street food, but is also served at upscale locations.Recently, supermarkets have started stocking ready-to-eat packets of sev puri and similar snacks like bhelpuri.
Although there is no fixed recipe for sev puri, the basic ingredients used widely are the same. Sev puri is essentially made of puri which is loaded with diced potatoes, onions, three types of chutneys: tamarind, chili and garlic and topped with sev. It is seasoned with raw mango, when raw mango is in season or with a hint of lemon and chaat masala.
Sev puri can be made with a variety of fillings and garnishing ingredients. Some popular variations are dahi sev batata puri (sev puri with yogurt and potato), palak sev puri (Sev Puri with spinach) and corn sev puri. Sometimes mint chutney and paneer are also added in its preparation.
Dosa
Dosa is a type of pancake from the Indian subcontinent, made from a fermented batter. It is somewhat similar to a crepe in appearance. Its main ingredients are rice and black gram. Dosa is a typical part of the South Indian diet and popular all over the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, Dosa is served hot along with sambar, stuffing of potatoes and chutney. It can be consumed with idli podi as well.
A staple South Indian dish, Dosa is a thin pancake-like food that is made of fermented rice batter. Well, this dish has left its mark all over the country and Mumbai particularly. The collection and variety offered in Mumbai when it comes to Dosa is tremendous. Chinese Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Schezwan cheese Dosa and Jini Dosa are some favorites and are scrumptious. They are offered with many types of chutney. Nandu Dosa in Juhu is a very well known Dosa stall. Many celebrities frequent here too. This place is especially famous for its special’Chocolate Dosa.’
Paav Bhaaji
Pav bhaji (Marathi: पाव भाजी) is a fast food dish from Maharashtra, India, consisting of a thick vegetable curry, fried and served with a soft bread roll (Konkani: pav).
Today, the common recipe includes potatoes and tomatoes, mashed up with spices, and served with buttered toasted bread to mop it all up. It’s simple, and delicious, and it’s a street food you can’t leave Mumbai without trying.
Pav bhaji has many variations in ingredients and garnishes, but is essentially a spiced mixture of mashed vegetables in a thick gravy served hot with a soft white bread roll, usually cooked on a flat griddle (tava).
Variations on pav bhaji include:
Cheese pav bhaji, with cheese on top of the bhaji
Fried pav bhaji, with the pav tossed in the bhaji
Paneer pav bhaji, with paneer cheese in the bhaji
Mushroom pav bhaji, with mushrooms in the bhaji
Khada pav bhaji, with vegetable chunks in the bhaji
Jain pav bhaji, without onions and garlic and with plantains instead of potatoes
Kolhapuri pav bhaji, using a spice mix common in Kolhapur
White pav bhaji, with no garam masala or no chilli powder.
A staple South Indian dish, Dosa is a thin pancake-like food that is made of fermented rice batter. Well, this dish has left its mark all over the country and Mumbai particularly. The collection and variety offered in Mumbai when it comes to Dosa is tremendous. Chinese Dosa, Mysore Masala Dosa, Schezwan cheese Dosa and Jini Dosa are some favorites and are scrumptious. They are offered with many types of chutney. Nandu Dosa in Juhu is a very well known Dosa stall. Many celebrities frequent here too. This place is especially famous for its special’Chocolate Dosa.’
Paav Bhaaji
Pav bhaji (Marathi: पाव भाजी) is a fast food dish from Maharashtra, India, consisting of a thick vegetable curry, fried and served with a soft bread roll (Konkani: pav).
Today, the common recipe includes potatoes and tomatoes, mashed up with spices, and served with buttered toasted bread to mop it all up. It’s simple, and delicious, and it’s a street food you can’t leave Mumbai without trying.
Pav bhaji has many variations in ingredients and garnishes, but is essentially a spiced mixture of mashed vegetables in a thick gravy served hot with a soft white bread roll, usually cooked on a flat griddle (tava).
Variations on pav bhaji include:
Cheese pav bhaji, with cheese on top of the bhaji
Fried pav bhaji, with the pav tossed in the bhaji
Paneer pav bhaji, with paneer cheese in the bhaji
Mushroom pav bhaji, with mushrooms in the bhaji
Khada pav bhaji, with vegetable chunks in the bhaji
Jain pav bhaji, without onions and garlic and with plantains instead of potatoes
Kolhapuri pav bhaji, using a spice mix common in Kolhapur
White pav bhaji, with no garam masala or no chilli powder.
Pani Puri
Panipuri is a common street snack in several regions of the Indian subcontinent especially in Mumbai.
It consists of a round, hollow puri, fried crisp and filled with a mixture of flavored water (commonly known as imli pani), tamarind chutney, chili, chaat masala, potato, onion or chickpeas.
It takes some serious street food genius to come up with something like pani puri. It works extremely well, and it’s an absolute stunner of an Indian street food.
The little puris are poked with a hole, half stuffed with potatoes and chickpeas, seasoned with spices, and filled with chutney and flavored water. As soon as the vendor hands you one, you’ve got to eat it on spot immediately so the puri remains crunchy, and the spice filled water will collapse in your mouth with the potatoes and chickpeas.
Pani puri is a just a wonderful thing to eat. However, since it does contain water, do be cautious where you eat it.
It takes some serious street food genius to come up with something like pani puri. It works extremely well, and it’s an absolute stunner of an Indian street food.
The little puris are poked with a hole, half stuffed with potatoes and chickpeas, seasoned with spices, and filled with chutney and flavored water. As soon as the vendor hands you one, you’ve got to eat it on spot immediately so the puri remains crunchy, and the spice filled water will collapse in your mouth with the potatoes and chickpeas.
Pani puri is a just a wonderful thing to eat. However, since it does contain water, do be cautious where you eat it.
Samosa
A samosa is a fried or baked dish with a savoury filling, such as spiced potatoes, onions, peas, lentils, macaroni, noodles, cheese, minced lamb or minced beef. Pine nuts can also be added. Its size and consistency may vary, but typically it is distinctly triangular or tetrahedral in shape. Indian samosas are usually vegetarian, and often accompanied by a mint chutney. Samosas are a popular entrée, appetizer or snack in the local cuisines of the Mumbai.
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.
Pakora/Bhaji
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 hot masala chai. Fast food and tea places across the city serve delicious variations of this snack.
Mumbai Sandwich (Bombay Sandwich)
A sandwich isn’t the first thing that would come to mind when you’re thinking about Indian food. But when it comes to Mumbai street food, a local favorite is the Bombay sandwich, and you’ll find food vendors all over busy parts of the city whipping up grilled sandwiches with expertise.
Typically the sandwiches are vegetarian, and they all begin with a couple slices of white bread that are buttered on either side. Then in goes a combination of cilantro and mint chutney, with thin slices of vegetables that can include beetroot, onion, cucumber, tomato, and a layer of masala potatoes, followed by shredded cheese and a sprinkle of chili and cumin.
I think the best way to enjoy your Mumbai sandwich is to order it toasted, so you get it hot and fresh, and crispy on the edges. Don’t forget to dip your street food sandwich in more chutney before taking a bite!
Pakora/Bhaji
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 hot masala chai. Fast food and tea places across the city serve delicious variations of this snack.
Mumbai Sandwich (Bombay Sandwich)
A sandwich isn’t the first thing that would come to mind when you’re thinking about Indian food. But when it comes to Mumbai street food, a local favorite is the Bombay sandwich, and you’ll find food vendors all over busy parts of the city whipping up grilled sandwiches with expertise.
Typically the sandwiches are vegetarian, and they all begin with a couple slices of white bread that are buttered on either side. Then in goes a combination of cilantro and mint chutney, with thin slices of vegetables that can include beetroot, onion, cucumber, tomato, and a layer of masala potatoes, followed by shredded cheese and a sprinkle of chili and cumin.
I think the best way to enjoy your Mumbai sandwich is to order it toasted, so you get it hot and fresh, and crispy on the edges. Don’t forget to dip your street food sandwich in more chutney before taking a bite!
Mumbai Kulfi
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.
Falooda
Falooda (also Faluda, Faloodah), is a cold dessert popular in the Indian subcontinent especially in Mumbai. Traditionally it is made from mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, sweet basil (sabza/takmaria) seeds, and pieces of jelly with milk, often topped off with a scoop of ice cream. The vermicelli used for preparing falooda is made from wheat, arrowroot, cornstarch, or sago.
Bombay Duck Fry
Although Bombay duck is also served at indoor restaurants and local spots in Mumbai, I had to include it on this food list because it’s a favorite food in Mumbai. Although it’s called Bombay duck (or bombil), it’s not really duck at all, but it’s a type of lizardfish.
The lizardfish is coated in a layer of semolina, then deep fried to a crisp. The result is a crispy outer edge and the fish remains creamy and oily on the inside. Bombay duck is a fantastic dish to eat in Mumbai, and it goes particularly good with a full thali meal that includes rice, chapati, and a variety of side curries to enhance everything.
In Mumbai, Bombay duck was one of the foods I was most looking forward to eating, and it was wholly satisfying with every bite.
Kebab & Rolls
On this list of top Mumbai street food you’ll find a lot of vegetarian food (and I happen to think some of the world’s best vegetarian food is in India), but kebabs and rolls are undoubtedly non-veg.
Mumbai has a number of legendary restaurants that serve delicious kebabs and rolls, and one of my personal favorites are the Mumbai bhuna rolls. Bhuna rolls are made with boneless chicken which is cooked in a spice filled gravy, and wrapped within a freshly cooked rumali roti, which is a thin roti that’s very similar to a tortilla.
A bhuna roll is the perfect late night snack that you want to be eating at about 3 am in the morning, and feeling really good about it.
Cutting Chai
This is not really a food, but I had to include it on this list because of its importance and dominance in the street food arena in India. Chai is not just a cup of tea, but it’s a hot and soothing brew that offers a time to take a rest from the chaotic streets of the city, to slowly sip and enjoy.
Although it’s not served in clay cups like in Kolkata, chai in Mumbai is just as delicious and omnipresent. The tea is usually brewed quite strong, then supplemented with plenty of creamy milk, and seasoned with cardamom, masala, or ginger to give it an extra kick of flavor and spice.
Drinking cups of hot chai on the side of the street is one of the joys of Mumbai.
You’ll literally find chai everywhere you look while walking around Mumbai. A cup should cost anywhere from 5 – 15 Rupees depending on where you are and the size of the cup.
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