Don’t leave Mumbai without trying:
- Gujrati, Maharashtrian and Kerala Thali
- Indian Chinese
- Goan seafood
- As many different kinds of chaat (Bhelpuri, Pav Bhaji etc) as your stomach can handle
- Kebab rolls, Pattis, Keema
- Indian sweets- milky, delicious concoctions (try the kulfi falooda at Badshah’s in Crawford market)
- Vada pav (the great Indian veg burger)
- South Indian food from an Udupi restaurant
- Bread Maska (Bread & Butter) from an Irani Cafe
- Kingfisher Blue beer
Indian Cuisine
- Vada Pav, the vada is a mashed potato patty. Pav is a kind of bread that has its roots in Mumbai. (The word comes from the Portugese word ”pão”, for bread). The potato patty is sandwiched in the bread. Liberal helpings of three kinds of chutneys (sauces) are also added to the sandwich to make a seriously tasty snack. It is widely available on the streets and most folks price it Rs. 4 a piece. If you feel uncomfortable with the hygiene of a particular stall, avoid it.
- Pav Bhaji Part of the street food culture, this is mashed vegetables cooked in spices, topped with butter and served piping hot with pav. Widely available.
- Bhel Puri & sev puri A classic Mumbai concoction, bhel-puri (or bhel for short) comprises mostly of puffed rice and assorted spices with a few chutneys. You can specify whether you want it spicy or bland and the vendor will make it for you. It is quite tasty and again ought to be had off the streets to get the real flavour. Most people though, like to flock to Juhu beach to try this out.
- Pani Puri For first timers, this can be seriously intriguing. The vendor hands you a plate. Next he takes a puri (it looks like a golf ball, but brown in color), makes a small hole in it, and dips the puri into two jars. These jars contain water — one tangy on a tamarind base, the other spicy on a mint base. He tops it off with some condiments and places the puri on your plate. You pick it with your hand and pop the whole thing into your mouth. The outcome is an explosion. Awesome. A word of caution here though. Make sure you don’t have your pani puri from just any vendor. The best vendors use only packaged water. Stick to that and enjoy the taste.
- Indian-Chinese Nothing like regular Chinese. For a typical Bambaiyya flavour, try the Chinese Bhelpuri!.
- Hapus (Alphonso) mangoes A must try, if you happen to be in Mumbai in the summers.
- Mewad ice cream If you happen to be in mumbai, it is recommended you avoid ice creams from the famous and expensive parlors and try out the cheap Mewad ice cream stalls. They are a lovely treat at their price and provide a lot of options. The vendors are found everywhere across the streets, but avoid those who appear unhygienic.
- Natural ice cream The Mumbaikar’s answer to Gelato with flavors like chikkoo and mango to get you in the right Indian mood. Chemical free, organic, and delicious.
- Variations of world cuisine such as Tandoori Chicken Pizzas or McAloo Tikki burgers.
If you order a thali (translated as ”plate”), you get a complete meal arranged on your plate, with a roti or chappati, rice, and many different varieties of curries and curd. Ordering a thali is a popular option when you are hungry and in a hurry as it is usually served blazingly fast. Most mid-level restaurants have a thali on the menu, at least during lunch hours. Occasionally, they are ”unlimited”, which means that some of the items are all-you-can-eat. The waiters serve them at your table.
Can’t wait? Wanna do it yourself? here are a few good and simple recipes on indian food. (In swedish)
Links: Curry namn-nam,
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