Around the world, India is known for its culinary diversity and excellence. And recently, Mumbai grabbed the spotlight as it was ranked the 5th best by Taste Atlas.
Of course, this caused quite a few ripples, as many Indian cities lay stake to the claim of dishing out the best Indian food. Indore has incredible chaat and street food, Delhi is justly proud of its North Indian fare, Amritsar dishes out hearty parathas that fill the soul and belly, Kolkata dishes out reasonable food and arguably the best Chinese in the country, while Lucknow is renowned for its biryani and Hyderabad serves up Haleem that melts in your mouth. The list goes on and on, for this is just a sampling.
But perhaps, more than a singular dish or a handful of dishes, it is the multitude of excellence on offer in Mumbai that catches the eye. With a dazzling array of cuisines culled from across the nation and world, all available in one city, Mumbai has something for everyone, at all budgets, as we’re about to show you.
Grab a Vada Pav at Ashok’s
Is there any dish more quintessentially Mumbai than a Vada Pav? Cheap, soul-satisfying, easy to have on the go or at a leisurely pace, it epitomises the city like few other dishes. Grab one as a snack or with your chai at Ashok, located near Kirti College in Dadar, and don’t forget to get some extra choora while you’re at it!
Dig into a thali at Pancham Puriwala
If you have some more time to kill and want a more substantial meal, head to Pancham Puriwala for their iconic thali. A no-nonsense restaurant where ambience, vibe, et al simply do not factor into the eating experience, Pancham Puriwala is one of those places that is part of legend in Mumbai. And if you’re lucky enough to drop in during mango season, don’t miss grabbing some aam ras. Thank us later.
Don’t miss the Pav Bhaji at Amar Juice Centre
Let’s be honest, when one speaks of Mumbai, Pav Bhaji is one of the first dishes associated with the city. And while many places do it very well, few do it as well as Amar Juice Centre near Mithibai College. With a beautiful balance of spices and just the right amount of butter, mopping up their bhaji with globs of pav is a joy in itself, at any time of day or night. If you want a pav bhaji off the beaten track, Maruti Pav Bhaji in Vile Parle serves up a mean black pav bhaji. But we’ll stick with our classical take on this dish, thank you.
You can’t come to Mumbai and not visit Bombay Canteen
Bombay Canteen isn’t just one of the best restaurants in Mumbai, but arguably one of the best in the entire country. For inventiveness, consistency of excellence, and bombastic flavours, they’re hard to beat. From classics like their take on an Egg Kejriwal, to the sadly discontinued Gulab Nut in desserts, Bombay Canteen takes the Indian dining experience and adds fun and flavour aplenty. A must-visit in Mumbai.
Savour the Masala toast at Jay Sandwich
When this writer was younger and slightly more broke than he is today, he made sure he saved enough of his pocket money to grab a masala toast at Jay Sandwich, near National College in Bandra. The crunch of the exterior gives way to soft, pillowy potato and vegetable mash, and if your palate can handle it, grab the spicy green chutney and prepare to have your mind blown. Almost equally great is the Activity toast at Swastik near Santacruz station, best enjoyed with their red garlic chutney which thankfully isn’t that fiery.
Head to Matunga for terrific South Indian food
It’s strange that we ask you to head to a locality to try some cuisine, but Matunga really is Mumbai’s unofficial hub for great South Indian food. Chembur might feel hard done by, but think about it; this one zip code has got Arya Bhavan, Ramashraya, Café Mysore, A Rama Nayak & Sons, Cafe Madras, Sharda Bhavan, Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding, Ayyappan Idli, and Anand Bhavan crammed into it. Our pick? Mani’s Lunch home and Ramashraya, where you really can’t go wrong, unless you order the pineapple sheera. Then you’re on your own.
Give in to your fishy side at Gajalee
Few fishes are more Mumbai than the Bombay Duck, or Bombil. It’s right there in the name. And no one does better Bombil Fry than Gajalee in Vile Parle. Of course, their thalis and Tandoori Pomfret are superlative too, but everyone has to have the Bombil first. It’s a right of passage. If crabs are more your thing, head to Trishna in Fort for the best in the city. And if you’re too cool for old-school seafood, make a beeline for Coast and Bloom’s Sunday seafood brunch in Dadar, with endless portions of seafood that’ll leave you in a food coma, guaranteed.
Get a taste of the Himalayas at Across
At Across in Kala Ghoda, Chefs Viraf and Prakriti Patel serve up a taste of the Himalayas, in what is (in my opinion) the best new restaurant in the city in 2024. Be it the Buff or Duck Choila with glorious texture and flavours, or the smooth hummus made from Himalayan white beans, or the glorious Ema Datshi, Across’ food is warm, welcoming, and homely, yet elevated. And yes, before you ask, they have momos too.
Live La Dolce Vita with terrific Italian grub
For those with a more global palate, Italy is a popular food choice, and understandably so. Pizzas, pastas, desserts, sorbets, and so much more make this a cuisine that keeps on giving. For maximum joy per bite, head over to Americano’s in fort for the best pizzas in the city. And while their Tiramisu is very good indeed, this writer is a bit more partial to the version served at Toast Pasta Bar in Lower Parel. Why don’t you try both and tell us which one you prefer?
Say “Sawadee Kha” to bombastic Thai flavours at Seefah
A restaurant named after the chef who made the city her home in 2011, Seefah dishes out bold flavours from the heart of Thailand in a cosy setting. Grab a bowl of curry, and if you feel like making a quick culinary detour, try Seefah’s epic sandwiches made using in-house baked breads, or even dig into the sushi prepared by her partner in crime, Karan Bane. Eat what you will, but leave room for dessert with the Honey Toast topped with Black Sesame ice cream. Sweet endings rarely tasted this good.
