15 June,2016 12:05 PM IST | | midday online correspondent
Love vada pav? How about pav bhaji? Or, do you prefer to go the southern route and would like a Mysore dosa? Here are 5 mouth-watering popular Mumbai snacks and the spots to try them
Vada pav: Synonymous with Mumbai and it's most popular street food, the vada pav's humble origins can be traced a stall beside Dadar rail station in Mumbai in 1971, which was run by a man named Ashok Vaidya, who has been credited to have devising it. Now a makeshift stall next to Platform No.1 of Dadar Station, is operated by his son Narendra Vaidya and his partner Abhijeet Samel.
Best joints
>> Aaram Vada Pav
At: Capital Cinema Building, Opposite CST Station, South Mumbai-400001
>> Graduate Vada Pav
At: Outside Byculla (West) station, South Mumbai-400008
>> Anand Vada Pav
At: Opposite Mithibai College, Vile Parle West, Mumbai-400056
>> Samrat Vada Pav
At: Nehru Road, Parleshwar, Vile Parle East, Mumbai-400057
>> Laxman's Om Vada Pav
90 Feet Road, Ghatkopar East, Near Poonam Creation, Garodia Nagar, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400075. Phone: 098926 02572
Pav Bhaji: The delicious Pav Bhaji, consisting of a thick vegetable curry (aka bhaji) served with a soft bread (pav), which is deeply buttered is another favourite of Mumbaikars. It originated in the 1850s as a fast lunchtime dish for textile mill workers in Mumbai.
Best joints
>> Sardar Pav Bhaji
At: A, 166-B, junction, 166, Tardeo Rd, Janata Nagar, Tardeo, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400034. Call: 022 2353 0208. Timings: 10AM to 2AM
>> Cannon Pav Bhaji
At: Mahapalika Marg, Opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001. Call: 022 2207 4205. Timings: 7AM to 11:30 PM
Manohar Pav Bhaji
At: 103, Pirbhai Terrace Building, Jagannath Shankar Seth Rd, Girgaon Naka, Bhatwadi, Girgaon, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400004. Call: 022 2361 6943. Timings: 9AM to 10PM
>> Achija Fast Food
At: Sai Dham, Tilak Rd, Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Call: 022 2102 7359. Timings: 10AM to 2:30AM
Mysore masala dosa: The masala dosa has ranked 4th on an international daily newspaper's list featuring '10 foods to try before you die' and it's Mysore variant, garnished with red chutney made from red chillies, onion and, garlic applied to the inside of the dosa before placing the potato stuffing on top of it is a popular order in Udipi hotels around Mumbai. While there's no clear origin to the Mysore Masala it is believed to have been innovated by the chefs at the Maharaja's royal kitchen when he urged them to use their creativity while cooking. Another theory traces its origin to a shop named Mylari in Mysore, which is still operational today.
Best joints!
>> Cafe Mysore
At: Shop No. 1/461-C, Durlabh Niwas, Bhaudaji Road, Matunga East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019. Call: 022 2402 1230. Timings: 7AM-10PM. Closed on Wednesdays
Geeta Bhavan
At: MDS Marg, Near Chembur Station, Chembur Mumbai, Maharashtra 400071 India. Call: 25278948. Timings: 7AM-11PM
Cafe Madras
No. 38-B, Ground Floor, Kamakshi Building, Bhaudaji Road, Kings Circle, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400019. Call: 022 2401 4419. Timings: 7AM to 2:30PM, 4 to 10:30PM. Closed on Mondays
Thambbi Veg Restaurant
At: Patanwala Compound, Shreyas Talkies, Ghatkoper West, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400086. Call: 022 2500 4773. Timings: 8AM to 11PM
Chaat: Be it bhel puri (or Jhaal Muri as Bengalis call it) or sev puri or the ever popular paani puri, chaat stalls are a typical sight at variouis street corners around Mumbai. Chaat dishes originated as savory snacks in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and the Uttar Pradesh belt, whose migrants are believed to have bought these tasty treats to the city.
>> Best joints
Sharma Chaat Bhandar
At: Vaikunthlal Mehta Rd, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049. Call: 099203 26548
>> Elco Pani Puri Centre
At: 2/A Elco Market, 46 Hill Road, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050. Call: 022 2645 7677. Timings: 9:30AM to 11:30PM
>> Vithal Bhelwala
At: 13/15, AK Nayak Marg, CST, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001. Call: 022 6631 0741. Timings: 12 to 11PM
>> Chaat Bazaar
At: Phoenix Marketcity, Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg, Kurla, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400070
Misal Pav: Synonymous with the identity of a Mumbaikar along with the vada pav is the misal pav. An extremely popular breakfast or evening snack option available in street stalls and eateries around the city. A dadar-based eatery's (name and address below) misal pav even bagged top honours at the Foodie Hub Awards held in London. (Read more).
Best joints
>> Aaswad
At: Shivaji Park House, Ram Ganesh Gadkari Chowk, Dadar West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028. Call: 022 2445 1871. Timings: 10AM to 10:30PM. Closed on Mondays
Ghatkopar branch: Shop No. 13, Billi Bunglow, Hingwala Compound, Opp. Sindhu Wadi, MG Road, Ghatkopar East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400077. Call: 022 2508 1871. Timings: 10AM to 10:30PM
>> Hotel Ramashray
At: Bhandarkar Road, Matunga East, Mumbai. Call: 022 30151190. Timings: 5 AM to 9:30 PM (Tue-Sun), Mon Closed
>> Prakash Shakahari Upahaar Kendra
At: Horizon Towers, Ranade Road Dadar West, Dadar Shivaji Park, Mumbai. Call: 022 24386094. Timings: 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM (Mon-Thu, Sat-Sun), Friday Closed
