We’ve all had amazing street food wherever we’ve been, but the truth is, there’s no better bliss than having the street food in the city where its originated from, as only there will you be able to enjoy the actual flavours. So here’s a list of the top 10 dishes you can have on the streets of Mumbai, and it will surely make you fall in love with the city for all the different reasons this time!
1. Vada Pav
Forget anything you’ve ever eaten in any fancy restaurant, this one sandwich will definitely top your favourite food list once you’ve had it in Mumbai.
A Vada Pav is essentially a combination of boiled mashed potatoes mixed with coriander, chilli, ginger and garlic, kneaded together into tiny balls and deep fried. This is sandwiched between two split-halves of a bun layered with a chutney of your choice, and served hot.
2. Modak
Modak, a Maharashtrian sweet, is prepared for Lord Ganesha during the Ganesh Chaturthi season. A wheat dough kneaded with milk, with fillings of coconut gratings and sugar and nuts, it’s no wonder it was Lord Ganesha’s favourite sweet.
3. Bhakarwadi
Made from gram flour dough made into spirals stuffed with a mixture of coconut, poppy seeds and sesame seeds, Bakarwadi happens to be my personal favourite. It is fried until it gets crispy. It can be stored for weeks too. All my midnight cravings can be satisfied by this yummy snack!
4. Aloo Vadi
Aloo Vadi is a Maharashtrian dish made of Arbi leaves stuffed with rice flour and flavourings such as spices, tamarind, and sugar. Have it hot in the streets of Mumbai and you’ll want to have some everyday.
5. Bhel Puri
If there’s one dish we Indians can have no matter what time it is, its Bhel Puri. While the basic ingredients of this super spicy snack remain same, the street side versions of the vendors in Mumbai will leave you in awe and your mouth watering for more.
The key contents that make it the most loveable dish are puffed rice, onion, sev, potatoes, raw mango (yum!), and different types of chutney including coriander, tamarind and garlic.
6. Bhajias
Deep fried balls of chickpea batter (besan) mixed with chopped onion, coriander, green chilli, capsicum and various spices, this one dish is definitely my all time favourite Mumbain dish.
Eat it hot with spicy green chutney, tangy tamaring chutney, and ketchup, and trust me, you’ll never want to STOP eating!
7. Bombay Sandwich
It doesn’t matter how many types of sandwiches you’ve had. the truth is, you haven’t lived if you haven’t tasted the Bombay Sandwich, straight from the streets of the famed city.
Lavishly buttered bread layered with slices of cucumber, tomatoes, onions, boiled potato, green chutney and a tangy sweet and sour dip, every bite of this sandwich transports you to another world.
8. Falooda
A royal drink, Falooda is basically a milk and ice cream based delicacy that also includes vermicelli, almonds, rose syrup, pistas and basil seeds.
A desi-fied version of the Persian dessert can be found everywhere on the streets of Mumbai.
9. Frankie
Take your everyday Lebanese wrap, Indianize it by adding pieces of chicken and mutton, or onions, tomatoes, cabbage, soya sauce, anything you like, and voila! You have your Frankie.
A million versions of this Frankie can be found on the Mumbai street sides.
10. Pav Bhaji
Basically a mix of a number of mashed boiled vegetables, including potatoes, onion, garlic, tomatoes, and chilli, the “Bhaji” is eaten with Buns (Pav) shallow fried in butter.
It only tastes better when you have it with chopped raw onion, green chilli and some garlic paste.
11. Missal Pav
This rustic dish is made from a mix of curried sprouted lentils, topped with batata (potato) bhaji, poha (rice flakes), chivda, raw chopped onions and tomato. This hot and spicy dish is eaten with pao bread. If you can’t handle the spice, just add some curd and you’ll be good to go.