Whether it is its fast trains, the never-ending traffic, and the Bollywood dream, there is one thing that makes Mumbai stand out, and that is Mumbai street food. You can smell the sizzling Pav Bhaji, feel the crunchiness of Bhel Puri at the beach, bite into spicy Vada Pav, and all this makes the city experience memorable. Just imagine that you are taking a stroll along a busy street, the sellers are shouting “garam vada pav le lo”, children are tugging at their parents to buy them pani puri, and the aroma of kebabs is filling the air. Doesn't it sound just like the sort of drama you would like to be into? Well, that is what Mumbai can offer you: the right taste, culture and story around every corner.
Whether you are a spice lover, have a sweet tooth or someone who loves having a quick bite, the city can offer you all. And guess what? Night street food in Mumbai is even better, as the air is cooler, the city is lit, and the food stalls are full of life. Today in this blog, we are going to discuss the top street foods of the city, where to enjoy them, some of the health tips and why it is something you should not skip.
Best of Mumbai Street Food
When we are talking about the street food in Mumbai, you will find a combination of spicy, tangy, sweet, and even crunchy dishes. The following are some of the dishes that you should not miss on your next visit to Mumbai:
1. Vada Pav
No visit to Mumbai will be complete without having Vada Pav, which is the stand-up snack of all time. A spicy potato fritter stuffed in soft pav and served with tangy chutneys and fried green chillies makes it fiery and filling at the same time. Inexpensive and tasty, it is the most famous Mumbai street food, enjoyed both by locals and tourists.
Where to eat: Anand Stall, Vile Parle.
Price: Rs 20- 30 per piece
2. Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji is the perfect comfort food. It is a delicious buttery combination of mashed vegetables cooked in spices, accompanied by soft pav cooked in butter. Another example of the most famous street food in Mumbai to have lunch or dinner is the sizzling bhaji garnished with a cube of butter.
Where to eat: Sardar Pav Bhaji, Tardeo.
Price: Rs 100- 150 per plate
3. Sev Puri
Sev Puri is a spicy, crunchy and tangy chaat that explodes with flavours with each bite. Potatoes, onions, chutneys, and a large sprinkling of sev are added to yummy round puris. It is an iconic Mumbai street food that is a perfect combination of sweet, sour, and spicy flavours.
Where to eat: Elco Market, Bandra.
Price: Rs 50 70 per plate
4. Bombay Sandwich
Also known as Bombay Sandwich, this is a delicious vegetarian sandwich filled with a layer of cucumber, tomato, beetroot and potato slices, flavoured with chutney and masala and roasted to perfection. On the outside, it is crispy, and on the inside, it is soft, and the best street food in Mumbai at night to satisfy a hunger easily.
Where to eat: Sandwizza, Churchgate.
Price: Rs 60- 80 per sandwich
5. Misal Pav
Spicy, zesty and packed with flavours, Misal Pav is a Maharashtrian delight that Mumbaikars love. Pav is served in the curry made of sprouted lentils, onions, farsan, and spices. This is not a dish to be eaten by weak-hearted people, though it is also the most famous street food in Mumbai, which people who love spices must taste.
Where to eat: Mamledar Misal, Thane.
Price: Rs 70- 100 per plate
6. Kanda Poha
Kanda Poha is a light but fulfilling snack prepared using flattened rice, onions, green chillies and mustard seeds. It is simple and wholesome and is usually served as a breakfast meal. This is among the popular Mumbai street foods that makes one feel at home in each bite.
Where to eat: any local stalls in Dadar.
Price: Rs 40- 60 per plate
7. Dabeli
Dabeli is a spicy, tangy, sweet snack, originally from Gujarat but now popular in Mumbai, made of mashed potatoes, chutneys, pomegranate seeds, and peanuts packed into pav. It is the best street food in Mumbai that you cannot afford to miss because of its distinctive taste.
Where to eat: Kapil Dabeli, Ghatkopar.
Price: Rs 30- 50 per piece
8. Frankie Roll
Frankie rolls are tapered rotis stuffed with spiced vegetables, chicken, or paneer and are hence a fulfilling snack. They are delicious, convenient, and complete, and they were invented in Mumbai. Regardless of being vegetarian or non-vegetarian, Frankia is ranked among the best street foods in Mumbai to satisfy their lunch and late-night cravings.
Where to eat: Tibbs Frankie restaurant chains, all over Mumbai.
Price: Rs 80- 120 per roll
9. Bhel Puri
Bhel Puri is a combination of puffed rice, onions, tomatoes, chutneys and sev, all of which make it light and crunchy. This chaat is enjoyed most in the beaches of Mumbai, and it exactly has the spirit of Mumbai street food; it is simple yet memorable. It is cool, cheap and perfect to take as a snack as you walk along the coast.
Where to Eat: Chowpatty Beach
Price: Rs 30- 50 per plate
10. Ragda Pattice
Ragda Pattice is a North-Indian inspired chaat that has now taken permanent shelter in Mumbai. This dish is tasty and healthy as it is served in crispy potato patties and is topped with white pea curry, chutneys and spices. It is a dish that one cannot skip in Mumbai; one loves hearty and spicy food.
Where to eat: Kailash Parbat, Colaba.
Price: Rs 80- 120 per plate
Top 10 Places to Try Street Food in Mumbai.
These are the 10 locations where you would get the best street food in Mumbai:
1. Juhu Beach
Juhu Beach is a very popular hang-out area, as well as a haven of street food in the city of Mumbai. The beachside stalls serve it all, starting from Pav Bhaji to Bhel Puri. It is where you can get the finest street food in Mumbai at night, and the sea breeze makes it all the more beautiful.
Location: Juhu Beach, Mumbai
Timings: Evening to late at night
Price Range: Rs 50- 200 per dish
2. Chowpatty Beach
Chowpatty Beach is famous due to its carnival atmosphere and its tasty food. It is the home of famous Bhel Puri, Sev Puri and Kulfi Falooda and is popular among locals and tourists. It ranks among the finest street food joints in Mumbai, which incorporates festivity into the food.
Location: Girgaon Chowpatty, Marine Drive.
Timings: 5 PM- 11 PM
Price Range: Rs 40- 150 per dish
3. Mohammed Ali Road
Mohammed Ali Road is your heaven in case you are fond of Mughlai and non-vegetarian foods. In Ramadan, the venue becomes a food heaven where people eat kebabs, biryanis, and malpua. It is among the well-known street foods and meat-eating centres in Mumbai.
Location: Ghadkopar East, Mumbai.
Timings: Evening till midnight.
Price Range: Rs 100- 300 per dish
4. Ghatkopar Khau Galli
Ghatkopar Khau Galli is a paradise for vegetarians. It can be Dosas and Dabeli, or it can be Pizza-like fusion dishes; there is no end to it. It is among the best street food places in Mumbai, where you have a chance to discover unique and creative variations of the conventional foods at an affordable cost.
Location: Ghatkopar East, Mumbai.
Timings: 6 PM- 11 PM
Price Range: Rs 50- 200 per dish
5. Carter Road
Carter Road is a popular food street in Bandra with its vibrant food stalls that offer Shawarmas, Kebabs, and Momos. The sea on one side and the welcoming smell on the other, it is the ideal place where a foodie can afford some time to enjoy the Mumbai street food delicacies.
Location: Carter road, bandra west.
Timings: 6 PM- 11:30 PM
Price Range: Rs 80- 250 per dish
6. Zaveri Bazaar
Zaveri Bazaar is a place where jewellery is famous, and so is the street food in the area. Samosas, chaat, sweets and other pocket-friendly snacks, the market features food items that customers testify are worth every penny. This is a good place to visit because it is one of the unique street food places in Mumbai.
Location: Zaveri Bazaar, Bhuleshwar, Mumbai.
Timings: Morning to Evening.
Price Range: Rs 30- 150 per dish
7. Malad Khau Galli
Khau Galli is the paradise of night owls at Malad. There is a wide selection of Chinese food, chaats, rolls, and desserts, and the list is endless. It is among the finest night street food Mumbai has to offer to people who enjoy trying out new things.
Location: Marve road, Malad west.
Timings: 7 PM- 1 AM
Price Range: Rs 50- 250 per dish
8. Khau Galli, Churchgate
This Khau Galli is just outside the hustle and bustle of offices and is the ideal place to have a quick lunch. The menus of this place are dominated by sandwiches, Frankies and Pav Bhaji. It is one of the best street food places in Mumbai that attracts working professionals and students equally.
Location: Churchgate, Near Cross Maidan.
Timings: 12 PM- 9 PM
Price Range: Rs 40- 150 per dish
9. Crawford Market
It is not an ordinary shopping market, and the food here also forms part of the Crawford Market. It is a food paradise with freshly squeezed juices, chaat and kebabs. It is one of the best joints where one can eat street food and shop in Mumbai and can also visit some famous places near crawford market.
Location: Crawford Market, South Mumbai.
Timings: 10 AM- 9 PM
Price Range: Rs 50- 200 per dish
10. Borivali Khau Galli
Borivali Khau Galli is a combination of all types of traditional food and modern fast food. It is known as the place that sells Chaats, Sandwiches, and South Indian food, and has gained popularity among college students and families. This is one of the most ideal areas in Mumbai to have street food.
Location: close to Borivali station, Mumbai.
Timings: 5 PM- 11 PM
Price Range: Rs 40- 180 per dish
Facts on Mumbai Street Food & How to Stay Healthy
Always pick stalls which have fresh food and are crowded with consumers.
Bring a water bottle with you and do not drink tap water.
Choose hot and freshly cooked foods as opposed to pre-cooked foods.
Raw chutneys should be avoided by people with a sensitive stomach.
Mumbai is not just a city, but it is an experience, and you can find no better experience compared to the street food culture in the city. This is a heaven for any foodie. It is not just what is eaten on the streets but what is done there, like racing with friends over a plate of pani puri, eating pav bhaji at night under the fairy lights, or taking a bite of a kebab in the middle of the night. That's why you must not visit Mumbai; you should also taste it.
