Mumbai Street Food Guide
Vada pav, pav bhaji, bhel puri, and beyond — the definitive guide to eating on Mumbai's streets
Mumbai is the undisputed street food capital of India. From the ₹15 vada pav that fuels millions of commuters to the butter-drenched pav bhaji sizzling on beach-side tawas, street food is not just food in Mumbai — it is the city's soul. Every neighborhood has its own food identity, every railway station has its own legend, and every Mumbaikar has a fierce opinion about which stall serves the best bhel puri. This guide covers the essential dishes, the best areas, the legendary Irani cafes, and the tips you need to eat like a local.
8 Must-Try Mumbai Street Foods
These are the dishes that define Mumbai. You cannot leave the city without trying them.
Vada Pav
Mumbai's unofficial official food — a spiced potato fritter (vada) stuffed inside a soft bread roll (pav) with garlic chutney, green chili chutney, and a fried green chili on the side. This is Mumbai's answer to the burger, and it is the food that fuels the city's millions of workers every day. The best vada pav has a crispy exterior, fluffy potato interior, and chutneys that hit every flavor note.
Pav Bhaji
A thick, spiced vegetable mash (bhaji) made with potatoes, cauliflower, peas, capsicum, and tomatoes, loaded with an obscene amount of butter and served with toasted, butter-soaked pav bread. The bhaji simmers on a massive flat griddle (tawa) and is served piping hot with raw onion and lemon. The best pav bhaji stalls use so much butter it borders on criminal.
Bhel Puri
The king of Mumbai chaat — puffed rice (murmura) tossed with sev (crispy noodles), chopped onions, tomatoes, boiled potatoes, raw mango, coriander, and a mix of tamarind and green chutney. Eaten exclusively with your hands from a paper cone. Every vendor has a slightly different recipe, and the combination of crunchy, tangy, sweet, and spicy is addictive. Best enjoyed watching the sunset at Chowpatty Beach.
Sev Puri
Flat crispy puris (rounds of fried dough) topped with diced potatoes, onions, three types of chutney (tamarind sweet, green spicy, and garlic), and a generous heap of sev (thin crunchy noodles). Each puri is a perfect one-bite explosion of textures and flavors. The vendor assembles them one by one right in front of you, and you eat each puri whole in a single bite.
Misal Pav
A fiery Maharashtrian dish of sprouted moth beans cooked in a spicy coconut-based gravy (usal), topped with farsan (crunchy toppings), chopped onions, lemon, and coriander, served with pav bread. The heat level ranges from moderate to face-melting depending on the vendor. This is authentic Maharashtrian street food at its best — bold, spicy, and deeply satisfying.
Bombay Sandwich
A uniquely Mumbai creation — white bread layered with sliced cucumber, beetroot, tomato, boiled potato, green chutney, and butter, then grilled on a sandwich press until crispy. Some versions add cheese. The result is surprisingly delicious — the sweetness of beetroot, the tang of chutney, and the crunch of toast create a perfect street snack. Available at virtually every street corner.
Keema Pav
Spiced minced mutton (keema) cooked with onions, tomatoes, ginger-garlic paste, and a blend of aromatic spices, served with butter-toasted pav bread. The keema is rich, slightly oily, and intensely flavorful. During Ramadan, the stalls on Mohammed Ali Road serve the best keema pav in the city, cooked in massive woks over open flames.
Falooda
A cold, layered dessert drink made with rose-flavored milk, vermicelli noodles, basil seeds (sabja), vanilla ice cream, and sometimes jelly pieces. The tall glass arrives in a riot of pink and white, and you eat it with both a straw and a long spoon. The best faloodas are thick enough to stand a spoon in and are the perfect sweet ending to a spicy street food crawl.
5 Best Street Food Areas
These neighborhoods and streets are Mumbai's greatest food destinations.
Mohammed Ali Road
Near Crawford Market, South MumbaiMumbai's most famous food street, especially legendary during Ramadan when the entire road transforms into a massive open-air food festival. Even outside Ramadan, the kebab stalls, biryani shops, and malpua (sweet pancake) vendors here are outstanding. This is where you find the best non-vegetarian street food in Mumbai — seekh kebabs, nalli nihari, keema pav, and chicken tikka rolls.
Girgaum Chowpatty Beach
Marine Drive, South MumbaiThe spiritual home of Mumbai chaat. The stalls along Chowpatty Beach have been serving bhel puri, sev puri, pani puri, ragda pattice, and kulfi for generations. The experience of eating chaat on the beach while watching the sun set over the Arabian Sea with the Marine Drive "Queen's Necklace" of lights behind you is quintessentially Mumbai. Go hungry and try everything.
Juhu Beach
Juhu, Western SuburbsMumbai's most famous beach is also a massive street food destination. The stalls stretch along the entire beachfront, serving everything from pav bhaji on sizzling tawas to freshly grilled corn cobs, cotton candy, and gola (flavored ice). The atmosphere is carnival-like on weekends with families, balloon sellers, and the occasional Bollywood film crew.
Crawford Market Area
Near CST Station, South MumbaiThe streets around Crawford Market are a food lover's labyrinth. Badshah Cold Drinks has served iconic faloodas and milkshakes since 1905. The Mangaldas Market lanes have hidden food gems. Nearby Khau Galli (food lane) stalls serve fresh fruit juices, sandwiches, and quick lunches to the market workers and traders.
Khau Galli (Ghatkopar)
Ghatkopar East, Central SuburbsGhatkopar's famous Khau Galli (literally "food lane") is a narrow street packed with stalls serving an incredible variety of street food. The lane runs for about 200 meters and has stalls on both sides, each specializing in a specific dish. The dosa stalls here are legendary — paper-thin dosas that hang off the plate. Worth the trip from South Mumbai.
Legendary Irani Cafes
Mumbai's Irani cafes are living museums — century-old establishments run by the city's Zoroastrian community, serving chai, bun maska, and nostalgia.
Britannia & Co.
Est. 1923Ballard Estate, Fort
The most famous Irani cafe in Mumbai, legendary for its berry pulao — fragrant saffron rice studded with Iranian barberries. Run for decades by the charismatic Boman Kohinoor (who passed away in 2023 at age 97), the cafe retains its old-world charm with Formica tables, bent-wood chairs, and family photos on the walls. The caramel custard is also exceptional.
Kyani & Co.
Est. 1904Marine Lines
One of Mumbai's oldest surviving Irani cafes, Kyani has been serving mawa cakes, bun maska (buttered bread roll), and chai since 1904. The interiors are a time capsule — tiled floors, wooden cabinets, and glass display cases filled with freshly baked goods. Come for breakfast and order the bun maska with a cutting chai.
Cafe Military
Est. 1933Fort
A classic Irani cafe near CST Station that time forgot. The decor has not changed in decades — Formica-topped tables, mirrored walls, and ceiling fans spinning lazily. The keema pav here is outstanding, as is the akuri (Parsi scrambled eggs). A perfect breakfast stop before exploring the Fort heritage area.
B. Merwan & Co.
Est. 1914Grant Road
Famous for its mawa cakes — small, dense, sweet cakes made with reduced milk (mawa) that melt in your mouth. B. Merwan is a local institution where people queue early in the morning for fresh-from-the-oven batches. The chai here is strong and milky, perfectly paired with the warm mawa cakes. The cafe almost closed in 2014 but was saved by public outcry.
Street Food Tips
Hygiene Matters
Stick to stalls with high turnover — the busier the stall, the fresher the food. Avoid raw salads and uncooked garnishes if your stomach is sensitive. Cooked food served hot is generally safe. The most popular stalls have the fastest turnover and thus the freshest ingredients.
Best Time for Street Food
Most street food stalls fire up in the evening between 5-10 PM. Morning markets (7-10 AM) are best for breakfast items like poha, misal pav, and Irani cafe bun maska. Lunchtime street food is available near office areas. Mohammed Ali Road peaks after 8 PM.
Carry Bottled Water
Always carry sealed bottled water. Do not drink tap water or ice from street stalls. Stick to sealed bottles from brands like Bisleri or Kinley. Coconut water from street vendors is generally safe as it comes straight from the shell. Avoid cut fruit unless you see it being cut fresh.
Mumbai is Vegetarian-Friendly
Mumbai is one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities in the world. The majority of street food — vada pav, pav bhaji, bhel puri, dosa, misal pav — is vegetarian by default. Look for stalls marked with green signs indicating pure vegetarian food. Even dedicated non-veg areas like Mohammed Ali Road have vegetarian options.
Small Portions, Many Stalls
The best strategy for a street food crawl is to eat small portions at many stalls rather than filling up at one. Order one vada pav, one plate of bhel puri, one serving of pav bhaji — then move to the next stall. This way you can try 6-8 different items in one evening.
Cash is King
Most street food stalls accept only cash. Some larger establishments accept UPI payments (Google Pay, PhonePe), but do not count on it. Carry small denominations — ₹10, ₹20, ₹50, ₹100 notes. A ₹500 note at a ₹30 vada pav stall will cause problems with change.
Hungry for More?
Combine your food exploration with the best of Mumbai. Our itineraries include the top food stops alongside heritage walks, beach visits, and day trips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Your Free Travel Guide
PDF download + weekly travel tips
Join our community and get a comprehensive travel guide with maps, budgets, and insider tips delivered to your inbox.
Unsubscribe anytime. No spam, we promise.