Based on a "delicious" article by Sanjeev Khamgaonkar, I have prepared a presentation on 40 Mumbai Foods we can't live without. Hope you all will enjoy it.

1. Mumbai Meri Jaan
40 Mumbai foods can’t live without

2. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Akuri
Akuri
1. Akuri on toast
Move over scrambled eggs, the Parsi Akuri
cometh. Rated as one of the great Parsi dishes,
every family has its own special way of making
this breakfast meal. Though variations of the
ingredients are vociferously debated, Akuri is
usually made by scrambling eggs with onions,
tomatoes (or even raw mangoes when in
season), red chilli powder, green chillies and
topped with fresh coriander. Others add milk,
jeera (cumin) powder, curry leaves and even
ginger and garlic paste.
Try the Akuri on Toast at Jimmy Boy, 11 Bank
Street, Vikas Building, Off Horniman Circle,
Fort. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2266 2503

3. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Baida Roti
Baida Roti
2. Baida Roti
This one is an interesting envelope.
Spiced meat -- chicken or minced
mutton, even bheja (brain) -- and
whipped eggs with masala-fied fried
onions enveloped in a square shaped
dough and pan fried. Though served with
sliced onion rings and green chutney,
they're delicious even without
accompaniment.
A lot of people swear by the Baida Roti
at Bade Mian, Tullock Road, Behind Taj
Mahal Hotel, Apollo Bunder, evenings
only. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2284 8038

4. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Batata Vada
Batata Vada 3. Batata Vada
Whether it's for breakfast, teatime, or anytime,
one thing is for sure, Mumbaikars can’t live
without the Batata Vada bite. This well-liked fast
food dumpling is made by mashing boiled
potatoes with green chilies, ginger, garlic, lime
juice, turmeric, and fresh coriander, then dipped
in a besan (gram flour) batter and deep fried.
It's served either with a green chutney or fried
green chillies.
Virtually every street corner will have an
outstanding Batata Vada seller but it’s hard to
beat the ones made at Shrikrishna, near
Chabildas High School, Dadar Market.

5. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Butter Chicken
Butter Chicken
4. Butter chicken
This ubiquitous dish traces its roots to the days
of the Mughals when calorie counting was a
thing of the future. This must-order dish when
Indian families go out for dinner is made from
chunks of chicken, marinated overnight in
a yogurt and spice mix that includes ginger
garlic paste and lime juice. It is then grilled or
pan-fried. An ultra rich sauce made with butter,
tomato puree, cumin, garam masalas and fresh
cream is then poured over it. Best had with
Indian breads like rotis, naan or parathas. Don't
confuse it with chicken tikka masala, which is a
story for another day.
While available at every kind of eatery, the
butter chicken at Punjab Grill is worth dying for.
Level 3, Palladium Mall, Phoenix Mills, Lower
Parel. Tel: +91 (0) 22 4347 3980
.

6. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Bombay Sandwich
Bombay Sandwich
5. The Bombay Sandwich
This street side invention is a combination of
the most unlikely ingredients. Lavishly buttered
white bread and sandwiched between them thin
slices of beetroot, boiled potatoes, cucumbers,
tomatoes, onion rings, and mint chutney. Cut
into four triangles so that you can handle all the
layers without spilling them, you get the most
refreshing tangy taste, after each bite. A
toasted version steams up the vegetables
inside and adds another dimension. Truly, there
is no other sandwich quite like it in the world.
Though widely available through out the city, try
it at Amar Juice Centre, near Cooper Hospital,
opp. Juhu Galli. Or the Mafco Stall outside
Worli Dairy on Worli Sea Face.
.

7. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Bheja Fry
Bheja Fry
6. Bheja fry
Bheja, or goat brain, sautéed with tomatoes,
onions, turmeric, green chilies, spices and
garnished with fresh coriander, is a staple of all
those with hardcore carnivorous leanings in the
city. Eaten with a roti (Indian bread) or pao, this
melt in the mouth dish has a rich Muslim
heritage behind it and you often find that one
plate is not enough.
Radio Restaurant, 10, Musafir Khana, Palton
Road, Tel: +91 (0) 22 2261 7171, serves up a
really good Bheja Fry.
.

8. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Bombil Fry
Bombil Fry
7. Bombil fry
Bombil, or Bombay Duck, is a fish (and not a
duck) found in plenty in the waters around
Mumbai. A fisher folk favourite, Bombils are
flattened, then dipped in a spice-filled besan
(gram flour) batter and fried. This crunchy-on-
the-outside and mushy-soft-on-the-inside fish
dish can be eaten on its own as a starter, or as
a main course with chapattis.
Gajalee restaurant does a mean Bombil Fry.
They have branches at Hanuman Road, Vile
Parle (E), Tel: +91 22 26114093. And at
Phoenix Mills, Lower Parel, Tel: +91 22 2495
0667
.

9. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Brun Maska
Brun Maska
8. Brun Maska
You may wonder how bread and butter can
become such an iconic union. But it's not
merely bread and this is not merely butter. It's
brun or gutli pao -- a local bread that is unique
to Mumbai -- and it's crisp and hard and
crumbly on the outside and soft inside. The
Brun is then sliced and lashings of butter are
applied lavishly. Some even sprinkle quite a bit
of sugar. It is usually accompanied by the sweet
Irani chai. Dipping the brun maska in the chai is
the only way to eat it.
Available at most Irani restaurants, the Brun
Maska at Kyani & Co is historic. 657 Jer Mahal
Estate, Opp. Metro Cinema, Dhobi Talao, Tel:
+91 (0) 22 2201 1492. Also try it at B Merwan,
Opp. Grant Road Station (E), Tel: +91 (0) 22
2309 3321

10. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Bhel Puri
Bhel Puri
9. Bhel Puri
The most commonly sold chaat on the streets
of Mumbai, every bhel walla will have his own
matchless blend and a considerable 7pm fan
following. While the ingredients -- puffed rice,
papadi (small crisp deep fried flour puris), sev,
onions, potatoes, raw mango and sweet and
sour chutney -- remain the same, it is the
proportions in which they are thrown together
on the street side that makes the difference.
Bhel puri is available everywhere. The stalls at
Chowpatty and Juhu beaches draw throngs
of die-hard fans. But if you want a bhel puri with
ambience, try it at Sea Lounge, Taj Mahal
Hotel, Apollo Bunder. Tel: +91 (0) 22 6665
3366

11. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Chicken Mayo roll
Chicken Mayo roll
10. Chicken Mayo roll
Almost every school or college canteen serves
it. Most single screen cinema houses showing
English movies display it during the interval.
Most bakeries will have their version, neatly
wrapped in cellophane, at the counter. Some
grocery stores in up market areas stock it along
with grain and rice. It's hard to believe that plain
boiled chicken doused in sweet-ish mayonnaise
with a celery leaf for dressing, all wrapped up in
a bread roll can be so popular in a spice loving
city. But it is.
One of the creamiest chicken mayo rolls can be
had at Paradise, Sindh Chambers, Shahid
Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba, Tel: +91 22
22832874. Or try it at Candies, Mac Ronells, 5A
Pali Hill, St. Andrews Road, Bandra (W). Tel:
+91 22 26424125

12. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Chicken Manchurian
Chicken Manchurian
11. Chicken Manchurian
Here's a dish that even the Chinese over on the
mainland haven't heard about. Snigger, snigger.
Yet it's on the menu of the roadside handcart
Chinese food hawker and the Chinese
restaurant in the fancy five-star hotel. Chicken
Manchurian, a phrase that has come to be the
face of Chinese food in India, is nothing but
deep-fried batter-coated chicken cubes in an
onion, green chilies, garlic, vinegar and soy
sauce gravy. Eaten with rice, it never fails to get
a sigh of contentment from those partaking of
this gastronomic oddity.
If you want to taste the real thing, try it where it
was created, China Garden, Om Chambers,
Kemps Corner. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2363 0841

13. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Butter Garlic Crab
Butter Garlic Crab
12. Butter Garlic Crab
It doesn't trace its roots to Chinese, Continental
or Indian cuisines. It comes from Butter Land,
an imagined place that thrives on the premise
that anything tastes great with melted butter. A
delicious, simple dish, a big crab is drowned in
tons of butter garlic sauce that seeps into every
nook and cranny and coats every morsel of the
flesh. Crack open the crab and take a bite.
You’ll know immediately that sweet crabmeat
and butter with a twist of garlic is a combination
made by gods.
The best butter garlic crab can be found at
Mumbai's most famous seafood restaurant.
Trishna, Sai Baba Marg, Near Rhythm House,
Kala Ghoda, Fort. Tel: +91 22 22703213

14. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Dhoklas and farsaan
Dhoklas and farsaan 13. Dhoklas and Farsaan
These popular snacks are so integral to food
loving Gujaratis that no meal is complete
without them. And when traveling abroad, they
don’t leave home without a little parcel tucked
away in their luggage. Dhoklas or 'khummun'
are made from the fermented batter of
chickpeas, steamed and then spiced with
chillies and ginger and tempered with mustard
seed. Farsan, a broad term for savories
encompassing sev and gathiya are crisp deep-
fried spiced gram flour creations in pasta like
shapes.
Several stores stock these popular snacks. But
try them here: Chedda Dry Fruits & Snacks, 41
Ridge Road, Walkeshwar. Tel: +91 22 (0) 2369
9442. Dave Farsan Mart, 10 Babulnath Road,
near Chowpatty. Tel: +91 (0) 22 6657 8311.
Go-Go Snacks, Bhavan’s College Lane,
Chowpatty. Tel: +91 22 (0) 2361 9968.

15. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Falooda
Falooda
14. Falooda
This adaptation of a Persian dessert was
brought to India by the Mughals. A rich drink,
Falooda is vermicelli mixed with milk, almonds,
pistachios, a bit of rose syrup and the key
ingredient -- sabza or basil seeds -- topped up
with two scoops of ice cream. Refreshing, rosy,
energizing, it's a great pick-me-up on a hot day.
Badshah, at 152/156 LT Marg, Opp. Crawford
Market. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2342 1943, has a
reputation for their falooda.
.

16. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Fish and prawn curry
Fish and prawn curry
15. Fish and prawn curry
These two dishes are as old as Mumbai herself
(remember, this city started off as a fishing
village under various kings and sultanates until
the Portuguese and English discovered it in
1534). This coconut-based light curry can be
prepared using a variety of fish or prawn. But
the most popular curries use surmai (kingfish),
pomfret (butter fish), bangda (mackerel) or
bombil (Bombay duck). And the only way to
truly enjoy it is with par boiled country rice.
For Konkani and Malvani style fish curry go to
Sadichha, B-5 Gandhi Nagar, Opp. MIG Club,
Bandra (E), Tel: +91 (0) 22 2651 0175. For
Karwar style fish curry there's Fresh Catch, Lt.
Kotnis Marg, Near Fire Brigade, Off L J Road,
Mahim (W). Tel: +91 (0) 22 2444 8942

17. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Frankie
Frankie
16. Frankie
Inspired by the Lebanese pita bread wrap and
suitably Indianized, the Frankie, or should I say
the Tibbs Frankie, has satiated hordes of the
hungry in search of a quick lip-smacking snack.
Basically, it's a juicy naan bread with an egg
coating and stuffed with mutton or chicken,
rolled up and sprinkled with a unique masala
that gives it its special flavor. The vegetarian
option does not use eggs and the stuffing's
include paneer or potatoes.
Available all over the city. For a Tibbs Frankie
closest to you, call +91 (0) 22 2821 4698

18. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Gujarati thaalis
Gujarati thaalis 17. Gujarati thaalis
In fast food terms think of this as a large, all-
you-can-eat combo platter served on your table
in unlimited quantities. Three types of farsan
(fried snacky things with a plethora of
chutneys). Two kinds of vegetables. Two kinds
of lentils. Dal and kadhi (hot and spicy yoghurt
based dish). A basket of different rotis and puris
(deep fried breads). Two kinds of rice. Two
desserts. And mango pulp which the purists
pour all over the plate. All this for a modest
price. Gasp! A note on Gujarati cuisine: most
dishes tend to be on the sweet side and that
makes an interesting combination with the
spiciness of the food. Mumbaikers either love it
or ignore it.
Try Golden Star Thali, 330 Raja Rammohan
Roy Road, Opp. Charni Road Station, Girgaum,
Tel: +91 (0) 22 2363 1983. Or, Chetana, 34 K
Dubash Marg, Kala Ghoda, Fort. Tel: +91 (0)
22 2284 4968

19. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Kheema pao
Kheema pao
18. Kheema pao
Minced mutton cooked with onions, garlic,
tomatoes, chillies and spices takes on many
avatars here. In its original form, it is refereed to
as plain Kheema. Topped with a crisply fried
sunny side up egg, it is called kheema single
fry. And scrambled with eggs, it is called
ghotala. And all three are best eaten with
Mumbai's signature pao bread bun.
Traditionally a breakfast dish, it is now eaten at
all times of the day or night.
Try it at Stadium Restaurant, IMC Building,
Veer Nariman Road, Churchgate, Tel: +91 (0)
22 2204 6819. Or at Olympia, Rahim Mansion,
1 Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Colaba, Tel: +91
(0) 22 2202 1043.

20. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Kebabs
Kebabs
19. Kebabs
While the kebab per se may not be unique to
Mumbai or the region, a few varieties that
emerged from the Bohri Muslim community are
truly unique. Gurda (kidney) and kaleji (liver) top
this list. Charcoal grilled, they go great with
freshly sliced onions and a squeeze of lime.
Try it at Ayubs, on the street behind Rhythm
House, Kala Ghoda, open only in the evenings.
The best beef kebabs are to be found at Sarvi,
184/196 Dimtimkar Road, opposite Nagpada
Police Station, Byculla (W). Tel: +91 9833 533
305. And for some outstanding north west
frontier style Kebabs, go to Peshawari, ITC
Grand Maratha, Sahar Road, Andheri (E), Tel:
+91 (0) 22 2830 3030

21. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Kolhapuri mutton
Kolhapuri mutton
20. Kolhapuri mutton
The hotter the temperature of a city, the hotter
the food. And it's true of this mutton dish that
has its roots in Kolhapur, a city in the south of
Maharashtra. It comes in two coconut based
gravy variations. The nuclear strength version is
called Tambda Rassa (a red chili spiced
extravaganza). And the milder version is called
Pandhara Rassa (yoghurt, cashew nuts and
raisin embellished). Both go well with either
rotis or rice when you're in the mood for a feast.
Taste the heat at Purepur Kolhapur, 1, Aditya
Apartments, Parleshwar Road, Parleshwar
Mandir, Vile Parle (E). Tel: +91 (0) 22 2613
4569

22. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Kanda poha
Kanda poha
21. Kanda Poha
A must-have in Maharashtrian families, you will
rarely find a badly made kanda poha dish. This
simple, easy to make snack is made with kanda
(onions) and poha (flaked rice) mixed with
chopped potatoes and green chillies,
sometimes even peas. Tempered with mustard
seeds and garnished with fresh coriander and a
squeeze of lime, it lights up dull days. And
cements the many days in a marriage together.
Try it at Aswad, L J Road, Opp. Shiv Sena
Bhavan, Dadar (W). Tel: +91 (0) 22 2445 1871

23. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Misal Pao
Misal Pao
22. Misal Pao
Quintessentially from Pune, this rustic dish is
made from a mix of curried sprouted lentils,
topped with batata (potato) bhaji, poha (rice
flakes), chivda, farsan, raw chopped onions and
tomato. This hot and spicy dish is eaten with
pao bread. To cut the fire, add some yogurt.
A good version can be found at Vinay Health
Home, 71/83, Jawahar Mansion, Fanaswadi-
Thakurdwar Corner, Girgaum. Tel: +91 (0) 22
2208 1211

24. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Modak 23. Modak
Modak
A Maharashtrian sweet prepared during the
Ganesh festival around August, Modak is
offered to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed
god, because it is his favorite sweet. Wheat
flour dough kneaded with milk, stuffed with
grated coconut and mixed with sugar or
jaggery. Shaped like a teardrop and steamed or
fried. Typically 21 are made as an auspicious
offering to the god and tons more for the rest of
the family. It's a pity that it's made only once a
year and in this region.
Some sweet shops do keep modak during the
festival season but it is made of khoya
(thickened milk) and is not the real thing. For
that, you’ll have to drop into a home that is
celebrating the festival.

25. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Mutton Dhansak 24. Mutton Dhansak
Mutton Dhansak
Representative of Parsi cuisine, the mutton
dhansak falls in the category of soul food. It is
mutton cooked till tender in a lentil dal laden
with spices. And it is eaten with browned rice
topped with deep fried onions, garnished with
mutton kebabs and sprinkled with a crunchy
mix of chopped raw onions, raw tomatoes and
coriander. And the aftereffects are usually
exhibited in a sound afternoon nap.
This rich dish, outside of a home, is best had at
Ripon Club, 123A MG Road, Opp. Bombay
University, Fountain. Find a member to take
you there. Failing which, go to Britannia,
Wakefield House, 11 Sprott Road, Ballard
Estate. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2261 5264

26. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Mutton Sukke
Mutton Sukke
25. Mutton Sukke
Mumbaikers break out into sweat over this
Malvani-style mutton dish. Chunks of mutton on
the bone marinated in a hot Malvani masala
and fried with onions and garlic and red chillies
until everything browns and the meat is tender.
It can be eaten with chapattis or wadé, rice flour
pancakes.
Try it at Jai Hind Lunch Home, 6 Mantri Corner,
Gokhale Road South, Dadar. Tel: +91 (0) 22
2431 4256

27. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Patra ni machhi
Patra ni machhi
26. Patra ni machhi
Another top of the line Parsi dish. This is freshly
caught pomfret, marinated in a chutney that
includes grated coconut, green chillies, fresh
coriander and mint leaves, cumin, sugar, lime
and salt. It is then wrapped in banana leaf and
steamed for about ten minutes. Gently unwrap
and consume quietly, close your eyes and
savor the flavor of a culinary culture that will fill
your senses.
A very good patra ni machhi can be had at Ideal
Corner, 12/F/G, Hornby View, Gunbow Street,
Fort. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2262 1930. Only available
on Saturdays.

28. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Pav Bhaji
Pav Bhaji
27. Pao Bhaji
This specialty dish from the by-lanes of Mumbai
has mashed steamed mixed vegetables (mainly
potatoes, peas, tomatoes, onions and green
pepper) cooked in spices and loads of butter. It
is eaten with pao, which is shallow fried in even
more butter and served with chopped onions.
Sometimes cheese and paneer (cottage
cheese) are added. People from all over India
come to Mumbai to eat pao bhaji.
Though widely available at local restaurants, try
the sinful pao bhaji at Sardar, 166A Tardeo
Road Junction, Opp. Bus Depot, Tardeo. Tel:
+91 (0) 22 2353 0208

29. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Prawn Koliwada
Prawn Koliwada
28. Prawns Koliwada
Contrary to popular belief that this dish
originated on the Konkan coast, it is actually a
very Mumbai dish and the story goes that it was
created in the Sion fishing village, or koliwada,
by -- and here’s the twist -- a north Indian
immigrant from Punjab. These deep-fried
prawns marinated in a batter of flour, spices
and ginger garlic paste can be identified by their
signature red color. And they are crunchy yet
melt in the mouth. Pick the smaller sized
prawns, they taste better.
Try the real thing at Hazara, GTB Nagar, Near
the Gurudwara, Sion (W). Tel: +91 (0) 22 2409
2617

30. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Nalli Nihari
Nalli Nihari
29. Nalli nihari
The phrase "breakfast like a king" gets taken to
another level when you dig into a plate of
Muslim nalli nihari. You could probably fight a
war after this power meal made of soft and
tender mutton shanks in a rich, greasy gravy
filled with marrow and steeped in spices, the
flavors exploding with delight. A crisp roti makes
for the perfect accompaniment. Can you
stomach this for breakfast?
The best Nalli Nihari can be had at Noor
Mohammadi, 179 Wazir Building, Abdul Hakim
Noor Mohammadi Chowk, Bhendi Bazaar. Tel:
+91 (0) 22 2347 6188. Just make sure you
reach before noon or you may leave
disappointed.

31. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Puran Poli 30. Puran Poli
Puran Poli
A festive dish made by Maharashtrians and
Gujaratis especially during Holi (to celebrate the
end of the winter season) and Dussehra (to
celebrate the triumph of Lord Ram over the
demon Raavan). It is made by simmering chana
dal (yellow gram) with sugar or jaggery
(molasses or gur) till it dries up, and then hand-
ground to smoothen it out. Nutmeg and
cardamom powders are the flavorings. Palm
sized balls of this paste are stuffed into wheat
flour dough and rolled out to be roasted on a
tawa frying pan with a little ghee (clarified
butter). Do add a lot of ghee when you're eating
them, they taste tops then.
Puran polis can be found in some grocery
stores but they are a poor mass produced
version of the real thing. The real ones can only
be found in a Maharashtrian or Gujarati home.

32. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Ragda Pattice
Ragda Pattice
31. Ragda Pattice
This twin delight is a combination of ragda, soft
spicy rugged flavored chickpeas, and pattice,
mashed potatoes shaped into fat patties and
fried. The ideal way is to eat it is to crush the
ragda with the pattice and pile on the
accompaniments -- finely chopped onions,
tangy tamarind sauce and fiery green chutney.
Mash it all up and dig in for the true flavor of
Mumbai.
A favorite street food, it is part of the chaat
family and is commonly found all over. A good
place to try it is Kailash Parbat, Sheela Mahal,
1st Pasta Lane, Colaba. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2284
1972

33. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Sabudana Vada
Sabudana Vada
32. Sabudana Vada
For Maharashtrians, sabudana vada is the
traditional 'upvas' or fasting food and the really
hardcore folk fast up to four times a week. And
the good news is that the restaurants never fail
to oblige with hot crisp sabudana vadas for
those who don’t have the time to make it at
home. Sago is soaked until it puffs up. Crushed
boiled potatoes, green chillies, coriander leaves
and salt are kneaded in. They are then
fashioned into palm-sized patties and deep
fried until they turn crisp and golden. And then
one bite leads to another and another.
Sabudana vadas are available at most Udipi
hotels and roadside stalls. But try the ones at
the R K Studio Canteen, Chembur. They are
really special.

34. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Samosa
Samosa
33. Samosa
It's best to bite into a hot one, hiding under a
street stall during a typical Mumbai monsoon
downpour. When you go through the crisp
crust, you meet the steaming and savory-with-
a-hint-of-sour chunks of spiced potatoes and
peas. Lovingly shaped into triangles and deep
fried, these calorie busters are worth the one
week that you’ll need on the treadmill to work it
off.
But a samosa can also give you heart at that
last leg of your day when transport is not in
sight, it's dark and there's a long way home.
You can ask for Guru Kripa samosas at many
stores across Mumbai. Or go to the original
Guru Kripa Hotel, 40, Guru Kripa Building, near
SIES College, Sion. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2407 1237

35. Mumbai Meri Jaan
34. Sizzlers
Sizzlers
Sizzlers
As kids, a sizzler was part of the "growing up in
Mumbai" experience. The sight of a sizzler
arriving at your table, like an old steam engine,
sizzling and steaming and spluttering to a halt
in front of you, was an exciting experience. A
combination of grilled meats and vegetables
served on what looks like a hot chunk of black
iron, with a side of mashed potatoes or fries
and gravy. Sizzlers come in several vegetarian
options too. Long lines at restaurants are a
testimony to its enduring popularity.
Give sizzlers a try at places synonymous with
the word. Such as Kobe, 13/14 Sukh Sagar,
Hughes Road, Opera House. Tel: +91 (0) 22
23632174. Or Yoko, West View, S V Road,
near Akbarally’s, Santacruz (W). Tel: +91 (0) 22
2649 2313

36. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Sorpatel and Vindaloo 35. Sorpatel and Vindaloo
Sorpatel and Vindaloo
These Goan specialties set your taste buds on
fire and grandmothers are rumored to pass out
feni shots (a strong Goan brew made from palm
or cashew nuts) to douse the flames. The
sorpatel has all parts of the pig, including its
blood, in the recipe. And the vindaloo is made
with chunks of fatty pork meat cooked with
spices, red chillies and lots of vinegar. Ideally,
they are eaten the next day, after having spent
the night soaking in all the juices and flavors.
Try sorpatel, vindaloo and other Goan
delicacies at City Kitchen, 301 Shahid Bhagat
Singh Road, Fort. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2261 0002.
Or, New Martin Hotel, 11 Glamour House,
Strand Cinema Road, Colaba. Tel: +91 (0) 22
2202 9606

37. Mumbai Meri Jaan
South Indian Thali
South Indian Thali
36. South Indian 'meals'
"Meals Ready" is a common sign found outside
South Indian restaurants. In front of Udipi
hotels, a euphemism for all south Indian
cuisine, it means vegetarian meals laid out on a
thaali, a stainless steel plate, or on a traditional
banana leaf. A couple of vegetables, sambar
(spicy and sour lentils and vegetables boiled
with masalas and spices), rasam (a hot and
fiery lentil soup-like dish) and curds (yoghurt)
served with heaps of rice and eaten in that
order. A non-vegetarian version of the 'Meals'
can be found in 'Military' hotels.
Try the 'meals' at this 68-year-old haven: Rama
Nayak’s Udipi Shree Krishna Boarding, bang
outside the Matunga (E) station. Tel: +91 (0) 22
2414 2422

38. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Zhunka Bhakar
Zhunka Bhakar
37. Zhunka bhakar
This dish has deep roots in the farming and
working class communities of interior
Maharashtra. Considered the common man's
food, a political decision was made at the
highest echelons of government to make it
available everywhere. Overnight, thousands of
zhunka bhakar stalls opened, none pricing it
more than Rs 10. Traditionally, the zhunka is
made using chopped onions tempered with
mustard seeds and kadipatta leaves mixed with
chickpea flour and is dry. It is eaten with jowar
(millet) bhakri or roti.
Try the stalls opposite Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus (originally called Victoria Terminus)
and BMC Headquarters.

39. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Varan Bhaat
Varan Bhaat
38. Varan bhaat
If you wanted to name one truly soul satisfying
food of Mumbai city, then this would be it. The
simple and truly humble dish is made by lightly
tempering cooked-till-soft toor dal (a lentil) with
ghee (clarified butter), turmeric and cumin
powder. Served over steaming hot rice, or
bhaat, it assumes magical, mythical
proportions.
A staple in Maharashtrian homes, that's really
where you should be eating it. But do give Diva
Maharashtracha a try. T H Kataria Marg,
Mahim. Tel: +91 (0) 22 2445 4433.

40. Mumbai Meri Jaan
Idlis and Vadas
Idlis and Vadas
39. South Indian tiffin (idlis and vadas)
What started as tiffin in British India -- a light
meal that was had between meals -- has
become a rage all over the country. And
especially in hard working Mumbai. Here you
will find a South Indian tiffin available every half
a kilometer and at any time of day or night.
These steamed (idlis) or fried (vadas)
dumplings made with multi-grain lentil batter are
best scooped up with coconut chutney or
dunked into hot sambar (spicy and sour lentil
and vegetable soup, boiled with masalas and
spices).
The finest South Indian Tiffin can be found at
Madras Café (+91 (0) 22 2401 4419), Anand
Bhavan (+91 (0) 22 2401 5745) and Idli House
(+91 (0) 22 3246 0111), all located around
King’s Circle, Matunga.

41. Mumbai Meri Jaan
40. Vada pao
Varan Bhaat
Varan Bhaat
In the vast fast food world of Mumbai, this is the
tastiest "cutlet in a bun" by a mile. And no, it's
not available at McDonald's. Every Mumbaiker's
favorite on-the-go snack, the vada pao satiates
millions every day. And the recipe, hard to
duplicate because each stall owner has his own
secret ingredient, uses a combination of boiled
potatoes mashed with fresh coriander, green
chillies, a bit of ginger and sometimes garlic,
made into palm-sized balls, dipped in a
chickpea flour batter and deep fried till golden.
They are stuffed into a pao, which has been
applied with a layer of spicy green chutney and
a fiery red garlic crush. Tastes best when eaten
hot.
It's a crime to eat vada pao anywhere else but
on the street. Try Ashok Satam's Stall, on the
Flora Fountain side of the Central Telegraph
Office (CTO), Fort.

42. Mumbai Meri Jaan
• Article : Sanjeev Khamgaonkar
Presentation : SalimASayyid