Reported by Disha Tandon
Mumbai, 16th December 2024: Mumbai, a city that never sleeps, has yet another feather in its cap—ranking 5th on Taste Atlas’ list of the 100 Best Food Cities in the World. While this accolade is enough to inspire wanderlust, Mumbai’s Street food scene provides a culinary journey that no traveller or local can resist. Here’s a delicious dive into five iconic dishes that define the essence of this vibrant city.
Vada Pav- Dubbed the city’s culinary emblem, the vada pav is Mumbai in a bite—simple yet unforgettable. This humble snack features a spicy potato fritter enveloped in a soft bun, enhanced with tangy green chutney and a fiery fried chili. Be it the office-goer grabbing a quick bite or a student looking for comfort food, the vada pav reigns supreme.
Ragda-Pattice- For those wanting something more than bread, ragda-pattice is the way to go. It’s a lovely dish with crispy potato patties drowned in a thick, tangy pea curry, topped with sev, chopped onions, and chutneys. A sensory explosion of flavours and textures, it’s street food perfection.
Dabeli- Though originating from Gujarat, dabeli has found its abode in the food lanes of Mumbai. It can be thought of as the sweeter cousin of vada pav, filled with spiced potato filling, pomegranate seeds, and crunchy peanuts, all packed into a buttered bun.
Bombay Sandwich- A sandwich so Bombay transforms the mundane to divine: layers of potatoes, beetroot, cucumber, and tomatoes drenched in green chutney are pressed between slices of bread, then toasted to golden perfection. This quintessential snack sums up the city’s knack for reinvention.
Pav bhaji- It is a mixture of mashed vegetables cooked in rich, buttery spices served with toasted bread. This is one of the most popular dishes synonymous with Mumbai evenings, steaming hot at beachside stalls or fine dining restaurants. A squeeze of lemon and a handful of chopped onions can turn it into a plate of pure indulgence.
It’s not just sustenance but a way of life when street food comes to mind, thinking of Mumbai. Whether local or a tourist, these iconic dishes make it seem like an invitation to savour the soul of the city in a bite.