18 Famous Street Foods in Mumbai You Must Try
Street food isn’t just a meal in Mumbai—it’s a ritual, a way to connect with the city’s relentless energy and cultural mosaic. Every bite tells a story of generations, regional influences, and a shared love of honest, unpretentious flavors.
Famous Street Foods in Mumbai
Navigating Mumbai’s food maze can be a bit much for newcomers—but that’s exactly where the adventure lies. This guide captures 18 famous street foods in Mumbai that locals swear by. We’ll keep things simple and informative so you can focus on what matters most: the taste, texture, and moment when a dish wins you over. You’ll find notes on what makes each one special, why Mumbaikars line up for them, and more!
1. Vada Pav
Often called Mumbai’s burger, vada pav is a famous Mumbai street food. Vada Pav, to put it simply, is a potato patty (vada) dipped in gram flour batter and deep-fried to golden crispness, then tucked into a bread roll (pav) and served with garlic chili chutney. Available at almost every railway station stall, Anand Vada Pav in Vile Parle is a revered benchmark.
2. Pav Bhaji
A fiery, buttery mash of potatoes and mixed vegetables, pav bhaji was born as a quick, hearty meal for textile mill workers. Considered an iconic and good street food in Mumbai, locals often debate bhaji spice blends, but the end result – always delicious!
3. Misal Pav
Misal is a spicy curry made from sprouted beans, topped with a fiery oil (tari), crunchy farsan, chopped onions, and coriander. Paired with soft pav, it’s a breakfast favorite. Dadar’s Aaswad is packed in the mornings—it’s the kind of crowd that signals you’re doing it right. If heat isn’t your friend, ask for matka dahi (set curd) to cool it down.
4. Bhel Puri
On every list of the 10 best street foods in Mumbai, bhel puri is Mumbai’s signature beach snack. Enjoy puffed rice combined with chopped onion, tomato, boiled potato, and raw mango, then toss in sweet-tangy tamarind chutney- sounds heavenly, doesn’t it? Streetside vendors at Chowpatty Beach often turn the prep into “bite theater”, mixing it in front of you so it’s fresh, crisp, and tangy.
5. Sev Puri
Sev puri feels like a refined cousin to bhel puri: round, fried puris are dressed with diced veggies, chutneys, and a heap of sev on top. The bite is crisp, juicy, spicy, sweet—like a little flavor fireworks display. Fort-area carts specialize in balancing chutney, crunch, and portion, ideal for grazing outings.
6. Pani Puri
Pani puri delivers an explosive burst of flavor. Hollow semolina balls are cracked, filled with a mix of potato and chickpea, and then dunked in spicy mint-tamarind water (pani). You must eat it in one go for full effect. Vendors let you choose between teekha (spicy) or meetha (sweet) pani. Elco Pani Puri in Bandra is a local hero, letting you dial up the spice as you go.
7. Ragda Pattice
Ragda pattice features two crispy potato patties drenched in white-pea ragda (gravy), topped with chutneys, chopped onions, and sev. It’s part chaat, part main dish—and entirely comforting in a messy, flavor-packed way. Drop by the Cannon Pav Bhaji stall outside CST to see how it’s done.
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8. Bombay Sandwich
Another famous Mumbai street food, this vegetarian sandwich, stacks thinly sliced cucumber, tomato, beetroot, boiled potato, mint chutney, butter, and masala between slices of bread—sometimes toasted, sometimes cold. The result is crunchy, refreshing, and surprisingly filling. Sandwichwalla near H. R. College offers a walnut-green-chutney variant that’s a fan favorite.
9. Kheema Pav
Ranking among the famous street foods in Mumbai, Kheema pav is a meat-lover’s breakfast delight. Think minced mutton (kheema) stewed with spices, onions, and tomatoes, served hot next to buttered pav. Olympia Coffee House in Colaba and Bademiya near Apollo Bunder are legendary—for good reason. Go before noon; the kheema pot empties fast.
10. Baida Roti
Ideal for late-night food hunts, baida roti is a flakey paratha stuffed with spiced mince and a whole egg, then shallow-fried. It’s eaten folded around lime and green chutney—a perfect match. On Mohammad Ali Road after dark, especially during Ramadan, the atmosphere is electric and the roti irresistible.
11. Kanda Bhaji (Onion Bhajiyas)
Thinly sliced onions tossed in gram-flour batter spiced with ajwain and chili then deep-fried into golden fritters. On rainy evenings, these hit a nostalgic note—ideally with a half-glass of cutting chai to warm your hands. Tea stalls around CST serve them with monsoon-perfect indulgence.
12. Frankie
A Mumbai-invented wrap, the frankie, is another famous Mumbai street food: a soft roti is filled with spiced chicken or paneer, rolled and sprinkled with Tibbs Frankie’s signature masala. While mall outlets exist, college-area carts often deliver better filling-to-price ratios—and hand them over with pickled onions and extra heat.
13. Dosa from Udipi Carts
Though South Indian in origin, Mumbai’s udipi-style dosa evolved here—with additions like schezwan or cheese. But the traditional masala dosa—crispy, fermented crepe with spiced potato inside—is still the gold standard. In Matunga, udipi carts near temples hold a loyal crowd, and their sambar is famously thick and spicy. This delicacy is easily among the 10 best street food in Mumbai.
14. Chinese Bhel
A Mumbai-style Indo-Chinese bowl: deep-fried noodles tossed with cabbage, carrots, spring onions, soy sauce, and chili sauce. Crunchy, saucy, and addictive. Carter Road promenade hosts several vendors whose flaming stir-frying draws a crowd—and guarantees a meal you won’t forget.
15. Dabeli
A Gujarati import that Mumbai has embraced: spicy–sweet masala potato stuffed into pav, garnished with pomegranate, peanuts, and sev, then pressed on a hot griddle. The mix of textures and flavors is quick to draw you in. In Borivali, look for small carts; in Kandivali, the Growel’s Mall cart is worth the queue.
16. Falooda
More meal than drink in a tall glass: soaked basil seeds, vermicelli noodles, rose syrup, sweetened milk, and ice cream, topped with crunchy nuts. Perfect for cooling your palate after spicy food. Badshah’s falooda stall in Crawford Market dates back to 1905 and remains packed year-round—proof that classics endure.
17. Kulfi on a Stick
Mumbai’s kulfi is dense, creamy, and intensely flavored from nuts or mangoes. The New Kulfi Centre at Chowpatty adds a modern twist—liquid-nitrogen flash-freezing for dramatic flair and perfectly smooth texture. Try sitaphal (custard apple) if it’s in season.
18. Bun Maska with Irani Chai
Found in Irani cafés, not stalls, this combo feels like Mumbai in liquid form. A soft, buttery bun (“bun maska”) is dipped into a creamy, strong milky tea. Kyani & Co. near Metro Cinema still wears its early-20th-century furnishings—the perfect spot to slow down and watch the city hustle by.
Parting Thoughts
From crunchy chaat to spicy treats and cooling desserts, Mumbai’s street food scene is a sensory-rich crash course in the city’s spirit. It’s accessible and affordable yet packed with flavor and history. Let this list guide your journey, but stay open-minded—sometimes, the best bites come from unexpected corners.
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