15 casual dining worth the trip across India, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All India guides.
Britannia and Co ★ 4.7 · Mumbai
fort · Wakefield House, 11 Sprott Road, Ballard Estate, Fort, Mumbai 400001
Britannia in Ballard Estate has poured Iranian zereshk berries over mutton pulao since 1923. Lunchtime only weekdays; Saturday opens until 22:00.
Tip: Cash only; arrive by 13:00 weekdays or the berry pulao runs out. Closed Sunday.
Mahesh Lunch Home ★ 4.5 · Mumbai
fort · 8-B Cawasji Patel Street, Fort, Mumbai 400001
S C Karkera opened Mumbai's first dedicated Mangalorean room in Fort in 1977. The pomfret hits the tandoor whole; the fish gassi runs with thick coconut.
Tip: Order sol kadhi to follow the meal; the kokum drink settles the spice.
Bademiya ★ 4.5 · Mumbai
colaba · Tulloch Road, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 400001
Bademiya has run charcoal kebabs behind the Taj since 1946. The street stall pulls midnight queues for baida roti, seekh kabab and chicken tikka rolls.
Tip: Street stall runs until 03:00; the indoor sit-down branches close at midnight.
A Rama Nayak Udipi Shri Krishna ★ 4.5 · Mumbai
matunga · 1st Floor LBS Market Building, Lakhamsi Nappu Road, Matunga East, Mumbai 400019
A Rama Nayak's Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding has run an unlimited South Indian thali in Matunga since 1942. Banana leaves, ghee roast, sambar refills.
Tip: Lunch only on weekdays here; book the upstairs hall ahead for groups of six or more guests.
Jimmy Boy ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
fort · Vikas Building, 11 Bank Street, Off Horniman Circle, Fort, Mumbai 400023
Jimmy Boy off Horniman Circle runs the Parsi wedding menu daily: patra ni machhi, sali boti, dhansak, akuri, lagan nu custard. Three-generation Parsi family.
Tip: The Sunday Parsi wedding thali is the order; book ahead for it.
Soam ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
chowpatty · Sadguru Sadan, Ground Floor, Babulnath Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007
Pinki Dixit's Soam in Chowpatty has run Gujarati and Maharashtrian home cooking since 2005. Saat dana khichdi runs seven grains; undhiyo holds nine.
Tip: Weekend lunches crowd hard; arrive at 12:00 sharp for a counter seat.
Swati Snacks ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
tardeo · 248 Karai Estate, Tardeo Road, Opposite Bhatia Hospital, Tardeo, Mumbai 400007
Swati Snacks in Tardeo has run family-style Gujarati for three generations. Panki on banana leaves, faraali pattice and seasonal aamras with hot puris.
Tip: Aamras season runs March to May; book ahead for weekends in those months.
Gajalee ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
andheri · Kadamgiri Complex, Hanuman Road, Vile Parle East, Mumbai 400057
Gajalee in Vile Parle East serves Malvani coastal cooking with the koli catch that morning. The thali runs prawns, surmai and crab with sol kadhi.
Tip: Sol kadhi after the meal cuts the coconut gravies. Cash and card both accepted.
Khyber ★ 4.4 · Mumbai
kala-ghoda · 145 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Kala Ghoda, Fort, Mumbai 400001
Khyber on MG Road has been a Mumbai Mughlai institution since 1958. The murals run the length of the room and the raan still arrives at the table on a board.
Tip: Lunch sees less wait than dinner; book upstairs for groups. Cash and card both accepted.
Cafe Mondegar ★ 4.3 · Mumbai
colaba · 5A Metro House, Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, Near Regal Cinema, Colaba, Mumbai 400039
Cafe Mondegar opened in 1932 on Colaba Causeway. The Mario Miranda murals on opposite walls are the room's signature; the Wurlitzer jukebox still works.
Tip: The Wurlitzer takes coins; bring change for it. Cash and card both accepted.
Indigo Delicatessen ★ 4.2 · Mumbai
colaba · 5 Ground Floor, Pheroze Building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai 400039
Rahul Akerkar's Indigo Deli on Colaba Causeway runs all day, two minutes from the Gateway. Eggs benedict for breakfast, burger for lunch, sticky toffee.
Tip: The bakery counter sells loaves and danishes from 11:00; come earlier for croissants.
Cream Centre ★ 4.2 · Mumbai
chowpatty · 25/B Chowpatty Seaface, Chowpatty, Girgaon, Mumbai 400007
Cream Centre opened at Chowpatty Seaface in 1958 as a vegetarian sweets and snacks counter. The channa bhatura is the canonical dish; the hot fudge sundae.
Tip: Family-friendly with a high-chair stock; weekday lunches are quietest.
Papa Pancho Da Dhaba ★ 4.2 · Mumbai
bandra-west · Shop 12, Gasper Enclave, Pali Naka, St John Street, Bandra West, Mumbai 400050
Papa Pancho on Pali Naka serves dhaba-style Punjabi cooking since 1997: sarson da saag, butter chicken, makki rotis and lassi in steel tumblers.
Tip: Cash and card both accepted; the pork pickle is a take-home favourite.
Pancham Puriwala ★ 4.2 · Mumbai
fort · 8-10 Perin Nariman Street, Fort, Mumbai 400001
Pancham Puriwala near CSMT has fried puris and served thali to Bombay commuters since 1848. UP migrants who succeeded in the puri trade opened the room.
Tip: Cash easiest; lunch service is fastest before 12:30. Cash and card both accepted.
Sukh Sagar ★ 4.0 · Mumbai
chowpatty · Ground Floor, Marina Mansion, SVP Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007
Sukh Sagar at Chowpatty has run a pure-veg multicuisine menu for four decades. Pav bhaji, sandwiches, dosas and the South Indian counter run all day.
Tip: Crowded counter, table service runs slower; takeaway at the front is faster.