Ashok Vaidya Vada Pav is a street food budget eat in Matunga, Mumbai.
The original vada pav stall outside Dadar Station charges INR 25 a piece. Narendra Vaidya carries on what his father Ashok started in 1966 on the same.
Must order: Two vada pavs with red garlic chutney.
Tip: Cash only; arrive before 09:00 to skip the commuter queue. Cash and card both accepted.
Address: Platform 1, Dadar Railway Station (Western Line), Dadar West, Mumbai 400028
Cafe Madras serves filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa for around INR 200 across two. The thali at lunch comes in similarly priced; cash and card both.
Try: Filter coffee and Mysore masala dosa
Order: Filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa.
Tip: Closed Mondays; arrive at 07:00 on weekends. Cash and card both accepted.
A Rama Nayak's unlimited thali on banana leaves runs INR 280 a head. Sambar, ghee roast, four vegetable curries, rice and dessert. Cash easiest.
Try: Unlimited thali
Order: Unlimited thali; come hungry.
Tip: Lunch only on weekdays; weekend dinner runs quietest. Cash and card both accepted.
Kyani still prices bun maska at INR 30 and Irani chai at INR 25. Two of each plus a mawa cake comes to INR 100; the breakfast price has barely moved.
Try: Bun maska and Irani chai
Order: Bun maska, Irani chai and a mawa cake.
Tip: Mornings until 11:00 are the best time; pay cash. Cash and card both accepted.
Cafe Madras serves filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa for around INR 200 across two. The thali at lunch comes in similarly priced; cash and card both.
Try: Filter coffee and Mysore masala dosa
Order: Filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa.
Tip: Closed Mondays; arrive at 07:00 on weekends. Cash and card both accepted.
Pancham Puriwala by CSMT runs the Pancham Thali (puri, sabzi, dal, rice, papad, chutney, sweet) for INR 250 a head. Open since 1848, lunch counter only.
Try: Pancham thali
Order: Pancham Thali with extra puris.
Tip: Lunch service runs fastest before 12:30; cash easiest. Cash and card both accepted.
A Rama Nayak's unlimited thali on banana leaves runs INR 280 a head. Sambar, ghee roast, four vegetable curries, rice and dessert. Cash easiest.
Try: Unlimited thali
Order: Unlimited thali; come hungry.
Tip: Lunch only on weekdays; weekend dinner runs quietest. Cash and card both accepted.
Sukh Sagar at Chowpatty has run a pure-veg multicuisine menu for four decades. The pav bhaji is INR 220, sandwiches and dosas around the same.
Try: Pav bhaji
Order: Pav bhaji and a sweet lassi.
Tip: Takeaway at the front counter is faster than table service. Cash and card both accepted.
Sardar charges INR 150 for the canonical Mumbai pav bhaji. Cheese version runs INR 200; counter service is faster than table service at busy lunch hours.
Try: Pav bhaji
Order: Pav bhaji with extra butter and a sweet lassi.
Tip: Counter service is fastest; ask for the extra-butter version.
