Indian$fortDaily 10:00-22:30
Pancham Puriwala by CSMT runs the Pancham Thali (puri, sabzi, dal, rice, papad, chutney, sweet) for INR 250 a head. Open since 1848, lunch counter only.
Try: Pancham thali
Order: Pancham Thali with extra puris.
Tip: Lunch service runs fastest before 12:30; cash easiest. Cash and card both accepted.
South Indian$matungaDaily 11:30-15:30, 19:00-22:30
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.
Indian$chowpattyDaily 09:00-00:00
Sukh Sagar at Chowpatty has run a pure-veg multicuisine menu for four decades. The pav bhaji is INR 220, sandwiches and dosas around the same.
Try: Pav bhaji
Order: Pav bhaji and a sweet lassi.
Tip: Takeaway at the front counter is faster than table service. Cash and card both accepted.
Street food$tardeoDaily 12:00-00:00
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.
Street food$fortMon-Sat 07:30-21:00
Fort's vada pav stalls along Horniman Circle and DN Road price at INR 30 a piece. Mill-worker rates have held; the chutney is made every morning.
Try: Vada pav and samosa pav
Order: A vada pav with garlic chutney and a samosa pav.
Tip: Office-lunch hours (12:30-14:00) busiest; calm before 12:00.
Street food$matungaDaily 07:00-21:00
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.
Try: Vada pav
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.