Soam is a dietary-friendly spot in Chowpatty, Mumbai.
Soam's Gujarati menu is fully vegetarian: saat dana khichdi, undhiyo, bhinda nu shaak and seasonal aamras. Three-generation family operation since 2005.
Must order: Saat dana khichdi and a glass of chaas.
Tip: Weekends busiest; weekday lunches calmest. Cash and card both accepted.
Address: Sadguru Sadan, Ground Floor, Babulnath Road, Chowpatty, 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.
Order: Channa bhatura with a hot fudge sundae to close.
Tip: Family-friendly with a high-chair stock; weekday lunches are quietest.
Cafe Madras at Kings Circle is a Udupi pure-veg room since 1940. Filter coffee, idli, Mysore masala dosa and a vegetarian lunch thali on banana leaves daily.
Order: Filter coffee and a Mysore masala dosa.
Tip: Closed Mondays; weekend mornings queue from 07:00. Cash and card both accepted.
A Rama Nayak's Udupi Shri Krishna Boarding has run an unlimited South Indian vegetarian thali in Matunga since 1942. Editor's TableJourney pick.
Order: Unlimited thali; come hungry.
Tip: Lunch only on weekdays; weekend dinner runs quietest. Cash and card both accepted.
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.
Order: Channa bhatura with a hot fudge sundae to close.
Tip: Family-friendly with a high-chair stock; weekday lunches are quietest.
Bademiya's Mughlai kebab program has run halal certified since 1946. Seekh kebab, baida roti, chicken tikka roll. Editor's TableJourney pick.
Order: Mutton seekh in a baida roti and a chicken tikka roll for the road.
Tip: Halal certification posted at the counter; cash and card both accepted.
Mohammed Ali Road's stalls are mostly halal-certified Muslim kitchens. Biryani, seekh, baida roti and sheermal anchor the menu through the night.
Order: Seekh kebabs at Surti's, baida roti at Noor Mohammadi, sheermal from the corner bakery.
Tip: Cash easiest; Ramadan evenings run until suhoor (04:00). Cash and card both accepted.
Candy and Green in Bandra is a dedicated vegan and gluten-free cafe. The menu marks every gluten-free option, including buddha bowls and gluten-free brownies.
Order: Gluten-free buddha bowl and a brownie.
Tip: The bakery counter has gluten-free options labelled. Cash and card both accepted.