A Rama Nayak Udipi Shri Krishna is an udupi south indian restaurant in Matunga, Mumbai.
A Rama Nayak's Udipi Shri Krishna Boarding has run the unlimited South Indian thali in Matunga since 1942. Banana leaves, ghee roast, sambar refills.
Signature dishes: Thali, Mangalorean ghee roast, Filter coffee
Must order: The unlimited thali; come hungry.
Tip: Lunch only here; book the upstairs hall ahead for groups of six or more guests.
Address: 1st Floor LBS Market Building, Lakhamsi Nappu Road, Matunga East, Mumbai 400019
Trishna in Kala Ghoda has poured butter, pepper and garlic over jumbo crab since 1965. The room is small, the bill is steep, the crab is the city benchmark.
Signature: Butter pepper garlic crab, Squid koliwada, Hyderabadi fish tikka
Order: The butter pepper garlic crab with butter naan.
Tip: Reserve at least two days ahead and call to confirm crab availability.
Britannia has poured Iranian zereshk berries over mutton pulao at this Ballard Estate room since 1923, three generations of the Kohinoor family running it.
Signature: Berry pulao, Sali boti, Caramel custard
Order: The mutton berry pulao with a side of sali boti.
Tip: Cash only; arrive by 13:00 weekdays or risk the berry pulao running out. Closed Sunday.
Floyd Cardoz, Sameer Seth and Yash Bhanage opened The Bombay Canteen in Kamala Mills in 2015 and reframed regional Indian cooking as a tasting-format menu.
Signature: Eggs kejriwal, Ghee roast chicken seekh, Gulab nut
Order: Eggs kejriwal at brunch, ghee roast chicken seekh at dinner.
Tip: Sunday brunch books out a week ahead; the Canteen Experience tasting runs 3754 rupees.
S C Karkera opened Mumbai's first dedicated Mangalorean room in Fort in 1977. The pomfret hits the tandoor whole and the fish gassi runs with thick coconut.
Signature: Tandoori pomfret, Crab butter pepper garlic, Neer dosa
Order: Tandoori pomfret and a side of neer dosa.
Tip: Order solkadhi to follow the meal; the kokum drink settles the spice.
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.
Signature: Raan, Kabab e khas, Murgh malai kabab
Order: The raan for two with mint chutney.
Tip: Lunch sees less wait than dinner; book the upstairs section for groups.
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.
Signature: Malvani prawn curry, Bombil fry, Surmai tikka
Order: Bombil rava fry and Malvani prawn curry with rice.
Tip: Order sol kadhi to drink after; it cuts the coconut gravies.
