Goan$$fortDaily 11:30-16:00, 18:00-23:00
S C Karkera opened Mumbai's first dedicated Mangalorean room in Fort in 1977. The pomfret hits the tandoor whole and the fish gassi runs with thick coconut.
Signature: Tandoori pomfret, Crab butter pepper garlic, Neer dosa
Order: Tandoori pomfret and a side of neer dosa.
Tip: Order solkadhi to follow the meal; the kokum drink settles the spice.
North Indian$$$kala-ghodaDaily 12:30-15:30, 19:30-23:30
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.
Seafood$$andheriDaily 11:30-00:00
Gajalee in Vile Parle East serves Malvani coastal cooking with the koli catch that morning. The thali runs prawns, surmai and crab with sol kadhi.
Signature: Malvani prawn curry, Bombil fry, Surmai tikka
Order: Bombil rava fry and Malvani prawn curry with rice.
Tip: Order sol kadhi to drink after; it cuts the coconut gravies.
Goan$$$bkcMon-Sun 12:00-15:30, 18:30-01:00
Sameer Seth, Yash Bhanage and Floyd Cardoz opened O Pedro in BKC in 2017 to put Goan and Portuguese cooking on a tasting-format menu in the corporate.
Signature: Pork sorpotel, Bombay duck recheado, Bebinca
Order: The pork sorpotel and a chilled Feni cocktail.
Tip: Sunday Goan brunch runs 12:00 to 16:00 and is the easiest reservation.
Cantonese dim sum$$$bkcDaily 12:00-01:30
Hakkasan Group's Yauatcha in BKC pours dim sum and Cantonese small plates all day. The patisserie counter at the entrance does mango macarons and chocolate.
Signature: Har gau, Crystal dumplings, Mango macaron
Order: Har gau, prawn cheung fun and a mango macaron at the patisserie.
Tip: Lunch dim sum is half the price of dinner and easier to book.
Mughlai kebabs$$colabaDaily 12:00-03:00
Bademiya has run kebabs on charcoal behind the Taj since 1946. The street stall on Tulloch Road still pulls midnight queues for baida roti and chicken.
Signature: Seekh kabab, Baida roti, Chicken tikka roll
Order: Mutton seekh in a baida roti and a chicken tikka roll for the road.
Tip: The street stall is open until 03:00; the indoor sit-down branches close at midnight.