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South Indian vegetarianMatunga
Cafe Madras at Kings Circle has poured Chennai-style filter coffee since 1940. The idli is steamed in cotton batter; the masala dosa is the benchmark.
OrderTwo filter coffees, one set of idli, one Mysore masala dosa.
TipMondays are closed; Sunday breakfast queue starts at 07:00. Cash and card both accepted.
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Udupi South IndianMatunga
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.
OrderThe unlimited thali; come hungry.
TipLunch only here; book the upstairs hall ahead for groups of six or more guests.
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SeafoodKala Ghoda
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.
OrderThe butter pepper garlic crab with butter naan.
TipReserve at least two days ahead and call to confirm crab availability.
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ParsiFort
Britannia has poured Iranian zereshk berries over mutton pulao at this Ballard Estate room since 1923, three generations of the Kohinoor family running it.
OrderThe mutton berry pulao with a side of sali boti.
TipCash only; arrive by 13:00 weekdays or risk the berry pulao running out. Closed Sunday.
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Modern IndianLower Parel
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.
OrderEggs kejriwal at brunch, ghee roast chicken seekh at dinner.
TipSunday brunch books out a week ahead; the Canteen Experience tasting runs 3754 rupees.
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GoanFort
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.
OrderTandoori pomfret and a side of neer dosa.
TipOrder solkadhi to follow the meal; the kokum drink settles the spice.