Variations of khichdi exist all around the country (possible, the globe, too) and the South is no exception. Pongal's a ghee-laden, dal-spiked, cashew-filled dish that warms you right up when eaten in the winter months. Just like khichdi, it's an amazing comfort food, and while it's prepared routinely at every South Indian household (just ask the Iyer in your life), restaurants don't always get it quite right. Here's a list of places you can try this dish at and celebrate Pongal in 2023!
Top Places In Mumbai For Delicious Pongal
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Dakshinayan
With branches in Juhu and SoBo, Dakshinayan is a great option for most of us in the city. Their pongal's heavy on the cashews and pepper, and is sinfully ghee-laden. It's thick, mealy and goes perfectly with their sambhar. Go here for brunch with the fam, and you're gonna be pleasantly surprised by how much you'll be able to tuck into!
Price: A very reasonable INR 175
Banana Leaf
The queues outside every outlet of Banana Leaf make it quite clear that this joint is a fan favourite. Banana Leaf's Pongal is low-key spicy, thicker than the others on this list, and definitely amazing with their chutneys. We love the pairing of pongal with rasam too, so definitely try that when you're here.
They've got a Veg Pongal and a Kara Pongal (basically without veggies) - both are nice!
Price: INR 190 for the Vegetable Pongal and INR 185 for the Kara Pongal
IDLish, Kandivali and Malad
Now this is the super cost-effective option for everyone who's craving Southie fare at the end of the month. A hole-in-the-wall-esque #HiddenGem, they've got a pongal which is homely, light on the stomach and therefore conducive to tucking into a lot of other stuff while you're here.
Price: All of INR 60.
Cafe Madras, Matunga
Can't have a South Indian food-centric list without mentioning this one, now, can we? This icon's got a simple, delish pongal that's unmissable. Head here for a warming plate on a winter morning (or evening), and we promise it's gonna be really, really satisfying.
Price: INR 45 a plate.
Swamy - South Indian Food Express, Mulund
Swamy's Pongal is served with a side of avial as a meal (which it definitely is). The combination is filling, tastes divine and is the perfect winter meal. Head here if you're in the central suburbs, and in the mood to experiment by trying out a lesser-known joint.
Price: INR 55
Madras Diaries, Bandra
This place got really popular recently, and we jumped in on the wave, too. While we adore their Thinnai Rawa Dosas, their Navadhaniya idlis and their Rassam Shots, their pongal, which is a part of the breakfast menu, is a definite winner in our book. Slightly pricier compared to the other joints on this list, we think this is a slightly bougie option, but still worth trying.
Price: INR 125