Do you ever wake up dreaming about a vada pav? Have you travelled the length and breadth of the city just to satisfy your craving? For a city that swears by it’s vada pav, we thought why not present to you our fave joints serving this snack? Spicy, tangy, cheezy, or double-loaded-the city's got whatever your palette prefers.
Vada Pav Is PYAAR? 8 Joints In Mumbai To Bookmark!
Ashok Vada Pav, Prabhadevi
Ashok vada pav in Dadar is a place that every Mumbaikar swears by. Set aside the hype, Ashok truly does make a delicious snack. Having created another version of it too, fondly called the choora pav where he mixes the choora with chutney and stuffs it in the pav, he has been serving this vada-pav for over two decades, and it has been consistently tasting the same. An undisputed winner, we'd say!
Shankar Vada Pav, Bandra West
Shankar Vada Pav was started back in 1975, when Shankar would initially sell his fare from a hand cart until he started selling and earning enough to buy a shop. Through time, while the people have changed, Shankar Vada Pav still remains the popular, inexpensive stall that sells the same three items as it did back when it started. You get masala vada pav, moong daal bhajias, and mirchi bhajias. You'll be in for a treat, we promise!
Pipasa, Borivali West
Pipasa is yet another place that aces the Mumbai street side vada pav flavours. They sell a winning combination of vadas, pav and samosas, along with a range of lassi (make sure you try the rich, yummy Punjabi lassi) making them a go-to place for many. If your appetite allows you to take in more, then try their batata vada, dahi samosa or samosa pav too!
Aram Vada Pav, Fort
Situated in the prime office district of Fort, Aram is another epic destination for vada pav in Mumbai. One big reason for its thriving popularity is the good pricing- you get the usual pav and vada, poha, and the brilliant grilled cheese vada pav (great comfort food) here. You won't get comfortable seating here, but the great taste of food makes up for it.
Anand Stall, Vile Parle
The stretch outside NM/Mithibai College is a Golden Stretch of sorts for street food. It's quite obvious that every thela in this line is uber popular. We're sure you've seen this place abuzz any time of day, while you're driving by. Anand Vada Pav is an irremovable fixture here. They've got normal vada pav, but they've also got Schezwan Vada Pav, Kanda Vada Pav, and Cheese Vada Pao. Basically, head here for the OG, and the permutations, both.
Gajanan Vada Pav, Thane
Gajanan's famous for the besan chutney they give you with their vada pav. While the vada pav itself is spectacular, the chutney ameliorates and elevates the experience that it is... Imagine dunking a hot, crispy vada (with the pav of course) into a warm, spicy chutney. Mm hm. That's right.
Graduate Vada Pav, Byculla
Let's just say that with 20 years of business, this place has graduated with some impeccable skills of satisfying every customer's taste buds, with vada pavs that remain consistent in taste. Don't be surprised when we say that it feeds nearly 2,000 people daily. Also because it is located right outside the Byculla station. Graduate vada pav is known for it's various chutneys- from chilli and garlic to tamarind and coconut, served along with the vada pav.
Parleshwar Vada Pav Samrat, Vile Parle
Last in our list but undoubtedly one of the best places in the city, this one's known for serving vada pavs with coconut slices. This addition makes Samrat stand out and keeps its customers returning for more, but coconut in vada is a bit of an acquired taste- you’ll either love it or completely hate it. We hope it is the former with you!
Still not convinced which one of Mumbai's iconic Vada Pav's is the ultimate? Check out this video where two of our favourite joints Ashok and Anand go head to head.