You've Gotta Try The Freshly Made Crispy Potato Wafers From This 54-Year-Old Mumbai Shop

Pankaj Farsan and Wafer Mart has been around since 1962 in Vile Parle. With our stomachs grumbling for a snack, the enticement of freshly-made wafers came in handy. So, we made our way there.

The mart was established almost 54 years ago, and has an equally loyal following now as it did then. In fact, we’d say, it seems to have increased over the years. Known for their fresh, hand-cut potato wafers, the shop has sustained itself over the years, probably owing to its cult following amongst the residents of Vile Parle.

Started off by Kanti Lal, who made the potato chips himself, the shop was taken over by his sons, Pankaj and Nilesh in 2009 after his demise. The shop on Hanuman Road stocks up on all sorts of snacks, form your regular Maharashtrian snacks to Kerala banana chips. A tiny chaat stall is also stationed outside the store front.

The potato chips are our favourite, and also the most popular item in the shop. These potato wafers are all-natural, and are made in their in-house kitchen at the back of the shop.

First they cut the potatoes, then sprinkle them with a mix of salt water, eventually deep frying them in the oil. This happens every day barring Monday {when they’re closed} form 5pm to 7pm. A packet of kilo of wafers will cost INR 400 to INR 150 for 100 gram each.

Not just wafers, they also have handmade farsan at the shop. There’s your chiwdha, mixes, puran poli, gul poli and telpoli.

We also loved their samosa and dhokla. The samosa is also fried fresh every three-four hours, served with a delicious sweet and green chutney. Nilesh tells us during the festival season, especially during Dusshera, the shop opens up as early as 7am with people queuing for snacks, and sweets and shuts shop around 8pm.

An iconic shop in the suburbs of Mumbai, Pankaj Farsan and Wafers is where you go for wafers, snacks and more.