Make A Pit Stop At These Dhabas On The Mumbai-Pune Highway

Are you a fan of heavenly Punjabi food? Well, Sunny Da Dhabba is the place for you. While their paneer butter masala is a well-known favourite and a dhaba special too, we’d recommend you also try their chicken tikka masala. To end your already wonderful experience on a high, have their flavourful Mango lassi. It’s just what you need before you get back on the road.

Known for their friendly staff, Sheetal Da Dhaba believes in giving you overall great experience. We know how tired we can get while travelling, that’s exactly why we recommend Sheetal Da Dhaba’s chicken biryani. With a mix of rich flavours, the biryani is a heavy dish and makes for an entire meal, even by itself. However, if you still do have some space for dessert, have some of their gajar ka halwa, which will be the perfect, sweet end to your meal.

Offering a genuine dhaba feel with an added bonus of prompt service, Sidhu Punjabi Dhabba has a delicious vegetarian menu. While their palak paneer is a popular choice, we’d suggest you also have their special sarsoon ka saag. Also, have their jalebi and maybe you’d love them enough to even pack some for the way.

With a collection of Chinese and North Indian cuisine, this is one dhaba you wouldn’t want to miss out on. Have their paneer reshmi kebab and their mutton biryani. We haven’t tried anything off their Chinese menu yet, however, if you’re looking to eat light and can do without the extra butter in your food, you might spot some options you like. 

Located near the Somatane Toll Plaza, Bhajan Singh Da Dabba is a must-visit for hardcore non-vegetarians. Offering an extraordinary variety of chicken and mutton dishes, this dhaba is an extremely promising place. While their starters such as the chicken achari kebab and the chicken chilly impressed us significantly, it is their main course that steals the show. Make sure you try their butter chicken and mutton rogan josh.

The Kinara Village Dhaba located near Lonavala at Vasai Naka is a great place to halt at for a quick typical maharashtrian meal. With a comfortable outdoor seating dotted with pagodas, they serve traditional Indian dishes with a very authentic taste. Costing around INR 1200 for two people,  we suggest you to refresh yourself with their fresh mocktails or just a lime soda. If you are a chicken lover, have their chicken do pyaaza. You won’t be able to resist admiring whichever mutton dish you have. Don’t forget to end your meal on a sweet note with our personal favourite cow kharwas or gajar halwa.

Open all round the clock, Babbi Da Dhaba in Khadkale is a place you can halt at any time of the hour and have a scrumptious meal. Serving north Indian and Chinese food, the cost is very affordable, costing something like INR 1000 for two people with fast service. If you want to have some booze, they have options with other refreshments. If you want to go for their Chinese menu, we suggest you to have some lollipop, paneer pakora and aloo chat for small plates and any of the fried rice options. While for north Indian menu, we suggest mutton palak or mutton kheema, their signature veg bhuna, chana masala with dal makhani and paratha. No meal is complete without lassi or chaas.

Toni da Dhaba is one of the legendary dhabas on the old Pune- Mumbai highway that has found loyalists in both the cities. Back in the early 2000s, a weekend road trip to Toni Da Dhaba was a common weekend getaway that many families and friend groups indulged in. Toni Da Dhaba is still known for the simple, soul-comforting food that is made in desi ghee. This family-friendly restaurant might be known for its usual tandoori and curry dishes, but it’s the unusual meats that are our favourite here. You can try quail masala, emu tikka masala, zafrani turkey and duck masala handi are just some of the exotic dishes you can find on their special menu. This expansive dhaba is kid-friendly too, and has a play area as well as a section where you can play with the emus, turkeys and hens. A meal for two here would cost you INR 1200.

Varsu Dhaba on the old Pune-Mumbai highway is where you’d find authentic Maharashtrian food, the likes of which will keep bringing you back for more. Settle down on a khatiya, order yourself some fish fry, chicken tikka or mutton rassa, and settle down to enjoy an authentic, Maharashtrian meal. You can also get your own liquor here! If you’re in the mood for a quick snack, you can drop by for some hot chai and butter toast too. A meal for two here would cost you INR 1000.