Every vada pav stall has a similar style of serving the vada pav; they add coriander and pomegranate seeds, mint-based sauces, garlic, and red chili chutney. So, if you’re from Mumbai, or if you are planning to visit Mumbai anytime soon, you can visit these ten places to indulge in the best vada pav in the city.
1. Aaram Vada Pav
For more than seven decades, Aaram Vada Pav has been providing delicious vada pav to Mumbai citizens. It is located right across the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Railway Station. The signature dish of this place is Vada Pav, which is served with a special garlic chutney. Additionally, patrons can enjoy Grilled Cheese Vada Pav and Mirchi Vada Pav. The seating arrangements are not very well maintained; however, this is what gives the place its unique old-world charm.
Address: Capitol Cinema Building, Opp. CST Station, Mumbai CST Area
Cost for two: INR 200
Time: 8.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.
2. Ashok Vada Pav
This Mumbai joint has been supplying quality and flavorful vada pavs to thousands of Mumbaikars and even to famous Bollywood stars such as Sushmita Sen, Madhuri Dixit, and Sonu Nigam. They are special in that their menu and quality have remained constant throughout the years, making them a hit with their customers. Also, they make a dish called choora pav, which is a bread roll filled with choora and chutney.
Where: Off Cadel Road, Kirti College Lane, Prabhadevi
Cost for two: INR 100
Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
3. Dhiraj Sandwich, Vile Parle
Vada pavs from Dhiraj are always popular with the hordes of college students who line up there for a quick bite. You'll be able to savor mouth-watering vada pavs crammed with buttery goodness. This tiny stall opposite Mithibai College is famous for its wide range of dosas and sandwiches as well. You must taste the Jini dosa, which comes with coconut and red chutney, as well as the Pizza dosa, which is equally scrumptious and savory and comes with loads of cheese.
Where: Opposite Mithibai College, Road 1, N S Road, Vile Parle West
Cost for two: INR 200
Time: 4:15 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
4. Ladu Samrat, Lalbaug, Parel
Try the huge vada pavs available at this iconic Maharashtrian food restaurant in Parel. The vada pav sold here is much bigger than the others sold across the city, and you will find yourself licking your fingers after eating them. Here you will also find amazing masala pav and kothambir vadi slathered with garlic chutney.
Where: Shop No.: 1 Habib Terrace Lalbaug, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Rd, Ganesh Gully, Parel
Cost for two: INR 200
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
5. Anand Vada Pav
Students from Mithabai College flock for hot vada pav at Anand Vada Pav because of its huge size and superb flavors. While here, you can also get schezwan cheese, grill cheese, and mayonnaise cheese vada pavs. They also provide grilled sandwiches and the most amazing dosas that would put other eateries to shame.
Where: Opposite Mithibai College, Gulmohar Road 1, Vile Parle West
Cost for two: INR 200
Time: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
6. Shankar Vada Pav
In the beginning, Shankar would sell his vada pavs from a small stall he owned until he began earning enough money to buy a small shop. Today, this eatery still sells the same three items—vada pavs, moong dal bhajis, and mirchi bhajis—as it did when it began. The basic preparation for the food items is done at his house by his wife. Do not miss out on the dal bhajis, which are fried three times to make them crispy, but when you eat them, there won’t be a drop of oil in them.
Where: Shop 1, Panchsheel Apartment, Guru Nanak Road, opposite PWC Building, Bandra Talao, Bandra West
Cost for two: INR 100
Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
7. Pipasa
Pipasa is another restaurant that excels at Mumbai street-side vada pav flavors. Along with vadas, pavs, and samosas, they also serve a variety of lassis, including delicious Punjabi lassis. You should definitely try their batata vada, dahi samosa, or samosa pav with their lassi, which people say is thick and creamy.
Where: 70, Goyal Shopping Arcade, Swami Vivekananda Rd., opposite Borivali Station, Sundar Nagar, Borivali West
Cost for two: INR 150
Time: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
8. Gajanan Vada Pav
If you order a pav of vada at Gajanan, you get a special besan chutney as a bonus. The vada pav itself is wonderful, but the chutney improves and elevates the experience. You also get other memorable snacks like onion samosa, Gajanan special vada pav, nimbu pani, and
Where: Chhatrapati Sambhaji Rd., Naupada, Thane West, Thane
Cost for two: INR 100
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
9. Graduate Vada Pav
With 20 years in business, this restaurant has mastered the art of catering to everyone's tastebuds while maintaining the same quality of vada pavs. It serves nearly 2,000 people daily, and it's located near the Byculla railway station. They sell chutneys made of chili and garlic, tamarind, and coconut, among other flavors, as well as vada pavs.
Where: Shop No. 29, Haji Ghani Building, opposite Byculla East Railway Station
Cost for two: INR 100
Time: 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
10. Parleshwar Vada Pav Samrat, Vile Parle
There are many types of vada pav available at this eatery just near the Vile Parle railway station. They sell the normal vada pav, cheese burst vada pav, butter vada pav, and more. The cheese burst is the most popular item, with heaps of cheese and some mayonnaise; their chutneys are also nice.
Where: Shop 4, Nand Prem Complex, Hanuman Rd., Navpada, Vile Parle East, Vile Parle,
Cost for two: INR 150
Time: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
