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As dusk drops over Mumbai during the month of Ramadan, Mohammed Ali Road changes into something far more than just being a street; it becomes a living food festival lane. These places often steal the show during Ramadan time and locals swear by the taste and food they serve.
These places serve the dishes that have been perfected over decades, maintaining the same taste, year after year. Exploring these places at Mohammad Ali Road in Mumbai during Ramadan feels less like dining and more like joining a nightly tradition shared by the city.
Suleman Usman Mithaiwala
If you want to know that one dessert that describes Ramadan at Mohammad Ali Road, it is the malpua loaded with rabdi at Suleman Usman Mithaiwala. The malpuas here are slightly thick, having crisp edges and a custardy centre, all because there is egg and mawa in the batter. They are deep-fried in deep ghee and instantly soaked in saffron-scented sugar syrup, then served topped with chilled rabdi. The place is equally well-known for its 'Aflatoon', a thick Bohri sweet that is prepared by mixing eggs, ghee, sugar, and mawa that tastes like a sumptuous halwa-fudge mixture. During Ramadan, you will see trays of phirni and barfi lined up on the counters and fresh malpuas with rabri being served one after the other.
Location: Ibrahim Merchant Rd, near Minara Masjid
Time: 7 PM – 1 AM (Ramadan nights)
Cost For Two: Rs 300 to Rs 400
(Image credit: Freepik)
Sarvi Restaurant
Sarvi is the place where people go when they want to enjoy a proper sit-down Mughlai meal. Chicken korma is the star dish here that is slow-cooked in a thick, fragrant gravy enhanced with browned onions, yoghurt, and a light sweetness of dry fruits. You will find the meat to be extremely soft because it is cooked patiently for hours. Pair it with soft tandoori rotis or buttery naan, and you will know why this place is always packed during Ramadan evenings. Many locals also swear by their bheja masala, which is deeply spiced but also has a creamy texture that pairs beautifully with any bread.
Location: Mohammed Ali Road, near JJ Junction
Time: 6 PM – 1 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 700 to Rs 900
Tawakkal Sweets
Tawakkal Sweets is one of those spots where you go with the intention to taste just one thing, but end up eating lost count. The highlight of the place is the malpua, which is thinner and has a lacy edge, which are served piping hot and often sometimes paired with firni. The contrast of the taste of hot syrupy malpua with cool firni is what makes it a classic Ramadan dessert pairing. The shop also sells varieties of sevaiyan and classic mithai, but you will see guests mainly asking specifically for those freshly fried malpuas.
Location: Khara Tank Road, Bohri Mohalla
Time: 7 PM – 12:30 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 200 to Rs 300
(Image credit: Freepik)
Noorani Milk Centre
Amid all the shining kebabs and gravies and fried food stalls, Noorani Milk Centre is the place you head to if you want something chilling. Their famous masala milk is thick, a bit sweet, and loaded with a generous layer of malai and some chopped pistachios. Mainly served chilled in tall glasses, it is the perfect palate cleanser after having all the spicy street food. You can also find badam milk and dry-fruit milkshakes here, which serve as a quick energy drink.
Location: Near Minara Masjid, Mohammed Ali Road
Time: 6 PM – 2 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 200 to Rs 250
Surti 12 Handi
If you are someone looking for deep, slow-cooked flavours, Surti 12 Handi is a must-try. The restaurant serves handi-style stews, where meats are cooked unhurriedly in clay pots with complex spice mixes. Their nalli nihari is particularly famous, which is simmered for hours until the marrow melts into the gravy. The outcome is rich, thick, and intensely aromatic gravy. Another standout thing is the Surti handi mutton, which carries a subtle Gujarati Muslim influence with slightly sweeter, spice-layered gravy. Pair a rumali roti or khameeri roti with it for a sumptuous meal experience.
Location: Memonwada Road, near Mohammad Ali Road
Time: 7 PM – 1 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 900 to Rs 1,200
(Image credit: Freepik)
Chinese N Grill
If you are lured by the smoky aromas of charcoal you smell through the crowds, it is probably rising from the Chinese N Grill. The stall is renowned for its chicken shawarma rolls, where thinly sliced chicken spins slowly on a vertical spit until the edges turn crisp. The meat is shaved into soft rumali-style wraps, layered with garlic-flavoured mayo, pickled vegetables, and chilli sauce. Those who are regular customers also swear by the chicken cheese seekh kebab, which has molten cheese inside the minced meat, making each bite a creamy centre against the smoky grilled crust.
Location: Mohammed Ali Road, near Minara Masjid
Time: 7 PM – 2 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 350to Rs 500
Taj Ice Cream
In the middle of all the hot sizzling and kebabs, Taj Ice Cream is like an old-world dessert stop. What makes this place stand out from others is that you will find ice cream hand-churned here using traditional methods rather than the commercial machines. The must-try here is the sitafal (custard apple) ice cream, which tastes just like the real thing and is also creamy because real fruit pulp is mixed into the base without any artificial add-ons. Their mango and chikoo flavours are especially popular. People often line up after enjoying a heavy meal to get something cool.
Location: Mohammed Ali Road
Time: 7 PM – 1 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 250 to Rs 350
(Image credit: Freepik)
Haji Tikka
Haji Tikka is one of those food joints where the grill never stops during Ramadan nights. The highlight of the place is the chicken tikka, which is marinated in a deep red spice mix, cooked over open charcoal until the outside gets a little charred while the inside remains juicy. Another choice is the malai tikka, where the marinade of cream, cheese, and light spices makes an incredibly soft, almost buttery texture.
Location: Near Minara Masjid signal, Mohammed Ali Road
Time: 6:30 PM – 1:30 AM
Cost For Two: Rs 400 to Rs 600
