cheap food in Mumbai

Mumbai has plenty of fancy 5-star restaurants, but when you are looking for something affordable with good food, there are lots of options, whether you are throwing a party or searching for late night food.

Pali Fast Food
Basically a roadside shack vibe here, but way more hygienic. They have yummy samosas and onion bhajis here in the evening, but what everyone comes for is the Chinese bhajis and bhel. I have no idea what he puts in his food, but this guy makes great food. The stall opens for dinner at 530PM and they are usually sold out of Chinese bhajis by 730PM. They are also open for lunch and serve pav bhaji, but I've never tried it.

Located next to Pinkberry in Pali Naka

Ashmick's Snack Shack
This place has great Parsi food, some of the best in Bandra at least. They offer good portions that don't lead to overeating, and at super reasonable prices. Be sure to try the sali boti, and the lamb dhansak (only available on Thursday and Sunday), and order extra pav!

2, Lourdes Haven, Pali Junction, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Lassi Te Paronthe
Located on the Carter Blue lane, right next to Subway, this is basically a little stand, but they always have a huge crowd! They have amazing parathas at only Rs.100 a piece, and fantastic momos. Definitely worth trying if you are in the area.

Faiz Tikka
The best, and cheapest, kebabs and rolls in Mumbai, this place always has a mixed crowd whenever I stop by. Located across the street from Gloria Church in Byculla, Faiz has plenty of non vegetarian options, all of which are halal. For only 40-60 rupees, you can get a kebab cooked right in front of you, and for an extra 10, get a roll, all in just 5 minutes. I have no idea how they take so little time, especially compared to the other kebab places I've been, where they take 10-15 minutes to make your food, but this place is my go-to anytime I'm in the area. And considering the fact that my friends and I make special trips down here for the rolls, you know it's worth it. They open at 5PM and I have never seen them run out, even when I go late in the night, say around 11PM, they are still feeding the masses.

Head to Byculla (E), ask for Gloria Church, it's across the street from there and just a little ways down, ask anyone for Faiz and they will point you in the right direction

Mogal Serai
Even though Mumbai is a metropolitan city, most restaurants close at 1AM, at the latest. Around exam time, I tend to stay up all night, and end up getting hungry around 2 or 3AM, but nothing is open and I have nothing in my fridge, this place has saved me so many times. Located near Bandra station, Mogal Serai is pretty safe, even for women late at night, and the food is good and inexpensive. I've seen families come here with their children at 2AM and groups of guys and girls, but if you are a girl, I suggest you come with at least one guy. Even so, it is way safer than most other late night restaurants and the food is tasty.

Near Bandra Railway Station, Next to Citibank ATM, Bandra Talao, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Delhi Zaika*
So many people rave about this place, despite it's shady location that it is definitely worth a visit. Located in Kurla, Delhi Zaika has some of the best chicken I have ever tasted in my life. So succulent and juicy, that I guarantee you will ordering more, and even better, their prices are so incredibly reasonable. Plus, you get to see them cooking all the food out in the open air kitchen! Try to go earlier in the night so that you stay safe, preferably around 7PM (when they open) or even go for lunch. Best part? It's right on the way to Phoenix MarketCity.

5/6, Next to Kamran Kalpana Theater, LBS Marg, Kurla (W), Mumbai
*Delhi Zaika is currently undergoing renovations so they do not have a signboard at the moment, however they still take orders for take away. I do not know when they will reopen for dine-in.

Joseph's Kitchen
Joseph's is home-delivery only, and upon first glance at the menu, it looks expensive, but if you have a big group of people, I highly suggest you order from here. They deliver huge quantities, within an hour, at extremely reasonable rates. They have a huge menu too, and all the food I have ever ordered from here has been more than enough for a party and everyone always loves the food.

29th Road, Prarthana, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai
022 26442262
022 26430212

Punjab Sweet House
Lots of foreigners come to Mumbai wanting to eat street food, but when they arrive, they discover they can't because so many of these stalls are unhygienic, especially with pani puri, you have no idea where the water is coming from or how clean it is. In these situations, it's best to just avoid the street stalls, and go to Punjab Sweet House where they make all the food with Bisleri water. If you ask a street vendor whether their pani puri is made with Bisleri, they will laugh in your face (I say this from experience). I have seen plenty of foreigners eating pani puri contentedly here, armed with the knowledge that their food is free of disease. That said, it is my suggestion that you NEVER have pani puri during the monsoon as that is the breeding season for mosquitoes, and since they breed in stagnant water, you don't want to drink any water that has been sitting out. Also, be sure to drink only filtered or even bottled water during this season. 

Dheeraj Arcade, 84, Dr. Ambedkar Rd, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Imbiss
Imbiss is well-known as a meat-lovers restaurant, so there's no point in going if you are a vegetarian, but in India, because most people are either Hindu or Muslim, restaurants don't really serve much pork or beef. That is not at all the case here, at Imbiss you will find ribs and beef burgers and chorizo rice, all super tasty, and all at reasonable prices. Plus, you might even spot a celebrity here! It can be a bit difficult to find this place since it's kind of hidden, but if you tell the autowala Waroda Road, and just keep an eye out, it should be on your left (if you're coming from Hill Road, but don't try to walk from Hill Road because it's not actually that close by, about 1KM from the Nature's Basket area).

14, Ben O Lil Haven, Waroda Rd, Off Hill Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Candies
Well-known especially amongst college students, everybody knows that this place serves up cheap food, that's pretty good in quality. This place has so much seating, but it still can be difficult to find a place to sit during the peak hours, but that's probably the only time you will actually be able to get the food you want here. Don't go after 8PM or else you'll only get leftovers. 

Mac Ronells, Next to Learners Academy School, Pali Hill, Bandra (W), Mumbai

Hopefully this guide helps you out next time you are looking for a quality place to eat that's not incredibly expensive!

Anagha C.

on cooking in Mumbai

Cooking in Mumbai can be difficult, what with the lack of ingredients thanks to recent sanctions, and a lack of space. However, depending on where you live, it can be easier or more difficult to find the ingredients you might need for a certain dish. I recall a time only about 5-7 years ago, when the only place you could get international foods was Alfa out in Vile Parle. Here is a list of my go-to grocers where I can usually get the stuff I need for dinner.

For Meats

We usually head to Joseph's Cold Storage in Pali Naka for our meats, because you can get ground beef (not easily found in Mumbai for religious reasons) and ground pork. Plus, you can get pretty good steaks, Goan sausages (which I intend to use in a chorizo rice), and Italian sausages (which I am hesitant to try). I love how clean the place is, and you can see the guys who are handling your meat, right behind the counter, so you know how sanitary the conditions are, and they all have neat uniforms. The best part about this place is that they have a board up with all the types of meat they have on offer, so you don't have to go on asking about everything, simply consult the board and see if what you want is there. The only issue is their odd hours, since I tend to do my grocery shopping in the afternoon around 2PM or so, and then I head to class and don't come back until late night. But still, definitely worth a visit, and they deliver!

Joseph's Cold Storage

Shop No. 15, Gasper Enclave Building

St. John's Road

Bandra (W)

Mumbai, MH 400050 India

Phone: +91 22 2642 4261

22 2642 4281

Hours

Sunday 8AM-130PM only

Monday Closed

Tuesday-Saturday 8AM-130PM, 4PM-830PM

For Breads

Now, I know breads don't seem that important but in India I can't make breads at home and mostly you just get pav (like little slider buns) and sliced bread at local grocery shops. For that reason, I go to Camy Wafers in Pali Naka, across from Modern and 5 Spice. they have a pretty good selection of breads (no sourdough though, thats a bit disappointing), and they have sturdy burger buns and hotdog buns that don't break when you stuff them with all the trimmings. Plus, they carry all kinds of farsan (savory snacks, usually made with besan), potato wafers, banana wafers, sweets, and they do cakes and things.

Camy Wafers

Shop No. 1, Lourdes Heaven, Pali Naka, Bandra (W), Mumbai-400050

For International Ingredients

Now I go to a lot of places for ingredients, it really depends on what I'm looking for, but everything is in Bandra (sorry, that's where I live though, so I'm most familiar with the shops here). If I'm looking for something non-veg, say chicken or beef stock cubes (chicken is easy to find, beef is not), I head to Jude's Cold Storage, which is smack dab in the Naka, across from 5 Spice, 1 door down from Camy's. I also get canned tomatoes and kidney beans from here because it's a bit cheaper than Regal around the corner. For refried beans and some Mexican beans (or if Jude's is out of stock), I go to Regal Plus. Jude's also carries sticky rice for sushi, if you're planning on making that, although I suggest you leave that to the professionals because it's hard to find good quality raw fish. Modern Medical shop across the street also has plenty of international ingredients, including basic sushi stuffs, and usually at better prices than say, Regal. Also, if there's something specific you're searching for you might be able to find it at CarreFour in Link Square Mall. The mall itself is super shady, but if you enter through Theobroma's (stop in for a brownie!) and head out through the back door, go straight, take the last left, it will be on your right. They usually have better prices than places in Pali Naka, but since I do my shopping in the Naka, it's usually a bit out of my way, but if I'm headed there I'll stop by.

For Chocolates/Holiday Gifts
Head to Regal Plus! They have a huge selection of sweets and even better, if you need a holiday gift for someone or get well soon basket, they will take care of it for you! Just be aware, if you're buying international ingredients Regal tends to charge a bit more than other places, but they deliver which is always great.

For Alcohol
I don't drink, but sometimes I use alcohol in my cooking (a great french onion soup really needs a glass of white wine to make it yum!). Deepak's Wine Shop has a huge selection of domestic and foreign, and they deliver. Even better, they're open later than most, until about 12AM. 

Deepak's Wine Shop
Shop No. 3, Silver Croft, Pali Mala Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 

For Fruits/Veggies
Now I usually head to the vegetable cart right outside my house because the family there is super nice, but Pali Mala road is the best if you're searching for some irregular ingredient. Plus, they have plenty of herbs and things, packaged like you would find them at home by Trikaya.

For General Groceries
I just head to my local grocers, right around the corner from my place. They deliver, but I usually like to just pop by ad pick up whatever I need. I also order my 20L jugs of Bisleri water from here and they deliver it right to my doorstep, because they are way too heavy for me to carry anywhere.

On Crawford Market
Crawford Market is located in South Bombay, about 10 minutes away from CST. I don't head that side too often, just because it's so far with the traffic and if I'm grocery shopping, I don't want to bring all my groceries back by train! But Crawford Market is where imported food is sold at a discount, and has been known for this for many years. I might make a trip down there once or twice a month and stock up on things that I know I will need for that month. Plus, they have a good variety that you can't find in other shops, so if there's something specific you are looking for and you can't find it, chances are you will find it here and at a discount! If you're going there for the first time, I suggest you just go around and see all the shops, and please do not carry a camera and try and take National Geographic style photographs. If you do that, you will have street children coming up to you in hordes, and hawkers shouting at you from every direction, which will make for an uncomfortable experience.

These stores usually cover my weekly grocery shopping, unless I'm making something very specific. One of the things I actually don't like about India is that I have to go to so many stores just to get my regular groceries. At home in the US we get all our groceries from maybe one or two stores, not six or seven. And there's always Costco to buy bulk from! Although, with the space crunch in Mumbai, it's not always feasible to buy in bulk. If you plan on doing any foreign cooking in the near future, I hope this guide helps you in your shopping.

Anagha C.

where have i been?!?!

...in India! Going to medical school! Actually, specifically, Mumbai. Basically, the epicenter of Bollywood and all other things glamorous (in India). Basically, the New York+LA of India. New Delhi is like the DC of India (but way more unsafe, so be very careful if you're going there). Anyways, I've been here for about a year, and its way different from home.

In regards to this blog, last time I was on here I had just arrived in India. Now that I've been here a while, I'm ready to start updating this blog more regularly. I'll be writing about fashion, cooking, and life in general in Mumbai.

Will update soon, sorry for the disappearance.

Anagha C.