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.
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.
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