MUMBAI- the name itself is enough to bring the shine to your eyes. A city of dreams they say it. A great city is made of honourable people, and it’s the food that makes them so great. So why not a Chandigarhian should take a bite of the food from The City of Dreams and fall in love with it? I’m coming to Mumbai with a lot of hope and dreams, and pray to god to treat me with love and delicious food!

Mumbai is the city of vast cultural diversity, and it offers so much of the culinary experiences. It is filled with the display of a variety of street foods which is relished from billionaire to beggar. The exciting thing about Mumbai’s food is that it doesn’t have the “authentic tag” to its food. It is borrowed, modified, refurbished version of food to meet the expectations of Mumbaikars that collectively create the landscape of city Mumbai’s cuisine. Street food is prevalent in India but what makes it stand apart from others is that people from all break the barriers of religion, class, gender, ethnicity and gather together to enjoy it which is available almost round the clock. To do more justice to its foods, let’s take a journey to every favourite food the city offers, food that will take you deep into the lanes of Mumbai, into the heart of people, culture, and part of it.

Here are 12 meals that each Mumbaikar have, along with their calorie intake:

  1. VADA PAV- (There are 290 calories in a one serving of VADA PAV. Calorie breakdown: 60% fat, 33% carbs, 7% protein). Also known as “Indian burger or poor man’s burger.” It is that one thing which you will find on every street and corner of Mumbai. Pav is a bread bun, and it is stuffed with mashed potato called “vada.”
  2. KEBABS- (There are 581 calories in 1 kebab of Chicken Kebab. Calorie breakdown: 22% fat, 53% carbs, 24% protein). Kebabs are various cooked meat dishes, with their origins in Middle Eastern cuisine. Primarily consists of chunks of fish or chicken that are marinated and grilled over a barbeque pit using a skewer.
  3. BOMBAY DUCK FRY- (There are 283 calories in 100gm of bombil fry. Calorie breakdown: 25% fat, 0% carbs, 75% protein). One of the favourites of Mumbaikars, Bombay duck fry isn’t a duck at all but is a fish. Its coated in the layer of semolina before deep frying it which results in crispy outer edge and creamy and oily from inside. A fantastic dish to enjoy in Mumbai to enjoy.
  4. PANI PURI- (There are 216 calories in 1 serving (6 Pieces) of PAANI PURI. Calorie breakdown: 12gm fat, 24gm carbs, 3gm protein). Known by various names in different places of India. This street snack is popular everywhere. It is a hollow fried crisp puri which is stuffed with a mixture of chickpeas, potatoes, spices and tamarind chutney and then dipped into the spicy water made of chilli. The taste we get of the bursting flavour is just divine which is loved by everyone.
  5. KHEEMA PAV- (There are 463 calories in a one serving of KHEEMA PAV. Calorie breakdown: 12gm fat, 55gm carbs, 31.5gm protein). Mumbaikars love pav and another common dish in Mumbai is kheema pav,  a dish of minced meat cooked in spices served with sides, like lemons, onions, and pickles.
  6. MISAL PAV- (There are 446 calories in a one serving of MISAL PAV. Calorie breakdown: 12gm fat, 69gm carbs, 18gm protein). A favourite dish consists of the missal, a spicy curry made of sprouted moth beans and pav, topped with a mixture of potato, chiwda, onions, lemon, and coriander.
  7. RAGDA PATTIES- (There are 333 calories in a one serving of RAGDA PATTIES. Calorie breakdown: 35% fat, 56% carbs, 9% protein). This dish a combined part of ragda and pattice. Ragda is prepared from soaked white peas which are mashed and fried with onions, spices, and tomatoes and the pattice is made from boiled, mashed potatoes. The patties are covered with ragda stew, garnished with onions, coriander, and spicy or tamarind chutney.
  8. KANDA POHA- (There are 150 calories in a 1 cup of KANDA POHA. Calorie breakdown: 5gm fat, 25gm carbs, 16gm protein). Poha is a Maharashtrian food. And Kanda stands for onion, hence the term kanda poha for poha made with onion or potato or sometimes both. It has a different level of the craze in Mumbai.
  9. FRANKIE- (There are 236 calories in a one serving of FRANKIE. Calorie breakdown: 53% fat, 47% carbs, 0% protein). Mumbai is known as the birthplace of Frankie. Delicious food with a fancy name, Frankie consists of flour wraps filled with mashed potatoes, eggs, chicken, mutton, etc. However, the main ingredient is complemented by onion and spicy sauces.
  10. FALOODA- (There are 217 calories in a 1glass of FAALODA. Calorie breakdown: 12gm fat, 21gm carbs, 6gm protein). A sweet dish served in a glass, consists flavoured milk, vermicelli and few chunks of gelatin. Often prepared with rose syrup has now many variations. It is a delightful chilled glass of heavenly feeling.
  11. CUTTING CHAI- (There are 90 calories in a 1glass of CUTTING CHAI. Calorie breakdown: 3gm fat, 20gm carbs, 4gm protein). Although this is not really a food but does deserve a place on this list due to crazy demand and importance in the street food arena in India. It’s more than a cup of tea, but a means of giving rest and talking time from the busy life, chaotic streets of the city. So sit back, grab a cup, slowly sip and enjoy.
  12. MUMBAI SANDWICH- (There are 445 calories in a one serving of MUMBAI SANDWICH. Calorie breakdown: 5gm fat, 91gm carbs, 13gm protein).  Ask any Indian about the fast food and the first thing to come to mind is sandwich. But it’s just not sandwich here, its Bombay sandwich, vendors all over busy parts making whopping sandwiches with delicacy and their expertise hands. A vegetarian meal typically contains buttered white bread slice, goes in with the combination of chutneys and thin slices of vegetables. Don’t forget to dip your chutney into chutney before taking every bite.

The city of dreams has plenty to offer, and a food lover will find this place a heaven. I’m looking forward to my visit, and hope to see you soon here as well.