“When people wore hats and gloves, nobody would dream of eating on the street. Then white golves went out of style and, suddenly, eating just about anything in the street became OK.”

Pav Bhaji

Pav bhaji has an interesting history, and it was originally a late night food that was made for workers from leftovers. A combination of vegetables were mashed up, mixed with spices, and served with bread.Today, the common recipe includes potatoes and tomatoes, mashed up with spices, and served with buttered toasted bread to mop it all up. It’s simple, and delicious, and it’s a street food you can’t leave Mumbai without trying.

Vada Pav

If you take a walk down any street in Mumbai, you’re bound to quickly come across vada pav, one of Mumbai’s most popular and widely available street food snacks.Also referred to as the Mumbai vegetarian burger, vada pav consists of a spiced mashed potato mixture, which is deep fried into a patty, packed into a white fluffy bun, and garnished with a variety of different chutneys and spices for seasoning.Although it sounds rather simple, and it is, it’s one of greatest tasting vegetarian burgers you’ll likely ever eat. The chutney makes all the difference. And also, don’t miss those fried chilies on the side to give you a kick of heat and flavor.

Kebabs and rolls

On this list of top Mumbai street food you’ll find a lot of vegetarian food (and I happen to think some of the world’s best vegetarian food is in India), but kebabs and rolls are undoubtedly non-veg.Mumbai has a number of legendary restaurants that serve delicious kebabs and rolls, and one of my personal favorites are the Mumbai bhuna rolls. Bhuna rolls are made with boneless chicken which is cooked in a spice filled gravy, and wrapped within a freshly cooked rumali roti, which is a thin roti that’s very similar to a tortilla.A bhuna roll is the perfect late night snack that you want to be eating at about 3 am in the morning, and feeling really good about it.

Cutting Chai

This is not really a food, but I had to include it on this list because of its importance and dominance in the street food arena in India. Chai is not just a cup of tea, but it’s a hot and soothing brew that offers a time to take a rest from the chaotic streets of the city, to slowly sip and enjoy.Although it’s not served in clay cups like in Kolkata, chai in Mumbai is just as delicious and omnipresent. The tea is usually brewed quite strong, then supplemented with plenty of creamy milk, and seasoned with cardamom, masala, or ginger to give it an extra kick of flavor and spice.Drinking cups of hot chai on the side of the street is one of the joys of visiting India.

Bombay sandwich

If you’re like me, a sandwich isn’t the first thing that would come to mind when you’re thinking about Indian food. But when it comes to Mumbai street food, a local favorite is the Bombay sandwich, and you’ll find food vendors all over busy parts of the city whipping up grilled sandwiches with expertise.Typically the sandwiches are vegetarian, and they all begin with a couple slices of white bread that are buttered on either side. Then in goes a combination of cilantro and mint chutney, with thin slices of vegetables that can include beetroot, onion, cucumber, tomato, and a layer of masala potatoes, followed by shredded cheese and a sprinkle of chili and cumin.I think the best way to enjoy your Mumbai sandwich is to order it toasted, so you get it hot and fresh, and crispy on the edges. Don’t forget to dip your street food sandwich in more chutney before taking a bite!