‘Vada pav’, the beloved Indian snack, by no means fails to evoke nostalgia and emotional connections. Mumbai boasts iconic spots like Aram, Ashok Vaidya Vada Pav, Swati Snacks, and extra, every providing distinctive renditions of this culinary traditional.
This desi snack has discovered its ranks among the many ‘finest sandwiches on the earth’, is the monsoon season’s excellent companion, a fast repair for a nasty day, and among the best time machines ever made — it instantly transports you again to your faculty days.
Let’s face it: the emotional implications of the vada pav are many. And this deep-fried potato dumpling hugged by a bread bun deserves the adulation.
Everybody has a vada pav story. In any case, it’s a culinary narrative that connects Indians the world over. And regardless of what number of luxurious cuisines we tick off our bucket lists, fact be advised, we’re coming dwelling to a vada pav.
And it’s nearly a sacrilege to talk of this iconic snack with out mentioning the town the place it was born — Mumbai.
Right here’s a listing of vada pav spots within the metropolis to sprint to once you crave your previous, acquainted pal.
1. Aram
For Mumbaikars, Aram’s vada pav is an all too acquainted flavour. One of many oldest vada pav haunts within the metropolis, it’s situated proper outdoors Mumbai’s iconic CST Station and nostalgia reverberates by way of the partitions. Prospects suggest the cheese rendition, the butter cheese grill vada pav, and the butter cheese grill kothimbir wadi pav.
In an interview with Condé Nast, archaeologist and culinary anthropologist Dr Kurush Dalal, mentioned, “For the quintessential vada pav, I might say a great spot to get one is Aram. They’ve all the time been recognized for his or her ‘massive’ vada pavs owing to the beneficiant dimension of the fried potato patties. So, it’s really worth for cash. The vadas all the time come out piping scorching and contemporary.”
2. Ashok Vaidya Vada Pav
How can we pen a narrative about vada pav with out an ode to the person who invented it? A gentleman Ashok Vaidya is claimed to have give you the snack in the course of the Nineteen Sixties at a stall proper outdoors of Dadar Station. It wasn’t deliberate!
In the future, in an try to innovate, Ashok put the vada right into a pav with a aspect of garlic chutney. Voila! Historical past was created. In the present day it’s Ashok’s youthful son Narendra Vaidya who carries on the legacy. The sizzle of vadas is a comforting sound to all of the patrons who nonetheless cease by this legendary outlet.
3. Parla Vada Pav Samrat
“Unpretentious” is the phrase that has been used to explain this eatery within the Vile Parle space of Mumbai. It’s been greater than three many years now that the spot has been creating magic with their makes.
In an interview with Knocksense, proprietor Ajeet recalled, “My father Mancharaam began promoting vada pav out of a hath gaadi (handcart) proper right here on the aspect of this chowk (open market). After 5 years of promoting on the road, he determined to take a leap and opened a everlasting store on the spot the place we are actually.” Ajeet has inherited the information properly. The queue of shoppers outdoors the eatery is proof.
Enjoyable reality: With cheese tumbling out of the vada, the cheese vada pav is a crowd-puller.
4. Shankar Vada Pav
When superstar Ranveer Singh, Australian superstar chef Sarah Todd, and meals journalist Kunal Vijaykar concede on how superb the vada pav at this eatery is, we aren’t going to problem this. Began in 1975 by a mill employee Shankar who doled out vada pavs from his hand cart, the cooking right here is intuitive, with recipes being improvised to swimsuit the palates of shoppers.
If rumour is to be believed, the outlet nonetheless maintains its menu of vada pav, moong dal bhajias (a fried snack fabricated from lentils), mirchi bhajias (fritters made with chillies) up to now. Regardless of the restricted fare, the meals is indulgent.
5. Gajanan Vada Pav
The vada pav here’s a traditional, a story that has been spinning since 1978 when the outlet was began. With a aspect of chutney — that the household says is a time-tested recipe which can’t be replicated — the snack holds a sure magic. An article in DNA talked about that the outlet makes use of 100 kilos of potatoes daily and about 200-250 ladis (a block of bread buns).
It additionally highlights how the vada pav store is an extension of a farsan (snack) store concept that that household had began. And a fan of the outlet is none apart from Amitabh Bachchan himself, who beneficial the place to a contestant on the units of the fact sport present ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati’.
6. Shivaji Park Vada Pav
The vada pav and garlic chutney create a phenomenal symphony. The duo has discovered favour in Sachin Tendulkar. As he shared in an interview with Curly Tales, it was an integral a part of his growing-up years. “After hours of practising on the sector, I used to have vada pav from the canteen and would eat 4 to 5 of them daily.”
The years haven’t diminished the adore it appears. In an interview with a Marathi portal in 2011, Tendulkar reiterated, “I and my son (Arjun) like to eat vada-pav at Shivaji Park Gymkhana and there’s nothing that may beat this snack, laced with chutney.”
7. Swati Snacks
Within the stomach of Mumbai’s Tardeo lies an eatery that has caught to 1 philosophy: dwelling meals is the very best meals. Minakshi Jhaveri, a single mom began Swati Snacks with none prior enterprise acumen, serving 4 gadgets — sev puri, bhel puri, ragda pattice and pani puri — priced at 4 aanas (a forex unit utilized in British India). However with this easy formulation, she created historical past and a multi-crore model.
Her son Anand as soon as shared with The Higher India, “My mom handled all her prospects the way in which she would visitors who go to our dwelling. For a visitor, who’s equal to God, you’ll put together the meals with the very best intentions and a constructive perspective, which routinely displays within the style. Whereas rising up, I watched her spend that further hour simply so she might examine the elements a number of instances, and even stroll kilometres to acquire contemporary elements like coriander. That dedication and care is what we have now inherited from her.”
Thanks @madhuridixit for introducing me to my very first Vada Pav — it was scrumptious! https://t.co/Th40jqAEGa— Tim Prepare dinner (@tim_cook) April 17, 2023
The visitor checklist has seen the likes of legendary painter M F Husain and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. In a 2020 article by Bloomberg, Michelin star chef Ravinder Bhogal of Jikoni in London hailed the eatery for its vada pav.
The latest addition to this checklist was Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner who snacked on a vada pav together with actress Madhuri Dixit whereas on his go to to Mumbai in April 2023.
8. Jai Maharashtra Vadapav
Situated in Andheri West, the eatery serves no-nonsense vada pav that manages to hit it off with one’s style buds nearly immediately.
As superstar chef Saransh Goila took to Fb to share, “The aloo vada is seasoned completely with numerous coriander in it and is absolutely crisp on the surface with a thick besan (chickpea flour) coating, I think some rice flour within the batter! The pudina chutney (mint-flavoured sauce) consistency kinda thecha is the true star and provides a beautiful kick, additionally the garlic chutney is on level. I devoured down three of those and but I need yet one more. In all probability the very best lunch you should purchase in Rs 15!”
Edited by Pranita Bhat
