Mumbai earned a major global shout-out, and this time, it's all about food. The city has claimed the 5th spot on TasteAtlas' 2025 list of the 100 Best Food Cities in the World, placing it alongside global culinary powerhouses.
With more than 477,000 food reviews analysed across 17,000 cities, this list celebrates cities that serve authentic, soul-satisfying, and unforgettable local dishes. And Mumbai, with its unbeatable mix of spice, culture, and street food magic, more than earned its place.
So, if you’re in Mumbai (or planning a trip), here are six iconic dishes TasteAtlas recommends you must try:
Vada Pav
Canva
No trip to Mumbai is complete without biting into a vada pav. Often called the city's version of a burger, this staple dish features a spicy potato patty (vada) deep-fried in chickpea batter, tucked into a pav (soft bun), and slathered with chutneys. It first became popular near Dadar station in the 1960s, thanks to street vendor Ashok Vaidya, and it hasn't left the city's heart (or stomachs) since.
Pav Bhaji
Canva
Invented as a late-night meal for textile mill workers in the 1850s, pav bhaji is now Mumbai's most beloved street food. It's a buttery mash of vegetables, slow-cooked with spices and served piping hot with toasted pav. Pair it with chopped onions and a generous squeeze of lime, and you've got yourself comfort on a plate.
Bhel Puri
Light, crunchy, tangy and spicy – bhel puri is the ultimate beach snack. Especially loved at spots like Chowpatty and Juhu Beach, this chaat combines puffed rice, peanuts, sev, onions, and spicy-sweet chutneys into a flavour bomb. While not originally from Mumbai, it's the city's munching buddy.
Bombay Sandwich
Canva
Stacked high and bursting with textures, the Bombay sandwich is as colourful as the city it's named after. Built on slices of buttered white bread, it's layered with boiled potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, chaat masala, and a punchy green chutney made of mint and coriander. Sometimes triple-decked, always delicious.
Bombay Biryani
A slightly sweet, richly spiced version of the classic Indian biryani, the Bombay biryani is unmistakable. With layers of basmati rice, fried potatoes, marinated chicken or mutton, fried onions, dried plums, and a splash of ghee, it’s a full meal that hits every note. Often served with raita and salad, it's perfect for special occasions or just serious hunger pangs.
Ragda Pattice
A street food staple in Mumbai’s chaat scene, ragda pattice brings together crispy potato patties (pattice) with a warm, tangy stew of yellow peas (ragda). Topped with chutneys, crunchy sev, chopped onions, and coriander, this dish is spicy, filling, and full of texture. Find it sizzling on tavas at every street corner across the city.
