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From a hot vada pav on a gloomy morning to a steaming cutting chai by the seaside after a downpour, the city’s roadside delicacies transform the rains into a season of flavour.
Amidst the downpour, Mumbaikars do love these monsoon special food times.
Heavy showers continue to lash Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, disrupting daily life across the city. Waterlogged roads, delayed trains, and endless grey skies have left commuters drained and frustrated. Yet, one comforting escape makes the season worth cherishing: Mumbai’s iconic street food.
From a hot vada pav on a gloomy morning to a steaming cutting chai and smoky bhutta by the seaside after a downpour, the city’s roadside delicacies transform the rains into a season of flavour and comfort.
Cutting Chai
Nothing defines Mumbai rains better than a hot cutting chai. Served in small glasses or kulhads, every steaming sip warms you against the damp chill. But this is more than a comfort drink; it’s a pause. A moment to watch birds gliding across grey skies or listen to the rhythmic crash of waves by the sea. Every cup of chai becomes a memory, etched forever into the season.
Bhutta (Corn)
The monsoon air is incomplete without the smoky aroma of bhutta being roasted on hot coal. Vendors sprinkle lemon, salt, chilli, and chaat masala over charred kernels, creating a snack that’s as nostalgic as it is flavourful. One bite, and you’re instantly transported to countless rainy evenings spent by the seaside or under shared umbrellas.
Vada Pav
The city’s undisputed icon, vada pav, is more than food; it’s Mumbai’s spirit wrapped in pav. A spicy potato fritter tucked into soft bread, paired with chutney and a fiery green chilli, it’s the ultimate fuel for rainy commutes and street-side conversations. Affordable, filling, and beloved, it’s the monsoon’s most reliable companion.
Pakoras
Golden, crisp, and irresistible, pakoras are the season’s timeless indulgence. Onion, potato, paneer, cauliflower, or even chicken, no matter the filling, they sizzle to perfection and taste best when shared. Add a side of chutney and a cup of chai, and you have the perfect rainy-day ritual.
Jalebi
No monsoon spread is complete without a sweet finish. Hot jalebis, dripping with syrup, fresh out of the kadhai. Whether paired with pakoras or savoured alone, these syrupy spirals are the golden highlight of a rainy Mumbai night.
About the Author
Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha…Read More
Nishad Thaivalappil is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with almost a decade-long odyssey in the realms of movies, music, culture, food, and travel. He leads the Lifestyle desk at News18.com. Besides ha… Read More