When in Mumbai you'll definitely want to try the famous street food. Unfortunately, as a tourist you should also be justifiably wary of trying the street food. There's an amazing night market in back of the Taj Mahal but unless you've been living in Mumbai for several months and have acclimitased your stomach, I wouldn't advise eating there. Instead, go to Swati Snacks.
Swati Snacks is a small restaurant with gleaming stainless steel tables and a big glass window into the also gleamingly stainless steel kitchen. The emphasis is on cleanliness and delicious chaat. Here you can gorge away without worrying about the dehli belly (or in this case mumbai belly) that might incapacitate you after-wards.
Swati Snacks was easily one of my best meals in Mumbai. This is a place you should not miss. In fact, go more than once, preferably with a large group of people so you can try everything on the menu. Because when it comes to chaat (street snacks) the textural complexity and explosive flavours, who can resist?
Bhel Puri, tangy, spicy from tamarind sauce and chillies as well as red onions. This had further textural contrasts of puffed rice and some deep fried crunchy noodles, there might have been a bit of potato, lots of coriander, and a lemony hit and it was definitely delicious.
And this, Dahi Batata Puri was just incredible. You pop one of these in your mouth, crunch down and receive an explosion of tangy, spicy, salty, sweet from the tamarind, chillies and yogurt on the potato and chickpea mix. It defies description and is ever so addictive.
There is also a Gujarati dish on the menu called paan ki
Delicious, steamed sour batter rice crepes.
Swati Snacks is also famous for their hand churned ice creams but I had to stop myself. We had only stopped at Swati Snacks literally for a snack. We had dinner plans in a few hours...
There are normally long lines in front of Swati Snacks, especially at lunch time. But if you go at dinner or just as they open for lunch, you can avoid the waiting. In any case, its extremely well organized. They'll take your name and give you a number which you simply wait to come up.
91-22/249-209-94
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