The Real South Indian food in Mumbai

When you come from any part of India, especially the South or East, or lets say even North, you would sulk over the South Indian food in Mumbai at large*. The issue is the Gujarati touch of the city and the Manglorian lords who make your Sambhar and even the Dosa Batter too sweet ending up in a proper South Indian fiasco.

Though, there are a selecte’ few who stand out with their age old tradition and success of holding back the real taste of South India or Udipi in real.

Some of the bigger names in this area are BANANA LEAF (Versova, Juhu), Woodlands (Juhu, Got shut it seems), but the real South Indian Snackiterians know where to go for the real taste.

Where – Matunga is the HUB for South Indian snacks/ delicacies. This is between Dadar and Sion. There are various Udipis and Restaurants which serve you rich value food at a reasonable price.
What not to miss –

1. 
   
   One would have heard about MADRAS CAFÉ in Matunga. They are around 50 years old and serve real good variety of snacks. Highly professional people right from the owners to the staff. Dev is the young owner, the third generation restauranter who runs the show. I have already made him and offer of a Private Equity placement for expanding the business into a chain ! I did not know much besides Madras Café, since the owners were close friends of my MBA friend Nikso (Nikhil) and I happened to visit this place with him around 10 years back. A business colleague, Mr.J.K.Srinivasan, who is a passionate about this food told me about some amazing places in the same vicinity – MATUNGA which is the real hub of South Indian Snacks/Delicacies. A few not to be missed places are :
2. 
   
   AMBA BHAVAN (when you enter the road from the Highway towards station
3. 
   
   
   SARADA BHAVAN (this is opposite Ram Naik’s)
4. 
   
   RAMA NAIKS (On the Highway – they serve Idlis only and the Lodging Boarding one near the Matunga Railway Station serve Amazing Thali Meals
5. 
   
   RAMA NAIK Near Station - Lodging Boarding also known as Srikrishna Udipi
6. 
   
   MANIS – like Rama Naik, near the station serve you a Full Meal on the traditional Banana Leaf. Mani’s also serve you the meals and have a little more variety but Ram Naik has a better ambience and hygene. One gets Roti, Puri, 3 vegetables, Daal, Sambhar, Rice and Lots of ghee on it (optional;) and lots of papad, chaas (butter milk) and traditional sweets/dessert to choose from…UNLIMITED…all real taste oozing with simplicity.

These all are half a century old joints and many still maintain that feel (Amba Bhavan, Sarada Bhavan)

• Idli, Vada, Dosa, Pongal. (All places)
• Meals (Ram Naik, Mani’s Lunch Home, Ram Naik is a better ambience, but Mani better taste)
• Rasam Vada (Madras Café),
• Kadi Wada (Amba Bhavan), 
• Bisi Bele Bhat (Amba, Madras Cafe)
• Undendoo Dosa (Madras Cafe, Amba) 
  

  

  The Real Meal on the Banana Leaf @ Ram Naik

  
• Uttapams (Sarada Bhavan, Madras Cafe)
• Idli Podi (Madras Cafe)
• Idli (Ram Naik and Sharada Bhavan)
• Upma Podi (Madras Café)

Price Range - Rs 20-40 per plate for snacks and Rs 80-90 for Full Meals on Kela Leaves ie the traditional Banana Leaves.

USP – Real Taste and Quality. If you are the one who gives ambience more weightage over food, please excuse yourself from reading further down.



Rating : Food Quality (4/5), Ambience (2/5), Service (3/5) Overall - 4/5

Take off an evening from work or a Saturday/ Sunday morning to try your hands on the real South Indian snacks in Mumbai and if you like the fake South Indian stuff you may walk into your nearest restaurant !

Filter Kaafee



And yes, don’t forget the real filter coffee post your meal. While you walk out, you may buy some real south indian papad, banana chips, masalas post your meal and dont grab more than 2 paans !



*Pls Note that South Indian food is a generic term each state in South India like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala etc have their own cuisines, tastes which are not even close by. This blogpost is covering South Indian snacks and the hub for it in Mumbai.