India GOVegetarian food in Mumbai
Mumbai is one of the easiest big cities in India to eat vegetarian. Gujarati and Jain thali houses, Udupi canteens from the south and Maharashtrian snack houses, many of them decades old, are entirely vegetarian, so the pure veg choice is often the classic one. Here is how to choose by kind of meal, where to go for each, and what to know in a city where the Irani cafes and seafood houses are mixed.
How to choose: five kinds of meal
"Pure veg" on a sign means the whole kitchen is vegetarian. Almost everything below is cheap (₹), with the thali houses and sit-down snack restaurants at ₹₹.
Unlimited thali (₹–₹₹)
A thali is a full meal on one tray, refilled as you eat. Shree Thaker Bhojanalay in Kalbadevi (since 1945) serves the Gujarati version: sweet dal, seasonal undhiyu, farsan, rotli and aamras in season. Chetana in Kala Ghoda does Rajasthani and Gujarati thalis with dahi gatta, ker sangri and bajra rotis. In Matunga, Rama Nayak Udupi Shri Krishna Boarding serves the South Indian meal on a banana leaf, known for its rasam. More on thali in Mumbai.
Udupi breakfast in Matunga (₹)
Matunga is the city's old South Indian quarter, and its canteens are the place for dosa, idli and filter coffee. Ramashray at King's Circle has run since 1939 (rasam vada, pineapple sheera); Cafe Madras is known for its rava masala dosa and rasam vada. Come early. More on breakfast in Mumbai.
Maharashtrian snacks (₹)
The local repertoire: Aaswad in Dadar for misal pav, a sprouted-bean curry under crunchy farsan with soft pav; Prakash Shakahari Upahar Kendra near Shivaji Park for batata vada, kothimbir vadi and piyush, a saffron yoghurt drink; Panshikar in Girgaum for farali misal and sabudana vada, the fasting-day dishes. Ashok Vada Pav outside Kirti College in Dadar is the city's benchmark for vada pav, the potato fritter in a bun.
Gujarati and Sindhi snacks, chaat (₹–₹₹)
Swati Snacks in Tardeo (since 1963) for panki, a thin rice pancake steamed between banana leaves, and dahi batata puri. Kailash Parbat in Colaba (since 1952) for Sindhi chaat: pani puri, ragda pattice and Sindhi sweets. Elco Market on Bandra's Hill Road makes its pani puri with filtered water. Sardar Pav Bhaji in Tardeo (since 1966) is the name locals give first for pav bhaji. Ghatkopar Khau Galli is an all-vegetarian street-food lane of dosas, cheese pav bhaji and dabeli. More on street food.
Sweets and ice cream (₹–₹₹)
Parsi Dairy Farm on Princess Street for kulfi and sutarfeni; Suleman Usman Mithaiwala on Mohammed Ali Road for mawa jalebi and malpua; Bombay Sweet Shop, all vegetarian, for reworked mithai. For ice cream: K. Rustom near Churchgate for the wafer sandwich, Naturals in Juhu for real-fruit scoops, Taj Ice Cream in Bhendi Bazaar, hand-churned by season, and Bachelorr's on Chowpatty for falooda late at night. More on sweets.
Where to go for what
South Mumbai. Kala Ghoda for Chetana; Kalbadevi for Shree Thaker Bhojanalay; Colaba for Kailash Parbat; Tardeo for Swati Snacks and Sardar Pav Bhaji; Girgaum for Panshikar; Princess Street and Mohammed Ali Road for the sweet shops.
Dadar and Matunga. The best area for a vegetarian morning: Aaswad, Prakash and Ashok Vada Pav in Dadar, then the Udupi canteens of Matunga, Ramashray, Cafe Madras and Rama Nayak.
The suburbs. Elco Market in Bandra, Naturals and Prithvi Cafe in Juhu, and the Khau Galli in Ghatkopar East for an evening of vegetarian street food.
Good to know
Details that matter if you keep strictly vegetarian.
- Jain food is stricter still — Jain cooking leaves out meat, fish, eggs and honey, and also root vegetables such as onion, garlic and potato. Swati Snacks, Kailash Parbat, Elco Market, Sardar, Chetana, Shree Thaker and the Ghatkopar stalls offer Jain versions; ask for "Jain" when you order.
- Irani cafes are mixed — The bakery counters are the vegetarian half: bun maska at Kyani & Co., mawa cakes and biscuits at Sassanian; if you avoid eggs, ask about the cakes. The kitchens behind them are Parsi and meat-led; Britannia & Co. has a vegetable berry pulav.
- Most of it is gently spiced — The Udupi canteens, Swati, Kailash Parbat and the thali houses cook mild. Misal pav at Aaswad and the dry garlic chutney on Ashok's vada pav are hot.
- Mixed restaurants — Many of the city's well-known restaurants cook both and have vegetarian dishes on the menu. If a shared kitchen matters to you, choose a pure veg place.
FAQ
Is Mumbai good for vegetarians?
Very. Whole traditions here are vegetarian: Gujarati and Jain thali houses, Udupi canteens in Matunga, Maharashtrian snack houses in Dadar and Girgaum, and an all-vegetarian street-food lane in Ghatkopar.
Where can I get the best vegetarian thali in Mumbai?
Shree Thaker Bhojanalay in Kalbadevi for the unlimited Gujarati thali, Chetana in Kala Ghoda for Rajasthani and Gujarati, and Rama Nayak in Matunga for the South Indian meal on a banana leaf.
Where can I find Jain food in Mumbai?
Swati Snacks, Kailash Parbat, Elco Market, Sardar Pav Bhaji, Chetana, Shree Thaker Bhojanalay and the Ghatkopar Khau Galli stalls all make Jain versions, without onion, garlic or root vegetables.
Is vada pav vegetarian?
Yes. It is a spiced potato fritter (batata vada) in a soft bun with chutneys. Ashok Vada Pav in Dadar is the best-known stall.
Where is the best vegetarian street food in Mumbai?
Ghatkopar Khau Galli, which is entirely vegetarian, Sardar for pav bhaji, Kailash Parbat and Elco Market for chaat. More in what to eat in Mumbai.
Sources (1)
Facts checked: 15 October 2026. Prices and hours are approximate; check locally.
The full catalogue, hidden spots and districts on the map, plus “nearby” mode.
Open in India GO