These Are Mumbai’s Best Picks For Regional Indian Food

A look at the Mumbai restaurants keeping India’s regional food traditions alive—one thali, curry, and comfort dish at a time.

Mumbai is a city shaped by the communities and people who inhabit its lanes. It is a city built by migration, shaped by trade, and sustained by those who arrived with memories. The city’s cosmopolitan nature is also reflected in its diverse food culture, which is not tied to a single region.

Over time, Maharashtrian kitchens have made space for Parsi cafés, coastal flavours have travelled inland, and dishes from Bengal, the Konkan, the Deccan, and the Northeast have quietly found permanent homes in neighbourhoods far from where they originated.

Recent years have witnessed the diversity deepen, and Mumbai diners seek more authentic, traditional, and unique regional preparations. The message: regional Indian cuisine in Mumbai is thriving and more defined than ever, reflecting the city’s ongoing appetite for food with a strong sense of identity.

Explore these dining spots to experience why Mumbai stands out as a city where India’s culinary regions converge at every meal.

Ammakai 

Ammakai, Bastian Hospitality’s newest venture, showcases the flavours, techniques, and memories of Mangalorean home cooking. Meaning “mother’s hand,” it highlights the everyday comfort food from coastal Karnataka, focusing on authentic, homestyle experiences.

ammakai
The best of Mangalore, all on your plate! (Credits: ammakai.mumbai)

The menu leans heavily into Mangaluru’s distinct culinary language, where coconut, curry leaves, tamarind, and slow-roasted spice blends do most of the work. Staples like neer dosa are soft and lacy, perfect for soaking up gravies, while their kori rotti—crisp rice wafers served with a fragrant chicken curry—anchors the meal in true Mangalorean tradition. Seafood features prominently: think anjal (kingfish) fry, coated lightly and pan-fried until just crisp, or bangude pulimunchi, where mackerel is cooked in a sharp, chilli-forward tamarind masala that’s unapologetically bold.

For meat lovers, dishes like chicken sukka and Mangalorean ghee roast highlight the region’s mastery over dry masalas—deeply roasted, aromatic, and rich without being heavy. Vegetarian offerings aren’t an afterthought either, with preparations like patrode (colocasia leaves steamed with spiced batter) and coconut-based vegetable curries that reflect the everyday rhythms of coastal homes.

Bastian Hospitality’s Ammakai distinguishes itself by offering an authentic glimpse into Mangaluru’s food culture, not just as a coastal experience but as a true taste of home-cooked Karnataka cuisine.

Address: B/1, Kamal Building, New Linking Rd, Khar, Bandra West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400050

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday (11 am–1 am)

Price for two: INR 2,600

Kona Kona

At Kona Kona, Mumbai’s Himalayan table, the focus turns north to traditions from Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Nepal—cuisines shaped by altitude, climate, and necessity, and designed to warm, sustain, and comfort.

kona kona
Craving the food of the hills? This spot is your best bet in the city. (Credits: @konakona_mumbai)

Brothy dishes anchor the menu. A must-try is their thukpa, a noodle soup made with slow-simmered stock, vegetables, and meat. Steamed momos are plump and filled, served with sharp chilli condiments, letting the fillings stand out. Himalayan breads, such as tingmo, a soft steamed bread usually eaten with gravies, appear alongside heartier plates like sha phaley, a fried bread stuffed with spiced meat and vegetables, which is common in colder months.

While the food is distinct, the interiors complement it well. Warm and understated, with natural materials, soft lighting, and earthy tones, they echo the landscapes that inspire the menu. For those curious about North Indian regional food beyond Punjabi and Mughlai, Kona Kona offers a thoughtful introduction to mountain cuisine.

Address: Ground Floor, Kuber Complex, Unit No. 27-30, Off New Link Rd, near Oberoi Chambers, Veera Desai Industrial Estate, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400053

Timings: Monday to Sunday (12 pm–1:30 am)

Price for two: INR 1,900

Punjab Da Chulah

Punjab Da Chulha in Juhu serves authentic Punjabi food, rooted firmly in the concept of ghar ka khana. For years now, it has drawn loyal regulars who come here not for novelty, but for consistency, comfort, and the unmistakable flavours of North-Indian home cooking.

punjab da chulah
No better Amritsari kulche than here! (Credits: @punjabdachulah)

The menu reads like a greatest-hits list of Punjabi staples, but what sets Punjab Da Chulha apart is its unwavering dedication to tradition and authenticity. Signature Amritsari kulchas and their many variations are meticulously prepared, paired with chhole, green chutney, onion salad, and achaar—dishes celebrated for faithfully replicating the taste and experience of a true Punjabi home meal.

The dal makhani, simmered patiently until luxuriously creamy yet never heavy, exemplifies their precise technique. To finish, a tall glass of sweet or salted lassi is almost mandatory.

The ambience matches the food: warm and unfussy. Echoing a Punjab dhaba, it offers a family atmosphere where guests can linger. This restaurant suits weekday lunches, weekend dinners, or any honest Punjabi food craving!

Don’t settle for less—head to Punjab Da Chulha in Juhu for an authentic Punjabi feast next time you crave North Indian flavours in Mumbai!

Address: Shop No 1, Shiv Sagar Building, AB Nair Rd, opposite Chand Society Corner of, near Iskcon Temple, Chand Society, Vithal Nagar, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400049

Timings: Monday to Sunday (11 am–11:30 pm)

Price for two: INR 1,000

Oh! Calcutta

Oh! Calcutta stands as Mumbai’s definitive destination for Bengali cuisine, building its reputation on an unwavering dedication to the classics. For many, this restaurant provides not just an introduction but a complete immersion into Bangla food, moving well beyond the obvious like fish curry and mishti doi. ​

oh calcutta
The delicious Bengali spread at Oh! Calcutta. (Credits: @ohcalcuttaindia)

The menu is expansive but carefully rooted in tradition. Meals here often begin the Bengali way, with subtle, palate-opening flavours before moving into richer territory. A signature starter is shukto, a medley of vegetables cooked lightly with a bitter edge, setting the tone for the meal. Posto preparations—especially the creamy, poppy seed-coated aloo posto—demonstrate the cuisine’s mastery over restraint and texture. 

Fish preparations are a highlight: the home-style macher jhol features a light, mustard-laced gravy; the aromatic chingri malai curry offers prawns in a velvety coconut sauce; and ilish, served when in season, is celebrated for its delicate texture and robust mustard flavour. Meat lovers find a highlight in kosha mangsho, a rich, slow-cooked mutton dish where the spiced gravy clings tightly to the meat—best paired with plain rice.

Vegetarian dishes demonstrate that Bengali cuisine encompasses more than just non-vegetarian fare. Seasonal vegetables, lentils, and greens are treated with care, often cooked simply to let their natural flavours shine. Rice anchors the meal, served plain to accompany the gravies.

Dessert at Oh! Calcutta completes the carefully orchestrated meal, demonstrating that each course is essential to the Bengali experience. Mishti doi, rosogolla, sandesh, and payesh serve as a deliberate and gratifying close, reinforcing the meal’s thoughtful structure and underscoring Oh! Calcutta’s commitment to authenticity. 

Address: Hotel Rosewood, Ground floor, Tulsiwadi Path, opposite Mahindra Heights, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400034

Timings: Monday to Sunday (12:30–3:30 pm, 7:30–11:30 pm)

Price for two: INR 1,300

Chaitanya 

Chaitanya in Dadar is a cornerstone for authentic Maharashtrian vegetarian cuisine in Mumbai, known for capturing the essence of traditional flavours.

The menu revolves around thalis, as it should. Regulars often recommend the puran poli thali, featuring soft, balanced puran polis accompanied by katachi amti, ghee, and seasonal sides that reflect tradition. The varan-bhaat—plain lentil dal with rice and ghee—shows how simplicity defines Maharashtrian cuisine. Flavours are clean, measured, and comforting, never over-seasoned.

Vegetable dishes change with the seasons and are prepared in classic styles—bhaji with coconut and mild spices, or usal and amti with earthy depth. Batata bhaji and koshimbir (fresh salads) maintain balance. Upvas (fasting) and sabudana dishes are also well executed, honouring religious and cultural norms.

Dessert is essential at Chaitanya. Puran poli dominates, but shrikhand and basundi also appear, offering sweetness without excess. For those who want to understand Maharashtrian vegetarian cuisine, a meal here feels more like returning home than dining out.

Address: 33, Raobahadur SK Bole Rd, Dadar West, Prabhadevi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400028

Timings: Monday to Sunday (11 am–11 pm)

Price for two: INR 700

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