Sainath Dhaba — Local services in Mumbai

One may come across various recipes of kulcha’s online or even have a chance to eat them at a nearby restaurant, but outside Punjab in whole western India no one can beat my dear friend Vijay who is still running his family owned Dhaba (Rural Restaurant) known as Sainath Dhaba in Chembur, Central Mumbai.

Before going ahead lets have a sneak peak what a kulcha is and how this part of western India has managed to develop such an affinity for north Indian food.

Kulcha is a typical part punjabi cuisine, it’s an Indian flat bread recipe prepared with wheat flour. Amritsari kulcha is a potato stuffed kulcha recipe which is popular bread recipe from Amritsar, a city in Indian Punjab.

There are more 10 restaurants opened by people who wanted to replicate the taste of Sainath Dhaba, but I haven’t found a single one who successfully could.

Vikas Khanna, a New York based Indian chef, restaurateur, cookbook writer, filmmaker and humanitarian always says to replicate the taste of Amritsari Kulcha one needs amrit (divine syrup) only from amritsar which is the blessed water from the Harmandir sahib lake (holy place for Sikhs). And even today various caterers and restaurateurs carry some water from Amritsar and add it in their normal tanks in drops before cooking.

Maybe that’s the secret, Vijay and his family have this secret running through generations and still maintain the taste after decades.

During 1947, Chembur in central Mumbai was the relocation transit camps chosen for the people who left Pakistan and wanted to settle in India for their future.

The restaurant

The Kulcha

Sainath dhaba is a small restaurant located in the the heart of Chembur, in the area called as Chembur Camp. People staying around are mostly native to the places which were divided during the India-Pakistan Partition. That forms the base of the why the Sainath Dhaba has still survived so many decades of competition, and they can still gave the same great age old taste.

There have been a dozens of video’s with the dhaba, which have gone viral on local media and social networks which were compelling them to have upgraded the looks and feels of the store. But Vijay and his family have a strong view that if they upgrade, they will have to increase the prices. And the local people who had supported them in past won’t be able to afford them and it will be a very much costlier affair.

Sainath Dhaba is not even a 200 Sqft space which offers a place to sit only for 4 four people, but on weekends there are more than a 100 kulcha sold in an hour and even millionaires eat them standing on the street. On Saturday evening if you get a kulcha (definitely on the street) after even after 30 minutes of ordering you would definitely feel lucky.

I normally go during the day time of a weekday to enjoy the same age old great taste of Kulcha. (I would suggest the same for everyone).

Price of kulcha starts from Rs. 60 (

I'd heard a lot about Sainath ke Kulche and finally decided to hit the road one day. Rode to Chembur with a friend - maybe got lost once or twice on the way, but did reach there eventually. To my surprise or rather, shock, it is a hole in a wall establishment with hardly any space to sit at all. However, I was not to be deterred by anything that day, so I went on and ordered a aloo cheese kulcha, a mix vegetable kulcha, and a mix veg cheese kulcha. Turned out, they make the Kulchas inside the tandoor - the last time I'd had a kulcha cooked inside a tandoor was in Punjab and Haryana - and I remember them tasting way better than Kulchas made on cooktops or tawas. I was super excited at the prospect of getting my hands on a tandoori kulcha again. They served it with Amritsari chhole (they don't call it that though, they just call it chhole - but they had a similar taste and feel as the chhole that I tried at quite a few local joints in Amritsar). The parathas were delicious, even more so with the dollop of butter that they added on the top - however, I wish they'd add makkhan rather than butter. There's are onions and pickled chillies on the side of you care for them with your kulcha and chhole. I am not a cheese fan, but since they'd added an appropriate amount of cheese to the kulcha, even the mix veg cheese kulcha and the aloo cheese kulcha tasted great. To top it all off, the food at this place is super cheap - we paid something under 250 for the 3 Kulchas that we had, and the portion sizes are large enough for one person - also the chhole that they serve with the kulcha are up for a refill - and the guy happily refilled it thrice for me! Both the owner (the guy who makes the Kulchas) and the server are quite pleasant to interact with and it seemed to me that they have a perrenial smile on their faces! With such pricing, such food, and such smiling faces, I'd be damned if I worried about...

Sainath Dhaba Kulcha House: A Flavorful Haven

Tucked away in the heart of the bustling streets, Sainath Dhaba Kulcha House is a culinary gem cherished by locals and visitors alike. Specializing in mouthwatering kulchas, this eatery promises an unforgettable dining experience. Each kulcha is a masterpiece, boasting a perfect blend of crispy exterior and soft, flavorful filling, ranging from classic potato to indulgent paneer tikka.

Beyond its renowned kulchas, the menu at Sainath Dhaba Kulcha House offers a diverse array of dishes to tantalize every palate. From aromatic curries to fragrant biryanis, there's something to satisfy every craving. Despite its culinary excellence, the prices remain affordable, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious food lovers.

The welcoming ambiance and attentive service add to the charm of this establishment, ensuring that every visit is met with warmth and hospitality. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite on the go or settling in for a leisurely meal with friends and family, Sainath Dhaba Kulcha House never fails to impress with its irresistible flavors and generous portions. For a culinary adventure that delights the senses, look no further than this flavorful haven in the heart...