Taj Icecream — Local services in Mumbai

Most of us, especially, if you stay in Mumbai, are aware of the food on offer during Ramzan on Mohammed Ali Road. Some of the restaurants even set up temporary shops here to serve the thousands of people who visit Mohammed Ali Road to try the traditional delicacies. The whole place comes alive in the evening. It is super crowded then and most of the people visiting are tourists from other areas of Mumbai. I have been here during Ramzan and while there are a lot of food options I find the crowd and noise a bit overwhelming.

The area around Mohammed Ali Road still had all the signs of the old Mumbai. There are the old world bazaars like Nul Bazaar, Bhendi Bazaar and even a Chor Bazaar. Zaveri Bazaar is not too far either. There are markets/streets dedicated to one kind of item. So there is even a Mutton Street. Most of the buildings here were constructed a 100 years back. But since the buildings are so old there is also a lot of redevelopment activity going here. And redevelopment means the old food maps don’t work the way they used to. So if someone says you get down at Sandhurst Road and then take a cab to Al Rehmani and then just walk across to the neighbouring JJ Jalebi, he has not updated his food map 😊.

As planned I took a cab from Sandhurst Road Station and took a cab to Al Rehmani. Once you’ve read and seen a lot of Food Blogs & Vlogs on Mohammed Ali Road food, you assume that the mention of the Al Rehmani Restaurant excites everyone as it excites you. Well it does not. I mean everyone kind of knows it. But it doesn’t excite them as much as I had thought it would or should. The original area of Al Rehmani restaurant is now under redevelopment and they have opened a restaurant and have named it Rehmaniya Restaurant. The signage is nice and new. But to a Marketing guy like me it defies all logic. Why will you rename a 70 year old restaurant. But they have. You walk into the restaurant and the waiters don’t inspire any confidence either . I befriended one waiter and asked him the usual question ‘ Yahaan pe special kya hain ‘ and in this area (I realise later) it is primarily ‘bade ka kebab’ or Beef Seekh Kabab. Not my kind of food. So I opt for the safer Chicken Tandoori Leg with Paratha. The paratha is typically fried and its an odd combination but a tasty one nonetheless. The chicken is nicely cooked, not overcooked, not to spicy and it has the typical green chutney with chopped onions along with it. The fried paratha has the usual neutral taste and it comes in handy if, like me you  are used to a roti-sabji combination . Al Rehmani didn’t disappoint. It probably didn’t delight me either. It was also because I was alone and couldn’t try their other dishes.

Next I walked to JJ Jalebi. It is a small shop where they display and probably fry the Jalebis & Gulab Jamuns on the street. There was a lot of traffic on the road and even the footpath was busy. There was the typical honking of two wheelers and the grunting sounds which BEST buses make. I saw a few flies buzzing and even occasionally tasting the Jalebis but decide to ignore them 😊. The Gulab Jamuns looked tempting, but I went for my favourite Mava Jalebi with Rabdi. I bought the minimum quantity of 100 gm for Rs.80 and ate it standing on the pavement/street. Amid this chaos I tucked into my first bite of the Mava Jalebi with Rabdi on top . It was clearly fresh, soft and delicious. Probably the best I have had in my life. I praised the Jalebi and the owner who had been a bit cold so far was quite pleased and told me that his mother makes the dough for the Jalebi and he fries them at the shop. So that was the secret. Home made and time tested recipe. I asked him for directions to India Hotel the restaurant next on my list. To my dismay he was not aware of India Hotel despite being a local. But when I told him it was located in Bohri Mohalla , he guided me to the road.

This entire mohalla/locality is undergoing massive redevelopment. As soon as I entered the mohalla I saw all the famous restaurants/shops of Bohri Mohalla including Surti Bara...

Taj Ice Cream – A Nostalgic Scoop of History

Nestled in the heart of Bohri Mohalla, Taj Ice Cream is a tiny yet legendary establishment that has been serving hand-churned, preservative-free ice cream since pre-independence. Despite the chaos outside, this quaint little shop barely fits four people. The walls, adorned with framed newspaper clippings, proudly showcase its long-standing heritage, with mentions of ambassadors and celebrities who have visited over the years.

What makes Taj Ice Cream special is its thick, creamy texture, unlike the air-filled versions sold elsewhere. The consistency is so rich that it creates an "ice cream pull"similar to the cheese pull in a pizza—a sign of true craftsmanship. It’s essentially India’s version of gelato, with a limited but excellent selection of flavors.

I tried the Mix Fruit, where the natural sweetness and grainy texture of chikoo stood out, accompanied by hints of strawberry and melon. The Apricot Tangerine was the highlight—refreshingly tangy with real apricot bits adding a delightful chew. Each bite felt like a spoonful of nostalgia.

Prices range from ₹80 to ₹110 per cup, depending on the flavor. There are no samples and no fancy names—just straightforward, honest flavors.

Downsides? The AC wasn’t working, making the tiny space feel stuffy, especially at noon. However, hygiene was impeccable. Go for the taste, not the ambiance.

Verdict: If you’re in the area, this is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates heritage, tradition, and truly...

This place is close to Mohammad Ali Road, so after hogging all the kababs we were all set to have some super delicious desserts! So my friend told me about this legendary place and I definitely couldn't miss it as it was established in 1887.

After we reached this place, it was nicely renovated with a minimalistic look and a few tables to sit. The uncle over there was super friendly and we asked him about their specialty and he said everything is special. Their menu is also very limited and simple.

Trust me he was right! Every damn thing is special, its just natural homemade fruit based Icecream and they have nailed it, no one can even come close to it. My personal favourites here were..

1. Litchi 😍 - The very first bite of this Icecream blew my mind away! It is simple milk sugar and lots of Lychee pulp and so much satisfying. I love Litchi alone but this icecream just took it to the next level. I cannot stop praising it ! Ratings - 10/10

2. Sitafal 😵 - The same exact feeling for this one aswell, they are very generous in adding the real fruit pulp and that is what shines out about this place. Ratings - 10/10

3. Strawberry ❤ - This it guys. The holy grail of flavours. All your prayers have been answered, all dues paid, God exists. Words haven't been defined yet to describe this ice cream. Just go for it!!! Ratings - 12/10 🙄 ( Yes...