Ashok Vada Pav — Restaurant in Mumbai

The vada pav is iconic to Mumbai, and Ashok Vada Pav at Prabhadevi has time and again been declared as the best in the city. So here, we deconstruct this absolutely delicious dish to find out what makes it so unique.

Chow Down

Do you ever wake up thinking of a hot vada neatly put inside a pao with plenty of choora and chutney? Well, we do because if you’ve eaten a vada pav once, it’s hard to not crave it again, especially the one at Ashok Vada Pav, Mumbai’s most popular {and forever crowded} stall for the city’s favourite snack.

Set aside the hype, Ashok truly does make a delicious snack, what with him having created another version to it too, fondly called the choora pav {he mixes the choora with chutney and stuffs it in the pav}. There are many reasons why no other vada pav can match the standards this man has set, mainly because for over two decades, his vada pav has consistently been tasting the same {and all old-timers can vouch for this fact}.

What sets it apart is not merely the taste of the patty {which is a perfect blend of potatoes, ginger-garlic, coriander-cumin powder, green chillies and salt dipped in thick besan paste before frying}, but the chutney that makes this dish oh-so-irresistible.

A combination of green and red chutneys, which balance the sweet and spicy taste, are the key elements of the vada pav. And when served with salted green chillies {fried} and dry red chutney powder, there’s no one we know who can refuse it {that...

As it was my 1st visit to Mumbai, I went through few top reviews to try the best Vada Pav. So I went to Ashok Vada Pav with high expectations, travelling almost 40-45kms by bus and foot, then standing in a que for 20mins, I ordered 2 for myself, since I thought one wouldn't be enough for me. Now coming to the food, No I didn't feel anything Awesomeness in it. Why? The Pav/bun isn't that soft which we found in pav bhaji. Chutneys are good though. Churas/namkeens are the main downside for me. But, the Aloo tikki, I loved it. And two of them was full and heavy for me. I'm not a Mumbaikar, and it was my 1st ever Vada Pav ever. Yeah!! As a Bangali, I learned to eat food through my soul, not just by tongue. So wherever I go, I taste the local delicacies whether its north or south. Going through articles and reviews, seeing such long ques of people and cars, I increased my expectations subconsciously may be. I thought, if these local people are getting crazy for this Shop, it must be very good.

3.In this covid situation, I saw only one guy prepare the pav, wraps it, serves it, makes cash transactions- all with bare hands, while the other staff was too busy to shoot photo with priority customers coming in cars.

That's okay, you don't learn until you try. Not every taste buds have to be the same. I don't hate Vada pav, but I didn't like Ashok's version. Will try another...

Vada Pav, originated in Mumbai, is undoubtedly one of the most popular street foods around the world. I tried Ashok Vada Pav, which is renowned as one of the city's most famous and beloved Vada Pav joints. Located beside Kirti College in the vicinity of Shivaji Park, this establishment offers a unique twist to the classic Vada Pav.

Cost of Each Vada Pav- Rs 30.

What sets Ashok Vada Pav apart is their addition of besan chura (gram flour crisps) between the Vada and Pav, adding an extra crunch and texture to the overall experience. The combination of their spicy chutneys further elevates the flavors, making it even more special and delicious. Each Vada is always prepared fresh and served hot.

However, it's worth mentioning that the popularity of Ashok Vada Pav draws large crowds, resulting in long queues. During my visit, I had to wait for approximately 30 minutes before getting my turn to savor this delectable street food. Despite the wait and the crowded environment, the experience and taste were definitely worth it.

For Vada Pav enthusiasts visiting Mumbai, I highly recommend trying Ashok Vada Pav for an authentic and mouthwatering culinary adventure. Just be prepared to join the queue and embrace the bustling street food scene while indulging in this iconic Mumbai delicacy.

PS- Below you can see the long queue...