This is ISKCON Temple’s own vegetarian restaurant, which offers delicious vegetarian dishes at affordable prices. People mostly crowd here because of the hygienic ambience and their famous vegetarian thali and buffet which usually consists of a variety of items ranging from different kinds of salads, soups and a lot more.
Where: Suvarna Nagar, Juhu, Mumbai
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday ,4:30AM-9:00PM
Daily commuters might not even know that this canteen exists as it is tucked away behind the main gate of the CSM Terminal in Mumbai but Steven’s Kitchen was established way back in 1888. Although this canteen does not offer a lot of varieties, but is extremely cheap and affordable for daily commuters. Here you get Misal Pav for just INR 8, Pav Bhaji at INR 14 and tea at INR 4!
Where: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Working Hours:Sunday-Saturday ,9:00AM-5:00PM
For those who are looking for authentic Goan food in Mumbai, Goa Bhawan should be on the top of your list. Located in Juhu, this canteen offers mouth-watering Goan delicacies and some of their must try dishes are Bombli Rawa fry and their authentic Goan thalis like prawn thali.
Where: 25, Samarth Ramdas Marg, Venetia Jamnagar Society, Gulmohar Road, Gulmohar Colony, Juhu, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday ,12:45PM-3:30PM and 8:00PM-10:30PM
Shetty’s Canteen was established way back in 1956 and is always brimming with people. On Fridays, they offer a special meal of chicken biriyani, fried pomfret and dal-rice for just INR 20 each.
Where: Mumbai University, Fort
Working Hours: 10:00AM-8:00PM (Closed on alternate Saturdays and Sundays)
Located on the second floor of the Central Railways building, the IRCTC Cafeteria was built in 1929. With huge windows and British architecture, this small canteen offers delicious items like chicken biryani at veg thali at an affordable rate of INR 40 and tea at just INR 7!
Where: Jan Ahaar, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday ,9:00AM-5:00PM
This canteen is famous for its affordable south india thali which is served on a banana leaf. Their thali contains lip-smacking delicacies of the south like rasam,sal,rice,sambar,papads and a variety of desserts like payasam, shrikhand and a lot more. Rama’s is a favourite among those who are fans of south Indian cuisine.
Where: 1st Floor, LBS Market Building, Lakhamsi Napoo Road, Near Matunga Central Railway Station, Matunga, Mumbai
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 10:30AM-3:00AM and 7:00PM-10:30PM
Located near Dadar TT Circle,Swagat Canteen provides lip-smacking local food items like pav bhaji, vada pav, ragda patties etc. at extremely affordable rates. Their menu also includes north Indian foods like chole bhature and palak paneer as well as Indo-Chinese cuisines which include hakka noodles and schezwan fried rice.
Where: Shop No 15, Empress Mahal, Khodadad Circle, Dadar
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday-9:00AM-11:30PM
Ladoo Samrat is famous for its authentic Maharashtrian delicacies like Vada Pav, misal pav, batata vada, kokum sharbat and a lot more. Prompt service is another advantage in this canteen. Anything you order, will reach you within five minutes.
Where: Shop No.: 1-2 Habib Terrace Lalbaug, Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Rd, Ganesh Gully, Parel, Mumbai
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 7:30AM-9:00PM
If you are a lover of non-vegetarian south Indian cuisine, then Deluxe is a good choice.From Kerala style mutton or ‘Sadhya’ to chicken stew, fried shrimps,fishes,squids, you can find everything here in traditional style, served on banana leaves. They are mostly famous for their Malabar Parathas as well their deluxe thalis.
Where: No.10-A Pitha Street, PM Road, Colaba Causeway, Kala Ghoda, Fort.
ISH Canteen is quite popular among youngsters due to the proximity of the location. They have indoor seating facilities and remains crowded mostly in the evening. Their afghani chicken and chilly paneer is quite famous amongst regular customers.
Where: 45, Shukla Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai
Working Hours: Sunday-Saturday, 8:00AM-10:00PM
Narsee Monjee's School of Business Management Canteen is one of the best college canteens in Mumbai, offering spacious air-conditioned seating arrangements with a capacity of more than 150. Their must try items include kung-pao potatoes, chinese bhel,bhurji pav and chole bhature. Also, their speciality drink 'Rio' is a must try! They also offer hot gulab jamuns, rasgullas and different types of pastries as well.
Where: Inside NMIMS, V. L. Mehta Road, Navyug Society, Navpada, Suvarna Nagar, Vile Parle, Mumbai,
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Mithibai College’s canteen, located in the western suburbs remains jam packed with college students throughout the day. It is quite big and can accommodate more than 100 people at a time. The items on their menu are quite affordable and few of their must try items include watermelon juice, red sauce pasta, grilled sandwich and crispy schezwan dosa.
Where: Vile Parle, Mumbai
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Jai Hind College’s canteen was established way back in 1948 and is located in Churchgate. They have two canteens and can accommodate up to 80 students at a time. Their must try items include schezwan fried rice, cheese garlic bread, keema pav and a lot more. During the summers they serve fresh fruit juices and ice tea as well.
Where: Churchgate, Mumbai
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
HR college's canteen is an actual heaven for Chinese lovers. Although there's very limited seating arrangement in this canteen but this place always remains crowded, due to its amazing dishes. One can always find students bunking classes and spending time with their friends here. Other than Chinese, they also offer sandwiches, mocktails, sweets and a lot more.
Where: Churchgate, Mumbai
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
St. Andrews College canteen is quite spacious but cozy. You’ll surely find harmless stray dogs and cats giving you company throughout your meal. Their specialities include chicken rolls and burgers, chicken lollipops, fried rice and veg thali.
Where: St Domnic Rd, Bandra West, Mumbai,
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Although their canteen has no seating, but no one’s even complaining about it and all the credit goes to their amazing quality of food. From North Indian to South Indian, Chinese to Fast food, this canteen offers all kinds of cuisines at affordable rates. Their must try items include club sandwich, mac and cheese, cheese pizza roll, Oreo and chocolate brownies etc.
Where: Adv, Nari Gursahani Rd, T.P.S III, Mumbai.
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
This all women’s university offers amazing local snacks and has an indoor space for seating as well. They serve all kinds of Maharashtrian snacks like vada pav,misal pav,frankie,pav bhaji etc. SNDT is among the most pocket friendly canteens in Mumbai.
Where: 1, Nathibai Thackersey Road, New Marine Lines, Churchgate, Mumbai
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Their college canteen has the rustic old charm with wooden chairs and ample seating arrangement for everyone. You will often find students chilling with their guitars or important group discussions taking place here. Their specialities include Chole bhature, chicken Curry, burma sandwich, brownies and different kinds of milkshakes.
Where: 5, Mahapalika Marg, Dhobi Talao, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Area, Fort, Mumbai
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Wilson College’s canteen by far serves the best non-vegetarian meals and is a favourite among youngsters. With ample seating space and great ambience, the hustle bustle of students, they offer a plethora of items to choose from. Some of the most famous items on their menu includes chicken cutlet, chicken masala puri, chicken and egg schezwan rice,Samosa Sambar,chicken crispy and a lot more.
Where: Chowpatty Seaface, Road, Chowpatty, Mumbai,
Working Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:00AM-7:30PM
Also known as Sir JJ Canteen, this canteen was started in the year 1938 and it used to serve home-style food at very cheap rates. It was previously run by the Kotian family, but now has been handed over to a contractor but still remains a prominent spot for the young generation. A full meal here costs INR 40, Uttapam or dosa costs INR 30, whereas a cup of tea costs only INR 5.
Working Hours: 8:00AM-6:00PM
Patil’s canteen,located next to St.Xavier’s College, was established in1949 and was initially a vegetarian canteen. But later, they started selling non-veg items as well. They serve delicious home cooked food and remain fully packed on Wednesdays and Fridays. Their speciality includes the surmai thali and chicken thali.
Where: 374, Sane Guruji Marg, Near Agripada Police Station, Mumbai,
Working Hours: 9:00AM-6:00PM (Closed on weekends)
Canteens are not just eating houses; they are much more than that. For travellers, canteens are where you can have a few chit chats with localities and know about the city. For busy Mumbaikars, these canteens provide them relief from their midweek blues, over a cup of coffee with their friends. The canteens listed above have been operating since ages and the only constant is their flavours and you should definitely visit these canteens if you want a taste of authentic lip-smacking flavours of Mumbai at affordable prices.