From Thai gravy to dry fruit khichdis, the city has it all
Especially on days when the heavens open up and the streets of Mumbai are battered with what can only be described as apocalyptic rain, a bowl of piping hot khichdi is like a warm hug. It is comforting and soothing in the same way. Nothing quite feeds the soul like good old khichdi; call it our very own “Chicken Soup” of the East if you will. While the wet, murky days brought on by the infamous Mumbai monsoons will have you scrambling for steaming cups of cutting chai, pakodas, and other rainy-day what-nots; nothing quite feeds the soul like good old khichdi.
The fact that khichdi can be enjoyed by anyone and everyone, from a baby as their first solid food to a person following a prescribed diet as a delicious, guilt-free spoonful, or even a toothless grandma, is what makes it the original. But even more important is the fact that it can be used in a wide variety of ways, maybe even more so than its more distant relative, biryani. Put us refute what seems to be a rather broad claim before you let out a shocked gasp. Now, each of the states in India has its own version of khichdi that is considered to be “traditional,” but it is not the dish that we are pointing you toward. Think of variants of this popular meal that feature Thai gravy, Schezwan sauce loaded with cheese, cheesy chicken, and butter chicken. And this is the location where you can go on the hunt for them.
Here are 5 places to stop by for Mumbai’s most eclectic khichdis
1. Tresind, BKC
The song “Khichdi of India” by Tresind is an ode to the belief that food can bring people together, which is true in many different cultures. Simple khichdi made with rice and lentils is brought to the table at the upscale Indian restaurant as part of the restaurant’s signature tasting menu as well as on its own. Accompanying the dish are twenty small white bowls, each of which contains a unique cooking ingredient sourced from a different region of the country. After that, the meal is delivered with a side of culinary history, in which the server discusses the history of each component of the dish as well as the state from whence it originated. After that, all of these components are combined with the basic khichdi in a manner like the preparation of a magic potion. This results in a sudden explosion of flavour in your mouth. You’re going to be grateful to us for this one.
2. Khichdi Samrat, Girgaon
Khichdi, that’s my name for variety. Or at least, that is what the well-known Khichdi Samrat restaurant in Mumbai would have us believe, with its hundreds of unique vegetarian khichdi meals. Visit this food haunt among the bustling crowds of Girgaon for both an affordable culinary feast and a sense of old-school Bombay. From its revered Vrindavan special khichdi, which is presumably named so after Krishna’s preferred dish, to dry fruit khichdi—yes, that’s a thing here—visit this food haunt for both an affordable culinary feast and a feel of old-school Bombay.
3. Matka Khichdi, Marol
Our belief is that food that is cooked in a matka tends to come out exceptionally delicious, but the food at this little little restaurant in Marol elevates it to a whole new level. Foodies are given the opportunity to select their favourite dish from among a delectable selection, such as the traditional “Lemon Wali” khichdi, the “Bombay Schezwan” sadabahar khichdi, or one of the restaurant’s really fusion interpretations, such as the “Thai Gravy” and “Mexican” global khichdis. Have I been able to shock you yet? How is the flavour going to be? To paraphrase Chris Martin, “if you never try, you’ll never know,” isn’t that the way it goes?
4. Khichdi the Global Food, Ghatkopar W and Borivali E
Have you ever entertained the thought of what khichdi prepared in an Italian-style may taste like? We bet you didn’t. But this eatery isn’t afraid to venture out, as seen by the fact that it has locations in both Ghatkopar West and Borivali East. You may anticipate a warm, gooey khichdi flavoured with macaroni, melting cheese, and Italian herbs. This is what you can look forward to. When you can’t decide between Italian and Indian food, give this a shot the next time you’re in a pickle! You can also sample some of the restaurant’s other unique meals, such as the “Khichdi Sizzler,” “Basil Broccoli Khichdi,” and “Paneer Tikka Khichdi,” in addition to the restaurant’s namesake dish. Before you venture here, you should make sure you are prepared to think experimentally.
5. Soam, Mahalaxmi and Chowpatty
On a dreary day, the Masala Fada Khichdi, which is served with a side of wonderful Gujarati kadhi, is like a soothing salve for the soul because it is loaded with potato, green peas, and cauliflower. If you’ve travelled all the way to one of its branches in South Mumbai, you should definitely make plans to return home for a nice, relaxing siesta as soon as you can following your visit.
Swati Snacks, Banana Leaf, Papa Pancho Da Dhaba, and Jamai Shoshti are some other restaurants that should be recognised for the variety of khichdi bowls that they offer. Swati Snacks is known for its crunchy “Baked Masala Khichdi,” Banana Leaf is known for its healthier oats, soya, or daliya khichdis, and Papa Pancho Da Dhab We will be right back, but for now we are going to eat our way through the monsoons.