Ramzan Mubarak! The holy month of fasting and feasting for Muslims is here. Mumbai’s food stalls and brick-and-mortar restaurants dish out lipsmacking grilled meats, savoury Mughlai dishes and poetic desserts you’ll be craving until next Eid. Although Mohammad Ali Road’s khau galli is the godfather of all iftar (and sehri) meals, we’ve dug up 10 outlets from surrounding neighbourhoods like Bhendi Bazaar and Bohri Mohalla within walking distance of each other so you can go on a Ramzan food crawl from sunset to sunrise.
1. Sanju Baba Chicken & Paya at Noor Mohammadi Hotel
This 102-year-old restaurant has actor Sanjay Dutt’s stamp of approval, AND a recipe he shared with the owners, the Hakim Brothers, makes this historic eatery a must-visit for Ramzan food in Mumbai. Called the Sanju Baba Chicken, this luscious chicken curry is the menu’s crowning glory. But it faces steep competition from the rich and soupy mutton paya begging to be scooped up in fresh-out-of-the-oven tandoori rotis.
📍 179, Wazir Building, Abdul Hakim Chowk, Bhendi Bazar
2. Thread Chicken and Nihari at ChineseNGrill
Don’t let Chinese N Grill’s name fool you. They’re masters of Mughlai dishes, especially the famed Nalli Nihari – mutton shanks slow-cooked overnight in a rich broth of marrow and spices. Are you drooling already? Wait till you try their signature thread chicken – a crunchy, crispy noodle-like dish of chicken strips that might fill you up before you make your way to the mains! Details here
📍 Barkat Manzil, I.M. Merchant Road, Mohammad Ali Rd, near Minara Masjid
3. Bheja masala and Irani seekh kebab at Sarvi
This South Bombay institution carries so much clout that it needs no introduction. Or a signboard for that matter. Hungry Mumbaikars, from Bollywood legend Raj Kapoor and literary great Manto to Mumbai mafia’s feared dons and gangsters in the 80s, hankering for succulent Irani seekh kebabs have always found their way to this hole-in-the-wall Irani cafe since it was first opened in 1920. During Ramazan, give the bheja masala (scrambled goat brain in creamy cashew masala) a go – it will convince you why organ meats are a culinary marvel.
📍Opposite Nagpada Police Station, 192, Dimtimkar Rd
4. Baida roti and kebabs at Haji Tikka Corner
A cornerstone of Byculla’s food scene, during Ramzan you can’t miss Haji Tikka’s take on quintessentially Bohri dish – baida roti, chicken or mutton keema stuffed into fluffy yet crispy egg-washed paratha packets you’ll want to stuff yourself silly with. Do it. But set aside some space in your belly for their kebabs that come in a variety of platters and sauces like the chicken barra and shahi drumsticks drenched in silky white yoghurt and cashew gravies. Then there’s the exquisite mutton naan sandwich, which will wipe your memory clean of burgers. More info here
📍Sbut transit B block shop no 21, Bohri Mohalla, Bhendi Bazaar
5. Kheema Pav at Cafe Paradise
Another Mumbai street food dish that can outdo a burger any day is the kheema pav, especially the ones at Cafe Paradise. A Mohammad Ali Road fixture, this eatery has reopened after 6 years just in time for Ramzan 2025. The upgraded interiors haven’t messed around with a menu that still features all the crowd favourites. Dunk pillowy pav into spicy minced mutton kheema followed by another dish here that diners are nostalgic for – the rich and refreshing custard pudding.
📍Moulana Shaukat Ali Road, Kazipura, Kamathipura
6. Ramzan Malpua at Suleman Usman Mithaiwala
Custard puddings give us the perfect segue into the dessert section of this Ramzan in Mumbai guide. I’d have my Mumbaikar credentials cancelled if Suleman Usman Mithaiwala’s legendary sweets weren’t mentioned. The famed malpuas – hot pancakes made from a batter of rawa, white flour, eggs and dry fruits and served with a generous lashing of cream – are only made during Ramazan. Then there’s the dreamy, creamy firni served in tiny earthen pots and the Mumbai special aflatoon – a dense baked mithai made of mawa, sugar, eggs, ghee, rawa, and raisins. More info here
📍Ibrahim Merchant Rd, below Minara Masjid, Pydhonie, Mandvi
7. Sancha ice cream at Taj Ice Cream
A scoop of hand-churned ice cream at this 136-year-old ice cream parlour is the perfect reward for fasting during a hot Indian summer. Their sancha (hand-churned) ice creams are made in wooden barrels with fresh fruits and zero preservatives, even in 2025. You can savour the tradition in tasty flavours like rose and basil seeds, aphonso mango and mixed fruits.
📍SBUT Transit Cluster D Kharat, Chimna Butcher St, Bohri Mohalla
8. Mawa Jalebis at Burhanpur Jalebi Centre
Is it even Ramzan if you don’t burn the roof of your mouth with piping hot mawa jalebis from this shop? They’re so good, the impatience is justified. Instead of the traditional gram flour batter, this chunky sweet is made from milk solids and is darker than regular orange jalebis. These mawa jalebis might have originated in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhnapur district, but they’ve cast a spell on Mumbai’s foodies for years now. Jason Derulo should sing about them.
📍 70/74, Memonwada Road, Below Minara Masjid, Pydhonie, Mandvi
9. Watermelon sharbat at Imam Sharbathwala
Cool off those scalded tongues and beat the Mumbai humidity with this killer quencher that’s a signature drink at Imam Sharbatwala, a juice stall that’s been around since 1925. In the last century, this fresh-fruit beverage has remained unchanged, made from watermelon pulp chopped and scooped out of the shell and mixed in with syrup-infused milk and tons of ice. The shop owner’s impressive knife-cutting skills add to the experience.
📍Saifee Jubilee Street, Null Bazar, Kumbharwada
10. Masala milk at Noorani Milk and Sweet Centre
This landmark eatery does sweets, but it’s their masala milk that all of Mumbai’s sweet on. Snaking long lines are common here during Ramzan, but a sip of the icy bright yellow milk flavoured with saffron, cardamom, cinnamon and more makes winding through the crowds worth it all. Whether you stop by for iftar or suhoor, it’s a drink you’ll never tire of.
📍157, Ebrahim Merchant Building, Minara Masjid, 157, Ibrahim Merchant Rd, Pydhonie, Mandvi