Ramadan 2019 Food Feast: Things to Eat at Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

Ramadan Special - Street Food at Mohammed Ali Road

Ramadan or popularly known as Ramzan in India is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (Roza/sawm) to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) according to Islamic belief. This annual observance is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon, according to numerous biographical accounts compiled in the hadiths. One of the major highlights of Ramadan is Iftari feast where we prepare really amazing delicacies for Iftari. Iftar food is one of the most important meals during Ramadan and the dastarkhan on which the entire food is placed is filled with best of mouthwatering items which are shared with everyone present for Iftar meal. Before iftar timings, all the local streets are loaded with mind-blowing food which is enjoyed across different communities and everyone loves to relish those items. One such street which is always buzzing during the Holy month of Ramadan is Mumbai's oldest and most famous street food hub - Mohammed Ali Road Food Feast. 

Now I have been going to Mohammed Ali Road since childhood and over the years nothing much has really changed at this amazing street. Yes, if you don't know when is the best time to visit this place, then definitely you will get caught in that crazy foodie crowd where you have absolutely no space to walk and you can hardly move an inch or find a decent place to sit and enjoy the meals. But ya even that's a kind of fun experience if you wish to explore the crowded Mohammed Ali Road. Well for me I always prefer less crowd and hence I usually visit this place around mid-month or before and I always prefer to go here late in the night after 12:30 / 1 am. You should always avoid visiting this place, the last 10 days of Ramadan because it's jam-packed and it will leave you frustrated waiting for your turn struggling to find a decent place and eat. 

Now there are tons of places you can eat at Mohammed Ali Road where you get good street food, but for me, I feel some are overrated and over the years I just have a few selected places I visit and enjoy eating. 

Below I am sharing a list of things you can eat at Mohammed Ali Road during Ramadan:    (*Note: The prices of below-listed food items increase during Ramadan hence I am not giving out prices) 

1. Malpua Paradise😍: 

Ok so there are many sweet shops who prepare Malpua on the street, but I am listing 3 best shops I personally like for sweets which are Modern, Shalimar and Tawakkal sweets out of which I lovee Modern Sweets Malpua. If you are a pure vegetarian then you can visit Tawakkal sweets where you can get Eggless Malpua, they are the only ones who give an eggless option for Malpua. 

Malpua at Modern Sweets Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

  

Eggless Malpua at Tawakkal Sweets Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

Malpua at Shalimar Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

2. Phirni: 😍

This rice pudding is loved by all and at Mohammed Ali Road you get so many flavors in Phirni, I like the Tawakkal and Modern sweets best for phirni.

Mango Phirni at Tawakkal Sweets Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

Modern Sweets Phirni at Mohammed Ali Road, Mumbai

3. Suterfeni and Black current Halwa:

Suterfeni is white cotton candy texture, shredded rice flour which is sweet, soft and super delicious. I picked a good Suterfeni from Tawakkal sweets. Do try the black current halwa here it is delicious. They also serve a variety of colorful barfi's. 

Suterfeni at Tawakkal sweets

Black Current Halwa at Tawakkal Sweets

Barfi at Tawakkal sweets

4. Nankhatai:

Find these amazing biscuits at Suleman Usman you can get Rawa or the normal wheat Nankhatai here. 

5. Khwaja and Aflatoon

Khwaja and Aflatoon can be found at Suleman Usman, there are some places who have started Baklava as well but I like to stick with the traditional old shops. 

Aflatoon at Shalimar, Mumbai

Khaja at Suleman Usman

Modern Sweets Khaja Mumbai, Mohammed Ali Road

6. Falooda Mix

You can pick this readymade falooda mix to prepare delicious falooda at home with milk and rose syrup. 

Falooda Mix at Mohammed Ali Road

7. Falooda and Snacks at Shalimar Restaurant 😍:

If you are a vegetarian and you still wish to enjoy the feel of Ramadan then you can try out some vegetarian snacks at Shalimar Restaurant and enjoy a glass of lovely Falooda with kulfi ice cream. The burger I tried was not good, apart from the burger I think this place serves decent vegetarian snacks. 

Falooda at Shalimar Restaurant Mohammed Ali Road 

Veg Grilled Sandwich at Shalimar Restaurant

Good fries Bad Burger at Shalimar Restaurant Mumbai

Spring Rolls at Shalimar Restaurant Mumbai

8. Burhanpur Jalebi Centre (Mawa Jalebi and Gulab Jamun)

So here is my honest confession, I don't like the normal orange jalebi's which you normally get in the market. I have always found them to be too sweet and tasteless. But when i tasted the Jalebi's from this shop, it was the first time I fell in love with jalebi's and enjoyed eating them. These Mawa Jalebi's and Gulab jamuns are prepared fresh and hot and they taste extremely delicious. I am sure you will like these, they are huge in size and dark brown in color. Must try!

Mawa Jalebi at Mohammed Ali Road

Gulab Jamun at Burhanpur Jalebi Centre Mohammed Ali Road

9.Bade Miyan: Chicken Soup, Bheja Fry, Dry Masala Gravies, etc...

At Bade Miyan you must try the famous soup actually it is more famous for its Zabaan soup but no way I haven't really experimented that far :D. I love having Chicken soup here, its soo amazing, highly recommended. If you love non-vegetarian then you will find a variety of dishes like mutton masala, gurda fry etc... etc... basically one of the best places for hardcore non-vegetarians. Enjoy this with freshly baked soft Pav. Though in my opinion, this place is a little overrated, I feel just like Noor Mohammadi hotel - which is known for Sanju baba Chicken and nihari, there was a time when Noor Mohammadi hotel was one of the best hotels and the food price was really cheap but now after they have renovated the place and changed their entire branding they are missing that old taste in food. Even at Bade Miyan only selected items are good rest is just regular food. 

Chicken Soup at Bade Miyan Mohammed Ali Road Mumbai

Dry Masala Gravies at Bade Miyan - Mutton Masala Mohammed Ali Road

Dry Masala Gravies at Bade Miyan - Mutton Masala Mohammed Ali Road

Dry Masala Gravies at Bade Miyan - Mutton Masala Mohammed Ali Road

10: Street Masala Milk:

Flavoured Masala Milk is a must try at Mohammed Ali Road. 

Masala Milk at Mohammed Ali Road

11. Keema Samosa and Kebabs

Street food Keema Samosa and kebabs, which has delicious mutton keema, dil leaves and onion filling. 

Keema Samosa at Mohammed Ali Road 

12. Kebabs:

Now many people think that the best of kebabs are served at Mohammed Ali Road and Mashallah restaurant is a good place to visit for kebabs. But for me, I have only loved kebabs at Sarvi hotel in town and hence I don't really enjoy the kebabs served here and usually skip eating here. 

Kebabs at Mohammed Ali Road

13. Khajini 

If kheer is regularly prepared at your home, then you can pick these Khajini from the market. This Khajini is like kheer puri. 

Khajini at Modern Sweets Mohammed Ali Road

14. Chinese N Grill

Honestly, I am not very fond of this place either, it has a lot of waiting time and the food is not that great, yes the Nalli Nihari is very famous here but I don't find it the best hence if I really want to have the nihari then usually I take a parcel. Luckily when I visited this time there was no waiting and hence I managed to get a picture of this dish. Not extraordinary but good dish. Also, the Caramel Custard is yummy here. 

Nalli Nihari at Chinese N Grill Mohammed Ali Road Mumbai

Caramel Custard at Chinese N Grill Mohammed Ali Road

15. Saandal Sweet:

Saandal is a soft spongy sweet dish which looks like idlis, they are really delicious and have a covering of malai over it with dry fruits. 

Saandal Sweet at Mohammed Ali Road Street food

 16. Chana Batata (Tilli Chana), Khichda and Sharbat at Bohri Muhalla:

If you love Khichda and Chana Batata you will get the most awesome chana batata with unique kokam paste mix and mouth-watering khichda at Bohri Muhalla right opposite the mosque. Note: you can also have the non vegetarian version of chana batata with tilli in it. After this, you can have lovely chilled fruit sharbat here which is very different milk sharbat. Highly recommended! 

There also more items and dishes which are popular at Mohammed Ali Road, but that list I will share when I do a detail write up on each of the old famous restaurants. What makes this place amazing for foodies is the way the food is being prepared since generations with traditional old recipes and secret masala's.   

Below I am sharing little more details on Ramadan and it's importance: 

Ramadan Mubarak

Being a proud Indian Muslim myself, I love Ramadan and me and my family we always look forward to this beautiful one month of fasting, where apart from our regular religious prayers it actually helps you to rejuvenate and reset yourself - your mind, body and soul, do alot of self-introspection, stay away from any evil deeds, always forgive and have a bigger heart, do charity by sharing a percentage of your total earnings, really understand the importance of the weak, the needy and poor how they struggle every single day to even meet their daily meals, it helps you to have more patience in life, it makes you more thankful to the things you have in your life and helps you value all the natural resources Allah (God) has gifted us, become more tolerant to others, have humanity, read the Quran with complete hadiths and knowledge to remind yourself of all the struggles of our Prophets and how we should do good deeds for humanity, it talks about conscious living and conscious food (halaal food) and it overall tells you one of the best way of living a simple life, give without any expectations, spread love, peace, happiness and be extremely kind to others.   

The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramiḍa or ar-ramaḍ, which means scorching heat or dryness. Fasting is fard (obligatory) for adult Muslims, except those who are suffering from an illness, traveling, are elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, diabetic, chronically ill or menstruating. While fasting from dawn until sunset, Muslims refrain from consuming food, drinking liquids, smoking, and engaging in any inappropriate behavior. Muslims are also instructed to refrain from sinful behavior that may negate the reward of fasting, such as false speech (insulting, backbiting, cursing, lying, etc.) and fighting except in self-defense. Pre-fast meals before dawn are referred to as Suhoor (Sehri), while the post-fast breaking feasts after sunset are called Iftar. 

I hope this post was helpful for your next visit to Mohammed Ali Road during Ramadan :)

Think positive and be positive in life and let's stop any kind of hate spread towards anyone, through any digital medium. Let's be the change and control technology and not let technology control us.  

Be healthy, Smile more.

Lot's of Love and Happiness 💖 

Ambreen Shaikh 

Aka Foodhist Journey 

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Festive Greetings to All. 

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