Restaurants serving thali in Mumbai

When leaving for work at 8am, there is no way one can get cooking done, and therein the fear of eating out on a daily basis sets in. Thankfully, Mumbai is a metro where restaurants and eat outs are aplenty, around every nook and corner, some are light on the wallet as well.

Rajdhani (Crawford market), the restaurant popular for its Gujju and Rajasthani grub, is where you will see corporate crowd gathering for a sumptuous meal. The thali comprises of veggies like dudhi vatna, aloo aur bhakri sev, palakh mutter, goonda saak, accompanied with white dhokla khatta and sabudana vada, rotis and rice. Indulge in their desserts- rajgira sheera, sabudana kheer and fruit shrikhand before getting back to work. Another similar eat out is Chetana (Fort), with its “Eat All You Can” thali meals served at lunch and dinner.

Serving garma garam khana for more than a decade is our very own Golden Star (Charni Road). Office goers, tourist flock the place to sample their thali consisting of four veggies dishes made of cottage cheese, lentils, potatoes and greens; farsans (chat, fried and steamed), Gujarati dal, dal bati with roti of your choice or rice, mixed khichdi and Pulao. Dive right in with lasan chutney, mixed salad or masala chaas. Make sure to reserve some room in your tummy for their hot desi ghee jalebis, malpua rabdi and kesar puranpolis.

Dishing out hot vegetarian Sindhi and Punjabi thali is the no frills restaurant Kailash Parbat (Colaba) that has been tantalizing the taste buds of its patrons for eons now. Sindhi curry, bhajiya, raita and sweet boondi; Punjabi dishes such as chole bhaturey, makki ki roti, sarson da saag, gajjar ka halwa and many more, you are spoilt for choice.

Mecca for the thali buffs, Govinda Restaurant (Iskcon, Juhu) is known to rustle up a divine thali spread. The meals are “prasaadam” as they are first offered to Lord Krishna before finding their place amidst hungry crowds. The spread is not only delicious, but also healthy, for it comprises of succulent salads, starters, vegetables, pastas, rotis and yummy desserts. They are vedic and cooked without garlic and onion.

Sating the appetites of many, with quality food and efficient service are Samrat (Churchgate) and Status (Nariman Point) with their vegetarian Gujju chow and ofcourse a sinful dessert to polish the meal off. And those craving local treats, tuck into the luscious royal Maharashtrian power lunch veg or non-veg thali at Diva Maharashtracha (Mahim).

Time for lunch yet?