The Vada Pav, also known as the Mumbai Burger, is a popular street food in the city of Mumbai, India. It consists of a spicy potato filling that is deep-fried in a batter made of chickpea flour, known as gram flour. The crispy fritter is then placed between a pav, which is a small white bread roll, and served with a variety of chutneys and spices.
The Vada Pav has a unique taste that has become synonymous with the bustling streets of Mumbai. Its popularity has grown beyond the borders of India and has become a global phenomenon, with food enthusiasts and travelers seeking it out to experience the delicious flavors of this iconic snack.
The website described Vada pav as”This iconic street food is said to have originated from a street vendor named Ashok Vaidya, who worked near the Dadar train station in the 1960s and 1970s. He thought of a way to satiate the hungry workers and concluded that the ideal dish should be portable, affordable, and easy to prepare. Ashok made vada pav, and its popularity skyrocketed.”
Taste Atlas, a popular travel guide for foodies, recently released its list of the 50 best sandwiches in the world, based on the opinions of professional chefs, food critics, and academics. The Vada Pav was ranked at number thirteen, a testament to its global appeal and popularity.
The first three sandwiches on the list include Tombik from Turkey, a hearty sandwich made with grilled meat and vegetables; Butifarra from Peru, a sandwich made with roasted pork and sweet potato; and Sandwich De Lomo from Argentina, a steak sandwich with chimichurri sauce. The Vada Pav was the only Indian sandwich on the list, and its inclusion is a testament to the growing popularity of Indian cuisine around the world.
In recent years, the Vada Pav has gained popularity outside of India, with food trucks, restaurants, and street vendors in different parts of the world offering their own unique versions of this iconic snack. Despite the variations in ingredients and preparation techniques, the Vada Pav remains a beloved snack that encapsulates the vibrant and diverse flavors of Mumbai.