Vada Pav — Mumbai Street Fried Potato Bun (वडा पाव)

Mumbai (Bombay); created in 1971 by Ashok Vaidya at Dadar railway station; became the staple meal of Mumbai's working class due to its low cost, portability, and nutrition

Vada pav (वडा पाव) is Mumbai's most iconic street food and India's most consumed fast food: a deep-fried spiced potato dumpling (vada) sandwiched inside a soft, slightly sweet white bread roll (pav) and served with a specific combination of chutneys — dry garlic chutney (lehsun chutney, the dry version), fresh green chutney (coriander-green chilli), and tamarind chutney — that together create a five-layered flavour experience in a single handheld package. The vada's batter (besan coating) must be light and crispy, not thick; the potato filling (batata, बटाटा — from the Portuguese batata, reflecting Mumbai's colonial history) must be lightly spiced with mustard seed, turmeric, curry leaf, and dried chilli.

Eaten immediately, standing, as a one-handed meal. The correct eating order: take a bite through the full stack — pav, dry chutney, green chutney, vada, tamarind — all at once. Served with fried green chillies on the side.