Mumbai, known as the foodie’s capital of India, is one of the closest hubs in the state for seafood. Influenced by the British, Mughals, Koli Fishermen, Mumbai has developed an array of seafood varieties, with equally diverse culinary methods. Age old restaurants have always provided the best dishes to its customers, from using fresh fish, to keeping it flavoursome and alluring.
Malvani, a cuisine of the Konkan belt, has always dominated as the preference for authentic seafood, with the taste and nuance of the homegrown ingredients and recipes. So this bombil season, we bring to you a list of restaurants in Mumbai where you can grab amazing Bombil Fry.
Gajalee
Considered as one of the best in the city, Gajalee provides a huge variety of seafood. Appreciated for every dish they serve, this restaurant is a must-visit. One of their main specialities though, is the bombil fry. They are tender, fresh and amazingly soft, deep fried till a golden hue. The crisp batter, which is rice based and not flour, with the juicy fish inside makes it a delight. Do have it with the green spicy coconut chutney served as the accompaniment that enhances the taste.
Location: Andheri, Vile- Parle, Lower Parel
Gomantak
A restaurant serving Malvani seafood, it is known to serve one of the best Bombil fry in the city. A little curly, the bombil is rubbed with semolina flour and deep fried. Crispy on the outside, it is wonderfully buttery and silky soft on the inside. With mild taste, it has an amazing flavour and texture. Do enjoy it with the rice and curry sauce provided, which is not spicy, pungent, oily, but only great taste!
Location: Bandra, Dadar, Thane, Vashi
Jai Hind Lunch Home
Known to serve superb fish at reasonable rates throughout the year, it excites the costumers at the mere thought of having fresh fish. The bombil fry here is the most preferred, a perfect combination of crispy and juicy. They also serve a special and interesting dish of the bombil, called the Bharla bombil, where a pocket of crispy bombil is filled with prawns in a coconut-based curry. A tasty variant of the bombil, it is a play of textures and fillings. A must try!
Location: Dadar
The Flying Butler
The Bombil Malvani Thali alone gives us a reason to drive to Thane. Serving one of the best seafood thalis around, it is known for the fresh and all-time yummy Malvani cuisine. One of its signature thalis, is the Bombil fry thali. Freshly prepared bombil fry and bombil curry is served with steamed rice, bhakri or wade, sol kadi, pickle, papad and lot more. These tender, soft but crispy bombil fry, which melt in your mouth, are served in great quantity, worth every penny.
Location: Thane
Matsyagandha
With three different kinds of preparation of Malvani, Mangalorean and Konkani, the lip-smacking seafood is served by the warm and welcoming hands of the owners themselves. Enjoy their speciality of bombil fry, without burning a hole to your pocket. They also serve stuffed bombil fry, another one from their speciality list. Stuffed with minced meat and typical malvani masala, this bharla bombil is a treat to your palette and your wallet. Served in good quantity, the crispness of the outer covering melts into the tender and mildly flavoured inner meat, leaving a lingering taste.
Location: Goregaon
Malwani Aswad
Offering an array of seafood from the Malvani and Coastal Maharashtrian cuisine, this is one of the recommended restaurants for enjoying the bombil fry. With very simple and mild food, the dish is made to perfection. Deep fried with batter coating, the crisp texture is complemented by the soft, mouth-melting meat inside. Do enjoy it with the fried wadas and a glass of cool sol kadi!
Location: Vile Parle
Do go before the season ends!
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