Polydish city guide

Best Mumbai Pav Bhaji in London

“The vegetables are mashed until unrecognisable and cooked with more butter than seems reasonable — restraint is not the point here.”

Mumbai Pav Bhaji

What the real thing tastes like

A mix of potatoes, tomatoes, and mixed vegetables is mashed smooth on a flat griddle (tawa) with a generous amount of butter and pav bhaji masala, cooked long enough for the vegetables to lose their individual identity entirely. The soft pav bread rolls are toasted on the same buttery griddle, picking up the same flavour.

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Reviewers judge the bhaji's smoothness (no lumps of unmashed vegetable) and butter quantity as the top two markers — versions perceived as 'stingy with butter' are consistently criticised. The pav's toast level, golden and slightly crisp rather than soggy, is the most-mentioned secondary detail.

Order it here when it has

  • rich buttery flavour
  • smooth mash texture
  • toasted bread

Walk away when you see

  • very buttery/heavy
  • can be too salty
  • spice level inconsistent

Restaurant-level rankings for London land as the Polydish review engine processes this city's reviews. Explore the dish itself while you wait —

Mumbai Pav Bhaji on Polydish →