Whoever has said, “Food is Life” knew what he meant. For years I have been seeking the meaning of this statement, yet never realized it until recently. Food gives us warmth, pleasure, and happiness, sometimes, it helps us overcome the worst feeling and other times, it’s just to fill the hunger. Filling hunger is not a big issue because anyone can do that. But, to impress with food takes a lot of heroism, and here, I’m trying to list down my favorite Asian restaurants in Mumbai.
I have been watching MasterChef US and Australia for a long time now; and I always wondered what the meaning of Gordon Ramsey’s statement was: “Food is love, there have to be emotions on the plate.” And trust me, when you realize what Gordon Ramsey is saying there is no other feeling in the world better than that, perhaps mother’s love, but Mother’s Food beats love any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
When a chef/cook prepares food with emotions, it can easily be felt on the tongue which directly hits the correct emotional neurons in the human mind creating a stimulation giving the best mania one can experience. It doesn’t matter what emotions are on the plate, if the chef is angry while cooking, then anger has to be felt. Although nowadays, mostly everyone only cooks for money, if that’s the case then greed has to be experienced via food.
Let’s start the list.
Note: These are the restaurants which I consider as personal favorites. Opinions might differ.
China Valley has four branches in Mumbai – Prabhadevi, Powai, Worli and Carter Road (Bandra). From this, my personal favorite is the one in Prabhadevi.
The ambiance is excellent with soft Oriental music playing in the background, making the place comfortable for a full meal. The restaurant has some eye-catching features which just steal the show; like the classic Asian décor, with white wall, yellow lights and red table cloth. The entire furniture is wood adding to the authentic charm.
The food is quite excellent. Although the prices on the menu may seem to be a tad above the line for the dishes that are available at other restaurants too; but, once you have tasted the dish, it surely does justify the price.
Oriental Blossom is one of the finest Pan-Asian restaurants in Mumbai; located on the Marine Drive, this restaurant is the home diner of Marine Plaza, one of the 4-star hotels in Mumbai. The restaurant has the perfect view of the sea face, but, the attraction is the authentic décor, the courteous staff and the impeccable palate of the chef.
Oriental Blossom is a perfect place for having a 3 course Pan-Asian meal. The tables are neatly set with white table-cloth, sparkling stainless steel cutlery and perfectly shaped, black coloured chopsticks. It was mesmerizing. A Pan-Asian restaurant which is a must try. Although book this restaurant for special occasions, as the prices are a tad too much for every weekend.
This is my favorite restaurant for Oriental cuisine in Mumbai. The first time I was there with my friend on his birthday and since then, it has been a tradition to be at this restaurant for my birthday. For the past three years, this restaurant has been my special place where I dine with the most special people in my life.
The ambiance is just amazing, wooden tables with wooden ottoman stool in one section and perfect fine dine sitting on the other side of the restaurant. The food is exquisite; especially their soups and wontons. There is an authentic touch of Indian chefs in the food; making one feel the struggle the chef is having in preparing the perfect dish every time. He has gained consistency in delivering his emotions on the plate. This is the reason why All Stir Fry at The Gordon House is my favorite.
Pa Pa Ya has three outlets in the great city of Mumbai and all of them are located in the well versed corporate regions. The locations are Colaba, Lower Parel and Bandra Kurla Complex. These locations straight away suggest that the target audience is one which has class and the people aren’t eating at a fancy fine dine for the sake of showing off.
I have been to the one in Colaba, the diner is excellent, pop-color décor, highly courteous staff and a complete bar, to be honest, I had a feeling of being in one the Chinese movies where the actor sits at the bar and evaluates the contemplations of life. The feeling was just too good. Although I had visited this place alone, it’s a suggestion to go on a date, a perfect setting for two confused individuals who are still trying to figure it out.
As for the food, the portions are quite big; as I mentioned earlier, I was alone, so, I had to order Salmon Sushi and it was the best sushi I have ever had. 8 pieces of delicious rice and raw fish did fill my appetite.
Zoodles is a pocket-friendly restaurant that is one to visit any day of the week. If you have craving for Chinese, definitely visit this mini joint found in the food court of Oberoi Mall, Viviana Mall and CR2, Nariman Point.
The food at this food-court eatery is quite simple and adapted to the Indian taste; they serve some specialities along with the regular Chinese menu found at any joint on the roadside. The preparation is hygienic and the taste is considerable; I prefer this place only when there is a cash crunch.
Mamagoto is a fine-dine restaurant situated in the hub of Mumbaikars’ favorite hangout spot, Hill Road, Bandra West.
Mamagoto had initiated restaurants at some other locations in Mumbai as well, but, they failed to make the impact that this one made. This is a perfect place to have some wine and dine with your friends and family. The décor is cozy giving the best dining experience and the food is something that your mouth just craves after every bite. You are full, yet never satisfied.
Royal China is one of the first Chinese restaurants in Mumbai which served authentic Chinese in the perfect manner of serving and dining experience. I remember clearly, I was 8 or 9 years old and visited this restaurant for the first time with my parents and their friends. From earlier days itself, my parents have never been a fan of Oriental cuisine, however, I have accepted all the cuisines in this world as the world has accepted me. So, I was smitten by the décor, the dishes and the classy sitting which made me feel like I was not in Mumbai, for sure, I was sitting in a restaurant in China and was hoping that Jackie Chan would just walk through the doors.
The staff is very friendly, they consider your choice prior to what they wish to serve. Probably, one of the very few restaurants in Mumbai who prefer to treat the taste buds of the “customers” rather than focusing keenly on their a la carte.
Burma Burma is the only restaurant on our list that is pure vegetarian. Hard to believe that an Asian restaurant does not serve any sort of non-veg, isn’t it? Located in the prime area of Mumbai, Fort; this restaurant caters to over 1000 foodies every week with most of the crowd flooding in on the weekends. A suggestion: Book a table well in advance to miss the hour-long waiting.
The décor is quite fanatic, with a dreamy sequence of dinner tables and chairs perfectly arranged in a well sought-out manner, making the place look like one directly picked out from a Michelin star restaurant. Burma Burma is classified as casual dining by the food critics due to one reason and one reason only, the brasserie does not serve alcohol. Yes, a pure vegetarian restaurant which does not serve alcohol sounds boring, but; trust me; there are ample other surprises.
House of Mandarin was previously known as The Sassy Spoon. It is located at Hill Road, Bandra. The décor is decent, nothing extraordinary, but the feeling and the smell of the delicious food is what lures you through the gates. The place is children friendly, making it perfect for a weekend family dinner where the food cooked is measured with hygienic quality; making it safe for kids.
The staff is courteous ensuring you have the best possible experience. The restaurant does feature a full bar for adults, resulting in a perfect outing with friends post work. The service is real quick, just like Jackie Chan’s reflexes, Okay! It was a bad one! But, the restaurant is really good. A must visit place in the favorite hangout spot of Mumbai’s youth.
This restaurant doesn’t need any introduction. It’s Mumbai’s favorite Chinese restaurant. Located at several locations across the city: Bandra, Kandivali, Lower Parel, Ghatkopar, Malad, Powai, Andheri and Goregaon.
Mainland China features some of the most exquisite Chinese and Oriental delicacies in Mumbai. An authentic touch of Chinese tradition, served beautifully, in large portions to the Indian audience makes this restaurant a top-notch brasserie in the City of Dreams. Indeed, such Chinese food in Mumbai is a dream.
POH is a hidden gem when it comes to Pan-Asian restaurants in Mumbai. Located in the hub of corporate party places, Kamala Mills; POH offers one of the quirkiest restaurant experiences. The décor is simple, with comfortable seating and friendly staff. The USP of this restaurant is that the dining has a half cut plate set on the table and in the other half a surprise dish is served. The dish keeps on rotating week over week, but, it surely makes the experience a wholesome.
The delicacies served are excellent with one of the best rice servings I have ever had. Other items to try are seafood and classic poultry. Another plus of this restaurant is a fantastic plating. The colorful platter on a rustic black plate, sounds dull, but, looks so delicious that it literally waters the mouth.
China Bistro is one of the finest restaurants in Mumbai for Oriental cuisine that serves people from South Mumbai to Thane. Although the restaurants are easily accessible to pupils living in Town and Central Suburbs, people food in the western suburbs might have to take the long route and plan a half day outing. The restaurant has three outlets: Worli, Chembur and Thane.
This Oriental restaurant has everything: a full bar, live screening, buffet, desserts, a la carte and complete flavors of the Oriental cuisine. The service is prompt, the staff is courteous and the décor is aesthetic. The ambiance is enhanced by the lingering aroma of soy sauce in the air indulged with the odor of freshly cooked seafood.
This mini joint is located inside the Flea Bazaar Café in Kamala Mills, Lower Parel. Yugo Sushi serves only one cuisine i.e. Japanese. The main attraction is sushi with an excellent menu consisting of classic sushi like California, Surmai (King Mackerel), Anchovy, Crab and Salmon. They have vegetarian sushi too (yeah, that’s a thing).
Yugo Sushi is probably the only place on this list which is featured on Zomato but doesn’t have any ratings, reviews and must-try. In fact, it doesn’t even have a menu uploaded with very limited photos. To be honest, I don’t understand why, because the place is always flooded with customers even on the weekdays.
Just like China Bistro, Grills and Wok too have three branches in the city. One of them is in South Mumbai and the rest are in Western Suburb; Byculla, Andheri (Oshiwara) and Goregaon. So, if anyone from the central suburbs wishes to have a meal at Grills & Wok then Byculla is the best option or else, there is a compulsion for a few hours of an outing.
The décor is casual with a flair of joyful mood. The restaurant is highly crowded on weekends, so, weekdays are the best to try out this restaurant, at all the locations. The added benefit of this restaurant is that it has a completely different menu for takeaway, giving the foodie a huge benefit to try some awesome delicacies.
5 Spice is considered the best Pan-Asian restaurant by Mumbaikars. Not only it has multiple outlets making the access to good food super-comfortable, but the kitchen also serves the food with a flair for Indian taste buds that directly hit the right spots in mind, creating a memorable taste experience. I have been at different 5 Spice a few times, and I have noticed that the taste is almost similar.
5 Spice is a delight for the sense of taste; I felt the spice, coolness and emotions all at the same time. An experience which is impossible to forget. A must-try if you are a foodie and drag along with your friends who are against Chinese food, I’m sure, they will change their opinion.
Well, here I sum up the list. A wise man once said, “Food is not a fling, it’s an affair which lasts a lifetime.” On this note, start having affair and fall in love with the one thing which you will surely not regret, Food.
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