Deepinder Payal serves steaming hot momos at MBP Road, Malad West. Pic/Sharad Vegda

At Payal’s stall is another regular customer, 21-year-old Serco employee Gayatri Rajwansh, who says, she makes it to Payal’s stall at least once a day. “They are steamed, healthy, and of course, cheap at Rs 20 for a plate of four,” she adds. His stall is the show-stopper on the road. For the last year, Payal, who hails from Haridwar, has been waking up at 8 am to make 500 semi-cooked momos. With his four-storeyed steamer, a jug of sauce and bag of momos, he sets his stall at 11 am and by 10 pm, he is sold out. Cashing in on the popularity of his paneer and chicken momos, he has opened four other outlets across
the city.

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Payal’s however isn’t the only success story from Mumbai’s street-food hubs. Here are four other food stalls to hit when feeling the blues at work on Monday.

Egg locha roll at Kolkata Kati Roll, Andheri West. Pic/Sameer Sayed Abedi

Kolkata Kati Roll
Andheri West
In a bylane off Andheri Link Road, opposite Infinity Mall, ‘Kishan Bhaiya Roll wale’ as the chef calls himself, parks his food van, Kolkata Kati Roll every day. His most famous delicacy is the egg locha roll. The naan is flaky, buttery and moist, with a filling of a runny egg.
Cost: Rs 100

pics/Tushar Satam

Khichya Papad
At Opera House  
For the past five years, Lakhan Yadav has been selling khichya papad, made of rice and corn flour at Opera House.

He roasts the papad on a coal stove, and tops the wafer-thin base with finely-chopped onions, tomatoes and coriander. He sprinkles some salt, pepper and garam masala. And, no, his clientele are not just Sindhis.
Cost: Rs 30

Farali Pattice
At Princess Street
Started in 1973, Prahlad Bhatt started a tiny stall on the footpath of Dava Bazaar at Princess Street. Today, his sons, Praful (36) and Uday (33), serve farali foods i.e. food eaten during fasts. Their piping hot pattice, stuffed with coconut, dry fruits and potato, has a crunchy outer layer and a soft filling inside.
Cost: Rs 36 for two pieces

Pics/Datta Kumbhar

Restaurant-style Pasta
Parel
At three friends, with an experience of 12-15 years on Merchant Navy shifts, decided to put their training under Italian chefs on the job to good use.

Peace Soul Delicious is a two-month-old stall on Dr SS Rao Road serves Italian fare, along with sandwiches and burgers. Our pick is the creamy mushroom (in pic), a penne pasta in white sauce. Mama Mia!
Cost: Rs 150