Khau Gallis exist in all parts of Bombay, with each having its signature dishes but also serving staple Bombay street fare (pav bhaji, vada pav, bhelpuri and panipuri). The interesting thing is that in spite of the similarity of food, each lane has a distinctive character – it could be be the one dish that marks it out of all the other similar gallis, or the kind of clientele it has, or just the way it is influenced by its immediate surroundings.

The khau galli off SNDT has a very strong Kerala flavor not just in the food which contains coconut (a staple of Kerala food) but also in the names of the shops, some of which have names of famous Russians like Lenin and Stalin. The state of Kerala is one of the two bastions of communism in India.

There is a khau galli off Mohamedally Road, near the Minara Masjid – the lane is also called the ‘Minara Masjid galli’ – which serves the most amazing non-vegetarian Muslim food. And I have not seen any other street in Mumbai where I can get the full complement of kebabs, nihaari, daal gosht, chaanp. And then straight-from-the-pan-hot jalebis.

All the khau gallis originated from a need felt by the local populace for no-hassle, cheap food joints, serving the customary cuisine of the populace. The ‘khau galli’ off Carter Road, in posh sea-facing Bandra, serves shawarmas, sandwiches and the ilk. In middle-class Ghatkopar, they serve pav bhaaji, the staple street food of Bombay – minimum fuss, and value for money.

And this is only scratching the surface. I am sure there are even more interesting facets to these gallis or lanes. Keep watching this space to know.