A new entrant in the family of street food joints in Lucknow is ‘Bombay Bhel & Sandwiches’, seated near St. Francis College, Hazratganj. Straight from the streets of Bombay to the lanes of Lucknow, this kiosk is a franchise of the already existing brand, ‘Bombay Pav Bhaji’ and we just can’t get enough of their delectable offerings.
Started only a month ago, this bhel and sandwich booth already has a remarkable footfall, so much so, that in another few days, they will be enlisted on online food delivery apps as well. So join us for a virtual tour to this ‘Bombay lane’ of Lucknow.
The charm of Bombay’s Bhel in Lucknow
‘Bombay Bhel & Sandwiches’ is famous for its palatable bhel and batata puri and these delights are perfect for all food explorers, who love all things spicy! For a happy weekend, many foodies rush to this highly economical stall for a quick bite and to indulge in their spicy bhel puri and cheesy sandwiches. The owner intends to bring happiness in small plates, consisting of sev batata puri topped with spicy garlic red and green chutneys, which divulges the taste of Mumbai’s vada pav.
A perfect combination of spices & cheese!
Not only does this stall serve delicious chaat options like Golden Bhel and Dahi Papdi but they are also equipped with different types of sandwiches, including but not limited to, Vegetable Cheese Toast, Veg Grilled and Masala Toast. The Vegetable Grilled Cheese Sandwich is topped with sev, making it a speciality of Mumbai and is a best-seller among children and adults who prefer a less spicy meal.
Adjacent to this kiosk is the stall of ‘Bombay Natural’s Pizza & Soya Chaap’, which is famous for its Rome-style Pizza along with Malai and Paneer Tikka Chaap and it does give Bombay Bhel, a tough competition! The father of these two is the renowned Bombay Pav Bhaji, who settled in Lucknow about 20 years ago.
Hand-crafted spices & Mumbai’s special khajoor!
In a personal interview with Knocksense, the owner, Mr. Rakesh Sharma, shared the story of how ‘Bombay Pav Bhaji’ and the other two outlets came along. As per the story, during the British rule in India, Rakesh’s grandfather, Borilal Sharma worked for the British East India Company in Mumbai and recognised their staple food as sabzi and bread, which later evolved into our well-known pav bhaji.
Originally from Rajasthan, the Sharma family discovered the perfect ingredients of these appetizers and opened kiosks, stalls and restaurants in Punjab, before visiting our Awadhi town. The USP of the franchise is that, all ingredients and spices used in the recipes, are made at home by the owners family, including the khajoori sev chutney, for which khajoors are specially imported from Mumbai.
Knock Knock
The stall takes special care of hygiene as much as possible and uses branded products like Amul, for a safer meal. The owner further plans to expand the kiosks, Bombay Bhel & Sandwiches and Bombay Natural’s Pizza & Soya Chaap, into full-fledged eateries, like Bombay Pav Bhaji. Before you indulge in a three-course meal at this ‘Bombay lane’ of Lucknow, remember that with great ‘hunger’ comes great responsibility, so do not forget to pull up your masks and sanitize your hands.
Location: Shahnajaf Road, Hazratganj
Timing: 2 PM to 10 PM
