These meals won’t pinch your pockets

Shubha Bhojanalaya is located so centrally in Parel that one might actually miss it; a hole in the wall located a stone’s throw away from my workplace. A very nondescript façade which one can so easily miss or would make you say let me choose some other options, However, when one steps in, sits down and looks at the options there is a brain tsunami so much so that I kept going back for four times a week for lunch and sometimes even an early dinner. My colleague introduced me to this gem about a year ago and now I’m hooked on to it.

Shubha has been around for nearly 40 years, and as the name suggests, this establishment catered to the needs of the inhabitants in the area. These, at the time, were the mill workers, who needed a wholesome meal for a price, which is very difficult to digest.  

Even after all these years, taking into account inflations, and real estate prices, the management has remained true to its ethos — good whole food at prices that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

The menu consists of the a la carte options with about ten thalis ranging from the vegetarian options, seafood one, which includes prawns, bombil, bangada. Noteworthy mentions are the Mutton bheja and liver fry thali. Each thali comes with gravy, which is unlimited, choice of vegetarian or protein, onions, limes, and a choice of staples, which can be either, rice, bhakri or wade (available thrice weekly). My favourite is the dal tadka with bhakri, along with a masala double fry egg, and chilled Sol Kadi.  The place gets packed for lunch. The policy there is simple: no reservation, no credit. Six people on a table, no matter who you are. Here, the only important thing is the food; nothing else matters. 

— Tanai Shirali is a chef and a self-confessed foodie