Some trips are planned for sightseeing, some for relaxation—and then there are trips planned purely around food. This one clearly belonged to the third category.
Harshad, Vivek, and I set out on a food-exploration expedition from Pune to Thane and Dadar in our Scorpio-N. The plan was ambitious but exciting: iconic eateries, minimal downtime, and maximum walking.
Our Thane checklist included –
- Mamledar Misal
- Kunj Vihar Sweets
- Prashant Corner
In Dadar, we had lined up –
- Prakash Shakahari Upahar Kendra
- Mama Kane’s Swatchha Upahar Griha
The plan was on. We rolled out of Pune at 5:00 AM, chasing empty roads and fuller plates.
Early Start, First Detour
Descending the ghat section of the Pune–Mumbai Expressway, we reached Pune–Mumbai Food Plaza only to discover it opens at 7:00 AM. With about half an hour to kill—and hunger already kicking in—we decided not to wait. Instead, we circled back to Expressway Food Court for our first cup of morning tea. Nothing fancy, but it did the job.
Tea done, route reset, and we were back on the expressway heading toward Thane.
Thane: Closures, Comebacks, and Comfort Food
We reached the Thane station area around 8:30 AM and parked our car at Gavdevi Underground Parking, Thane. Since parking around our target spots was tricky and many places were best explored on foot, we decided to ditch the car and rely on walking, autos, Ubers, and local trains.
After another quick tea nearby to freshen up, we walked toward Mamledar Misal, Thane—only to discover it was closed on Wednesdays. That was on us. A quick Google Maps check during planning would have saved the disappointment. This was the second closure of the morning, and morale dipped briefly.
Fortunately, redemption was just a short walk away.
At 9:11 AM, we reached Kunj Vihar Sweet, and finally, the first bite of the day. Their famous jumbo vada pav lived up to the hype: a rectangular, slightly oversized pav, a perfectly round wada, three chutneys, and chopped onions. Simple, iconic, and deeply satisfying. First stop checked off, spirits instantly lifted.
A Calm Walk by the Lake
With happy faces and lighter minds, we took a short walk around Talao Pali Lake at around 9:29 AM. The taste of the vada pav lingered—unchanged even after two decades. The city was waking up: office crowds rushing past, and black-headed gulls dominating the lake.
Naturally, cameras came out. We spent some time trying (and retrying) to capture the perfect flying bird shot! I think we did okay-ish job!
The walk continued toward Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan, wrapping up around 9:43 AM.
More Snacks, More Walking
By 10:08 AM, it was time for another food stop. We hopped into an auto and reached Prashant Corner. Known for its consistency, hygiene, and wide variety of chaat and sweets, it was the perfect place for a light snack. We were careful to keep portions small—this was a long food trail, and pacing mattered.
Over snacks, we chatted about Thane being known as the city of lakes. That sealed it—we decided to visit one more!
A short walk later, we arrived at Kachrali Lake around 10:15 AM. The lake surprised us with an unexpected welcoming committee: lots of cats. One relaxed round around the lake later, it was time to head toward Dadar.
Dadar: Classic Flavours, Zero Regrets
Traffic stretched the Uber ride to nearly an hour. We initially planned to visit Shivaji Park, but time wasn’t on our side. The plan was dropped, and we headed straight to Prakash Shakahari Upahar Kendra, reaching around 12:00 PM.
The order was easy: Sabudana wada, Thalipeeth, and our all-time favourite—Piyush. Delicious, comforting, and exactly what we needed.
After a short walk to make some space, we reached Mama Kane’s Swatchha Upahar Griha at 12:42 PM. Here, we went for Misal, Wada Usal, and—yes—another round of piyush. Both places share something special beyond taste: courteous, cooperative staff who serve food barefoot, reflecting old-school values and a deep emphasis on hygiene.
Local Train, Expressway, and a Milestone
Past 1:00 PM, it was time to head back. Since our car was parked near Thane station and we were already close to Dadar station, taking Mumbai’s lifeline—the local train—made perfect sense.
We bought tickets at the counter and headed to the platform. The fast locals were packed, so we boarded a Kalyan slow local instead.
By 2:15 PM, we were back at Thane station. Before picking up the car, we treated ourselves to a glass of freshly crushed sugarcane juice—non-negotiable.
The return drive was smooth. Starting early had its advantages; even the ghat section was traffic-free. We stopped briefly on the expressway at Tim Hortons, Expressway for a bio break and refreshments.
Cruising with adaptive cruise control felt earned after nearly 10,000 steps of walking. Somewhere along the way, our Scorpio-N quietly crossed 3,333 km on the odometer—another small milestone added to the day.
We rolled back into Pune by 5:30 PM.
Closing Thoughts
A day that started before sunrise and ended before sunset. Multiple cities, countless steps, iconic food, and zero regrets. A food trail done right.
Foodies on the roll. 🍽️🚗
This blog post was reworded with the help of ChatGPT for clarity and structure. The experiences, thoughts, and emotions shared here are entirely my own.
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