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With the monsoon sweeping across the country, it’s the perfect time to indulge in street food. As the rain arrives, food lovers are heading out to savour their favourite seasonal treats. For some, the joy of the season is incomplete without freshly roasted bhutta sprinkled with masala, a vada pav loaded with spicy chutneys, or piping-hot pakoras paired with a cup of ginger tea. We speak to TV actors about the street foods they love the most—comfort foods that make the monsoon even more memorable.

My love for vada pav grows stronger when it rains: Hunar Hali
I came to Mumbai at 16 to work, and vada pav became my first taste of being a true Mumbaikar. I never imagined this city would become my home or that acting would become my destiny. My love for vada pav only grows stronger during the Mumbai rains. It’s woven into my earliest memories of the city, especially the monsoons. I think it was one of the first foods that truly made me feel like I was becoming a Mumbai girl.

I can’t resist a plate of pakoras: Gulki Joshi
Nothing beats hot onion bhajiyas during the monsoon. They’re my ultimate rainy-day comfort food. Growing up in Indore, the first spell of rain always meant someone at home would say, “Aaj pakore banate hain!” We’d gather around a plate of crispy bhajiyas with steaming cups of chai, soaking in the weather together. Those simple moments remain some of my happiest childhood memories. Even today, every time it rains, I can’t resist a plate of pakoras—it instantly feels like home.

Vada pav always remains my top pick: Kanwar Dhillon
Being a Mumbaikar, the one street food I can never resist is Mumbai’s vada pav. Having been born and brought up in the city, I have grown up relishing vada pav and samosa pav. Monsoon or not, vada pav remains my top pick. A fresh, piping-hot vada pav with sukhi lehsun ki chutney is simply the perfect combination.


Eating jhalmuri takes me back to my childhood: Malini Kapoor
When it comes to my favourite monsoon street food, the list is long, but bhutta and jhalmuri top it. Even today, eating jhalmuri during the rains takes me back to my childhood in Kolkata. It brings back happy memories of home, family, and carefree days. Whenever I’m in Jaipur during the monsoon, Ajay (her husband) and I love heading out at night for piping-hot bhuttas from the roadside vendors, especially along Amer Road. There are plenty of stalls, but what I love most is the special masala they generously smear all over the corn.

Rains are a reminder to relish bhel puri: Ajay Sharma
For me, the pitter-patter of rain is a reminder to relish bhel puri. In Mumbai, street-side vendors in almost every market serve this beloved snack, but nothing compares to enjoying a plate at Juhu Chowpatty with friends during the monsoon. The perfect balance of sweet and tangy chutneys makes the bhel there simply incomparable.

Aloo chop with muri is my favourite: Adrija Roy
My favourite monsoon street food is aloo chop with muri (aloo ke pakore with murmura). I grew up in Kolkata, where every monsoon the streets are filled with the aroma of freshly fried snacks. I still remember stepping out with my family after the rain and stopping at a tiny roadside stall for hot aloo chop. We’d stand there, watching the rain and eating together. Those moments were simple, but incredibly special. Now that I’m in Mumbai, vada pav has taken its place—and I love that just as much.