Vada pav is hands-down one of the most popular snacks in Mumbai. Known for its distinct taste, the humble snack features a spicy, golden-fried potato fritter (batata vada) tucked inside a soft pav, typically served with dry garlic chutney and accompanied by fried green chillies. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and packed with flavour, it is a beloved street food that has become synonymous with the city's culinary culture. But given the option to choose the best vada pav outlet, it has to be Aram Vada Pav. How Aram Vada Pav rose to prominenceTucked away opposite the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Aram Vada Pav has earned a reputation for its larger-than-usual vada pavs, drawing long queues from 6 in the evening, reported The Indian Express. From college-goers to job-seekers and seasoned professionals, every foodie Mumbaiker gathers outside the shop, just to savour the delectable snack and keep their hunger at bay. According to Kaustubh Tambe, the third-generation manning the business, customers who come to the stall daily have told the owner that one vada pav, coupled with a cup of piping hot tea, keeps them full till dinner. But do you know that the now-famous outlet was once a humble milk shop, selling only basic milk-based products like tea, coffee, gulab jamun, kheer, and basundi, among other savoury offerings? Salient features of iconic Mumbai vada pav stallAram was established by Kaustubh Tambe’s grandfather, Shrirang Tambe, in 1939 after he approached the owners of a shut shop in the Capitol Cinema building. His only request was to start an ‘uphar gruha’ aka an eatery. And that’s how Aram Milk Cooperative came into existence. The separate vada pav counter, located just outside the main eatery, was introduced in 1995. Initially, each vada pav was sold at Rs 5, which has now been increased to Rs 25. As per Kaustubh Tambe, Aram Vada Pav lures hundreds of foodies because of their oversized vada pavs, quite unlike other outlets. The owner revealed that they use fine-quality besan and single-fry the vadas, cooking them in refined sunflower oil - a simple recipe with focus on quality and consistency. 86 years later, the stall can accommodate over 48 people and the menu has expanded significantly. Delicious menu at Aram Vada PavBesides vada pavs, other lip-smacking items include the like Kothimbir Vadi, a savoury snack made from gram flour and fresh coriander leaves; Thalipeeth, a healthy, multi-grain flatbread made using dozens of ingredients including jowar, bajra and rice flour; and Zunka Bhakri, a dry and spicy gram-flour sabzi paired with a rustic jowar bhakri. Fast-friendly foods like sabudana khichdi, misal made from peanuts, and pattice made from potato and peanuts are also found here. Their Upvas Thali consists of rajgira puri, batata sabzi, rajgira roll, banana, and piyush.