Mumbai’s late-night pav bhaji stalls, the rush of buttery pav melting into spicy bhaji, and the sweetness of chilled falooda after a long family dinner capture a food culture built on comfort and indulgence. Street corners filled with the aroma of sizzling tawa butter, crowded counters, and that unmistakable energy define the city’s everyday eating experience. That familiar taste has now made its way to Hyderabad, bringing bold and comforting vegetarian flavours to a new audience.
At the centre of this culinary journey, Shiv Sagar has long carried forward iconic vegetarian street-style flavours that blend nostalgia with everyday comfort. It has now launched at Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, continuing a legacy that began in 1981 when entrepreneur Shankar Rama Poojary started the brand from modest beginnings. Over the years, it has grown into one of the most recognisable vegetarian dining names, built on consistency, comfort-driven menus and evolving urban tastes.
While most Udupi-style eateries stayed focused on idli, dosa and other traditional staples, the brand helped reshape vegetarian dining by bringing Mumbai street-food favourites into organised restaurant menus, introducing a wider range of flavours to everyday city dining.
Shiv Sagar has built a strong identity for its Bombay-style pav bhaji, slow-cooked on a hot tawa with bold spices and finished with generous butter, served with toasted pav. A meal for two is priced at an average of around Rs 600++.
The menu has steadily grown to include faloodas, dry fruit milkshakes, fresh juices and dessert beverages, making it a familiar stop for families and casual diners. Today, the offerings span South Indian, North Indian, street food, Italian-inspired dishes and Indo-Chinese cuisine, reflecting both variety and continuity in taste. Signature dishes like Chinese Bhel and Chilli Idli highlight its experimental take on vegetarian comfort food, helping the brand maintain wide appeal across age groups.
“We are excited to bring Shiv Sagar to Hyderabad, a city known for its vibrant culinary culture. Hyderabad appreciates bold flavours and diverse dining experiences, and we look forward to introducing our iconic Mumbai favourites while building strong connections with food lovers here,” said Shridhar S. Poojary, MD, Shiv Sagar.
Visited, Tasted & Reviewed
The ambience of the newly launched Shiv Sagar restaurant is simple and elegant, with no unnecessary extravagance, keeping the focus on food and comfort. On a hot Hyderabad afternoon, I began the meal with a chilled mango falooda, which felt refreshing and soothing, offering instant relief from the soaring temperatures.
The experience continued with the classic Mumbai-style pav bhaji. It had been a while since I had tasted it, and the butter-soaked pav paired perfectly with the mildly spiced bhaji. The flavour was balanced, not too heavy or overly spicy, making it easy to enjoy.
Next came the tawa pulao, a homestyle preparation with chopped capsicum and peas, lightly spiced and soft in texture. It was simple, comforting and light on the stomach. A side of masala papad added a crunchy contrast that lifted the overall experience.
One of the more interesting dishes was the pizza dosa, topped with mozzarella cheese. It came with coconut chutney, ginger chutney and sambar on the side and felt like a fusion of dosa and pizza, slightly spicy with vegetables on top, making it ideal for dosa lovers looking for something different.
In between, I tried a dry fruit milkshake, which was thick, rich and quite filling. It works better as a finishing drink rather than a mid-meal pick.
What stands out is the chilli tawa idli, with its crispy texture and bold mix of onions, capsicum and aromatic seasoning. The idlis are tossed on a hot tawa, giving a light crunch on the outside while staying soft inside, making it a flavourful and unique twist on the classic South Indian dish.
By the end, I was quite full and could not continue further, but overall the dishes felt unique, comforting and carried a strong Mumbai-style flavour identity in every bite.
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