best seafood in mumbai (2026)

tldr: out of 12 seafood spots, my top 3 are mahim koli seafood plaza (best authentic koli seafood, mahim, rs 200-400 per plate), malvani aswad (best malvani thali, near airport, rs 350-500), and trishna (best upscale seafood, kala ghoda, rs 2,000 for two). full reviews with prices, what to order, and the koli vs malvani breakdown below.

mumbai was originally seven islands. the original residents were koli fisherfolk. their entire economy, culture, and cuisine revolves around the sea. when someone says mumbai’s real gold is in the ocean, they’re not being poetic. they’re being accurate.

i’ve spent the last few trips to mumbai eating nothing but seafood. not the fancy kind at hotel restaurants - the real stuff. the kind cooked by koli women at open-air stalls, the malvani thalis served on steel plates with bhakri, the bombay fry that melts before you can properly chew it. i went to sassoon dock at dawn to watch the fish auction, ate my way through mahim koli seafood plaza until my stomach gave up, and then did it all again the next day at a malvani place near the airport.

the big question everyone asks: koli or malvani? they’re both fisherfolk cuisines, both centered on seafood, but they’re fundamentally different. and i have opinions. if you’re looking for the broader mumbai food picture, i’ve covered the best restaurants, street food, and there’s a full mumbai food guide too.

the awards (my personal picks)

• best overall seafood experience: mahim koli seafood plaza, mahim. open-air stalls, fresh-off-the-boat fish, koli women cooking right in front of you. nothing else in mumbai comes close for authenticity.
• best sit-down seafood meal: malvani aswad, near airport. the surmai thali with bhakri is comfort food at its peak.
• best upscale seafood: trishna, kala ghoda. the butter garlic crab has been famous for decades and it deserves every bit of that reputation.
• best single dish: bombay fry at malvani aswad. soft, juicy, zero fishy smell. converted a fish-hater on the spot.
• best budget seafood: mahim koli seafood plaza. rs 200 gets you a plate of prawn koliwada that would cost rs 600 at a sit-down restaurant.
• best seafood for first-timers: bombay fry anywhere. the bones are soft enough to chew through, no fishy smell, and it’s essentially impossible to dislike.
• most overrated: any five-star hotel seafood restaurant charging rs 3,000 for a pomfret that tastes worse than a rs 400 plate at mahim.
• best drink pairing: sol kadhi. coconut milk with kokum - sour, spicy, cooling. the perfect thing between bites of fried fish.

the full list

the top tier (my regulars)

1. mahim koli seafood plaza

mahim beach / rs 400-800 for two / 9/10

this is not a restaurant. it’s an open-air seafood market-meets-food-court run entirely by women from the koli community. stall after stall of freshly fried fish, prawn preparations, biryani, sol kadhi, and things i didn’t even know existed. it opens around 7:30-8pm and runs until 12:30am, and you need to get there early because the crowd builds fast and the best items disappear.

i started from the last stall and worked my way forward. first up was prawn koliwada - small prawns, maybe six or seven pieces, deep fried and served with green chutney. rs 200. the coating was crispy, the prawns were sweet and fresh, and i immediately understood why people drive across mumbai for this.

then the rava surmai fry. this was the star. a massive piece of surmai (kingfish) coated in rava (semolina) and fried until the outside was shattering-crispy and the inside was white, bouncy, and fresh. rs 400 for a piece bigger than my palm. the fish doesn’t smell at all - and i mean that literally. if you’re someone who avoids seafood because of the smell, come here first. the green chutney on the side - coconut, coriander, chilli - is the perfect pairing.

the prawn biryani surprised me. when they lifted the lid, the first thing i smelled was rose water and ittar, not fish. the rice was fluffy with browned onions and tomato, and the prawns were clean-tasting with zero fishiness. it’s moister than a typical biryani because of the tomato base. rs 250-300 for a generous portion.

the bangda (indian mackerel) wrapped in banana leaf and fried was incredible - stuffed with onion, tomato, chilli, ginger-garlic, and a hint of coconut. the banana leaf gives it a smoky, charred flavor that seeps into the fish. the fish roe pakoda was another winner - crispy outside, soft and slightly grainy inside, exactly like the kind i eat at home.

the only miss was the squid fry. it had gone cold by the time i got to it and was chewy. squid needs to be eaten immediately or not at all.

what to order: rava surmai fry, prawn koliwada, prawn biryani, bangda in banana leaf, fish roe pakoda, sol kadhi

verdict: the single best seafood experience in mumbai. not the most comfortable - you’re standing, it’s crowded, there are no tables. but the food is extraordinary and the prices are honest.

2. trishna

kala ghoda, fort / rs 2,000 for two / 9/10

trishna’s butter garlic crab has been a mumbai institution since before most food blogs existed. the restaurant is in a nondescript lane, the decor hasn’t been updated in years, and the menu is focused. this is not a place that’s trying to impress you with ambiance. it’s trying to feed you the best crab in the city, and it succeeds.

the butter garlic crab costs rs 900-1,200 depending on size and it’s worth every rupee. the koliwada prawns are textbook - crispy batter, juicy prawns, served with a squeeze of lemon. the neer dosa with crab curry is the kind of meal that makes you close your eyes and just sit there for a second.

always packed. always. book ahead or go at 11:30am for lunch. the waiters have been here for decades and their recommendations are reliable.

what to order: butter garlic crab, koliwada prawns, neer dosa, bombil fry

verdict: best restaurant seafood in mumbai. the butter garlic crab alone is worth the trip to south mumbai.

3. malvani aswad

near airport (15-20 min) / rs 700-900 for two / 8.5/10

this is where the malvani side of mumbai’s seafood story comes alive. i found this place not through any reel or food blog but because it was close to my hotel and the real customers - the ones eating there daily - were the recommendation. the place is cozy, simple, no-frills. exactly what you want from a malvani restaurant.

the key difference between koli and malvani food: koli cuisine is lighter, minimal masala, letting the fish flavor dominate. malvani food comes from the konkan coast belt and brings heavier spice blends - malvani masala - with a strong coconut base. both are fisherfolk traditions. both are extraordinary. but the flavor profiles are completely different.

i ordered the surmai fish thali: bhakri (rice flatbread), surmai curry, dried prawn (jawla), sol kadhi, coconut-coriander chutney. the surmai piece in the curry was enormous - as big as my face, no exaggeration. the curry had that deep coconut richness that malvani food is known for. the bhakri was the perfect vehicle - sturdy enough to scoop curry, mild enough not to compete.

the bombay fry here was the single best dish of my entire mumbai seafood crawl. bombay duck (bombil) - which is not duck at all, it’s a soft, delicate fish - lightly fried with minimal masala. the meat is sweet and almost creamy. the bones are so soft you can chew right through them. i watched someone who claimed they don’t like fish eat three pieces and ask for more. that’s the bombay fry effect.

the paplet (pomfret) fry was simple - just a clean fry with coconut-coriander chutney and lemon. no heavy masala. the quality of the fish did all the work. the chicken pulao with coconut chicken gravy was a solid non-seafood option - comforting, well-spiced, generous with the chicken pieces.

what to order: surmai fish thali with bhakri, bombay fry, paplet fry, sol kadhi, chicken rice

verdict: if you want to understand malvani cuisine without going to the konkan coast, this is the place. cozy, honest, delicious.

the solid middle

4. mahesh lunch home

fort / rs 1,200 for two / 8/10

mahesh lunch home has been the default “good seafood restaurant” recommendation in mumbai for years. and it’s a fair recommendation. the surmai fry is reliable, the crab preparations are solid, and the sol kadhi is always good. it’s not as exciting as eating at mahim or as refined as trishna, but it’s consistent.

the pomfret gassi (coconut-based curry) is probably their best dish. the kane (ladyfish) fry is crispy and well-seasoned. prices have crept up over the years but it’s still reasonable for the quality.

what to order: pomfret gassi, kane fry, surmai tawa fry, sol kadhi

verdict: solid, reliable, never disappointing. the safe recommendation when someone asks “where should i eat seafood in mumbai.”

5. sindhudurg

dadar / rs 600 for two / 8/10

pure malvani food in the heart of dadar. the fish curry rice here is straightforward and deeply satisfying. the malvani chicken is also worth ordering. it’s a neighborhood restaurant - small, crowded during lunch, and the thali is the way to go.

the kombdi vade (chicken with puri) is technically their most famous dish but i’m here to talk about fish, and the surmai curry with rice is excellent. the dried bombil chutney on the side adds a umami kick that ties everything together.

what to order: fish thali, surmai curry rice, kombdi vade, sol kadhi

verdict: dadar’s best malvani spot. no frills, great food, fair prices.

6. bastian

bandra / rs 3,500 for two / 9/10

bastian is the opposite end of the seafood spectrum from mahim koli plaza. it’s upscale, it’s bandra, and the crowd is exactly who you’d expect. but the seafood is genuinely excellent. the crab is prepared well, the prawns are cooked precisely, and the fish of the day is always fresh.

i’ve covered bastian in my restaurants guide already. for pure seafood, it’s expensive but delivers.

what to order: crab, prawns, fish of the day, truffle fries

verdict: best upscale seafood option. bring your wallet.

7. gajalee

vile parle / rs 1,000 for two / 7.5/10

gajalee was once the go-to seafood restaurant in the suburbs. it’s still good, but the competition has caught up. the surmai fry is solid, the pomfret is fresh, and the sol kadhi is reliable. it’s close to the airport, which makes it a practical choice.

what to order: surmai fry, pomfret rawa fry, prawns koliwada

verdict: good not great. convenient if you’re in vile parle or heading to the airport.

8. highway gomantak

bandra east / rs 700 for two / 7.5/10

goan-malvani crossover food. the fish thali is generous, the prawn curry is rich with coconut, and the portions are honest. the ambiance is basic - plastic chairs, fluorescent lights - but you’re not here for ambiance.

what to order: fish thali, prawn curry rice, bangda fry

verdict: reliable goan-malvani food in bandra east. the kind of place you go to regularly, not the kind you travel across mumbai for.

the ones i’d skip (but you might not)

9. apoorva

fort / rs 900 for two / 7/10

mangalorean seafood that’s been around forever. it’s fine. the fish gassi is decent, the neer dosa is good. but with trishna and mahesh lunch home in the same neighborhood, there’s no compelling reason to choose apoorva unless those are full.

what to order: fish gassi, neer dosa, kane fry

verdict: backup option in fort. nothing wrong with it, nothing exceptional about it either.

koli vs malvani: the verdict

after eating through both traditions over multiple days, here’s my honest take.

koli food is cleaner. lighter masala, focus on the fish itself. if the fish is fresh (and at mahim, it always is), the cooking doesn’t need to do much. a rava fry with green chutney and lemon is all you need. the prawn koliwada is simple and perfect. the sol kadhi is thin and sharp.

malvani food is bolder. the coconut base adds richness, the malvani masala adds depth, and the bhakri gives you something sturdy to eat it all with. the surmai curry at malvani aswad has layers of flavor that koli preparations don’t aim for - because they’re not trying to. different goals, different techniques.

if i had to pick one for my last meal in mumbai? i’d go to mahim koli seafood plaza for the rava surmai fry, then walk to a malvani place for the thali. the correct answer is both.

mumbai seafood tips

• sassoon dock for fresh fish. if you want to see where mumbai’s seafood comes from, visit sassoon dock in colaba early morning. the fish auction is chaotic and fascinating. huge squids for rs 800, prawns for rs 100/kg wholesale. the smell is intense but the experience is worth it.
• mahim timing matters. the koli seafood plaza opens around 7:30-8pm. go by 8pm sharp. by 9:30pm, the best stalls are crowded and some items are sold out. the crowd thins after 11pm but so does the selection.
• the fish doesn’t smell. i keep repeating this because it’s the single biggest barrier for people who avoid seafood. fresh mumbai coastal fish - whether koli or malvani preparation - has almost no fishy smell. the water quality and freshness make a massive difference.
• sol kadhi is non-negotiable. after every few bites of fried fish, take a sip of sol kadhi. coconut milk, kokum, ginger, coriander. it cuts through the richness and resets your palate. every seafood place serves it. always order it.
• bombay fry for skeptics. if you’re with someone who “doesn’t eat fish,” order them a bombay fry. the bones are soft, the meat is sweet, and there’s no fishiness. it converts people. i’ve seen it happen in real time.
• bhakri over rice. when eating malvani thalis, ask for extra bhakri instead of rice. the rice flatbread with fish curry is a better combination - it holds up to the gravy and adds its own mild flavor.
• skip the squid unless it’s fresh. squid that’s been sitting for even 10 minutes turns rubbery. if it’s not coming straight from the fryer to your plate, pass.

if you found this useful, check out these other mumbai guides:

• best restaurants in mumbai
• best street food in mumbai
• mumbai food guide
• best bars in mumbai
• best cafes in mumbai