Asha’s | Indian Restaurant at Wafi

What could be more exciting for a Mumbaiya like me than to be invited to try out an exclusive Mumbai inspired menu at one of the best restaurants in town! All thanks to the Three Indians & An Englishman at Asha’s Restaurant who thought of digging deeper into this city filled with culinary adventures in search of secret (and not so secret) dishes that offer an explosion of flavors while also running the lifeline of every Mumbaikar.

The limited time Mumbai menu is yet another edition in the #ashasgoingplaces series and brings together the colorful trio of Maharashtrian, Konkan and Parsi cuisines carefully handpicked by Chefs Rajan, Bobby, Navin and Matthew from across the hidden gems, famous street stalls and some of the oldest establishments in the city. Every dish has a story behind it and all you need to do is scan the QR code on each page of the menu to watch a short video about the discovery of that dish while you wait for your food to arrive.

Nothing says Aamchi Mumbai like a vada pav, and this marks the beginning of our journey through the Mumbai variety. An identity in itself and the face of street food in Mumbai, the Vada Pav Slider (AED 25) at Asha’s is inspired from the famous Ashok restaurant. It comes in a portion of 3 sliders and the ingredients are heavy enough to fill us up quick. Made quite the classic way with potato vadas topped with tangy sweet spicy chutney and sandwiched inside a bun, these ones come with the addition of boondi. While the guys at Ashok sell over 3,000 vada pavs in a day, I find the ones at Asha’s slightly sweet for my palate, possibly made so to suit the audience.

After a veggie start, it is time for us to dive right in with their seafood starters. Paying an ode to the Koli (fishermen) of Mumbai, the recipe of Koliwada Prawns (AED 55) is picked after the chefs’ visit to one of the oldest fishing villages – also known as Koliwada – in Mumbai. My favorite, these prawns have a crunchy batter fried outer dusted in Kashmiri red chili powder, and are served along with a contrasting chili mango salsa. Another must visit ticked off their list is the famous Mahesh Lunch Home. Specializing in delicious yet simple seafood, dining at this restaurant has encouraged the chefs to recreate Machli Tawa Masala Fry (AED 49). With a hearty portion of filleted pan grilled fish, doused in the most fragrant and flavorful Mumbai spices, this is one of those melt-in-your-mouth dishes for me.

Next up comes my most cherished dish. Cherished, not because I have always loved it, but because I had no idea about its existence until I try it at Asha’s, and needless to say, it is love at first bite. Kombdi Vade (AED 65) at Asha’s is Chef Navin’s take on the Konkan styled kombdi (chicken) curry which features hints of coconut, onion and a regional Malvani variation of garam masala. The curry is a good balance between spicy and savory, and that chicken is unbelievably tender. The vade or deep fried puris made with rice flour and black dal, pair perfectly with the curry. This dish comes from the kitchens of Konkan Swad which is well known among the locals for Gomantak (Goan) cuisine, and the dish is apparently one of the chef’s favorites too! From the same restaurant comes another one of their loved dishes, this time played up by Chef Bobby. The famous Parsi Salli Boti (AED 75) features a hearty chunk of lamb shank that’s cooked in a rich apricot, jaggery and vinegar gravy. The salli or fried potato sticks garnish the lamb, and a fresh piece of bun is placed on the side to mop up the gravy. I find the dish to have more of an acquired taste, but a lot of people at our table love it.

The next segment presents a series of three different biryanis, the first two of which are inspired by the street stalls at the iconic Juhu Beach in Mumbai. The Mumbai Juhu Prawn Biryani (AED 90) is the ultimate of everything we’ve tried and will try. Juicy prawns are cooked in classic biryani spices with a dash of coconut milk and tamarind, adding a lovely aromatic appeal to the delicious biryani. I instantly tell my plus one that we definitely need to be back for this. The Mumbai Juhi Vegetable Biryani (AED 55) on the other hand, is the chefs’ version of the well-known vegetable tawa pulao. Filled with lots of carrots, beans, cauliflower, eggplant and of course paneer, this rice dish is cooked in a home style onion and tomato gravy with spices. The third one – Chicken Berry Biryani (AED 75) is more reminiscent of the legacy of Jimmy Boy. This Iranian cafe has been winning hearts (and stomachs) in Mumbai since decades with their traditional dishes, and the chefs are especially thrilled with their undying passion which leads them to bringing the biryani recipe back with them to Asha’s. As delicious as the prawn biryani, this one is the most quintessential chicken biryani you will ever have, the one I always crave for, with a Parsi twist of cranberries and red currants adding a little tang to the tomato and onion based rice.

If you have been to Mumbai, you would know, one can never go wrong with Maska Bun and Chai (AED 15). So that’s exactly what we do. Inspired by this humble combo that’s available at every nook and corner in the city, the chefs decide this is the best way to end the Mumbai menu, and while we are slightly relaxed it doesn’t have a dessert dedication, we can’t help but wonder if a buttered bun is any different in terms of calories! This dish comes with a little fusion attached to it. The homemade bun is not only smeared a generous dollop of maska (butter), but also a more local flavor of labneh. I find the bun a little too rich, and I’d rather prefer only butter, but the chai is something else! A classic cardamom flavored karak, the tea comes in a smooth texture offering a soothing taste. A must try for tea lovers, although try asking if you can get the bun with just the butter to get the actual Mumbaiya taste.

Have I tempted you enough with my detailed stories behind each dish? Whichever way, head over to Asha’s Restaurant at Wafi and experience this incredible menu throughout summer.

Asha’s

Location: Level 1, Pyramids At Wafi, Umm Hurair 2, Dubai
Contact: 04 3244100

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