Indian street food
What is vada pav?
Vada pav is a spiced potato fritter tucked into a soft bun with chutneys: Mumbai’s favourite fast food, often called the city’s burger.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 2 min read
Vada
Potato fritter
Pav
Soft bread bun
Origin
Mumbai
Eaten with
Chai, fried chilli
01
What the name means
Vada is a fried fritter, and pav is the soft, slightly sweet bread roll found across Mumbai. Together they make a snack that costs very little, feeds you fast and is sold on practically every street corner in the city.
02
What is inside
The vada is mashed potato seasoned with green chilli, ginger, garlic, mustard seeds and curry leaves, shaped into a ball, dipped in a gram-flour batter and deep-fried until golden. It goes into a pav that has been split and spread with chutney.
- A dry, garlicky red chutney with a kick.
- A fresh green coriander and chilli chutney.
- Often a sweet tamarind chutney as well.
- A fried green chilli on the side for the brave.
03
A brief history
Vada pav is commonly credited to a vendor near Dadar station in Mumbai in the 1960s who wanted a cheap, filling snack for mill workers. The details vary from retelling to retelling, but its status as the city’s signature street food is not in doubt.
04
How it tastes
Soft bread, crisp fritter, then a rush of garlic, chilli and tang. It is hot, savoury and slightly messy. It is rarely eaten alone: a small cup of strong, sweet chai is the classic accompaniment, and the combination is hard to beat.
05
Vada pav at Tapri Chai
Our Vada Pav is $5.49, a spicy potato fritter in a bun, and the Peri-Peri Vada Pav ($6.49) adds a fiery twist. Both are in the Pav Vav section of the menu at 200 Kennevale Dr in Barrhaven, Ottawa. Order one with a Kadak Chai ($4.49) for the traditional pairing.
Questions, answered.
Is vada pav vegetarian?
Yes. The fritter is potato and gram flour, and the bun and chutneys are vegetarian. Everything at Tapri Chai is vegetarian.
Is vada pav the same as a burger?
It is sometimes called the Indian burger because it is a patty in a bun, but the fritter, chutneys and soft pav make it a different thing.
Is vada pav spicy?
It carries a moderate heat from chilli and garlic, and the fried green chilli on the side is optional.
How much is vada pav at Tapri Chai?
Vada Pav is $5.49 CAD, and the Peri-Peri Vada Pav is $6.49 CAD.
What do you drink with vada pav?
Chai is the classic pairing. A cold masala soda also works well.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.