In a city that never sleeps, people need their late night food fix to satiate their midnight cravings. For the SoBo crowd, Bade Miyan’s has been the best place for this.

Located right behind the Taj Hotels, this small roadside eatery witnesses people coming from across Mumbai, who have come there to try their Kebabs, Baida Roti and Bheja Fry. 

But a recent visit to Bade Miyan’s came as a surprise to us. The eatery seems to have lost its charm over a period of time. About a decade ago, those who visited Bade Miyan’s as young kids, seem to now dislike the quality of food they serve.

Their Baida Roti had instantly happened to be one of our most favorite dishes and we even remember suggesting the place to friends and family. Back then, Bade Miya was a tiny eatery built in a makeshift stall on a footpath. But as its popularity grew, with people lining up in their cars, popping the bonnet to place a bottle underneath and eat right off the hood. 

Eventually, they opened another stall right next to the first to meet an increasing demand. In a few years, Bade Miyan's became a brand that acquired a space in the same lane to become a proper restaurant.

On our last visit to this place, we ordered Baida Roti. Our first bite however, became a wave of disappointment. It was bland enough for us to douse the entire portion with the chutney to get a proper taste. The Naan let us down too with its rubbery texture and accompanying chicken dry. 

The expansion of this brand may have been great move commercially, but the restaurateurs were forgetting the main reason people came to them. The exorbitant prices that they serve food at now is even more depressing for ardent foodies like us. This made us think if the place is worth driving all the way to South Bombay for.

For those who had a similar experience as us, we recommend trying Baghdadi that you can find at the end of the same street. Baghdadi has also been an old timer in this lane and they serve some of the most delicious chicken and mutton gravies. Their chicken fry is really something you should try and they also serve some of the best caramel custard for dessert.