Vada pav, a beloved and iconic Indian street food, has earned recognition worldwide for its unique blend of flavors. Originating in Maharashtra, where it is said to have been invented, this deep-fried snack consisting of spiced potatoes wrapped in a pav (soft bread bun) and served with chutney has gained immense popularity across India.
Recently, vada pav was named among the 50 Best Sandwiches in the World by Taste Atlas, a renowned food and travel guide. The rankings are based on data from the guide and are frequently updated. Notably, this is not the first time vada pav has been featured in the list of the world’s top sandwiches.
In the previous year, vada pav earned the 19th spot, but as of January 2025, it now holds the 39th position on the Taste Atlas rankings. Despite this drop in ranking, vada pav remains the only Indian entry among the top 50 sandwiches.
The history behind Mumbai’s most popular meal
Taste Atlas mentions that the dish was created by a street vendor named Ashok Vaidya, who worked near the Dadar train station in the 1960s and 1970s. Vaidya sought a portable, affordable, and easy-to-prepare meal to satisfy the hunger of busy workers, and thus vada pav was born.
The 2025 list of the Best Sandwiches in the World is topped by Shawarma, Banh Mi (Vietnam), and Tombik Doner (Turkey), with three Vietnamese delicacies featured in the top 10.
In addition to vada pav’s recognition, Indian cuisine had a strong presence at the Taste Atlas Awards 2024-25, with Indian dishes dominating categories such as best breads, best vegetable dishes, best food regions, and best food cities.