Mumbai's Overhyped Falooda: Shalimar's Once Famous, Now Lame!
In this blog post, I take you back to the good ol' days of Shalimar Restaurant in Bhendi Bazaar, a place once known for its iconic falooda and Mughlai dishes. But after a recent visit, it became clear that the glory days are long behind. From watery falooda to overpriced, underwhelming food, and an unexpected cat roaming around, this experience was far from the nostalgia trip I expected. Read on for a full breakdown of why Shalimar might not be worth the hype anymore.
Shuaieb Khan
1/20/20252 min read


Alright, so if you’re from Mumbai, there’s a solid chance you’ve heard of Shalimar Restaurant in Bhendi Bazaar. It's been around for decades and used to be the place to hit up for some Mughlai food and falooda, especially back in the day. It was one of those spots where you’d go to for a nostalgia trip, right? But honestly, after my experience on December 6th, I don’t know what the fuss is all about anymore.
Flashback To 2004: The Falooda That Ruled
Let me take you back to 2004 – I was 16, and Shalimar’s falooda was the talk of the town. Every time someone mentioned it, your mouth would water just thinking about the creamy milk, the crunchy sabja seeds, and the dry fruits floating on top. It was like the best thing you could grab on a hot Mumbai day. But now? It’s a whole different story.
The Disastrous Falooda
So, on December 6th, to celebrate my wife Sumairaa’s birthday, we decided to relive the glory days of Shalimar. Big mistake. We walked in, all excited, hoping to get that same falooda we used to love, but what showed up on our table was a watery mess. I mean, seriously, it was like they took some milk, added a bit of sugar, and called it a falooda. There was zero creaminess, no dry fruits, and it was just plain bland. I could’ve made a better falooda at home, and that’s saying something.
But hold up, it gets worse. While we were sitting there, trying to salvage the mood with our bland faloodas, a cat walks in. Yup, a cat. It starts roaming around the place like it owns the joint. Now, I love cats, don’t get me wrong, but not when they’re chilling around my food.
The Waiter’s Reaction? Classic!
So, the cat’s just minding its own business, and we, decided to share some of our falooda with it. I mean, the poor thing looked hungry, right? But guess what? The waiter comes up to us and says, “You can’t feed the cat here.” now we’re being told not to feed it?
Shalimar: A Place That’s Lost Its Spark
Look, Shalimar was a legend back in the day, but honestly, it’s lost its touch. The food is overpriced, underwhelming, and doesn’t live up to its reputation. The staff wasn’t any better – they were too busy chatting among themselves and barely paying attention to customers. It was like they’ve been doing the same thing for years and got too comfortable.
Is It Worth The Visit? Nah.
If you’re thinking about going there for the nostalgia trip, just don’t. There are so many other places in Mumbai that do falooda and Mughlai food way better, and for less money. Honestly, even if you’re craving a falooda, don’t bother with Shalimar. There’s a guy near Shreyas Talkies in Ghatkopar who sells a half-glass falooda for just ₹50, and trust me, it’s way better than the sad, watery mess they’re serving at Shalimar.
So, yeah, save your time and money. Shalimar’s glory days are long gone, and I’m not going back anytime soon.