Chef Vikas Khanna, recently named among the TIME100 Most Influential People of 2026, continues to captivate the culinary world. Known for his inspiring journey from Amritsar to becoming a Michelin-starred chef in New York, he owns Junoon and the newer Bungalow, which earned a Bib Gourmand award in 2024. Despite his global acclaim, when it comes to enjoying authentic Indian food, his heart remains in Mumbai.
Where Does Chef Vikas Khanna Dine in India?
In a podcast with limitlesswithishan, Khanna was asked about his favourite restaurant in India. He responded, "My favourite restaurant has to be this restaurant in South Bombay called Soam. I love that restaurant." He elaborated that Soam made him feel the power of Indian home cooking and the supremacy of traditional Indian food. He emphasized, "Our traditional techniques are best and we don't need to borrow any other techniques to impress Western people. I think I had the best dining experience there."
What Is Soam and What Do They Offer?
Soam is a family-run restaurant located at Sadguru Sadan, Babulnath Road, near Babulnath Temple, Grant Road, Mumbai. It specializes in Gujarati cuisine, street food, South Indian, North Indian dishes, desserts, and beverages. The restaurant is renowned for its Dal Dhokli and other regional delights prepared using traditional cooking techniques. Here are some must-try dishes at Soam:
- Malai Malpua: A rich Indian dessert featuring deep-fried pancakes (malpua) topped or soaked with creamy malai (thickened milk).
- Ganne Ka Juice: A summer refreshment made by extracting juice from fresh sugarcane stalks, served chilled with hints of black salt, mint, and lemon juice.
- Biscuit Bhakri: A traditional Indian flatbread made from millet or grain flours such as jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet), rice, or ragi. It is thicker and more rustic than regular roti, best enjoyed with condiments.
- Shrikhand Puri: A delectable combination of deep-fried pooris served with rich, creamy curd sweetened with sugar and flavoured with cardamom and saffron.
- Gujarati Food: An array of traditional dishes like Dhokla, Fafda, Khadvi, and more, all prepared with authentic techniques.
- Dal Dhokli: A one-pot dish made with toor dal tempered with mustard seeds, cumin, curry leaves, tomatoes, garlic, and spices. Soft whole wheat dough is rolled thin, cut into diamond or square shapes, and cooked directly in the dal.
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