Canteen Food Superlatives : An IIT Bombay Food Guide

This post is exactly what it sounds like. A list of the best canteen food in IIT Bombay. It's like a local's guide to the food scene. A war has been waged. Disagreements are not appreciated, but still actively welcomed (I love to debate on something as futile and pointless as this). Oh and an additional note: I know I wrote "canteens" in the title, but like it seems rather rude to exclude Gullu and '92, isn't it? Let's just include them. Disclaimer: Food taste in canteens subject to vary (rather too much, one might add). Reader discretion is advised.

Maggi

Maggi is the quintessential canteen food. You can cook it at home, and experiment with it in countless ways. But what happens when you're not at home, and you've got no access to a cooking stove that you can call your own?

Well, the result is Maggi being elevated to immense scrutiny. The countless ways in which could've possibly thought to make it (and some more) are now on display, with questionable spelling, on the oft hungrily-eyed flex boards that display the menu of these inexpensive human fuelling stations that we call canteens. Without further ado, here are the champions of this category.

Best Maggi, overall: H6 canteen

This is your go-to canteen for a Maggi fix. You just can't go wrong with the Maggi here. They have a variety of options, and late-nights this place is essentially a cooked instant noodle dispenser on steroids.

Standout Maggi preparations:

• Fry Maggi - H6 canteen

 Oh how those fried onions ensnare my senses!

• Chicken Maggi - H15 canteen

 It's just a really good dish, I can't explain why.

• Chicken Maggi - H2 canteen

 It's reminiscent of both H6 fry maggi and H15 chicken. A lil bit oilier, but that's all canteen food ig.

• 24 hrs Maggi - Kresit

Kresit has terrible Maggi, but it's probably the only food you're gonna get when you reach campus at 4:30 in the morning. Sometimes it's not about quality food, it's just about food

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are among one of my favourite food groups. You can capture entire cuisines, and you can also package it into a handy, filling meal - what's not to like?

Best Sandwich: Can't really pick one, it's just too variable.

Some great sandwiches across insti:

• Aloo Sandwich, Kresit - For the times when you're hungry at lunch time, but you've got a code to finish before your 2 pm lab, and at the same time you really don't wanna spend money today in '92. Inexpensive, and goes great with the watery green fluid they call chutney.

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Gulmohar Café - It costs more compared to canteens, but then again, canteens don't have anything that matches this. They serve it with chips, which just feels like the right thing to do. The sandwich is pretty loaded too, and tastes great.

Chicken Sandwich, Dhun stores, H16 - This seems like a hidden gem that I am just giving away too easily. Missed breakfast? Have this incredibly flavourful sandwich for brunch. Note however that they order only a few, so don't expect to get it later in the day.

• Paneer Sandwich, Aromas Dhaba -

You'd rarely catch me saying so, but their paneer sandwich is so good, that I prefer having it over their chicken sandwich. It's the perfect thing to order on a birthday tab (or with your own money. I won't judge this time - promise).

• Tandoori Chicken Sandwich, CCD -

I lied about adding just Gullu and '92. This is a good sandwich. Much better than any sandwich you'll get at '92. Similar price point too.