Mahalaxmi Bhelpuri Chat

Out here in Juhu Vakola 3, we spend most of our time mixing and serving chat to whoever walks by. It’s a small operation but it keeps us busy from the afternoon until late at night. We have bags of puffed rice stacked up and jars of different chutneys lined up on the counter. The smell of tamarind and spicy mint is always hanging around the shop. People usually gather around outside, especially when the weather is nice. We don't have a big indoor area, so most of the action happens right on the edge of the street. You can hear the sound of the spoons hitting the metal bowls all day long. We try to keep the ingredients fresh, so we get new supplies delivered almost every day. Sometimes the onions are a bit stronger than other times and everyone in the shop starts blinking. It’s a very casual place where neighbors stop to chat while they wait for their plates. We don't really bother with menus much because everyone knows what we have. It gets a bit messy with the papers and the spills, but we keep a cloth handy to wipe things down. It is just a local spot for people who want something salty or sweet while they walk through the neighborhood. We have been at this location for a while and have seen the area change around us.