One of the exciting things about being a travel blogger is the kind of food you get on your journey. I am no food blogger who would gobble down tons of food in one session. However, I and Sarah are always willing to try new cuisines and food items that come our way. It would be hard to say which cuisine in the world is the best. I believe every region is unique and has its own character and food. However, we love eating authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai whenever we love to dine out. We believe Made in Punjab at InOrbit Mall is one of the best North Indian restaurants in Mumbai.
The Entrance
The North Indian food is certainly one of my favourites. Hence, I always love to explore different restaurants that serve authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai. For many of my friends who are not from India, let me tell you that the term ‘North Indian cuisine’ itself is a broad term.
There are almost 8-9 states that fall under the North India category and each state has a different cuisine. So, when we say North Indian cuisine, it could be Awadhi cuisine, Bihari cuisine, Bhojpuri cuisine, Kumauni cuisine, Kashmiri cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Punjabi cuisine, Rajasthani cuisine and cuisine of Uttar Pradesh.
The North Indian cuisine has strong Central Asian influence, so if you go back in time most of these regions were closely associated with nomadic people, kings and queens.
A Little Bit about Punjabi Cuisine
Before I dive further, let’s take a quick look into what Punjabi cuisine is all about. Punjabi food focuses on the food of the state of Punjab. So, the food is related to the region of India and Pakistan.
The farming lifestyle of the people of the Punjab reflects in the Punjabi cuisine. Hence, Punjabi cuisine has a heavy dose of locally grown vegetables, meat, poultry and dairy products.
The tandoori cooking technique and the basmati rice is an integral part of the Punjabi cuisine. Lentils are also the popular food of Punjab and have become popular globally.
Chicken Gravy with Makki ki Roti
Steamed Rice
Maa Ki Daal a.k.a. Dal Makhni
About Made in Punjab
One of the brands of the Massive Restaurants, Made in Punjab is launched by Zorawar Kalra who is on the forefront of putting Indian food on a global platform. Made in Punjab is a smart-casual dining brand that offers great food at the right price.
Innovative wooden frame menu
The word Punjab means The Land of Five Rivers in Persian. Hence the food here is associated with the agricultural regions surrounding five main rivers Jhelum, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Sutlej. So far, they have only 4 branches across India – Mumbai, Gurgaon, Noida and Bengaluru.
The Decor
Décor is the first thing that gets your attention the moment you walk in. In terms of the interiors, Made in Punjab has done a fine job with its simplistic Indian décor.
The wooden separators with intricate geometrical designs add to the décor. It sets a perfect mood for experiencing authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai. The lighting is good and the seats are plush and comfortable.
Some tables have big comfy chairs while some tables have a combination of sofa and chair. The dark wood and beige colour combination work well to provide a high-end fine dining experience (without exceeding your budget).
The view the moment you enter the restaurant
Plush seats & the bar counter at the end
Table for Groups and Families
The intricate wooden separators add a nice touch to the decor
The Food
Like I mentioned earlier when you are not being sponsored you have to be selective in the choices you make. Made in Punjab has some really great soup options. However, the best soup would certainly be the Yakhni Shorba and the Tomato Tulsi one.
Yakhni Shorba looks plain it really has a great taste to help you start your meal. Unfortunately, Yakhni Shorba is off the menu now. For starters, you will find plenty of options like kebabs, tikkas and salads. We ordered Hattaa Kattaa Chicken Salad, a great way to begin our authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai experience. Even Masala Papad is a great option for a light crunchy way to start your meal.
Enjoying our meal at Made in Punjab
Yakhni Shorba (Chicken Stock Soup)
Hatta Katta Chicken Salad (Poached chicken with assorted greens, lime dressing, dried mango and flaxseeds)
Masala Papad (Indian papadam assorted with chopped tomatoes and onions)
If you visit Made in Punjab don’t miss out the Chicken Biryani they serve. Made in Punjab serves authentic biryani that is hard to find anywhere else. If you are looking for North Indian restaurants in Mumbai we recommend Made in Punjab.
Of course, there are plenty of restaurants in Mumbai that serve and claim that they serve the best biryani in town. However, nothing comes close to this one. I am a Bombay guy and have had biryani at various reputed restaurants but Made in Punjab beats them all.
Chicken Dum Biryani
Murg Dum Biryani
Murgh Dum Biryani in a Jar. Quite a unique presentation.
Also, back in 2015, they presented biryani in a glass jar which was a unique concept. However, now biryani is traditionally served in a bowl. Made in Punjab also serves some great vegetarian curries and biryanis. They cook vegetarian food separately. Hence, you can always enjoy some vegetarian authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai here.
Made in Punjab also serves buffet if you don’t want to go for the a-la-carte menu. You can end your meal with some great traditional Punjabi desserts like Nukkad Jalebi and Goushalla Di Kulfi. They also serve a bar menu that includes classic cocktails, spirits and imported beer.
The buffet is ready to serve
Chicken Salad for starters
Pasta Salad
Chicken Tikka Salad
Fruits and veggies salad
Small helpings of starters
Desserts for sugar-holics
The food is ready to serve
The Experience
One of the reasons why we recommend Made in Punjab is for the variety of food they have on the menu. From starters to main course meals, they have plenty of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.
If you are looking for authentic Punjabi food in Mumbai Made in Punjab certainly should be on your list. The restaurant offers a fine casual dining experience with good quality food options.
The overall dining experience is worth the money you spend. This is one of the best North Indian restaurants in Mumbai. They have great décor, friendly staff, and delicious food. A three-course meal for two should cost you around Rs. 1500 (US$ 23).
More Pictures
Conversations with the staff
The amazing Maa ki Daal arrives
Maa Ki Daal with Steamed Rice
A spoonful of Maa Ki Dal and rice
Chicken Salad for some quick bites
Hatta Katta Chicken Salad
Innovative wet tissues that consume less water
Saunf serving box arrives with the check (Mouth freshners)
A couple of awards on display at the entrance
Made in Punjab branding outside the restaurant
A compilation of our many visits here since 2015
Note: We have been visiting Made in Punjab since 2015 and this blog post is a result of all the trips we’ve made here, the food we ate and the experiences we had. This is not a sponsored blog post.
4 comments
This food looks pretty good. There are some things that I don’t think I would like, but a lot of the pictures are plates I would gladly have in front of me. I like the way you weave a little history of the region in with the reviews. Here in the states, at least in smaller cities, we would likely just see “Indian cuisine” as a description. I would expect that your food varieties would vary from region to region (now that you mention it) but I wouldn’t have guessed that before.
A side note: when I owned a cabinet shop in the mid-1980s, I made some of those simple wooden dividers (without decorative panels) for a Chinese restaurant. Seeing them behind you in the photos made me think of that project.
I am glad that you liked the food and the pictures. History is my speciality and I love to add a piece of history in my posts to create a connecting story from the past into the present. The best thing about this restaurant is that they have a unique presentation but the flavours are authentic. You get this amazing mix of sophistication and simplicity served in a dish for you to relish. I think those wooden dividers add value to the decor. I’m quite surprised to know that you also made them at some point in time. Creating those intricate designs in the wood can be quite taxing?
Your post made me hungry at this time of the day. Imagine!
I love Punjabi food and my husband comes from Haryana. His family has a strong Punjabi influence in terms of food and culture. I on the other hand come from Uttar Pradesh so the food at our places is a unique blend. I love it. We eat aaloo parathas and then sattu parathas. The food is just so different and contrasting.
I loved your review of the restaurant. You covered all the major points a reader should know about the place. The pictures are mouth watering. 🙂 If this opens up in Banglore, I would sure give it a try.
Thank you, Parul, for your comments. Sarah loves Punjabi food and I love Biryani and this restaurant offers us both great options. If you’re in Bangalore you can try Made in Punjab at the UB City Mall on Vittal Mallya Road. I would be eager to know your food experiences at the restaurant.