Archive · 27 Dec 2025
Mumbai's Mangalorean Seafood Legacy and Evolution
A long time ago, people from Mangalore moved to Mumbai and started small seafood restaurants.
These restaurants, like Jai Hind Lunch Home and Mahesh Lunch Home, became very popular for their delicious seafood dishes.
The owners worked hard, starting with small jobs and learning to cook.
Over time, their restaurants grew and became famous for dishes like crispy bombil fries and stuffed bombil.
The area around these restaurants changed a lot, from being a place with many textile mills to a busy city with tall buildings.
Today, these restaurants are still loved by many people in Mumbai.
Mangalorean immigrants established seafood restaurants in Mumbai in the 1970s and 1980s.
Jai Hind Lunch Home, founded by Dasu Shetty, is known for its crispy bombil fries and stuffed bombil.
The restaurant faced challenges during the mill workers' strike in 1982 but adapted and grew.
Mahesh Lunch Home, started by SC Karkera, offers a variety of cuisines including Mangalorean, North Indian, and Chinese.
The transformation of Lower Parel from a textile mill area to a modern cityscape impacted these restaurants.
- Who
- Mangalorean immigrants and their descendants who established seafood restaurants in Mumbai.
- What
- The history and evolution of Mangalorean seafood restaurants in Mumbai, particularly Jai Hind Lunch Home and Mahesh Lunch Home.
- When
- The restaurants were established in the 1970s and 1980s, with significant growth in the 1990s.
- Where
- Lower Parel and Fort areas in Mumbai.
- Why
- To cater to the growing demand for seafood among the city's diverse population, especially after the decline of the textile industry.
- Jai Hind Lunch Home
- Chain of six eateries in Mumbai, known for crispy bombil fries and stuffed bombil.
- Founder
- Dasu Shetty, who left Mangalore for Bombay at 17.
- Current Owner
- Harishchandra Shetty, who took over in 1982.
- Mahesh Lunch Home
- Chain of restaurants serving Mangalorean, North Indian, and Chinese food.
- Founder
- SC Karkera, who started the restaurant in 1977.
- Current Owner
- Mahendra Karkera, one of the owners.
- Location
- Lower Parel and Fort areas in Mumbai.
- Cuisine
- Mangalorean and Malvani seafood specialties.