He came jobless to Pune. Now Rohit Sharma, Bollywood celebs and even diplomats queue up for his Vada Pav

Vada pav is an emotion, especially to Mumbaikars. There's something instantly lure-worthy and drooling, of course, about the staple street-side snack. Maybe it is the crispy and golden batata vada inside the soft pav or the fiery mix of chutneys giving the right kick: every bite of vada pav is unapologetically comforting, even though eating it can be messy at times. When you think of vada pav, the City of Dreams automatically pops into your mind, but do you know that about 150 kms from Mumbai, Pune is home to an iconic vada pav joint that has served prominent personalities?


Garden Vada Pav, a modest stall tucked away opposite JJ Garden in Camp, has been running for over five decades, serving hot and tasty vada pavs that have drawn even hardcore diet enthusiasts to indulge in the lip-smacking delight. Among other foodies, the stall has served cricketer Rohit Sharma, Bollywood star Suniel Shetty and even diplomats.

More about Pune’s Garden Vada Pav

Established in 1972, the journey of Garden Vada Pav emerging as a full-fledged business started when a man named Kashinath Naiku and arrived in Pune from a small village near Ahmednagar, Bhingar, looking for a job, reported Pune Mirror. He was accompanied by his wife, Parvati. When Kashinath watched labourers and students struggling to find affordable and satisfying food during their short breaks, an idea struck him. He decided to start a vada pav venture on a small hand cart.



Kashinath Naiku began the small-scale business by selling simple bhajis and pavs for just 6 paise. Later, he started serving masala tak along with vada pavs and soon after, Punekars began relishing the combination of the piping hot snack paired with cold masala buttermilk — a combo which is still a hit among foodies.

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Legacy flavours make this vada pav iconic

What was once launched by Kashinath Naiku was taken over by his sons Rajendra, Sanjay, Nandu and Deepak and today the third generation of Naikus, Dhiraj, Chetan, Akshay and Deep are carrying the legacy forward with the same dedication. At present, they serve about 5000 pava pavs daily, each priced at Rs 25. But what remains unchanged is the flavours. Do you know that the green chutney given here is purely home-made, prepared with a secret recipe? Chetan Naiku has confirmed the same.



According to Condé Nast, the biggest difference between Garden's vada and other outlets in the city is the shape, where the vada is flatter and longer. As per a report by The Indian Express, Rohit Sharma, who is a self-proclaimed vada pav lover, earning the nickname of the snack by fans, enjoyed the delectable dish during a short stay in Pune. The 5-star hotel he was staying at discreetly ordered it for him from Garden Vada Pav. Other than that, Ayushmann Khurrana, singer B Praak, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff and Japan’s Ambassador to India, Hiroshi Suzuki, have also tried the lip-smacking vada pavs here.

So, the next time you are in Pune, do not miss paying a visit to Garden Vada Pav and relish the distinguished taste of the savoury snack. PS: If you genuinely enjoy them, do not forget to pack some more and take them home with you to distribute among friends and relatives.