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6 Min
14/01/2026
Misal pav is the perfect proof of Maharashtra’s love for spicy food. It is certainly more than just a food, and expands to being a regional identity. Each region in Maharashtra has its own unique take on misal. This article looks at the regional variations of misal pav and how they are all happily coexisting in the city of Pune, the hub of Maharashtrian tradition, culture, and food. Dive deeper to know more.
Zanzanit (spicy) misal pav is a typical Maharashtrian breakfast, popular in the Western regions of Maharashtra. From Pune to Kolhapur to Nashi, each region has its own style of making Misal. Some are extremely spicy, while others have a sweet taste to them. While misal pav is famous in and eaten in many Western Maharashtrian cities, Pune has gathered all the flavours together, and there are multiple stalls, restaurants and khanawals that serve authentic Maharashtrian food. The different versions of misal pav popular in Maharashtra are Puneri Misal, Kolhapuri Misal, Nashik Misal, and Khandeshi Misal, among others.
Misal pav has also become a street food favourite where students, office goers enjoy this delicious breakfast dish before starting their day. Traditionally, this dish is built around usal, a sprouted lentil curry, which is topped with farsan, chopped onions, coriander, lemon and served with pav bread. Some regions stick to the usual pavs while some use the iconic breads, which were made popular during the British era. This article looks at some iconic spots in the city that serve the best misal, offering some regional variations and unique tastes.
Bedekar Misal is one of the oldest and most iconic misal joints in Pune, opened in 1948. This joint serves authentic Puneri misal, which is not very spicy and is less oily, as compared to Kolhapuri misal. This joint is located in Narayan Peth of Pune, which is the heart of the city. The misal served here is classic with the gravy or rassa on sprouted moth beas, topped with farsan, chopped onions and a slice of lemon. This joint serves slices of bread instead of pav, with the misal. Puneri misal is best for those who want to enjoy misal pav but not a lot of spice.
Katakirr Misal serves one of the most famous and spiciest Kolhapuri-style misals in Pune. This misal is known for its red and spicy curry, which is also known as kat. It is high on the oil part, and only a few can tolerate the spice levels this joint has to offer. But the best part about this joint is that it gives options for those who cannot tolerate the spice levels yet want to taste the authentic Kolhapuri-style misal. The three types of misals they offer are Tikhat (extremely spicy), Medium Tikhat (medium spicy), and Light Tikhat (regular spicy), and you can choose as per your spice levels. This franchise has its joints all over the city, but the taste is the same throughout. Maybe the extra ‘r’ in its name justifies the spiciness this joint has to offer. You can always opt for a glass of buttermilk if the spice levels are intolerable.
Nashik-style misal is a perfect balance between the fiery Kolhapuri-style misal and the mild Pune-style misal. This is not very spicy, nor too mild. The unique feature of Nashik-style misal is the addition of aloo and poha after adding the sprouted moth beans, and before adding the spicy curry. Another speciality of Nashik-style misal is that, along with farsan, they also add sev on top of the curry. All of these ingredients help the spicy curry to mild down a bit, offering a variety of flavours in each bite. You can find this Nashik-style misal at Zakkas Misal joint in Pune.
Khandeshi misal also has spicy curry, similar to the Kolhapuri misal. This curry is black in colour and a speciality of the Khandesh region of Maharashtra, which is in the northwestern side of the state. This black curry or rassa is made from whole spices, dried coconut, onion, garam masala, and coriander powder. The kaala masala or black masala is the speciality of this region, made from the above ingredients, which gives it a unique taste and colour. You can find the Khandeshi-style Misal at the Dakkhani Misal joint in Pune.
The misal pav variations above highlight how the dish is not just a food but a food tradition in the state, with every region adding their own speciality to it, to make it unique. Whether you want a spicy one, a mild one, or a balanced one, Pune’s misal pav joints will cater to all your demands and offer you some of the best misal pavs in the state.
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