Delhi: Street food lovers – either commoner or celebrities – their souls reside in the chutneys of Vada Pav and stuffing of Shawarma. These two already popular street food have been part of daily lives of millions of Indians. However, it’s delightful to know that the two easy-to-grab and eat Indian cuisine have now become the global star officially. This time, Croatia-based well-known food and travel guide, TasteAtlas listed Shawarma and Vada Pav among 100 best sandwiches in the world.
Conquering the world quietly among the 16,551 ratings submitted by the TasteAtlas audience is no lesser feat. Shawarma has been ranked the world’s best sandwich, whereas Vada Pav ranked 26th globally, in the list updated as of July 2025. Two other popular delicacies – Banh Mi from Vietnam and Tombik Doner from Turkiye – stood at the second and third spots, respectively.
Shawarma’s journey to India
Shawarma was originally known with names like doner kebab in Turkey. It found its way to India after being introduced by the Indian workers in the Gulf in the late 20th century. Hyderabad is often credited as one of the first cities where Shawarma gained popularity. The traditional method of preparing Shawarma involves slow-roasting meat on a vertical spit, then shaving off thin slices to be served in flatbread with numerous toppings and sauces.
History of Vada Pav
Vada Pav, also called the Indian burger, consists of vada, a spicy potato dumpling, mashed and seasoned, coated in gram flour batter and deep-fried, placed inside a soft bread bun or pav, typically served with various chutneys, like tamarind, coriander, and dry garlic, fried green chilies which add flavour and moisture to the vada pav.
This popular Mumbai street food came into existence as Ashok Vaidya, a vendor working near Dadar railway station in the 1960s, felt the need to serve a fast and affordable meal for the large number of mill workers in Mumbai.
Vada Pav’s rendezvous with celebrities
Vada Pav is often seen having a rendezvous with Indian celebrities. Recently, Aamir Khan was spotted in Mumbai, outside the Dadar airport, at a stall making Vada Pav.
Almost a decade ago, reportedly, Ranbir Kapoor sold Vada Pav outside a city college as part of the television show ‘Mission Sapne’. According to the source, the earnings went towards the treatment of 10-year-old Sunita Ingle, who was battling blood cancer.
Other cuisines in the list
Vietnam stands out for having the most entries in the top 10 – a total of three sandwiches. Here are the top 10 sandwiches in the world: Shawarma (Lebanon and more regions), Banh mi (Vietnam), Tombik Doner (Turkiye), Meat and Cold Cuts Banh Mi (Banh mi thit) (Vietnam), Roasted Pork Belly Banh Mi (Banh mi heo quay) (Vietnam), Panino col polpo (Bari, Italy), Tortas (Puebla De Zaragoza, Mexico), Lobster Roll (Maine, US), Butifarra (Lima, Peru), Sandwich de lomo (Cordoba Province, Argentina) and many more.