You can get your vada pav fix at O'Pao in Dubai

The popular Mumbai street-food snack gets a gourmet twist at this Karama restaurant

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Satwa, Deira, Meena Bazaar and other areas of "old Dubai" are brimming with hole-in-the-wall eateries serving all manner of cuisines, notably Indian and Pakistani fare. From cheesy crepes at Yummy Dosa and pindi chole at Sind Punjab to creamy curries, naan-breads and biryani at Ravi, the area is known for its affordable but delicious desi dishes.

Those looking to sample vada pav, arguably the most popular snack from the streets of Mumbai, can now head to O'Pao, located in Abdul Salaam building behind the Park Regis hotel in Al Karama.

The restaurant seeks to celebrate the humble Indian slider, or "pao" (sometimes spelt as pav), which is stuffed with an array of fillings - from butter chicken and cottage cheese to chilly and chutney.

Click through our gallery above to see what's on offer. 

What is vada pav?

Vada pav comprises a mashed potato dumpling, deep-fried in gram flour batter, and mushed up between a bun sliced through the middle, accompanied by green chutney, dry garlic chutney flakes and, for those who want an extra hit of spice, long-cut green chillies. It's typically sold by roadside vendors in Mumbai for between 10 and 25 rupees (up to Dh2), although several high-end restaurants serve their own variations.

O'Pao serves this original version for Dh8, alongside its other gourmet offerings, which range from Dh12 for the O'Chilli Cheese Pao to Dh23 for the Balchao Pao, with Goan-shack-style prawns.

10 other places to get your fix 

In Abu Dhabi, head to Punjab Highway, where the vada pav costs Dh8; Chappan Bhog (Dh7); or Salam Bombay (Dh5).

In Dubai, the original vada pav is available at Vaishali's Bombay Bites (Dh5), Foodies Delight (Dh5) and Bikanervala (Dh7); while fancier versions of the dish can be sampled at Moombai & Co (Dh35), SpiceKlub (Dh50), Project Chaiwalla (Dh15) and Carnival by Tresind (Dh38), which adds extra crunch with sprinklings of bhujia.