Pune’s Most Popular Vada Pav Spot Loved by Rohit Sharma, Suniel Shetty and Even Diplomats
Ask any Punekar what they miss most when away from the city, and chances are the conversation will quickly turn to food. Right at the top of that list is Garden Vada Pav, a modest stall opposite JJ Garden in Camp that has grown into one of Pune’s most iconic food spots.
The smell of gram flour batter sizzling in oil, the tang of chutney, and the soft pav waft through the air long before you even reach the corner. For five decades, this legendary food cart has lured students, office-goers, and celebrities alike, one hot vada pav at a time.
From 50 Paise to 5,000 Vada Pavs a Day
The Garden Vada Pav story began in 1972 when Kashinath and Parvati Naiku moved to Pune from a small village near Ahmednagar, now Ahilyanagar. They saw workers and students struggling to find filling yet affordable food and started with simple bhajis and pav. At the time, a vada pav cost just 50 paise.
Today, the business has grown into a proud family institution. Kashinath’s four sons, Rajendra, Sanjay, Nandu, and Deepak, carried the torch forward, and now the third generation, Dhiraj, Chetan, Akshay, and Deep, runs the show. Garden Vada Pav serves over 5,000 pieces daily across four outlets in Pune, with each vada pav priced at ₹25. The recipe, perfected by Parvati Naiku decades ago, remains unchanged.
Celebrity Favourite
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma once recognised the unmistakable Garden taste when it was discreetly served to him at a five-star hotel in Pune. Bollywood stars like Suniel Shetty, Shabana Azmi, Jackie Shroff, Ayushmann Khurrana, and singer B Praak have all dropped by to relish Pune’s most famous snack.
Even diplomats have joined the fan club. Japan’s Ambassador to India, Hiroshi Suzuki, posted a video of himself enjoying the vada pav during a Pune visit, while Canada’s Consul General, Jordan Reeves, called it “love at first bite.”
More Than Just a Snack
For many Punekars, Garden Vada Pav is more than food. It’s nostalgia, culture, and a part of the city’s identity. The addition of Masala Tak, a spiced buttermilk, has only deepened its reputation as the perfect spot for comfort food.
The Naiku family has resisted franchising, preferring to keep quality and tradition intact. Their outlets in Camp, Nal Stop, Kharadi, and Hadapsar continue to thrive, along with the newly opened Garden Café in Camp. But the heart of the story remains the same small corner near JJ Garden.
As Chetan Naiku puts it, “Same place, same taste, same love. Even 15 years from now, we’ll still be here, serving Pune.”
