The World’s Best Delivery Service? Lunch in Mumbai

With a population of over 18 million people, Mumbai is one of the world’s largest megalopolises. To put it mildly, the city can be unpredictable. But amid the chaos, Mumbai has one thing that is nearly 100 percent reliable: your lunch delivery. The dabbawalas of Mumbai are an institution. Dabbawalas deliver homemade lunches to workers across Mumbai—nearly 200,000 of them per day. Crisscrossing side streets on bikes, balancing trays that weight almost 150 pounds on their heads, this group of 5,000 men helps define the city. But it’s not just the staggering quantity or exhaustive work that sets these guys apart; their 99.9% delivery accuracy and incredible efficiency is the envy of delivery services the world over. Anything for a warm meal, amiright?

This story is a part of our Flavors series, where we do so much more than play with our food. Come with us as we dive into deliciously different and tastefully off-beat stories in the culinary world.

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[ginahtran]

Man, so much respect for these men. They work so hard.

[clowdfish]

Amazon: we got the best delivery system..
Dabbawala: hold my dabba.. :3

[Raez_XL]

Delivery accuracy is better than Amazon

[TheSupertoneify]

1.Indian food takes time to prepare and is a bit tiring
2. A single commute to workplace is generally around 1.5 hours and work hours usually start from 8:00 AM
3. Someone else in the family prepares the food.
Does this answer your question ?
If yes don't scroll below. Else : do whatever you want..but you were warned

[clarizzi]

There's a movie about this. Well, not really about it, but the lunch delivering is a big part of the plot. I think it's called The Lunchbox, and I had a lot of fun watching it. Totally recommend.

[radhikapatil]

To all the people who are asking why not take lunch with you? In mumbai you have to commute a lot and offices start at either 9 or 10 and to reach there you have to leave at 7 or 8 depending where you live . Lunch time is between 1 to 2 pm . Now imagine making lunch so early in morning and carrying it in humid weather for hours . It doesn't stay fresh. That's why lunch is delivered like this. Most Indians like eating fresh food. No weekly food prep here. No freezer lunches and no microwave dinners.

[son-gt]

the accuracy of delivering was 99.99 until topgear visited india &
Richard messed it 😂

[mingdynastytv]

I remember the movie "The Lunchbox". Glad that I watch it on our tv here in the Philippines. 10/10!

[bonialvarez]

Your train might be late, your power might go out. But Damn it, your lunch will be on time

[tenzingdhaselbhutia]

Respect always for hardworking people 😍Incredible India❤️

[mello-imp]

Guys, this is just so the people can have it warm and fresh, seriously, that's better than from a microwave

[TheGirlInSneakers]

Wow, some comments are just pure ignorant. Just because some people didn't bring their lunch to work doesn't mean they're lazy or weird or some of you even called it idiotic. Well, I'm sorry if some cultures and ways of life are bizarre and different from your amazing and efficient way of life. Props to you.

[stanirelandbig]

I love India, even when its hard to explain, the system works . I wish I could have a fella show up with a great meal from my wife at lunch time, it would make me feel appreciated and loved, knowing it came from family, if I went and grabbed a soup and sandwich, I would feel lonely and disconnected. angry at work as they take time away from family . Sometimes western ways are not the best

In Australia, the outback, I had a cookee prepare my daily ration the night before, it was good . However I drove a tractor for 16 to 18 hours a day very lonely job . After school the bosses kids wanted a ride in large tractor, bosses wife liked me being nice to kids, as she picked up kids, also bringing me todays lunch, the boss was glad I was keeping his wife happy. I was happy to feel part of family. Same thing

[chaverxx]

They are so hardworking, just imagine the weight of those foods and the painstaking transpo plus the heat, goodness. ❤ You guys are amazing

[MavicityHerself]

I love how non-locals are so confused by this practice. :) A warm meal made with fresh produce by someone who cares about you delivered through a system that is efficient and employs thousands of people versus a plastic wrapped microwaved sandwich from a vendomachine.
At first, I got confused, too, being not from Mumbai. But the comfort and nutrition from home cooked meals? I'd pay someone to fetch lunch from my mom's house, too.

[jaridkeen]

That is really cool actually, i wonder if they could ever do something like that in America. Not exactly the same but using the same mechanics.

[ganeshmaharaj]

for people who find this service useless...
Most of the Indian(traditional) families do not like to consume food stored in fridges over night and have it microwaved! ( yes they do not commonly have microwaves at home) as they prepare food two times or three commonly!!
and regarding the centralized kitchens idea...
they are multi cultural and have a wide variety of food habits and its mostly impossible to cater what they want!
and spice levels of each individuals is very different and the centralize kitchens can not serve every individual who have health problems and can only have or prefer specific oils and spices or items!
and finally nothing beats food made by mom and this service lets her to make the the food in no rush!!

[MAUTxxx]

Damn, they don't use the GPS and still can deliver it accurately? Crazy

[CesarMartinez-wiwc]

World : Ends

Dabba : Heres your lunch sir.

[StephaneCrichton]

That's amazing, I just came here, as I just finished Dan Pink Book called When, explaining the life of Dabawallas and the importance of their job, the connection that they are making between job and home, People needing to go to work sometime before 7, which is too early for anybody in the household to prepare a fresh descent indian style Lunch. Reading it I could imagine the chaos of Mumbai but the real image is even worst that I imagine. Huge Respect