Asha ‘Ashaben’ Jhaveri, The Force Behind Mumbai’s Iconic Swati Snacks, Passes Away At 79

Asha ‘Ashaben’ Jhaveri, the guiding force behind Swati Snacks, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday at the age of 79. She died at Breach Candy Hospital after a prolonged illness and was cremated later that day at Worli. She was admired for upholding the warm, comforting spirit that made Swati Snacks, one of Mumbai’s most cherished culinary landmarks.

Asha Jhaveri, Head Of Swati Snacks, Passes Away At 79 In Mumbai

Asha Jhaveri passed away on June 15 and left behind a flavourful legacy for chaat and street food lovers of Mumbai with Swati Snacks. According to Mid-Day, the eatery put a notice outside Swati Snacks in Tardeo, announcing the demise of Asha Jhaveri. It read, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Asha Jhaveri, the pioneer behind Swati Snacks.”

With no professional training but determination and instinct, she streamlined operations and refreshed the menu, all while preserving the comforting spirit that defined Swati Snacks. Her eye for detail was unmatched — she personally vetted ingredients, modernised the kitchen, and ensured that every plate stayed true to its roots. Under her care, a modest chaat stall grew into a Mumbai institution cherished across generations.

Asha took over the reins of the iconic eatery in Mumbai after her mother’s passing in 1979. With no formal training but driven by determination and instinct, she transformed Swati Snacks and made it even more popular in the city. She streamlined operations and updated the menu while preserving the comforting essence that defined the eatery. People working closely with her would often appreciate her eye for detail and how she inspected ingredients, modernised the kitchen, and ensured every dish stayed true to its roots. Under her stewardship, Swati Snacks became a beloved culinary landmark cherished by generations.

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Force Behind The Iconic Eatery Loved By Celebs & Locals Alike

Swati Snacks isn’t just a regular eatery, it is one of the shiniest stars in the culinary landscape of Mumbai. It was started in 1963 by Minakshi Jhaveri with a limited menu featuring sev puri, bhel puri, ragda pattice, and pani puri. Under Asha Jhaveri’s leadership, the eatery scaled up to multiple outlets in Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

Not just local residents of Mumbai but celebrities and billionaires love this place. In Asha Jhaveri’s memoir, Swati Snacks: A Culinary Journey of Hope and Joy, Mukesh Ambani shared his love for the place. He said, “We are three generations of the Ambani family who cannot live without ordering from Swati Snacks every week.”

In fact, Madhuri Dixit also took Apple CEO Tim Cook to this iconic place for some vada pav during his visit a few years back!

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Rest in peace, Asha ‘Ashaben’ Jhaveri!

Cover Image Courtesy: X/myannoyingopinions & website/swatisnacks