Kolkata’s street food is deeply influenced by the various cultures and communities that have inhabited the city over the years.
Kolkata Street Foods: There’s a reason why Kolkata is known as the ‘City of Joy’. Although historians believe that Kolkata (then Calcutta) has been inhabited for thousands of years, its documented history begins only after the arrival of Job Charnock on behalf of the British East India Company in 1690. Since then, the city has undergone many social, cultural and economic changes that have shaped the character of modern Kolkata today. Food also plays an important role in shaping the city’s ambiance. If you walk around, you will find a variety of cuisines from different origins, indicating the cultural imprints left by each community over the years. You will find Bengali food from West Bengal and East Bengal (now Bangladesh), Anglo-Indian cuisine, Indo-Chinese food, Parsi cuisine, Shaherwali food culture, Mughlai cuisine, Bohri food and more – each of these has an important place on Kolkata’s food map. This is true for Kolkata’s street food as well.
In this article, we are taking you on an amazing journey of the most famous street food places in Kolkata that have been attracting food lovers for years.
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9 most popular street foods in Kolkata and where to try them:
1. Phuchka at Dilip Da’s Phuchka Centre:
How can we start this list without mentioning phuchka. A favourite dish of every person in the city, you will find it sold in abundance in every lane and neighbourhood. But if you ask us to pick the perfect place to try it for the first time, we suggest heading to Vivekananda Park in South Kolkata. There you will find ‘Dilip Da’, who serves hundreds of people with delicious phuchkas filled with spicy potato mix and gondhoraj lebu (kaffir lime) tamarind water. Apart from the classic phuchka, you will also find churmur, ragda chaat dahi phuchka at the stall, which will cost you no more than Rs 40 per plate.
Where: Maharaja Chat (Dilip Da’s Puchka Centre), G975+QJ2, Kavi Bharati Sarani, Hemanta Mukherjee Sarani, Lake Terrace, Ballygunge, Kolkata, West Bengal 700029
2. Kachori at Kanhaiya Kachori Shop:
Did you know, Kolkata has had a kachori culture for years? Be it the crunchy kachori or the mango kachori, these dishes will remind you of the streets of Lucknow and Varanasi. But what makes it unique is the sabzi served with it. These sabzis made with Bengali spices give the kachoris a layer of flavour. And to enjoy it, we suggest you visit Kanhaiya Kachori Shop located in the Bara Bazar area of North Kolkata. The shop opens at 7 am and serves thousands of customers every day till 11.30 pm. The most popular dish at Kanhaiya is the club kachori (small-sized kachori), which costs Rs 10 per piece and is served with a special sabzi. But for the full experience, we suggest you eat hot jalebis fried in desi ghee with this meal.
Where: Kanhaiya Kachori Shop, 224, Rabindra Sarani, Raja Katra, Singhi Bagan, Jorasanko, Kolkata, West Bengal 700007
Photo Credit: iStock
3. Momos at Tibetan Delight:
If you think momos are the most popular street food in Delhi, then dear reader, you must try the momos you get in Kolkata. From roadside shops to local eateries, this Nepalese delicacy is a major draw for customers. One such place is Tibetan Delight, which serves some of the tastiest momos in the city. From the classic steamed momos to the juicy pan-fried momos, this small, cozy food joint has a wide range of options to suit your taste buds. But not limited to this. You will also find a range of Chinese and Tibetan delicacies to savour.
Location: Tibetan Delight, 1, Suburban Hospital Road, Chowringhee, Shreepalli, Bhawanipur, Kolkata, West Bengal 700020
4. Chaat at Hedua Chaat Centre:
Papdi chaat, bhelpuri, dahi vada, sev puri, samosa chaat and more – these dishes never fail to win hearts in no time. While different types of chaat have different regional origins, you will find them all in Kolkata, along with some additional specialties. Kolkata is all about chaat, but unlike the chaats found in North India, it uses less curd and more of roasted Bengali spices (bhaja masala) made of cumin-coriander-red chillies. To try it out, we suggest heading to Hedua Chaat Centre. This street-side food joint offers a variety of delicious options including dahi papdi, samosa chaat, aloo-daam and more.
Where: Hedua Chaat Centre, 182, Bidhan Sarani Road, Maniktala, Hedua, Kolkata, West Bengal 700006
5. Chops and Cutlets in Apjan:
A Kolkata meal is never complete without tasting the hot and crispy chops. Bengal’s very own pakora (or fritters), chops are basically spicy mashed fillings, dipped in a gram flour batter and fried till golden and crispy. You can find different kinds of chops all over the city. From the best potato chops and peyajis to the excellent mutton chops, egg chops and fish chops, there is something for every kind of taste. We suggest visiting Apanjan in Kalighat. While you will find a variety of options at the stall, we suggest starting with the delicious Bhetki Macher Chop and then moving on.
Where: Apanjan, 58, Sadananda Road, Anami Sangha, Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal 700026
6. Chowmein at Gautam’s place:
If you are in Kolkata, you must try the chowmein that is available on street corners across the city. This desi-style Chinese Hakka noodle has a lot of fans who flock to the street carts in the evening to have some. Chowmein is available in both vegetarian and non-vegetarian versions in Bengal and is served with ketchup and salad on top. One such place that has been serving this delicacy for almost two decades is Gautam. Owned by Gautam Karmakar, this place serves the roadside favourite and their distinctive signage is something you can recognise from a mile away. And guess what, their desi-Chinese combo starts at Rs 50.
Address: Gautam, 26/B, Duttabad Road, EM Bypass, Salt Lake
7. Ghugni in Chitto Babar Dokan:
Simply put, it is a Bengali-style ragda with a variety of spices. Also popular in Bihar, ghugni is cooked with white peas, served with spices, tamarind water, onions, green chillies and coriander. You can have it as is or serve it with pav, roti and paratha. To taste this dish, you must visit Chitto Babar Dokan near Raj Bhavan. Despite its small size, this place is known for its delicious food, which has an aroma that is hard to ignore.
Where: Chitto Babar Dokan, Peerless Bhavan, 3, James Hickey Sarani, Next to Peerless Bhavan, Near Raj Bhavan, Esplanade, Chowringhee North, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal 700069
8. Creamy Toast at the Corner Shop:
Visit any tea shop in Central and North Kolkata in the morning and you will find customers flocking to get the delicious breakfast of Malai Toast. Wondering what this dish is? It is a local bread loaf, cut into two slices, toasted on a tawa, and served with malai (a layer of boiled milk) and white sugar sprinkled on top. Do try this dish someday and understand how the simplest ingredients can come together to make a delicious dish. Where to get Malai Toast? We suggest visiting Kona Dukan in BBD Bagh. This 77-year-old tea shop is currently run by the fourth generation of owners. Though you will find a variety of food options here, the classic Malai Toast is the most loved with tea.
Where: Kona Dukan, Lyons Range, Murgighata, BBD Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700001
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9. Kathi Rolls at Kusum Rolls:
And how can we forget the kathi roll? Kolkata’s iconic street food offers the taste of crispy parathas and juicy chicken and mutton kebabs in one dish. All you have to do is heat it up and devour it. Though you will find several options of roll centres across the city, we suggest you head to Park Street and enjoy the Kusum roll. A tiny space with a small kitchen and an open sales counter, this place serves food to thousands of foodies in the city all day long. Just look at the menu on the wall and order your favourite.
Location: 21 Park Street, Next to Karnani Mansion, Olipub Restaurant, Kolkata (Calcutta) 700016
10. Mughlai Paratha at Anadi Cabin:
A delicious and filling meal, often eaten as an alternative to rolls, this is a paratha stuffed with keema or egg and fried to perfection. You will find many cabins (old-school cafes) in Kolkata that have been serving this dish for years. But one place you should never miss is Anadi Cabin, an iconic shop on SN Banerjee Road (near Esplanade Crossing). The shop is open seven days a week and operates from 1.30 pm to 9 pm. The Mughlai paratha here is usually served with a spicy potato curry and salad.
Location: Anadi Cabin, H972+8JF, SN Banerjee Road, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala, Kolkata, West Bengal 700072
notes
About Somdatt SahaSomdatta likes to call herself an explorer. Be it food, people or places, she just wants to explore the unknown. A simple Aglio Olio pasta or dal-chawal and a good movie can make her day.
