Kolkata, the historical city located on the banks of Hooghly River is known for its colonial monuments and buildings. The next best thing in Kolkata is food. From Roshogulla to Fish Mouly, there are several authentic Bengali food items that you can enjoy in this city. 

Famous Street Food to try in Kolkata

Equally significant are those street food items that you can taste only here in Kolkata. These food items that range from spicy, and tangy, to sweets are a feast to the taste buds. Such food may be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. Here, you will see the most famous street food you must try when in Kolkata. 

Dragon Chicken

Dragon chicken is a Chinese dish, equivalent to chicken 65. Chicken pieces are fried until crispy and tossed with spicy and tangy sauce with some onions, garlic and other seasoning items.  It’s a popular item in Kolkata and is widely taken as a side dish or a snack. It is widely available everywhere in the city but the eateries near the South City Mall sell the best ones. Other options are Park Street Social, Tall Tales, etc. 

Ghugni Chaat

Ghugni chaat is a spicy and tangy snack made of chickpeas, white or green peas, black gram, etc. They are cooked in spicy sauce and dressed with freshly cut onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, masala powder and a dash of lemon juice. To enhance its texture fried bhujia is also added for more crunchiness. This is a perfect evening snack to keep you sated till the next meal. Try ghugni chaat from Decker’s Lane or Dacre Street. 

Jhal Muri

Jhal muri is the Bengal version of Bhel Puri. It is made of puffed rice, onion, tomatoes, crispy savouries, tangy sauces, and masala powders. In Kolkata, you will also have peanuts and potatoes in it. This is a popular snack and you can get it anywhere in the city. Go to Camac Street near the Vardaan market to get the most delicious jhal muri. This is a healthier option and more refreshing than other junk food items. Take a cup of hot tea with it and you will feel instantly refreshed. 

Kathi Rolls

Kolkata is the birthplace of Kathi rolls, Did you know that? Yes, try this delicious food as an evening snack or a meal from any street in the city. Try this out at the shop named Zaika where you get the authentic Kathi rolls without variations. Not that the variations are not good enough when in the city, you must have the best right? You can try other shops such as the Badshah or Nizam’s in the New Market or the Kusum’s in Park Street!

Keemar Doi Bora

Keemar doi bora is chicken or mutton keema balls served in spicy and sweetened curd. You could call it minced meat in dahi. You may even get a vegetarian version where the chicken and mutton are replaced by soya keema. It is a speciality dish coming from the family of Rabindranath Tagore. Try the Triangular Park or Jawaharlal Nehru Road for this dish. 

Luchi Aloo Dum

Luchi aloo dum is equivalent to the poori masala. The allo dom is the Bengali version of dum aloo if you haven’t guessed so. The potato is cooked in spicy tomato sauce, and the pooris are made with wheat flour. It is an ideal breakfast item and can also be an evening snack. To get the best luchi aloo dum, go to Fairlie, which is famous for all kinds of street food items, from sweets to savouries. 

Mishti Doi

Mishti doi is sweetened yoghurt or curd. Sugar or jaggery is used to sweeten the curd. The most delicious are the ones you get in those mini earthen pots. This is one of the iconic Bengali desserts. When you are in Kolkata, you cannot NOT have this dessert. Try it from the Balaram Mullick & Radharam Mullick in Bhowanipore. You can also get Rasgulla and Sandesh here. Other alternatives are Nakur Chandra Nady, KC Das, and Girish Chandra Dey for Mishti Doi. 

Mughlai Paratha

Mughlai parathas are stuffed with chicken keema, eggs, onions, and crushed cutlets.  These are rich in flavour and will fill your tummy sooner. Try the parathas made of wheat flour rather than maida to keep it healthy. In addition, these parathas will give you a taste explosion when having. It is an anytime meal or a quick snack as well. Try the Mughlai parathas from Anandi Cabin on the Jawaharlal Nehru Road. 

Puchka

Puchka is a variety of pani puri. Though it has the basic ingredients as pani puri and may look the same too. However, puchka is larger in size and the stuffing is slightly different. Puchka is filled with black chickpeas and uses tamarind water for its tanginess. The street vendors would also add some spicy mix that enhances the flavour explosion and is good for digestion.  Get the best puchkas from Bhawanipore or Maharaja Chaat Centre in South Avenue. 

Telabhaja

Telebhaja is nothing but fried, crispy, savoury snacks. In Kolkata, it includes anything from fried fish, mutton chops, or brinjal fries. The best telabhaja is from the Kalika Mukhorochok Telebhaja. They are the masters in this category. They are open from 4-8 pm every day. It usually gets crowded and most likely, you won’t get much choice if you are late or happen to come here after 7.30 pm. If you think you can’t get a chance to place an order here, try the Fairlie Place or the Gariahat; both are equally good. 

Conclusion

These are just a few popular street food items that you can get in Kolkata. Among these, luchi aloo dum is the most popular choice and sells the most. One thing to remember when trying street food is to have it in moderation. Leave some space so you can try other items too. Needless to say, be mindful of the environment and choose hygiene over food cravings. Have a great time in Kolkata!