Best Street Food in Kolkata

It is impossible to explore the true essence of the city of Kolkata if you have never tasted the street food there. A lot about a city is described in the way the street food there is. And the city of Kolkata is no exception when it comes to that as well. As the Bengalis are as a person you will find a mix of sweet, tangy, spicy blend in the street foods here too. The city has a small shop selling some food items at every other corner. And as foodie as the people here are, none of these street food shops, stalls or counters are ever empty. And if you are in Kolkata or if you are visiting here, you need to taste the best street food in Kolkata to understand the city even more. After all, street foods are an essential part of exploring a city, right?

From spicy, to oily fried food to something tangy or even sweet the range of famous street food in Kolkata is huge. And the taste of the items you will find here are also a little different from what you find anywhere else in the country. What makes these street foods unique are the way they are made. Along with that they became more popular because of the love people have for these lip smacking flavours. These local cuisines and items in Kolkata are totally one of a kind and you need to taste them all to understand the uniqueness about them. Keep on reading this article as I will mention top 10 street food in Kolkata in this article that you need to try. This will be a handy guide for you if you are on your way to explore the street food in Kolkata.

Phuchka

The discussion on the best street food in Kolkata cannot begin without mentioning the most popular item. And let me tell you Phuchka is not similar to golgappa, pani puri or gupchups or any other variety. The Kolkata Phuchkas definitely do have a separate fan base. Here they use boiled potatoes and mash it well and add the necessary spices. What makes the phuchka unique here is the use of tamarind in the preparation. Even the water they use is tamarind water and with a hint of lemon in it, specifically gondhoraj lemon or kaffir lime.

You will find a phuchka stall after every two steps all over the city. And everywhere they are heavily crowded most of the time. The city dwellers further have some of their most favorite spots though to relish their favourite food. You can try puchkas from Vivekananda Park, Deshapriya Park, Vardaan Market, Victoria Memorial and a lot more. Adjust your spice level or your choices of spices according to your taste buds. And then there is no looking back, just have as many as you can without stopping.

Telebhaja

Literally Telebhaja translates to fried items and this is a separate section of the best street food in Kolkata that you need to explore here. This list of telebhaja includes a variety of deep fried items though and they are not necessarily pakodas or cutlets. These are fritters and telebhaja is a separate category that includes varieties of items coated in besan and deep fried in oil. These are Alur Chop, Beguni, Peyaji, Dhonepatar Chop, Capsicum Chop, Lankar Chop, Mochar Chop and more.

And a different category also includes items like Dimer Devil, Vegetable Chop, Fish Chop, Mutton Chop etc. If you are in Kolkata then you will find these shops frying these telebhaja in their huge frying pans. So buy them and enjoy the piping hot telebhaja straight out of the pan. Trust me the taste of the fresh telebhaja is a different experience to enjoy that you must not miss out on.

Fish Fry and Fish Kabiraji

Now these are some of the best street food in Kolkata that need a separate category for sure. Even though these are fried delicacies they are certainly a little above the telebhaja category. As much as the people of Kolkata love their fish, their Fish Fry and Fish Kabiraji are even dearer. These are crumb coated fries that taste delicious as they serve them with Kasundi or Mustard Sauce by the side. The Fish Kabiraji also has a fluffy coat of eggs on top of it that makes it more oily but the oiler the tastier it is. Fish Batter Fry is yet another famous street food in Kolkata that the people here love equally. Most of the authentic locations use Kolkata Bhetki Fish to make these dishes. But if you are having it from smaller shops they also use Basa Fish for their preparation.

Singara

Now you must be relating this to Samosa right? But Singara does have a separate fan base again. People of Kolkata make their Samosas differently even if they are similar looking. What is different here is the stuffing that they make to put inside the Singara or Samosa. Here the aloo stuffing is yellow in colour, has peanuts in it and is mildly spicy. A lot of places also include adding cauliflower in the stuffing along with the potatoes during winters. This is one of the most popular street foods in Kolkata which is the best companion for tea. So do not forget to try this amazing combo when you are visiting the city.

Ghugni

This is yet another popular street food that the people in Kolkata love. This is basically a chickpea curry that they made with potatoes in it. A lot of tea shops serve this for breakfast and people have this with bread. Even a lot of people have this like a spicy chaat by adding tamarind, onions, cucumber and lemon in it. It is one street food that is also healthier than other street food items. So in case you are looking for a healthier version of street food you can definitely try ghugni.

Jhal Muri

This is a Kolkata version of Masala Muri or Puffed Rice. It definitely has a separate fan base as it is affordable and light on the pocket and palette both. You can have it to stay full for a long time without feeling very heavy. They add several ingredients into the puffed rice and add some tamarind, lemon and spices to give it a tangy and spicy taste. It is one of the universally loved and best street food in Kolkata that you should try once. It is a go-to snack in Kolkata and they serve it inside a conical piece of paper. And the serving style makes it even tastier, trust me when I say it.

Alu Kabli

This is usually one item that you will also get in the phuchka counters. They simply chop the boiled potatoes in pieces and add the spices and season it with lemon and tamarind. Some places add chickpeas while some add peanuts in it that enhances the taste even more. You can adjust the spice level according to your preference though. But the more spicy it is, the better the taste will be. So don’t forget to try Alu Kabli from Kolkata.

Kathi Roll

The Kathi Rolls are again something that Kolkata is so popular for. Here the paratha tastes different as it is flaky and has a little bit of sweetness as well. Some shops even make the rolls using lachha parathas as well. The most popular rolls you can have here are the egg rolls which are also more affordable. They add chopped onions, cucumber and chillies and add sauces like tomato sauce and chilli sauce in it. What adds more taste is the lemon that they squeeze from the top and it enhances the taste even more. Other than egg rolls there are chicken rolls, paneer rolls, vegetable rolls and mutton rolls as well. Currently you will also find some different versions of rolls too like cheese chicken rolls, egg chicken rolls, tikia rolls and more.

Mughlai Paratha

Do not think this is a Mughlai dish because the city of Kolkata has made the Mughlai Paratha its own. Mostly pronounced as Moglai Porota, this is a stuffed paratha that has stuffing of egg and chicken or even mutton in it. Then they fry the paratha in oil until it becomes crispy. Then they serve this with delicious dry alu sabzi and salad and sauces by the side. A lot of locations also serve chicken kasha to go along the Mughlai Paratha. But the alur torkari or the alu sabzi hits differently with the paratha any day. Make sure you try the paratha in Kolkata, but keep one thing in mind. This can be a very heavy and wholesome food item so it’s better to share it any day rather than having it all on your own.

Kochuri

If you are in Kolkata this is one street food you cannot simply miss out on. Kochuris are basically stuffed pooris and they are very different from luchi which is another popular food in Kolkata. The Kochuris are not similar to the kachoris elsewhere as well. Here the preparation is different and that is what makes it more unique and special. It is one of the best breakfast items and you will find a majority of people having kochuris for breakfast. They serve it with cholar daal, alu sabzi or alur dum. And even a lot of places serve egg curry to go along with it as well.

There are different versions of kochuris with different kinds of fillings in it. During the winter season the Peas Kochuri or the Koraishutir Kochiri is definitely a showstopper here. And there is another variant which is the Radhaballavi that is a little different from kochuri but tastes equally good.

Wrapping up!

The list of the best street food in Kolkata is not small. In fact there are more items that you need to try here as well. However these are some of the best and famous street food in Kolkata. These are the dishes that people of all age groups love having. And if you ask the people here about their favourite street food they will surely mention these items. Whenever you are in Kolkata you must make sure to taste these items here. The street food in Kolkata is tasty and versatile. So you simply cannot miss out on having them when you are in the city.

So when are you planning a trip to Kolkata or do you already stay here? Let me know if you have tasted any of these items that I have mentioned in this article. And also don’t forget to tell me which is that 1 item from this list that left you drooling or craving for it.