Spice of the East – A Whiff Of Kolkata’s Amazing Street Food

When it comes to the best street food in India, The City of Joy is easily at the top of the charts. A variety of gastronomic delights are available on the streets of Kolkata, and that too at prices that will not pinch the pockets. Despite the mushrooming of fine-dine restaurants and food courts, Kolkatans, ranging from a daily-wage labourer to the MNC executives, indulge in these roadside delicacies.

And Bengali cuisine is not the only thing that your palate can indulge in. Although, there was a time when the street food comprised only of jhal muri (puffed rice mixed with other ingredients), phuchkas (golgappa), singaras (samosa), kachauris and the telebhajas (oil fries). But over time it graduated to include hot kathi rolls (kebabs rolled in a paratha) and mughlai paratha (paratha with potato filling laced with egg) as well. Later, during the 80s the city also added chowmein (mixed noodles) to its menu. About the same time, the city also adopted the hot favorite of Maharashtra, paw bhaji (bonn + mixed paste vegitable). Later, the south too joined in with dosas, idli-vadas and uttapams. Chola- bhatura, chana kulcha, momo (dumplings) and thupka (noodle soup) went on to extend the gastronomy list.

Tele bhaja

Jhal Muri

Biryani that was among the carte du jour of the big restaurants is now the pride of streets. Excellent quality authentic beef biryani is served at roadside stalls right in the heart of the city. One can also try the Kheeri Roll and the incredible Beef Chaap.

Haleem is another dish, beef eaters love to hog in Kolkata. It is a mixture of wheat, meat (usually beef) different types of daal (including lentil) and spices.

Momo

Puchka

While one can taste these delectable dishes all over the city, the kiosks along Decker's Lane (Dacre street)is the ultimate destination for foodies. You can get chicken cutlet, fish fry, fish roll, mutton/chicken/vegetable stew, ghugni, chowmein, fried rice, chilly/schezwan/garlic chicken, luchi/puri sabzi, chola-bhatura, kulcha-chana, momo, biryani, a wide range of sweets, lassi, firni and lots more.

Kaathi Roll

AJC Bose road offers you the best of Kathi Rolls. You can take your pick from a stuffing of paneer, mix vegetables, egg, curried chicken or chopped mutton. Also, you can select the roomali bread or paratha bread.  East Metropolitan Bypass serves you a plate of chaat, puchka or jhalmuri for just `10-45. BBD Bagh offers luscious luchi, kochuri and allodom, Cholar dal, rice and fish curry and lanchan. Chinese delicacies can be enjoyed at Sudder Street. 

And if you are worried about the quality of food available, the World Health Organization has in a survey, certified the food sold on Decker's Lane in Kolkata as among the best street food available anywhere (as per an article in The Times of India). So, if it is variety, taste and spice that you are looking for, simply head east.

Swati Verma

PGPMC

2nd sem