Speak of Kolkata delicacies, and you will soon visualise sugar-dripping Roshogullas/Rasgulla, delicious fish preparations and chenna-based sweets that hound the popular image of Bengali cuisine. And if you’ve ever been to the vibrant City of Joy, you might have witnessed the streets bustling with traffic, people and hawkers passing by, nibbling on their favourite street food.
Moreover, if you move beyond the Bengali cuisine stereotypes of Macchi and aloo poshto, there are loads of Bengali dishes that many people might not know. Kolkata city is famous for the assortment of snacks and street food it offers, the likes you can relish with a cup of tea. These well-known street foods of Kolkata are not just a regional choice but have also earned their mark on the global food map. So next time you visit the city, don’t forget to rent a car in Kolkata and head out on a street food trail to try these lip-smacking delicacies that will give you a burst of zest in every bite.
- Puchka
The Bengali sister of North Indian pani puri or gol gappa, puchkas are small and deep-fried semolina balls served with an irresistible mix of boiled and mashed potatoes, chillies, masalas and chickpeas. They are served in tangy, spicy, and flavorful water made with jeera, chillies, pudina and tamarind, making it a delicious treat that instantly satisfies your taste buds.
- Jhalmuri
Puffed rice with mustard oil, chillies, freshly chopped onions and a blend of spices makes for this delicious treat, jhalmuri, which you cannot miss when talking about the lip-smacking street food of Kolkata. The addition of lemon along with chaat masala makes it a tempting snack to munch. A staple Bengali street snack, Jhalmuri serves as a host to never-ending gossip with friends, accompanied by piping hot chai.
- Urad Dal Vada
These crispy and tiny pakoras can be an excellent alternative to pair up with your evening filter coffee or cup of tea. Popularly known as Biuli Dal Er Boda in Bengali, this Urad dal vada is made with a dense blend of grounded urad dal, chillies, onion and sooji (for crispiness) and other irresistible spices.
- Kathi Roll
These Kathi Rolls are thin, flaky parathas or rumali roti filled with meat chunks, veggies, and a host of mouth-watering sauces, chutneys, and spices. These Kathi rolls were introduced in the 1930s at a cafe in Kolkata, especially for the British administrators stationed in Kolkata to reduce the use of hands while feasting kebabs.
After its introduction, Kathi rolls soon became famous in the Indian street food market, and today it holds a remarkable place among the famous street foods of India loved by food enthusiasts globally.
- Chhanar Jilipi
For people with a sweet tooth, enjoying this street food in Kolkata is a sheer pleasure. Chanar Jilipi is a Kolkatan juicy, soft, and chewy jalebi made of cottage cheese. It is denser than a standard jalebi, and the consistency is similar to Gulab Jamun, which gives you the goodness of two sweets in one.
- Mughlai Parantha
Mughlai paratha is a roti loaded with broken cutlets, chicken keema, onion and eggs. It is one of the city’s most soul-satisfying and stomach-filling street food, which tastes just divine.
Even when we have arrived at an end, the list doesn’t finish here, and hundreds of Kolkata street food dishes are waiting for you. So why wait? Book a Kolkata taxi and get going.