The magic called street food, from the city of emotions

Kolkata street food

Digging into the crispy-friedflour-ball, the spicy mashed potato takes charge. Dipped and bathed in the tangy tamarind water, as it lands straight into your mouth, the heavenly sensation conquers you in the very first bite.

Welcome to Kolkata, the land of fuchka (and definitely not panipuri) and what-not on the go!

From our very own Fuchka, jhalmuri, alukabli, churmuri, chop, telebhaja, shingara, kochuri, roll to the Indianized salads, steaks, sandwiches, chowmin, momo, fried rice-chilli chicken as well as the roadside biriyani – you name it, we have it. Lovingly and rightly called the street-food paradise, the city of joy offers you a plethora of mouth-watering options to choose from at affordable rates indeed.

Whether you are dying to savour junk foods, looking for a heavy meal or seeking healthier options- Kolkata roads are sure to offer you something or anything at any point of time. Taste them at the right places and you won’t be disheartened.

Have your fuchka beside Vivekananda Park or in front of Dakshinapan complex, jhalmuri and roll at Gariahat, telebhaja at

the North and Central Kolkata lanes, fish fry, chicken pakora or stew at Dacres Lane, chaats at new market, fish soup at Territi bazaar, beef steak at Bow Barrack, haalim and kebabs at Zakaria street, kachuri, chowmin, fried rice or salad and sandwiches at Dalhousie office-para- the list is literally endless. Kolkata even has entire streets or localities dedicated to street-food. The office hubs at Esplanade-Dalhousie, Park street and Saltlake sector 5 thus rely heavily on these street food wonders for their lunch hours and evening hunger pangs. Meanwhile, the shopaholics atGariahat, New market and Hatibagan gorge on the delicious fuchka, jhalmuri, rolls and telebhaja in between buys and bargains.

Historically acclaimed for the delicacies and rich platter they serve, Dacres Lane, North Kolkata serpentines, Bow Barrack and Zakaria street are thronged by foodies through out the day and evenings- not just by foodies of the city but from across the country for the cherished grubs and bites. Even the foreign tourists often pay a visit just to have an experience of people going gaga over street food, along with the experimental bites from a dish or too.

Riding on its roadside flavours, the city keeps throbbing in every foodie’s heart. As they rightly say-fuchka is not just food, but an emotion. Take it from us, the Kolkata lovers, it’s worth a try. So are the whole set of charmers offered by the city streets.

About the Writer

Parama Dasgupta

Mix a talkative bookwarm into a write-what-not along with a pinch of photography- that’s the recipe of Parama Dasgupta. A journalist and content person for 14 years by profession, she loves reading anything and everything and freezing moments for life in her mobile camera lenses. Craving for good food and lazy naps comes to her naturally while friends vouch for her constant blabbering ability.

parama.abp@gmail.com