Street food of Kolkata

Last updated

Street food of Kolkata is the food sold by hawkers and street vendors from portable market stalls in the streets of Kolkata, India. It is one of the major characteristics of the city, which makes Kolkata the "City of Joy". Kolkata's street foods include Indian street food as well as Chinese, Mughlai, British, and even European foods. [1]

Contents

India DSC00921 (16515522567).jpg
A street fast food stall in Kolkata
Tea Break - Wikimedia Photowalk - Chitpur Road - Kolkata 2013-03-03 5302.JPG
Tea stall at Chitpur, Kolkata
The chaatwala in London.jpg
The chaatwala in London inspired by street food of Kolkata

Varieties

Luchi and Alur dom is most popular, cheap and consumed street food in Kolkata. [2] Daily workers or passer-by people prefer luchi and alur dom for its good taste and fast consumption. Instead of luchi in many shops puri, Kochuri, Parota, Naan are served with Alur dom, Paneer Curry etc. [3]
Kochuri Alur dom along with Singara sold in a street food stall in Bara Bazar, North Kolkata. Burrabazar Market in Kolkata 12.jpg
Kochuri Alur dom along with Singara sold in a street food stall in Bara Bazar, North Kolkata.
Street vendors and restaurants sell various types of Pakoras like potato, egg, onion, cauliflower and chicken. Chicken pakora is most famous pakora among the consumers. [4]
Chicken Pokora Food-Chicken-Pakoda.jpg
Chicken Pokora
Stalls containing fast foods are frequently seen in the streets which contains Indian as well as Chinese fast foods. Notable fast foods include chowmin, fish finger, Momo, Chicken Pokora/Cutlett, Egg roll, Chicken roll etc. [5] [6]
Kolkata Chicken Roll.jpg
Chicken roll in Kolkata
Fried Items at China Bazar, Kolkata.jpg
Egg Devil and rolls in portable stall in China Bazar
Pork Roll - Sun Yat-sen Street - Kolkata 2013-03-03 5307.JPG
Pork roll in Kolkata
South Indian foods like Idli, sambhar, Dhosa, Masala Dhosa, Coconut chutney are among the most consumed street foods in Kolkata since these are easy to ready and easy to eat.
Kulfi is very famous street food in Kolkata, known for its cooling and satisfying effect in summer times, available in flavours like malai, kesar and elaichi. [7]
Pista Kulfi Pista Kulfi.jpg
Pista Kulfi
Other street food of Kolkata includes Momo, [8] Papri chat, Phuchka, Ghugni and Singara chat, Telebhaja, Radha Ballavi and Masala Kochuri, Aloo Kabli, Jilipi, Ghoti Gorom, Badam Makha, Doodh cola etc. [7]
Ghugni and masala chola in a stall Street Food - Kolkata 2011-01-09 0152.JPG
Ghugni and masala chola in a stall
Phuchka in a leaf plate in Kolkata. Calcutta Street Food (8717525612).jpg
Phuchka in a leaf plate in Kolkata.
A Pav Bhaji stand in Kolkata. Pav bhaji is one of noted street foods of North Kolkata. A Pav Bhaji stand in Kolkata.jpg
A Pav Bhaji stand in Kolkata. Pav bhaji is one of noted street foods of North Kolkata.

Areas and spread

Although Kolkata has street food stalls in nearly every part of the city, it specifically has many areas famous for its different types of street foods. North Kolkata has comparatively more street food stalls than South Kolkata. Surya Sen Street, Sealdah, Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar has some notable stalls famous since 90s.

Decars Lane or James Hicky Sarani is a lane in Dharmatala, Central Kolkata, which is famous for its cheap and tasty food stalls. Maniktala has famous shop which still sells per kochuri at 25 and 50 Paisa. [9]

Exide more near Rabindra Sadan, Shyambazar 5-point crossing etc. are famous for its momo. [10]

Juice Stall in Salt Lake Sector V. The Juice Station.jpg
Juice Stall in Salt Lake Sector V.

See also

Related Research Articles

Indian cuisine consists of a variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Given the diversity in soil, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bengali cuisine</span>

Bengali cuisine is the culinary style of Bengal, that comprises Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura. The cuisine has been shaped by the region's diverse history and climate. It is known for its varied use of flavours including mustard oil, as well as the spread of its confectioneries and desserts. There is a strong emphasis on rice as a staple, with fish traditionally the most common protein. Freshwater fish are preferred to seafish, although barramundi, known as bhetki, is also common. Meat is also a common protein among Bengalis with chicken and mutton meat being the most popular. Beef is popular within the muslim community. In more recent times, lentils have begun to form a significant part of the diet. Many Bengali food traditions draw from social activities, such as adda, Mezban, Eid feast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakora</span> Spiced fritter from the middle east and indian subcontinent

Pakora is a fritter originating from the Indian subcontinent. They are sold by street vendors and served in restaurants in South Asia. It consists of items, often vegetables such as potatoes and onions, coated in seasoned gram flour batter and deep fried.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dhaba</span> Roadside restaurants in the Southasian subcontinent

A dhaba is a roadside restaurant in the Indian subcontinent, primarily across Pakistan and northern India. They are on highways, generally serve local cuisine, and also serve as truck stops. They are most commonly found next to petrol stations, and most are open 24 hours a day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chaat</span> Savory Indian-originated snack

Chaat, or chāt is a family of savoury snacks that originated in India, typically served as an hors d'oeuvre or at roadside tracks from stalls or food carts across South Asia in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. With its origins in Uttar Pradesh, India, chaat has become immensely popular in the rest of South Asia.

The fast food industry in India has evolved with the changing lifestyles of the young Indian population. The variety of gastronomic preferences across the regions, hereditary or acquired, has brought about different modules across the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Chinese cuisine</span> Fusion cuisine combining Indian and Chinese traditions

Indian Chinese cuisine, Chinese Indian cuisine, Sino-Indian cuisine, Chindian cuisine, Hakka Chinese or Desi-Chinese cuisine is a distinct style of Chinese cuisine adapted to Indian tastes, combining Chinese foods with Indian flavours and spices. Though Asian cuisines have mixed throughout history throughout Asia, the most popular origin story of the fusion food resides with Chinese labourers of Calcutta, who immigrated to British Raj India looking for work. Opening restaurant businesses in the area, these early Chinese food sellers adapted their culinary styles to suit Indian tastes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kachori</span> Indian spicy food item

Kachori is a sweet and spicy deep-fried snack, originating in India, and common in places with Indian diaspora and other South Asian diaspora. Alternative names for the snack include kachauri, kochuri, kachodi and katchuri.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sindhi cuisine</span> Cuisine of the Sindh, Pakistan

Sindhi cuisine refers to the distinct native cuisine of the Sindhi people from Sindh, Pakistan. Sindhi cuisine has been influenced by Central Asian, Iranian, Mughal food traditions. It is mostly a non-vegetarian cuisine, with even Sindhi Hindus widely accepting of meat consumption. The daily food in most Sindhi households consists of wheat-based flat-bread (Mani) or rice accompanied by two dishes, one gravy and one dry with curd, papad or pickle. Freshwater fish and a wide variety of vegetables are usually used in Sindhi cuisine. Restaurants specializing in Sindhi cuisine are rare, although it is found at truck stops in rural areas of Sindh province, and in a few restaurants in urban Sindh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kati roll</span> Street-food dish originating from Kolkata, India

A kati roll is a street-food dish originating from Kolkata, West Bengal, India. In its original form, it is a skewer-roasted kebab wrapped in a paratha bread, although over the years many variants have evolved all of which now go under the generic name of kati roll. Today, mostly any wrap containing a filling enfolded in an Indian flatbread (roti) is called a kati roll. In native Bengali, the word kati roughly translates to 'stick', referring to how they were originally made. In Bengal though, the delicacy is simply known as roll. Kati rolls normally contain coriander chutney, egg, and chicken but the types may vary. Internationally, specifically in parts of Canada and the United States, the kathi roll has become a popular fast food found in Indian take-out restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagbazar</span> Neighbourhood in Kolkata in West Bengal, India

Bagbazar is a neighbourhood of North Kolkata, in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Shyambazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy. Bagbazar has played an active role in growth and development of Kolkata.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shyambazar</span> Neighbourhood in Kolkata in West Bengal, India

Shyambazar is a neighbourhood of North Kolkata, in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The area, under Shyampukur police station of Kolkata Police, has been, along with neighbouring Bagbazar, the citadel of the Bengali aristocracy, in a part of what was earlier known as Sutanuti. and the popularity of Shyambazer five point crossing is for the statue of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shobhabazar</span> Neighbourhood in Kolkata in West Bengal, India

Shobhabazar is a neighbourhood of North Kolkata, in Kolkata district, in the Indian state of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatibagan</span> Neighbourhood in Kolkata in West Bengal, India

Hatibagan is a neighbourhood of North Kolkata in Kolkata district in the Indian state of West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street food of Mumbai</span> Food sold by street vendors in Mumbai, India

Street food of Mumbai is the food sold by hawkers from portable market stalls in Mumbai. It is one of the characteristics of the city. The city is known for its distinctive street foods. Although street food is common all over India, street food in Mumbai is noted because people from all economic classes eat on the roadside almost round the clock and it is sometimes felt that the taste of street food is better than restaurants in the city. Many Mumbaikars like a small snack on the road in the evening. People of Mumbai cutting across barriers of class, religion, gender and ethnicity are passionate about street food. Street food vendors are credited by some for developing the city's food culture. Street food in Mumbai is relatively inexpensive as compared to restaurants and vendors tend to be clustered around crowded areas such as colleges and railway stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trams in Kolkata</span> Overview of the tram system of Kolkata, West Bengal, India

The tram system in Kolkata, the capital city of the Indian state of West Bengal, operated by West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) after Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) was dissolved, is the oldest tram network operating in India, and oldest operating tramway in Asia. Started in 1902, it is the oldest electric tramway in India. It is the only operating tram network of India at present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Street food of Chennai</span> Food sold by street vendors in Chennai, India

Street food, as in other areas of India, are popular in Chennai, despite the common belief in India that street food is unhealthy. The idly sambhar is a popular dish, which is served as breakfast or dinner. Apart from regular South Indian street food, the city's streets are also filled with several North Indian street food outlets, most of them established by North Indian migrants themselves. Gujarati and Burmese are also available. Street food in Chennai is so popular that a game had developed based on the TV show The Amazing Race where contestants have to follow clues to street-food spots in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haggis pakora</span> Scottish snack food of haggis ingredients prepared as pakoras

Haggis pakora is a Scottish snack food that combines traditional Scottish haggis ingredients with the spices, batter and preparation method of Indian and Pakistani pakoras. It has become a popular food in Indian and Pakistani restaurants in Scotland, and is also available in prepared form in supermarkets.

Zakaria Street is a street that joins Rabindra Sarani with Chittaranjan Avenue in Central Kolkata. Nakhoda Mosque is situated in this street. It is the biggest ramadan market in Kolkata. Mohammad Ali Park is located very close to this street. This street is very popular to food bloggers.

References

  1. "Bookmark the ultimate Kolkata food guide to get a taste of everything best". Lifestyle Asia India. June 13, 2022.
  2. Chand, Sharmila. "Kolkata's most iconic street eats and where to have them" via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  3. "The Best Breakfasts Across India – Kolkata's Kochuri Alur Dum to Bengaluru's Bene Dosa". Scoopwhoop. December 25, 2016.
  4. "Street food goes online". February 19, 2017 via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  5. "Eat Like a Local: 5 Best Street Food Joints in North Kolkata".
  6. "5 Best Street Food Joints In North Kolkata".
  7. 1 2 Chand, Sharmila. "Kolkata's most iconic street eats and where to have them" via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
  8. staff, Sunita Iyer folomojo (September 15, 2015). "Momos: From a humble Himalayan dumpling to a street food star".
  9. "Here is a Kolkata shop that still sells kochuri at just 25 paisa!". Get Bengal.
  10. "Here are the best momo joints in Kolkata". BombayTimes.