A foodie's paradise, Kolkata's food culture reflects its rich history with influences from the British, Parsi and Mughal cuisines. From mouthwatering desserts to hearty meat dishes and delectable seafood, Kolkata's culinary landscape caters to every palate. If you're looking to eat your way through the streets of Kolkata then this list has got you covered. Here's the ultimate guide to Kolkata's food scene.
Your Ultimate Guide To Exploring Kolkata's Iconic Food Places
Kona Dukan and Shankar Tea Stall
Kona Dukan and Shankar Tea Stall are like time capsules of Kolkata's breakfast scene. Known for their Malai toast, kesar chai, and a bunch of other morning treats, these spots have been dishing out mouthwatering finger-eats and food items for ages, giving off major nostalgic vibes. Right in the heart of the action near the Kolkata stock exchange, you'll find these stalls surrounded by chai-lovers day and night.
Timing: 5 AM to 8:30 PM
Price for two: INR 250
Kusum Rolls
Nothing beats the Kolkata streets like kathi rolls: juicy, spiced meat grilled to perfection, topped with crunchy onions, spicy chillies, and a dash of lime, all wrapped up in parathas and cooked on a hot grill. You'll find these rolls everywhere, from pushcarts to restaurants—they're Kolkata's favourite fast food. While everyone has their favourite spot, Kusum, a 51-year-old takeaway spot on Park Street, stands tall among them. Pro tip For an extra meaty delight, don't hesitate to ask for double meat in your roll.
Timing: 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM
Price for two: INR 200
Russell Street Puchkawala
The heart and soul of Kolkata, "puchkas" are best found on the bustling Russell Street, just off Park Street. Here, you'll find street food vendors prepping smoking-hot ghugni—curried yellow peas topped with puckeringly tart tamarind chutney and finely chopped onions. The biggest crowd gathers around here, to savour the delicious puchkas, ghugni chaat, aloo dum, churmur and papdi chaat! They are the OGs who have been serving here for decades.
Timing: We'd recommend visiting in the evening
Price for two: INR 100
Sorano
Probably one of the most authentic Italian cafes in town, Sorano is our favourite. Situated on the first floor of the Harrington Residency, this 4,500-square-foot restaurant is known for its Neapolitan-style pizzas, hand-rolled pasta, and inventive cocktails, drawing inspiration from a small town in Tuscany. Using ingredients from select vendors and farms outside Kolkata, they craft fresh pasta, breads, and cheeses in-house.
Timing: 12 PM to 12 AM
Price for two: INR 2,000
Manzilat
It's impossible to overlook the iconic biryani spot when listing the town's best eateries. The dum pukht-style biryani, believed to have reached colonial Calcutta with Wajid Ali Shah, the nawab of Awadh, who was exiled in 1858, is legendary. Credit goes to the nawab's cooks for adding potatoes to the dish, giving Kolkata biryani its unique flavour. Manzilat Fatimah, known as Manzi, a descendant of the nawab, serves her family's signature biryani cooked in mustard oil from her home's terrace eatery. Beyond biryani, her menu features other Awadhi specialities like yakhni pulao, galawati kebabs, parathas, pasanda, and shahi phirni.
Timing: 1 PM to 3 PM, 6 PM to 9 PM, closed on Mondays
Price for two: INR 1,000
Mocambo
Mocambo, a Park Street favourite since the 1950s, embodies colonial Calcutta's Continental cuisine legacy with its buttery, creamy, and cheesy dishes. Once a hotspot for jazz performances, it still retains its old-world charm with liveried servers and red vinyl banquettes. Must-try dishes include chicken a la Kiev, Chateaubriand, and the signature Fish a La Diana—Bhetki stuffed with prawns in a creamy sauce.
Timing: 11:15 AM to 11:15 PM
Price for two: INR 950
Contact number: 03322290095
LBB-tip: book a table in advance if you don't want to wait as the place fills up quickly
Peshawari
For top-notch North Indian cuisine, head to Peshawari. They specialize in traditional cooking methods from the North-West region of India, using clay ovens or tandoors. Their signature dish, the Naan Bukhara, is colossal—approximately four feet in diameter! Pewhawari offers an authentic experience with its open kitchen, allowing diners to witness their food being prepared.
Timing: 12:30 PM to 11:45 PM
Price for two: INR 2,000
Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy
In Michael Krondl's Sweet Invention, Nakur is hailed as the top-notch Moira (traditional confectioner) of Bengal. Nestled in a serene corner of north Kolkata, this 177-year-old gem is famous for its sandesh, a beloved Bengali sweet made from fresh chhana. Nakur has mastered the art of sandesh, offering a delightful array of flavours like mango, dark chocolate, mulberry, black currant, butterscotch, and many others.
Timing: 7 PM to 10:30 PM
Price for two: INR 100
Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick
Well, the saga of sweet dishes and mishtis in Kolkata doesn't end there. With several city branches, this dessert powerhouse leads the way in modernizing Bengali mishti (sweets). Specializing in fusion mishti, blending traditional Bengali flavours with European dessert elements, its signature dish is a twist on roshogolla. Other inventive treats include seasonal mango lava sandesh and sitaphal souffle, all of them guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Timing: 7 AM to 11 PM
Price for two: INR 250
Contact number: 9830229423
