Age-old joints, up and coming places and everything in-between, we scoured the lanes of Tangra (Kolkata’s second China Town) for the best Chinese food.
Tangra Decoded: Here's Your Guide To Kolkata's Beloved Chinese Food Hub
Kim Fa
A standard place to head to in Tangra, just after the Chinese Kali temple, this joint is no-complications, no-fuss! Straightforward Indianised-Chinese food (we adore the chilli prawns and the chilli chicken especially). You’ll also get fresh light pakchoy and Asian greens (yay for Chinese mushrooms!) which vegetarians can indulge in. You can also pre-order their brown chow (a caramelised sweet noodles) and their garlic noodles which are both made in-house from scratch.
Kafulok
Another hub for lovers of Indian-Chinese, their food is spicy, packed full of flavour and fun. Their fried wontons are honestly some of the crunchiest and meatiest in town. You’ll surely be comfortable — there are tons of families who frequent this joint.
Golden Joy
Another standard place to visit in Tangra, the ever-expanding Golden Joy (run by Robert and his sons) stays packed during the festive seasons. You can sit wherever you feel comfortable — there’s a family room, men’s only section and even a private dining area. Golden Joy is known for its thick Thai soup, giant plates of hakka chow and their preparations of seafood.
Beijing
Beijing has some amazing dishes based on Ms Liu’s (famously known as the Queen of Tangra) secret recipes, like Thai Chicken, Fried Meatballs and Peking Chicken with Hoisin Sauce. Whatever you do, don’t miss out on the Special Duck Roast, it’s beyond heavenly. From spring button mushrooms, chicken dumplings and Cantonese chicken to Peking phoenix emperor prawns, schezwan duck, chicken in black bean sauce and chilli crab claws, Beijing will have you coming back for more.
Kim Ling
Kim Ling offers a wide selection of vegetarian, egg, chicken and fish dishes as well as crab varieties like Crab Claws, Crab Meat in Choice of Sauce and Crab Meat with Button Mushrooms. Do not miss out on the Steamed Whole Chicken or Fish. With a variety of dishes from Lemon Chicken, Chilli Prawns and Hot Garlic Mushrooms to Kim Ling Special Rice Noodles, Garlic Yam Mein and Cantonese options, Kim Ling will compel you to come back for more.