Street Food in Kolkata

What to eat on the street in Kolkata, which neighbourhoods to eat it in, and roughly what it should cost.

What street food in Kolkata is known for

Kolkata street food blends Bengali home cooking, Mughlai influence and a Chinese community that created an entire Indo-Chinese genre.

Dishes to try

• Kathi roll - kebab wrapped in a paratha, invented in this city.
• Puchka - the local golgappa, tangier and hotter than elsewhere.
• Ghugni chaat - yellow pea curry with onion and lime.
• Telebhaja - monsoon evening fritters.
• Kosha mangsho and luchi at old cabin restaurants.

Where locals actually eat

• Park Street - rolls and late night eating.
• Dacres Lane - the office lunch alley.
• College Street - coffee house culture and cheap student food.
• Tangra - the Chinatown quarter for Indo-Chinese.

What it costs

Puchka 20 to 40 rupees a plate, a kathi roll 70 to 150, a full cabin lunch under 300.

Eating safely here

Watch puchka water preparation, which is the main risk item. Fried and griddled food here is generally very safe given the pace of service.

Vegetarian and vegan notes

Ghugni, telebhaja, puchka and most sweets are vegetarian. Bengali sweets are dairy based, so vegan options on the street are limited.

Common questions