Living in Kolkata for three months as a student, I had little hope of enjoying the finer things in life. But within
a week, I understood that even on a tight budget, Kolkata can offer the world to you — especially when it comes to the food. Whether its the roadside momo stalls that sell you plate full of mouth-watering, hot chicken momos for Rs 20, or some of the oldest pubs in the country visited by the young and veterans alike, or the ancient lanes of China Town/Tangra, or the traditional Bengali restaurants, or biryani spots like Arsalan; food is worshiped and prepared with much love and attention in Kolkata. And as an added bonus, eating out never really creates a dent on your pocket. While I can confidently say I managed to try almost everything there was on offer when it came to food, there were a few places I found myself going back to over and over again by Shyama Krishna Kumar
Kewpie’s, Elgin Road
A family-run restaurant in the owner’s tiny cottage-like residence, Kewpie’s is a visual delight, with it’s homespun interiors and eclectic collection of artwork. Visit Kewpie’s for its traditional Bengali thala (platter). Small terracotta bowls on the thala hold the various delightful Bengali cuisine offerings, with variations of fish being the main focus. There are also vegetarian thalas to choose from.
Chinatown
It’s difficult to pick out one single restaurant from the many that litter the lanes of Tangra. Because of the city’s large Chinese immigrant population, Chinese food in Kolkata is commonplace. However, for authentic Chinese and ‘Indian Chinese’, make your way to Chinatown, or as it is popularly now called, Tangra. Kim Fa, Beijing, Golden Joy and Kim Long serve everything from chilli chicken to wontons on the menu. They also serve alcohol, so its a great place for an evening with friends, since they are quite economical as well.
Bar-B-Q, Park Street
For Chinese food of impeccable quality, visit Bar-B-Q. Slightly more premier than other restaurants, this Park Street gem should be your go-to for a dinner date. Items like the schezwan chilli pork, kung pao chicken, garlic fish and king prawns in chilli sauce are house favourites and all be tried. The cocktails are decent too, but I’d recommend walking down the road to Oly’s for a quick, cheap drink, before heading here.
Kusum Rolls, Park Street
For Katti rolls, you have to look no further than Kusum Rolls, a hop and skip away from Bar-B-Q on Park Street. While the egg mutton roll is to die for, it would be difficult to pick faults with almost any roll on their menu. Spicy kebabs wrapped in the crispiest of parathas, these rolls are slightly more expensive than your regular roadside variety, but they are more than worth the price. Make sure you head there with a huge appetite, because you’ll find it hard to stop at eating just one.
Golbari, North Kolkata
Almost 100 years old, Golbari is worth what most people consider the tedious visit to the almost forgotten north Kolkata. Their signature dish is the Kosha Mangsho, a spicy-sweet Bengali mutton curry, a recipe handed down for several generations. Originally named New Punjabi Restaurant, the eatery is popularly called Golbari because of the semi-circular facade of the building. Other items to look out for on the menu include chicken cutlet, fish fry and chicken kosha. Almost all of these items are priced under Rs 150.