Are you missing the Famous Kolkata Street Foods? : An Un-Lockdown Exclusive

02 Jun, 2020

Kolkata has an undying love for food. From Pan Asian to Italian, every popular street of the city is adorned with restaurants that chart out scrumptious varieties of different international cuisine. However, one particular type of food that the citizens of the city have a strong craving for is Street Food. It needs no introduction to the people of Kolkata. Almost, every street is adorned by a street food stall that serves delicate and spicy varieties of lip-smacking snacks.

But the streets have been empty for the last two months ever since March 24 when a Nationwide Lockdown was announced to stop the spread of Coronavirus pandemic. Since then the people of Kolkata have not been able to get an opportunity to enjoy their favourite street food. Now, this is something that you and everyone reading this is finding hard to deal with! 


Street Foods Corners of Kolkata that we are missing

From Phuchkas, Jhal muri to Rolls, every vendor had its own speciality. From the last couple of months, our craving for street food has been left unaddressed. Sadly, given the unprecedented future of the current pandemic it seems difficult to guess when things will finally get back to normal. 

We decided to take you down the memory lane to the best street foods of Kolkata.


Jhal-Muri or Bhel Puri

Made from puffed rice, a combination of spices, crunchy mixtures, peanuts, chopped tomatoes, onions, lemon and oil are used to create this scrumptious Jhal Muri. Jhal in Hindi means spicy. The snack is supposed to taste hot and delicious and is served in a wide-mouthed envelope made from newspaper. Bhel puri is similar to Jhal muri but it is served with chutneys of tamarind and coriander. It is usually tangy in taste and served on a hard paper plate. All the ingredients of this light snack are arranged in a small stand of the vendor which is portable. 

One can have Jhal Muri at any time of the day. Some popular Jhal Muri / Bhel Puri vendors of Kolkata are -

  • Central Avenue: Opposite Ram Mandir 
  • Vardaan Market: Camac Street 
  • Emami Shopping Mall: Lord Sinha Road
  • Lake Kali Bari: Southern Avenue
  • Swimming Pool: Salt Lake


Phuchkas

Known as Puchka in Kolkata, it is called Pani-puri or Golgappa in other cities. The crunchy round-shaped hollow Puri is stuffed with a mixture of mashed potatoes, spices, sprouts and is served with tamarind or mint water that has a savoury salty taste. The most fascinating thing about Puchkas is that it is served one by one to the people who stand and surround the stall in a semi-circular form. This makes them wait for their turn, elevating their hunger and excitement. 

Apart from spicy-salty water, some vendors also serve tamarind water that tastes sweet. Puchka vendors also serve luscious variations like Churmur and Dahi Puchka. Though every street has its own Puchka vendor, some of our favourites are listed below - 

  • Salt Lake: AE Block Park and Swimming Pool area
  • Max Muller Bhavan: Ballygunge
  • Lake Town Swimming Pool
  • Russell Street: Next to Park Street Crossing
  • Southern Avenue: Vivekananda Park
  • Triangular Park


Pav Bhaji

If you have seen a big aluminium pan placed on a burner while walking down the streets of Kolkata, you must have crossed a Pav Bhaji stall. Served as a combination of soft bread and Bhaji -a thick vegetable curry, it is prepared live in front of the customers. Freshly cut vegetables are cooked nicely and mashed in the aluminium plate. 

Indigenous spices like turmeric powder, black pepper, green chillies, dry mango powder, fennel seeds, coriander seeds, etc. are used to make the Bhaji. The soft bread called Pav is delicately heated on the plate after applying sufficient amounts of butter and turmeric powder.  Butter is the taste-enhancing ingredient of this recipe. A full plate of Pav Bhaji is sufficient for a one time meal. 

Popular locations that have been serving Pav Bhaji in Kolkata are -

  • Agarwal’s Pav Bhaji: Ram Mandir, Central Avenue
  • South-City Mall: Prince Anwar Shah Road
  • VIP Market: Phoolbagan


Momos

Filled with veggies and wrapped in a thin sheet of dough, Momos are quick-bite snacks that are steamed in an oven. Some eateries also serve vegetable soup along with the Momos. Originally a popular snack in the North-eastern regions of the country, it has found a permanent residence in Kolkata’s street food address since the last two decades. Served with a tangy chutney it acts as an amazing evening refreshment 

The huge popularity of this snack has even made restaurants usher out their own differentiated varieties. 

Some famous Momo joints -

  • Swimming Pool: Salt Lake
  • Blue Poppy: Sikkim House, Middleton Row
  • Supermarket Lane: Bangur Avenue


Moong Dal Vada

It is a snack that is made from moong daal and are soaked, churned and deep-fried that gives a crispy feel. These are served with three different types of chutneys - garlic, coriander and tamarind. The deliciously tasting vadas satisfy the craving for spicy food without making a hole in the pocket. It is also famously known as Victorian Vada.

This local snack got extended fame when former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron paid a visit and munched on a plate of Vadas at a popular Vada Stall opposite Vardaan Market, Camac Street. He not only tasted the Vada but also paid the price for a full plate. Now it has become one of the prime street food stalls of the area. 

Popular Places that Victoria Vada in Kolkata -

  • Behind VIP Market: Phoolbagan
  • Russell Street: Next to Park Street Crossing
  • Salt Lake: AE Block Park and Swimming Pool area


Rolls

Rolls are sautéed paneer, veggies, sauces and spices that are wrapped inside a thick paratha. Many stalls give you the option of replacing paneer with the meat of your choice. Rolls are heavy and taste exquisite. With a choice of vegetables and sauces, some preparations of Roll can provide a filling treat equal to having a full meal. 

Some famous Roll stalls are given below -

  • Amanika Roll Center: Triangular Park and Alipore
  • Kusum’s: Park Street 
  • Arsalaan: Park Circus  
  • King’s Grill: Lake Town


Samosa and Kachori

Samosas and Kachoris are one of the most loved street foods of Kolkata. It complements the evening tea of shoppers and working professionals. Samosas are fried snacks, stuffed with mashed potatoes and spices. They are also called Singhara by the local population. A unique variety of Samosa that you will find is called the Bengali Samosa. It has a yellowish colour and tastes slightly sweet. 

Served with sweet tamarind chutney, the best time to have it is when they are hot, right out of the pan! Another similar snack is Kachoris that are round in shape and are stuffed with moong dal or onions. 

Popular joints to have this lip-smacking snack are -

  • Sharma Brothers - Salt Lake, Lake Town or Ballygunge
  • Tiwari Sweets:  Burrabazar
  • Nasta: Kankurgachi
  • Krishna Foods: Lake Town

When Can we get a chance to have it again?

Now, that is the answer even we all are looking for. Though the Lockdown is relaxing the fear of the pandemic is still engraved in the minds of people. This will make people skeptical about going out and having food on the streets. However, there are many street food stalls that have started reopening.

Even if you decide to pay a visit to your favourite food stall and find it open don’t get tempted to munch the snack. Make sure to check whether the vendor is following social distancing norms and wear a mask and gloves to prevent the spread of the virus. Things will definitely get back to normal in the coming months and then all of us will have an opportunity to visit our favourite food stalls and have our most loved street food.

Tag

  • Street Food
  • Kolkata