

Kolkata (also known as Calcutta), the third largest city in India, also happens to be one of the country’s friendliest cities for street food lovers.
Vendors are everywhere serving everything from famous Bengali snacks to full meals of rice and curry.
Serenaded by the constant stream of honking, foot traffic, and hawkers, there’s nothing better than biting into a tasty snack and washing it down with a clay cup of chai.
Enjoying Kolkata street food has to be one of the best things to do in Kolkata!

Jhal Muri
Jhal Muri is one of the most famous and omnipresent Bengali street snacks represented in Kolkata. Nearly everywhere you look, you’ll find a vendor selling jhal muri.
It consists of puffed rice (like rice krispies), fried dal, peanuts, random crunchy things, fresh chopped onions, a few bits of fresh tomatoes, coriander, a handful of masala seasonings, and a light drizzle of mustard oil to top things off.
The ingredients are all added to a metal can and stirred up so the mustard is fragrant throughout the mixture. It’s eaten like a bag of chips, almost always from a newspaper bag.
Price – 10 – 20 INR ($0.18 – $0.37) depending on size

Pani Puri (Puchka or Golgappa)
Known throughout the country by different names, this is one of the most iconic and beloved Indian street food snacks.
It begins with a puri, a hollow round chip, that’s filled with spiced potatoes, and dunked into tamarind water before being served and eaten in a single bite.
Pani puri is an explosion of crunchy spice and flavor with a burst of watery goodness.
Price – 10 INR ($0.18) for 4

Ghugni Chaat
Made from yellow peas (also known as yellow split peas), this Kolkata street food was one of my favorites.
The smoldering hot peas are added to a small leaf bowl, mixed with tomatoes, onions, coriander , tamarind water, and lime juice, served with a wooden spoon, and known locally as ghugni chaat (cool name, huh?)!
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Price – 10 INR ($0.18)

Bhel Puri
Especially famous in Mumbai, this is the Kolkata version of the famous Indian chaat (snack).
Little crunchy curls (that almost taste like uncooked ramen noodles), boiled potatoes, puffed rice (like in jhal muri), red onions, and coriander form the base of bhel puri. The dry and fresh ingredients are then dressed and mixed with tangy tamarind and spicy dressing. It’s tangy, sour, sweet and spicy, crunchy and fresh… in every bite.
Price – 20 INR ($0.37)

Batata Puri
Popular throughout India, this Kolkata version of papri chaat is a little different in that it doesn’t incorporate curd (yoghurt) like North Indian variations like in Delhi street food.
It begins with little deep fried fritters which are like chips that are laid out flat and covered in spiced potatoes, and a bunch of chutneys and sauces.
It’s like nachos, Indian style.
Price – 20 INR ($0.37)

Veg Chow
Until arriving in Kolkata (and all over India), I had no idea how popular Chinese influenced street food was. Veg chow (short for vegetable chowmein), as it’s commonly known in Kolkata, is stir fried noodles mixed with a few sprigs of veggies.
The noodles are scorched on high heat in Indian style woks so they are smokey flavored, and a bit on the greasy side. A plate of veg chow is salty, and dangerously tasty.
Price – 20 INR ($0.37)

Pav Bhaji (Paw Bhaji)
Popular and a quick and light snack all over India (particularly in Western India), pav bhaji is a vegetable potato curry paired with a toastes bun.
The curry is nicely spiced and the bread is often buttered and then toasted on the same hot platter as where the bhaji curry is slow cooking.
Price – 20 INR ($0.37)

Fresh Fruit
Fruit is cheap and widely available throughout India. These plates of pre-cut fruit in Kolkata were a little fresh fruit salad.

Momos (Fried and Steamed)
Momos, the ubiquitous dumplings in Tibet and Nepal, are also commonly consumed in Northeastern India and Kolkata.
There are two versions, the steamed version, and the fried version. Veg is very common, but you can also find chicken, and even pork if you visit the Chinese morning Terreti market.
Price – 40 INR ($0.75) – fried pork momos

Kati Roll (Kathi Roll)
One of the most famous Kolkata contributions to the world of Indian street food is the Kati roll. It’s essentially a paratha that’s stuffed with a choice of filling and wrapped into a handheld treat – like a burrito.
Chicken or mutton kebab meat, and eggs, are the common fillings, but paneer is also an option. As for Kolkata street food, when you’re craving something greasy and tasty, a kati roll is sure to please.
Nazim’s is credited with introducing the original kati roll, but I preferred Kusum Rolls.
Price – 40 INR ($0.75)

Light Meal
Light meal options are also popular on the streets of Kolkata.
One of my favorite light meals or snacks is a spoon full of aloo gobi vegetable curry paired with a stack of freshly made chapatis that are roasted straight over the fire. Served with a wedge of red onion, chutney, and fresh chillies, this is a fantastic light meal.
Price – 15 INR ($0.28) – for this price, you could eat this all day long!

Full Meal
But snacks alone cannot fully satisfy, especially when one is really hungry… and luckily Kolkata street food supplies some seriously tasty full meal options as well.
Both James Hickey Sarani (formerly known as Deckers Lane) and Camac Street were my two favorite streets for lunch. Rice and a variety of curries on top is a normal filling meal that also tastes wonderful. North Indian and Bengali food are both common.
Price – 30 INR ($0.56) – where else can you eat a full meal for that price?!

Ice Cream Cone
Now I wouldn’t normally mention ice cream on one of my street food guides, but I had to throw this in because I think it’s the cheapest ice cream I’ve ever had in my life.
For just 7 INR ($0.13) you can get a single scoop cone! It’s not as spectacular as the Korean street food ice cream cones, but wow was this a budget cone… and pretty good for the price.

Mango Lassi
A lassi is one of the creamiest versions of a milkshake I’ve ever had. This mango lassi tastes like mango puree combined with yoghurt and blended into a perfect concoction.
At the end, a few nuts and slices of cheese are tossed on top to complete a beverage that has to be one of the best things to consume in all of Kolkata.
Price – 25 INR

Chai
Along with the delicious realm of Kolkata street food, you’ll need a beverage to wash it all down, and throughout India, chai is a widespread. In Kolkata they use clay cups to serve nearly every cup of chai
Price – 4 – 6 INR ($0.07 – $0.11)
I had a truly memorable time visiting the attractions in Kolkata, but as a food lover, there was nothing as memorable as the Kolkata street food.
Not only are snacks and meals widely available and tasty, the vendors are often friendly and excited to serve you!
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Vishal Kaushik
3 years ago
Thanks for sharing.
Srikanth Jeppu
6 years ago
Hey Mark
All i would say you Rock Man…. I just love watching your videos, i am a big time food lover. Someday you should come down to Kerala and try some amazing food, i am sure you will love it!!!
Mark i have a question for you, i am very eager to know which camera do you use to capture the video ? Seems to be your video and audio quality just awesome.
Uday Gupta
6 years ago
…and you need to try the food of India’s North East. Supremely spicy, but absolutely different from what you eat elsewhere in India. You can have entire North Eastern meals – with dishes ranging from eyewateringly hot to delicately subtle – without tasting ONE spice used elsewhere in India.
Mark Wiens
6 years ago
Thank you very much Uday, I would really love to!
Uday Gupta
6 years ago
Hi Mark, A selection of things from my hometown, Kolkata, and where to eat them. Not my own list, but started by God knows which homesick Bangali expat, and now flying around the net. Most are still genuinely amazing, a handful overhyped, and one or two, sadly, only a good memory, having recently headed south in quality. You’ll need to google quite a few to actually understand what they are – do get back if you want clarifications.
1. Kabiraji Cutlet from Regent (S N Banerjee Road)
2. Moghlai Parota from Anadi Cabin (S N Banerjee Road)
3. Kosha Mangsho from Golbari (Shyambazar)
4. Phulkopir Singara from Mrityunjoy (Lansdowne)
5. Double Egg Chicken Roll from Kusum (Park Steet) (Campari @ Gariahat & Nizam is a close contender!)
6. Chicken Rezala from Shabbir (off C R Avenue)
7. Steak at Oly pub (with beer!!)
8. Ujjala’s Chanachur ( no comparison anywhere)
9. Telebhaja from Putiram (College Street)
10, Daab Chigri from Kewpies (Elgin Road)
11. Chicken Cutlet from Baked & Fried/Mukherjee Sweets (Ballygunge Place)
12. Bijoli Grill’s Fish Roll
13. Mochar Chop Dhoka from Apanjan (Sadananda Road)
14. Boudir’s Lebu Cha (Deshapriya Park)
15. Kochuri & Tarkari from Tasty Corner (Mandeville Gardens)
16. Phuchka/Churmur/ Dahi Phuchka from Bilas or Boudi (Southern Avenue)
17. Chicken Cutlet near Samur (Bhowanipur)
18. Mishti Doi & Rosogolla from Mithai (Beckbagan)
19. Sandesh (all types) from Balaram (Bhowanipur) (Naram pak & Ice cream sandesh)
20. Pantua from Bancharam
21. Indrani from Ganguram/ Rabri from Chittaranhan/ Darbesh from Sen Mahasay /
22. Amritti from Bhim Nag/Ganguram, Maniktala (Jalebis are no match)
23. Aamer morobba – the best outside Gariahat market
24. Kuler achar – the best outside Gariahat market
25. Shukno mashla makha tetul – Available with the churanwalas outside all schools, much to the delight of the students and dismay of the parents !!
25. Dulaler tal mishri
26. Dulaler hojmi – mind boggling and healthy too
27. Bikrampurer kashundi – Mustard just pales next to this
28. Rabri: sharma’s and tiwari brothers. Equally good, equally sinful
29. Rolls: Apart from hot kati, campari etc, the slim, succulent ones from Badshah on Lindsay Street
30. Bundia: Not the soft Bengali variety called bonde. But the dry-on-the-outside, juicy-when-you-bite variety from Kaligodam in the heart of Burrabazar.
31. Chops: Various kinds (fish, chicken, mocha etc) from Kalika on Surya Sen St. A stone’s throw from Putiram
32. Prawn cocktail and angels on horseback from Mocambo
33. Chandankheer: A variant of the chhanar payesh, from Jayashree, next to Bhim Nag in Bowbazar
34. Cutlet/Fry: Chittoda on Dacres Lane. Even Writers’ gets the stuff from here
35. Lyangcha: From Shri Hari in Bhowanipore. Also their gutke kochuri which sells out by 7 am
36. Aflatoon: The submerged-in-ghee sweet from Bombay Sweets on Bentinck Street
37. Doi: Jadab Chandra Das. white, himshitol. Closely followed by Amrito, Shyambajar
38. Dimer devil: From Dilkhusa at the College St corner. But I hear they’ve downed shutters
39. Dhoper Chop: From Milandar Canteen, Jadavpur University arts faculty
40. Meatloaf, salami, roast: Kalman on Free School Street
41. Nalen gur from Nadia
42. Shor puriya from Krishnonagore
43. Mutton Biryani from Alia (Bentick Street) or Arsalan
44. Goat brain roll (pantha’r ghiloo roll) from Haji Saheb, Behala
45. Brain masala at Amber
46. Fish pakora- Bengal restaurant behala
47. Baby corn manchurian- BBQ park street!
48. Phuchka, in front of Vardaan Market
49. Roast Chilli Pork, Chung Wah, Central Avenue (near the telegraph office)
50. Chimney Soup, Eau Chew, Ganesh Chandra Avenue (Vijay Mallya loves the stuff here and orders it when in cal)
51. Tea, Balwant Singh’s Hotel, next to the Harish Mukherjee Road Gurdwara, especially at 1 am at night in winter!
52. Kesariya Firni, Aminia, Next to the municipal headquarters, esplanade (You can see the real zafraan strands in the cream). Also their Biryani, Kolkata’s lightest
53. Mutton Chaanp, The Royal Indian Hotel, opposite Nakhoda Masjid, deep inside Chitpur, Kolkata’s Muslim heartland
54. Chelo kebab from peter cat (park street)
55. Sharbat from paramount (college street)
56. Yummy rolls from hot kati rolls (park street)
57. Khiri roll @ Nizam (New Market)
58. Mutton pasanda kebab from the southern aminia golpark, opposite Mouchak.
59. Komolabhog from a very tiny shop called madhureno beside jogesh changra college on anwar shah road
60. Chicken cutlet from chacha’s hotel
61. Ganguram-er mishti doi!
62. Mangsher stew at AD Cabin (Sukhia Street),
63. Mutton stew at Alia (Bentinck Street)
Mark Wiens
6 years ago
Wow, I would love to visit Kolkata again in the future — so much food to try!
Elga
6 years ago
Thanks for the exhaustive list. I’m visiting Kolkata and dis sure is gonna help.
Franklin Alagala
6 years ago
Hello, Mark:
You should visit Hyderabad and try our Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani and other Moghlai Dishes.
They are world famous.
Love you Mark. You are such a wonderful person.
Best Regards
Frank
anita
7 years ago
Mark – first started reading your posts about street food in Bangkok and you never led me wrong, so am looking forward to reading more of your posts on India. I have travelled in Thailand, Vietnam and China and the most enjoyable part was the street food or little restaurant stalls on the street. I am more adventurous trying food than most I know, and am fortunate that i have never gotten ill while traveling. I am headed to India soon, will be in Kolkata and Delhi and who knows where in between. It seems like contaminated water really is the biggest problem for sickness in India. I really want to enjoy all the street food, but am worried about eating things like the bhel puri and pani puri that include tamarind water or other ‘fresh’ ingredients. Any advice there?
annette steele
7 years ago
Brilliant stuff again Mark! I have followed your suggestions in Delhi and had the best time and fabulous food experiences. Keep it coming!
Pratim Ray
7 years ago
Hey Mark, it was great to read this article on Kolkata Street foods. I’m from Kolkata, but haven’t been in some places which you had mentioned here, like that restaurant “Bhajahary Manna”, though I’ve heard well about that place. Thanks for narrating the detailed experience and also that video was so nice to watch.
Mark Wiens
7 years ago
Hey Pratim, really appreciate it. Thank you!
Prem
7 years ago
Hi,
For the regular visitors to Kolkata there is something yet new and worth trying. Home-cooked, home-delivered – yes delicacies cooked by home chefs delivered to your home. Cuisine ranging from street food to typical Bengali meals. You can even gift a meal to someone in Kolkata from the comforts of your home anywhere in the world. Select from our chefs at http://www.cookmywish.com
sunil
8 years ago
Hi Mark, I loved your moonstruck description of the food. However, I think you missed out on some of the most signature dishes of Bengal or maybe I haven’t come across them on your site Bengali sweets like Mishti Doi, Rasgulla, Gulab Jamun..The famed Bengali non vegetarian dishes in Mustard especially the Fish Paturi.. the legendary Mutton Biryani…crab, betki, the anglo-Indian baked items including cream rolls, sponge cakes and ginger biscuits…oh the list is legendary.. You must come back to India and take the train/bus everywhere to discover more and write more about the million dishes of Indian cuisine.
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Hi Sunil, thank you very much for reading. Yes, I definitely missed many things that I would love to try in the future. I hope to come back again in the future. Are you from Kolkata?
Sam
8 years ago
There are few you missed:
Kachuri
Singara( Bengali version of Samosa- Totally different filling)
Korayishutti Kachori and its many varieties
Chops(Veg and Non-veg)
Please refer to a traditional Bengali and their meals, as I am not sure of their names. Try them, and you will be delighted
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Hi Sam, thank you for these suggestions!
Shalini Ghosh
8 years ago
I happened to come across your articles today and I must say I loved it. They are amazing !!!!
Mark Wiens
8 years ago
Huge thank you Shalini.
Cam
9 years ago
Hi Mark — I have been receiving your Thai newsletter for sometime, and now I find you have an Indian blog as well! You really get around, and your tips for India are just as worthy as the ones for Thailand. In a few days I’ll arrive in Thailand to stay for a month before flying to Kolkata. I’ve been there before but never to Carmac Street — really looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing all of your valuable research. I feel so fortunate and grateful to be able to travel to these spectacular countries and to eat the amazing food.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Cam, great to hear from you, thank you for your support. Glad that you’ll be coming to Thailand and on to Kolkata – hope you have a wonderful trip. I’m still dreaming about the wonderful food in Kolkata.
subramanyam
9 years ago
Hi mark, this is subramanyam from Hyderbad in india. last so many days onwards iam looking for your new videos but not yet to see any new videos. please post it some new flicks……………. waiting to see !!!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Subramanyam, thank you for watching my videos. I post new videos on Sunday and Wednesday at 8 pm Bangkok time: http://www.youtube.com/user/migrationology
Sant
9 years ago
Good list but there are a couple of glaring omissions. No Kolkata street food list can leave out the shingara (samosa) and the jilabi!
subramanyam
9 years ago
Hi mark wiens iam very very big fan of you. specially i like your facial expressions when you are eating. my mouth becomes watery when i look at your videos. ( brilliant Ga Yang recipe ) your are amazing. most of your videos all are simple awesome. iam also big food lover as well as i am international travel agent in Hyderbad SOUTH INDIA. my humble request for you that only you have been visit in only north india in INDIA, my request is you have to visit south india also then you will see what are the best dishes in this world ( surely very spicy ) like chicken dum biriyani etc…. and any other mouth watering dishes known as so spicy south india food. iam sure you will have fire on your mouth. and i have seen all you videos through out world which you have been visited in every place. SO PLEASE COME TO SOUTH INDIA PLACES LIKE HYDERBAD, CHENNAI, BANGLORE. iam waiting for you……………………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Subramanyam, great to hear form you, thank you very much for watching my videos. I would love to visit South India, I’m really hoping to in the future, I can’t wait for the food. Thanks again, hope you are doing great.
Hirsute Hippo
9 years ago
Hey Mark,
I’ve been following your youtube channel and blogs on and off for a while. Was most surprised to see this writeup on my hometown! You’ve managed to go to just the right places, and this was no exception.
I absolutely love your direct, pretension-free approach while savouring street food the world over, and especially swear by your Bangkok guides. Keep travelling.
The next time you’re in Kolkata, do try College Street and central Kolkata for its old-world Bengali and Anglo-Indian dishes. I highly recommend the ancient, crumbling Edwardian-era Coffee House with its unbelievable atmosphere, and its baked fish and coffee, the sherbet at Paramount, the Calcutta-style biryani and mutton chaanp at Shiraz or Ar-Salan, the fish cutlets and crumb-fried goodies at Kalika on Amherst Street.
Hope to see you in the city soon!
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Hirsute, thank you for reading and great to hear that you’re from Kolkata – I really enjoyed visiting, and the food was awesome. Alright, will definitely remember your suggestions for my next visit, my mouth is already watering. Are you living in Kolkata now?
Samarth
9 years ago
Hey Mark,
Really neat article. Took me back to Calcutta. Was there last year and explored the food scene. Here is a post that I wrote about the street food in Cal. Would love to know what you think.
http://thehungrypilgrim.tumblr.com/post/51462403032/a-foodies-guide-to-calcutta
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Samarth, thank you for sharing, looks like a good eating schedule!
Dani Ramirez
9 years ago
Last month I visited the city of Joy and I fell in love with the Bengali food, I booked a Gastronomic tour through http://www.letsmeetuptours.com the guide took me to various neighborhoods famous for street food. I had phuchkas, papri chat at Emami Land mark market, had sandesh, Madhupak and rasogulla at North Kolkata…had a perfect Bengali meal at Bhojo hari Manna at Garia hatt.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Dani, good to hear about your trip to Kolkata, glad you had a fun time and enjoyed the food.
Yakub Mohammed
9 years ago
It seems Mark, that u hv been only to Delhi and Kolkata in India. U need to work a lot harder to get more idea about any place. I came to know u from YouTube when I tried ti find travel videos of India. Luckily I found your video 21 things to do in Delhi, which I thoroughly enjoy and subscribe to your website. Pls send me the video link of amazing travel video or amazing travel articles
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hello Yakub, thank you for watching my videos and for reading my blogs. Yah, I wish I would have had more time in India, I was only there for 2 months, and only got to see a small part of India so far!
Yakub Mohammed
9 years ago
Thanks a lot Mark for replying me do fast. I am very happy that u r so responsible and courteous. I will definitely watch all ur videos. They r so nice. But bro, I want to see video of all the hottest place of India. I am looking for such type of videos with bated breath. Anyhow I just saw ur Bangkok video Top 21 things to do in Bangkok. Great going, I hv also downloaded 41 Irresistible foods to eat which I will read anyhow. U r very lovely person. I thoroughly enjoyed ur video at Dacres Lane, Kolkata. U keep doing this great work, we love u.
David @ That Gay Backpacker
9 years ago
I brought all of my Indian spices with me to Mexico because I cannot do without eating Indian food on a regular basis. Man, what I wouldn’t give for this street food right now.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey David, yes, that’s awesome. Glad you love Indian food so much, it’s one of the best cuisines in the world for sure!
Zainab Calc
9 years ago
Hi Mark the food looks delicious.You reminded my childhood memories.thnx bro.
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thanks for checking this out Zainab!
Rituu
9 years ago
You have missed out Shingara, Moglai, Vegetable Chop and Dim pauruti. No Bong ever has Pav Bhaji 🙂
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Thank you for the extra suggestions Rituu!
Iza
9 years ago
Hi Mark,
wonderful Indian food suggestions, that mango lassi does look tempting. Back home though, Indian restaurants are quite pricey. I’m not really sure why. Anyway, you’ve inspired me to try more Indian food now. thanks
Iza
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hey Iza, thank you for reading!
Akash
10 years ago
Hey,I was born in Kolkata and presently I am living here.You missed out one thing,Kachori(Puri Sabji) which is the most famous breakfast of Kolkata.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Akash, thanks for sharing!
Sourav Agarwal
10 years ago
Hi Mark, it is another most visually beautiful post I came across on your website. At times, I terribly miss my city Kolkata as I am in Hyderabad nowadays. It feels good to connect with my city through these street foods. In this context, I would like to mention that “alu chop”, an evening special snacky delicacy stuffed with spiced potato mash, is missing from your post. Please do check it. It is an important part of streetfood culture in Bengal.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Sourav, thank you very much for checking it out, glad to hear you’re from Kolkata. Thank you for your suggestion for alu chop, I had some in other parts of India, but not it Kolkata. I really want to go back for more Kolkata food!
Vidhya
10 years ago
Mark! I grew up in Chennai but have not lived in India for the last 10 years. When I visit my parents now, I am careful to not eat anything outside because am concerned about falling sick.
My friends who have always lived in India are able to eat anywhere outside without falling sick. So I guess when we live in highly sanitized conditions, we lose much of our resistance and end up missing the good stuff in life 🙂
But looking at your post makes me want to go back right now and eat all the yummy road side food!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Vidhya, I understand, and sometimes you do need to be careful! But it’s a tough choice as there are some many delicious things on the streets!
Gelnägel
10 years ago
This looks so yummy. Indian food is so tasteful ! Hope I come back there very soon !
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thank you, yes it is extremely tasteful, hope you can go back soon!
Jimmy
10 years ago
It was really nice information im jimmy and discovers many places in the world I found some of incredible destination like Kashmir and Rajasthan India.
sully86
10 years ago
mark: The price is out of this world!!!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Sully, yes at first I couldn’t believe it!
Micamyx|Senyorita
10 years ago
Wow. I am honestly overwhelmed right now! I tasted a number of Indian and Persian Food, but it is interesting to see what the food stalls in Kolkata has to offer. The presentation is also interesting. I wonder how the Batata Puri tastes like. The Mango Lassi surely looks sweet!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Mica, thanks a lot for checking this out. India has so many tasty things to offer!
ramram55
10 years ago
Please present Kolkata with video, if you can. thanks.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Kolkata street food videos coming soon!
Arti
10 years ago
A wonderful post which has made me hungry!! The Jhal Muri is actually Kolkata’s version of the Mumbai’s Bhel!! The only difference is the temperance of Mustard oil which is absent in our Bhel! Also here we add 3 types of chutneys in it!
Batata (which means a potato) Puri is again the famous Sev Puri of Mumbai!!
Pav Bhaji is again famous in Mumbai, not so much in the Eastern part of India. How was the Pav, was it a bit sweet in taste?
I am glad you had such a wonderful time in Kolkata, where are you now?
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Arti, thanks a lot for your insights into these dishes and snacks. I would have loved to visit Mumbai, but hope I can in the future. I’m now in Nepal and will be heading back to Thailand soon. Yes, I remember the bread being just a little sweet. Is that the same as in Mumbai? Thanks again for all your help!
Arti
10 years ago
That bread or Pav is that we get in Mumbai is very different from rest of India. In most other places it is a bit sweet, not in Mumbai though where it is unsweetened!!
The same Pav is also used in the Lip smacking Vada Pav and Misal Pav 🙂
Hope you visit India again and Mumbai is on your itinerary then 🙂
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks Arti!!
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence)
10 years ago
Oh wow! Kolkata street food looks absolutely epic! I know many people say that the only safe way to eat in India is to avoid the street food, but I don’t see how you could when it looks like that! 😀
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Steph, yes some of the street food is not the cleanest, but I agree, it’s simply irresistible. As I was eating the pani puri’s once in Kolkata a lady walked paste and said, “don’t eat too many, it will give you a tummy ache.”
Wil @ Where’s Wil
10 years ago
Everything looks so tasty! Defiantly on my “to visit” list (hopefully soon). Those pictures make me hungry/ I want a Mango Lassi.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Will, hope you can visit Kolkata, I really enjoyed it. That mango lassi is unbelievably good!
Paul
10 years ago
Great post Mark!
It’s interesting to see the “containers” used in lieu of the prefabricated paper or Styrofoam boxes, plates etc for a lot of this street food. I remember in Thailand they use plastic bags and banana leaves for disposable containers on the street. It seems that there’s a lot of paper recycling going on in India. I see three of your snacks served on printed paper. Do you know anything about where they get the paper from? It doesn’t look like newspaper.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Paul, absolutely no idea where they get that paper, but it just looks like some kind of scrap paper from a business. They also frequently use newspaper, but my favorite are the leaf bowls / plates – the best recyclable material.
Arti
10 years ago
Yes, those leaf bowls and plates are the best. The bowls are called as donas!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks for sharing Arti!
Gourav Jain
10 years ago
Hello Paul,
Most of the street food in India are served on useless paper (newspapers, magazine covers etc which are bought from “Kabadi Wala” or a scrap dealer), and sometimes you may come across proper paper plates which are again made by recycling papers.
And the other one and the most used are plates and bowls made from Banyan and Sal leaf which are also called as “Pattal”.
Minsooky
10 years ago
I would totally go to India just for the food. I actually live in a pretty big Indian neighbourhood right now in the US, but the food isn’t exactly budget-friendly!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Minsooky, the food is a great priority for visiting India!
karima
10 years ago
I will be there in March. Can’t wait to try the food!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Great to hear that Karima, hope you have a great time there!
Twisa Roy
10 years ago
Hi Mark! There are many Street Foods that you posted are really tempting … Only my problem after I started living my Life in Europe, as soon as I try them I always fell sick.. Jesus Save me! But your writing is super as ALWAYS !!!! And no matter what I will try one of it as soon as I am going to India now. I loved Jhal Muri … Super !
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Twisa, thanks for the comment. Food in India is definitely known for not being too friendly on the stomach, luckily I didn’t have any problems. The good thing about India is that there are also affordable indoor restaurants that serve some of these same street foods, and say they use filtered water (water being the root of many illnesses). So when you go to India you’ll find some of these same things at restaurants as well.
Jeruen
10 years ago
Hi Mark, I should say you take good photos of street food; they really look delicious! I don’t mind eating like a local when I travel, however, one big concern I have is safety and sanitation. Heck, I got all the available Hepatitis vaccines before I started venturing into Latin America 5 years ago. Still, I got diarrhea twice in a 3-week trip to Guatemala (once for 2 days while I was in Tikal and another which lasted a week from when I flew back home to Buffalo), even though I followed all the precautions (drink only bottled water; see if lots of locals are patronizing it too, chances are it is clean; etc). I was wondering what other precautions you have in place before indulging. Because seriously, those food pictures definitely look tempting.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Jeruen,
Thanks a lot for checking out this post. Along with the tips you mentioned like finding stalls that are busy with customers, and only drinking bottled water, here are a few more of my tips (might do another full post about this in the futures). Sometimes food can cause diarrhea, simply because the bacteria or the spices are different from what a person normally eats. So slowly adapting to food can take time – time which may or may not be available to a traveler. Since I’ve lived in SE Asia for the last 4 years eating lots of street food, my stomach may be a little more accustomed to the street food in India than someone coming directly from the US to India for a 2 week visit. Tip: It simply may take time to build up to, or adapt to, some of the street foods. So in this case, I would recommend someone to start off with only hot cooked food, and be quite cautious with street food.
Another idea, and it may seem goofy, but bring your own plate / bowl – vendors would be happy to serve you. Sometimes it’s the plates that are merely washed in water from customer to customer and not really dried before serving the next portion, that are the problem. I really liked it when the street stalls in India used dry leaf plates (like the ghugni chaat).