Street food of Kolkata is the food sold by hawkers and street vendors from portable market stalls in the streets of Kolkata, India. It is one of the major characteristics of the city, which makes Kolkata the "City of Joy". Kolkata's street foods include Indian street food as well as Chinese, Mughlai, British, and even European foods.[1]
Luchi and Alur dom is most popular, cheap and consumed street food in Kolkata.[2] Daily workers or passer-by people prefer luchi and alur dom for its good taste and fast consumption. Instead of luchi in many shops puri, Kochuri, Parota, Naan are served with Alur dom, Paneer Curry etc.[3]
Street vendors and restaurants sell various types of Pakoras like potato, egg, onion, cauliflower and chicken. Chicken pakora is most famous pakora among the consumers.[4]
Stalls containing fast foods are frequently seen in the streets which contains Indian as well as Chinese fast foods. Notable fast foods include chowmin, fish finger, Momo, Chicken Pokora/Cutlett, Egg roll, Chicken roll etc.[5] [6]
South Indian foods like Idli, sambhar, Dhosa, Masala Dhosa, Coconut chutney are among the most consumed street foods in Kolkata since these are easy to ready and easy to eat.
Kulfi is very famous street food in Kolkata, known for its cooling and satisfying effect in summer times, available in flavours like malai, kesar and elaichi.[7]
Other street food of Kolkata includes Momo,[8] Papri chat, Phuchka, Ghugni and Singara chat, Telebhaja, Radha Ballavi and Masala Kochuri, Aloo Kabli, Jilipi, Ghoti Gorom,Jhal Muri, Badam Makha, Doodh cola etc.[7]
Although Kolkata has street food stalls in nearly every part of the city, it specifically has many areas famous for its different types of street foods. North Kolkata has comparatively more street food stalls than South Kolkata. Surya Sen Street, Sealdah, Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar has some notable stalls famous since 90s.
Decars Lane or James Hicky Sarani is a lane in Dharmatala, Central Kolkata, which is famous for its cheap and tasty food stalls. Maniktala has famous shop which still sells per kochuri at 25 and 50 Paisa.[9]
Exide more near Rabindra Sadan, Shyambazar 5-point crossing etc. are famous for its momo.[10]