11 Best Bengali Cuisine Restaurants in Kolkata

A few decades ago, eating Bengali food outside of the home wasn’t common. However, no longer is it a challenge to find restaurants specializing in delicious, authentic Bengali cuisine in Kolkata. There are scores to choose from! A hit in the City of Joy, many of these restaurants have gone on to open branches all over India. Seafood lovers will relish fish-dominated Bengali food. To get the most from your dining experience, keep in mind how Bengalis eat to preserve the subtle flavors — vegetable dishes first, followed by fish, and then meat.

01

of 11

Aaheli at The Peerless Inn

Courtesy of Aaheli at The Peerless Inn

Address

12, Jawaharlal Nehru Rd

,

New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700013

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 98317 80405

Web

Visit website

Elegant fine-dine Aaheli was Kolkata’s first dedicated Bengali cuisine restaurant, founded in 1993. It offers a wide variety of food from all over the region, with a focus on bringing back the exclusive lost “Zamindari cuisine” of aristocratic landowners. Live Bengali music and waiters clad in ethnic attire enhance the ambiance. All dishes are outstanding. Of note, the restaurant is said to do the best Kosha Mangsho (slow-cooked spicy mutton curry) in the city. The thalis (platters) are recommended for a sumptuous multi-course meal. Do note that alcohol isn’t available, although it’s served elsewhere in the hotel.

02

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6 Ballygunge Place

Courtesy of Savourites

Address

6, Dr Amiya Bose Sarani Rd

, near Patha Bhavan School,

Ballygunge Place, Ballygunge

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700019

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 33 2460 3922

Web

Visit website

The original 6 Ballygunge Place restaurant is located in a white, century-old character-filled converted bungalow in south Kolkata’s upmarket Ballygunge neighborhood. Its dishes were developed from scouring cookbooks, including those containing traditional recipes of Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore’s family. Daab Chingri (large prawns cooked with mustard in a tender green coconut) is the signature dish. For a real feast, go for the buffet. It offers a selection of the top dishes, which is ideal for those who may be overwhelmed by the extensive a la carte menu. The restaurant also has a branch, 6 Ballygunge Place Thali, further south in Kasba specializing in eclectic dishes paired together on platters.

03

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Oh! Calcutta

Oh! Calcutta

Address

4th, Forum Mall,

10/3, Elgin Rd

,

Sreepally, Bhowanipore

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700020

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 93306 27510

Web

Visit website

Oh! Calcutta has evolved into a popular chain of fine-dine Bengali cuisine restaurants with branches in major cities across India. The restaurant focuses on presenting classic dishes as they’ve been made historically over generations. However, it does some wonderfully innovative interpretations too. Try the Smoked Hilsa fish, Bhetki Macher Paturi (fish fillet in a spicy mustard paste steamed in a banana leaf), Chingri Malai Curry (coconut prawn curry), and Kancha Lonka Murgi (boneless chicken in a cilantro/coriander and chili gravy). If you’re in Kolkata during the monsoon season, check out the restaurant’s Hilsa Festival – a tribute to the city’s treasured fish.

04

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Saptapadi

Saptapadi

Address

49B, Purna Das Rd

,

Golpark, Hindustan Park, Gariahat

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700029

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 84207 22098

Web

Visit website

This memorable Bengali cuisine restaurant is named after a hit 1961 Bengali romantic drama starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar. Its decor, featuring movies stills and old portraits of the stars, reflects the theme. Soft romantic music from Bengali cinema plays in the background as well. The restaurant was founded by two chefs (Ranjan Biswas and Swarup Mondal) who have 10 years experience working in luxury hotels. Their menu is a fusion of contemporary and traditional dishes. Saptapadir Avinaba Murgi and Saptapadir Avinaba Mangsho (chicken or mutton tempered with black pepper) are specialties.

Continue to 5 of 11 below.

05

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Kasturi

Sharell Cook.

Address

7A, Marquis St

,

Esplanade, Taltala

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700016

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 83349 22221

In the New Market area, award-winning Kasturi is an inexpensive but delicious option serving authentic Dhakai Bangladeshi cuisine. Established in 1994, the restaurant pioneered this type of cuisine in the city. Ignore the uninspiring decor, the budget-friendly food is what counts there. And, the crowded dining room is testament to this. The signature dish is Kochu Paata Chingri Bhapa (steamed prawns with mustard and taro leaves). There are branches in Ballygunge and Hindustan Road as well.

06

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The Bhoj Company

The Bhoj Company

Address

30A, Mirza Ghalib St

,

Fire Brigade Head Quarter, Esplanade, Opp, Taltala

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700016

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 33 4006 6003

Also in the New Market area and serving Dhakai Bangladeshi cuisine, The Bhoj Company opened in 2012. It’s a small restaurant that’s developed a loyal local following, and has since added new outlets in BBG Bagh and Salt Lake. The food is inexpensive, super authentic and generously portioned. Many people say the Kochu Pata Chingri Bhapa here is the best in Kolkata. Other standout dishes include Aloo Posto (potato in poppy seed paste), and (and Chitol Macher Muitha (fish balls). There’s also a wide variety of thalis (platters) to choose from.

07

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Bhojohori Manna

Sharell Cook.

Address

18/1A, Hindustan Rd

,

Dover Terrace, Ballygunge

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700029

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 33 2466 3941

Web

Visit website

Don’t have much time to eat? Head to Bhojohori Manna for home-style Bengali cuisine on the run. With outlets all over Kolkata, one is sure to be conveniently close by. The restaurant is named after a famous Bengali track, sung by Manna Dey, for a film made in the 70s. The track “ami sri sri bhojohri manna…” revolves around a magical cook who traveled to many lands and acquired a unique culinary style of his own. The outlet at 18/1A, Hindustan Road, Gariahat, is the most upmarket and recommended. There are also branches at Ekdalia Road, Hazra, Salt Lake Sectors I & V, Star Theater (Hatibagan), Ruby (Kasba Industrial Estate), and Esplanade. Get there early to avoid waiting for a table!

08

of 11

Kewpie’s Kitchen

Courtesy of Kewpie’s Kitchen

Address

No. 2, Elgin Ln

, behind Netaji Bhavan,

Sreepally, Bhowanipore

,

Kolkata

,

West Bengal

700020

,

India

Get directions

Phone

+91 33 2486 1600

Kewpies Kitchen started as an intimate, unassuming, family run restaurant over a decade ago and has become a famed place to dine in Kolkata. Located in the owner’s home, it seats just 50 people. Sadly, the standard has dropped a bit in recent years but if you want reasonably-priced Bengali food in a unique environment, it’s worth going there. The traditional Bengali thali (platter) served on a banana leaf is a popular choice.

Continue to 9 of 11 below.

09

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Koshe Kosha

Koshe Kosha

An ode to “kosha” dishes (meat slow-cooked with spices), Koshe Kosha was founded in 2007 to preserve the original Kosha Mangsho recipe. It began by offering just this dish and Basanti Polao (rice). More dishes have been added over the years, with the aim of exploring Bengal’s culinary heritage. Signature dishes now include Chingri Malai Biryani and Bhekti Paturi. The Mocha Chingri (banana flower cooked with prawns) is delicious too. Kosha Mangsho remains the sought-after favorite though! The restaurant’s decor, peppered with handicrafts from the state, creates a rustic yet vibrant village-style atmosphere. There are branches all over Kolkata including Ripon Street, Hatibagan, Gol Park, and Chinar Park.

10

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Sonar Tori

Sonar Tori

Sonar Tori, in Salt Lake, is a welcome new addition to the fine-dine category of Bengali cuisine restaurants. It’s a gorgeous space, with opulent chandeliers and creative lighting, designed to relive the British era of grandeur in Kolkata. The two private dining rooms are decorated in rich red and purple palettes hued with gold, and are perfect for special occasions. The menu consists of lost recipes from aristocratic Bengali households, plus agrarian classics that you’ll still find made in humble homes. The impressive Bengali thali has 16 dishes that change every four days. The pickles are a highlight as well. Three different kinds are kept on the table, including an unusual cabbage pickle.

11

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Kopai

Kopai

Heritage Bengali cuisine is the focus at Kopai, on Sarat Bose Road, with emphasis on famous dishes prepared by Rabindanath Tagore’s family. This new entrant to the restaurant scene is named after a river that flows past Tagore’s town, Shantiniketan, Chapor Ghonto (mixed vegetable curry with lentil patties) and Pathar Bangla (Bengali mutton curry) are a treat. The Ilish Bhapa (steamed Hilsa fish with mustard sauce) and Chingri Narkel Sorshe Posto (coconut, mustard and poppy seed prawn curry) are other signature dishes.