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The Chandni Chowk area in Kolkata is a treasure trove of fast food joints, old-timey Chinese eateries, affordable lunch places and canteens. You can find sandwiches, chaats, pakodas and tea-time snacks at under 50 bucks and you can also find amazing spots that serve Calcutta-style Chinese, Bengali specialities, a selection of South Indian items and a lot more.
Some of the restaurants around the Chandni Chowk area are decades old and are popular haunts for professionals who work in and around the bustling area. While you’ll find a number of options for comfort foods, you can also find some cult items which attract foodies from all parts of the city. Here are some of the best food spots around Chandni Chowk
Chung Hwa
One of the last surviving cabin-style restaurants in the city, Chung Hwa is a go-to haunt for people who work in and around Chandni Chowk or Chowringhee. If you want to spend a few leisurely hours in the middle of the day, with some chilled beer and crispy fried pork, this is the spot for you. Located right next to Chandni Chowk metro station’s second gate, the eatery serves quite a few retro Chinese dishes that are difficult to find anywhere else.
One of their most popular signatures is the Friccasseed noodles that are loaded with chicken, eggs and veggies. Pair it with some fried roasted chilli pork and ginger fish or go for some Cantonese hot prawns!
Address: Gate No. 2, 13-A, Chittaranjan Ave, near Metro Station, Esplanade, Chandni Chawk, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700072
Price for two: Rs 600
USP dishes: Friccasseed noodles, Cantonese hot prawns
Anand Restaurant
Want a quick cheap lunch? There’s no better option than Anand. The vegetarian restaurant makes everything from dosa and dahi vadas to chaats, pav bhaji, pizzas, shakes. The filter coffee is a big attraction and un-missable if you’re ordering a South Indian lunch. The prices are truly economical; you can find a loaded uttapam at around Rs 130 and a ghee rava dosa at under Rs 200. A meal of kachori, badam halwa and filter coffee can cost you less than Rs 250!
Address: No.19, Chittaranjan Ave, near Chandi Chowk, Esplanade, Chowringhee North, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal 700072
Price for two: Rs 500 for two
USP dishes: Rava dosa, chaat, filter coffee
Seetala Udipi Eating House
Another hideaway with good food and fast service, Udipi Eating House offers a number of South Indian items at reasonable rates. Located near E-mall, in the heart of Chandni Chowk the eatery has a concise menu but you will spot many favourites including khichdi, rava dosa, upma and curd vada. Their fried idli and curd rice have quite the following and are priced modestly. You can score a full South Indian lunch for one at under Rs 200!
Address: E Mall, 103, Princep St, Chandni Chawk, Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700072
USP dishes: Fried idli, Udipi-style coffee
Price for two: Rs 200
Eau Chew
Ganesh Chandra Avenue’s Eau Chew is best known for its chimney soup which is served in generous portions in an oversized brass pot. The Chinese-owned restaurant is located a stone’s throw away from E-mall and serves some great food at affordable rates. Don’t miss out on their Josephine noodles which is a signature number, loaded with meat and veggies, and is good enough for 3-4 people. Some other signature dishes include dry roast chilli pork, chicken black beans, bok choy fish and garlic chicken noodles.
Address: 12, Ganesh Chandra Ave, Esplanade, Chowringhee North, Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013
USP dishes: Chimney soup, Josephine noodles, garlic noodles
Price for two: Rs 550
Broadway Hotel
A legacy joint by all counts, Broadway Hotel is one of the best places you can spend an afternoon in Chandni Chowk. Not only has the place hosted the creme de la creme over the years, but was founded by Gyan Singh, the frontman of the rock group Skinny Alley. Their famous fish fingers are best paired with their draught beer. Their chicken satay and chilly mustard chicken are quite un-missable and amazingly affordable.
Address: 27A, Ganesh Chandra Ave, Bowbazar, Kolkata, West Bengal 700013•033 2236 3930
USP dishes: Chilly Mustard Chicken, Fish finger
Price for two: Rs 700
Crystal Chimney
Located bang opposite E-mall, this one is an underrated spot for delicious Calcutta-style Chinese, this restaurant is one of the best food destinations near Chandni Chowk. Though it doesn’t have too many seats and you may have to queue up during the lunch rush, its menu has some truly scrumptious options. One of their hot sellers is the Chicken 65; though not a Chinese delicacy, Crystal Chimney’s rendition of this dish is delicious and binge-able.
Another signature is the seafood rice which has a healthy dose of fresh seafood, eggs and veggies. Their portions are truly big and they offer takeaways on food apps and for standalone orders.
Address: 17, Chittaranjan Ave, opposite Emall, Esplanade, Chandni Chawk, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal 700046
USP dishes: Seafood rice, chicken thukpa, Shanghai chicken
Price for two: Rs 650
India Coffee House
A low-key space to have a quiet cup of coffee, this joint next to the second metro station gate offers some economical options. They have a concise menu and it's mainly breakfast items but if you want a strong cuppa, this should be your go-to destination. Not to mention, it has ample space and a quiet ambience so you can catch up with your pals over a few hours.
Address: 5, Chittaranjan Ave, Esplanade, Chowringhee North, Bow Barracks, Kolkata, West Bengal 700072
USP dishes: Coffee, filter coffee
Price for two: Rs 100
