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Be it Tangra, Dacres Lane, Terati Bazar, Park Street, the list is endless, when it comes to food you want and crave in the city of Kolkata. One such street is Zakaria Street near Chitpur, one of the oldest localities in Kolkata. Chitpur was referred to as the “Black town”, as Kolkata during the British period was divided into "black" and "white" towns. Famous for Nakhoda Masjid, one of the largest mosques of East India, Zakaria Street during Ramadan sees a buzz that’s similar to Old Dilli. A delight for gastronomes, the street is filled with biryani, kebabs, haleem, halwa, etc. Most visit this market with sheer love of food. Awadhi food stalls are a perfect example of culinary heaven for one to experience.
Zakaria Street, especially during Ramadan, becomes a melting pot of food and culture enjoyed by all the food lovers of Kolkata. Kebabs, Halim, Faluda, Mahi Akbari, Chicken Changezi, Sheermal, etc. are enjoyed both by people breaking their Roza and anyone who just loves some mouth-watering, delicious food. A lot of festive makeshift stalls make their presence. This pocket-friendly street is a meat lover's delight. As you walk past the street, big chunks of chicken, meat and fish can be seen marinated and ready to be cooked. And if you’re curious about the dishes, here’s a curated list of what you should have and where.
Adam’s Kebab Shop
The first store you will come across is Adam's Kebab Shop, which is renowned for being one of the area's oldest establishments. The store opened its doors 150 years ago! Suta Kabab and Boti Kabab are their specialities. To make Suta Kabab, beef paste is made with meat and spices, wrapped around iron skewers, and then tied with suta or cotton thread. If not, the meat will fall off the flat-laid charcoal bed while being cooked. Beef chunks wrapped on a skewer are called boti kababs. These are the juiciest and softest kebabs available.
Timing: 12 PM - 10 PM
Price: INR 200 onwards
Sufia
Sufia, a long-time favourite, frequently appears first in haleem discussions in Kolkata. Together with Tamater Stew and Beef Samosa, their Magaz Haleem is a crowd-pleaser. Regulars queue hours before sunrise, and the mutton, chicken and beef haleem are quickly gone from the counter. After tasting the food at this small restaurant, which is well-known for its Nihari breakfast, you won't be disappointed. Although it's not one of the most well-liked haleem alternatives, you should definitely try their magaz haleem, which is cooked with beef brain in a creamy sauce, if you're willing to try new things.
Timing: 5 AM - 8 AM
Price: INR 200 - INR 350
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Bombay Hotel
The Bombay Hotel offers amazing Beef Boti Kababs and Beef Chaanp that are not to be missed. You can enjoy beef chaanp with paratha in addition to rolling beef boti inside paratha with chopped onions and green chilli. The restaurant makes the city's greatest beef chaanp. Try some Phirni at the Bombay Hotel as well, assuming there is still room inside!
Timing: 11 AM - 11:30 PM
Price: INR 500 onwards
Haji Allaudin Sweets
Don't forget about the renowned Battisi or Batteesa Halwa from Haji Allauddin Sweets, an Islamic confectionery that has been around for a century. The 32 ingredients used to make the dark-coloured halwa are enhanced with dry fruits, giving it a delicious flavour. On the other hand, the pale Mawa Laddo, which is prepared from a combination of khoya and boondi or mawa (reduced milk), is an indication of well-balanced sweetness. They also make Arabian desserts, such as chocolate dry fruit balls, kaju diamonds, anjeer rolls with poppy seeds, and khajur dry fruit barfi.
Timing: 7 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 100 onwards
Dilli 6
In addition to Taskeen, Dilli 6 is a crowd-pleaser and their nearest rival. Afghani chicken at Dilli 6 is renowned for its smoky and creamy decadence. It would be a crime to miss the combination of fresh cream, butter, and chat masala with tandoori-roasted chicken. Slathering tender tandoor chicken pieces with butter, fresh cream, and chat masala may seem straightforward, but it guarantees a burst of aromas. A personal favourite for many is their Malai chicken served with sheermal, a kind of baked bread.
Timing: 4 PM - 12 AM
Price: INR 600 onwards
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Taskeen
Taskeen, the most well-known crowd-puller, is ready to greet you alongside Murgh Changezi. Before being served, the chicken leg or breast is marinated in more than fifty spices, double-fried in boiling oil, and then chopped into pieces. One person should be able to eat about 200 grams of chicken, which is determined by weight. Make room for those rich, creamy, and thick lassi and falooda. These are necessary to wash down the spice and keep your energy quotient high in this sultry weather.
Timing: 12 PM - 2 AM
Price: INR 500 for two
Al Baik
The excellent Chicken Special Kabab and Chicken Malai Kabab are prepared at Al Baik, a modern store a few steps ahead of Colootala Crossing. In these recipes, the unique kabab is grilled over hot charcoal using skewers. The Malai kabab is a tandoor-roasted variant of tikka cubes. In brief, both ooze the goodness of malai, with each bite melting inside the mouth. Even on a typical day, this Al Baik Corner can get rather busy, but if you have patience, you will be rewarded with a delicacy that you will remember for a long time.
Timing: 4 PM - 12 AM
Price: INR 200 onwards
Dilshad Laziz Kabab
At Dilshad Laziz Kabab, the most affordable and well-liked Malai Kabab and Dahi Kabab are waiting for you at the end of the tunnel. By the way, Dilshad bhai is a modest, customer-friendly local who always smiles and responds to your enquiries. He usually cooks live dishes in front of you. As a result, you can see how searing over a charcoal bed can convert pale cream-coloured meat to golden brown.
Timing: 8 AM - 11 PM
Price: INR 200 - INR 400
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Makeshift Stall For Breads, Biscuits & More
Iftar-special bread is sold on the streets outside Nakhoda Masjid by a number of improvised kiosks. Sheermal is a milk-based flat soft flatbread with a saffron taste. Bakarkhani, on the other hand, is not as soft as Sheermal. Its hard crust is frequently adorned with various ingredients, such as poppy seeds. This bread is ideal for dipping in tea or scooping up gravy. Lachha, also known as vermicelli, is sold in big piles on Zakaria Street and is available both fried and unfried. It is also known as pheni and is a savoury dish made with flour and clarified butter. Sweet lovers shouldn't be afraid to sample spicy, juicy, crispy imarti and jalebi from roadside vendors. Savoury dishes include warm, crunchy Chirwa and Dry Fruit-Stuffed Gujiya. Dahi Vada and Ghugni Salad are sold at a few stalls, but there are hardly any more than one or two.
Zakaria's street food is not for those who are concerned about hygiene. You are supposed to sit on seats arranged along walkways, and food is typically delivered on paper plates. The simplest method to figure it out for first-timers is to see which locations are most crowded. As you are undoubtedly aware, there are very few vegetarian alternatives in the Zakaria Street food guide. However, the Royal India Hotel and comparable eateries can provide some veg options.
