Cuisine & Must Try Dishes

Traditional Bengali Cuisine

Bengali cuisine is a delightful blend of flavors, aromas, and textures, deeply rooted in tradition and culture. From fragrant fish curries to melt-in-the-mouth sweets, every dish is a reflection of Bengal’s rich culinary heritage.

Here are the must-try dishes in West Bengal for a complete gastronomic experience:

1. Shorshe Ilish (Hilsa Fish in Mustard Sauce)

 Why Try?

• Hilsa (Ilish) is Bengal’s most celebrated fish, often called the "King of Fish."
• Cooked in a flavorful mustard sauce (shorshe), with mustard oil adding a sharp kick.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Bhojohori Manna, 6 Ballygunge Place (Kolkata)
✅ Authentic home-style Bengali restaurants

2. Kosha Mangsho (Slow-Cooked Mutton Curry)

 Why Try?

• A rich and spicy mutton curry, slow-cooked to perfection.
• Flavored with aromatic spices, onions, and mustard oil, making it a must-have dish during Bengali feasts.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Golbari, Shyambazar (Kolkata) – The most famous Kosha Mangsho spot!
✅ Arsalan, Shiraz Golden Restaurant (for Mughlai-style mutton curry).

3. Chingri Malai Curry (Prawns in Coconut Gravy)

 Why Try?

• A royal Bengali delicacy made with jumbo prawns (Golda Chingri).
• Cooked in a creamy coconut-milk gravy, infused with garam masala & mustard oil.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Oh! Calcutta, Kasturi Restaurant (Kolkata)
✅ Local Bengali seafood eateries near Digha & Mandarmani.

4. Panta Bhat & Aloo Bharta (Fermented Rice with Mashed Potatoes)

 Why Try?

• A traditional Bengali farmer’s meal, perfect for hot summers.
• Fermented rice is soaked overnight, paired with mashed potatoes, mustard oil & green chilies.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Authentic rural eateries & Bengali households.

5. Daab Chingri (Prawns Cooked in Coconut Shell)

 Why Try?

• Jumbo prawns cooked inside a tender coconut, absorbing its natural sweetness.
• A unique dish that’s both aromatic & visually stunning.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Kewpie’s, 6 Ballygunge Place, Oh! Calcutta (Kolkata).

6. Bhetki Paturi (Fish Wrapped in Banana Leaf)

 Why Try?

• Boneless Bhetki fish marinated with mustard paste & steamed inside a banana leaf.
• A smoky, flavorful delicacy often served with rice.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Bhojohori Manna, Aaheli, Kasturi (Kolkata).

7. Mochar Ghonto (Banana Blossom Curry)

 Why Try?

• A traditional vegetarian delicacy made with banana flowers, coconut, and spices.
• Has a meaty texture and is packed with nutrients.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Kasturi, Suruchi, Kewpie’s (Kolkata).

8. Alur Dom & Luchi (Spiced Potato Curry with Fried Puffed Bread)

 Why Try?

• A classic Bengali breakfast or evening snack.
• Soft, fluffy luchis paired with a mildly spiced, tomato-based potato curry.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ K.C. Das, Putiram (for an authentic breakfast experience).

9. Macher Jhol (Traditional Bengali Fish Curry)

 Why Try?

• A light yet flavorful fish curry made with mustard oil, potatoes & tomatoes.
• The most common everyday meal for Bengalis, served with rice.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Any Bengali home or traditional restaurants like Kasturi & Suruchi.

10. Mishti Doi (Sweet Yogurt)

 Why Try?

• Bengal’s signature dessert – creamy, caramelized sweet yogurt.
• Made in traditional clay pots, enhancing its flavor & texture.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Bhawanipur Ghosh Dairy, Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick.

11. Roshogolla (Bengali Sponge Sweet)

 Why Try?

• Bengal’s most iconic dessert, made of soft, spongy cottage cheese balls soaked in sugar syrup.
• Originally invented in Bengal & globally loved!

 Best Place to Try:
✅ K.C. Das, Balaram Mullick, Nobin Chandra Das (Kolkata).

12. Sondesh (Delicate Cottage Cheese Sweet)

 Why Try?

• A soft, melt-in-the-mouth dessert made from fresh chhena (cottage cheese).
• Comes in flavors like chocolate, mango, and saffron.

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Girish Chandra Dey & Nakur Chandra Nandy, Balaram Mullick.

13. Pati Shapta (Bengali Crepes with Sweet Coconut Filling)

 Why Try?

• Thin crepes stuffed with a mixture of jaggery, coconut & khoya.
• A special delicacy made during Poush Sankranti (winter festival).

 Best Place to Try:
✅ Homemade in Bengali households or at local sweet shops.