The King of Egg Devils

Nowadays, I am exploring the Cabins of Kolkata. I am trying to cover all of them, one by one. In this journey, I happened to visit Niranjan Agar which is also known as The King of Egg Devils.

How to go?

If you are taking Metro as your mode of transport, get down at Girish Park and exit through gate number 2, on your left you will find Niranjan Agar.

You can check the Google Map here

History of Niranjan Agar :

If you follow my blogs, you must know that I love to dig into history. Especially, if it is an old eatery or restaurant or a cabin.

Niranjan Agar was not at all a big shop when it was started by Niranjan Hazra. He started selling chops and cutlets during 1922 and his regular customers were officers and businessmen who wanted to take a quick snack with their evening tea before going home. It is from this very place, the egg devils gathered much fame.

The small shop became a large one. Now, there are two parts of Niranjan Agar – one side got renovated, plastic chairs and tables came in, a television found it’s place too and the old fans were replaced by new ones. The other part will bring you the feel of the old with wooden benches and tables, a low ceiling and a big fan above your head which we could easily see in trams few years back. I love this part.

I went to Niranjan Agar on a Thursday. Now, the menu changes on a Thursday and it is different from the rest of the days. Earlier in Kolkata (when it was Calcutta!), it was tradition that mutton would not be sold on Thursdays. Since then, Niranjan Agar also do not keep any mutton items on their menu on Thursdays. Check out the menu below :

I do not have mutton if it is not minced and I avoid any kind of red meat. So, the unavailability of mutton items was not an issue to me. I ordered one Fowl Cutlet and the same was fulfilled within 5 minutes. A great Fowl Cutlet with some salad and a home-made mustard sauce which is super strong to smell and taste. Kolkata Sen rates the Fowl Cutlet – 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Once I am done with Fowl Cutlet, I took a glance on the menu card and ordered a Fish Fry. If you’re visiting a cabin of Kolkata and not having a Fish Fry, it is a sin. This also came on the table within 5 minutes along with the salad and the kasundi. Oh wow, the Bhetki fillet is well-marinated, the taste is brilliant though the size is not huge. If the size is huge, 90 out of 100 times, there is a chance that fillers are more than the fish or the chicken. Again, a 4 out of 5 stars!

I was a bit upset when I heard that their egg items are over. On Thursdays, they do not serve Egg Devils since it is prepared using minced mutton however, they do serve Egg Chops. All the egg items at Niranjan Agar is prepared using duck eggs and yes, you will get an egg- I mean, a full one!

Egg Chops and Egg Curry was over though I entered the shop within one and half hours of the starting of business hours. Such is the demand of the egg items of this place and by now, I know why people love the egg items of this place.

Well, there is always a next time and when I go to this place again, my picks from the menu will be Egg Curry with Toasts, Vegetable Chop and Egg Devils.

While I was gorging on the Fish Fry, an old man entered and sat just opposite to me. He learnt that I write about food and I like history and therefore, he gave me few suggestions and told me some stories.

He mentioned that :

If you are coming to Niranjan Agar on any days except Thursdays, you must try the Mutton Liver Curry and the Mutton Kofta. I used to work at Raj Bhavan of Kolkata and Niranjan Agar used to be the only cabin which was allowed to send food items and snacks for the officials of Raj Bhavan without any prior permission. This was back in 1980s. I have seen Uttam Kumar and many other celebrities coming to Niranjan Agar for their Egg Devils or Egg Curry and Roti.

This place has been standing there and serving their customers since last 100 years, to be exact. Needless to say, they got many recognitions and awards for their service, however the one below is a prestigious one, indeed.

Timing :

This place remains open from 4 PM to 9 PM on all days. However, the earlier you go, the chances of getting the best-selling items is more. 

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Hamro Momo, Kolkata

If you love Momo and if you’re from Kolkata, I’m sure you must have visited Momo Gully at least for once. Well, the stretch of the Suburban Road or Hospital Road towards Sambhunath Pandit Hospital is called Momo Gully mainly because of the four Momo shops that we have. This lane runs parallel to Bishop Lefroy Road where Late Satyajit Ray used to live and now, the lane is called Satyajit Ray Dharani.

Now, coming to this lane, you will see a series of restaurants in this lane. There is Tibetan Delight in the next lane which, for unknown reasons, remains closed on most of the days, post-pandemic. Then comes Momo Plaza which was once good but now, the hygiene and cleanliness at this place has gone for a toss. They changed the cook and now, the food is highly inconsistent. Just beside Momo Plaza, you will find Orchid, which has got no significant changes in quality but increased the price of the items unnecessarily after a renovation. In fact, Orchid has the highest pricelist amongst all, making a difference of almost 50-60 INR/plate than the rest.

Then comes Hamro Momo, one of the best places in Kolkata to have Momo.

A bit about the history of Hamro Momo :

Just opposite to Hamro Momo, you will find a huge house which belongs to an advocate. If I am not wrong, an ex head judge of Calcutta High Court used to live there. This house had a Nepali gatekeeper who used to stay in a small, dingy place opposite to this house and this place later became Hamro Momo. The gatekeeper, along with his wife used to sell Momo during the evening and I heard from my father that they used to give 6-7 pieces along with a bowl of clear soup at just 2 rupees. During the summer, they used to visit their hometown at Nepal pausing the sell of Momo. This was during 1990 and Kolkata was not habituated with Momo. If I am not wrong, Hamro Momo is the second restaurant in Kolkata which started selling Momo. Later during 1993, a Singh family from Bhowanipore got this place, did not make much changes and started selling Momo. In addition, they started off with Noodles, Fried Rice and side dishes too. Needless to say, people started gathering for their Momo. Now, this place is handled by two brothers of the Sign family, Dinesh and Vikash whom you will meet on alternate days.

This place has kept the quality intact which is evident from the customers it gets on any given day. I was introduced to this place by my uncle. I remember having Momo from here during my childhood. Still, I visit this place very often especially for their Momo and Chinese dishes.

Here, you will get 4 kinds of Momo : steamed, fried, pan-fried and deep fan-fried. My favorites are steamed and deep pan-fried. At the same time, there are 3 versions too – Vegetable Momo, Chicken Momo and Pork Momo. Each and every plate comes with 5 huge pieces of Momo and a bowl of clear soup. You must not miss their spicy Momo sauce which they prepare on their own and do not buy. The price varies from 90 INR/plate to 150 INR/plate depending on the type of momos you order. This is perhaps the only place which serves the bowl of clear soup with all types of Momo.

The other day Vikas mentioned :

We still see a demand of Pork Momo more than the Chicken Momo and we generally do not sell much of Vegetable Momo except to few non-Bengali customers who are strictly vegetarians.

People who know me, they know my love for Hamro Momo. I had my first Momo from this place and till date, I go there almost 3 times in a month and I just do not order Momo only. I like the simple bowl of Egg-Chicken Thukpa that they prepare. I get a feel of the taste of hills. A plate of Momo and a bowl of Thukpa here is a meal, itself.

In case, you are tired with Momo and Thukpa or if you have a large gang for a lunch or a dinner, you can go through their menu card to try their Chinese dishes. I love Fried Rice along with a Chicken side-dish and you’ll see me gorging on Egg-Chicken Fried Rice and Chili Chicken/Hot Garlic Chicken very often. I am not a big fan of fish and hence, I try to not order fish. Each and every main course here is sufficient for two hungry souls, quantity-wise and each and every side-dish comes with 8 good pieces, be it a chicken-side dish or a fish or a pork dish! I must say to all to try their Chili Pork (dry) as a starter though it can be taken a side-dish too. Another favorite of mine from Hamro is their Gravy Noodles. They make it like heaven!

There are few starters you should not miss from this place. Just like I mentioned about their Dry Chili Pork, you must not miss their Pan-fried Fish in Schezwan Sauce.

Very often, I dream of their Hot Garlic Chicken which I usually take as a side with my Fried Rice. Every damn time, they make it brilliantly perfect.

Hamro Momo is always very consistent with their quality and taste. Firstly, they use good ingredients and secondly, their cooks did not change for a long time. Tibetan Delight in the next lane also keeps their quality and taste consistent but this is the problem with Orchid and Momo Plaza and they fail to keep these aspects stable.

Points to be check :

1. Hamro Momo remains open on a all days from 12.30 PM to 9.30 PM but if you have specific plans to have Momo, you must not visit post 8 PM. Momo are the best-selling items here and they run out of stock even before their shop closes.

2. Do not expect a great ambience. As mentioned earlier, this was a one room-kitchen of a gatekeeper and no changes are done yet. Therefore, there will be no AC, you might need to share tables with others (12-15 people can eat together at a time!) and the first impression of the restaurant might not be an appealing one for you. But, their kitchen has a magic, their food is top-notch.

3. Hamro Momo prefers cash payments but you can also use UPI.

4. For directions, check the link of Google Map here

During my last visit, I did a small reel on Hamro Momo. Check it out here.

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

A hidden gem for Chinese Cuisine at Kolkata

We, the people of Kolkata are always looking for new places to eat our favorite Chinese food. When some stick to their old choices of restaurants, I know many who keeps on exploring the city to find out new restaurants for Chinese cuisine.

Pou Hing is one such eating house at Teritti Bazaar(The oldest China Town of India) which is over-shadowed by Tung Nam, another legendary eating house in the same area. People head straight towards Tung Nam more often than they visit Pou Hing. I would definitely call Pou Hing as one of the hidden gems of the city simply because of the food that they serve. If you’re looking for ambiance, you will be disappointed. An air-conditioner at an eating house is a luxury. This place has been operational for more than 22 years and they are pretty good at what they are doing.

This place remains open on all days except Sunday. Located at Suniyat Street Lane at Poddar Court, this place is easily noticed by the bright white sign board. Get inside and order your favorite dishes but at the same time, do not forget to taste few more dishes which are the specialties of this place.

Check out the list below :

Chicken Wontons
Volcano Chicken (starter)/Drinking Wings
Mei Foon/Fun (They seriously make one of the best Mei Foons in the city!)
Chicken Black Garlic (I tried this for the first time just few days back and I simply loved the flavor that they put in this dish)

Earlier, I tried their Mixed Fried Rice with Hot Garlic Chicken and I liked the combo.

Why does Pou Hing stand apart?

Each and every dish at this place are prepared with authenticity and they use the sauces which is prepared in their own factory with the same name. If you wish, you can even buy a variety of Chinese sauces and masalas from the showroom adjacent to the restaurant. At the same time, the quantity of each and every dish is more than enough for two hungry souls. The quality and the quantity truly justify the pricing of every dish. Check out the pocket pinch and other necessary information at the end of this blog.

You will be disappointed if you are a pork-lover because this place do not serve pork. In that case, Tung Nam (a few steps away from Pou Hing) is the place for you.

Notes :

This place remain closed on Sundays.
Pocket Pinch : 500 INR for two which includes a starter, a main course & a side dish. Ideally a budget of 700 INR will be more than sufficient for two people if you want to explore the menu list.
Location on Google Map : Check it here

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

A South-Kolkata cabin called Cafe

Cabins at South Kolkata are very rare. You won't get much options except Sanguvalley at Bhowanipore and one more inside Gariahat Market, the name of which is forgotten by me at this point.

For Cabins of Kolkata, people will run to North Kolkata.

Just at Hazra Moore, there is a cabin called Cafe. Not sure, if they had the same name earlier too but if they are using this name since 1937 (that’s when they started operating), I feel it’s very innovative. I do not think ‘cafe’ is a word which was used so frequently during that time, at least at Calcutta.

For the exact location, click here

The cabin will welcome you with a touch of old Calcutta (I like to call this!), with wooden windows and doors, chairs and benches, the typical marble-top tables. The menu board is not very big and I think it is there since the beginning, except the prices getting updated.

The place is supervised by the current owner who is around 70 years old and customers are handled by two waiters who will bring everything you order with a smile on their face.

I took a seat and ordered a Chicken Fry. Needless to say, this is a must-try of mine if I am visiting any cabins. The order came on the table within the next five minutes, freshly fried in between. I would not say that the taste is out of this world but it is not bad either. I quite liked it. I checked the other tables shamelessly and found that the highest-selling items at this place are Fish Fry, Kobiraji (both Mutton and Chicken), Mutton/Chicken Stew with Bread Toasts. Now, I am done with my Chicken Fry and it is time to order the most famous dish of this place – Pudding.

This pudding is not the usual one that we have at home but it is tasty, loaded with nuts and raisins and topped with a foam-like caramel. Definitely, the super-star of this place! Check the snaps below :

After these two items, I was willing to try a fish item too. I eyed on their Fish Roll but I had no one to share the roll with and on top of that, I had a Fish Roll just few days back from Campari at Gariahat and I wanted that taste to remain for few more days. There is always a next time and then, I will try their fish items.

Coming to the quality and the size/quantity of the items, it’s good. However, the price could have been a little less! My bill was 210 INR (130 INR for the Chicken Fry and 80 INR for the Pudding) but here, the Chicken and the Mutton dishes cost the same. For example : You will get Chicken/Mutton Stew for 200 INR. Similarly, be it a Chicken Kabiraji or a Fish Kabiraji, the price is 160 INR.

However, I feel that places like these needs to survive. Honestly!

Therefore, spending 500 INR for 2 people is justified. If you go to a modern café, a bill of 1000 INR for 2 is like a regular input to the billing system.

While I was having the food there, I saw a woman who probably came there after a long-time to pack her snacks. At the same time, I saw some aged-couples too who took a corner and enjoyed their Kobiraji. Outside, you will see some ‘office babus’ and local people, occupying a chair and having their regular dose of adda and snacks with tea or coffee. Yes, tea and coffee is also available here and they will customize the same for you as per your order.

Time : Everyday from 3 PM to 9 PM
Nearest Metro Station : Jatin Das Park
Payment Mode : Cash and UPI

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

The Youngest Pice Hotel of Kolkata

 Yes, you read it right! If we are talking about the Pice Hotels of Kolkata, we always think them to be old, at least 80 to 100 years. Mohol is an exception.

If you are on Mahatma Gandhi Road or on Amherst Street, ask someone for Dasgupta Sports. Just opposite to this legendary sports shop, you will see a lane. Just 15 seconds into the lane, you will find Mohol – a Pice Hotel of the city which is in business for about 35 years.

It was one fine Saturday afternoon that me and my friend decided to visit this place. I think we visited a Pice Hotel together for the first time but for me, it is after long. This Pice Hotel is also known as “ব্যোমকেশ বক্সী’র বাড়ি”, because of the fact that Sharadindu Bandhopadhyay was staying at this same house/mess when he curated the fictional detective character.

Since it was a Saturday, we were expecting some crowd for lunch. We reached the place, waited for around ten minutes, before we shared our table with two other guys.

This place is managed by two brothers in their 50’s and I suppose, not much changes are done in terms of interiors. Like any other Pice Hotels of the city, you will find wooden dining tables with Sun Mica tops and simple wooden chairs. Here also, the menu keeps on changing everyday and there will be a variety of fish items and of course, chicken and mutton delicacies along with a wide range of options for those who are strictly vegetarian. As soon as one item goes out of stock, it is marked with a cross sign on the board.

Check out the menu board below :

As soon as we occupied our seats, the banana leaves along with a lime and some salt were put in front of us. A bowl of green chilies was already placed on each table. I forgot to ask the name of the waiter but he has the whole menu board in his mind. You ask for for options, he will tell you everything at one go. My friend is someone who can gorge on fish on any given day while I have few reservations. I do not eat fish of every kind. We ordered the basics first : ভাত – শুক্তো – মুগের ডাল – ঝুড়ি আলু ভাজা ( Steamed Rice – Shukto – Moong Daal – Jhuri Aloo Bhaja ) and these were served in no time.

 While we were gorging on these, my friend was quick enough to decide on the fish items. Hence came, চিতল মাছের কোর্মা (Indian Knifefish Curry) and ফুলকপি দিয়ে চিংড়ি (Prawns Curry with Cauliflower). I became a bit sad to learn that Chicken Curry went out of the stock but managed with some brilliant ফুলকপি দিয়ে চিংড়ি. Lastly, came a brilliant খেজুর – আমসত্ত্ব দিয়ে চাটনি (Chutney with Dates and Mango Leather) and পাঁপড় (Papad).

          Steamed Rice – Shukto – Moong Daal – Jhuri Aloo Bhaja

Indian Knifefish Curry

Prawns Curry with Cauliflower

Each and every item that we tried were brilliantly prepared and tasted just like home-made food. Every dish can be shared by two. The waiter was suggesting us to try few more varieties of fish but we had no space left in our stomach. Places like these should not be visited just for once and there should be few items left to be tried during next time, just like the Chicken Curry.

It is better to visit this place between 1 PM to 2 PM so that you get all the items available. They remain open till 4 PM everyday but it is better to not expect a variety if you go late. They do not accept Credit/Debit cards, but you can pay via cash or UPI. Assuming that you will be trying varieties of vegetarian & non-vegetarian dishes, the cost for two will be around 700 to 800 INR for two.

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Tai Sen Eating House – A Hidden Gem of Kolkata

I do not really remember the last time I frequented a restaurant for three times in a week. Tai Sen Eating House has made me done that. Tai Sen has been suggested to me by a friend and I immediately wanted to cover this place, as a blogger.

Tai Sen is located at Bentinck Street, just beside Calcutta Motor & Cycle. The nearest Metro station would be either Esplanade(5 mins walk) or Chandni Chowk (7 mins walk). 

Google Map Link is here

As the name suggests, Tai Sen is basically a Chinese eatery which is slightly inclined towards Cantonese-style of cooking. Tai Sen started during 2019 as a home-kitchen only which turned into a small restaurant post-pandemic.

This place can host a maximum of 20 people at a time and the restaurant is nicely decorated too. There is an AC too, if that matters over good food.

You will not see any waiters here. The kitchen is managed by Mr. Edwin Liao, who used to work as a Chinese-cuisine expert at Hotel Kenilworth, Kolkata and also by his son, Kenneth. The tables and the cash counter is managed by the other members of the family. 

As mentioned earlier, I visited this place for the very first time post 25th December and since then, visited twice within a span of just 7 days. I simply loved the food here. If you are visiting, definitely do not miss the Steamed Wontons. 10 generous pieces of Wontons at just 190 INR. Some super soft, medium-sized Wontons, mixed and steamed with Cabbage Stems, Bok Choy, Chicken Lard and served with a spicy red chilly sauce. Absolutely ideal for a winter/rainy evening, can be well-paired with some hot clear soup.

I did try some other dishes too which includes starters like Tai Sen Special Soup, Chilly Chicken, Hot n Sour Pork and some main courses like Mixed Fried Rice(4/5) & Garlic Chicken(4/5). The quantity of all the dishes is enough for two people. The food was prepared with fresh ingredients, the same was served hot. The taste was top-notch. Here, the Mixed Fried Rice/Noodles is served with Chicken, Prawns and Eggs in general but if you want Pork to be added, there will be an additional charge which is also very nominal.

This place is heaven for “pork addicts”. I tried the Sweet n Sour Pork and I found each and every piece had the perfect meat and fat ratio. The quality of the pork is also very good.

Some more information :

‣Cost for 2 will be around 600 INR if you take starters and main course.
‣Do not forget to try the Chef’s Special menu.
‣Half portions come at just 10 INR extra.
‣Open from 12 PM to 9.30 PM, with a one hour break during the early evening.
‣Cash and UPI Payments accepted.
‣Tai Sen remains closed on Sundays however, if you have a large group of 15-18 people, you can let the owner know in advance and he will be more than happy to prepare the food and serve the same. Same can be contacted for take-aways.
‣Contact Number : 080179 79208

If you’re a genuine Chinese food lover, you must not miss this place. Never-ever in my life, have I described a restaurant as a “hidden gem” just like that, if I am using it there has to be a reason. Tai Sen has all the reasons. While writing this, I am definitely craving for some Wontons from Tai Sen!

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Jalpan – A Hidden Gem in true sense

I know many people of Kolkata who crave for a plate of Chhole-Bhature and they frequently visit the branches of Haldiram’s or Bombay Shiv Sagar. Just today, one of my friends mentioned that he misses the Chhole-Bhature that he used to eat at Delhi.

I came to know of this place from Subhadeep Da who grew up in Bhowanipore area of Kolkata. Subha Da, beside being my mentor and ex-manager at Amazon, is a foodie & is also a former restaurant-owner and I take his suggestions very seriously.

Direction: If you get down at Netaji Bhavan Metro Station, cross the iCore Mall and take the second lane on the left side, walk for 800 meters through Chak Beria Road, take the right turn and walk for another one minute till you see a dingy, not-so-attractive shop called Jalpan. (Google Map Link)

History of Jalpan :

This place started functioning since 1980’s. A truck-driver who used to stay in the same location started this shop and after he passed away, his son took the responsibility of carrying the legacy forward. I forgot the name of the current owner (forgive me for that!) is a nice, friendly guy and he does not mind to chat with his customers, if he is not busy.

What will you get here?

Well, the answer is very short. It is Chhole-Bhature & Lassi. You can get some Dahi/Curd too if stocks last. There are no other items that they sell.

The Chhole-Bhature sells like hot cake at this place. The shop opens at 8 AM and is closed by 5 PM and the food is prepared fresh once an order is placed and served hot.

I’ve tried Chhole-Bhature from Delhi and also from other states too. This one is close to Delhi. The Bhature are fluffy and soft, the perfection that we look for when ordering this dish. The Chhole looks dashing, a thick-brownish gravy, enough chickpeas in it and the gravy has just the right amount of spices and masalas in it. The Chhole is spicy but it won’t be a problem for people who can’t stand spicy things. Don’t worry! It is served with the mandatory onion and pickle and you will also get a green chili if you ask for it.

Two pieces of Bhature and a full plate of Chhole comes at a price of just 50 INR. Beside this, you can also get a glass of Lassi, if at all you have some space left in your tummy after the platter. The curd is prepared at this place and they sell it separately too at a price of 200 INR/kg. You can also get a single piece of Bhature at an extra cost of around 7 to 8 INR.

This place is good for take-aways. If you want to eat there, there are two tables placed on the pavement which are most-likely not empty during rush hours.

I tried the food and after paying 50 INR, I told to myself that I haven’t got such a satisfaction after trying a street-food during the recent times! The taste will linger for sometime.

For people who are a fan of Chhole-Bhature and they are searching for some North-Indian style of the dish, should definitely try this and thank me later. This place is known to only genuine foodies and you’ll not be hearing much about this place from so-called “food-bloggers” of the city.

One last snap! ☝

 

Timing : This place operates from 8 AM to 5 PM on all days. However, morning sees a rush while the afternoon is a bit on the lighter side. If you are having this for breakfast, you won't require anything to eat till late afternoon. I went there for a brunch at around 3:30 PM and found the place to be almost empty.

You can contact this place at 8910912100 for any kind of queries. I heard that they do home deliveries to nearby areas. They do accept UPI payments along with cash.

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Mancherji’s Parsi Food – Kolkata

 

If you’re in Kolkata, the options of having Parsi cuisine is very limited.

There is Manackjee Rustomjee Parsi Dharamshala at Bow Barracks and we saw the opening of Sodabottleopenerwala at South City Mall. Dharamshala is now taken care of by another family and is still oeprating.

There is one more place which is not known to many. This place is called Mancherji’s which is run by a very humble and sweet lady known as Supriya Mancherji. She runs this place single-handedly and you can find the location out here. Supriya Mancherji is basically a Bengali who got married to a Parsi family and from there, she got the expertise.

If you drop down at Park Street Metro and walk towards Indian Museum, you will find the branch of Paradise Biryani on the right. Cross that, take the first right and walk for 1 minute until you see the bright signboard saying Mancherji’s on your left.

From outside, this place will look like any other street-side hotel (better to say, ভাতের হোটেল!) but it’s one of the hidden gems of the city. They do serve Bengali food too and you will see a lot of people coming here during the afternoon to have their regular Bengali Thali and also for some Rolls and Chow Mein during the evening. They are operating since last 12 years.

Here, the Parsi food menu has two parts. One part will give you a list of the Parsi food that you will get everyday and the other part, you need to pre-order (24 hours in advance) because those are special items. Check the menu here :

I tried their regular menu and the items that I tried are :

• Chicken Farcha and Mutton Patties for starters
• Chicken Dhansak and Sali Chicken for main course
• Lagan Nu Custard for dessert

Coming to the food, all the items were authentic in taste and the proper way of Parsi-style cooking is followed here. Generally, I do not have mutton or any red meat as such, but I liked the Mutton Patties. Unlike other patties that we’re used to, this one is soft, the outer layer is thin and minced mutton is used inside. The Chicken Farcha is huge in size with a huge piece of marinated chicken inside while the outer coating is of egg and it is soft. Two great starters within 100 INR/piece.

Next, it is time to have my favorite Chicken Dhansak. For those, who are thinking of Mutton Dhansak, you need to pre-order. The rice which is served here is yellow, caramelized rice with fried onions (Beresta) and along with that, you will get a bowl-full of Parsi-style chicken and lentil curry along with Kachumber. Dhansak is itself a meal. The Sali Chicken has less gravy, as usual and it goes really well with Roti or Paratha. The fried matchstick potatoes as toppings were plenty. For dessert, the must-have is Lagan Nu Custard which comes at 60 INR/plate. Lagan Nu is a must during any Parsi wedding and the name means ‘wedding custard’. Here, the usage of milk, eggs and cardamoms is done properly and hence, I had one of the best custards in recent times.

In case, you are thinking if I tried their Akuri or Patra Ni Machhi, I had no space left in my stomach. I kept these for the next time along with few other dishes which will also include Khichri Sas.

Few things to note down :

1. The place remains open from 12.30 PM to 9 PM
2. You need to pre-order few items which you can check from the menu card and there is a minimum quantity that you need to order. Pre-order is also suggested for bulk orders.
3. Usually, the stock of Patra Ni Machhi is very limited and there is a tendency that this items runs out of stock early.
4. If there is a bigger gang, it is better to inform the owner in advance so that you get the best of the service and there is less waiting time.
5. The updated phone number is : 9051355254 & 9830671220
6. The starters/appetizers has just one piece in a plate. So, if there are 5 people and if you want to have Chicken Farcha, take 5 plates. Same goes with Sali Chicken.

Here is the menu card which has all the regular items listed, included Bengali Food and snacks.

I would not think twice to say that Mancherji’s is the best place in Kolkata to have Parsi food. Be it in terms of taste or value for money, they take care of both. If you go to Manackjee Rustomjee Parsi Dharamshala at Bow Barracks, whatever you eat, it has to be pre-ordered and the bill would easily be around 2000 INR for a gang of 6 people. SBOW at South City is costly too but the variety is more, no doubt about that.

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Hyderabadi Biryani to me

People who know me, they know the fact that I like Hyderabadi Biryani more than Kolkata Biryani though I grew up having Kolkata Biryani.

During 2013, I moved to Hyderabad and I took some time to get my taste bud accustomed with the Hyderabadi Biryani, a version which is much stronger than the Kolkata version, in terms of taste and masalas. I remember, the first biryani I tried after landing at Hyderabad was from Bawarchi at Gacchibowli. Bawarchi is a famous name at Hyderabad when it comes to Biryani. Later, I came to know that the shop of Bawarchi at ABIDS is the original one and they do not have any branch. Needless to say, I could not finish the biryani during the first time, in fact I could have have just few gulps before saying “I am done!”. For the first few months, I could not finish a single plate of Biryani but I always used to like the masalas and the aroma and of course, the huge meat that is served with the Biryani every time. I was never a fan of the potato that is given in Kolkata Biryani, hence the absence of the potato in Hyderabadi Biryani did not disappoint me.

I remember completing a full plate of Biryani on one fine Sunday afternoon. I was super-duper hungry, I was a bit high on beers and I entered Bawarchi to complete a single plate of Biryani, single-handedly. This restaurant was opposite to the building where I was a paying guest and I could see that restaurant and the crowd from the windows. Finishing a plate of Hyderabadi Biryani alone was a kind of achievement, indeed. Over the years, I started loving this version and I started to explore the best places of the city, specially known for their Biryani.

Ma visited Hyderabad for the first time and I took her to Shadab near Charminar. They prepare one of the best Biryanis of Hyderabad and they are my absolute favorite. I remember going there for Biryani and I would pack a plate of Pakistani Chicken, another dish which is my favorite to have with Roti at night. Another place which is my favorite is Alhamdulillah Hotel at Nampally. This place remains open 24X7 and they serve great Beef Biryani along with Talawa Gosht, Kebabs and Irani Chai. The place is always crowdy, the waiters are swift and the pocket pinch is always less than 300 INR, per head. Oh!, this place looks shabby and it is strictly not for people who prefer cleanliness and air condition machines more than the food.

I am sure, you are looking for Paradise Biryani.

To be honest, if you ask a Hyderabadi about the best places to have Biryani, they would keep Paradise Biryani at the end of the list or maybe not in the top 10 even! Paradise was good until it was being sold off to a Bangalore-based catering company, who concentrate more on marketing instead of the food quality. I had Biryani from Paradise but I can count the number of times. Needless to say, I do not like Paradise Biryani but the Haleem is good. Paradise opened up a branch at Kolkata and they invited me for a food-tasting session which I rejected politely.

If I am writing about Hyderabadi Biryani, I really can’t miss Cafe Bahar at Himayetnagar. This place serves Fish Biryani too which you will not get at any other place. Beside that, a plate of Chicken or Mutton Biryani comes with the perfect blend of masalas and spices, every time. It is worthy.

Nayaab Hotel – I like the Haleem more than their Biryani. Their Char Koni Naan, a special bread that they prepare goes very well with the Paya that they prepare.

I have heard a lot about Meridian Hotel during my stay at Hyderabad for the last 9 years, however I could not visit it even for one day. Maybe, the distance was a matter of concern. However, during these 9 years, I saw few names that came up and they were an instant hit. For example : Mehfil.

I used to order Biryani from Mehfil when I used to be at the office since it was near. Mehfil used to offer a mini Biryani pack worth 100 INR, which was sufficient for one. At Madhapur, I found a road-side stall selling Biryanis at 80 INR and I liked that one too. There was a place called Hyderabad Deccan at Madhapur, which is now closed. They used to prepare great Biryani at reasonable rates.

Later, I shifted to Pista House whenever we used to have a Biryani party.

Pista House came up with a branch near Kothaguda and I used to order family pack of Biryani whenever there was a get-together of friends and family. In Hyderabad, if you order a family pack of Biryani, you’ll be served with complimentary Rumali Roti, Chicken 65 too. Beside that, the usual Mirch Salaan and the Raita with some Salad - a complete package! It was cost-saving and the quantity of a single family pack used to serve 4-5 hungry souls. If the gang is newly introduced to Hyderabadi Biryani, this same pack might serve up to 7 people.

Needless to say, I love Hyderabadi Biryani. I have often become brave and ordered double masala for my biryani which is higher on spice. After coming back to Kolkata, I have tried almost all the places which has Hyderabadi Biryani in their menu but I never got the taste, the authenticity here. I should not shy away from saying that Kolkata is yet to get a proper place for Hyderabadi Dum Biryani. Paradise came up with 2 branches in this city however, Paradise is not my favorite and they also fail to give me the authentic taste that I have got from almost all the honchos of Hyderabad.

God knows, I might go back to Hyderabad someday again just for their Biryani, Irani Chai, Mandi and Shawarma. 

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit

Best Momos of Kolkata

 

Momo are now regarded as one of the popular streetfoods of India and you’ll find this dish all over the country. The scenario was not like this even 20 years back since the availability of authentic Momo was limited only at the hill stations. With immense popularity, this is now available almost in every lane of any city you can name. Not only in Kolkata but this particular dish is widely popular in almost all the states of the country and every state has their own recipe and their own way of serving the Momo. For example : The Momo of Delhi is usually served with the Momo Chutney and Mayonnaise. At Hyderabad, the Chutney is basically a raw paste of Red Chilies. 

For your information : There is nothing called "Momos" even though you mean "plural". It is always Momo, be it one or a hundred pieces. I get pissed off when I see people saying of writing "Momos".

In Kolkata, the journey of Momo started with The Blue Poppy by Doma Wang, who is also known as the “Momo Queen”. She is basically from the hills and she started off with her small restaurant in Sikkim House of Kolkata early in the 90s. Till date, the Momo of Blue Poppy are regarded as one of the bests in the city. Needless to say, they prepare authentic Momo. The Blue Poppy now got many branches all across the city and you can head straight towards any branch to taste their Momo. However, if you want to visit the oldest branch, check out the address here.

Coming to Suburban Road, which is also called the Momo Gali/Gully of Kolkata, you’ll find 4 or 5 restaurants selling Momo, however not all are great.

Tibetan Delight is famous and they prepare great momos but they mostly remain close during post-pandemic times. Momo Plaza is a restaurant where you will get other Chinese and Tibetan dishes too but the quality has gone down drastically and there are serious hygiene issues. Orchid is now unnecessarily costly since they pushed their shutters up after the renovation. There is no significant improvement in terms of taste, quality and quantity however, the price is way higher than the rest of the places around. Therefore, if it’s Momo Gully, my pick would be Hamro Momo (Location) which still serves the best Momo in this area at reasonable rates. 5 big pieces of Chicken/Pork/Veg Momo served with a bowl of piping hot clear soup, at just 90 INR onwards. If you’re someone who likes Pan Fried or Fried Momo, you can blindly order the same from this particular place.

Denzong Kitchen

This chain of restaurant do not only prepare Momo but are equally great with Chinese and Tibetan starters and main course dishes. The Steamed Momo and the Pan-Fried Momo from Denzong Kitchen is a must-try. You will find various branches of Denzong Kitchen all over the city, feel free to try the momos from any branch you come across. Very recently, they added a new variety in the form of Butter Garlic Prawn Momo. I had it and was blown away. Check the same below :

Fusion is very much in when it comes to food. Momo is also of no exception.

Fusion Momo are becoming very popular in Kolkata nowadays. Gondhoraj Momo (Kaffir Lime-flavored Momo) are too much popular which emerged with the hands of Leon’s, a take-away joint at Lake Gardens. They serve 8 pieces of jumbo-sized Momo along with a lime-flavored clear soup for just 99 INR. I personally like Steamed or Pan-fried Momo more than anything else but this momo has become a favorite one of mine. Check out the location here.

Hidden Gem & Special Mention :

One of the most important job of mine as a food-blogger is to find out new places and hidden gems. Be it a for a plate of Biryani or for a plate of Momo, the search is always on. Just like that, I found out a place months back which is known as Momo Circle. This place is near Tollygunge and you should definitely try the Momo from this place. Personally, I’m a huge fan of their Pan-fried Momo. You can try their Momo Platter which has a mix of steamed, fried and kothey momos. Check the location here.

Good to know : Kothe or Kothey is a Nepali term used for Momo and it means that a Momo will be half-fried and half-steamed. Usually, the Momo is placed on a pan after being steamed and the bottom comes out half-fried.

Momo I Am do not require any introduction since they are listed as one of the favorites among the Momo-lovers of the city. You should definitely visit any one of the branches and order a platter of Momo which will give you a variety of Chicken Momo, Chili-Basil Chicken Momo, Mushroom-Cheese Chicken Momo and Veg Momo. There are multiple branches all over the city and all are equally good.

Other Momos to try :

Jhol Momo from North-East Kitchen, Golpark (Location)

It is Jhol Momo and not called as Soupy Momo! Jhol Momo refers to momos drowned in a bowl of hot, soup and it is a popular version of Momo available in Nepal. Unlike other style of dumplings from around the world (Japanese Gyoza, Mongolian Buuz or Georgian Kinkhali), Nepali Momo have rich flavor of spices and a particular kick to them. I like this kind of Momo during the winter season since the jhol (soup) gives a warmth and the extra kick required during cold.

If you’re a Vegetarian, you can definitely visit Gingko near South City Mall, which will serve you with a variety of Veg Momo & dimsums at reasonable rates. You should definitely try their Cheese, Spinach and Water chestnuts Dimsum with chili oil, which is my personal favorite. While writing this blog, I remember that I haven’t visited this place off-late and I need to, very soon. Location of Gingko

As a Momo-lover like me says : You can never have too much of Momo.

There is one place which is a favorite of mine since childhood. This place is called Fresh N Up and it is at Golpark (just two steps from Aminia, Golpark!). Fresh N Up do not have a seating option or an AC, you can take a seat on the stools placed on the pavement or you can stand and finish the plate. This place was introduced to me by Didibhai and I simply love their Steamed and Pan-fried version. However, there is no pork available here. Check out the location here.

In case, you know about a special place in Kolkata for Momo, do let me know in the comments. I’ll definitely try it at the earliest. Till then, my search to find great Momo in the city will remain on and this blog will also get updated in a timely manner. 

Coming back real soon with a new blog!

In the interim, you might be interested to follow my Instagram handle or my Facebook Profile. Feel free to leave a honest feedback too, it will take less than a minute!

Note : 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘/𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕.

Email - foodiedibyajit@gmail.com

Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit