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.

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Blog and Image Courtesy : Foodie Dibyajit