Kolkata boasts of eclectic food culture and a plethora of its cuisines. Kolkata’s Chinese food has a special place in people’s hearts. The ancient lanes of the city are dotted with some legacy Chinese restaurants that provide soul-satisfying authentic Chinese food. While many age-old Chinese bistros are situated in Kolkata’s China Town, India’s only Chinese settlement, a few other of them are dispersed out to the different parts of the city.
We’ve put together a list of 5 famous Chinese restaurants in Kolkata that you can’t miss:
Tung Nam
Nestled in the bustling backstreets of Chattawala Gully, near Poddar Court, lies this tiny Chinese eatery. Pork lovers, this is your go-to restaurant. The Chilli Pork at this place is a huge hit with customers. Also, the Pork Yam Wanton is heartily tender on the taste buds and is a must-try. Other gourmand offerings of this hidden gem include Pepper Chicken, Pork Ginger Sausages, Veg Mushroom Babycorn, Fried Meifoon and Fung Mee Mein Noodles.
Eau Chew
This Chinese restaurant originated back to the 1920s and is one of the oldest Chinese establishments in the city. It is a straight walk from Chandni Chowk Metro Gate 6. The place is famous for its delicious broths, especially Chimney Soup and Josephine Noodles. You can also put your forks into the Roasted Chilli Pork and Steamed Soya Fish at this place. In ancient times, some brass pots in the restaurant came all the way from China.
Beijing
In Kolkata’s China Town, this is one of the best restaurants. While some people prefer Big Boss in the same lane, I prefer Beijing because its dishes have more of a Chinese flair. Among the many delectable dishes you can enjoy here are Prawn with Toufu, Oyster Chilli Chicken, Shanghai Chicken, Noodle Soups, Spring Rolls, Chilli Garlic Shrimps and Streamed Fish Fillet. Besides these dishes, you can also get a dose of booze here.
New Embassy
Whenever I visited the Elgin for work, I always made sure to stop by New Embassy for a soothing Chinese meal. As part of the Sahara Building and Rabindra Sadan Metro lane, it stands out with its Paifang-style entrance and Chinese symbols. The interiors are dimly lit by hanging Chinese lamps, and the decor is pretty. The best part is that the food here is quite affordable. At this restaurant, you must try the Embassy Special Fried Rice. Additionally, I enjoy their Chinese Jasmine Tea, Mixed Chowmein, and Fried Spring Chicken.
Chung Wah
Kolkata’s Chittaranjan Avenue is home to 126-year-old Chung Wah. Wen Hua Chung had founded the eatery when Cabin restaurants were arising in different parts of Kolkata. Today, it serves a mix of Chinese, North Indian and Bengali dishes. The cabin set-up will give you an old-world feel while you gorge on dishes like Shrimp Fooyong, Gold Coin Prawn, Chilly Pork Shzewan and Mandarin Fish.
So, the next time you come to the city of joy, definitely try out some of these mouth-watering preparations. Till then, take a look at Kolkata from the comfort of your couch.