Kochuri - What breakfast means to Bengalis

Kolkata is famous for quite a few things like for its Victoria Memorial, Howrah Bridge,

Legendary sweet shops, Eden gardens and some other great sightings. But one thing which we always forget to mention about Kolkata happens to be the variety of foods that are available in this city. No matter what ever cuisine you ask for, maybe it’s North Indian, South Indian, Mughlai, Chinese or Continental, Kolkata has it all. In this article, I will be talking about one thing in particular and that is Kachori-Sabzi which can be found in various areas of Kolkata. There are various varieties of Kachori-Sabzi when it comes to Kolkata like Club Kachori, Daal Kachori, Ghoogni Kachori and many other stuffs. In this article, I will be talking about 7 best Kachori-Sabzi shops in Kolkata.

Needless to say, the Kochuri (Kachori) has ruled our taste buds for years now and left us in total awe of the wonderous recipes Bengal has tucked away in its bags.Be it a solo traveller or a family vacation, be it a resident or a student here for further studies, hardly a day goes by without gorging on the infamous ‘Kochuri’ of Kolkata.As the piping hot, round and inflated circles bursting with flavour are transferred into the vessels for sale, a certain level of excitement is certain to seep into your gullet as you engage yourself in a foodgasm of the utmost level.Embellished with a zing of ‘hing’ and adorned with ‘kasuri methi’, the secret spices give your taste pallets a glimpse of nirvana with each bite. Craving some yet? Let’s check out the best places in the city of joy where you can savour some of the best Kochuri (Kachori).

Maharani

Most certainly the queen of all Kachori shops, tucked away in a cosy corner in Deshapriya Park, Maharani is an absolute must visit place on your Kolkata bucket list. The shop opens in the wee of dawn and has customers flocking to them from near and far just to be able to soak in the delicious and mind boggling flavours on a cold winter morning. A heads up to the prices that are so low that all you have to do is carry a few pennies but go back with full and happy tummies. From customers arriving in the longest BMWs to cycling down on the oldest bicycle, Kolkata unites at Maharani!

Maharaj

If the bustling crowds are making you claustrophobic, weave your way through to the adjacent footpath to Maharaja in Deshapriya Park located a few seconds walk away from Maharani. If Maharani is the queen of all Kachoris, Maharaja is the reigning king. The Kachoris here should never go amiss as they couple up best with a hot cut of special tea. Have you ever experienced a sense of satisfaction through food? Not yet? Then do drop by this hot spot for a the most splendid Kachoris in Kolkata.

Sharma Tea House

Well, if we are talking about the most famous shop of Kachori-Sabzi then it definitely has to be Sharma Tea House. It is located in one of the most prime areas of Kolkata which is Bhawanipur. This place is always crowded with people, especially during the morning. If you visit this place in the morning you will notice that the crowd is basically of youngsters (who come before/after their college is over) and aged people (after completing their morning exercises). It is pretty economical and the taste of their Kachori-Sabzi is fantastic, A plate of Kachori-Sabzi should cost you around Rs.50; but make sure you try it with their hot Jalebis and Nimki. Make sure you also try their Kesar Tea, it is also amazing.

Balwant Singh Eating House

This place is situated right opposite to Sharma Tea House and is the only viable threat to them. They have a very similar menu when compared to Sharma Tea House. Though it serves Idli, Dosa, Chola Batura and similar breakfast snacks. People in Kolkata always have a debate over which is better Sharma or Balwant. I personally like Sharma Tea House more; but you can try both of them and decide yourself so as to which one you found better. My recommendation would be the same which I mentioned for Sharma Tea House which is Tea, Kachori, Jalebi & Nimki.

Tasty Corner

Ekdalia Durga Puja is never complete for the average Kolkattan without grabbing a quick bite from the local star shop, Tasty Corner that has a myriad range of goodies for your pallet but what stands out are the fresh Kachoris that are a sheer treat for the olfactory senses. We’ve all heard variety is the spice of life, and at Tasty Corner, spices are the variety. You name it they have it, with Hing Kachori ,Matar kachori  and paneer kachori adding laurels to the shop. Luchi  sabzi also stands tall as the evergreen breakfast for all foodies.

Barabazar

We have all had the normal kochuris with alu sabzi. What local and small shops in barabazar area of Kolkata have is unique. The highlight of the Kachoris are its size. The tiny inflated balls of dough packing hing within it are the most succulent and delectable Kachoris you will ever devour. These can be found all around the nooks and corners of the bustling bazaar area along with succulent golden gulab jamuns to savour.

Sri Hari

Last, but in no possible way the least, this 105 year old shop is a legend in itself. This ‘mistanna bhandar’ is ironically loved more for its Kochuri than for its sweets and no one can complain too!