Bengali cuisine is globally renowned for its unique dishes, spices, and cooking techniques. It has a heavy dependence on fish, which is cooked in a unique way by every Bengali family there, as is well known. Bengali food is influenced by the lifestyle of the Mughals, Nizams, and Britishers who resided in West Bengal and helped create the current Bengali cuisine. Their thalis come with rice, salad, raita, pickle, and something sweet and can be vegetarian or non-vegetarian. While visiting the city of Joy, you’ll discover a perfect blend of spices, flavors, and tastes at every restaurant. To satisfy your thali cravings while in Kolkata, you can visit any of these 10 places.
Ballygunge Place Thali
A popular choice for its Bengali cuisine, the restaurant has now expanded its menu to include thalis. The restaurant, located in the IT district of Kolkata, is known for its corporate clientele and its simple yet appealing décor. Their thalis contain a multitude of dishes served in limited portions. The vegetarian thali provides you with four pieces of luchi (fluffed puris), rice, two sorts of bhajas (sabzi), aloo dum, and shukhto. The non-vegetarian thalis provide everything you would get in a vegetarian thali, including chicken kosha, prawn malai, and mutton kosha.
Address: 37, Rajdanga Main Rd., Sarat Park, Bosepukur Purbapara, Rajdanga, Kasba
Price for Two: INR 700
Timings: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Teej
Near the Park Street-Russell Street crossing, Teej is the oldest vegetarian restaurant in Kolkata. Teej's exterior looks like that of Jaipur's old buildings, but with its high ceilings, colored chandeliers, and intricate patterns all over, it has a regal look. They have two options in thalis: Rajasthani and North Indian. Of the two, the Rajasthani thali includes unlimited refills of Daal Baati Churma, Sangri, Gatte Ki Sabzi, Chhena Sweet, Rice, Missi Roti, and Dal Puran Poli. The aloo dum, butter naan, steam rice, and chhena sweet are included in the North Indian thali.
Address: No. 2, Russell St., Park St.
Price for Two: INR 1,000
Timings: Lunch: 12 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.; Dinner: 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m.
Khandani Rajdhani
The people of Kolkata are in love with the Rajasthani and Gujrati fare offered at the Khandani Rajdhani chain of restaurants. Here, you can have a Maharaja thali that is continuously served until you ask them to stop. The restaurant provides a variety of dishes and changes its thali menu regularly. You will enjoy their dal bati churma, paneer hariyali, kadhi pakori, batata ambat, flower vatana, chawli kanda, and dhokla, along with phulka roti, bajra rotla, and rice.
Address: Avani Riverside Mall, Howrah
Price for Two: INR 800
Timings: Lunch: Noon to 3.30 p.m.; and Dinner: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Bhoj Company
This restaurant was opened in 2012 and serves authentic Dhakai Bangladeshi cuisine. In a few years, it has become one of the best restaurants in the city, attracting huge crowds of people due to their affordable Bengali cuisine. A traditional décor and Bengali music in the background will make you feel at home in Kolkata. Some of the restaurant's most popular dishes include Kochu Pata diye Ilish Bhapa, Gondhoraj Chicken Fry, Pulao with Chicken Kassa, etc.
Address: 30A, Mirza Ghalib St., Fire Brigade Head Quarter, Esplanade, Opp., Taltala
Price for Two: INR 400
Timing: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saptapadi
This restaurant was opened after "Saptapadi," a Bengali film released in 1961 starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar. It's famous for fusion and traditional Bengali cuisine. Framed pictures from the movie decorate the décor as well as the menu. Here you can have tasty vegetarian and non-vegetarian thalis. Some fusion food items that you must have here are Murgi Bhora, Mousse with Tomato Tulsi Coolie, Rosogolla, and Gonghoraj Fricassee. Traditional dishes that are on offer include Murala Chorchor, Misthti Pulao, and others. To make your time here more memorable, they play soft Bengali romantic songs in the background as well.
Address: 49B, Purna Das Rd., Golpark, Hindustan Park, Gariahat
Price for Two: INR 1,000
Timing: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Aaheli
Aaheli was opened in 1993 as the first fine-dining Bengali restaurant. It is the only one of its kind in Kolkata. They don’t use plastic cutlery in the restaurant, and the staff are dressed in traditional Bengali attire. The most memorable items on the menu are Chingri Malaikari, Kosha Mangsho, Rui Macher Patishapta, etc.
Address: 12, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, New Market Area, Dharmatala, Taltala
Price for Two: INR 2,000
Timing: 12:30 p.m.–10 p.m.
Kewpie’s Kitchen
It is a family-operated restaurant that serves traditional, authentic Bengali dishes from its treasure trove of recipes. Their thalis, or Bengali platters, are the most popular in the city, despite the fact that they only seat 50 people. The meals are served on terracotta plates, bowls, and banana leaves to preserve the traditional feel. Some of the must-try dishes are bhetki fry, chingri malai, elish bhapa, doi begin, dhokar dalna, etc.
Address: No. 2, Elgin Ln., behind Netaji Bhavan, Sreepally, Bhowanipore
Price for Two: INR 900
Timing: 12:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Taj Bengal
Taj Bengal opened its doors and its renowned eatery, Sonargaon, in 1989, and it has since become an extremely popular eatery here. The restaurant's décor is based on a Northwest Frontier Province village, from lanterns to the chair upholstery. Sonargaon is now a Kolkata institution for Bengali cuisine, thanks to its five-star hotel's village ambiance. Sonargaon's thali is irresistible.
Address: 34-B, Belvedere Road, Alipore
Price for Two: INR 6,000
Timing: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Rao’s Udipi Home
Come to Rao’s Udipi home for a fabulous South Indian vegetarian food experience. This restaurant also serves an extensive, cheap thali for INR 70. The South Indian vegetarian thali contains papads, pickles, and salad, as well as sambar, rasam, and steamed rice. You will not find such an excellent and inexpensive thali anywhere else in Kolkata.
Address: 25, Jatindas Rd., opposite Carfill Petrol Pump, Lake Market, Kalighat
Price for Two: INR 140
Timing: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m
Dalma
Dalma serves a variety of Oriya thalis, including vegetarian and non-vegetarian pakhala thalis and the Dalma special vegetarian thalis. Their thalis typically offer a choice of protein like mutton, chicken, or fish. Their pakhala thalis are served with rice that has been soaked overnight and is tempered with fried onions, cucumber, mint leaves, mustard seeds, and curd before serving. It is served with cucumber and carrot salad, dates, tomato chutni, and alu palak sabzi.
Address: Ground Floor, Shaila Towers, J1/16, EP Block, Sector V, Bidhannagar
Price for Two: INR 200
Timing: 10 a.m. to 10: 30 p.m.