When it comes to eating out or a feast in Kolkata, kebabs are usually the go-to starters for most people. Tender, succulent grilled meat or melt-in-the-mouth morsels, with aromatic flavours — juicy kebabs make for a perfect treat. Supposedly, it was the Afghans who brought kebabs to India, and the grilled meat dish was later popularised in the subcontinent by the Mughals.
In India, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to kebabs. Besides chicken, fish and meat, there are a bunch of vegetarian options, and a variety of ways in which each can be cooked, which leaves you with at least a hundred options to choose from.
As a melting pot of cultures from colonial times, and having been a seat for the nawabs, Kolkata boasts of a robust culinary culture of kebabs. From fine dining to hole-in-the-wall eateries and food trucks, you can find a delicious plate of kebabs all around the city.
On World Kebab Day, My Kolkata asked a few Kolkata chefs, home chefs and food influencers about their favourite kebabs from Kolkata eateries.
Kebabs from Zakaria Street
Zakaria Street is often called the ‘kebab gully of Kolkata’ My Kolkata
Many call Zakaria Street the ‘kebab gully of Kolkata’. And rightly so, since the street, which is buzzing with foodies during Ramzan, has some of the most popular kebab shops in the city.
For content creator Dolon Dutta Chowdhury, kebabs from Haji Abdul Hamid on Zakaria Street, are the top pick. The co-creator (with Anindya Basu of Pikturenama) of Kolkata Classics, said, “There are many places that I love for kebabs but there's one that I discovered last year which I love. It is a tiny hole in the wall set up but has been around since 1906 — Haji Abdul Hamid Kabab on Zakaria Street. The kebabs are made by hand and what adds to the taste, imparting the smoky flavour is the use of wooden kathis to skewer the meat. They are famous for khiri and gurda kebabs but my favourite is the gosht kebab.”
Dolon Dutta Chowdhury loves the gosht kebabs from Haji Abdul Hamid on Zakaria Street
While there are a few popular kebab stalls in Zakaria Street, some hidden gems have managed to win the hearts of the foodies in recent times. Dolon first heard about Haji Abdul Hamid from a friend. “It was recommended by a friend who is a Zakaria Street local, and we also filmed their story for Kolkata Classics. Whenever I go to that area, I make sure to eat or pack some of those juicy, succulent mutton kebabs.”
Kebabs from Astor, Al Baik, Punjabee Rasoi
Among Rahul Arora’s many favourites are the kebabs at Al Baik on Zakaria Street
When asked about his favourite kebab, chef Rahul Arora couldn’t name just one. “I love Adrak ke Panje and Fish Tikka from Punjabee Rasoi — the most tender mutton kebab in town, Tangdi Kebab from Astor for nostalgia and Chicken Seekh Kebab from Al Baik (on Zakaria Street). These are my old favourites.”
Rahul Arora, whose father had a shop in Ezra Street, grew up spending a lot of time in Zakaria Street. Speaking about Al Baik’s kebabs, he said, “I like to eat the kebabs fresh off the coal there. The kebabs are tender and melt ]-in-your-mouth. People go there mostly during Ramzan.”
Chef Rahul Arora also enjoys the popular Adrak ke Panje from Punjabee Rasoi
Some of the food connoisseur’s favourite kebabs are ordered online from places like Sanjha Chulha, Rang De Basanti Dhaba and Salam Namaste. “I love the Lehsuni Tangdi Kebabs from Sanjha Chulha and Rang De Basanti Dhaba’s Chicken Tikka. I also like Salam Namaste’s excellent Kasundi and Tangdi Kebabs. I am currently on a diet so eating out is mostly kebabs which are comparatively healthy”, said Arora, who is celebrating World Kebab Day relishing Kashmiri kebabs in Srinagar.
Chelo Kebab from Peter Cat
Peter Cat tops Arijit Mandal’s list of favourite for the nostalgia and consistently good taste
Arijit Mandal co-owns cloud kitchen Goppoburir Henshel that curates special menus for pop-outs regularly. A radio jockey by profession and home chef by passion, Arijit Mandal is a true foodie, who is in love with Kolkata’s food. “I have travelled to Lucknow and Delhi, and realised that the kebabs you get there are available in Kolkata. One can walk down Zakaria Street and get all kinds of kebabs like suta kebab, galawati kebabs, and more. At restaurants like Siraj and Arsalan you will get burrah kebabs, seekh kebabs and more. But what I love the most is Peter Cat’s Chelo Kebab. We grew up visiting Peter Cat for family lunches and dinners. What I love the most about the Chelo Kebab is that you get everything in one platter.”
Peter Cat’s Chelo Kebab is Arijit Mandal’s favourite in Kolkata
For RJ Arijit, Peter Cat is a part of Kolkata’s nostalgia and he still picks the Chelo Kebab because it has stood the test of time maintaining its taste like old days. “The mutton seekh kebab and chicken shashlik that is served there hasn't changed. The taste is as it is. It is served with buttered rice, fried egg and veggies but the focus is always on the kebabs for me.”
Kebabs from Kebab Mein Haddi Food Truck
Food and travel vlogger Koninika De, hunts out the many spots in Kolkata — from contemporary restaurants and cafes to classic, hidden gems — for her Instagram page @konizfoodwheels. Her recent favourite kebab place in town is actually a food truck. “I love the Chicken Hariyali and Chicken Tikka kebabs from Mein Haddi Food Truck, which parks in New Town near the Clock Tower. I enjoy their Aslam Butter Chicken with Rumali Roti too.”
Koninika enjoys the Chicken Hariyali and Chicken Tikka kebabs from Mein Haddi Food Truck in New Town
Kebabs in the list of Koninika’s top favourite foods before she went to Delhi and tried the kebabs near Jama Masjid. “I have never been a fan of kebabs until Delhi Jama Masjid happened to me. Ever since then, I have been trying to search for these rustic flavours of Dilli 6 in my city. And as for Kebab Mein Haddi — I tried it for the first time in 2019 and have been a fan ever since. The succulent meat and the flavours will surely make you gorge on the luscious kebabs.”
Beef kebabs from Deva in New Market
Sayani Sengupta runs Gooseberri, a venue catering service in Kolkata and often finds herself relaxing over some kebabs at Deva. “I love the Beef Tikka Boti Kebab from Deva, a small eatery in the New Market area, just near the entrance to the spice market lane. They make only these kebabs and only in the evenings every day. It’s spicy, savoury and perfect for my palate. Plus the meat is chunky and served hot right from the charcoal grill with a lemon wedge, sliced onion and cucumber. One can order tawa roti or parathas with the dish if desired. People eat the kebab with dal chawal too.”
Sayani Sengupta always stops at Deva in New Market for their Beef Boti Kebab whenever she is in that part of town
The homechef visits the New Market area frequently to source ingredients for her food orders, and no visit is complete without a stop at Deva to have the delish kebabs. “I go to the New Market often to buy ingredients for my party orders. If I happen to go during the evenings, I definitely visit Deva for the kebabs.” But, “don’t go there if you are picky about sitting arrangements and sharing tables with others,” she signed off.
