20 Best Cheap Eats in Kolkata That Locals Love
Great food in Kolkata that will not punish your wallet
The queue at Kusum Rolls starts before noon and doesn't stop. The shopfronts on Park Street and around College Street are the backbone of Kolkata's food culture—not because they're trendy, but because they work: filling, flavourful food that leaves money in your pocket. This list ranks entries by how easy they are to find, how consistently good the food is, and whether you can eat alone without fuss or with friends without negotiation. We've ordered by area and type: rolls and street food first, then sit-down restaurants. Opening times and prices are current to September 2026, but call ahead if you're making a trip—Kolkata's beloved old shops sometimes close for festivals or staff rotation.
Most entries cost between ₹100 and ₹300 per person. A note on portions: this is not fine dining. One kathi roll or one plate of cutlets is a meal, not a starter.
Ground Floor, 21 Park Street, Park Street · Fast food, rolls · Opens 12pm, closes 11pm; ₹500 for two
stockKusum Rolls has been in business 52 years at its Park Street location near The Park Hotel. Order flavourful varieties of rolls like chicken, vegetables, paneer, egg, and mutton at affordable prices; the shop is thronged mostly by office goers looking for a quick snack, and you should be prepared for long queues during lunch hours. There is no seating available here—eat at the counter or carry it.
Nizam's Since 1932
Stall 26/2, Hogg Market, Taltala, New Market · Kathi rolls, biryani, North Indian · Opens 11:30am; ₹400 for two
Nizam's Since 1932 serves biryani, North Indian, rolls, and Mughlai cuisine, and is known as a pocket-friendly restaurant with a clean space and comfortable seating area. The eatery dates to 1937 and is thought to be one of the original sources of kathi rolls, with casual and historic vibe and old-school Kolkata feel. Their signature chicken kathi roll costs around ₹108.
Zam Zam Restaurant
28A Syed Amir Ali Avenue, Park Circus · Biryani, beef, Mughlai · Noon to midnight; ₹500 for two
Zam Zam serves biryani, Mughlai, North Indian, rolls, and desserts, and is known for its ordering process, gastronomical experience, and relaxed atmosphere, packed on weekends. They specialise in beef items and their prices are pretty cheap. Top dishes include beef malai, beef bhuna, hariyali chicken, and sahi tukra.
15 Bankim Chandra Avenue, College Street · Coffee, snacks, Bengali · 9am–12:30pm, 5pm–9pm; price for one under ₹150
stockIndian Coffee House is open daily 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, though the full address shows hours of 9am–12:30pm and 5pm–9pm, including weekends. You can nurse a single cup of their signature 'Infusion' (Black Coffee) for hours, lost in thought or deep conversation. Low prices for food, large portions. This is less about eating than being in the room where Satyajit Ray and Amartya Sen held court.
Mitra Cafe
47 Jatindra Mohan Avenue, Shobhabazar (near Sovabazar Metro) · Bengali fast food, seafood, cutlets · 5pm–10pm; ₹550 for two
Mitra Cafe was established in 1920 and is located near Sovabazar Metro Station in North Kolkata; while it has expanded with several branches, the original outlet remains a pilgrimage site for food lovers seeking authentic taste of old Calcutta's cabin culture. The cafe is legendary for its Bengali-style cutlets and chops, and is most famous for the Diamond Brain Chop; other signature items include Fish Kabiraji and mutton cutlet.
119A Muzaffar Ahmed Street, Park Street · Biryani, Mughlai, kebab · 11am–4am; ₹850 for two
stockArsalan serves biryani, North Indian, Mughlai, kebab, rolls, and seafood, and is known for cost-worthiness, gastronomical experience, and authenticity. The Mutton Biryani comes with perfectly cooked rice and tender, flavorful mutton; the Lacha Paratha with Mutton Gravy complements the meal. Open late enough for night hunger.
Sher-e-Punjab
Theatre Road (near edge from where Theatre Road starts) · Kathi rolls, fish rolls, kebabs · -
The oldest joint is situated at the edge of the lane from where Theatre Road starts; stuffed with chunks of fish kebab and veggies wrapped inside a delicious paratha, the fish roll costs ₹50. No need for reservations, no need to dress up—just land and order.
Ho Chi Minh Sarani, Russel Street · South Indian, dosa, idly, vada · -
stockJyoti Vihar serves a wide range of delicacies from milk upma, ghee paper butter, sada dosa, dahi vada, medu wadas and onion uttapam. If you want to eat something that isn't a roll, fried, or swimming in gravy, this is the place. Go for breakfast or early lunch when the fresh batches come out.
Maharani
Deshapriya Park, Golpark · Kachori, jalebi, Bengali sweets · Morning onwards; ₹50 per plate
For every Bengali, Sunday mornings are incomplete without Maharani's famous Kachori and Jalebis; this Deshapriya Park shop serves the best and freshest kachori all day, and you can have a filling meal at barely 50 rupees. Their Gulab jamun, Malpoa and other sweet dishes are very tasty too.
Denzong Momo House
Jadavpur (main branch at 9A Bikramghar) · Momos, dumplings · -
You get the juiciest momos with super fillings at a reasonable price; the place isn't much spacious but that doesn't bring any change in its popularity; a variety from steamed momos to pan-fried all are available, with several outlets and the main branch in Jadavpur. Pan-fried potstickers or momos tossed in mild schezuan sauce cost ₹90.
Bachan's Dhaba
Multiple locations including Santoshpur branch · Punjabi, kebab, dhaba-style · -
Known as one of the most budget-friendly restaurants in town with a second outlet at Santoshpur; their special 'Chicken Cheese Kebab' along with 'Mutton Keema' will satiate your tastebuds and give you an explosion of flavors. Dhabas run on volume and speed—there's no waiting for plating.
Chitto Babur Dokan
Dacres Lane · Bengali fast food, fish roll, chicken stew · -
A popular food joint on Dacres Lane, Chitto Babur Dokan is known for its affordable yet delicious offerings like Fish Roll and Chicken Stew, and has been serving affordable, delicious meals for over 60 years. The kind of place where time stopped around 1970 and nobody noticed.
Kolkata 46
Salt Lake, Sector V · Buffet, momos, noodles · -
Kolkata 46 offers a rooftop buffet experience that is one of the most value-for-money deals in 2026 at ₹399, with an unlimited array of momos, crispy chili baby corn, Hakka noodles, fried rice, and their signature dishes. Unlimited is the word that matters here.
Chowringhee Road, near Rabindra Sadan Metro · Bangladeshi, Dhakai cuisine · -
stockThis eatery has been serving up delicious and affordable Dhakai dishes for years with multiple branches throughout bustling neighborhoods; the ambiance is simple with people full most of the time; the menu has a wide range of items, and basanti pulao with chicken curry or kosha is a must try for authentic Bengali food.
Anadi Cabin
Taltala, near Rabindra Sadan · Bengali cuisine, luchi, kosha · Evening onwards
The restaurant was named after Anadi who passed away due to Tuberculosis, and the profit goes to the school authority of Saithiya, Midnapore; the foodie public will enjoy the nostalgia and dynamic crowd with pocket-friendly budget. Food quality has dropped for some reviewers; no duck egg moglai and mutton kosha half plates not as tasty as it was a decade back, with quality compromised.
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