When you pass through the CR Park lanes on an evening during the rush hour, you realize that the smell is quite different: fried, spicy, tangy, fishy (in its best sense) and so Bengali. Melt-in-mouth cutlets to crispy rolls and mishti that vanishes after a few seconds, CR Park is in a way Kolkata within Delhi.
And these are the 6 Bengali snacks that you simply cannot leave CR Park without having devoured!
1. Fish Cutlet in Kolkata Biryani House.
CR Park without fish cutlets? Impossible. These hush puppies are crunchy on the outside and juicy and tender and slightly spicy on the inside. The fish has no bones and melts like butter and that Bengali mustard-ketchup combination on the side is the secret. Indescribable evening snack, ideal pocket pinch.
Where: Market 1, CR Park
Alternatives: Chicken Roll, Fish Fry.
2. Egg Roll from Roll N Rock
All Bengalis are aware of the capability of a good egg roll, and Roll N Rock hits the nail on the head. Layered paratha followed by a layer of fried egg, crispy onions, green chillies, and the squeeze of lime – simple yet indefeasible. Take one and be like a local of CR Park, and walk around the market.
Where: Market 2, CR Park
Alternatives: Chicken Egg Roll, Chowmein Roll.
3. Telebhaja of Annapurna Sweet House.
Telebhaja = fried happiness. Consider beguni (fried slices of brinjal), alur chop, phooluri, and mochar chop. Annapurna does it the Kolkata style that is authentic, light, crisp, full of flavour and completely addictive. The most appropriate in the company of monsoon or gossiping.
Where: Market 1, CR Park
Also taste: Samosa (Shingara), Vegetable Chop.
4. Ghugni from Kamala Sweet
It is a spicy, tangy, yet comforting, and most importantly soul-satisfying recipe in the traditional Bengal style of yellow peas curry. Kamala version is laden with chopped onions, corianders, green chillies and lemon squeeze and the flavours strike all the nostalgic chords.
Where: Market 2, CR Park
Try also: Moong Dal Pakoda
5. Fish Fry of Dadu Cutlet Shop.
The OG. The legend. Dadu’s Fish Fry is chef’s kiss. Thick bhetki fillet seasoned the Bengali fashion, dipped, crumbed, fried to the perfect point – and served piping hot. The crunch is unreal. The flavour is iconic. You will 100% come back for more.
Where: Market 4, CR Park
Alternatives: Prawn Cutlet, Chicken Cutlet.
6. Mishti Doi & Rosogolla at Kamala Sweet House.
All snack crawls of Bengali cuisine should be completed with mishti. It’s the law. That caramel sweetness and velvety texture is what makes Kamala put a stop in the middle of the sentence with her mishti doi. Their rosogollas? Soft, perfect, wet as light, in a word, Kolkata authentic.
Where: Market 2, CR Park
Try also: Sandesh, Kheer Kodom
