Nimki is a small diamond of fried flour pastry, flaky and salted, eaten with tea. Around it sit the rest of the Bengali savoury trade — chanachur, ghugni, singara (the Bengali samosa, usually with cauliflower), and the chops and cutlets of the cabin menu.
10places named
4things to know
3areas covered
2026snapshot year
North Kolkata
Shobhabazar · Shyambazar · Bagbazar · Hatibagan · Kumartuli · Jorasanko · Maniktala| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshmi Narayan Shaw & Sons1918 | Sovabazar-Sutanuti | Chops and fritters. |
| Adi Haridas Modakc.1780 | Shyambazar More | Singara and kochuri in the morning. |
| Hatibagan sweet and savoury shops | Hatibagan | Nimki and chanachur by weight. |
Central Kolkata
BBD Bagh · Esplanade · New Market · Park Street · College Street · Bowbazar · Burrabazar| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Putiram1920s | College Street | Singara, kochuri and nimki. |
| Kalika Telebhaja1960s | Surya Sen Street | Chops and fritters. |
| Dacres Lane | off BBD Bagh | Chops and cutlets at lunchtime. |
| Dilkhusha Cabin1918 | Mahatma Gandhi Road | Kabiraji cutlet and mutton chop. |
South Kolkata
Bhowanipore · Kalighat · Gariahat · Ballygunge · Lake Market · Jadavpur · Tollygunge| Name | Where | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Balaram Mullick & Radharaman Mullick1885 | Bhowanipore | Savouries alongside the sweets. |
| Lake Market stalls | Lake Market | Ghugni and chop in the evening. |
| Gariahat stalls | Gariahat | Singara and ghugni. |
Worth knowing
- Singara in Bengal usually has cauliflower and peanuts, not just potato.
- Ghugni is dried peas, and the chopped onion and lime on top are not optional.
- Nimki is bought by weight and keeps for a week.
- Kabiraji cutlet — in a lace of fried egg — is the cabin speciality.
The other dishes
RosogollaSandeshKacha GollaNolen Gur SandeshLedikeniKheer KadamJol Bhora SandeshMishti DoiSitabhog and MihidanaCham ChamRasmalaiPayeshKathi RollPhuchkaJhalmuriTelebhajaKosha MangshoKolkata BiryaniMughlai ParathaChelo KebabLuchi and Alur DomMacher Jhol and Bhetki FryTangra Chinese
Read the city another way
A note on this page. Restaurants, shops and markets open, move and close far more often than industries do. Everything here is a snapshot of Kolkata as of 2026, offered as a starting point rather than a live listing. Check the address and the hours before you travel.
Company, mill, factory and shop names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Inclusion is for independent discovery only, not endorsement or affiliation.