Bengali food during Durga Puja is non-negotiable. Here's what to eat in Delhi

If you don't have a Bengali spread during Durga Puja pandal hopping, your pujo bhromon is incomplete.Your guide to eating your way through Durga Puja in Delhi is here.New Delhi,Oct 13, 2026 17:09 ISTIf you ask a Bengali what makes Durga Puja special, chances are the answer will involve pandal-hopping, new clothes, adda, the sound of dhaak and, inevitably, food. Lots of it. Because Pujo without a plate of bhoger khichuri, a piece of fish fry or a generous serving of kosha mangsho? That is simply not the full experience.And if you are in Delhi, you don't necessarily have to travel to Kolkata to get a taste of it. Chittaranjan Park, better known as CR Park or Mini Kolkata, comes alive during Durga Puja with pandals, food stalls and markets that make it a destination for anyone who takes Bengali food seriously.The trick is to arrive hungry and pace yourself. Start with bhog, move on to the chops and cutlets, make room for biryani and kosha mangsho, and save some appetite for a phuchka or a kathi roll while you hop between pandals.Here is what you should eat this Pujo, and where to find it in Delhi.Start with bhoger khichuri. No, it isn't your everyday khichdi Before you go looking for biryani and mutton, begin with bhog. It is one of the most familiar food traditions of Durga Puja, and community pandals across Delhi generally make arrangements to serve it. Timings and distribution arrangements vary, so check with the organisers of the pandal you plan to visit.Bhoger khichuri is usually made with rice and moong dal, often roasted before cooking, and seasoned with spices and ghee. It is comforting, fragrant and quite different from the khichdi you might turn to on a sick day. A typical bhoger khichuri plate looks like this. (Photo: Unsplash) The khichuri is usually served with labra, a mixed vegetable preparation; beguni, or slices of brinjal dipped in batter and fried; and sometimes chutney, papad and a sweet such as payesh. The exact spread varies between pandals and days.There is something lovely about eating bhog sitting among other devotees, surrounded by the sounds and bustle of Pujo. It is also a reminder that the festival is about community and ritual, not just the elaborate pandals and the food stalls outside them.So, even if you have a long list of restaurants to visit, don't skip this one.Fish fry, mutton chop and chicken chop. The snacks are serious businessIf there is one thing you should know about Bengali snacks, it is that a chop is not necessarily a chop as you know it. These are often spiced fillings encased in mashed potato or coated in breadcrumbs, then fried until crisp. Add a little kasundi, the pungent Bengali mustard sauce, and you have a snack worth stopping for.For fish fry, mutton chop and other Bengali-style fried snacks, head to Ashirbad Snacks Corner in CR Park's Market 3. Its menu includes fish fry, fish cutlet, mutton chop, chicken chop and prawn chop. It is the sort of place to visit when you want to sample several things rather than settle for one large meal. Fish Fry at Oh! Calcutta. (Photo: Zomato) Another name to keep on your list is Dadu Cutlet Shop in Market 2. Look out for its fish fry and mutton cutlet. Of course, there is Oh! Calcutta if nothing else works out for you.Luchi with kosha mangsho is a Pujo mood of their ownFew combinations make a Bengali as happy as luchi and kosha mangsho. Luchi is a small, puffed, deep-fried bread, while kosha mangsho is mutton cooked slowly with spices until the gravy becomes rich, dark and deeply flavoured.For this combination, consider 6 Ballygunge Place, Oh! Calcutta, Amar Shonar Bangla or Maa Tara. Maa Tara, in particular, is a name to look up if you are exploring CR Park's Market 2 and want a Bengali meal beyond the street-food stalls. Greasy, crispy but absolutely lip-smacking, the combo is made in heaven! (Photo: Zomato) The appeal of kosha mangsho is in the slow cooking and the masala clinging to the meat. Pair it with luchi if you want the classic combination, or choose rice if you prefer to mop up every last bit of gravy.And if you are vegetarian, Bengali food has plenty to offer beyond the non-vegetarian favourites. Look out for aloo posto, chholar dal, shukto, chanar dalna, dhokar dalna, and seasonal vegetable preparations on restaurant menus. Dhokar dalna is spiced, fried lentil cakes (dhoka) simmered in a potato-based gravy. (Photo: Unsplash) Kolkata-style biryani deserves its own stopLet's settle one thing: Kolkata-style biryani is not simply a plate of rice and meat. The fragrant rice, gently spiced meat and that unmistakable potato make it a distinctive style, with its own loyal following.If biryani is non-negotiable for you, Aminia and Oh! Calcutta are options to consider. You could also look at Kolkata Biryani House in CR Park's Market 1 for a more casual meal. Chicken Biryani at Aminia. (Photo: Zomato) You will notice that Kolkata biryani is generally more restrained in its use of spices than some other regional styles. The potato is not an afterthought, either. For many Bengalis, it is an essential part of the plate.Phuchka is mandatory. Golgappa is not the same thingNo Bengali food trail during Pujo is complete without phuchka. Yes, it looks familiar if you know Delhi's golgappa or Mumbai's pani puri, but ask a Bengali and you will quickly hear that the details matter.The crisp atta shell, the mashed potato with spices and chickpea filling, the green chillies and the tangy tamarind water all come together differently. The flavour is sharper, often spicier, and the filling is a big part of what makes it distinct. Are you team puchka or golgappa? (Photo: Zomato) For a plate, head to Raju Chaat Corner in CR Park's Market 1. It is a useful stop when you are walking through the market and want something quick before moving on to the next pandal.Eat them fresh, one after another, and don't be shy about asking for the spice level you prefer or some phau. Just remember that once you start, one plate can quickly turn into two.Chicken, mutton or egg? Make room for a kathi rollThe Kolkata-style roll typically brings together a flaky paratha, a filling such as egg, chicken or mutton, onions and a mix of sauces and seasonings (no mayonnaise, please). It is an ideal option for those who want something substantial between pandal visits.Kolkata Kathi Roll is one place to look up if you are craving the format. You could also consider Nizam's, the well-known Connaught Place institution associated with the kathi roll, though check its current outlet and timings before planning your visit. Kathi kebab roll is different from frankies and other ordinary rolls. (Photo: Zomato) If you are ordering for a group, get a mix of egg, chicken and mutton rolls and share them. That way, you can sample more of the menu without calling it a night after one meal.The food stalls are part of the Pujo experience, tooOne of the best things about visiting CR Park or any other community pandal during Durga Puja is that you don't have to plan every meal around a restaurant reservation. The pandal areas and markets are part of the food experience themselves, with stalls and vendors offering snacks and quick bites.Depending on the pandal and the year's arrangements, you may find phuchka, rolls, cutlets, jhalmuri, ghugni and other favourites. The selection varies, so don't expect every stall to serve the same things at every location.One last thing, save room for some mishit.- Ends