The best Bengali restaurants in Mumbai

What is it?  A rechristened version of what’s possibly Mumbai’s first dedicated Bengali restaurant – Only Fish – which has been satiating Bengali food cravings since the ‘90s. 

Why we love it: Anjan Chatterjee, the hotelier behind Speciality Restaurants, spotted a gaping hole in Mumbai's culinary scene in 1992 and filled it with Only Fish, a humble 32-seater born out of sheer frustration at not finding authentic Bengali food in the city. By 1995, it had grown into Oh! Calcutta. Trusted by the Bengali diaspora and gourmands alike, it's often deemed a posh biye bari khabar (upscale Bengali wedding feast), and we wouldn't have it any other way. Go for the daab chingri (prawns cooked in a tender coconut), the hilsa and a plate of luchi (deep-fried puris) with kosha mangsho (slow-cooked Bengali mutton curry). Or the new menu that they have just introduced, with dishes like Gondhoraj cheese cake, chicken luchi tacos, mangsher ghee pulao (mutton pulao), and more.

Time Out tip: You cannot leave without dessert. Bengali sweets made with jaggery are a highlight, and the nolen gur ice cream is a must-order when it's in season.

Price: ₹2,000 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 1pm-3.30 pm and 7pm-11.30pm.

Contact: 083569 05158 

Address: Hotel Rosewood, Ground Floor, Tulsiwadi Path, opposite Mahindra Heights, Mumbai, 400034 

What is it? A cafe-style, no-fuss joint in Oshiwara, with black-and-white photographs and portraits of Tagore and Satyajit Ray keeping watch over your meal. 

Why we love it: Started by Tapan Roy and his wife Manisha Roy in the early 2000s, this humble eatery is where nostalgia is always on the menu. Make your way through the restrained Kolkata-style biryani, chorchori (Bengali mixed veg), begun bhaja (pan-fried eggplant), and fish fry. Just one plate of their luchi and golbarir kosha mangsho isn’t enough. While at it, enjoy the different kinds of fish, chicken, mutton and prawn dishes they whip up in various styles. They do a mean bhetki fry and bhetki paturi. If you are a nascent Bengali-food eater or want to be, then any of The Calcutta Club outlets are a good starting point. Their extensive menu only helps. 

Time Out Tip: Don’t fill up on the starters. And do try the special chutneys and aam pora sharbat. 

Price: ₹1,000 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11am-12am.

Contact: 098704 24395

Address: Shop Number 22, Oshiwara Link Plaza, New Link Road, Near Oshiwara Police Station Rd, Andheri West, Mumbai, 400102 

What is it?  A grand trunk road-themed Indian restaurant and bar, whose menu runs from Kabul to Chittagong and makes a pit stop in Bengal along the way.

Why we love it: Taftoon isn't a Bengali restaurant. Its menu, inspired by the Grand Trunk Road, starts in Kabul and passes through Kolkata to end at Chittagong; so Bengal (present and erstwhile) gets a proper seat at the table. Think lebu chingri soup (lemon prawn soup), dimer devil chaat (egg croquettes), bhetki paturi, dhokar dalna, dom potoler dolma (stuffed pointed gourd in gravy), lobster malai curry, and radha bollobhi (Bengali dal puri), and more sitting next to Awadhi, Mughlai, and Kashmiri gems. They even have a GTR-inspired cocktail program, so pair your chops with a proper cocktail; something other typical Bengali joints in the city don’t offer. 

Time Out Tip: Menus change seasonally. 

Price: ₹3,000 for two with alcohol

Timings: Mon-Sun. 12pm-12.30am.

Contact: 77770 76563 

Address: Naman Centre Bank Of India, G Block Rd, opp. SIDBI, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, 400051

What is it?  A grand trunk road-themed Indian restaurant and bar, whose menu runs from Kabul to Chittagong and makes a pit stop in Bengal along the way.

Why we love it: Taftoon isn't a Bengali restaurant. Its menu, inspired by the Grand Trunk Road, starts in Kabul and passes through Kolkata to end at Chittagong; so Bengal (present and erstwhile) gets a proper seat at the table. Think lebu chingri soup (lemon prawn soup), dimer devil chaat (egg croquettes), bhetki paturi, dhokar dalna, dom potoler dolma (stuffed pointed gourd in gravy), lobster malai curry, and radha bollobhi (Bengali dal puri), and more sitting next to Awadhi, Mughlai, and Kashmiri gems. They even have a GTR-inspired cocktail program, so pair your chops with a proper cocktail; something other typical Bengali joints in the city don’t offer. 

Time Out Tip: Menus change seasonally. 

Price: ₹3,000 for two with alcohol

Timings: Mon-Sun. 12pm-12.30am.

Contact: 77770 76563 

Address: Naman Centre Bank Of India, G Block Rd, opp. SIDBI, G Block BKC, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai, 400051

What is it? A regular spot when Bengali street food cravings hit hard. Hangla is Bengali for someone who's always hungry. 

Why we love it:  When one is not making a beeline for their goodies at pujo stalls in Mumbai pandals, this is a go-to for kathi rolls, chops, fish fry, and, of course, biryani. Their dimer devil gets a lot of adulation, and rightly so. What started as a small shop outside the market in Lokhandwala Market by late photojournalist Soumitra Ghosh has grown into a multi-branch venture. They do kathi rolls especially well, as these golden layered parathas, like the double chicken roll, feature a well-balanced filling finished off with a lemon squeeze cutting through the fat. 

Price: ₹600 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 12pm-1am.

Contact: 077383 64222 

Address:  Shop No 5, Meera Tower, near Mega Mall, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari West, Mumbai, 400102 

What is it?  A tiny, homely restaurant run by septuagenarian Milli Ghoshal, who will serve you with loads of love. 

Why we love it: If you are hunting for unpretentious, authentic, homestyle Bengali food, then Kolkata Heshel certainly makes the cut. Heshel or hensel is actually derived from haṛishal, which means a room where pots are stored, like a kitchen. This Malad eatery started right before the COVID-19 pandemic and has been holding a special place in the hearts of the community. In fact, some of the recipes, like basanti pulao (traditional, mildly sweet, and fragrant Bengali festive rice dish) and chanar payesh (traditional Bengali dessert made with fresh cottage cheese), are passed down to Milli by her mother and grandmother. Capturing the spirit of Kolkata’s street food, this unpresuming haunt concocts flavour-packed thalis, chicken dak bungalow, malai curry, and more. 

Time Out Tip: Order a side jhuri aloo bhaja (finely shredded, deep-fried potato sticks) with your mains. It has limited seats; around the festive season, you may have to wait in a queue. 

Price: ₹700 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11.30am-11.30pm.

Contact: 077770 44001

Address: Chincholi Bunder Rd, near Chincholi Bunder Link Road, opp. Mohan Bar, Malad, Signal, Malad West, Mumbai, 400064

What is it? A casual-dining spot in Powai that is emerging as a comfort zone for homesick Bengalis.

Why we love it: As the name suggests, it chronicles Calcutta’s rich culinary heritage, which means the menu incorporates Bengali, British, Mughal, and Chinese influences. Started in 2023 by three formidable ladies – Debaki Roy, Bishakha Chatterjee, and Indrani Ghosh – it strikes a fairly good balance between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Their underrated katla macher jhol (Catla fish curry) with polao (pulao) is a combo that induces the famous bhaat ghum for me. Victoria veg ghoogni chaat, hing diye alur dom (no-garlic Bengali potato curry flavoured with asafoetida), and Baburchi murghi korma (a Mughlai dish) are quite good. 

Time Out Tip: Around festive times, they do special thalis that shouldn’t be missed. 

Price: ₹1,000 for two

Timings: Daily 11.30am-11pm

Contact: 085912 61954  

Address: Galleria Shopping Mall, Central Ave, Hiranandani Gardens, Panchkutir Ganesh Nagar, Powai, Mumbai, 400076

What is it? An order-in-only service that delivers not just authentic Bengali cuisine but also Odia delights.  

Why we love it: Because Eastern Indian cuisine isn't just Bengali; it is Odia, too. And both regions share a deep-rooted, mutual love for rice, fish, and mustard oil.  Along with the sorshe ilish (hilsa in mustard gravy), mutton kosha and daab chingri, the menu has Odia gems like dalma (lentils with seasonal veggies), machha besara (rui fish in mustard and raw mango) and dahi bara aloo dum, which is a street-side comfort in a bowl. That's the kind of range you'd expect from a Bengali household with Odia cousins. A rare gem in Mumbai, the recipes that feature on the menu are passed down from one generation to the other. 

Time Out tip: Do not miss their ghugni chaat. 

Price: ₹600 for two

Timings: Tues-Sun. 9am-11.30pm.

Contact: 091674 77072  

Address: Shop 14, Ground Floor, Shivashakti Society, A S Marg, near Ganesh Mandir, Panchkutir Ganesh Nagar, Powai, Mumbai, 400076

What is it? A delivery kitchen that has spawned small restaurants all over the city. Run by Amit Roy, it is a reliable go-to for Bangali staples. It has seating at select outlets. 

Why we love it: When you miss your mom’s cooking, this is where you head. 'Peetuk' in Bengali means someone greedy or gluttonous for food. Another regular at pujo stalls, their biryanis, even veg biryani – believe me – do the heavy lifting. Airy and fragrant, it isn’t spicy at all. Alongside it, the mutton kosha – which you have to mop up with luchis – and the shorshe (mustard) fish are regularly ordered. Rolls and snacks are worth the detour too: the egg roll, fish fry and fish fingers are crowd-pleasers. If you're vegetarian, the veg shukto thali is the order, and the malai chomchom is the sweet finish. 

Time Out Tip: Rolls don’t travel well and are best enjoyed fresh or as takeaways. 

Price: ₹500 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11.30am-4pm and 6pm-11.30pm.

Contact: 090043 33975 

Address: Shop D 4, BD 77, Ground Floor, Shri Brahma Chaitanya CHS, Near KPS School, Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West, Mumbai 

What is it? A casual Oshiwara joint where Kolkata's greatest street-food hits, from phuchka to aloo kabli to jhal muri to rolls, come with a side of adda. 

Why we love it: There is a beautiful concept in Bengal called jolkhabar, which is a light bite between proper meals. Think of it as a small snack or tiffin, usually in the late morning or in the late afternoon alongside tea. And this place is perfect for that. Not to say that they don’t have good full meal options; they do thalis in all sizes and have the Bengali veg and non-veg staples like the dalna, ghonto, curries, and even kochupata chingri, bhapa ilish, and more. But sitting with a cup of tea, having jhal muri, inhaling phuckhas one after the other, polishing off a plate of churmur – that is basically it. Add a roll (or two) and some chops into the mix; you are getting a full Cal streetside experience right here in Mumbai. On the offer are also Kolkata-style Indo-Chinese dishes like chilli chicken and fried rice, or roadside-style chowmein. 

Time Out Tip: Have the phuchkas when served immediately, because a soggy puri is a crime.

Price: ₹500 for two

Timings: Mon-Sun. 11am-12am.

Contact: 099677 68745 

Address: Shop No 1,2 &3, Ekdant Society, Off New Link Rd, Oshiwara, Andheri West, Mumbai, 400102