Six Kathi Roll stops in Kolkata

Quiz a Kolkatan about their favourite street food and rolls (specifically Kathi Rolls) will feature as top contenders. Like its biryani, Kolkata is possessive about this eat-on-the-go and easy-on-the-pocket fare.

Paper-wrapped, crispy parathas loaded with skewer-roasted chunks of chicken or mutton. Throw in some chopped onions, green chillies, a dash of lime, or tomato/chilli sauce and your piping-hot roll is ready to be relished. 

And the best part about rolls is how you can change things up as per your taste. Be choosy about the garnishes, opt for other filling favourites — be it fish, egg, paneer or alu (potato) — or boldly combine two or more of them at a time. 

So here's a ready reckoner for a few must-try roll stops spread across the city.

If you happen to be in the New Market area for a round of shopping or en route a heritage tour, Nizam's should be on your itinerary. 

Regarded as the founder of Kathi Rolls, Nizam's has pre-Independence origins. In 1932, its owner, Raza Hassan Saheb, found a solution to convince the British to eat kebabs without using their hands. He simply folded the meat inside parathas and wrapped it in paper. And that's how the roll was born. Later, metal skewers were replaced by bamboo ones in the 1960s and the name “Kathi” Roll was conceived. 

Today, Nizam's is considered a heritage joint and serves nearly 20 varieties of rolls. While chicken and mutton Kathi rolls are a must-try, vegetarians might go for their speciality: the Bachchan-special Alu Roll, dedicated to Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan. Legend has it, the ‘Deewar’ actor used to frequent Nizam's when he was a business executive at the British managing agency, Bird & Company, in the late 1960s. 

Nizam's is usually open from 11.30am to 10.30pm and its rolls are priced between Rs 55 and Rs 200.

To visit Kolkata and skip Park Street is unthinkable. Party central and food hub, Park Street encapsulates the city’s cosmopolitan soul. And nestled among the city’s hangout hotspots are two of its most popular roll shops — Kusum Roll’s and Hot Kati Rolls. 

Founded in 1971, Kusum Roll’s is located at 21 Park Street, close to The Park Hotel and Trincas. It offers nearly 40 varieties of rolls, with the prices ranging from around Rs 50 to Rs 300. Kusum is also known for experimenting with its ingredients; it was one of the first places in the city to add mayonnaise and cheese to rolls. A few of the popular choices include the Egg Chicken Cheese Roll, the Veg Mayo Roll and the Triple Egg Roll. Mushroom and Soya Chap Rolls are also available at Kusum, which is open from 11.30am to 11.30pm. 

Hot Kati Rolls, their neighbour at 1/1, Park Street, is located below the Apeejay Business Centre. It was started by Gaya-based chef Nesar Ahmad in 1984 and is operational from 2pm to 10pm. 

The outlet offers two varieties of egg rolls, six kinds of chicken and mutton rolls. Paneer, veg and egg veg rolls are also popular. The Double Chicken Kathi Roll is a favourite among regulars. 

Prices at Hot Kati Rolls go from Rs 50 to Rs 250.

Popular for their rolls made with lachcha parathas, Zeeshan’s original outlet is located near the busy seven-point Park Circus crossing (they now have branches in several locations across the city). While the shop remains open from 7am till midnight, rolls are usually available between noon and 10pm. 

Zeeshan offers nearly a dozen varieties of rolls, including Single/Double/Special Egg, Chicken and Mutton. But they are most famous for their Chicken/Mutton Tikia (minced meat and lentil filling) and Boti (chunks of meat instead of skewers) Rolls, which are one of a kind. Prices range from Rs 50 to Rs 210. 

Zeeshan is also popular for its biryani, so if you are particularly hungry or in a large group, consider having a taste of Kolkata’s other Mughlai love after you are done with your roll.

Located in the heart of south Kolkata, Campari is an old favourite roll stop in the shopper’s paradise that is Gariahat. 

This family-run Dover Terrace eatery was founded by engineer Ashok Kumar Mitra in 1979 after he returned from Germany. It is open from noon to 8.30pm, or as the proprietors often say, “Until stock lasts!” They have recently opened a cloud kitchen in Jadavpur, from where patrons can order food online. 

Besides the usual variants, some of Campari’s best-selling rolls include Egg Chicken/Egg Mutton, Special Chicken/Special Mutton and Egg Special Chicken/Egg Special Mutton. Perhaps the most famous is their Tandoori Fish Roll. The prices range from Rs 70 to Rs 160. 

If you’re in Gariahat, make sure to take a break from shopping and stop by Campari to try their rolls. In case you want something different, try their chicken cutlet and fish fry with a dash of kasundi (Bengal mustard relish).

Situated at Sahapur in New Alipore, Anamika, at first glance, is a nondescript roll stop. It is easy to miss, but take a bite of its rolls and the quality will leave a lasting impact. 

Originally a hit among the locals, this outlet has now gone viral among roll lovers citywide and those travelling from outside. 

The outlet offers 20 different varieties of rolls, with options galore for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Anamika’s speciality? Potato filling in all their rolls, which range from Paneer Potato Roll to Double Egg Double Mutton Potato Roll. 

The shop is operational from 4pm to 10pm and roll prices range between Rs 60 and Rs 220.

So whether backpacker or luxury traveller, if a Kolkata trip is on the cards, keep this list handy and have a quintessential Kolkata roll or two between city touring stints. Or look up their menus online and order in while you relax in your hotels or homestays.

Trivia: 
Kathi is a Bengali word that translates to “stick” – a nod to the roll’s popular skewer-roasted fillings.

Pro tip: 
Squeeze some fresh lime juice on your piping hot Kathi roll and then have it alongside a chilled cola drink for that perfect punch.