Macher jhol (fish curry)
A light, everyday Bengali fish curry, usually eaten with rice.
Food & local experiences
Food in Bakkhali
Fish, rice and mustard: what to eat on the Bengal coast, where to find it, and how to order well.
Photo: Kingshukdeb6 · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Bengali cuisine
Dishes to look for
Bengali cooking leans on fish, rice, mustard oil and mustard seed, poppy seed and coconut. On the coast, the catch of the day decides the menu.
Paturi
Fish such as bhetki coated in mustard paste and steamed or grilled in a banana leaf.
Bengali thali
Rice with dal, fried vegetables, fish or prawn curry and chutney, served together.
Local seafood
From the harbour
Fraserganj's government fishing harbour supplies the area with fresh catch. What you find on menus changes with the season and the day's landings.
- Prawns (chingri): often in a coconut-milk malai curry or mustard gravy.
- Crab (kakra): spicy curries; usually priced by weight.
- Pomfret and other sea fish: fried or in curry.
- Hilsa (ilish): a Bengali favourite, most associated with the monsoon season.
- Dried fish (shutki): a strong-flavoured coastal speciality.
Where to eat Check locally
Food stalls line the approach to the main beach, and most hotels have their own restaurants. We don't yet list individual restaurants because we haven't verified them. Ask your hotel for current recommendations.
Ordering tips
- Where seafood is sold by weight, agree the price before it is cooked.
- Choose busy places where food is cooked fresh.
- Drink bottled or properly filtered water.
- Tell the cook if you prefer less spice or less oil.
Plan your journey to the coast
Routes from Kolkata, the best months to visit and practical safety advice, all on one page.