Food is an inseparable part of traveling. While exploring new places, trying out the local foods enhances the exposure to the local culture and traditions.
Recently, I went to Bogra, a city in the North Bengal. I’ve written another blog about our time there. But this post is all about its food.
The food in this region of the country is famous for its cheaper cost. Here are some of the most famous and worthy foods of Bogra that you must try if you ever visit this place.
1. The famous Yogurt of Bogra
Yogurt made in Bogra, more known as Bogurar Doi, is one of the most famous foods in the whole country. It’s the signature food of this district.
This yogurt is much denser than regular ones. It’s neither too sweet, nor too sour. A perfect combination of these tastes makes this food a treat to the mouth.
For the convenience of the consumers, they sell this yogurt in three different kinds of containers. The smallest one is cup-like, perfect for one person. It costs around BDT 30-40. The medium-sized container is more like a plate that contains approximately 650-700 grams of yogurt, suitable for 4-6 persons. This one costs between BDT 180-260 depending on the price of milk and other ingredients. The largest one is a jar-shaped container that can contain more than 1 kilogram of yogurt. The price is also set accordingly.
There is no specific shop to find this yogurt. Many shops around the Bogra district sell it at different qualities and different prices. The best & also the cheapest version of it can be found in the Sherpur region of Bogra. Moreover, Asian Sweets and Akbaria Sweets are the two most famous shops in the city for tasting Bogurar Doi. Both of these are situated a few yards near the Sathmatha Mor, the city’s central point.
2. Kotkoti of Mahasthangar
Kotkoti is a popular food to try in the Mahasthangar area, which is the main tourist attraction of Bogra. It’s a sweetish & brittle dessert-type food. Unlike other sweet foods, the sweetness is moderate in it and can be a good option to try as a small snack.
The oldest and most famous shop to make this is Lal Miah’r Kotkoti. This shop is situated just beside the gate of the shrine of Hazrat Shah Sultan. Nearby, there are many other shops where this food is made as well. Every 100 grams of Kotkoti costs around BDT 10-15.
3. Beef Chaap of Bogra city
Near the Thantania bus stand of Bogra city, restaurants sell Beef Chaaps which are pretty popular food among the visitors. A chaap is thin slices of marinated beef cooked in oil. Although it’s found all over the country, in Bogra it’s a very popular food to have on the dinner plate.
There are few restaurants where this chaap is cooked. During our visit, we went to that place at almost 9 o’clock in the evening only to find that all the chaaps has been sold long before we arrived!
4. Meals in Akbaria Hotel
The name Akbaria is a brand in Bogra. There is Akbaria Sweets that I’ve mentioned above, and there is Akbaria Residential Hotel. But it’s the Akbaria Hotel (restaurant) where you can have mouth-watering foods at a decent price.
The Akbaria Hotel is a 5-minutes walk from the Sathmatha Traffic Point of Bogra city. It’s a good place to have both breakfast and lunch/dinner.
The Paratha with Daal (Lentils), Alu-Mangsho (Beef cooked with Potato), or Kozila Vuna is a perfect option for breakfast. For lunch/dinner, they have delicious curries and vortas. I liked the Beef Vuna the most.
5. Street Foods in Sathmatha Point
There are lots of food carts on the streets of Sathmatha point of Bogra city. Usually after sunset, these carts come into life. People of all ages and occupations gather in this place for spending a relaxing evening while trying out the street foods of Bogra.
Burgers, Sheek Kabab, Fried Chickens, Tea, Coffee – what’s not in there! We tried Sheek Kabab with Rotis from a cart beside the main gate of Bogra Zilla School. I could not finish my portion because of the spice, but it was good. Although the price was much higher than we expected. It cost BDT 400 for 4 of us, but the amount of food was very little.
These are the most mentionable foods that you must try if you ever visit Bogra. For more details and info about Bogra city and its historical places, read this article I’ve written based on my own experience in Bogra – A Day At The Ancient Lost Civilization of Mahasthangar – Transport, Accommodation & Costs.
Traveller BD 