ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Bangladesh
Five dishes to try in Bangladesh, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Bangladesh
Kacchi biryani কাচ্চি বিরিয়ানি
Layered rice and marinated mutton cooked together in a sealed pot.
How to have it: Old Dhaka is the place to eat it; weddings and Eid are not complete without it.
Shorshe ilish সর্ষে ইলিশ
Hilsa, the national fish, cooked in pungent mustard paste.
How to have it: Best in the monsoon season; eat it with plain rice and watch for the many fine bones.
Kala bhuna কালা ভুনা
Beef slow-fried with spices until dark and almost dry.
How to have it: A Chittagong specialty; eat it with plain rice or paratha.
Fuchka ফুচকা
Crisp hollow puris filled with spiced potato, chickpeas and tamarind water.
How to have it: Sold from street carts in the evening; eat each one in a single bite.
Mishti doi মিষ্টি দই
Sweet caramelised yoghurt set in clay pots.
How to have it: Bogura is famous for it; sweet shops sell it in small earthen pots.
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Questions
What food is Bangladesh famous for?
Kacchi biryani (layered rice and marinated mutton cooked together in a sealed pot) comes first on our list, followed by Shorshe ilish, Kala bhuna, Fuchka and Mishti doi.
What is the national dish of Bangladesh?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Bangladesh is Kacchi biryani: layered rice and marinated mutton cooked together in a sealed pot. Old Dhaka is the place to eat it; weddings and Eid are not complete without it.
Which dishes in Bangladesh are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Fuchka and Mishti doi. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Bangladesh?
Fuchka (crisp hollow puris filled with spiced potato, chickpeas and tamarind water).
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.