Kolkata’s food economy continued to show strong digital consumption trends in 2025, with Swiggy reporting that Chicken Fry became the city’s most-ordered dish at 17.2 lakh orders. However, biryani remained the city’s biggest staple, with Kolkata placing 34.9 lakh biryani orders the fifth-highest in India including 16.3 lakh Chicken Biryani and 11.7 lakh Mutton Biryani orders. High-protein meals also emerged as a key growth segment, touching 7.8 lakh orders during the year.
Traditional sweets such as Gulab Jamun (2.1 lakh) and Kaju Barfi (1.2 lakh) topped dessert charts, while Gur Sandesh and Gur Rasgulla continued to see daily demand. Dinner orders rose 16.7% year-on-year, and late-night ordering was driven largely by chicken-based favourites. The city also displayed strong appetite for Bihari, Gujarati and Maharashtrian cuisine.
Kolkata’s food delivery sector reflects a blend of affordability, nostalgia and rising premium dining culture. Over nine lakh diners used Swiggy Dineout, saving Rs 25.28 crore, while premium dining bookings rose 66.5% year-on-year. At the same time, budget-friendly offerings such as the 99 Store and Bolt fast delivery service continue to support mass-market growth. The festive season remained a key consumption period, with Durga Puja alone seeing up to 197 orders per minute. Swiggy said it remains focused on convenience and value as digital food spending becomes a mainstream urban habit in Kolkata.
