If you expect to visit the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka, you should undoubtedly take the opportunity to try out the distinctive local food. You will find that Bangladeshi cuisine is rather like the Bengali cuisine of India, yet also has unique attributes. The cuisine of Bangladesh has been shaped by the local geography, as well as by various foreign influences and some of the traditional foods that you can try during your visit to Dhaka are described below.

A typical Bangladeshi food that enjoys great popularity amongst the locals is bortha, which may be described as any variety of cooked vegetables, that is served in mashed form. Bortha may consist of a single vegetable or a combination of vegetables and could be mild or spicy in flavour. Typically, this dish would be served within small dishes and shared amongst the diners; it will accompany a serving of rice as well as fried fish or a variety of curries. As bortha is rather cheap you could order several varieties and try them out on your foodie adventures.

Another much-loved local culinary specialty is pitha or rice cakes. Pitha could be made from several varieties of rice and come in both savoury and sweet forms. Many varieties of pitha would be immersed in milk and then provided with a topping of sugar, jaggery, date palm syrup or molasses. These rice cakes could be prepared by frying or steaming them, or even using other methods. This traditional Bangladeshi speciality is particularly popular after the rice harvest when winter commences and it is enjoyed throughout the country.

The very popular snack known as phuchka in Dhaka and by other names in other parts of Bangladesh and India will be another interesting dish to try out. Basically, phuchka would consist of small crispy bread-like shells that happen to be broken on top and stuffed with a filling of potatoes and vegetables; a spicy sauce is then added to complete this culinary creation. Interestingly, phuchka should not be taken away to be eaten at a later time as it will soon become soggy and instead, you should consume this snack at the food stall itself.

Bangladeshi Biryani | Image via Wikimedia Commons

Your experience of Bangladeshi foods wouldn’t be complete without savouring the famed biryani which could also be found in other South Asian nations like India and Pakistan. In Bangladesh, biryani will typically be made with rice and meat – often chicken, goat, beef or prawns – that are cooked in mustard oil, with additional flavours being provided by ingredients like cumin, saffron, bay leaves, cloves, onions and chilli powder. When seeking the best restaurant in Dhaka to enjoy local specialities, consider the dining venues at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka where you could order traditional biryani as well.

Many Dhaka residents enjoy snacking on samosas and shingaras which can readily be found across the city; you will often find both varieties being sold at the same establishment. Samosas may be described as deep-fried triangle-shaped pastries with a filling of peas, potatoes and spices. On the other hand, shingaras would be rather similar, yet featuring a more round shape as well as a crumblier, flakier dough. It is generally believed that these foods have their origins in the Mughal era and evolved from having a filling of meat to today’s typical potato-based filling.

In Bangladesh, just like in neighbouring countries, curries happen to be a staple of the local cuisine. They are often eaten along with rice and are typically spicy. Although they are often prepared using vegetable oil in Bangladesh, in the country’s south, coconuts are sometimes used to make such dishes as well. Whilst many kinds of dishes could be made in curry form, the most popular versions are fish, prawn, chicken, goat, beef and egg curries. Amongst the best-loved local curries is the prized fish head curry, a dish that is often served to guests and is well worth savouring on your trip.