Eau Chew

Eau Chew is one of the oldest surviving family-run Indo-Chinese restaurants in Kolkata, at 12 Ganesh Chandra Avenue in Bowbazar, central Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The site's research records it as still operating in a July 2026 guide. Bowbazar sits on the edge of the old Chinese settlement of the city, and the restaurant represents the Kolkata Chinese community's cooking, a distinct cuisine that adapted Chinese techniques to Indian tastes and became part of the city's identity.

The dishes most associated with the restaurant are chimney soup, a hot-pot style soup cooked in a traditional vessel and served at the table, Eau Chew special noodles, and chilli fish, the Indo-Chinese preparation that combines fried fish with a spicy sauce. These dishes reflect the older Kolkata Chinese style rather than the modern street-food version, with milder spicing and a stronger emphasis on broth and noodles. The menu is compact compared with newer restaurants.

The dining room is old-fashioned and simple, with a quiet, nostalgic atmosphere that suits diners interested in the city's history. It is usually calmer than busy Park Street venues, and service is straightforward and unhurried. Dress is casual. There is no distinctive beverage programme, and tea or soft drinks accompany meals.

Prices of roughly 500 to 1,000 rupees per person make it an affordable meal for a heritage restaurant. An older listing gives lunch from about 11:30AM to 2:30PM and dinner from about 6:30PM to 10PM, but visitors should confirm current hours before going, since Kolkata venues change timings around festivals such as Durga Puja. Reservations are not usually required, though calling ahead is sensible for groups. The Bowbazar location is close to Sealdah and the Esplanade, so it can be combined with a walk through the older parts of central Kolkata and a visit to the Chinese temples in the wider area.