Maya's Khabar Ghor

Old Dhaka

Maya grew up on the streets of Chawkbazar, where food is not just eaten — it is celebrated, argued about, and remembered for decades. Her mother ran a small fuchka cart near Lalbagh Fort, and Maya spent her childhood watching the alchemy of tamarind water, crispy shells, and the perfect ratio of chickpea filling. Maya does not do formal meals. Her kitchen is all about the snacks and street food that define Old Dhaka — but elevated to a level that would make any restaurant jealous. Her fuchka uses shells she fries fresh every morning, a tamarind water recipe her mother never wrote down, and a chickpea filling that is somehow simultaneously crunchy and creamy. Her chotpoti is the other star — rich, tangy, loaded with eggs and onions, served with the kind of spice level that makes your nose run and your soul happy. Maya also does a jhalmuri that people order as a party snack, and a seasonal halim during winter that sells out within two hours of announcement.

Signature dish: Puran Dhaka Fuchka (tamarind-water puri)