It is an old building in central Kolkata (Calcutta) on the busy Ganesh Chandra Avenue. The front wall shows patches without an outer layer projecting century-old red bricks. A small hoarding with ‘Eau Chew Restaurant: Chinese Food’ written on it hangs from the second floor level.
Now, Leave the outside out and get inside the building. An old-fashioned staircase will make you reach the upper floor and you will enter Eau Chew, the oldest-surviving Chinese eatery in India (so far it is known), it is run by the fourth generation owners of a Chinese Huang family.
A peaceful and homely ambience will welcome you inside which is not similar to that of trendy restaurants in the city. Family photographs, old style tables, lace curtains, ceramic crockery creat that familial character and charm. it is a peaceful place where food and flavours feel fresh.
Eau Chew opened in the 1920s by Achumpa Huang mainly to serve Chinese immigrants in Calcutta. Eau Chew in Mandarin language means ‘Europe’. The name was perhaps chosen as the restaurant opened when there was a thriving European community in the area. India was under the British rule that time.
It is to be noted that Nanking Restaurant was Calcutta’s and India’s first Chinese Restaurant, and was a very popular one. in Teritti Bazar area in central Kolkata there stands Toong On Church, a Chinese temple. The temple-building once housed the Legendary Nanking Restaurant.
Now Eau Chew is there to carry the lamp of glory of an age old eatery which has been continuing to serve authentic Chinese foods which are cooked maintaining recipe-legacy of the Huang Family. A spirited lady, Josephine Li Ying Huang, familiar as Josephine and her son Joel Huang manage the restaurant with love and care. Josephine is credited with formulating a variety of noodles popular as Josephine’s Noodles and it is a signature dish in Eau Chew. The dish contains lots of veggies, chicken, mushrooms and prawns.
The steaming hot Chimney Soup is another speciality recipe of Eau Chew and is a winter and monsoon luxury. Joshephine Rice, Eau chew Special Noodles, Fried Noodles, flaming fish, Chinese fried rice, mixed noodles, Hakka Noodles, Eau Chew Fried Rice, Chilli Chicken, Honey Lemon Chicken, Fried Roast Pork Chilli, Pork Schezwan and many more. You may consult with Josephine to choose your menu.
Address: Eau Chew Restaurant, 12, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata-700013.
Contact Nos. (Eau Chew) 9830141857, 9830403925, 9007360080.
Photo Courtesy
Banner photo: Swiggy-diaries
Other photos: Eau Chew Restaurant
