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Kolkata, West Bengal

Ilish (Hilsa) Fish

Food Confidence: high

Ilish, or hilsa, is the fish most associated with Bengali food, and Kolkata's fish markets are famous for the seasonal trade in it, with whole lanes dedicated to ilish dealers. The city's market guides point buyers to the best fish markets for a fresh catch, and the seasonal arrival of ilish with the monsoon is a civic event. It is the centrepiece of classic Bengali dishes like ilish bhaja. Buyers get fresh, premium-quality hilsa, typically sold in the 1–3 kg size range during season.

Typical price: ₹400-1500

Buying tip: Go early in the morning during ilish season and compare a few shops before buying; price per kg varies a lot between the season's peak and off-season.

See 3 Sellers Sell This

Ilish (Hilsa) Fish

Image: Ganesh Mohan T · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Where it comes from

Sub-regions

Kolkata

Grounding

Sources

Corroborated by multiple sources.

3 shops

Sellers

ilish hilsa fish

PF

Pal Family Ilish Ghor

Burrabazar, Kolkata · West Bengal

Three generations of Pal fish traders sourcing fresh hilsa directly from the Hooghly boatmen.

Sample listingFamily Workshop

4.6 ★ 55 yrs active

500 g ilish (fresh)₹450

1 kg ilish₹800

1 kg ilish (large)₹1,400

ilish hilsa fish

BI

Bidya Ilish Sahakari

Kolkata, Kolkata · West Bengal

Fishing-family cooperative moving hilsa from the Bidya river to Kolkata kitchens at honest wholesale rates.

Sample listingCooperative

4.1 ★ 16 yrs active

500 g ilish₹400

1 kg ilish₹650

ilish hilsa fish

HI

Hooghly Ilish Bhandar

Kalighat, Kolkata · West Bengal

Fish market counter selling fresh hilsa by the weight the old Kolkata way.

Sample listingRetailer

4.4 ★ 30 yrs active

500 g ilish₹420

1 kg ilish₹750

1 kg ilish (large)₹1,100