The Award Win: Historic Restaurant of India

At 97 years old, Aminia has been named India’s Historic Restaurant at the NDTV Food Awards 2026, cementing its place as a Kolkata icon.

The award was announced as part of the NDTV Food Awards 2026 ceremony, which honors the best in Indian food. The category “Historic Restaurant of India” recognizes eateries that have stood the test of time. Aminia, a name that has been serving food in Kolkata since 1929, won this top honor.

For fans of the restaurant, the news was not a surprise. For others, it was a reminder of how a nearly century-old eatery can still feel fresh and exciting.

The NDTV Food Awards are known for shining a light on restaurants that shape the way India eats. This year, they chose Aminia to represent the historic side of the country’s food scene. The decision was based on the restaurant’s long history, its loyal customer base, and its role in keeping the Kolkata-style Mughlai food tradition alive.

Aminia is more than a restaurant. It is a landmark in the city’s food culture. Locals and tourists alike visit Aminia to taste the flavors that have made Kolkata famous. The award now puts that legacy on a national stage.

The win also comes at a time when old restaurants across India are closing or changing beyond recognition. Aminia’s success shows that tradition still matters in the age of fast food and trendy cafes.

The restaurant owners said they were honored by the recognition. They thanked their loyal customers and their chefs, who have kept the recipes unchanged for decades.

Aminia’s name was announced alongside other winners in different categories. While the full list of winners was not available, the focus on Aminia means the restaurant now has a new badge of honor to share with visitors.

Why Aminia? A 97-Year Legacy

Aminia opened its doors in 1929, in what was then Calcutta. India was still under British rule. The restaurant started small, serving Mughlai dishes to a neighborhood crowd.

Over the years, it grew. But it never lost its identity. The key to Aminia’s success is simple: it stayed true to its recipes. The same spices, the same cooking methods, and the same care went into every dish for nearly a century.

Many restaurants change their menus to attract new customers. Aminia never did that. Instead, it focused on doing a few things very well. The biryani, the rezala, the kebabs. These are not just dishes. They are traditions.

Kolkata’s food scene is famous for its street food. But Aminia represents the sit-down meal culture of the city. Families come here for celebrations. Friends meet here for a weekend feast. For generations of Kolkatans, Aminia has been the place for special meals.

The restaurant’s longevity is also due to its location. It sits in the heart of the city, near New Market, a busy shopping area. The spot has always been popular with locals and visitors.

Over 97 years, Aminia has seen many changes. India became independent. Kolkata grew and changed. New restaurants opened and closed. But Aminia remained. The staff stayed the same. The recipes stayed the same. The taste stayed the same.

That consistency is rare in the restaurant industry. It requires discipline. It requires a team that cares. And it requires customers who are loyal. Aminia had all three.

The award from the NDTV Food Awards 2026 is not just a piece of glass. It is a recognition of the work of hundreds of people who have cooked and served at Aminia since 1929. It is a tribute to the families who have been coming to eat for three or four generations.

Signature Dishes: Biryani, Rezala & Kebabs

Aminia’s menu is built around a few key dishes. The most famous is the Kolkata-style biryani. What makes it special is the potato.

In most Indian biryanis, the main ingredients are rice and meat. But in Kolkata, the biryani includes a large potato. This is not just any potato. It is a soft, fluffy potato that absorbs the flavors of the spices and the meat. It is a Kolkata invention, born out of necessity during hard times when meat was expensive. The potato was added to stretch the dish. But it became a signature.

Aminia’s biryani also includes a boiled egg. The rice is light, not too oily. The meat is tender, usually chicken or mutton. The spices are balanced, not overwhelmingly hot. The dish is aromatic and fragrant, with saffron and rose water adding a floral touch.

Another star dish is the mutton rezala. This is a creamy, pale yellow curry made with yogurt, cream, and mild spices. The meat is slow-cooked until it falls off the bone. The sauce is rich but not heavy. It is the kind of dish that makes you want to wipe the bowl clean with a piece of naan.

Kebabs are also a big draw. Aminia makes a variety of kebabs, including chicken tikka, seekh kebab, and the famous Kolkata-style chaap. The chaap is a vegetarian kebab made from soy or wheat protein, marinated in spices and grilled. It is a local favorite.

The restaurant’s naan and paratha are freshly baked in a clay oven. The breads are soft and slightly charred, perfect for sopping up the rich gravy of the rezala.

Dessert is usually a simple plate of firni, a rice pudding flavored with cardamom and rose water. It is a light, sweet finish to a heavy meal.

What sets Aminia apart is the quality of the ingredients. The meat is fresh. The spices are ground in-house. The cooking is done in large pots over slow fires, the traditional way. There is no shortcut to the taste of 97 years of practice.

Aminia’s Role in Kolkata’s Food Culture

Kolkata is a city that loves food. From the street vendors selling puchka to the high-end restaurants serving Bengali thalis, the city has a diverse food scene. But for Mughlai food, Aminia is the standard.

The restaurant has been a gathering place for people from all walks of life. Businessmen, college students, families, tourists. They all come to Aminia for the same reason: good food at fair prices.

The dining room is not fancy. It is simple and functional. The walls are plain. The furniture is wooden and sturdy. There is no music. The focus is on the food. That is how it has always been.

For many Kolkatans, Aminia is part of their childhood memories. Grandparents brought parents. Parents brought children. Now those children bring their own kids. The restaurant is a thread that connects generations.

The staff at Aminia have long service records. Some have worked there for 30 or 40 years. They know the regular customers by name. They remember what each person likes to order. This personal touch is rare today.

Aminia also plays a role in the city’s tourism. Travel guides list it as a must-visit place. Tourists come to Kolkata specifically to taste the biryani at Aminia. The restaurant has become a destination in itself.

The award from the NDTV Food Awards 2026 will only add to that appeal. It is a seal of approval from a national body. It tells visitors that Aminia is not just a local favorite but a national treasure.

Kolkata’s food culture is a mix of Bengali, Mughlai, Chinese, and street food influences. Aminia represents the Mughlai part of that mix. Without Aminia, the city’s food scene would be incomplete.

What This Award Means for Heritage Restaurants

The NDTV Food Awards 2026 are part of a larger trend of recognizing old restaurants. In the past few years, several heritage eateries across India have won similar awards. This reflects a growing appreciation for traditional food and the stories behind it.

For heritage restaurants like Aminia, an award can bring new business. It can attract tourists who might otherwise have missed the place. It can also help the restaurant get better terms from suppliers and landlords. In a competitive market, a national award is a valuable asset.

But the award also comes with responsibility. Customers now expect even higher standards. The restaurant must continue to deliver the same quality that won the award. This can be a challenge for an old eatery that may have outdated equipment or limited space.

Yet, Aminia seems ready for the challenge. The management has said they will not change the recipes or the cooking methods. They will keep doing what they have done for 97 years: serve good food consistently.

The award also highlights the importance of preserving food heritage. In a world of fast food and fusion cuisine, old restaurants are like living museums. They preserve techniques and flavors that are in danger of being lost. The NDTV Food Awards help keep that heritage alive.

Other historic restaurants in India have won similar recognition. The Karim’s in Delhi, for example, has been a landmark for Mughlai food since 1913. The Mavalli Tiffin Rooms in Bengaluru has been serving South Indian food since 1924. These restaurants, like Aminia, have found ways to stay relevant while staying true to their roots.

The success of Aminia and other heritage restaurants shows that tradition can be a strength, not a weakness. In a changing world, people crave authenticity. Old restaurants offer that authenticity in every bite.

Other Winners at NDTV Food Awards 2026

The NDTV Food Awards 2026 covered many categories. While details of all winners were not available, some other notable awards were mentioned in related reports.

One article reported that a chef who popularized Naga cuisine also won an award. This chef’s restaurant received recognition for bringing the unique flavors of Nagaland to a national audience. This shows that the awards not only honor old classics like Aminia but also support new voices in Indian food.

Another category focused on restaurants in Delhi-NCR that serve authentic Bengali food, especially during the festival of Poila Baisakh, the Bengali New Year. This recognition helps promote regional cuisines in cities where they are not native.

The awards also featured a story about a Bengaluru pub that served a viral dish. Though unrelated to Aminia, it shows the range of the NDTV Food Awards. They cover everything from street food to fine dining, from old classics to viral sensations.

Unfortunately, the complete list of winners was not published in the sources available. But the focus on Aminia suggests that heritage restaurants were a major theme this year.

The NDTV Food Awards have become an important event in the Indian food calendar. They celebrate the diversity of Indian cuisine. They give recognition to chefs, restaurateurs, and food innovators. They also remind us of the stories behind the food we eat.

For Aminia, winning the Historic Restaurant of India award is a crowning achievement. It caps nearly a century of service to the people of Kolkata. It also sets a high bar for the next 97 years.

The restaurant plans to keep doing what it does best. The biryani will still come with a potato. The rezala will still be creamy. The kebabs will still be smoky. And the customers will still be welcome.

As Aminia moves toward its 100th year, the award from the NDTV Food Awards 2026 will serve as a milestone. It will remind everyone that good food, made with care and consistency, never goes out of style. It will also remind the world that Kolkata is not just a city of culture and art. It is a city of unforgettable food. And Aminia is one of the best places to taste it.