Some food trails are memorable for their dishes. Others are because of the company. Our latest Chinese food trail across Calcutta was unforgettable for both reasons, thanks to the perfect companion — actor, singer and all-round charmer Meiyang Chang, or simply Chang to most of us. However, in Calcutta these days, he has acquired a brand-new nickname: Chang da!

The reason? His much-talked-about Bengali web series Taarkata, where the ever-smiling Chang steps into the shoes of the sinister villain Dodo. While the city was busy embracing Chang da, we decided there could not be a better person to accompany us on a culinary journey celebrating Calcutta’s rich Chinese heritage and its legendary Cantonese and Hakka flavours.

Our trail took us across three iconic eateries — Eau Chew on Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Ah Leung (Ah Yung) in Tangra, and Kimli on Purna Das Road. We expected it to be a day of introducing Chang to hidden culinary gems, but it quickly turned into a trip down memory lane. The biggest surprise came at our very first stop, Eau Chew. Its weathered facade and old-world charm instantly transported Chang back to his childhood. “This place brings back so many memories,” he smiled. “I remember coming here with my family when I was young, especially during Chinese weddings.”

Meiyang Chang at Kimli, Purna Das Road

For someone born and raised in Dhanbad, Chang’s connection with Calcutta runs surprisingly deep. Throughout the trail, he spoke fondly about spending large parts of his childhood in the city while visiting relatives. “Calcutta has always felt familiar to me,” he said. “The food, the culture, even the language — there are so many similarities with Dhanbad. It never feels like I am in a completely different city.”

In a lovely twist of fate, it was Calcutta that also played a significant role in launching his career. Long before becoming a household name through Indian Idol, it was at the Calcutta auditions that Chang received his big break.

Between mouthfuls of delicious food and endless conversations, the discussion naturally shifted towards his acting journey. Audiences have seen him in films such as Badmaash Company and Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, as well as Tamil web series. But Bangla Zee5’s Taarkata marks a completely different challenge.

Given his friendly personality and boy-next-door image, we were curious to know how he ended up playing the bad guy. “Everybody keeps calling me the sweet guy,” Chang laughed. “After a point, I wanted to break that image. Playing Dodo allowed me to challenge myself and explore a darker side that people haven’t seen before.”

Working on his first Bengali web series came with its own challenges, but language was not one of them. “The team made the process very easy,” he explained. “Director Samik Roy Choudhury and everyone on set helped me tremendously. Learning the lines and delivering them in Bengali became much easier because of their support.” He also had high praise for his co-star and producer, Vikram Chatterjee. “Vikram balances both responsibilities beautifully. Being an actor and producer at the same time is not easy, but he does it with remarkable patience and professionalism,” he added.

Of course, no conversation with Chang can remain limited to Chinese food. The actor admitted that his culinary interests extend far beyond Cantonese classics and Tangra specialities. “I absolutely love Mughlai food,” he revealed. “Sabir’s is one of my favourites whenever I am in Calcutta.” His Taarkata shooting schedule also introduced him to some of the city’s beloved late-night food institutions. “After long night shoots, many of us would head to Balwant Singh Dhaba or Sharma’s for food in the early hours of the morning. Those post-shoot meals became a ritual.”

Meiyang Chang Ah Leung (Ah Yung) in Tangra

Chang also noted how Calcutta’s cafe culture has evolved over the years. “I visited a few cafes during this trip and realised how much the cafe scene has grown. There is a unique warmth and charm in Calcutta’s cafes that you don’t find everywhere.”

As we watched Chang stroll through the narrow lanes and iconic eateries of Calcutta’s Chinese quarters, we couldn’t help but be reminded of his memorable portrayal of Kanai Dao in Detective Byomkesh Bakshy. The setting, the old-world charm and the unmistakable China Town atmosphere felt straight out of the film, making the experience all the more cinematic. And despite being a busy actor on a promotional tour, Chang proved he is still very much a devoted son. Before heading to Tangra, he dutifully checked with his mother if she wanted anything from Calcutta’s China Town. The answer came instantly — bags of prawn papad!

As our trail came to an end, one thing became clear. Chang may have arrived in Calcutta as an actor promoting his first Bengali web series, but somewhere between bowls of noodles, old memories and conversations about food, family and films, Chang da reminded us that some connections with a city never really fade away. They simply wait for the perfect meal to bring them back to life. Snapshots from our fun food trail....