Georgian cuisine; must-try local delicacies

I was always wondering why all tourists fall in love with Georgian food. Moreover, I was pleasantly surprised when hearing from them that our traditional food was one of the most important reasons that brought them to Georgia.

Personally, I realized the real value of our food when I left Georgia for a couple of years. I admit that I have missed all those comfort dishes that can make anyone happier.

The main feature of our cuisine is the presence of all kinds of meats. Therefore, most visitors, especially my carnivore foreign friends, truly appreciate our food when they come to Georgia.

Khinkali – soup dumplings

Nobody ever leaves a Georgian restaurant without ordering this dish (including Georgians). Khinkali is the most famous dish and, in my opinion, the tastiest one. It is made with flour dumpling wrappers, and inside it has lamb, pork, or beef mix. Also, we have Khinkali with mushrooms, potatoes, and cottage cheese. So, this dish is also ideal for the vegetarians out there!

This dish should be eaten without spilling any juice; this is how you can feel the real taste of Khinkali.

Khachapuri cheese-filled bread

There is a great variety of this dish, which is also among the most popular dishes in Georgia. It is a cheese-filled bread, shaped and flavored in various ways. The most common types are Imeretian, circular-shaped ones filled with different kinds of Georgian cheese, and Megrelian, which have more cheese and come from Samegrelo. Every region has its own kind of Khachapuri.

For instance, Adjarian Khachapuri, which comes from the Adjara region, is also a great one. It is made with cheese and eggs, and it comes in different shapes. Once you try it, I guarantee that you will never forget the taste.

Lobio - delicious beans 

Beans play an important role in Georgian cuisine. We have even a special restaurant called ‘’Beans”. I can tell you that their beans plates have the best taste, thanks to a secret recipe. This restaurant is located in Mtskheta city, and many people go there to have these unique beans on their lunch break.

Mtsvadi – grilled skewered meat

Mtsvadi is a must dish for the Georgian “supra.” That is how we call our Georgian table. It is made from different kinds of meat - from beef, pork, or lamb, depending on the region. We mix it with thinly sliced onions, and we add pomegranate juice for a better taste. Georgians often have barbeques in nature, as the mtsvadi, the fresh air, and nature is the best combination you can ever have.

The list is obviously much longer, but I just wanted to give you a glimpse of the most famous dishes of Georgian cuisine. All you need is to try them!