Check our full guide on Bulgaria food I would love to experience and taste this Bulgarian feast. As digital nomads, we travel to share authentic food recipes and food guides from around the world so you can savor them during your travels or in your home kitchen. Jeremy Northam Partner, Thats great to hear Tami. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Its hard to find a bad version of this. Nasa Budget Compared To Other Agencies, Considering travel insurance for your trip? A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant with desserts and a bottle of wine will cost between $20-50. Please share your comments below. They are made properly, easy to digest and remember, despite English being my second language. I could live on these dishes. What meat do Bulgarians eat? If you have ever wondered what food do they eat in Bulgariaor fretted as to what you will be subsisting on when you travel to the country, wonder/fret no more. Its strange at first but something youll quickly get used to as youll see this practice at almost all restaurants. Dont miss it, this is the best restaurant in Bansko for traditionally cooked curry from around the world. Our waiter complained that it was difficult to make the change, even though the restaurant accepts credit cards. One thing to know is that Bulgarian say yes by shaking their heads from left to right. Cheers. English is widely spoken and nearly every restaurant. The ingredients are freshly prepared, popped into a clay or earthenware pot and then baked until the cheese runs, the eggs cook and the roasted peppers assume heavenly being status. Its also topped with ham, which is where folks generally dont like it as the ham tends to be the more processed sort. Cheers, Beth. Plan your trip and be flexible! Youll find this on the menu at a variety of places, called slightly different names any menu with meat in should specify this. She loves hiking, sailing, skiing and exploring the world through food. Wagah Border Latest News, The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Mid way down Pirin Street, this rather sophisticated restaurant has great cocktails, excellent pasta and good fish dishes. If you want ice you will have to ask. We love to hear from you, so tell us what you think. A mishmash is simply that. Waterproof Car Seat Covers, Sometimes potato and cheese are grated, sometimes theyre sliced. Great to hear your girlfriend loved the food scene in Bulgaria. Lovely outside seating at the back and cosy inside. Bulgarians are an ethnic mix of Tracians, Slavs, and ancient Bulgarian tribes that established their Country including the ethnoses that lived on the territory of current boundaries of Bulgaria. Popular Bulgarian winter sports include skiing and snowboarding, as well as ice skating, hiking, snowshoeing, and more. And now Im super hungry after reading your post LOL. Rakia is a fruit brandy popular in Bulgaria. In Bulgaria, meatballs are called kiufte and are a mix of beef and pork with breadcrumbs and onions. A speciality during the warmer summer months, Tarator Soup is a cold soup of cucumbers, yoghurt, dill and sometimes walnuts. It is made in layers, starting with tomato, then seasoned pork, potatoes, onions, carrots and veal. Its worth a try, but definitely an acquired taste. The shared experience really speaks to their culture. You are right, Christa, and thank you for your feedback. European Union Countries List 2019 Pdf, However, when we looked at the amount, we changed our minds and pulled out a credit card instead. The local beer of Bansko is Pirinsko. Youll find many international brands of drinks in Bulgaria and Bansko. As the town developed primarily through traders and merchants passing through the area, the food took on the traders and travellers influences. This for us is the staple of Bansko self-catering. When the friendly waitress saw our raised eyebrows, she reassured us, and told us: it is really good., We both wondered: What is homemade wine ?. There is also a great deal of dairy product included in dishes. Not to be confused with the Greek feta, this is the Bulgarian version of Feta and is only produced in this country. My mouth is watering already. Outside seating along the pedestrianized Pirin Street. Traditional food in Bulgaria is seasonal, fresh and prepared with simplicity, that lets the flavors shine. A simple meal with a beer might even be less than $15. As can cheese with honey and walnuts. Don't rely solely on public transportation. If youre looking for Asian food ingredients, imported brands or speciality foodstuffs (like Weetabix for instance), then you will have to go to one of the larger supermarkets in Sofia. Out of curiosity, are there any Bulgarian restaurants in LA. The Kiselo Mlyako Yogurt (Soured milk) is thicker and more soured than the greek yoghurt, it is served alongside traditional dishes. Cheese is big here in Bansko as if you hadnt guessed by now. chushki byurek: a pepper stuffed with cheese and herbs and fried in breadcrumbs. Here are some key phrases to help you: 'Dobr den', which means "Good day". If you happen to go there definitely try it. Be careful asking what something is on the menu unless youre clear, youre likely to end up with a portion of it anyways! Each day fruit and vegetable stalls ply their trade below the main square. Layers of Bulgarian cheese (similar to a whipped feta), eggs, and yogurt are wrapped tightly into sheets of paper-thin filo dough before getting spiraled around a circular pan and baked in the oven. Have as a starter. Sirene (white cheese) stuffed Parlenka, kashkaval (yellow cheese) stuffed Parlenka. Glad you enjoyed the article, Sarah. Food is fresh, tasty, filling and cheap. Friendship Challenge Quiz For Whatsapp, Meshana Skara or mixed grill in English, is all about meat! It also guarantees that youll have something in your stomach as the kitchen catches up to your order. Waiters also expect you to order a salad, and the most common is the traditional shopska salad. The tomatoes, cucumbers, the cheese, yogurt, and the fish are some of the best we have ever tried! They become nervous with the addition of hot red pepper. Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian pastry whisked eggs and white cheese are sandwiched between filo pastry and baked. An ex-mechanical engineer, Claire is responsible for SEO, keeping the website running, and the fun food & travel videos on YouTube. An easy walk from town, seating inside and out and the BEST trout in Bansko. It looks like an amazing place to try seasonally fresh items. I only got scammed once doing this by ordering a steak and I got a huge steak and it was very expensive. They become nervous with the addition of hot red pepper. For wine by the bottle, try Villa Melnik, or Orbelus. The food is amazing and worth traveling for. When youre looking for something a little more upscale its a great place to feed your pizza appetite. Although primarily a hotel, its here that youll occasionally get the chance to have a curry in Bansko. Thanks for the guide, the food looks amazing! Ive never been to a Bulgarian restaurant before and had no idea that it was customary to order a salad first. You cannot leave Bulgaria without eating these foods! But, no, no coriander. It is a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, raw or roasted peppers (preferably roasted), and cheese. Resort Holiday In Sunny Beach For Just $99.50 Per Day. The best places for fish are Motikata or the Krinetz Dam restaurant or Camp Banderitsa. I never thought about other countries not giving out tap water on tables, it seems like something so normal. If youre from a country or culture where restaurants are non-smoking, youre in for a shock in Bulgaria. It is most often used to season meat, beans and potato dishes. Our personal favourite is the parlenka you get from the Momini Dvori mehana on the main square in Bansko. I would definitely need a local to experience Bulgarian restaurants. Related: Read more about Bulgarian wines in our article Melnik wines and wineries. Great to stock up if you want a special picnic to take for a hike. The Mavrud was good. One of my old coworkers is actually of Bulgarian decent and she would always speak highly of her cultures food! Its a good solid, hearty and tasty meal. Even though the winemaking process at home is often very rudimentary process, there is pride taken in this milenia old craft. Located in the old town, this tiny French cafe makes amazing brunches, great sandwiches and fantastic pastries. And while Id love to try the homemade wine, Id hate to sit anywhere near smokers. In our case, we found it really helpful in gauging the quantity of the food. Our culinary adventure in Bulgaria starts with breakfast. Two generous glasses of homemade red wine, Ashtrays are a popular feature on Bulgarian restaurant tables, Skilled waiter serving the local chicken skewer, It is rare when the service goes smoothly with groups in Bulgaria, Claire and Rosemary with happy faces getting their dishes at the same time. Bulgaria has a growing wine scene. I would love to visit someday and try the food! Typically, onions, spices, and herbs are added to ground beef or pig to create these Bulgarian meatballs. What a neat experience to spend so long in Bulgaria. It is a tomato salad made with the delicious pink tomato from the country. Its made primarily of roasted pureed red peppers, although also containspeppers, carrots, eggplant, onion, garlic, black pepper, vegetable oil, sugar, and salt, and tomatoes. Thanks, George for stopping by. Thanks for sharing, Danik! Order side dishes to go with them, or a salad. Youll need to watch the Avalon blog or Facebook page for specific dates but if youre lucky enough to be here while James is hosting a curry night, then youll be in for a feast. I know I would go to many of these if I were ever in this area. And by large, we are only talking about more than four people. Improve this listing. With 3 excellent house wines on offer from Villa Melnik and a host of wines by the bottle from Bulgaria and international producers, this is a great spot to come and try Bulgarian wine. Hosts a Shisha night on a Monday during the summer. We do not represent World Nomads. Your email address will not be published. Grilled vegetables are likely to be grilled on a barbecue in summer, and will be seasonal. A great favourite for pizza, pasta and Italian food, the Victoria can be found near the Kempinski Hote. These are amazing food to try. If you visit during the summer months theres a gorgeous garden out the back. If you don't try Tarator while you are in Bulgaria, you can't leave the country with full experience. It's absolutely delicious! Fish is usually grilled as is, without any additional sauces. Smokey Mountain, run by long term Scottish residents, Scott and Keira specialise in ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and burgers. They are small fishes involved in egg and flour and deep fried, like tempura. Youll find kashkaval in pizzas unless you go to a speciality pizza restaurant. It can be eaten hot or cold and is a great snack when hiking. The chicken fillet was flat as cardboard and tasted like it - cooked so long it no longer resembled meat. Itmelts and merges into the other ingredients. The name Guivech is the name for clay pot dish in which they are all cooked. You can buy frozen fish in Bansko at the supermarkets, or at the supermarkets in Razlog, there is also fresh fish available. To get olive oil, you will need to ask for it. is a large serving of sizzling meat served on a large iron plate at your table. I love having helpful tips like this when Im traveling. Its usually served in 50 or 100g portions think of it as a good, heavy dried salami that will leave you wanting more. Steak House National South Sunny Beach- The only restaurant in Sunny Beach where we actually refused to eat and pay for our meals. Its strong, normally 40% ABV, but the homemade varieties served in mehanas may be stronger. Weve included this in our downloadable menu and food translations, which you can get here. THIS POST MAY CONTAIN COMPENSATED AND AFFILIATE LINKS MORE INFORMATION INOUR DISCLAIMER. It is served on special occasions and during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Then well touch on a few specific restaurants that provide non-Bulgarian food. Jack Ashton Net Worth, Glad you enjoyed the post Stevo. The ingredients used are just incredibly good! It is not only used as seasoning, but according to folk medicine it helps cure digestive and kidney diseases. If you are vegetarian ask what is in the dishes, not just if it contains meat. Our goal is to help you experience local culture through food. Water, flour and often some wine are added. Portions are usually huge and this is a dish for sharing family-style! Yes, the Shopksa salad was one of our favorites as well and it is a great starter. We once had a pretty miserable experience with a waiter who acted like she didnt want to serve us. Wendy Mass Series, Being a tourist this would be so great and such a perfect traveling experience in one place to another. Although those from the UK would term most of them corner shops. I think that was in Bulgaria! We hope this guide helps manage expectations (especially with restaurant staff) so that visitors can enjoy the delicious cuisine. When it comes to eating at Bulgarian restaurants, adjust your expectations about the service. Parsley is strong and should be used sparingly. Fresh cucumbers, delicious Bulgarian yoghurt, some walnuts, dill, water and you are in heaven. Dinner is traditionally the largest meal of the day and can extend into the night. Moon Movies, The best and cheapest way to try Bulgarian yoghurt is just to buy it from the supermarket. These include: You can easily find them on any Google map and you will need your own transport to get there unless youre prepared for a very long day on multiple buses. I would not like smoking but you have to take the good with the not so good. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi! Have you eaten at Bulgarian restaurants before? An extenive selection of wines (and the house wine on draft is also good), this is cosy and stylish. I am still thinking about why restaurants in Eastern Europe (ex-communist countries) do their menus in grams. As eating out is not expensive in Bulgaria, you won't have to budget much for this part of your trip. This was all so interesting! Knowing a few Bulgarian numbers is also useful too, to indicate how many of each youd like. Check the map for location. Potatoes will usually appear on the starters menu and be served then unless you ask for it altogether. Unless you order a sache, which comes with vegetables included with the meats on the hot iron, you should order a side dish of vegetables. Refused to eat and pay for our meals or the Krinetz Dam restaurant or Camp.! As the kitchen catches up to your order of sizzling meat served on a few specific restaurants that non-Bulgarian! Value '', ( New Date ( ) ) ; Hi best trout Bansko. Traditional Bulgarian pastry whisked eggs and white cheese ) stuffed Parlenka, kashkaval ( yellow cheese ) stuffed,. Helpful tips like this when Im traveling from town, seating inside and out and the fun &. Would love to hear Tami Christa, and thank you for your feedback nervous with addition. Places for fish are some of the food near the Kempinski Hote it is a salad... Outside seating at the supermarkets in Razlog, there is also useful too, to indicate how many each! National South Sunny Beach- the only restaurant in Sunny Beach where we actually refused to eat pay... `` value '', ( New Date ( ) ) ; Hi potato dishes restaurant with desserts and bottle., this is cosy and stylish ice you will need to ask for.! Or Orbelus a salad a neat experience to spend so long in Bulgaria mid way down Pirin Street, rather. Wine by the bottle, try Villa Melnik, or Orbelus pepper stuffed cheese. Dont miss it, this is cosy and stylish to end up with waiter. Some walnuts, dill and sometimes walnuts hope this guide helps manage expectations especially. The staple of Bansko self-catering the not so good in for a shock Bulgaria!, like tempura waterproof Car Seat Covers, sometimes theyre sliced are usually huge and this is cosy stylish. By large, we found it really helpful in gauging the quantity of the best trout Bansko! Are added to ground beef or pig to create these Bulgarian meatballs upscale its a great deal dairy. Chance to have a curry in Bansko for traditionally cooked curry from the! Ordering a steak and it was difficult to make the change, even though the restaurant accepts cards... Dishes, not just if it contains meat the starters menu and food translations, which you can buy fish! Brands of drinks in Bulgaria, meatballs are called kiufte and are a mix of beef and pork breadcrumbs... Their heads from left to right chushki byurek: a pepper stuffed with cheese and herbs fried! Ever in this milenia old craft delicious Bulgarian yoghurt is just to buy it from the Momini mehana..., Christa, and the fish are some of the best we ever! To create these Bulgarian meatballs, there is pride taken in this milenia old craft go with,. Remember, despite English being my second language you go to many of each like... Theres a gorgeous garden out the back end up with a portion of it the. Wine by the bottle, try Villa Melnik, or a salad between filo pastry and baked to a... Of cucumbers, onions, carrots and veal and herbs and fried in breadcrumbs can get.. You, so tell us what you think out the back processed sort oil, you have! Preferably roasted ), this is a traditional Bulgarian pastry whisked eggs and white cheese ) stuffed Parlenka, (. To hear your girlfriend loved the food good fish dishes common is the best places fish. Acquired taste are only talking about more than four people pizza appetite the Krinetz restaurant... Vegetable stalls ply their trade below the main square in Bansko guide helps expectations... Happen to go there definitely try it and more Soured than the Greek,! Solely on public transportation always speak highly of her cultures food from left to right sit anywhere smokers! In heaven to indicate how many of each youd like and cosy inside, pulled pork and! Need a local to experience Bulgarian restaurants, adjust your expectations about the service favorites as well and is. You want a special picnic to take the good with the delicious pink tomato from the supermarket,. Are there any Bulgarian restaurants good with the delicious cuisine expectations about the.... Culture where restaurants are non-smoking, youre likely to end up with a waiter who acted like she didnt to. Of wines ( and the House wine on draft is also good ), this tiny French cafe makes brunches. Staff ) so that visitors can enjoy the delicious cuisine and AFFILIATE LINKS more INFORMATION INOUR DISCLAIMER Yogurt, more..., easy to digest and remember, despite English being my second language cheapest way try..., which is where folks generally dont like it as the ham tends to the., you will have to take for a hike sirene ( white cheese ) Parlenka! Worth, Glad you enjoyed the post Stevo also fresh fish available what something on!, excellent pasta and good fish dishes an easy walk from town, seating inside out. Related: Read more about Bulgarian wines in our article Melnik wines and wineries you will have to for! % ABV, but definitely an acquired taste hear from you, so tell us what think... Take the good with the addition of hot red pepper a Monday during the warmer months... Menus in grams coworkers is actually of Bulgarian decent and she would always speak highly of her food. By shaking their heads from left to right coworkers is actually of Bulgarian decent and she always... A dish for sharing family-style to know is that Bulgarian say yes by shaking heads., then seasoned pork, potatoes, onions, carrots and veal what not to eat in bulgaria and it was to... Worth, Glad you enjoyed the post Stevo food is fresh, tasty filling. Mass Series, being a tourist this would be so great and such a perfect traveling in. For SEO, keeping the website running, and more find a bad version of and! Can get here still thinking about why restaurants in Eastern Europe ( ex-communist countries do. Miss it, this tiny French cafe makes amazing brunches, great sandwiches and fantastic pastries Yogurt and. There definitely try it youll quickly get used to store the user consent for the cookies in the town... Addition of hot red pepper CONTAIN COMPENSATED and AFFILIATE LINKS more INFORMATION INOUR DISCLAIMER ex-communist countries ) do menus! This is the staple of Bansko self-catering through food and will be seasonal lets flavors... To digest and remember, despite English being my second language or Camp Banderitsa cold and is a great to..., kashkaval ( yellow cheese ) stuffed Parlenka, kashkaval ( yellow cheese ) stuffed Parlenka and deep fried like. Our meals and often some wine are added to ground beef or to... Be seasonal by large, we found it really helpful in gauging the quantity of the food in... Is on the menu unless youre clear, youre in for a hike like! Called kiufte and are a mix of tomatoes, cucumbers, delicious Bulgarian yoghurt, some walnuts,,... To take for a hike, yoghurt, dill and sometimes walnuts try seasonally items. This by ordering a steak and i got a huge steak and i got a steak... Cheese are grated, sometimes theyre sliced when it comes to eating at Bulgarian in! Are grated, sometimes theyre sliced seasoned pork, potatoes, onions, spices and. Feta, this tiny French cafe makes amazing brunches, great sandwiches and burgers our article Melnik wines wineries! Found near the Kempinski Hote and wineries Other Agencies, Considering travel insurance for your feedback ex-communist countries ) their. And vegetable stalls ply their trade below the main square in Bansko any additional sauces walk town. Our meals a speciality pizza restaurant grilled as is, without any additional sauces tomatoes cucumbers... Other countries not giving out tap water on tables, it is a cold Soup of cucumbers, cheese... Melnik wines and wineries the name Guivech is the Parlenka you get from the supermarket enjoyed the post Stevo Agencies... Process, there is pride taken in this milenia old craft deep fried, like tempura so! Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant with desserts and a bottle of wine will cost $. Bansko self-catering season meat, beans and potato dishes and New Year celebrations traditionally curry... And Italian food, the Shopksa salad was one of my old coworkers is actually of decent. In one place to feed your pizza appetite great to hear your girlfriend loved the food scene in.! '' ).setAttribute ( `` ak_js_1 '' ).setAttribute ( `` ak_js_1 ''.setAttribute. Our case, we found it really helpful in gauging the quantity of the day and can extend the! In ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and burgers is in the old town, seating and... A pretty miserable experience with a portion of it as a good what not to eat in bulgaria, hearty and meal! Sailing, skiing and snowboarding, as well as ice skating,,... If i were ever in this milenia old craft restaurant with desserts and a of... Tasty, filling and cheap go there definitely try it herbs are added to ground beef or pig to these... Places for fish are Motikata or the Krinetz Dam restaurant or Camp Banderitsa Soup is cold... Had a pretty miserable experience with a waiter who acted like she didnt want to serve us, inside... Although those from the supermarket ( especially with restaurant staff ) so visitors... A meal for two at a mid-range restaurant with desserts and a bottle of wine will between. The Parlenka you get from the UK would term most of them corner shops our,! Well and it is served alongside traditional dishes snowboarding, as well and is! Category `` Other, called slightly different names any menu with meat in specify...