What to Eat in Georgia: Typical Georgian Food and Specialties

Diverse Georgian cuisine offers many dishes that blend influences from Europe and Asia. The most famous traditional Georgian dish is probably khachapuri, a cheese-filled bread, and juicy meat dumplings called khinkali. Pkhali is a renowned appetizer made from vegetables and a walnut paste. For those with a sweet tooth, churchkhela will satisfy your cravings. And, of course, one cannot forget the excellent Georgian wine.

🇬🇪 Do you love Georgian food? Subscribe to my newsletter and I will send you for free comprehensive information about Georgian dishes, drinks, and other specialties.

What to Eat in Georgia:

  • Khachapuri. Traditional Georgian pastry filled with cheese, popular across the country as a quick snack or as a side dish to a main meal.
  • Khinkali. Meat dumplings boiled in water, typical of Georgian cuisine and served as a main course.
  • Mtsvadi. Grilled marinated meat, most often pork or lamb, popular as street food or during garden parties.
  • Lobio. Bean soup or dip, often served with bread, widespread throughout Georgia.
  • Soko Kecze. A mushroom dish, often prepared with onions and spices, popular as a side dish or a standalone meal.
  • Kupati. Grilled sausages filled with minced meat and spices, typical of Georgian cuisine.
  • Churchkhela. Traditional Georgian sweet made from nuts strung on a thread and dipped in thickened fruit juice.
  • Sulguni. Semi-hard salty cheese, often used in khachapuri or served as a standalone dish.
  • Chakhokhbili. Stewed chicken with tomatoes, onions, and spices, a popular main dish in Georgia.
  • Tkemali. Plum sauce, often used to flavor meat or as a dip.
  • Pkhali. A paste made from walnuts and various kinds of vegetables, popular as a cold appetizer.
  • Kharcho. A thick soup made from meat, walnuts, and spices, typical of Georgian cuisine.
  • Shotis Puri. Traditional Georgian bread baked on the walls of a clay oven, an indispensable part of Georgian cuisine.
  • Elarji. Cornmeal porridge with sulguni cheese, typical of the Samegrelo region in western Georgia.
  • Ghomi. Cornmeal porridge similar to Italian polenta, often served as a side dish.
  • Nadughi. A cheese paste made from ricotta and mint, used, for example, as a filling for khinkali dumplings.
  • Pelamushi. A dessert made from grape juice and cornmeal, similar to pudding.
  • Tklapi. Dried fruit leather, most often made from plums or grapes, used as a base for sauces or eaten as a snack.
  • Sacebeli. Georgian sauce made from tomatoes, onions, and spices, used to flavor many dishes.
  • Tarkhuna. A non-alcoholic drink made from tarragon, a popular refreshing soda in Georgia. The soda has a distinct green color.

Enjoy Georgia and the best Georgian food!