Georgia

What to eat in Georgia: top 10 dishes

Traveling to Georgia? These are the ten dishes it is best known for, from everyday staples to festive classics, with a short background and a tip on where and when to eat each one. Ranked by how widely they are known around the world.

01
Khachapuri
Khachapuri is a Georgian dish of cheese-filled bread. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise, molded into various shapes, and then filled in the center with a mixture of cheese, and sometimes eggs or other ingredients.
Travel tip Sold at bakeries and restaurants across Georgia, with regional shapes such as the boat-shaped version with an egg. Tear off the crust and dip it into the melted cheese.
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02
Churchkhela
Churchkhela is a traditional Georgian candle-shaped confection. The main ingredients of churchkhela are grape concentrate, nuts, and flour.
Travel tip A string of nuts dipped in thickened grape juice, sold at markets and roadside stalls. It makes a good portable snack or souvenir.
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03
Kharcho
Kharcho, also spelled Harcho (Georgian: ხარჩო), is a traditional Georgian soup containing beef, rice, cherry plum purée, and chopped walnuts (Juglans regia), but they are not compulsory. The soup is seasoned with Khmeli Suneli and coriander.
Travel tip A rich beef soup with rice and walnuts, available at traditional restaurants. Eat it with fresh bread.
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04
Lobio
Lobio (Georgian: ლობიო) is a traditional Georgian dish of various kinds of prepared beans (cooked or stewed), also containing coriander, walnuts, garlic and onion. There are many varieties of lobio, both hot and cold.
Travel tip A bean dish often served in a clay pot with cornbread and pickles. It is common at family meals and restaurants.
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05
Gozinaki
Gozinaki is a traditional Georgian brittle confection made of caramelized nuts, usually walnuts, and fried in honey.
Travel tip A walnut-and-honey brittle traditionally associated with New Year and Christmas celebrations. Look for it at holiday markets.
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06
Chanakhi
Chanakhi is a traditional Georgian dish of lamb stew with tomatoes, aubergines, potatoes, greens, and garlic.
Travel tip A lamb and vegetable stew often cooked and served in a clay pot. Look for it in traditional restaurants.
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07
Shoti
Shotis puri or simply shoti is a type of traditional Georgian bread, made of white flour and shaped like a canoe. Shoti is baked in a specific bakery called tone or torne/turne. The word is cognate with tandoor.
Travel tip A long, boat-shaped bread baked in a traditional clay oven. Bakeries sell it hot, and it is best eaten fresh.
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08
Chakhokhbili
Chakhokhbili is a traditional Georgian dish of stewed chicken and tomato with fresh herbs. The characteristic feature of Chakhokhbili is to dry-fry chicken without adding any kind of oil.
Travel tip A tomato-and-herb chicken stew, popular at home and in traditional restaurants. Serve with bread to soak up the sauce.
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09
Chikhirtma
Chikhirtma is a traditional Georgian soup. Chikhirtma is described as a soup almost completely without a vegetable base. It is made with chicken broth, thickened with beaten eggs (or only yolks).
Travel tip A thickened chicken soup with a tangy flavor, often eaten as a comforting dish at home. Look for it on the soup section of traditional menus.
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10
Kubdari
Kubdari or kubed (Georgian: კუბდარი, Svan: კუბედ) is a Georgian filled bread dish which is particularly a national dish of the Svans. The bread is leavened and allowed to rise.
Travel tip A meat-filled bread from the mountainous Svaneti region, found in restaurants that serve regional dishes. It is hearty and usually eaten hot.
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Description: Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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