What to eat in Georgia and where? Best places and food

What to try from local cuisine and where to eat deliciously in Georgia? Consider all the traditional dishes that you simply must try on vacation and find out the addresses of establishments where you can sit inexpensively and tasty. We will indicate the prices of products, what is the average check for two, we will give practical advice.

Georgian hospitality has become almost part of folklore. But it is important to know what exactly to buy in shops, cafes and restaurants when visiting a Transcaucasian country. An accurate understanding of such a moment allows avoiding many mistakes and flawlessly revealing the national flavor.

What to try in Georgia from food?

It is better to start the story about what dishes to try in Georgia by mentioning that not only Georgians live in this country, but also a number of other ethnic groups. It is useful to familiarize yourself with the descriptions of local cuisine in advance, and be guided by it when choosing.

• Of the appetizers, they are undisputedly in the lead phali... These are balls made from beets, spinach and cabbage leaves. Additionally, spices and walnuts are added there.

• Ajapsanali - that is, a stew of vegetables. It is eaten strictly with bread and washed down with national wine.

• Lobio - pots of beans. They bring satiety ... but tourists will not have much to relax.

• Georgian bread... Traditional Georgian cuisine includes various types of bread products. The classic approach is to put some of them with certain foods. Chikhirtma is eaten with mchadi cakes. When kharcho is prepared, mrgvili is a common addition. He, as well as dedas-puri, can be found on tables where they also put lobio or satsivi. On top of the “rooks” of the shoti, there is always a barbecue. And the most iconic product - khachapuri - helps to complete the acquaintance with the bakery part of the Transcaucasian cuisine. Let's take him to the final place, because he is too stereotyped and has entered the stereotyped image of the Georgian table. But close acquaintance shows that the phenomenon of khachapuri is much more complicated than conventional ideas about it. The Megrelian version of the recipe involves placing the cheese on top. The Imeretian variety contains cheese inside. The Adjarian type is like a "boat" where an egg, cheese and butter are placed. It is customary to eat Adjarian khachapuri with your hands, breaking off pieces and soaking them with sauce.

• Classic meat delicacies... It is they who are mentioned when telling what to eat in Georgia according to the reviews of tourists on the travel forums on their own by car. Transcaucasian cuisine as a whole is richly saturated with meat components. Shish kebab (traditionally called mtsvadi) and tapaka chicken are known far beyond the borders of Georgian territory. Connoisseurs of exotic dishes will be happy to try the bird-tomato stew, chakhokhbili, satsivi, and even less typical chashushuli, chakapuli. Attempts to cook something similar on their own turn into a series of failures. The meat outside the Caucasus wall is prepared with a mass of spices that form an extremely piquant taste of the table. Along with the familiar tkemali even for non-professionals, satsebeli sauce and garo nut-onion sauce deserve attention.

• Khinkali... This is the correct answer to the question of what dishes to try in Georgia without bread and sauces. A hybrid of dumplings and manti in appearance is customary to eat in significant quantities. If you ask for 2 - 3 pieces of khinkali, you may be surprised by sellers or waiters. The dish is prepared quickly, it is nourishing, cheap and a variety of formats. It is advised to start acquaintance with meat khinkali. Those that contain cheese, potatoes, mushrooms are also tasty. Kalakuri are more common than other types of khinkali. They include dough, two types of raw meat, broth, pepper and herbs. By removing the greens from this recipe, you get mtialuri. Pasanauruli are distinguished by the fact that they do not put minced meat inside, but chopped meat. The Kakhetian type of dish contains pork. Eating khinkali in Georgian cuisine has become a sophisticated ritual. They are consumed strictly in hot water, sprinkled with black pepper to taste. First, they drink the broth, and then put the dough and meat in the mouth. Georgians will approve of an eater who does not spill a single drop of broth.

• Soups... Reviews of tourists about food in Georgia cannot be ignored and wet dishes. Kharcho with spices and beef will delight even connoisseurs of soup in other countries. Chikhirtma is distinguished by solid density; such a concentration of chicken and eggs will definitely appeal to gourmets. Vodka or cold chacha is traditionally used as an additive.

• Dessert dishes... Churchkhela (nuts on a string, wrapped in grape jelly) is original and tasty, which bends easily, as if made of rubber. Kozinaki are also attractive.

• Guilt... Even those who have never been to Georgia have definitely heard about saperavi, khvanchkara, kinzamaruli. But there are many more varieties of wines that distinguish this glorious state. The main center of the wine industry in the republic is Kakheti. An attractive wine tour along the Georgia Wine Route is organized in the region. It offers views of the vineyards. Perimeter signs mark the way to wineries, cellars, and family wineries.

We advise you to try:

1. mukuzani;
2. rkatsiteli;
3. tsinandali;
4. Alazani Valley.

• Non-alcoholic drink... It makes no sense to be limited to mass Borjomi. Sairme, Nabeghlavi, Bakuriani mineral water can also deliver impressive benefits. Freshly squeezed pomegranate juice, lemonade brands Zadazeni, Natakhtari, Lagidze are also attractive.

• Nadugi... The national style appetizer is made from fresh cottage cheese and has a delicate creamy taste. The product is rolled into a thin suluguni leaf.

• Jonjoli... Looks bad, but interesting for its taste. Gives the impression of sauerkraut or salted olives (according to various opinions).

• Georgian chicken salad... Simple (only mayonnaise, onions and spices), but the feeling on a summer visit is extremely pleasant.

• Badrijani... Eggplant rolls. Various fillings are put inside. But the indispensable components are walnuts and cheese.

• Phali... Tortillas made from vegetables or herbs. Spinach and beets predominate. The main goal is a side dish for meat food. But pkhali is also used as a stand-alone dish and as an appetizer, we have already mentioned this above.

You can also advise to try dolma, yogurt, trout in pomegranate sauce, chiri... While vacationing in Georgia, we strongly recommend booking a gastronomic tour with wine tasting, programs from local guides are fascinating, in order to save money, they will advise you on what to bring from your vacation as a souvenir and where to buy it cheaper.

Food prices in Georgia

The cost of food in markets and stores

You can have a tasty meal in Georgia at a minimal price with purchases of products both in solid retail chains and in modest street shops. The leading Tbilisi (housing in Tbilisi) "Deserter" market near the metro station "Vokzalnaya" will supply tourists with a wide range of provisions. For 1 liter of ayran they take 1.9 lari. The cost of 1 kg of chicken fillet is 9 GEL, for 100 g of honey they take 3, for 1 kg of Adyghe cheese 8, for a bar of chocolate 2.2, for a can of corn 2, for 1 kg of sausage from 6.5 to 12, for a cake 1, for 1 kg of fresh pig 14, for 1 kg of frozen pig 9 GEL.

You can buy a kilogram of bananas for 3 GEL, apples are 0.5 GEL cheaper, and a kilogram of watermelon costs 0.7 GEL. In the markets, 1 kilogram of potatoes is charged, and 2.5 GEL for cauliflower. For 10 GEL, you can take 6 kg of onions, or 4 kg of bell pepper, or 3 cans of pickled cucumbers, or 2 kg of pomegranate.

Alcohol prices

A genuine, solid dry wine costs 3 GEL at least. For "Alazani Valley" and "Kinzamaruli" they charge from 9 to 16 currency units. Vodka can only be bought at a higher price. The peak price is 80 GEL.Relatively unpopular brands cost from 13 to 22 GEL. A liter of local beer costs up to 8 GEL, and draft beer - 2.2 GEL.

• Bottle of wine (medium price range) 12.25 GEL,
• Homemade beer (bottle 0.5 l) 2.23 GEL,
• Imported beer (0.33 liter bottle) 3.18 GEL.

How much does it cost to sit in restaurants?

• Meals in an inexpensive restaurant - 15 GEL,
• Meals for 2 people in a restaurant of an average price range (when ordering three courses) - 60 GEL,
• Burger on the street - 12.20 GEL,
• Homemade beer (bottled 0.5 l) - 3 GEL,
• Imported beer (0.33 liter bottle) - 4 GEL,
• Cappuccino - 4.47 GEL,
• Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) - 1.11 GEL,
• Water (0.33 liter bottle) - 0.50 GEL.

Where to eat in Georgia tasty and inexpensive?

The question of where to eat deliciously in Georgia is hardly trivial for travelers. The choice is huge, but the best offers stand out from the whole mass of options.

Machakhela on Liselidze Street - a 24-hour restaurant with an emphasis on traditional Adjarian cuisine. The zest of the restaurant is considered to be khachapuri and khinkali, of which there are an incredible number of species. Average pay is 14 GEL for lunch for 2 people with beer and lemonade.

Tbilisi mountain Mtatsminda, which is in the park of the same name, will delight visitors with a family restaurant. Its owners offer inexpensive homemade food in Georgia. The diet includes chacha and homemade wine. In summer, guests are welcome on the street, and in cold weather - in a modest room.

Not a bad place to eat in Georgia with live music, this is the vicinity of the Glass Bridge... From it and further along Irakli II street, there are a lot of restaurants with classic national cuisine.

Barbecue prices in Tbilisi in a restaurant Batumi are 8.5 lari. In the restaurant Gaswillie for a dinner for two with beer they take 40 GEL. Experts recommend kebabs, chakhokhbili, khinkali, spicy beef. From the cafes, according to tourists' reviews, we recommend visiting the art cafe “Purple", And lovers of romance will like "144 steps"... As for fast food, connoisseurs consider the best choice Khinkali House... Alternative - Wendys.

How to inexpensively travel to Georgia?

These tips will help you plan your trip cheaper on your own:

• We recommend installing the RumGuru application on your smartphone, so you can find any living space even upon arrival in the city, it is very convenient on a business trip or during an unplanned vacation in Georgia.
• Tripinsurance will help you profitably insure your health and life while traveling, the service works only with trusted major insurance companies, which already inspires confidence. You just have to choose the most profitable option, but it's better not to save on health.
• Flights? We advise you to use Aviasales empirically.
• Perhaps our selection of useful applications for tourists will be useful to you.

All the necessary information about the rest in Georgia in our separate section about travel planning and other answers.