20 Traditional Georgian Foods You Have to Try (48 Hours in Tbilisi)

Written By:Taylor kiser Hours
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We flew to Georgia with one goal: Eat as much traditional Georgian food as possible in 48 hours and figure out if this country is actually as underrated as people say.

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20 dishes later…

👉 cheesy bread boats
👉 soup dumplings
👉 walnut everything
👉 and one “snack” we genuinely thought was a candle

And honestly? Georgia might be one of the best food countries in Europe.

Here are 20 traditional Georgian dishes you have to try — and what we actually thought of each 👇

Boat shaped bread filled with melted cheese topped with a raw egg yolk and a pat of butter on a wooden board, a signature dish in traditional Georgian foods.

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1. Adjarian Khachapuri

What it is: Boat-shaped bread filled with cheese, egg, and butter
Our take: Insanely rich, salty, and gooey. You rip the bread and dip it into molten cheese — chaotic in the best way.

Woman in a restaurant lifting a slice of cheesy bread from a round pie on a wooden board, melted cheese stretching as she serves a classic dish from traditional Georgian foods.

2. Imeretian Khachapuri

What it is: Georgia’s everyday cheese-filled bread
Our take: Less dramatic than Adjarian, but honestly more balanced. Chewy, salty, and super addictive.

Three steamed dumplings with pleated tops served on a plate, a staple of traditional Georgian foods known for their soft dough and savory filling.

3. Khinkali (Soup Dumplings)

What it is: Giant dumplings filled with meat and broth
Our take: You bite, slurp the soup, then eat the rest. Messy, fun, and one of the best things we ate.

Wooden table spread with bread, cheese, eggs, cured meats, honey, and a tomato salad, showcasing a variety of traditional Georgian foods served family style.

4. Georgian Breakfast

What it is: A massive spread of cheeses, jams, breads and other things similar to a Turkish breakfast (just smaller.)
Our take: We LOVED how fresh this was and there are so many flavors combinations you cna make.

Grilled meat skewer held on a fork with charred edges and juicy texture, representing classic traditional Georgian foods often served hot and fresh.

5. Mtsvadi (Georgian BBQ)

What it is: Meat grilled over grapevines
Our take: Smoky, juicy, simple perfection. The grapevine flavor actually makes a difference.

6. Georgian Kebab

What it is: Spiced ground meat wrapped in something that looked like a tortilla
Our take: Like a sausage wrap but more herby and flavorful. Underrated.

Spoon holding a tender chunk of beef in a thick savory sauce above a pan, showcasing slow cooked meat typical of traditional Georgian foods.

7. Chashushuli

What it is: Slow-stewed beef in tomato sauce
Our take: Tender, rich, and deeply comforting. This is Georgian comfort food at its best.

: Fresh tomato and cucumber salad topped with herbs and breadcrumbs served in a white bowl, a simple dish representing traditional Georgian foods and fresh local ingredients.

8. Tomato, Cucumber & Walnut Salad

What it is: Fresh veg with crushed walnuts
Our take: Sounds simple, tastes incredible. Nutty, fresh, and surprisingly addictive.

Row of wine bottles with labels reading "Karalashvili Wine Cellar" displayed on a table in a rustic cellar, representing Georgian wine culture alongside traditional Georgian foods.

9. Georgian Amber Wine

What it is: Wine fermented with skins in clay pots (qvevri)
Our take: Totally different from anything we’ve had. Light, earthy, and unique.

Hand holding a plastic cup of a white yogurt like drink with Georgian writing on the label, a common beverage alongside traditional Georgian foods.

10. Matsoni (Georgian Yogurt)

What it is: Thick, tangy yogurt
Our take: Very sour and very strong. Supposedly a hangover cure… results unclear.

Woman smiling at an outdoor market holding two strings of colorful candied nuts with more hanging behind her, showcasing a popular sweet from traditional Georgian foods.

11. Churchkhela

What it is: Nuts dipped in thickened grape juice (looks like a candle)
Our take: Chewy, sweet, and way better than it looks. Like a natural fruit roll-up.

Close up of a baked pastry with a golden crust and soft layered interior, illustrating the comforting baked side of traditional Georgian foods.

12. Kada

What it is: Sweet pastry with butter and sugar
Our take: Dense, crumbly, and nostalgic. Like a cross between bread and shortbread.

Close up of a walnut filled pastry piece held between fingers with visible layers and syrup glaze, a sweet example of traditional Georgian foods.

13. Orbeliani Candy

What it is: Rare Georgian candy with walnut center and caramel shell
Our take: Crunchy, sticky, and very sweet. Not an everyday snack, but worth trying.

Woman standing on a street holding a long freshly baked bread wrapped in paper, highlighting a staple bakery item in traditional Georgian foods.

14. Shotis Puri (Georgian Bread)

What it is: Canoe-shaped bread baked in a clay oven
Our take: Possibly the best bread we’ve ever had. Crispy outside, soft inside — unreal.

Clay dish with roasted meat topped with sliced onions, herbs, and pomegranate seeds in a rich sauce, a flavorful example of traditional Georgian foods.

15. Abkhazura 

What it is: Spicy meatball dish originating from the Abkhazia region. Typically made from a mixture of pork and beef, with tons of seasonings and pomegranates on top
Our take: One of the best things we ate. So juicy and tender.

Table setting with patterned bowls of soup and a platter of vegetable appetizers including eggplant rolls and colorful spreads, representing a variety of traditional Georgian foods.

16. Chikhirtma (Chicken Soup)

What it is: Lemony chicken soup with herbs
Our take: Bright, fresh, and comforting. Like a warm hug in soup form. One of the Georgian traditional foods I make for dinner back at home.

Colorful platter of vegetable patties, roasted eggplant rolls, and bread garnished with pomegranate seeds, highlighting traditional Georgian foods and their rich textures.

17. Pkhali

What it is: Vegetable pâté (often spinach or beet) with walnuts
Our take: Earthy, nutty, and packed with flavor. Georgia does vegetables really well.

Hand picking up a rolled eggplant slice filled with walnut paste and topped with a pomegranate seed, a classic appetizer in traditional Georgian foods.

18. Eggplant with Walnut Filling

What it is: Eggplant rolled with walnut paste
Our take: Soft, creamy, and rich. A texture and flavor combo we didn’t expect to love.

Wooden serving board with a bowl of creamy bean stew, pickled vegetables, fresh herbs, and a small bread roll, illustrating comforting traditional Georgian foods.

19. Lobio (Bean Stew)

What it is: Spiced beans served in a clay pot
Our take: Hearty, spicy, and super comforting. One of the best budget-friendly dishes.

Spoon lifting a bite of rich tomato based chicken stew with herbs from a bowl, highlighting a hearty dish from traditional Georgian foods.

20. Chakapuli / Chicken Stew

What it is: Chicken stewed with herbs and tomatoes
Our take: Simple but packed with flavor. Fresh, herby, and super satisfying.

Is Georgian Food Actually Good?

Before this trip, we barely knew anything about traditional Georgian food.

Now?

It’s easily one of the most underrated food cultures in Europe

It’s:

  • Comforting but bold
  • Simple but deeply flavorful
  • And built around traditions you won’t find anywhere else

If you’re planning a trip, don’t just show up and wing it —
know what to order.

Because once you do… you’ll understand the hype.

>>But, Georgia also has amazing wine that you can’t miss! <<

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Writer

Taylor is the head writer for the Culture Craving Couple and an expert on traveling the world as a couple. She has traveled to over 35 countries with her husband Caleb and her work has been featured in online publications such as Be My Travel Muse, Good Housekeeping and Cosmopolitan.

She shares her first-hand, personal experience traveling with Caleb to help couples travel across Europe and the USA by finding amazing food, cocktails and experiences to deepen their relationships!

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