ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Armenia
Five dishes to try in Armenia, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Armenia
Khorovats Խորոված
Skewered pork, lamb or chicken grilled over coals.
How to have it: The centre of every celebration; served with lavash, fresh herbs and grilled vegetables.
Dolma Տոլմա
Grape leaves or vegetables stuffed with minced meat and rice.
How to have it: Eaten with garlic matsun (yoghurt); summer versions stuff peppers, tomatoes and aubergines.
Khash Խաշ
Broth of slow-boiled cow's feet, seasoned at the table with garlic and salt.
How to have it: A winter morning ritual; crumble dried lavash into it and toast with vodka.
Lavash Լավաշ
Thin, soft flatbread baked against the walls of a tonir clay oven.
How to have it: On UNESCO's heritage list; it wraps grilled meat and herbs at every meal.
Gata Գաթա
Sweet layered pastry with a buttery sugar filling.
How to have it: Sold at roadside stalls near Garni Temple and Geghard Monastery.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Armenia famous for?
Khorovats (skewered pork, lamb or chicken grilled over coals) comes first on our list, followed by Dolma, Khash, Lavash and Gata.
What is the national dish of Armenia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Armenia is Khorovats: skewered pork, lamb or chicken grilled over coals. The centre of every celebration; served with lavash, fresh herbs and grilled vegetables.
Which dishes in Armenia are vegetarian?
Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Lavash and Gata. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
Keep exploring
Practical · 3 min readEat your way through a country: how to find the national dishesFood is the fastest way into a place. How to find a country's signature dishes, order them well, eat safely and keep a record of what you have tried.
Planning · 4 min readHow to choose the best time to visit anywhereWeather is only one part of it. Learn how to weigh seasons, crowds, prices and events, with real examples of the best months for popular destinations.
Planning · 4 min readHow to build a travel bucket list you'll actually useTurn a long wish list into a short plan: sort places by ease, season and effort, pick your next three, and keep the list alive after every trip.- Country guidesCountry guidesBest months, weather, holidays and plugs for every country.
- Free toolWhere can I go?Every country your passport opens, sorted by how easy it is.
Tick off every dish you try in Armenia
Explo is a free app: light up the countries you have visited, keep the dishes you have tried, and check visa rules, weather and holidays before you go.
Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.