ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Czechia
Five dishes to try in Czechia, the most typical first. Three are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Czechia
Svíčková Svíčková na smetaně
Marinated beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings.
How to have it: A Sunday-lunch classic; pubs serve it as the daily menu with cranberries and whipped cream.
Vepřo knedlo zelo
Roast pork with bread dumplings and stewed sauerkraut.
How to have it: The national pub lunch; drink a Czech lager with it.
Smažený sýr
Breaded, fried slab of cheese, usually Edam.
How to have it: Served with fries and tartar sauce in pubs, or in a bun from street stands.
Kulajda
Creamy dill and potato soup with mushrooms and a poached egg.
How to have it: A South Bohemian classic, often on the daily lunch menu in autumn.
Koláč
Round yeast pastry topped with poppy seed, plum jam or sweet curd cheese.
How to have it: Buy them from village bakeries and Moravian markets; made for weddings and fairs.
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Questions
What food is Czechia famous for?
Svíčková (marinated beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings) comes first on our list, followed by Vepřo knedlo zelo, Smažený sýr, Kulajda and Koláč.
What is the national dish of Czechia?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Czechia is Svíčková: marinated beef in a creamy root-vegetable sauce with bread dumplings. A Sunday-lunch classic; pubs serve it as the daily menu with cranberries and whipped cream.
Which dishes in Czechia are vegetarian?
Three of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Smažený sýr, Kulajda and Koláč. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Czechia?
Smažený sýr (breaded, fried slab of cheese, usually Edam).
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.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.