ExploFood · Asia
What to eat in Iraq
Five dishes to try in Iraq, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Iraq
Masgouf مسگوف
Butterflied carp seasoned and slow-grilled upright beside an open fire.
How to have it: Abu Nuwas Street in Baghdad along the Tigris is famous for it; eaten with bread and pickles.
Dolma دولمة
Vegetables and vine leaves stuffed with rice and meat, cooked in a sour tomato broth.
How to have it: A family Friday dish; the pot is flipped onto a tray so everyone shares from the middle.
Quzi قوزي
Slow-roasted lamb served over spiced rice with nuts and raisins.
How to have it: Served at feasts and weddings, and at restaurants as a big shared platter.
Kubba كبة
Shells of bulgur or rice filled with spiced minced meat, fried or boiled.
How to have it: Try flat kubba Mosul or kubba halab from street stalls, and kubba soup in the south.
Kleicha كليجة
Cardamom-scented cookies filled with dates or walnuts.
How to have it: Baked for Eid and sold in bakeries; eaten with strong sweet tea.
What to eat next door
Plan the trip
Questions
What food is Iraq famous for?
Masgouf (butterflied carp seasoned and slow-grilled upright beside an open fire) comes first on our list, followed by Dolma, Quzi, Kubba and Kleicha.
What is the national dish of Iraq?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Iraq is Masgouf: butterflied carp seasoned and slow-grilled upright beside an open fire. Abu Nuwas Street in Baghdad along the Tigris is famous for it; eaten with bread and pickles.
Which dishes in Iraq are vegetarian?
One of the five on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Kleicha. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Iraq?
Kubba (shells of bulgur or rice filled with spiced minced meat, fried or boiled).
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 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.
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.- 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 Iraq
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.