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What to eat in Kosovo

Five dishes to try in Kosovo, the most typical first. Two are vegetarian.

Five dishes to try in Kosovo

  1. Flija

    Main dishVegetarian

    Layered crêpe-like pastry baked slowly under a hot metal lid.

    How to have it: Takes hours to make, so it is often a gathering dish; eat it with yoghurt, honey or ajvar.

    Read about Flija on Wikipedia

  2. Burek Byrek

    Street food

    Flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese or spinach.

    How to have it: A breakfast staple from bakeries; have it with a glass of drinking yoghurt.

    Read about Burek on Wikipedia

  3. Qebapa

    Main dish

    Small grilled minced-meat sausages served with bread and onion.

    How to have it: Order by the portion at grill houses in Pristina and Prizren, with ajvar on the side.

    Read about Qebapa on Wikipedia

  4. Tavë kosi

    Main dish

    Lamb and rice baked under a thick layer of yoghurt and egg.

    How to have it: An Albanian home-style dish; look for it at traditional restaurants as a lunch special.

    Read about Tavë kosi on Wikipedia

  5. Macchiato Makiato

    DrinkVegetarian

    Espresso topped with a cap of steamed milk foam.

    How to have it: Kosovo's café culture runs on it; order one at any café and linger, as locals do.

    Read about Macchiato on Wikipedia

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Questions

What food is Kosovo famous for?

Flija (layered crêpe-like pastry baked slowly under a hot metal lid) comes first on our list, followed by Burek, Qebapa, Tavë kosi and Macchiato.

What is the national dish of Kosovo?

Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Kosovo is Flija: layered crêpe-like pastry baked slowly under a hot metal lid. Takes hours to make, so it is often a gathering dish; eat it with yoghurt, honey or ajvar.

Which dishes in Kosovo are vegetarian?

Two of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Flija and Macchiato. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.

What street food should I try in Kosovo?

Burek (flaky pastry filled with minced meat, cheese or spinach).

What do people drink in Kosovo?

Macchiato: espresso topped with a cap of steamed milk foam.

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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Dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.