ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Malta
Five dishes to try in Malta, the most typical first. Four are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Malta
Pastizzi
Flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas.
How to have it: Very cheap at pastizzeriji all day; Crystal Palace in Rabat is famous and open late.
Rabbit stew Stuffat tal-fenek
Rabbit slow-cooked in red wine, garlic and tomato.
How to have it: The national dish; a fenkata is a rabbit feast in village restaurants such as those in Mġarr.
Ftira
Ring-shaped Maltese bread, often filled with tomato, tuna, capers and olives.
How to have it: Order 'ħobż biż-żejt' or a filled ftira as a lunch to take to the beach.
Imqaret
Deep-fried diamond-shaped pastries filled with spiced date paste.
How to have it: Sold fresh from street vans at festas and outside Valletta's city gate.
Kinnie
Bitter-orange and herb soft drink made in Malta.
How to have it: Order it with pastizzi or as a mixer; Kinnie is on almost every café menu.
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Questions
What food is Malta famous for?
Pastizzi (flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas) comes first on our list, followed by Rabbit stew, Ftira, Imqaret and Kinnie.
What is the national dish of Malta?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Malta is Pastizzi: flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas. Very cheap at pastizzeriji all day; Crystal Palace in Rabat is famous and open late.
Which dishes in Malta are vegetarian?
Four of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Pastizzi, Ftira, Imqaret and Kinnie. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Malta?
Pastizzi (flaky diamond-shaped pastries filled with ricotta or mushy peas).
What do people drink in Malta?
Kinnie: bitter-orange and herb soft drink made in Malta.
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.