ExploFood · Europe
What to eat in Switzerland
Five dishes to try in Switzerland, the most typical first. Four are vegetarian.
Five dishes to try in Switzerland
Cheese fondue Fondue
Melted cheese and white wine in a shared pot, scooped up with bread cubes.
How to have it: A winter dish in mountain restaurants; locals drink white wine or tea with it, not cold water.
Raclette
Melted cheese scraped onto boiled potatoes with pickles and onions.
How to have it: A Valais speciality; at ski huts it is served a portion at a time as the wheel melts.
Rösti
Crisp pan-fried cake of grated potato.
How to have it: A side to Zurich veal or a meal on its own topped with a fried egg or cheese.
Zürcher Geschnetzeltes
Strips of veal and mushrooms in a white-wine cream sauce.
How to have it: Zurich's classic, served with rösti in traditional restaurants like guild-house dining rooms.
Älplermagronen
Alpine pasta and potatoes baked with cream, cheese and fried onions.
How to have it: Mountain-hut comfort food, eaten with a side of apple sauce.
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Questions
What food is Switzerland famous for?
Cheese fondue (melted cheese and white wine in a shared pot, scooped up with bread cubes) comes first on our list, followed by Raclette, Rösti, Zürcher Geschnetzeltes and Älplermagronen.
What is the national dish of Switzerland?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Switzerland is Cheese fondue: melted cheese and white wine in a shared pot, scooped up with bread cubes. A winter dish in mountain restaurants; locals drink white wine or tea with it, not cold water.
Which dishes in Switzerland are vegetarian?
Four of the five on this page are vegetarian as usually made: Cheese fondue, Raclette, Rösti and Älplermagronen. 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.
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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.