What food to eat in Prague

Typical food to try in Prague

Traditional Czech cuisine is based on cream sauces, pork and beef, and dumplings. The jewel of our gastronomy is svíčková, which was already mentioned in the Home Cookbook from 1826. The dish consists of beef roasted with vegetables, served in a cream sauce, and with a dumpling. Everything is then decorated with whipped cream and cranberries.

If you love sauerkraut, you must try knedlo–vepřo–zelo (pork-dumpling-cabbage). Roasted pork with potato dumplings and the distinctive taste of cabbage was invented by a Prague restaurateur.

We will stay with dumplings for a while because we can prepare them in countless ways in the Czech Republic. Dumplings can be filled with smoked meat, which is finely chopped, but also with fresh fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries, apricots, or plums. Pour melted butter over the fruit-leavened dumplings and sprinkle with sugar.

Meat lovers will surely fall in love with pub delicacies such as pork knuckle or roasted duck. You can look forward to crispy skin and delicious meat falling apart.

Now we come to a dish that does not originate in the Czech Republic, but the Czechs have become so fond of it that it can already be considered traditional. Although it may seem strange to eat raw meat, beef tatarák with toast (a slice of bread toasted in a pan until golden and rubbed with garlic) will surprise you with its taste.

With beer, we recommend trying utopence, literally translated as a drowned man, which is a Czech appetizer of soft sausage with onion, paprika, and pepper.

Not only vegetarians should also try bramboráky, which are potato pancakes that can be flavored and modified in various ways. Be careful, they are quite greasy.

Are you a soup lover? Order the thick hovězí vývar – beef broth with liver dumplings. It is a broth made from beef bones and meat with root vegetables. The second traditional choice is the kulajda. Soup made of mushrooms, potatoes, cream, dill, and spices, includes an egg with a liquid yolk.

You must try these food specialties in Prague

You can find classic sandwiches all over the world. However, Czech chlebíčky, or open-faced sandwiches are unique. You will see this iconic Czech dish at every celebration or party in a million different ways.

As a rule, sandwiches are covered with ham, salami, cheese, egg, and vegetables and spread with potato salad or another spread.

What food is Prague known for? Trdelník that is not traditional at all

Anyone who has ever looked up Prague on social media has certainly seen photos of the “traditional” Czech dessert trdelník, which is filled with ice cream, chocolate, or strawberries. We may disappoint you, but trdelník is not traditional and certainly not a Czech dessert. It has its roots in Hungary, partly in Germany, and also in Slovakia.

If you still want to have a trdelník and add your photo to the collection of others on Instagram, check out the trdelník taste test in Prague.

By the way, goulash in bread, which is also originally a Hungarian dish, is not traditional either. In the Czech Republic, we always eat goulash with a dumpling.

Where to eat in Prague?

For traditional Czech cuisine, stop by:

• Jídovice in Dejvice (metro stop Hradčanská) or in Karlín (metro stop Křižíkova)
• Světozor dining room, which is located right on Wenceslas Square
• U Červeného páva, which is located not far from the Prague Orloj
• Mincovna directly on the Old Town Square

And what about the desserts in Prague? Go to the Jizerská bakery in Chodov or to Kolacherie, which is a short distance from Prašná brána in the city center.

Are you planning to go out for a beer during your stay in Prague? Great idea! You can find tips on 7 pubs where to go for a beer in Prague on YouTube Honest Guide.

Food prices: How much does food cost in Prague?

Food prices vary not only across the Czech Republic but also across Prague. You can find it cheaper in the outskirts of Prague than in the center, but even in the center of the city, beware of inflated tourist prices.

Restaurants offer the best deals during lunchtime, i.e. from 11 a.m. to 1-2 p.m. During this period, you can order a lunch menu, which costs from 150 to 200 CZK. These offers are usually on a special menu. If you don’t get it on the table, ask the waiter if they offer a lunch menu.

In general, a main meal in Prague will cost you 150-300 CZK, depending on what you eat. According to the survey, a pizza costs 170 CZK on average, a steak 175 CZK, and a hamburger 200 CZK.

How much is a tip in Prague?

Most restaurants do not include a tip in the price of the meal and you are expected to give it separately. You can give the tip either in cash, or report a higher amount when paying by card. The tip usually amounts to 5-10% of the total spend.