If you’ve ever wondered what to eat in Bulgaria, you’re in for a delicious ride. As a Bulgarian who grew up with the scent of warm banitsa in the morning and cold tarator in the summer heat, I can tell you one thing – Bulgarian food is comfort in its truest form.
Forget fine dining, here it’s all about homemade, fresh, and flavorful dishes that bring people together. Whether you’re wandering through Sofia, hiking in the Rhodopes, or enjoying the sea breeze in Varna – the food will leave a mark on your heart (and your stomach).
So here it is – a personal list of the best food in Bulgaria you absolutely need to try!
*Heads up, fellow travelers! Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase or book an activity through them, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you!). We only recommend things we absolutely love and believe will enhance your adventure. Your support helps us keep this site going, so thank you for being part of our journey!
Banitsa – Bulgaria’s Breakfast Star
If you’ve ever woken up in a Bulgarian home, chances are you’ve smelled banitsa baking in the oven. This golden, flaky pastry made of layers of filo dough, eggs, yoghurt and white brined cheese (sirene) is the ultimate Bulgarian breakfast.
You can find it in every bakery, warm and ready to go. Some people like it with a dollop of yogurt, others grab it with a bottle of boza or ayran.
Warning! The bakery version is usually very oily, but still absolutely delicious – that’s part of the charm. That said, if you ever get the chance to try a homemade banitsa, do it! It’s often less greasy, fresher, and tastes more balanced, while still keeping that comforting, cheesy flavor.
We used to have banitsa on New Year’s morning too – with hidden fortunes (written on paper, not coins!) baked inside. Everyone would pull apart the banitsa and read their “fate” for the year. Delicious and entertaining.
Tarator – The Cold Soup You Didn’t Know You Needed
Every Bulgarian summer is powered by tarator. It’s a cold soup made of yogurt, grated cucumbers, dill, garlic, a bit of oil, and sometimes crushed walnuts. You might think “cold soup? really?” – but trust me, on a hot day when the sun won’t quit, there’s nothing more refreshing.
Tarator tastes like summer holidays, garden lunches, and grandma insisting you eat more even though it’s your third bowl. And somehow, you always have room for more.
Shopska Salata – The Saltiest, Crunchiest National Pride
This salad is simple, but oh-so-perfect. Chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, roasted peppers, onions, and a huge pile of grated white cheese on top. Served with a drizzle of sunflower oil and sometimes a splash of vinegar.
It’s on every menu in the country, from the fanciest restaurants to roadside diners. And always paired with a glass of rakia. You don’t question it – you just say yes. If you’re still wondering what to eat in Bulgaria, this is a must to start your meal right.
Musaka – Comfort Food at Its Finest
Bulgarian musaka is not like the Greek one – no eggplants here. Ours is all about potatoes, minced meat (usually pork or beef), onions, herbs, and topped with a creamy layer of yogurt and egg that’s baked until golden.
This is the kind of meal that feels like a hug. It’s what kids come home to after school, what families eat for Sunday lunch, and what no one ever makes just for one – because it’s meant to be shared.
Kebapcheta & Kufteta – The Grill Kings
You can’t go through Bulgaria without eating something from the grill. Kebapcheta are long, spiced meat rolls (no casing), grilled to juicy perfection. Kufteta are their rounder cousins — with herbs, onions, and sometimes even a little cumin or spearmint inside.
They’re always served with fries, a dollop of lutenitsa, and grated cheese. Street food or restaurant, summer or winter – they never disappoint.
Lutenitsa – The Spread That Goes with Everything
This roasted red pepper and tomato spread is a national treasure. Every family makes their own version – some sweeter, some chunkier, some with more garlic. You’ll find it next to your grilled meats, on a slice of bread for breakfast, or even just eaten by the spoon straight from the jar.
Growing up, the smell of roasted peppers during lutenitsa season was the sign that summer was ending. But at least you knew delicious things were coming.
Lukanka – The Salami We All Sneak from the Fridge
This semi-dried, spicy salami is a favorite for every meat-lover. It’s got a slightly tangy, peppery flavor and a unique flattened shape. Usually sliced super thin and eaten with bread, olives, or just by itself.
Honestly, every kid has snuck into the fridge at some point and sliced off a piece when no one was looking. That’s how good it is.
Kashkaval – The Yellow Cheese Bulgarians Adore
Kashkaval is the yellow cheese in Bulgaria — meltable, sliceable, and always in the fridge. It’s made from cow or sheep milk, and it ends up in toasties, omelets, pasta, or just eaten in cubes with tomatoes.
There’s even “kashkaval pane” – deep-fried cheese that melts on your fork and burns your tongue, but you keep eating anyway because it’s just that good.
Patatnik – The Hidden Gem from the Rhodopes
This dish comes from the mountains and deserves way more fame. It’s made of grated potatoes, onions, spearmint, and sometimes cheese or egg – all cooked in a pan until crispy outside and soft inside.
No meat, no fancy ingredients, but full of flavor. If you ever end up in a village in the Rhodopes, ask for patatnik. It’s the taste of quiet mornings and wood-burning stoves.
Sarmi – Tiny Rolls, Big Comfort
Sarmi are grape or cabbage leaves wrapped around a filling of rice (and sometimes minced meat), slowly cooked in a pot. The grape-leaf version is usually more common in summer, and cabbage ones in winter.
They’re soft, a little sour, and go perfectly with a spoonful of yogurt. In our house, they’d disappear as soon as they hit the table.
Meshana Skara – The Ultimate Bulgarian Grill Combo
Can’t decide what grilled meat to order? Just go for the meshana skara – a glorious mix of kebapche, kufteta, pork steak, maybe a sausage or skewer, all on one plate. Usually with fries, lutenitsa, and chopped salad.
It’s our version of “treat yourself,” especially on Sundays or after a long hike. And if you’re visiting Bulgaria — this is your one-stop ticket to meat heaven.
Chushki Burek – Stuffed Peppers, the Fried Way
Big roasted bell peppers filled with white cheese, dipped in egg and breadcrumbs, and fried until golden. Crunchy outside, creamy inside, and impossible to stop at one.
We usually have them as a starter or a side dish, but honestly, I’d eat them as the main any day.
Yaytsa po Panagyurski – Poached Eggs, Bulgarian Style
This dish is unique. Poached eggs served over thick yogurt, with a drizzle of paprika-infused butter and garlic. Salty, tangy, rich – and yes, a bit unusual.
It sounds strange, but if you love bold combos and creamy textures, this might become your new favorite brunch.
Bulgarian Yogurt – The Real Deal
Not all yogurt is created equal. Bulgarian yogurt is made with a special bacteria strain (Lactobacillus bulgaricus) that only grows here. It’s creamy, tangy, and way more probiotic than the store stuff abroad.
We eat it with honey, walnuts, fruit, or just plain. It’s also the base of many dishes – like tarator, or sauces for meats.
No fridge in Bulgaria is complete without it.
Shkembe Chorba – Not for the Faint of Heart
This is Bulgaria’s most love-it-or-hate-it dish. It’s a soup made from tripe (cow stomach), cooked slowly with milk, oil, garlic, vinegar, and lots of chili.
Most people either adore it or avoid it like the plague. But if you’ve had a rough night and need a hangover cure – this is the one Bulgarians swear by.
Bulgarian Desserts – Sweet Memories
Desserts in Bulgaria are simple but nostalgic. They’re the kind of sweets tied to childhood, holidays, or lazy weekends.
Tikvenik
This sweet pumpkin pastry is like a cousin of banitsa. Filo dough filled with grated pumpkin, sugar, cinnamon, and sometimes walnuts. Especially popular in autumn and always smells like cozy evenings.
Medenki
Honey cookies with a soft texture and sometimes a chocolate coating. Usually homemade, and they taste even better the next day.
Biskvitena Torta
The no-bake legend of every Bulgarian childhood. Layers of biscuits soaked in milk, alternating with chocolate cream, vanilla pudding, or whipped yogurt. Often topped with fruit or nuts. It’s simple, addictive, and every family has their own version.
Kompot
Boiled fruit drink, usually served cold as a sweet finish to lunch. We make it with cherries, apricots, apples, or whatever fruit is in season. It’s like a drink and dessert in one.
What to Drink in Bulgaria
Let’s not forget the drinks that bring everything together.
Rakia
The strong stuff. Homemade fruit brandy, usually made from grapes, plums, or apricots. It’s not just a drink – it’s a tradition. Served before meals with a salad, and always toasted with a loud “Nazdrave!”
Bulgarian Wine
Bulgaria has been making wine for centuries – and it shows. Local red varieties like Mavrud and Melnik are rich and bold. The whites from Thrace or the Black Sea region are crisp and perfect for summer evenings.
Ayran
Cold yogurt drink mixed with water and a pinch of salt. It might sound basic, but it’s the best thing with grilled meat or anything spicy.
Boza
Thick, fermented, sweet, and malty. Usually sold next to banitsa. You’ll either love it immediately or need a few tries. But it’s very Bulgarian – and part of our breakfast DNA.
If you’re already dreaming about trying all this delicious food yourself, make sure to check out our Bulgaria Itinerary 2025 – we’ve packed it with the best places to visit, hidden gems, and of course, food spots where you can taste everything from fresh banitsa to homemade lutenitsa. Perfect for a foodie road trip!
Here are also some well rated tours that can help you taste some local food in Sofia or Plovdiv!
Final Thoughts
So, what to eat in Bulgaria? Honestly – everything.
Start your day with banitsa, cool off with tarator, have a massive plate of meshana skara for lunch, and wrap it up with a slice of biskvitena torta. That’s a good day right there.
The best food in Bulgaria isn’t fancy. It’s slow-cooked, shared, and passed down through generations. And trust me, once you taste it, you’ll keep coming back for more.