What to eat in Bulgaria: traditional dishes and how Bulgarians eat
Bulgarian food is grilled meat, yoghurt, white cheese, peppers, tomatoes and flaky pastry, cooked simply and served in generous portions. The dishes below are the ones to try on a short trip. The one thing to know is that a table is built around sharing, so order a salad, a grill and something to dip.
The short answer
- Order this first
- Shopska salad, then banitsa for breakfast. Between them they cover the country's cheese, vegetables and pastry.
- When people eat
- Breakfast is light and often a pastry. Lunch is the main meal for many, and dinner is relaxed and late, around 7 or 8 in the evening.
- Tipping
- About 10 percent is usual if service is not added to the bill.
- Where to eat well
- Our Sofia food guide names the places, each checked against a source.
What to eat in Bulgaria
- BanitsaFlaky filo pastry layered with white cheese and egg. Eaten for breakfast from bakeries, often with plain yoghurt or ayran.Nationwide
- Shopska saladChopped tomato, cucumber and peppers under a snow of grated white cheese. Served with nearly every meal.Nationwide
- TaratorA cold soup of yoghurt, cucumber, garlic and dill, sometimes with walnuts. Refreshing in summer.Nationwide
- KavarmaA slow-cooked stew of pork or chicken with onions, peppers and mushrooms, often served in a clay pot.Nationwide
- KebapcheA grilled sausage of minced meat and spices, served with chips or bread. A staple of the Bulgarian grill.Nationwide
- SarmiVine or cabbage leaves rolled around rice and minced meat, usually served warm with yoghurt.Nationwide
- MekitsaFried dough puffs served warm with white cheese, jam or powdered sugar. A common breakfast or snack.Nationwide
- LyutenitsaA spread of roasted peppers, tomatoes and aubergine, eaten on bread or beside grilled meat.Nationwide
- Bulgarian yoghurtThick, tangy and made with a Bulgarian culture, eaten plain, with honey or in dishes such as tarator.Nationwide
How the food changes across Bulgaria
Sofia and the west
Hearty pork and bean dishes, grilled meat and pastry, from restaurants serving national classics in the capital.
Plovdiv and the Thracian plain
Vegetables, peppers and tomatoes at their best, with wine and orchard fruit around the town.
The Black Sea coast
Fried sprats, mussels and grilled fish, usually eaten at tables by the water.
The Rhodope mountains
Rustic dishes such as potato and meat stews and pastry baked in village ovens, with local sheep and goat cheeses.
What to drink in Bulgaria
- RakiaA fruit brandy, often made from grapes or plums, served before the meal with salad. Sip it slowly.
- WineBulgaria has a long winemaking tradition. Look for local grapes such as mavrud and melnik on lists, and ask for a glass of the house red.
- AyranA cold, salty yoghurt drink, served with banitsa and grilled meat.
- BozaA thick, lightly sweet drink made from fermented grain, sold in winter and in old-fashioned shops.
Where to eat in Bulgaria, city by city
Sofia
A relaxed capital of Orthodox churches, Roman ruins, parks and a mountain on its doorstep. It suits anyone who wants a low-cost city break with good food and easy day trips.
Order Shopska salad
How Bulgaria eats
- Meal timesBreakfast is light, often just a pastry and coffee. Lunch is the big meal for many, and dinner is usually between 7 and 9.
- SharingSalads, starters and grills are put in the middle of the table. Order several and share.
- ReservationsBook dinner at known restaurants a day or two ahead for weekends. Most places take walk-ins on weekdays.
- TippingAbout 10 percent if service is not already on the bill. Hand it over or say how much to keep.
Signs of a place to walk past
Menus with photographs of every dish and prices in several currencies.
A restaurant in a resort strip with staff calling out to passers-by.
A salad that has sat on the counter in the sun, with limp cucumber.
Grills with no smoke or char, where the meat looks pale and reheated.
Food in Bulgaria: questions people ask
What food is Bulgaria known for?
Banitsa, shopska salad, kebapche, kavarma and yoghurt are the best known. White cheese, peppers and tomatoes appear in almost every meal.
What is the national dish of Bulgaria?
There is no single official dish. Shopska salad and banitsa are the two most often named, and tarator is the usual summer soup.
What is banitsa?
A pastry made of thin filo sheets layered with white cheese and egg, baked until golden. It is a traditional breakfast, eaten with yoghurt or ayran.
What do Bulgarians eat for breakfast?
Banitsa or another pastry, mekitsa, yoghurt with honey, or bread with white cheese. Coffee is the usual drink.
Is food cheap in Bulgaria?
Eating out costs less than in much of western Europe, especially in cities away from the coast. Resorts and tourist streets charge more.
Do you tip in Bulgaria restaurants?
Yes, about 10 percent if service is not added. Many places leave it to you, so check the bill.
What is a good vegetarian option in Bulgaria?
Shopska salad, banitsa, tarator, stuffed peppers with rice and bean soup are common. Check that soups and stews have not been made with meat stock.