The winding streets of Prague are cluttered with various shops, restaurants and cafes. The food choice can be quite diverse with Turkish, Indian, American, Italian and Thai food all in close quarters. However, Czech cuisine itself is extraordinarily simple, as it swears by the basics of meat and bread. Survival in this city ultimately depends on a diet of protein and carbs, with the occasional bit fried cheese and sugary trdelník. Allow me to be your guide on a journey through my favorite grub the town of castles, bridges and dumplings has to offer.
Dumplings
Speaking of the land of dumplings, this may be the type of food that Prague is most famous for. Before I even booked my flight to this gorgeous city, I had heard rumors about the Czech Republic’s legendary dumplings. For some reason, I’d imagined these fabled dumplings to be comparable to the globs of dough found in soups, or perhaps something like potstickers, pork buns and won tons. But boy, was I wrong. In reality, these guys are just round slices of delicious, dense (usually white) bread. They almost always accompany a hearty meat dish, where you are supposed to use them to sop up your hefty portion of beef and sauce.
Trdelník
This is by far my favorite Czech food. Not surprising, because it’s basically all sugar. This hollow pastry is toasted over warm coals (in a rotisserie chicken-esque way), and generously sprinkled with sugar and sometimes nuts. The other day, I got one filled with Nutella, and it was to-die-for.
Goulash
This beefy concoction’s origin is Hungarian; however, it’s found all over the Czech Republic. It can be served in a bowl as stew or on a plate with a side of dumplings. Sometimes it will even come with vegetables, but don’t hold your breath.
Ostrich
Okay, this might not necessarily be unique to Prague, but it’s so mind-blowingly delectable that it needed to be added to this list. There’s a restaurant down the street from me that serves all sorts of Czech food, including three tasty forms of ostrich: smoked, medallion (my personal favorite) and tartare. It’s tender and tastes ten times better that any other meat you’ve eaten, guaranteed.
Garlic Soup
Advertised as a cure for hangovers, this soup not only subdues nausea and headaches, but curbs your hunger and satisfies your tastebuds as well. It’s kind of like French Onion, but with hunks of roasted garlic. A must-try!
Palačinky
Palacinky, otherwise known as crepes, can be found everywhere. If I see a crepe stand during one of my wanderings around the city, I can’t help but stop and order one. From savory to sweet, Prague has got you covered.
Fried Cheese
No explanation needed. With a crispy breaded outside and a chewy gooey inside, what’s not to love about fried cheese?