Georgian Food and Drink: Traveler Guide to Dishes, Street Food, and Wine

Why Georgian food special

Georgian cuisine na one of di big surprise for travel. E bold, e full with herb, and dem build am around supra (feast), where toastmaster dem dey call *tamada* go lead endless toast. Chop dey generous, e social, and dem no dey rush am.

Signature dishes wey you must try

• Khachapuri — bread wey full with cheese. Di most famous na *Adjaruli*, na boat of dough wey full with melted cheese, butter, and runny egg, you go tear di crust and dip am.
• Khinkali — twisted soup dumpling wey full with spiced meat. Hold di topknot, bite small hole, sip di broth, den chop di rest. No ever use fork, and leave di knotted stem for your plate.
• Mtsvadi — Georgian shashlik, skewered pork or veal wey dem grill ova grapevine cutting.
• Lobio — bean wey dem slow cook with herb, dem dey serve am for clay pot with cornbread (*mchadi*).
• Pkhali — vegetable and walnut pate (spinach, beetroot, eggplant) wey get pomegranate on top.
• Badrijani — fried eggplant roll wey full with garlic walnut paste.

Street food and snacks

For Tbilisi, grab *churchkhela* (walnut wey dem dip inside grape-juice gel) from market stall, or warm *lobiani* (bean-filled bread). Bakery wey dey sell fresh bread from *tone* clay oven dey everywhere and e cheap.

Drinks: wine, chacha, and more

Georgia dey claim 8,000 years of winemaking, di oldest for world, dem dey use clay *qvevri* vessel wey dem bury underground. Try amber (orange) wine wey dem make from *Rkatsiteli*, or red wine from *Saperavi*. Local brand like Khareba and Pheasant's Tears easy to find.

• Chacha — fiery grape spirit (think Georgian grappa), dem dey usually make am for house.
• Tarkhuna — bright green tarragon soda.
• Borjomi — famous salty mineral water from di spa town wey get di same name.

Practical dining tips and etiquette

• Casual chop go cost around 15 to 30 GEL; sit-down dinner with wine no dey too expensive.
• Tipping 10% dem go appreciate am; check if service already added.
• If dem invite you for *supra*, pace yourself and follow di tamada; no ever start to drink before di toast.
• Vegetarian go chop well well here, especially during Orthodox fasting period when plenty dishes dey vegan by default.
• Cash dey handy for market, though card go work for cities.

Stay connected for Georgia

HelloSIM eSIM go keep you online for map, menu translation, and restaurant booking across Georgia with no roaming fee.