The Ultimate Georgian Food Guide: 20 Dishes You Must Try (With Georgian Names)

Georgian food is having a moment — and it’s about time. What was once one of the world’s best-kept culinary secrets is now appearing on food blogs, Netflix shows, and “best food cities” lists worldwide. And for good reason: Georgian cuisine is genuinely exceptional.

But here’s the thing: eating in Georgia is even better when you can read the menu, pronounce the dishes, and order without pointing at pictures. Waiters light up. Recommendations get better. You stop accidentally ordering chicken liver when you wanted grilled chicken.

This guide covers the essential Georgian dishes with proper Georgian script, pronunciation, and all the food vocabulary you need to eat your way through the country like a local.

Why Georgian Food Stands Apart

Georgian cuisine isn’t “Eastern European.” It isn’t “Mediterranean.” It’s its own ancient culinary tradition, shaped by thousands of years of history, a strategic location between Europe and Asia, and some of the best ingredients on the planet.

What makes it unique:

• Cheese is everywhere — Georgians produce over 14 regional cheese varieties, and most dishes feature it prominently
• Walnuts are the secret weapon — Ground into sauces, stuffed into vegetables, crushed over salads, rolled into candy
• Fresh herbs dominate — ქინძი (kindzi / cilantro), რეჰანი (rekhani / basil), ტარხუნა (tarkhuna / tarragon), and კამა (k’ama / dill) appear in enormous quantities
• Bread is sacred — Different regions have unique bread traditions, always freshly baked
• Wine is ancient — Georgia has been making ღვინო (ghvino / wine) for 8,000 years. It’s literally where wine was invented. Read our full Georgian wine guide.
• Spice blends are distinctive — ხმელი-სუნელი (khmeli-suneli), a mix of coriander, fenugreek, marigold petals, and more, gives Georgian food its signature flavor

The Essential Dishes

1. ხინკალი (khinkali) — Soup Dumplings

Pronunciation: khin-KA-li

Georgia’s most iconic dish and a source of national pride. These large, twisted dumplings are filled with spiced meat (or cheese, mushrooms, potato) and — crucially — hot broth trapped inside.

The eating ritual (follow this or face judgment):

1. Pick up by the twisted top — the “handle” called კუდი (k’udi)
2. Flip it upside down slightly
3. Take a small bite from the side
4. Suck out the hot broth carefully (this is the best part!)
5. Eat the rest — but leave the top knob on your plate. It’s doughy and traditionally not eaten
6. Count your knobs to track how many you’ve eaten

Variations:

Georgian	Transliteration	Filling
ხინკალი ხორცით	khinkali khorts’it	with meat (the classic)
ხინკალი სოკოთი	khinkali sok’otit	with mushrooms
ხინკალი კარტოფილით	khinkali k’art’opilit	with potato
ხინკალი ყველით	khinkali q’velit	with cheese

Ordering tip: Order by the piece. ხუთი ხინკალი, გთხოვთ (khuti khinkali, gtkhovt) = “5 khinkali, please.” Start with 5-7 if you’re hungry — they’re bigger than you expect.

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2. ხაჭაპური (khachapuri) — Cheese Bread

Pronunciation: kha-cha-PU-ri

If you try only one Georgian dish, make it khachapuri. It’s cheese-filled bread, but that description is like calling sushi “rice with fish.” The cheese is stretchy, salty, and slightly tangy. The bread is soft and pillowy. Together, they’re perfection.

Regional variations — each region claims theirs is best:

Type	Georgian	Description
Imeretian	იმერული	Round, flat, the most common everyday type
Adjarian	აჭარული	Boat-shaped with egg and butter — the famous one
Mingrelian	მეგრული	Double cheese: inside AND melted on top
Svanetian	ფხოვლური	Rectangular, with egg inside
Gurian	გურული	Crescent-shaped with boiled egg baked inside

Pro tip for Adjarian khachapuri: When it arrives boat-shaped with a raw egg and butter pat in the center, stir them into the hot cheese with your fork before eating. Tear bread from the sides and dip into the cheesy center.

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3. მწვადი (mtsvadi) — Grilled Meat Skewers

Pronunciation: mts-VA-di

Georgian barbecue is an art form. Chunks of meat are marinated, skewered, and grilled over გვირილა (gvirila — dried grapevines), which gives a distinctive smoky flavor you can’t replicate with charcoal. Served with raw onion rings, pomegranate seeds, and ტყემალი (t’q’emali — sour plum sauce).

Variations:

• ღორის მწვადი (ghoris mtsvadi) — pork skewers (the default)
• საქონლის მწვადი (sakonlis mtsvadi) — beef skewers
• ბატკნის მწვადი (bat’k’nis mtsvadi) — lamb skewers
• ქათმის მწვადი (katmis mtsvadi) — chicken skewers

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4. ლობიო (lobio) — Bean Stew

Pronunciation: LO-bi-o

A thick, hearty stew of red beans cooked with onions, garlic, and Georgian spices — coriander, fenugreek, and საწებელი (sats’ebeli — a chili-walnut paste). Usually served in a clay pot called კეცი (k’etsi) with მჭადი (mchadi — corn bread) and pickled vegetables.

Cheap, filling, and surprisingly flavorful. This is Georgian comfort food at its finest.

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5. ფხალი (pkhali) — Vegetable-Walnut Pâté

Pronunciation: pkha-LI

Ground vegetables mixed with walnuts, garlic, vinegar, and fresh herbs, formed into small balls topped with pomegranate seeds. Rich, savory, and completely plant-based — vegetarians and vegans, this is your dish.

Common varieties:

Georgian	Transliteration	Variety
ისპანახის ფხალი	isp’anakhis pkhali	spinach
ჭარხლის ფხალი	charkhlis pkhali	beet
ლობიოს ფხალი	lobios pkhali	green bean
კომბოსტოს ფხალი	k’ombostos pkhali	cabbage

Ordering tip: Ask for ფხალის ასორტი (pkhalis asorti) — assorted pkhali — to try all varieties on one plate.

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6. ბადრიჯანი ნიგვზით (badrijani nigvzit) — Eggplant with Walnut Paste

Pronunciation: bad-ri-JA-ni nig-VZIT

Thin slices of fried eggplant rolled around a paste of ground walnuts, garlic, fenugreek, and spices. Topped with pomegranate seeds. One of the most popular appetizers in Georgia — and completely vegan.

The combination of silky eggplant with crunchy, garlicky walnut filling is genuinely addictive. Order this as a starter every time.

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7. ოჯახური (ojakhuri) — “Family-Style” Pork & Potatoes

Pronunciation: o-ja-KHU-ri

Chunks of pork fried with potatoes, onions, and peppers, served sizzling in a clay კეცი (k’etsi). The name literally means “family dish” (from ოჯახი / ojakhi — family) — it’s hearty, generous, and designed for sharing.

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8. შქმერული (shkmeruli) — Garlic Cream Chicken

Pronunciation: shk-me-RU-li

A whole chicken (or chicken pieces) swimming in a creamy garlic sauce made with milk, an absurd amount of ნიორი (niori — garlic), and butter. Served bubbling hot in a clay pot. Named after the village of Shkmeri in Racha.

Fair warning: If you’re going on a date, maybe order something else. The garlic situation is… intense.

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9. საცივი (satsivi) — Chicken in Walnut Sauce

Pronunciation: sa-TSI-vi

Cold chicken covered in a thick, creamy walnut sauce spiced with coriander, ფენუგრეკი (penugrek’i — fenugreek), cinnamon, and marigold. Traditionally served during საახალწლო (saakhalts’lo — New Year), but available year-round.

Fun fact: “satsivi” technically refers to the walnut sauce itself, not the chicken.

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10. ჩაქაფული (chakapuli) — Spring Lamb Stew

Pronunciation: cha-ka-PU-li

A bright, herby stew of lamb cooked with white wine, ტარხუნა (tarkhuna — tarragon), and sour green plums. Traditionally made in spring during Easter when tarragon is freshest. Light, tangy, and completely different from heavier winter dishes.

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11. ჩიხირთმა (chikhirtma) — Lemony Chicken Soup

Pronunciation: chi-khirt-MA

Georgia’s hangover cure: a lemony, sour chicken soup thickened with egg yolk and flavored with coriander and wine vinegar. The broth is light but intensely flavored.

When to order: After a long night of Georgian wine and toasting. Georgians swear by it.

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12. აჯაფსანდალი (ajapsandali) — Vegetable Stew

Pronunciation: a-jap-san-DA-li

Georgia’s ratatouille: ბადრიჯანი (badrijani — eggplant), წიწაკა (ts’its’aka — peppers), პომიდორი (p’omidori — tomatoes), and ხახვი (khakhvi — onions) stewed with herbs and garlic. Served warm or at room temperature. Another excellent vegetarian option.

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13. კუბდარი (kubdari) — Svanetian Meat Bread

Pronunciation: k’ub-DA-ri

From the სვანეთი (Svaneti) mountain region. A round bread stuffed with spiced minced meat (usually beef and pork mixed). Cut into slices like a pie. The dough absorbs the meat juices and spices — incredible.

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14. მჭადი (mchadi) — Corn Bread

Pronunciation: MCHA-di

Simple cornmeal bread, shaped into rounds and pan-fried until golden and crispy outside, soft inside. The classic companion to ლობიო (lobio) and cheese. Cheap, satisfying, and found everywhere.

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15. სულგუნი (sulguni) — Georgian Cheese

Pronunciation: sul-GU-ni

A brined, stretchy cheese similar to mozzarella but tangier. The most famous Georgian cheese, served plain, grilled, or fried.

• სულგუნი შემწვარი (sulguni shemts’vari) — fried sulguni (on every menu)
• შებრუნებული სულგუნი (shebrunebuli sulguni) — smoked sulguni (incredible)

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16-20: Five More You Can’t Miss

ჩურჩხელა (churchkhela) — Walnut strings dipped in thickened grape juice and dried. Georgian candy that’s been made for centuries. Looks unusual, tastes amazing.

ლობიანი (lobiani) — Bean-filled bread. Like khachapuri but with spiced bean paste instead of cheese. Especially associated with ბარბარობა (barbaroba — St. Barbara’s Day).

ქათმის ტაბაკა (katmis tabaka) — Flattened, pan-fried chicken pressed under a heavy weight. Crispy skin, juicy meat, garlic sauce.

მწვანილების სალათი (mts’vanilebis salati) — Fresh herb salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and walnuts. Simple, bright, on every table.

ტყემალი (t’q’emali) — Sour plum sauce served with almost everything. Green (sour) and red (sweeter) varieties.

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Georgian Drinks

ღვინო (ghvino) — Wine

Georgia invented wine 8,000 years ago. The traditional method uses ქვევრი (kvevri) — large clay vessels buried underground. You’ll find amber wines, deep reds, and semi-sweets you can’t get anywhere else.

Essential wine vocabulary:

Georgian	Transliteration	Meaning
თეთრი ღვინო	tetri ghvino	white wine
წითელი ღვინო	ts’iteli ghvino	red wine
ქვევრის ღვინო	kvevris ghvino	qvevri (traditional) wine
ნახევრად ტკბილი	nakhevrad tk’bili	semi-sweet
მშრალი	mshrali	dry

For a deep dive, read our complete Georgian wine guide — covers qvevri winemaking, grape varieties, wine regions, and tasting vocabulary.

ჭაჭა (chacha) — Grape Brandy

Georgian grappa. Strong (40-60% alcohol), often homemade, offered to guests as hospitality. Sip carefully. Decline gracefully if you must — but they’ll offer again.

ლიმონათი (limonati) — Georgian Lemonade

Not what you expect. Georgian lemonades are sweet, fizzy, and come in wild flavors: ტარხუნა (tarkhuna — tarragon/green), კრემი (k’remi — cream soda), მსხალი (mskhali — pear). Best paired with salty, savory food.

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How to Order in Georgian: Essential Menu Vocabulary

Reading the Menu

Georgian	Transliteration	Meaning
მენიუ	meniu	menu
წინაკერძი	ts’inak’erdzi	appetizer/starter
ძირითადი	dziritadi	main course
დესერტი	deserti	dessert
სასმელები	sasmelebi	drinks
ხორცი	khortsi	meat
ქათამი	katami	chicken
ღორი	ghori	pork
საქონელი	sakoneli	beef
ბატკანი	bat’k’ani	lamb
თევზი	tevzi	fish
ბოსტნეული	bostneuili	vegetables
ყველი	q’veli	cheese
კვერცხი	kvertskhi	egg
პური	puri	bread
სალათი	salati	salad
წვნიანი	tsvniani	soup

Useful Ordering Phrases

Georgian	Transliteration	Meaning
რა გირჩევთ?	ra girchevt?	What do you recommend?
რა ღირს?	ra ghirs?	How much does it cost?
ეს მინდა	es minda	I want this
კიდევ, გთხოვთ	k’idev, gtkhovt	More, please
საკმარისია	sak’marisIa	That’s enough
ანგარიში, გთხოვთ	angarishi, gtkhovt	The bill, please
ეს გემრიელია!	es gemrielia!	This is delicious!
ძალიან მომეწონა	dzalian momets’ona	I liked it very much

Dietary Restrictions

Georgian	Transliteration	Meaning
ვეგეტარიანელი ვარ	vegetarianeli var	I’m vegetarian
ვეგანი ვარ	vegani var	I’m vegan
არ ვჭამ ხორცს	ar vcham khorts	I don’t eat meat
უხორცოდ, გთხოვთ	ukhorts’od, gtkhovt	Without meat, please
ალერგია მაქვს	alergia makvs	I have an allergy
ცხარე არ მინდა	tskhare ar minda	I don’t want spicy

Need to understand prices? Georgian numbers use a base-20 system. Learn Georgian numbers 1-100 — essential for markets and restaurants.

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Where to Eat in Tbilisi

Traditional Restaurants (სახლის სტილის რესტორანი)

Family-style dining halls serving classic dishes. Order several dishes to share — this is how Georgians eat. Expect long meals, generous portions, and reasonable prices.

დუქანი (Dukani) — Casual Eateries

Small, no-frills spots — Georgian “cafeterias.” Point at what you want from the display case. Cheap, fast, delicious. Where locals actually eat lunch.

ფურნე (Purne) — Bakeries

Fresh bread, khachapuri, lobiani straight from the oven. The best ones have a line of locals outside. Look for the wood-fired თონე (tone — traditional clay oven) visible from the street.

Markets

დეზერტირების ბაზარი (dezertirebis bazari — Dezerter Bazaar) is Tbilisi’s largest market. Fresh produce, cheese, churchkhela, spices, pickles. Practice your Georgian here — vendors love it and will reward your effort with extra fruit and better prices.

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What’s Next?

Now you know what to order, how to pronounce it, and the vocabulary to navigate any Georgian menu. But reading about food is only half the experience — the real magic happens when you can engage in Georgian.

Here’s how to level up your Georgian food experience:

1. Learn the sounds — Georgian pronunciation has some unique challenges. Our pronunciation guide will help you nail those dish names
2. Build food vocabulary — Our flashcard app includes a dedicated food and restaurant deck
3. Practice ordering — The audio course includes a full module on restaurant situations with native speaker audio
4. Talk to locals — Join our language exchange and practice food conversations with Georgians
5. Listen to real Georgian — Our podcast course features episodes on Georgian food culture

When the waiter asks მოგეწონათ? (mogets’onat — did you like it?), you’ll know exactly what to say: ძალიან გემრიელი იყო! (dzalian gemrieli iq’o — It was very delicious!)

გემრიელად მიირთვით! (gemrielad miirtvit) — Enjoy your meal!

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Related Guides

• Georgian Wine Guide: 8,000 Years of Qvevri, Grapes & Tradition
• Georgian Numbers 1-100: The Complete Counting Guide
• 10 Georgian Phrases You’ll Use Every Day in Tbilisi
• Moving to Georgia: The Honest Guide for 2026
• Digital Nomad Guide to Georgia