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How to have a great dining experience in Prague

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How to have a great dining experience in Prague

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I looooooove food. I especially love the fact that you can eat really well in Prague for a lot less money than you would for a comparable meal in the US. However, as Americans, we have certain expectations of a dining experience. To be honest, our restaurants are mostly about turning over tables and serving as many customers as possible. We also live a bustling lifestyle where we expect instant gratification and doing things as efficiently as possible to maximize our productivity. But friends, you are on VACATION. Before you go to defenestrate your waiter, please take my advice and use this as a rare opportunity to disconnect, slow down, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life - something that the Czechs do very well.

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I don't care how many followers I have: I simply love documenting my food adventures on Instagram.

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Trdelniks are NOT traditional Prague Food

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Trdelniks are NOT traditional Prague Food

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They are a delicious swirly churro wrapped around fruit or ice cream, but they are not an authentic Czech dish.

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While Czech beer has garnered some well-deserved international fame recently, the multi-faceted cuisine of this central European nation still remains off the radar to many. But as the former capital of Bohemia and a historic crossroads between east and west, Prague is actually one of the top foodie cities in Europe.

So come along with us as we dig deep into everything from the best street food in Prague to the top white tablecloth dishes in this Czechlist wrap-up par excellence.

Kulajda - Soups are a staple of the traditional Czech diet and no guide to eating in Prague would be complete without highlighting Kuladjda. A potato and mushroom cream soup flavoured with dill or caraway seeds and sometimes topped with a poached egg, kulajda is served in both down-home traditional eateries as well as some of Prague's top restaurants - where chefs compete fiercely over who has come up with the new greatest recipe. In fact, there are as many versions of Kuladjda as there are chefs in Prague, so make sure you try it more than once!

Pho - Visitors are often surprised at how popular Vietnamese food is in Prague, but immigrants from this South East Asian country actually make up the third largest ethnic group in the city. Some of the best street food in Prague can be found at the Sapa Market, a bit of Hanoi in the middle of Central Europe.

But you don't have to leave the historic city centre to grab a bowl of excellent authentic pho, this noodle soup is extremely popular in Prague and can be found all over.

Doughnut Ice Cream Cones AKA Turtleneck - You'd think that someone would have thought to combine two of the world's favourite desserts before, but this trend that is now sweeping the city of Prague. Based on the traditional Czech pastry called Trdelník, a fried sweet bread topped with sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, but filled with ice cream to boot. These doughnut ice cream cones are now topping many visitors lists of the best food in Prague and should be on your must-try agenda too!

Palačinky - Similar to French crêpes, these light and sweet delights are served both as street food in Prague and in cafes. A popular option for couples on a romantic evening out in Prague, palačinky is stuffed with fruit, jam, cream and

nuts and goes down great with a nice Czech coffee. Savoury palačinkies are also sometimes on the menu, with spinach, meats and cheese topping the offerings available.

Guláś - A close relative of the Hungarian goulash, this hearty meal is also an essential experience when eating in Prague. The Czech version of this gravy based beef stew is even thicker than its Hungarian counterpart, contains fewer vegetables and is served with yummy bread dumplings. When it's time to get your fill on, gulàš is like heaven on earth.

Eating in Prague Like a Pro

Many of the best foods in Prague, including street foods, are made to go just perfectly with a nice cold Czech beer. Check out our 3.5 hour Czech Beer and Food tour for an in-depth intro into this deeply satisfying scene. Want to head straight to the heart of Prague's dynamic food scene? Sign up for our 4 hour Prague Food Tour (you'll still get to drink beer!) and prepare to be pleasantly overwhelmed by all the choices!

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The History of Prague's Food Culture - Eating Europe

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While Czech beer has garnered some well-deserved international fame recently, the multi-faceted cuisine of this central European nation still remains off the radar to many. But as the former capital of Bohemia and a historic crossroads between east and west, Prague is actually one of the top foodie cities in Europe.

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First, probably just sit down. But you might want to ask so they know you are there and will come to help you. Don’t be impatient! Do not try to cram a sit down meal in before you have scheduled plans unless you have a couple hours of time. If you need fast food, go to a food stall or grocery store. Don't go to McDonald's. Try harder than that.

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Decide on a drink. This is usually a bit tough because there are a lot of lovely libations. If you don't want beer or wine, definitely get the lemonade. Czechs specialize in fancy, infused, insanely refreshing lemonades. Make sure you ask for STILL water unless you are in the small minority of Americans that actually like unflavored sparkling mineral water.

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Order your beverage.
The waiter comes over: "Dobrý den, něco k pití?" (Something to drink?)
Let's be honest, he'll probably just ask you in English because you stick out like a sore thumb.
Here's the important part: TRY TO ORDER IN CZECH!

Ano. (Yes)

<Insert Beverage here>

velké pivo (Large Beer, to avoid the plague)

Bile vino (white wine)

Chai (tea)

Kavu (coffee)

neperlivá voda (still water)
Limonady (lemonade)

Prosim (Please)

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It's going to be a few minutes (probably more like 10-15) before you get your drink. Look over the menu. Same problem as before. Worst case scenario: talk to your friends. Practice your Czech. There is not a huge variety to Czech food, but what they do make, they do very well. My suggestions for a good overview of Czech Cuisine are as follows.

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Yes it is raw. Try it at least once. If you can do sushi or ceviche, you can do this too.

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I finally got to try pork cheeks and once again, Anthony Bourdain did not fail me. Not the prettiest plate, but oh so delicious.

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Especially Carpaccio. Yes, also raw. Call it sashimi if it makes you feel better.

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Shaved smoked duck breast salad. If you  haven't had fresh veggies in a while, and salad is on the menu, get it, but make sure you read the ingredients first to see how many vegetables are actually in it.

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Not your mama's mozzarella sticks. You can get many types of fried cheese. The traditional way is to eat it with tartar sauce, which I didn't think sounded so great, but was quite tasty.

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Every restaurant has it. It is heavy. This one had THREE types of dumplings! The sauce is where it's at.

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Wait, that's not authentic Czech! You are correct, but there is a huge population of Vietnamese immigrants in Prague and you would miss out by not eating it at least once. This is technically Pad Thai, but it was also better than any I've had prior to this trip.

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Enjoy a delightful meal and maybe even have a conversation with your companions. Even better: share all the things with each other. Figure out your bill total if you get flustered easily. Add up the stuff you ordered from the menu. Include how much it would be with an appropriate tip, especially if paying with a card. You need to include that and tell the waiter the total you want to pay, rather than adding it later.

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Go to the bathroom. It's free. This is also a great way to ask for the check if you see your waiter. They can be elusive.

"Platim prosim"

Waiter: Together or separate? společně nebo oddělené

Pro tip: always pay together. It is more difficult separately especially if using multiple credit cards. You can’t always pay at the table.

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When you are brought your bill, you are expected to pay right away, preferably including the tip you need to tell them the total you want to pay if you want to include the tip on your card. You should also be prepared to automatically give them their tip. Or ask for a different amount of change back. Note: Tips are not necessarily expected. Most Czechs just round up to an appropriate amount. If you want to give a tip, 10% is sufficient.