10 Best Traditional Czech Food to try when Visiting Prague

Prague isn’t just home to the sprawling castle complex, hidden underground bars, all-night rave clubs, and cultural attractions. No, it is home to some of the most mouth-watering and hearty Czech delicacies you could ever imagine!

After all, part of the sun about coming to another country is the cuisine. You can see what locals really have for breakfast every day before work, what a lunch break looks like, and what they’ll have for dinner with their families. You can also walk around some of the most popular restaurants and hotspots in the sprawling city of Prague to check out where the locals flock to, why they are so popular, and how you can avoid the tourist traps. 

Let’s “Czech” out the best Czech cuisine dishes to try during your time in Prague. 

Svickova na smetane

Svickova na smetane – By Matyáš Havel – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24560219

This marinated sirloin dish is perfect for those cold Czech winter nights after going to one of the many ice skating rinks in the capital city of Prague. After testing your luck out on the ice, head to one of the nearby local restaurants to try this popular dish with braised beef, thick sauce, and root vegetables. You can enjoy a hearty side of whipped cream — yes, you heard that right, whipped cream! Surprisingly, it goes very well with the combination of hte savory beef and hot vegetables. 

Sekana pecene

Sirloin with dumplings and cream – By Patrick-Emil Zörner (Paddy) – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=338975

Another meat-heavy dish, this Czech take on American meatloaf is hugely filling and great for dinner after walking around all day. If you have been strolling around on the Mala Strana or enjoying a few Pilsners in Old Town Square, it can be time for a heavy dinner. This dish combines half pork and half beef mince with simple spices for an easy and yummy dinner. 

Uzene

Bohemian platter at a restaurant in central Prague – By JIP – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18820974

Okay, there is a trend here — this dish is also one for meat lovers. But what can you expect? In this part of the world, the border between Eastern Europe and the Centralized Balkan and Bavarian countries, meat reigns supreme. And with dishes like these, we can see why. This heavily smoked meat is simple, plain, and mouth-watering. Served with juniper berries as a side, the sweetness of the berries works well with the smoky meat. 

Goulash

Prague-style beef goulash – By Rkolarsky – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12711361

This is definitely what you have heard of before coming to the Czech Republic. Goulash is one of the most widely ordered and popular dishes when tourists flock to Prague. This famous stew is great for visiting in the winter months or brisk summer nights when the wind picks up on the Vltava River. This standard meal is simple, cheap, and filling — perfect for budget travelers who love bread, meat, and potatoes! 

Karbanatky

Try something a little more “adventurous” — or a little more up your alley if you are American — and order the burger. This plain and easy meat patty is sometimes a welcome respite from the other Czech dishes. Covered in breadcrumbs and fried, this burger patty is like a combination of battered fish and breadcrumb panko all in one. 

Moravsky vrabec

Roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut – By Patrick-Emil Zörner (Paddy) – Own work, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=339803

And we’re back to the more adventurous dishes. Well, the name would imply it is, but really it is just another meat-heavy dish. But we love it all the same. The name actually translates directly to “Moravian sparrow,” but don’t fret — you are not eating a bird from one of the trees in Petrin Park. No, this is just a popular pork dish similar to a Polish dish with pierogies and sauerkraut. The only difference with the Czech version is the substitution of dumplings instead of perogies. 

Cesnecka

Cesnecka at a restaurant in Hradnek – By Nillerdk – Own photo of dish as served in Restaurace Dělnický dům, Hrádek nad Nisou, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4160523

Are you tired of all of the meat? We don’t blame you – sometimes the Czech food can get a little too meat-heavy. Try the Cesnecka, garlic soup, for an appetizer or filling lunch on a chilly December day. This soup contains a lot of garlic, croutons, and a raw egg that cooks from the heat of the soup. Dip some crusty bread into the soup, and you have yourself a simple and cheap full meal. 

Rizek

Smazeny rizek – Autor: Dezidor, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15018824

Schnitzel! Everyone loves schnitzel. The Polish love it, the Germans love it, the Austrians love it — so, naturally, the Czech people love it. This dish is extremely versatile and popular, meaning it can be made with various types of meat and toppings to accommodate anyone’s flavor palette. The typical Czech schnitzel is Pork schnitzel served with a side of potato salad. 

Koprova Omacka

Dill sauce – Autor: Dezidor – Fotografie je vlastním dílem, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4360194

This dish is all about the sauce — okay, you caught us, it’s about the meat too. But mainly the sauce. This signature Cech sauce made from cream, vinegar, pickled dill, and flour may not sound impressive, but it is! Usually drizzled over meat, bread, and eggs, this sauce turns any bland dish into a mouth-watering dinner. 

Rajska Omacka

Spaghetti – Volné dílo, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=70683

Last but not least, we have another popular Czech sauce. This tomato-based sauce is used over dumplings and bread, creating the perfect after-school meal for Czech children. If you want to get an authentic taste of what Czech people had growing up, this is the first thing on the menu.