Europe has given us some of the most delicious dishes in the world. Each country has a standout dish. From dumplings to pierogi to waffles, Europe has so much to offer in terms of food that you might get lost among the choices. If you’re someone who’s planning a trip to Europe and curious about the best food in Europe to try, then come along as we will try to introduce you to different iconic food from different countries of Europe. So, buckle up!
Best Food in Europe
There’s a lot to discover about European cuisine. All of its dishes may not be popular favorites like pizza & pasta, but they will definitely serve your palette.
1. Francesinha-Portugal:
Francesinha is a Portuguese sandwich stuffed with steak, sausage, eggs, and oozing cheese, served with a side of French fries. It’s the ultimate meal to get rid of your hangover. It’s said that this dish is inspired by the French Croque monsieur. Many Portuguese people might disagree if you call it a sandwich because it’s so much more than that.
Where to find the best Francesinha?
Café Santiago
Location: R. de Passos Manuel 226, 4000-382 Porto, Portugal
2. Croissants- France:
Let’s talk about the classic French croissant. It originated in Austria as a cookie. But the French chefs modified it and turned it into an even better version a couple of centuries ago. It’s a puff pastry filled with buttercream and comes in different flavors. The best is the almond-flavored one. Its crescent shape inspires the name. Croissants are a favorite among the French to grab and go during the morning rush hour.
Where to find the best croissant?
Pain Pain
Location: 88 Rue des Martyrs, 75018 Paris
3. Haggis Scotland:
Haggis is the national dish of Scotland. Its name might not sound appealing, but the dish is delicious. It’s made of minced sheep’s liver, lungs, and heart mixed with oatmeal, onion, and spices. This mixture is then stuffed into the sheep and cooked. Finally, the piping hot dish is served with a side of “neaps and tatties.”
Where to find the best Haggis?
Whiski Bar & Restaurant
Location: 119 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SG, UK
4. Waffles-Belgium:
Belgium is famous for its chocolates and desserts. If you’re in Belgium or planning to go there, you should definitely try the Belgian waffles. It’s much lighter than the American version. Usually, chocolates, berries, whipped cream, and ice creams are used as toppings. This beautiful dessert is as much treat to the eyes as it is to the palette.
Where to find the best waffles?
Oyya
Location: Noordzandstraat 1, 8000 Brugge, Belgium
5. Saltibarsciai-Lithuania:
Saltibarciai is a soup made of beetroot juice with a milk base. It’s also known as cold borscht across Eastern Europe. The soup is easily recognizable because of its bright pink color. The refreshing flavor makes it perfect for the summertime.
Where to find the best Saltibarsciai?
Šnekutis
Location: Šv. Stepono g. 8, Vilnius 01138, Lithuania
6. Arancini-Italy:
Even though Italy is famous for its pizza and pasta, Arancini is a very flavorful dish. It has to be on the list of the best food in Europe. These crispy fried balls are stuffed with meat, mozzarella, tomatoes, mushrooms, aubergines, or pistachios and then covered in bread crumbs and deep-fried in oil.
Where to find the best Arancini?
Mondo Arancina
Location: Via Marcantonio Colonna, 38, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
7. Gozleme- Turkey:
Gozleme is a flatbread stuffed with various ingredients. The most common stuffings used are spinach, feta, and minced meat. It’s a traditional Turkish dish. You can enjoy it as breakfast or comfort food whenever you feel like it.
Where to find the best Gozleme?
Gözlemece
Location: Sinanpaşa Mahallesi, Şht. Dursun Bakan Sk. 29/A, 34353 Beşiktaş/İstanbul, Turkey
8. Pierogi-Poland:
Pierogi is a European version of dumplings filled with potato, cheese, and meat and boiled in water. You can also try the one with sweet fillings as a dessert. Pierogi is more widely available in Slavic countries, especially in Poland. It’s served with melted butter, fried onion, or sour cream as toppings. You can have it as a snack or as a full meal.
Where to find the best pierogi?
Przystanek Pierogarnia
Location: Bonerowska 14, 33-332 Kraków, Poland
9. Potica- Slovenia:
Another dish to make it to the best foods in Europe list is Potica. Potica is one of the best desserts on this list. It’s a traditional dish of Slovenia filled with nutty goodness wrapped in a roll. Sweet dough is used to make the roll with ground nut’s paste inside along with honey or sugar. Some modern versions also include chocolate in the filling. Then the roll is baked and served fresh out of the oven. You’ll absolutely love this dish if you have a sweet tooth.
Where to find the best Potica?
Potičnica Blejski Otok
Location: Blejski Otok d.o.o., Slovenski trg 1, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
10. Swedish meatballs- Sweden:
The Swedish name for meatballs is kottbullar. It’s usually made of beef. Veal, reindeer, or venison is also used as an alternative to beef quite often. Served with cream sauce or gravy, it’s a perfect dish to have on a cold winter night for dinner.
Where to find the best Swedish meatballs?
Meatballs for The People
Location: Nytorgsgatan 30, 116 40 Stockholm, Sweden
11. Cheese fondue-Switzerland:
If you want to try some of the best food in Europe, then you have to try the fondue. This dish is the ultimate cheese heaven, made with Emmenthal cheese or Gruyere cheese with white wine and kirsch to give the taste a little kick. It’s served with crusty bread called Weizenbrot to dip into. The dish is very popular among locals and people all over the world.
Where to find the best cheese fondue?
Swiss Chalet
Location: Bahnhofstrasse 18, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
12. Cevapi-Bosnia or Herzegovina:
Cevapi is a delectable dish in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The dish is made of skinless beef sausage and served with creamy cheese, onions, and flatbreads. If you want to try just one thing, then you should try Cevapi. It’s that good!
Where to find the best Cevapi?
Ćevabdžinica Željo
Location: Kundurdžiluk 19, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
13. Dolma- Armenia:
This popular Armenian dish is made in 50 different ways. The variety is due to its wide popularity. It’s prepared with rice and minced beef stuffed inside grape leaves or cabbage, then deep-fried in olive oil to make it crispy. Dolma can be eaten with different dipping sauces as per preference. It’s an amazing dish that has a touch of the Armenian culture. It’s a must-try if you haven’t already.
Where to find the best dolma?
Asitane Restaurant
Location: Edirnekapı Mahallesi, Kariye Cami Sk. No:6, 34240 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey
14. Strudel- Austria:
Strudel is served as a dessert. It comes in a wide range of flavors. But the apple-flavored one is the most popular in Austria. It’s served with delicious vanilla sauce or whipped cream as toppings. The locals call this dish by the name “Apfelstrudel.” This dessert has the perfect amount of sweetness to make you fall in love with it.
Where to find the best strudel?
Café Landtmann
Location: Universitätsring 4, 1010 Vienna, Austria
15. Potato pancakes-Belarus:
As simple as the name sounds, this dish is very easy to make, yet it tastes incredible. Made with grated potatoes and a mix of minced onion and eggs, it’s served after deep frying. Locally the potato pancakes are called “Draniki,” and they’re so loved that they can even be found in classy restaurants and the local food vendors.
Where to find the best Potato pancakes?
Vasilki Restaurant
Location: Independence Avenue. 89, Minsk 223050 Belarus
16. Currywurst- Germany:
The history of this dish dates back to World War II when a German woman started selling food to the workers in construction sites in Berlin. She added ketchup and curry powder with some other spices and invented the recipe. It’s a very simple and humble German dish that is tasty and affordable at the same time. And undoubtedly one of the best food in Europe to try out.
Where to find the best Currywurst?
Curry 36
Location: Mehringdamm 36, 10961 Berlin, Germany
17. Cardamon Bun- Finland, Sweden, Estonia:
Another item that must be included in the list of the best food in Europe is the cardamom bun. Widely available in Finland, Sweden, and Estonia, this baked goodness serves the purpose of a tasty and healthy snack. The bread is extremely soft and delicious. Besides, vanilla icing, chopped berries, and nuts are added on the top. Its sweet flavor will satisfy your dessert cravings, and the best part is, you can have it on the go.
Where to find the best Cardamon Buns?
Rost Bakery
Location: Rotermanni 14, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia
The Table Manners That Must Be Remembered While Dining In Europe
Europe is a fun place to be in. It has some of the best food in Europe to eat and some great places to visit in the world. However, Europeans are very particular about certain table manners and etiquettes. It’s better to be aware of those before going out to eat in Europe.
1. If you’re in Spain, France, or Italy, expect to eat in a leisurely manner:
In these countries, people are used to having long meals. Lunch or dinner might even last for hours. Unlike Americans, these people have got no rush. Also, it’s customary to have drinks or coffee after meals in these countries. There is no grab-n-go.
2. Be very careful about your napkins in Germany and France:
Germans are very particular about how their napkins should be kept. Never leave your napkins unfolded or crumbled in Germany! It’s compulsory to keep it on the left side of your plate and folded properly.
On the other hand, you’re supposed to wait for your hosts to put your napkin on your lap. You cannot touch it until your host does it for you. Weird, right?
3. When in Italy, DON’T ASK FOR EXTRA CHEESE!
Italians consider it to be very rude to ask for extra cheese while eating. We were surprised to know it as well. But it’s said that taking extra cheese looks like you’re to hide the flavor of the dish itself with cheese, and the chefs don’t take it very well. So no matter how much you crave for it, do not ask for extra cheese in Italy!
4. If you’re sharing a dish in Denmark, don’t take the last bite:
It’s customary in Denmark not to take the last bite of the shared food. Instead, they believe in dividing the last bite among all the parties until all that remains are crumbles. You’ll get some really weird stares if you forget this advice.
5. Soup and water don’t go together in Spain:
According to tradition, you’re not supposed to have water while having soup. This tradition is mostly followed by the older generation and in the small communities of Spain. It’s believed the combination of the two can make your stomach ache. But having soft drinks and wine is totally acceptable.
6. No bread-plates in France:
In France, the bread is usually kept on the table directly. They don’t serve it in a bread-plate. Also, unlike America and many other countries in the world, you’re supposed to eat the bread along with the meal, not as an appetizer. And the French eat their bread by breaking it in small pieces rather than taking a bite directly.
Conclusion
Europe is a traveler’s dream, and among many reasons, food is definitely one of them. European cuisine has mesmerized chefs all over the world so much that they tried to recreate it themselves.
Even though there are different versions of European food in different parts of the world, there is nothing like enjoying the dishes where it was originated. We hope this article will help you in search of your best food in Europe and make your trip worthwhile.
